Having done both ways, and given my circumstances, I definitely prefer the shell off method. Especially if the frame needs to be worked on. I found that a high level of quality work is easier with the frame accessible from all sides. I found it easier to level a sagging frame, also. Plus, I can turn the frame upside down and weld the bottom seams without all the meteorites flying in my face.
I was still able to do a very good job on the frame, with all welds solid and the paint nicely covered, but it was easier with the shell out of the way.
Our frame was in excellent shape except for the back crossmember that we replaced - essentially NO rust (one of the benefits of a Colorado trailer!). The portion that needed to be replaced was accessible on all sides by dropping the belly in the back portion.
We don't have the space to store the shell & frame separately > no room. I know it's taken a bit more time & creativity to work it out this way, but for us- it was the right decision. You are very fortunate to have the facilities to do so ~ a lot of decisions are made by the circumstances at hand.
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Our frame was in excellent shape except for the back crossmember that we replaced - essentially NO rust (one of the benefits of a Colorado trailer!). The portion that needed to be replaced was accessible on all sides by dropping the belly in the back portion.
We don't have the space to store the shell & frame separately > no room. I know it's taken a bit more time & creativity to work it out this way, but for us- it was the right decision. You are very fortunate to have the facilities to do so ~ a lot of decisions are made by the circumstances at hand.
Shari
Yes, I know about the room issue. I suspend the shell from the shop ceiling, and then store the frame underneath it at night.
At the end, it doesn't matter all that much, as long as the flooring doesn't need to be cut in half to fit.
Some trailers have the belly pan wrapped over in the floor channel. Those trailers are very difficult to do with the shell on. The trailers that have the belly sides simply slipped in between teh outer skin and the c-channel are much easier to deal with. My 63 Overlander was wrapped - all the way around.
Our '56 belly does not wrap over the top of the c-channel - I think that's a 60's thing - it's just sandwiched between the skin & c-channel. We only intend to have seams at the panel joints - 5 panels = 4 seams (all over crossmembers of the frame). The curves were the biggest concern, now that they are done the rest will be easy ~ the sides are plenty flexible. I agree, the fewer seams the more structural integrity is maintained ~
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
I just left the very front and the aft portion of the shell attached and let the sides float. The sides flexed out enough to install the middle sheets complete. I too wish I had enough room to do a shell off, and indoors would be a super plus.
Having done both ways, and given my circumstances, I definitely prefer the shell off method. Especially if the frame needs to be worked on. I found that a high level of quality work is easier with the frame accessible from all sides. I found it easier to level a sagging frame, also. Plus, I can turn the frame upside down and weld the bottom seams without all the meteorites flying in my face.
I was still able to do a very good job on the frame, with all welds solid and the paint nicely covered, but it was easier with the shell out of the way.
What kind of welding technique and welding equipment is recommended for frame repairs?
What kind of welding technique and welding equipment is recommended for frame repairs?
I use a mig welder, a Millermatic 35. It has a good enough duty cycle to weld just about continously. Smaller welders have very short duty cycles, like a few seconds on, and then they need to be off for a minute or so. I don't know the exact durations. So, it's best to rent a decent welder, or call in a welding service, or tow the trailer to a welding shop for extensive modifications.
Most frames I have worked on were pretty decent. Little welding was required to actually do repairs. Most of the welding work I have done became necessary because of tank or axle conversions.
Mig welding is relatively easy to learn, and there isn't a special technique that I am aware of, other than "pushing the puddle". That measn the you kind of push the hot metal puddle left to right slightly while moving the welding tip forward. This makes a weld that looks like you're staggering dimes on top of each other.
Our welder is a 220V model, but there are welders available for 120V also. Those are fine for occasional use, and if time is not an issue. I am not certain of the strength of such a weld, but it should be ok, many home owners and farmers use those.
For welding just frame sections, you can use an inexpensive stick welder. That is what was used to build your frame in the first place, most likely. With all welding equipment, the welding current needs to be adjusted, so that you don't immediately burn through the thin metal of an Airstream frame.
You'd have to slow down to give Birdy any chance of missing International.
Oh she's going...not sure what shape she'll be in, but she's going - even if it's as a hard tent! Otherwise it'll be the two of us PLUS my parents in the GlobeTrotter for 10 days!!!!
Not a pretty picture...it's rather scary!
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Good incentive to getting the '56 finished, inviting the parents along. We all find our little motivators unintentionally sometimes, but it just seems to happen. For us it was the fact that I'd sold the Boler we were using and had already booked our trips for the following summer with friends and they'd of been very disappointed if we backed out. So we just went at it nights and weekends pretty steady for 5 months and then finished it up the following winter.
You guys are doing an outstanding job on your trailer. I'm hoping our two buddies who have both acquired early Flying Clouds are paying attention to what you guys are doing (You hear that Greg and Lee?) so they get rolling on theirs this summer/fall, but aren't worried about using them in progress.
Happy Easter.
Barry
__________________ You never hear of people dieing in their Airstream, only at home and in hospitals. So, live long by getting out and enjoying your Airstream.
Barry & Donna Life is short - so's the door on an Flying Cloud (ouch)
From the "you learn something new everyday" file...
I just learned what Safari means in Swahili and Arabic!
From Wikipedia:
"Entering the English language in the late 19th century, the word safari means "journey" in Swahili. Originally from the Arabic سفر (safara) meaning travel [1] The verb for "to travel" in Swahili is "safiri", the noun for the journey is "safari"."
Pretty cool! Very appropriate I would say...
Shari
__________________ Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008 WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005) AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
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