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eubank · 12-31-2012, 02:12 PM

Danny, look over the linked area of our Forums 101 for information on posting pictures:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f138...tml#post612569

Lynn

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 05:48 AM

Thank you for the information Janet ! I shall make another feeble attempt
to get a picture to load up.
If it works, this is the right side looking forward from the front axle, shows some of the truss and braces to the outrigger and steps.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 06:06 AM

This one is the right side looking toward the rear. shows the bracing
to the outrigger and the rear truss . It has a 2inch wide 1/4 inch strap
welded to the main frame and outrigger , running down to the 2x2 1/4
inch tubing truss and the 4 inch wide 1/2 inch plate notched and welded
to the truss and outrigger. I know that some of the iron used in this project
is pretty much on the OMG that's too big scale , but I would rather have
too much support than put something under there that is like the wet noodle
frame that airstream designed . and the fact that this stuff came from my stack of stuff accumulated over way to many years .

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 06:21 AM

This one shows the R Front axle mount --truss attachment area where the
4x4 3/16 square tube with the 2x2 1/4 inch tubing running through it is suspended below the axles with a u-bolt on the outside .
The axles act as very nice cross members for the truss and with part of the
weight of the trailer being applied to the axle tubing further out from the main frame the axles themselves will have gained strength from having less leverage at the fulcrum point.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 06:23 AM

sorry ! that last one is the RIGHT REAR not the Right front

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 07:26 AM

this is the right rear of the trailer where the truss attaches to the frame.
The pretty , shining , aluminum , "bumper" has been replaced by a 4 inch channel iron . The frame and sewer hose compartment have been shortened a bit and a 1/2 inch 4 inch wide plate was welded to the side of the original frame and the channel iron . this allows the new truss clearance past the side of the poo tank. The truss is welded to the plate and channel iron.

This was all done while the trailer was supported from the rear under the skid brackets and under the front just rear of the tongue jack. this allowed the wet noodle airstream frame to have a slight sag in the middle instead of the ass end drooping. When the work was complete , the trailer maintains it's new stance while on it's tires traveling down the road.

M2HB · 01-01-2013, 08:32 AM

It certainly is stronger than when it left the factory. What is irritating is that building a stronger frame would only cost Airstream about $250 to $300 more. If you figure about $1 per pound for steel and the cost for structural channel instead of "C" channel, the price isn't that high. Besides, the cost of the actual build doesn't change much at all. AS could use heavier axles and have much more payload. If they did this it would make their trailers more like the old Avion and Silver Streak trailers.

Coastalview · 01-01-2013, 08:56 AM

Maybe this topic has been brought up already? Axle spacing? The 22 CCD in comparison to the 25 CCD appear to be different in terms of axle spacing. The further the separation between tandem axles applies greater friction with tire scrubbing being transferred directly to the frame. Just grabbed two photos off the net that appear to show different spacing.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 10:53 AM

Why they do what they do in engineering the frames and axles on these newer Airstreams only the Good Lord above would know, but I bet old Wally is spinning in his grave !! You are absolutely correct that it would add very little to the initial cost to build a trailer that would hold up to years of of use instead of the crap they build now days ! And as to the distance between the axles, the 22 in my shop has a distance of 33 inches between the center of the spindles and with 235/75R15 tires has a space of 4.5 inches between the tires. That shot of the 22 probably has 14 inch tires and the 25 might be running 700/15s . that might be the optical effect of the axles being further apart ? These torsion axles might offer a bit softer ride than the short leaf spring set up, but the trade off is that the weight of the trailer is right on top of the axle mounts with the torsion axles and is spread out over a longer portion of the frame with a leaf springs set up . If it were up to me the way to go would be solid axles , but use LONG resilient leaf springs independent of one another for and aft and staggered so one could run along side of the other while maintaining proper close axle spacing. These springs would be about 6 ft long each and would allow the axles to move up and down a great deal more than they can with torsion or short leaf springs. The addition of an ample sway bar would take care of side sway created by using a softer suspension. Then you could use load range E tires with 80 pounds of air and still have a ride smoother than silk .
Ok then, nuff ramblin on about stuff that will never happen !! Happy New Year !

