A '63 for me! (many good ideas for your new to you Trailer)

[uwe]

Well, today the shell came loose, it's now hanging a few inches above the frame.
I missed a few hidden rivets, but other than that it came off quite easily.
I am shocked about how flexible this trailer frame is. Gives me a whole new appreciation for some of the Andy's statements about frame separation etc.
This will require quite a bit of reinforcement to be able to carry the extra underfloor tanks and basement type A/C that I have planned to install. I might also go with 3/4 ply instead of 5/8. I wonder if the extra weight offsets the extra strength in the thicker material? Film at eleven.....

[greg176]

It's hard to appreciate how flexible that big frame could be till you grab the bumper and give it a bounce.These days it's one of my favorite passtimes.But now I have to move on to repairing the wheel tubs before I can put more floor down.

[Ken J]

Wonder - does the frame flex when its all put together properly? I figured it probably flexes some.

Ken

[upallnight]

Ken

I thought you were a CPA? Whats with the fashion photo shoot on your picture gallery?

[uwe]

My 71's frame and shell do flex. I can watch ( an hear) the walls buckle when backing up into uneven campsites. The 63's frame is very flexible, once detached from the shell. I am still wondering what the design idea behind all this flexing is.

[Ken J]

Leonard

Yes I am a CPA - the photo shoot is came from this website - someone was looking for an Airstream for an Italian fashion catalog - kinda like Old Navy here. We took about 4 days running around Monument Valley/Lake Powel with these folks, got paid for it, ate great and had a blast. Never have heard from them again though - was supposed to get final pics/catalog but never did.

Uwe - yeah I was wondering that myself, had my wife jump up and down in the 58 and I can see the frame bouncing -

Ken

[Chuck]

Originally Posted by uwe

My 71's frame and shell do flex. I can watch ( an hear) the walls buckle when backing up into uneven campsites. The 63's frame is very flexible, once detached from the shell. I am still wondering what the design idea behind all this flexing is.

next time you take a ride on a commercial airliner, take a good close look at the wings during take-off. or at lower speeds in turbulence...they practcially flap! if they didn't...they'd snap. (that would be bad. ).

Perhaps this is why A/Ss don't generally rattle themselves apart. with other designs, you get the old "irresistable force meets immovable object" syndrome.

[Ken J]

I'm glad to hear this, I thought perhaps something was wrong.........

[uwe]

There it is, off the frame, hanging on the ceiling. It made this eerie creaking and crackling sound when it finally let go of it's companion frame of 40 Years...

[Ken J]

All right, congradulations! - bet you thats a load off your um, mind.... hee hee

Ken

[uwe]

This is only a small step in the big picture, unfortunately. But hey, gotta start somewhere, right?

[Over59]

Uwe
How does that basement AC install look. Can do or no can do? Sure would like to be able to do that in my 59.

[uwe]

Paul,
It looks very good, actually. I did not purchase the basement unit yet, as I am no where near completion of the frame and floor repair, but am confident that it will work.
The challenge in this is the ventilation for the condenser. It draws cooling air in from the side, and exhausts it through the back. The back will vent to the streetside, through the ex-water heater opening, I do not believe that's a problem. The intake air for the condenser, however, has to come from under the trailer. So I am planning to make provisions for a large air duct, one that comes through the belly skin, and terminates in the condenser compartment. 2 ea. 4in square ducts, and a little bit of fabrication should do it. 3 sides of the duct will actually be reinforcement outriggers. Aluminum extensions will channel the fresh air to the condenser air intake. The location is right behind the streetside rear wheel. The condenser opening will receive a custom made louvered panel, made from .032 Alclad and willl later be polished to match the trailer skin.
The A/C will be very near the 30A shore power line entry, which will make for a clean electrical supply installation. The location is under the bed, essentially, and I am hoping that with a soundproofed enclosure htere will not be vey much noise to deal with. As it is, the A/C in my 1971 is too noisy to sleep by, I am hoping that this one will be quieter. It will double as a heater, as well. I will install a catalytic heater in the front area for boondocking. I do not plan to go camping in very cold weather, ever.
I will post my progress on this as it happens.

[uwe]

I got my steel delivered this morning. Now the fabrication and welding starts. Maybe we should do a reality tv series "American Airstream" .... I'll find us a guy that stutters, rants on and on in the shop, and dresses poorly. We can then give " American Chopper" on Discovery Channel a run for their money.
My plan is to enclose the main frame's C-channel, and add a few new cross members.
Also, I am going to install the holding brackets ( 2x2in angle steel) for a fresh and grey tank at the same time, before the floor gets put in.
I have sanitized the frame with a little help from a good friend, it now looks entirely bare. The cross members ahead and behind the tanks will be solid 3x4in steel tubing.
All the others will be the ones that came with the trailer. i will also add one extra outrigger where teh basemsnt A/C is going to reside.
A neighbor in my industrial park has offered his mega-amp mig welder to me, to use for free!!! Score!!! Everybody around here is excited about my Overlander project, eager to see progress. My warehouse is looking more like a fabrication facility these days. Gotta go clean up..

[Ken J]

Probably need to get some full body Airstream live or die tatoos.

Ken

[uwe]

I'll be tattoed in POR-15, after the welding is done.

[Ken J]

I know that one - that stuff never comes off.

[Safari Tim]

Pictures pictures.... Where are the pictures?

[uwe]

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

Pictures pictures.... Where are the pictures?

I will post when some of the welding is done. We got plenty of pics of rusty frames already in the forums. However, if a particular detail is of interest to you, then I'll gadly take a picture and post it for you.
The same guy that offered his killer welder to me just also loaned me a Sawzall. This will help with the cutting and fabricating, because the only other device I have is a 4-1/2in cutoff tool.

[Safari Tim]

Nothing particular. I just know you do good work and want to make sure its documented ;-)

I was researching some bathroom stuff earlier and saw you redid yours and you promised pictures of it in the thread and I cannot find them ;-(