'69 Ambassador-Org. axle rating

[1stimer]

What was the original axle rating for a 1969 29' Ambassador.
We have a chart showing 4715# trailer wt. and 570# tongue wt.
Do you add these together for total weight?
What was the orginal down angle for this unit?
Our steel frame on the road side is shot. I am planning total frame replacement with 2" x 6" x 3/16" tubing. Any comments.

Thanks

[Inland RV Center, In]

The original axle rating for a 1969 29 foot trailer was 3200 pounds per axle.

A replacement would kick the rating to 3500 pounds, or, with a slight modification to the axle mounting plate, the rating can be increased to 4000 pounds per axle.

An Airstream trailer does not rely on a frame for strength. The principal of construction is semi-monocoque, meaning the "shell" is load bearing.

A 3/16 inch frame might be somewhat of an overkill, as well as adding a bunch of unecessary weight to the trailer.

Andy

[1stimer]

Please elaborate on slight modification to axle mounting plate.
What would Airstream suggest for material sizing for a frame replacement? Any drawings, specifications, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Inland RV Center, In]

Airstream will not publish or suggest "any" specs for a frame for someone else to build. It would create a great deal of liability.

Likewise, we will not either. There are all to many factors to consider. We can and have built many special frames for unique purposes, but again, we have no control of what someone else may choose to do. Drawings like this are filed under "how to get sued in one easy lesson," should they be made public.

Only you know what you will be doing with the trailer, therefore you will have to come up with your own specs.

To fit a 4000 pound axle in place of a 3200 pound axle would required a slight increase in the size of axle tube cutout.

Andy

[McMullen]

1stimer. did you get your new frame biult? if not, I have 40 years experiance in working steel and engineering large production tools. If I was going to biuld a new frame for your trailer I would biuld it out of .095 wall by 2 by 6 tube. since the wall thickness will be much thiner than the original channel, the side brakets will have to span the complete 6 inches of frame highth. allso the cross bars inside the fram. When you biuld with tubing you should not weld across the tube, only length wise on the corners. Of course the side brakets and center spans will be welded across the ends top and bottom. this type of frame should be stronger and lighter than the original frame.. Mac