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dbj216 · 08-12-2014, 07:19 PM

I just found your thread and marvel at the first class approach you folks are taking in rebuilding your old Globetrotter. You certainly have the mechanical skills to do the job. The gantry looks great. The roll over fixture for the frame using the gantry was the first I'd seen. Not many of us go to the steel yard and by the right frame steel and then weld one up.

My son has a 69 GT, but it is a different animal from yours. It is the first of the new body style and lever operated windows.

You are creating a "new" old Airstream. I am interested in following along if you don't mind.

David

Cncampers · 08-13-2014, 07:35 AM

David,

Thanks for your kind words and support. We took on this project knowing we had the skill set and tools to get it done. We are also fortunate to have friends and family that can help us out in various ways. We must give credit where credit is due. The gantry system is taken from the forum by others who tackled this before us. The forum is filled with tips and tricks that have saved us a lot of struggles.

Living in MN we need to keep moving so we can get the lid on by snowfall. It is also important to remember that you don't know what your true issues are until you expose them. We were hoping to salvage part of the frame and use an axel that we have. Unfortunately, that was not feasible and resulted in additional costs. Given that I am currently unemployed, it is a little nerve racking. However, we are committed to moving the project forward and are confident it will all work out.

Nancy

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dbj216 · 08-13-2014, 12:36 PM

Well, you only have another few weeks before the snow season! Just kidding! But we Minnesotans are ether getting ready for winter or enduring winter.

Hopefully you will find the income stream you want soon. Gotta fund that Airstream renovation! Wouldn't be fun to get paid to work on old Airstreams?

David

RM66caravel · 08-13-2014, 12:58 PM

Awesome mr. C has talent which makes you lucky we can do the light welding but thicker parts require outsourcing! Keep those pictures coming and we have had rain everyday for the past 2 and a half weeks! Great job!
Cliff

Yes I said that! Or did I?

digidad · 08-13-2014, 04:24 PM

Wow, great pictures , and a great project!

We're getting ready to lift the frame off our '72, and have a question: did you leave the C channel attached to the old floor, or did you lift it off with the shell?

65CV · 08-13-2014, 05:43 PM

Great thread.

I like the additional triangular support in the outriggers -- second pic in post 20.

Clever.

dbj216 · 08-13-2014, 06:57 PM

Those are nice looking welds. Someone we may know might weld for a living.

Your trailer must be one of the first ones with the Dura Torque axles. Be glad you're not messing with the leaf springs and shackles.

David

Cncampers · 08-14-2014, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by digidad

We're getting ready to lift the frame off our '72, and have a question: did you leave the C channel attached to the old floor, or did you lift it off with the shell?

We left the C channel on the old floor. We will be replacing most of it. Some of it was broken, some of it is corroded. The motto around here is, "if we're doing it, might as well . . ." I must also note that this trailer was used. A lot! This is not a trailer that sat in a field or barn. It was on the road and off the road.

Yes, our trailer is from the era when AS started using the Dura torque axels. Got the call yesterday that our axle is in. We will go pick it up this afternoon.

marzboy · 08-17-2014, 08:47 AM

Nice work! Its nice to see that so many of these trailers were (still are being) used. Lots of luck on giving your beauty its well deserved second life!! Ps if you're going to paint that frame have it sandblasted and save yourself a lot of pain.

dbj216 · 08-17-2014, 08:35 PM

You won't need expensive POR 15 paint on your new frame. That stuff is for old rusty frames. Eastwood may have a product for fresh steel to help prevent rust. You folks probably have a powder coater in the family willing to do the job for free!

David

Cncampers · 08-23-2014, 08:21 PM

Last weekend we took a break and headed to our log cabin to do some work there. What's that saying, "No rest for the wicked"? We had hoped to do some work this week, but the weather limited us to very brief periods of time. Mr. C managed to get the holes drilled in the cross members for the plumbing and the wheel wells assembled. Note the black cloud always hanging over head. Makes me wonder - over our heads or over the AS? Hmmm.

Cncampers · 08-23-2014, 08:41 PM

The cloud cover kept the temps from soaring, but it was humid. I started working on grinding all of the old paint and reflective tape off of the bumper. Yeah, we can salvage the bumper. I must thank all of you that have posted pictures of your grinder wounds. As I was struggling to get at the curves and crevices on the inside (back) of the bumper, I kept saying to myself "you have seen the photos. Don't be stupid". I escaped with only a few metal bristles impaled in the thighs. Felt like a porcupine with quills at times. The first photo is the before of the bumper. The last photo is the now shiny bumper on the old frame.

While I was working on the bumper, Mr. C got the axle welded to the frame. Let me tell you it was not fun moving that from the truck to the frame. Attach it and be done with it. Mr. C did some additional welding - support for the spare tire carrier, strapping to hold the bumper box in place, space holders for the gray tanks, front tie down plate and at last, the shiny bumper.

