Visit our Popular Forums

Peter417 · 09-17-2020, 02:22 PM

I want to make sure I know what I am doing when the new axle gets here.

What are the rules for jacking up the caravel? Any tips?

docflyboy · 09-17-2020, 05:12 PM

Peter- I think it's tough to find the jack point on a Caravel. I do know that you can jack behind the body of the trailer on the frame extension that forms the storage locker in front of the bumper, and then use the tongue jack. That three point lift would be safe and pretty stable.

By the way, I think I talked to your grandfather on Tuesday. I was going though our WBCCI list and calling the vintage people about the Roasterie. I talked to him quite a bit and saw the trailer at a club rally at Arrowhead State Park about 3 years ago. Mr. Dill said that his grandson was generously gifted his Caravel and it lives in N*#%, MO, and it dawned on me this morning that would be you. Jerry

Peter417 · 09-17-2020, 06:29 PM

I can't quite get to that jack location in the rear but I can get right behind it. This pan in the back will prevent that. I think that should work just fine though. Thank you for the answer.

Haha I figured some connections would be made. He has been an active club member for quite some time. He's pretty great huh?

dbj216 · 09-17-2020, 07:35 PM

Hi: Your new axle will likely bolt to the axle mounting plate, which is likely welded to your frame rails. This axle mounting plate is the strongest location on an Airstream frame, except maybe the A frame up front.

I jack up my trailers on the axle plate about 10" behind the axles. I use a 4x4 piece of wood about 6" long resting on the frame rail flange, and then use my floor jack to do the lifting. Then I securely support the trailer with a jack stand. As docflyboy stated, I also use the tongue jack as a support post.

I sure don't want the trailer to fall on me while I'm under there wrestling with this and that.

I do not know how the Caravel is built. But I bet it is similar to my 66 Trade Wind 24'.

David

Peter417 · 09-18-2020, 07:48 PM

I think I should have most of the weekend to polish. After that we are going camping.

I am trying to find a happy balance of time spent and end result.

Atomic_13 · 09-19-2020, 01:01 AM

Looking great, Peter. Smart move to use the trailer as much as you can while renovating it. Many don’t have that option but I’m glad you do.

Lance M · 09-19-2020, 05:45 AM

Peter,
Lookin' good!
On the tool box post above, I would use the space available to finish out a proper bumper trunk. Makes a perfect home for the stinky slinky.

Keep up the good work!

Peter417 · 09-19-2020, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atomic_13

Looking great, Peter. Smart move to use the trailer as much as you can while renovating it. Many don’t have that option but I’m glad you do.

We like camping to mush to not have a functioning trailer.

Peter417 · 09-19-2020, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance M

Peter,
Lookin' good!
On the tool box post above, I would use the space available to finish out a proper bumper trunk. Makes a perfect home for the stinky slinky.

Keep up the good work!

I definitely need to and plan to get that back up and going. I have the original cover for the top but it is full of holes. I think I will get some aluminum and rent a brake for the day and make it just what I want.

I have some ideas to build a tool box over that that can slide back to allow access. I am still thinking it over though.

docflyboy · 09-20-2020, 03:41 PM

Peter- the width will require a pretty wide brake. Any good sheet metal shop (as in HVAC) has brakes and shears and can work in aluminum that is 0.024 or 0.032. Use Alclad 2024 T3, if you don't have sharp bends and 2024 T0 is you need tight bends. T0 can be bent without brake, since its soft. Drop in Airparts in KC, KS when you're in town. Jerry

Peter417 · 09-21-2020, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docflyboy

Peter- the width will require a pretty wide brake. Any good sheet metal shop (as in HVAC) has brakes and shears and can work in aluminum that is 0.024 or 0.032. Use Alclad 2024 T3, if you don't have sharp bends and 2024 T0 is you need tight bends. T0 can be bent without brake, since its soft. Drop in Airparts in KC, KS when you're in town. Jerry

I rented a brake last winter for another project. I enjoyed the work so I will probably do that again if it can handle that thickness. We will see. For now the sewer rides around in a tub in the tow vehicle. Is the .032 the thickness of the skin on my trailer?

