frame/chassis strength '72 31ft

[nickclifford]

sorry to raise this question again ... just purchased my first airstream, should probably have gone with a shorter model but loved this 31 footer i found. my drive way is steep and the back end ground out, just towed it up and with the angle that's a little off camber too, one side completely lifted off the ground by about 6" .. all the weight was on the back right corner of the frame and the other wheels, i put a large board on the ground under the far right corner of the frame so not dig into the asphalt. No damage to the body or anything, wondering how strong the chassis is and if this could result in serious damage. i need to build a "bridge" to support weight evenly on both wheels but easier said than done I'm sure !
anyone insight on chassis/frame strength would be most appreciated. not sure how these trailers are constructed, assume they sit on fairly solid metal chassis?

thanks in advance

[Panama Red]

They actually sit on a relatively flimsy frame. If you tried to jack up your trailer from anywhere besides the vertical plates that the axles bolt to, you'd probably bend the frame of the trailer. When the frame is tied back into the body, it stiffens up quite a bit, but I wouldn't want to put that kind of stress on my shell... Guessing you got away with it this time.

-Red, waiting on someone to disagree...

[J. Morgan]

If it doesn't have extensive rust damage, and the shell is hooked to the frame well in back, it is stronger than a lot of people will give it credit.

I intentionally jacked mine up from the rear of the frame when I was putting new axles under in order to take some sag out of my frame.

It is pretty darn strong. I don't think you hurt your frame in the dragging, but consider lifting your trailer up by lowering the axles.

I raised my trailer 3", it made a huge difference regarding ground clearance.

There are kits available to raise the trailer 2".

[J. Morgan]

Red,,, my message was posted before I saw your reply....



Take note, I was TRYING to bend my frame where it had settled (bent down) fore and aft of the axles, which I did accomplish to a certain degree, but I was lifting the trailer WAY off the ground to the ball one side at a time with the jack placed way back on the frame.

[Panama Red]

Quite alright. I agree that it is quite a bit stiffer when connected to the shell, but I still wouldn't want to stress it like that. I've seen every glorious inch of my frame, and I wouldn't trust it. Good idea on the new axles. Loved the extra clearance I got on my Sov when I replaced the axles...

-Red

[Belegedhel]

As pointed out above, the frame is pretty floppy, but when joined to the shell, the unit has some strength and rigidity. It is unlikely that you did damage to your frame, and as long as you don't see any creases in your shell, you can consider yourself lucky.

The frame on my 21' '73 GT was so rotten in the rear ~4' that I doubt it would have survived such a move as you describe. Maybe you can consider it an integrity test!

[J. Morgan]

And,,,, if the axles are stock,,, they are shot and need replacing.....

Dont drive it much without changing them or you like I will have to try to straighten your frame by jacking it up...

The old axles don't have any spring left in them, and as you tow the trailer over bumps, the axles are hammered upward and the frame collapses around the axle mounts.

Axles are not that expensive, and can be ordered with additional down angle to raise the trailer higher than stock.

[J. Morgan]

By the way,,, I like 72 Sovereigns too...

[Panama Red]

Nice looking trailer!

[J. Morgan]

Thank you!

It was a well used trailer, but it polished up pretty well,,,, well enough to hide a lot of Imperfections...

[perryg114]

In the late 70's they started to beef up the frame with a full box beam as opposed to a single channel beam like what you have. It is easy to dent the rear corner skin right above the frame when bottoming out. A trailer that old should not be stressed no matter what the condition.

Perry

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

If it doesn't have extensive rust damage, and the shell is hooked to the frame well in back, it is stronger than a lot of people will give it credit.

I intentionally jacked mine up from the rear of the frame when I was putting new axles under in order to take some sag out of my frame.

It is pretty darn strong. I don't think you hurt your frame in the dragging, but consider lifting your trailer up by lowering the axles.

I raised my trailer 3", it made a huge difference regarding ground clearance.

There are kits available to raise the trailer 2".

thanks, i'm sure that would make a huge difference, just a few extra inches of ground clearance would help. Think I saw in another posting something about not possible to lower the axles on my vintage of trailer. (1972)
i'll do some investigations. For now at least, can't imagine towing more than once or twice a year so can make shift some kind of bridge to support full weight on the wheels but would be a pain if needing the trailer more often ..

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by perryg114

In the late 70's they started to beef up the frame with a full box beam as opposed to a single channel beam like what you have. It is easy to dent the rear corner skin right above the frame when bottoming out. A trailer that old should not be stressed no matter what the condition.

Perry

no sign of any damage at all, maybe stronger than we realize but will not risk that again without more support

[J. Morgan]

It is for sure possible to raise a 72, I guarantee it.

(Mine is a 72)

[nickclifford]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

By the way,,, I like 72 Sovereigns too...
Attachment 220725

wow, that's amazing !! how's the interior looking ? I'm torn between keeping original and starting to modernize ... it's like a time warp, apart from musky smell looks almost new.

[J. Morgan]

Mine was well used inside, pretty much nothing stock left inside.

[J. Morgan]

My 75 is near totally stock inside.

Except for the orange shag carpet....

[Panama Red]

I found a piece of my original carpet when I pulled out the sofas... It was a green shag that looked like Austin Powers pants. I didn't go back with it when I put the new flooring in.

After seeing that wood interior, I will no longer post any pictures of the inside of mine ever again. That is just beautiful, and takes a skill set to accomplish that I just don't have..

-Red

[Minno]

Do you need new axles? If they are the original ones, then you probably do. If yes, then you can get new axles with more lift (more of a down-angle). We did, and it raised our 72 Sovereign 3 to 4 inches.

Chris

[J. Morgan]

The wood in my trailer was my first carpentry experience, it was far easier to accomplish than it might appear.

When I would start some sub project I would ask myself what is the easiest way to accomplish the what I want to do... I am lazy that way.