Once everything was welded, we lifted the new frame into the air with the chain hosts and Mr. C cut apart the old frame. We'll call it garden art for now.

We then flipped the frame so it is right side up. Weather permitting, we will tackle the steps tomorrow and finish off a few welds from the now top side.

Nancy

Cncampers · 08-23-2014, 08:50 PM

Thought I would share a few photos of the old frame.

1st Photo shows a cross section of the side rail near the front of the trailer.
2nd Photo shows a cross section of the side rail near the rear of the trailer.
3rd Photo shows the pile of rust that came out of a 4' section of the side rail (front section) when lifted to place in the garden.

A big difference between the thickness between front and back, but still lots of rust within.

Nancy

dbj216 · 08-25-2014, 02:03 PM

Hello Cncampers! You folks on the east side of the metro area get all the rain. We are quite dry here on the west side. Send some our way if you would.

Mr C built a Globetrotter frame that looks quite stout. It ought to do the job for many, many years. I also have a big pile of rust in my frame members under the 86. I noticed the front A frame members have wide open ends under the ball coupler. I think road spray migrates into the frame channels. And it is a good opening for mice. Anyway, I sealed them up. The rust is worse in the back of my trailer as compared to the front. But overall it's pretty good for 30 years in Minnesota.

I wonder how Mr C cut those 3 inch plumbing clearance holes in the cross members? It seems it would be hard to do with hand tools.

David

Cncampers · 08-25-2014, 08:55 PM

David - the holes in the cross members were cut with a bi-metal hole saw ($12 drill attachment). Ear protection a must! Mr. C added some oil to both the surface of the saw blade and the surface of the cross member after scratching the surface. Sorry, no pictures because I didn't have ear protection handy and had to walk away. Yes, we are happy to receive small quantities of rain here and there. Today I HAD to mow the lawn!

Sunday morning it was overcast and humid. Good breeze, so back at it. After the over night rain, the shiny bumper is shiny no more. It now matches the rest of the rusty new frame. I tell Mr. C that now nobody will want to steal it because it looks old, not new.

Mr. C had to finish off some welds with the trailer right side up. The changing wind direction made welding a challenge. Lucky for Mr. C his assistant was hovering over him using her body and a sheet of aluminum to block the wind. Once the miscellaneous welds were completed it was time to tackle the new step. Measured and added another outrigger. We had held off on this until we were in possession of the new step. We dry fitted and Mr. C decided to weld a strip across the top of the opening to attach the floor and C channel to. Let me assure you the new step on the new frame is very sturdy.

Nancy

Cncampers · 08-25-2014, 09:12 PM

We thought we had someone lined-up to coat the frame. After finishing the frame yesterday we made the call. Due to technical difficulties they are currently out 6 weeks. Hmmm, mid-October. Could have snow by then. Talked over our options. Answer, we'll do it ourselves. Likely the cheapest and quickest solution. We headed to an auto/auto body supply store and picked up supplies. Too hot and humid when we arrived home yesterday afternoon to do anything.

Today we hit the entire frame with a cleaner/degreaser and then a metal etcher. The forecast is for cooler and less humid conditions this week, so we will try to get as much done as we can.

Nancy

Cncampers · 08-26-2014, 07:12 PM

Today we got the frame primed. Well not the bumper and propane holder. Just the new metal. Unfortunately I didn't think about my hair. I ended up painting under the frame. Let's just say I was one with my work. Both came out battle ship gray.

MarkR · 08-26-2014, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cncampers

Today we got the frame primed. Well not the bumper and propane holder. Just the new metal. Unfortunately I didn't think about my hair. I ended up painting under the frame. Let's just say I was one with my work. Both came out battle ship gray.

Great Thread. Looks like you're doing everything "right".

I have a favor to ask, can you tell me (or take a photo showing me) does the Axle / Axle Bracket Sit Hard Against the Underside of the Frame Or is it "Suspended" by the Mounting Plate - with all the Load of the Axle (Weight of the Trailer) going into those 2 Mounting Bolts?

(I'm swapping out my Leaf Sprung Axle for a Torsion Axle so I'm Fabricating/Installing the Mounting Plate . . . and obviously I want to do it right)

Thanks, MarkR

Cncampers · 08-27-2014, 11:36 AM

MarkR - had to check with Mr. C on your axle mounting question. What he wanted to do and what he did were two different things. I've attached pictures of his sandwich. He put in a plate and a 2" spacer. It was his intention to bolt the axle directly to the spacer. However, when he was busy welding he didn't think about it and ended up welding the axle mounting plate directly to the spacer. Not an issue if we have no need/desire to remove the axle. PM me if you want to discuss further. Good luck!