Peter417 · 09-21-2020, 08:47 AM

I finished up the first cut and most of the second cut this weekend. I will cut in today and then get all the old mud cleaned off. I am using the green moss from zypher and it is really messy around the rivets and seems. It also turns every bit of corrosion black and it fills it all in. Cleaning will probably take a while. I have the awning pulled to polish where the arms lay when stored. The second cut is doing a good job of taking all the big scratches out from the last step and if does it fast. I have hardly had to use any compound and I am getting good results. I am still left with some fine spider web scratching and it is super obvious in the sun. Hopefully the next step takes care of that. Either way this trailer is looking butter than it has in a long time.

Dents are ok as long as they are shiny right?

Lance M · 09-21-2020, 01:23 PM

Lookin' great!

Are you planning to finish with a random orbital and Zephyr Pro 40 similar to how the guy in the Zephyr Polishes video does it?

I didn't have good results using the Cyclo with Nuvite after the wheels and rouge bars.

Yes. Polished dents are OK

Peter417 · 09-21-2020, 01:41 PM

I have a few options so I will be experimenting. I am going to use a white airway with the black magic bar next and see how that does with the fine scratches.

I have a flannel wheel too. I may try that with the black magic and see what kind of results I get. I will compare that with the cyclo and nuvite S and go from there. So far I have not liked using the nuvite with the wool pads.

I have not heard of many people having a good result with the pro 40 and a machine. I have heard it is good for a post bath hand finish though. I will try it. I have the nuvite equivalent as well. I will try them both and see what works the best.

Peter417 · 09-25-2020, 07:55 PM

Lance, I appreciate the bar. I hope to put it to use this weekend.

Lance M · 09-26-2020, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter417

Lance, I appreciate the bar. I hope to put it to use this weekend.

No problem! Hope it works for you. If not, no biggie.
Happy polishing.

Peter417 · 10-02-2020, 02:57 PM

Lance that bar seems to be about the same as the black bar from zephyr. I wonder if all these companies are using the same manufacturer.

I have been polishing like crazy and getting everything buttoned back up. We should be camping the next 3 weekends if everything goes to plan. I don't have a good picture but I am struggling to reduce the white haze in sunlight. I will try to post some pictures once we get to camp. In the meantime this kind of shows what I am talking about.

Lance M · 10-02-2020, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter417

Lance that bar seems to be about the same as the black bar from zephyr. I wonder if all these companies are using the same manufacturer.

Peter,
I would bet they are all using FORMAX or another polish manufacturer with their "Zephyr" or "CASWELL" molded into the bars.

You'll find the combo that gets what you're looking for.

docflyboy · 10-02-2020, 08:42 PM

Peter-in answer to your aluminum thickness, I think it's 0.032 T3 on the top and sides and T-0 on the formed endcaps. My back cover over the rear bumper is probably T-0 based on the depth of hail dents there which are about the same as the rear end caps. The tops and sides seemed to resist whatever hail storm it endured. There are a couple stiffening creases transversely, which makes sense if it's T-0. Hope that helps. Jerry

Peter417 · 10-14-2020, 02:56 PM

We just got back from a 5 night trip. I was solo for the first 24 hours and then my wife met me. Everything went well. This was about 3-4 hours down the road. I was a bit nervous about the axle but we made it fine. I am extra careful to avoid any big impacts. We are headed back to the same area for the rally at buffalo point. I tried to find out what the story on the new axle was and it sounds like the original estimate of mid October was incorrect. Here is the response I got on 10/6

Quote:

I have inquired with Dexter about your axle order (placed 8/26/2020). Dexter is experiencing a company-wide delay after receiving a large influx of orders, which they are working through. I will advise you as soon as I hear something further from Dexter concerning your order.

I have not heard anything back so I wait. At this point I will not have it before the rally and that will be the soft end to out camping season. We may get a few more weekends in but who knows. So the axle is now a winter project along with the black tank. Speaking of the black tank it officially was filled to the brim... ehhhh... That will be number one this winter. I am going to start going down the rabbit hole of a custom made tank.

Any resources on custom tank suppliers and other relevant info is most welcome

Sometime in November or December I will begin the process of taking out out the closet and goucho. I hope that I will be able to work around the sliding door without removing it but we will see. once all that is out of the way I will start building a mock up. I will probably use 1/4" plywood but we will see. Does anyone have any good threads on the forum that go through this process of building a mockup and then having a company build the plastic tank? The goal here is capacity and if I could get something close to 15 gallons I will be thrilled.