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Quote:
Originally Posted by ugly
I have a small upright piano, a Young Chang E-101, that wieghs 450 lbs and measures 56"x42"x19". I realize I'd probably have to loose the sofa to wedge this thing into an Airstream. My real question is if the Airstream could take the load?
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The answer is that it depends on several factors including:
1.) Can the piano be added without violating the maximum gross weight rating of the prospective coach? For many coaches, the 450 pounds could represent from 20% to as much as 50% of the coach's available carrying capacity.
2.) Your proposed location in the front lounge area would place a large portion of the additional weight on the tongue -- this could pose issues for your tow vehicle -- many tow vehicle's limit the maximum hitch weight either specifically or via the rear axle carrying capacity on the tow vehicle.
3.) Probably a less difficult to address issue would be devising a method to secure the piano so that it couldn't "walk" about the coach when in-transit as well as provide insurance against "tipping" should violent evasive maneuvers become necessary while in-transit.
Something else to consider is that with a piano, you are facing the potential for a number of problems. First, the non-temperature/humidity controlled environment encountered while in-transit can be detrimental to the instrument's tune. Second, the constant vibration while in-transit is likely to make keeping the instrument in-tune quite difficult. I own both a Howard Spinet Piano as well as a Lowrey Holiday electronic organ -- the electronic organ would be far less temperamental in an RV installation (IMHO) than (my Lowrey Holiday organ also weighs about half as much as the Howard spinet piano) a piano (I battle the tuning on my Howard Spinet in its spot where the temperature and humidity is under near constant control).
Good luck with your investigations!
Kevin