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 11:25 AM

Here is a shot of the right rear axle area looking forward.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 11:33 AM

looking forward from behind the axles on right side
A rough estimate is that about 450 pounds of steel and rods were added to the total trailer weight doing this project.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 11:42 AM

from the front looking toward the rear on the right side

a tidbit of information was that the loons who built this thing at Airstream
left about 3 dozen sealer - caulk tube ends flopping around in the belly pans durn near caused a fire while doing this project. Thought about boxing them up and sending them to Airstreams president saying he should find a dark place to shove his trash !

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 02:43 PM

Right rear where the truss connects to the frame via the 1/2 inch plate, and bumper

Pedecanada · 01-01-2013, 02:48 PM

So is this problem only on the 22 feet models or are all airstream affected like my 2009 34 feet Panamerica. On my trailer all those supports are covered up.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 02:50 PM

part of the beefed up front frame and tongue. No more up and down movement . Should be able to hold up well if you needed to use a load equalizer hitch . The short bed Dodge 3/4 ton handles it quite well without one. With the big Cummins diesel, and 12000. pound winch mounted on front it welcomes the added tongue weight on the rear axle.

dannydimitt · 01-01-2013, 02:56 PM

Howdy Pedecanada ! Hopefully they used real steel channel iron and top to bottom outriggers with full crossmembers between each one . Have not heard of failures like are common on the 22 ft tandem axle models on any of the larger ones
Happy New Year !

Pedecanada · 01-01-2013, 04:48 PM

I hope the 34 footer have no problems or I would be pissed. The trailer seemed well built but time will tell.

dongubrud · 01-02-2013, 09:27 AM

Well done. Maybe a bit over done but a whole lot better than under-done.
I am going to bring your Post to the attention of Dave Schumann, General Manager, Customer Relations Group at Airstream.

dannydimitt · 01-02-2013, 01:42 PM

Thanks Don,
I do tend to build things a tad bit stronger than just good enough .
Of coarse in the case of Airstream frames on the 22 ft. trailers , No one in their right mind could possibly think the flimsy , light weight pressed sheet metal junk frames they built would ever hold up to even low speed occasional trips !
They are more like the cheap lightweight frames that are stuck under house trailers. With barley enough ass to get it from the factory to wherever it's gonna sit for years and years with support every few ft under the frame

Have you ever looked under one of the newer single axle Bambi's that Airstream builds? Holy Mother of God if they have have put the same cheap pile of crap frames under them with only one axle, they must be having even worse problems than the 22 ft tandem axles ! just saying .

Hang in there !

Inland RV Center, In · 01-02-2013, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannydimitt

Thanks Don,
I do tend to build things a tad bit stronger than just good enough .
Of coarse in the case of Airstream frames on the 22 ft. trailers , No one in their right mind could possibly think the flimsy , light weight pressed sheet metal junk frames they built would ever hold up to even low speed occasional trips !
They are more like the cheap lightweight frames that are stuck under house trailers. With barley enough ass to get it from the factory to wherever it's gonna sit for years and years with support every few ft under the frame

Have you ever looked under one of the newer single axle Bambi's that Airstream builds? Holy Mother of God if they have have put the same cheap pile of crap frames under them with only one axle, they must be having even worse problems than the 22 ft tandem axles ! just saying .

Hang in there !

Please understand that Airstream has "NEVER" claimed to have a tough chassis.

Why you ask?

Because the strength of an Airstream is in the shell, not the chassis.

The method of construction is "Monocoque" or more especially with Airstream, "Semi-monocoque".

Monocoque means load bearing shell.

Actually, the stronger the frame, the more trouble you will have "IF" it's not attached to the shell correctly.

Andy