Something pushing up on bulkhead of 1971 31' Sovereign

[myersc]

Forgive me as I've posted this in the Sovereign forum but then thought this issue could happen in any Airstream. Something is pushing up in the bulkhead of a 1971 Sovereign and I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions. Could it be axles, frame, or ?

This is an Airstream that I'm considering purchasing so any opinions is appreciated.

Thank-you.

[HowieE]

Are there any kinks in the body skin that? I would suspect it is the frame starting to bend.

Look closely at the belly pan to see if it has had any repairs that would have resulted from needing to open it for inspection repairs.

[HiJoeSilver]

Since it's mid trailer I don't think it's pushing up but that the shell is pushing down. If the ends are unsupported and sagging slightly they may be pulling down on the center portion of the shell. Other possibility would be if stabilizers are pushing up too much.

[myersc]

When you say the stabilizers are pushing up, do you mean the stabilizer jacks? Wouldn't this be odd that someone would crank up on the stabilizers enough to cause this?

[TG Twinkie]

Not if someone was trying to level the coach with the stabilizers.
Does the floor have a hump?

[A W Warn]

Originally Posted by myersc

Forgive me as I've posted this in the Sovereign forum but then thought this issue could happen in any Airstream. Something is pushing up in the bulkhead of a 1971 Sovereign and I'm wondering if anyone has any opinions. Could it be axles, frame, or ?

This is an Airstream that I'm considering purchasing so any opinions is appreciated.

Thank-you.

The weight of the oven setting inside the bulkhead would create a lot of stress when the trailer is driven over a rough road (bouncing). I'm guessing that is what caused the separation.
I would closely looking at the axles. I'll also guess they are original and need replacing.

[dennis3751]

It may be partly due to an unsupported ceiling area under the AC unit. See if there is any support between the ceiling and roof, usually wood about 2" thick. Our '76 had a similar problem and it was a poorly supported AC unit.
Dennis

[TxDave]

I have the same Airstream (1971 Sovereign 31') with the same floor plan. It looks like there have been some modifications to the galley area.

It could be possible that someone was on the roof and stood or sit where they should not have.

The oven is not heavy enough to have caused this type of damage.

[HiJoeSilver]

Originally Posted by myersc

When you say the stabilizers are pushing up, do you mean the stabilizer jacks? Wouldn't this be odd that someone would crank up on the stabilizers enough to cause this?

Tgtwinkie got this.
Some people think you can level an AS with the stabilizers. AS aren't made that way. I do have a sob that I can level with the jacks but the frame is built different than an AS to allow for it.
Sometimes this is caused by the shell ends flexing up and down while rolling down the road on old stiff axles.

[A W Warn]

A 1971 31' was my first Airstream trailer. The bulkhead, and the oven within it, set directly over (or just in front of center) the forward axle. The normal weight of the oven is around 30-40 lbs, I could easily lift it. But, the weight of the oven is multiplied by some G force factor when it bounces. I removed the oven in mine.

When parked, if the elevation of the front or rear of the trailer is changed by using the stabilizer jacks, the height of the trailer at the pivot point over the axles won't change very much. It will lift slightly as suggested by others.