Potentential Hub/Spindle Damage 1964 Overlander

[overlander64]

1964 Overlander Potential Storm Damage to Axles
Greetings All!


I have some potential storm damage to the axles/hubs/spindles of my 1964 Airstream Overlander Land Yacht International. This was something of a freakish occurrence that I wouldn't have believed if friends who allow me to store my trailers on their property hadn't witnessed the event. We had a a line of very severe storms roll through our area of far Southern Illinois last Friday night into Saturday Morning with very high winds. We had tornadoes that went several miles North and South of us, but not closer than about 25 miles.

A straight line wind gust was strong enough that it lifted the Overlander up and onto its curbside wheels and nearly toppled it -- but just about when it was ready to topple over, it bounced back onto all four wheels. In the light of day, all four tires were still inflated to 55 psi, and there was no visible damage to wheels everything appears normal otherwise.

My intuition says that I probably should tow the Overlander to the nearest shop capable of assessing axle alignment as well as inspecting condition of hub connections/alignment on curbside. I know that damage would show up in excessive wear on tires, but I also know that it could possibly result in catastrophic failure of a hub/spindle. I have tentatively planned a 225 mile trip in June and a trip to the International Rally in August.

My question, is: Am I on the right track in pursuing a professional opinion on whether the weekend's incident damaged my Overlander's axles?

Right now, my closest RV Dealers are:

1. A local (2 miles away) multi-line dealer that is corporately owned out of Texas with little known reputation locally, and I have no idea whether they would consider looking at a 61 year old Airstream.
2. A local dealer (35 miles away) whom I have dealt with for over 25 years, and they have been in business for several decades, are family owned, and haven't been afraid of working on my Airstream or Argosy -- I suspect they are going to be swamped with insurance work as the tornadoes struck very close to their dealership and their customer base.
3. Bill Thomas RV Sales, Wentzville, MO (about 200 miles) is about my closest Airstream dealer, and I have no idea how advisable it might be towing it that far not knowing if there is any damage to the running gear.
4. We have flatbed trailer builders in Sikeston, Missouri (60 miles), but the one that I have done business with went out of business during the pandemic, but there are still at least two others in that area who build trailers with Dexter axles.

All opinions greatly appreciated!!


Thank You!


Kevin


This was the scene at a little after 9:00 AM Saturday Morning -- if my friend hadn't witnessed the near overturn, it certainly wouldn't have been obvious -- the inner door had been blown open somehow -- the retaining tangs that engage the clamp had been bent open upon examination, but were easily bent into shape and the inner door secured back into place.


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[tjdonahoe]

Be more concerned about the frame

[Action]

Since an Airstream has a monocoque structural construction, any major structural damage is going to show up in distorted exterior panels.

Based on the sole picture, the awning looks intact.
The AC and vent look OK
The lp tanks in the front appear to be correctly mounted.

I assume the blue trash can and orange cone were not there when the wind came through. If they were, and that's where they landed, don't worry about the trailer.

Action

[Redbarron55]

If you own a length of string then you are in business.
Hold the string at the half way point of the rear of the rear tire from the bulge of the sidewall (at the rear of the tire) and get someone to stretch the string alone the trailer just touching the sidewall bulge at the front of the tire. Extend the string forward and measure from the center of the hitch ball to the string and then compare to the other side and see what the toe in or out might be. If dual axle see where the string lines up on the front vs the rear tire. Two of you along with some tale can measure the alignment of the the axle(s). A smart phone with a protractor app can check the camber of the tires.
We used to use string to line up race cars the would run over 200 MPH at Daytona before lasers were cheap and available. Of course you could rig up a laser pointer as well.

[overlander64]

Greetings Action!

Originally Posted by Action

I assume the blue trash can and orange cone were not there when the wind came through. If they were, and that's where they landed, don't worry about the trailer.

Action

You are correct, the trash can, orange cones, and a variety of other things were blown around and were in the process of being gathered up and returned to their normal storage places when the photo was captured.


Kevin

[overlander64]

Greetings Redbarron55!

Originally Posted by Redbarron55

If you own a length of string then you are in business.
Hold the string at the half way point of the rear of the rear tire from the bulge of the sidewall (at the rear of the tire) and get someone to stretch the string alone the trailer just touching the sidewall bulge at the front of the tire. Extend the string forward and measure from the center of the hitch ball to the string and then compare to the other side and see what the toe in or out might be. If dual axle see where the string lines up on the front vs the rear tire. Two of you along with some tale can measure the alignment of the the axle(s). A smart phone with a protractor app can check the camber of the tires.
We used to use string to line up race cars the would run over 200 MPH at Daytona before lasers were cheap and available. Of course you could rig up a laser pointer as well.

Thank you for the suggestion! I will print out your post, and the next time I am out at my friend's where I have the Airstream stored, we'll give the measurement process a try to see what we come up with.


Kevin