Around The World Caravan, Fran and Tallie Hall's 1962 Airstream Found

[Frank's Trailer Works]

in that last photo you might have a little more than chemical residue working. I have seen that same corrosion caused by water and stray electric, even being close to the chassis ground. Such damage can also be caused by mouse urine collecting in the insulation at the bottom of the wall. I have no doubt that the corrosive properties in black powder/salt peatier are no good for the skin either.
The great thing about aluminum is they grow it everyday. Airparts INC has what you need to replace it...
Far from superhuman Frank going back to making errors and hopefully learning from them, signing off.

[flyrc]

" All this damage happened at the Calgary Stampede in the summer of 62 when the trailers first owner parked in a restricted area. The trailer was brought to the factory for repair and Airstream gave them a new trailer since they knew that Fran Hall needed a trailer for the ATW Caravan".

My little story is all fiction I'm sorry and won't do it again.

[flyrc]

After talking to Joe this afternoon I looked at the colored photo of my trailer at the terraces and it looks like the patch was in place for the Caravan. That find makes me happy because it's one thing I don't have to worry about fixing. The patch I'm referring to is seen in a previous post photo.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by flyrc

" All this damage happened at the Calgary Stampede in the summer of 62 when the trailers first owner parked in a restricted area. The trailer was brought to the factory for repair and Airstream gave them a new trailer since they knew that Fran Hall needed a trailer for the ATW Caravan".

My little story is all fiction I'm sorry and won't do it again.

Yeah, probably a good idea, since anything we post will likely out live us. Next thing you know, your fiction will be quoted in some sort of magazine article, or elsewhere on the internet as fact.

Originally Posted by flyrc

After talking to Joe this afternoon I looked at the colored photo of my trailer at the terraces and it looks like the patch was in place for the Caravan. That find makes me happy because it's one thing I don't have to worry about fixing. The patch I'm referring to is seen in a previous post photo.

300 exploding rivets. So it seems your little ATW Airstream had some repairs prior to the ATW caravan. Being a 1962 model, it was probably built more than a year before the start of the ATW caravan. #83 was reserved for "Airstream Inc." in the 1963 WBCCI Membership Directory, so maybe the trailer was used by the company for other functions before being provided for the Halls to use on the ATW. Or maybe the Hall's used it to attend the 1963 WBCCI International Rally in Bemidji, Minnesota. During one of those pre ATW uses, perhaps some damage occurred the rear end that had to be repaired. I am sure the company wouldn't want an official company Airstream to start the ATW damaged.

So what? That's part of the story of your little ATW Airstream. I'd leave the replaced panels "as is" unless there is some compelling reason to replace them (e.g. significant post ATW damage). They are part of the history. That said, if you have loose and leaking exploding rivets, I would definitely suggest replacing them with new bucked rivets to seal everything back up tight again.

[flyrc]

Frank, what alloy is the floor channel made from? I want to replace the bad sections and wonder if it was .023 5052 or was it T-3 ?
Any help will be appreciated.
Wally

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I make it out of 5052 .032. To make the curve you need to cut slot that allows the forward section to overlap the one before. Not sure that makes sense. I will try and find a photo somewhere.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Like this...

BTW, T-3 is a hardness factor for 2024 Alclad. It will not bend well and will snap. To bend Alclad you need t-0. There is no need for alclad however. Use 5052 h38 .032. It is cheap and strong. A perfect fit for your application. .023 is fairly thin and offers very little strength.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by flyrc

Frank, what alloy is the floor channel made from? I want to replace the bad sections and wonder if it was .023 5052 or was it T-3 ?
Any help will be appreciated.
Wally

If ya want a really stiff C channel, here's an option...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f109...tml#post961953

[flyrc]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

in that last photo you might have a little more than chemical residue working. I have seen that same corrosion caused by water and stray electric, even being close to the chassis ground. Such damage can also be caused by mouse urine collecting in the insulation at the bottom of the wall. I have no doubt that the corrosive properties in black powder/salt peatier are no good for the skin either.
The great thing about aluminum is they grow it everyday. Airparts INC has what you need to replace it...
Far from superhuman Frank going back to making errors and hopefully learning from them, signing off.

