Greetings sayoung!
Welcome to the Forums and the world of Airstreams!
Quote:
Originally Posted by sayoung
Looking at a 76 AS and was wondering about some gotcha items to look for on an Airstream. Im not new to rvs just airstreams.
Know about axl s tires battery electric etc and actually have fair amount of shertmetal repair ecpetience
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There are two areas on longer (Sovereign, Ambassador, and sometimes Overlerlanders as well as occasionally in the shorter Airstreams) Airstreams that can prove problematic. The first is the well-documented Rear End Separation where the body of the Airstream becomes separated from its attachment to the frame in the area of the rear bumper. The easiest way to identify rear end separation is to have someone sit or stand on the rear bumper while observing the gap between the body and the frame rail as it exits the body -- if that gap opens noticeably, there is at least the beginnings of rear end separation. The second issue, and one that isn't mentioned as often is Stress Cracking of the frame. The stress cracks on the frame are most often seen between the axles when viewed within the wheel wells. Airstream has Service Bulletins outlining the repair procedures for both of these issues, and at least at one time, offered a steel plating kit to reinforce the frames of trailers with stress cracking on the frame.
I second Belegedhel's recommendation to utilize the
Volunteer Inspector's Checklist when inspection a potential purchase as it helps you to keep your inspection organized and includes all of the systems.