1947 Liner--Changing a tire

[camper]

I have a 1947 Liner and I can't get enough room to get the old tire off and install a new tire---
There isn't enough room between the body and the hub--

Has anyone else experienced this problem???

What is the answer??

Thanks
Camper

[wasagachris]

Hey camper I can't help you with your problem but we are in a very small club together. I also have a 47 liner that I recently bought. Mine is s/n # 1023. What's yours? Do you have any pictures of the interior? What is the condition of the interior and the trailer?

[Max Well]

Did you try taking the air out of the tire to slip it out?

[camper]

Yes I did and I could get it off with some hard work but putting the new one on is the problem especially if you were on the road and could not air up the new tire---

[camper]

My serial # is 1022

send me your email address for photos

[Lumatic]

I don't know about 47s, but I know on some vintage Airstreams, especially Henschen type, the axles become stiff and do not drop enough when the body is jacked up to give you the clearance. This also brings up, are you jacking up the axle or the coach body?

[Melody Ranch]

Its a solid spring mounted axle. Forget the Henchen idea. Check the wheel size and the tire size. Somewhere along the line maybe an owner "upgraded" either or both. This is where you will have to get a skinny tire...like the old bias types...like a 600 x 15.(example) Then again...you could "upgrade" yourself and put on the simple, piano hinge wheel well door like Airstream and Curtis did to some.

[camper]

Thanks for all your info.and reply to this thread.The axle is a multi leaf spring and I don't know the brand.But you are right,the axle won't drop down once the body is jacked up.The tire size on it now is 650 x 16 bias
and they are rotten and coming apart.I am trying a small 165/80/15 car tire on a 6 lug rim just to get it home and then rebuild the axle.These old Airstreams don't have much fender well opening and then they added a fender skirt.

[rptradewind]

I assume you removed the fender skirts before trying to change the tires.

[scarylarry]

I have a 48 & run 6.00 x 16 tires. I jack mine up at the spring hanger so the axle drops down as you jack it up. THEN I have a second "safety jack" under the axle, but not lifting, just in case the other slips. Loosen the lug nuts a little before you jack it up so you can get them loose. I also added longer shackles in the back to raise the ride height up an inch or two.

[camper]

Yes the fenders skirts have been removed--

There is no shackles only the approx. 2" spring hanger with a bolt through it which attaches the spring end to the hanger on each end.
I admit it needs a 2-3" shackles on one end of the spring.
It looks like it has set so long that the spring leafs have rusted together and won't drop down as it should.The main problem is the grease cap end of the axle hub is hitting the tire on the inside and the tire is hitting the body on the outside.
So what I have had to do to get by is remove the rear spring hanger bolt
and drop the spring end which in turn drops the axle,then I mounted the tire and jacked up the spring so to reattach the spring end into the spring hanger.

[scarylarry]

I could see where if the spring is rusted solid & not moving you would not not have the space to get it out. I tried a radial tire & could not get it in, had to use a bias ply & it just barely fits! Mine has the axle above the spring & always wondered why you couldn't flip it & mount the axle under the spring & gain a couple or three inches that way?

[Melody Ranch]

You can mount the axle under the spring. It will raise the body to a nice comfortable level....comfortable for rough roads, sloping drives and changing tires.

[camper]

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts and insites along with your experiences.I did get the Airstream home and now I will remove the axle and completely rework it by taking all the spring leafs apart,cleaning and painting them and then install the spring above the axle also repack the bearings,check out the whole condition and reinstall it and most likely install 15" tires rather than the 16" ones.Then i should be set----
Praise the Lord !!!!

Camper

[47WeeWind]

Hi Camper:

When changing tires on a 1940's Airstream Liner, remove the small round dust cap from the outermost end of the axle to get a bit more room to wiggle the wheel and tire on and off. Put the dust cap back on after the spare (or new) wheel and tire has been installed.

Moving to a 15" diameter wheel from a 16" diameter wheel will not necessarily make skinnier or shorter tires available to you. You still have to choose a tire with the best aspect ratio (tall and thin), and those might be harder to find in a 15" diameter than in a 16" diameter. Like Melody Ranch said, a 600-16 highway tread tire is relatively tall and thin and should fit on your Liner. Of course, you have to match the lug nut count and bolt circle diameter of your new 15" wheel to the hub on your axle. Good luck!

[Hollywood47]

Hey! get those '47 photos sent to the vintageairstream.com to be posted in their archive section. I have #1050

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by Hollywood47

Hey! get those '47 photos sent to the vintageairstream.com to be posted in their archive section. I have #1050

Have you attempted to do that lately? It seems RJ turned over the site to someone and you can no longer email in photos. I have sets of photos for 25 or more vintage trailers and some motor homes to contribute and cannot. I might add that five sets of photos are pre 1950 and would make a great resource. I did contact the new owner but he is too busy with all his other websites to respond to me. Good luck and let me know if you ever succeed in contributing those photos.