Frank can I just brush the area and paint it with Por-15 to stop what is happening in those two areas?

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I don't know, I have never tried that. I would push a point agaist that spot and if it goes through, I would replace that skin.

[flyrc]

Which one of you guys are going to get the nice white Dometic? It is the one I need but as usual it is way tooooooo far away

[flyrc]

I had trigger finger surgery on my right hand last Friday and will be out of action for the next two weeks. Typing and using a mouse left handed is just a pain in the butt.I'm tired of TV and can hardly wait until I can use my hand.

[HiHoAgRV]

Originally Posted by flyrc

.... Typing and using a mouse left handed is just a pain in the butt.I'm tired of TV and can hardly wait until I can use my hand.

Sorry to hear about the surgery, my dear wife is gonna have to belly up to the same bar in the near future.

I agree using a mouse 'wrong handed' is nothing more than a quick way to get mad. Try an Ipad if you can get your 'hand' on one.

[flygrrl]

Flyrc, do you still need a streetside tub, range et al?
We will most likely pull the tub out of Bubbles and do not want the range or fridge, they will be replaced. We are doing a reno, not a restore, of our '62 Ohio Globie.
We are in Ontario but have a son-in-law who works for Fed-Ex he and gets employee rates, so it does not cost us any body parts to send packages to one of our other daughters in Victoria BC. We could pass those savings on.
Message me if you are still in need of appliances.
Leonie

[flyrc]

Originally Posted by flygrrl

Flyrc, do you still need a streetside tub, range et al?
We will most likely pull the tub out of Bubbles and do not want the range or fridge, they will be replaced. We are doing a reno, not a restore, of our '62 Ohio Globie.
We are in Ontario but have a son-in-law who works for Fed-Ex he and gets employee rates, so it does not cost us any body parts to send packages to one of our other daughters in Victoria BC. We could pass those savings on.
Message me if you are still in need of appliances.
Leonie

I would love all of the items you are willing to provide. I'll pick up all the shipping cost and then some.
Wally

[flygrrl]

Hi Wally, I will send you some pics if you like. I am very happy that someone would be willing to use the parts on a resto.
Leonie

[flyrc]

Originally Posted by flygrrl

Hi Wally, I will send you some pics if you like. I am very happy that someone would be willing to use the parts on a resto.
Leonie

Thanks, I'd love to see the condition of the items. Is the refrigerator a Dometic 50?
Wally H

[flyrc]

I'd like to thank all of the ATW owners and all the others that have helped with time, parts, or just great advice and moral support. My need for perfection presented a lot of challenges regarding the restoration of this truly historic trailer.
After injuring my back last December and then having surgery to repair it, my doctor advised me that my days of moving refrigerators and axles were over.
Janni, my wife, and I decided that we would pass the dream on to someone that would not only finish the restoration, but would also give the trailer the exposure it deserves. We decided that Brad and Susan Taylor should be the new owners of # 83. Brad and Susan attend at least 10 rally's a year.
We are sad that it is gone, but happy that it will soon be back out on the road.
Brad will tow it with his 1963 Ford truck. He's painting he truck the same color as the one that pulled the trailer around the world. How many people want to step back to the uncomfortable ride of a 63 Ford.
Thanks again to everyone, we'll miss you.
Wally H

[66Overlander]

Wally, you need not say goodbye.

You were a good custodian for #83, getting it's restoration well underway, but I certainly understand how these projects can grow into larger projects than originally anticipated. I am glad that #83 has a new owner that will continue the progress to truly get that historic Airstream back on the road.

I would be happy to keep you in the ATW communications loop as we continue to learn more and more about this historic trip and await the next surviving ATW Airstream to be rediscovered.

I hope you and Janni now have more time to enjoy using your other Airstream and hope that our paths may cross some day in the future.

[flyrc]

Joe, I'm glad I was able to locate Fran Halls niece. Her willingness to share the 134 photos and Fran's personal notes/recollections of the caravan will help everyone better understand what the travelers went through.
Janni & I appreciate being kept in the ATW loop. Being part of this endeavor has been a wonderful experience in our lives. Thankful to not be saying "Good-bye".
Wally H