Airstream Widths???

[purman]

Ok, so my 68' is just over 7 feet wide.

When did the trailers start coming 8 feet wide? 1970?

are all the 70's models 8 feet wide?

Crazy but I want and 8 foot wide 25' + length to restore in the future for just he wife and I. I figure the kids get older and won't want to always come.. Just want to know now, just in case I find a great deal.

Also, are any of the older ones Pre 68' 8 feet wide?

[195Pilot]

My 1975 31 footer the plywood subfloor is 91 1/2"- 91 5/8"wide, with the c channel,shell and moldings I'd say 93-94" total.
Just pulled a 67 tradewind out of some cedar trees where its been sitting since 1980 I'll have to measure to see exact width.

[wkerfoot]

The body style change in 1969 went to 8 feet wide, nominal width, stayed at 8 feet until about mid 1990's when the 25+ foot models went to 8 1/2 feet, nominal size.

Bill

Originally Posted by purman

Ok, so my 68' is just over 7 feet wide.

When did the trailers start coming 8 feet wide? 1970?

are all the 70's models 8 feet wide?

Crazy but I want and 8 foot wide 25' + length to restore in the future for just he wife and I. I figure the kids get older and won't want to always come.. Just want to know now, just in case I find a great deal.

Also, are any of the older ones Pre 68' 8 feet wide?

[purman]

Originally Posted by wkerfoot

The body style change in 1969 went to 8 feet wide, nominal width, stayed at 8 feet until about mid 1990's when the 25+ foot models went to 8 1/2 feet, nominal size.

Bill

Thanks bill and 195pilot.

[slowmover]

As a note:

The latest A/S trailers are noticeably wider than the Vintage Kin trailers I've had. And be sure to note the weight changes involved. My two Silver Streaks -- 1983 & 1976 34' & 32' respectively [plus my parents 28' 1976] -- were all with GVWR of 8k . . and rarely exceeded 7,400-lbs in transit. The current 25's and 28's are this heavy or heavier (making TV choice that much more limited, not to mention fuel cost increases).

[aftermath]

Originally Posted by REDNAX

As a note:

The latest A/S trailers are noticeably wider than the Vintage Kin trailers I've had. And be sure to note the weight changes involved. My two Silver Streaks -- 1983 & 1976 34' & 32' respectively [plus my parents 28' 1976] -- were all with GVWR of 8k . . and rarely exceeded 7,400-lbs in transit. The current 25's and 28's are this heavy or heavier (making TV choice that much more limited, not to mention fuel cost increases).

I believe the 25's max out around 7300 and the 28 is close to 7600. So the 25's and 28's are almost as heavy but not heavier than your quoted 8K. Very close though, so it is a fair comparison. TV selection is always important since it would be difficult to find a station wagon to pull one these days.

[slowmover]

I believe the 25's max out around 7300 and the 28 is close to 7600. So the 25's and 28's are almost as heavy but not heavier than your quoted 8K

Yes, and as much as 9' longer at the same weight (would be the point; further, that there are no frame problems as such). Aero is pretty much the same, but the A/S has the advantage of lower ground clearance (at the price of near zero underfloor insulation), and fully independent suspension (which could be added to the other types).

The "other brand" aluminum trailers (the premium brands) were thought wider and heavier once-upon-a-time. A/S went whipping past circa 1982 or so.

An A/S "renovation" candidate should placed within this kind of context: wider & heavier as time went on. It would be an interesting question to answer if one could take a wide-body, and, with better selection of interior materials, both increase storage and reduce weight (maybe even better weight balance, too). That might be the "ideal" trailer (removed from frame strength problems on A/S) as the aerodynamic changes (and to brand differences) aren't significant (past some increase of frontal area with wider bodies). A flat nose is no friend to fuel economy or handling, but a "bullet nose" would be hard to construct (same for the rear in re boat-tail).

The work would be on the interior to make the best set of choices as weight is open to change (conceivably even with slightly larger water tanks).

A trailer for retirement ought to be less work to not only live in, but to move it around the countryside as well, IMO. The broadest selection of TV is a goal worth working towards.

.