Aftermath of tire blowout

[Jimbohlia]

We had a blowout on our ‘64 Safari that damaged the panel behind the wheel well. The bottom panels seem to be a different material than the main body panels. Can someone tell me what is commonly used for the underside metal and maybe a good place to purchase it? Thanks in advance!
[IMG]We had a blowout on our ‘64 that damaged the panel behind the wheel well. The bottom panels seem to be a different material than the main body panels. Can someone tell me what is commonly used for the underside metal and maybe a good place to purchase it? Thanks in advance!

[Dingo Girl]

I believe this is it.

[Minno]

We replaced ours with .032 aluminum, which is what we also used for the new belly pan. Hubby doesn't remember the "T" designation. It came from Coremark Metals in Minneapolis.
On the other hand, from what I can see from your picture, you might be able to roll or bang the dents out. Wouldn't be perfect...


Kay

[Minno]

Here's another one: Airparts Inc.com. Ph: 800-800-3229 and give them year of AS, and what you're looking for. They can get you the correct aluminum for your trailer. We used them to get aluminum to reskin our door a couple years ago. They ship.
And our belly pan (the 032) is thicker than what was originally on our trailer, a '72. It bends well though for the sides.
Hope this helps.


Kay

[Jimbohlia]

Thanks for all the good information! This happened 20 minutes in to an 1.5 hour drive home from purchasing it. The AS had been stored for the last several years and the tires were 6 years old- I replaced both with Goodyear endurance- lessons learned..
This was my first post- I’m new to Airstreams - have wanted one for as long as I can remember- this community seems like a great resource- I’ll be here often!

[Andy543]

Originally Posted by Jimbohlia

Thanks for all the good information! This happened 20 minutes in to an 1.5 hour drive home from purchasing it. The AS had been stored for the last several years and the tires were 6 years old- I replaced both with Goodyear endurance- lessons learned..
This was my first post- I’m new to Airstreams - have wanted one for as long as I can remember- this community seems like a great resource- I’ll be here often!

It may not have been a blowout, just a flat tire. The problem is that when you get a flat on a trailer you can't feel it, and then you keep travelling along unknowingly until the tire disintegrates. The flying pieces then destroy your wheel well, causing thousands of dollars in damage. It is essential that you have a tire pressure monitoring system for your trailer tires to let you know when the air has run out. You can get a monitoring kit with sensors that screw onto your tire valves fairly cheaply from Amazon.

[overlander64]

Greetings Jimbohlia!

Welcome to the Forums, and the world of Vintage Airstream ownership!

Originally Posted by Jimbohlia

Thanks for all the good information! This happened 20 minutes in to an 1.5 hour drive home from purchasing it. The AS had been stored for the last several years and the tires were 6 years old- I replaced both with Goodyear endurance- lessons learned..
This was my first post- I’m new to Airstreams - have wanted one for as long as I can remember- this community seems like a great resource- I’ll be here often!

You have received excellent advice in the previous posts so I won't add to that. While I concur that a tire pressure/temperature monitoring system can be very beneficial, particularly on a single axle Airstream, it is one thing that I have drug my feet regarding adopting. I have owned my 1964 Overlander Land Yacht International for 30 years, and my 1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre for 23 years, and I may be riding on borrowed time as I have never had an on-the-road flat/blowout with either of these trailers. My last flat/blowout was in 1982 with my then two year old Nomad Light Weight Special travel trailer when one of its spring shackles failed causing a spring to puncture one of its Good Year Marathon tires (back in the day when Marathons were bias ply). I have had my trailers on a rotation where I replace their tires at the beginning of the fifth season.

I am certain that you will come to love your 1964 Safari, in many ways they are the end of a generation of Airstreams being the last year for a few features, but the first year for a couple of other features. It was the end of the line for two of my favorite features on an Airstream in 1964, the Door-Within-A-Door as well as the Jalousie Windows beside the entry door both of which, to, me add a particular charm to the models so equipped. It was also the first year for the UniVolt 12-Volt DC Power Converter/Charger system for the lights and most other systems in the trailer (although some still had transformers harkening back to the past -- ceiling vent fans, range hood vent, and PAR (Peters and Russell) demand water pump. The Demand Water system was also made standard for the entire line replacing the pressure system the relied upon a galvanized fresh water tank pressurized by a Grover air pump.

Something to keep in mind as you explore the systems on your Safar is that some of the components, if original, are worth retaining and restoring as they were built with industrial grade components that were designed to be maintained, serviced, repaired, and/or rebuilt. The two that always come to mind for me are the Armstrong Air Conditioner as it is a sturdily constructed marvel that with regular maintenance it will provide better cooling than any modern unit that I have experienced while remaining much quieter, and will work with both your wall mounted thermostat as well as the built-in Condesate Drains. The PAR (Peters and Russell) water pump is another example of a product built with industrial grade components that is worth the cost of rebuilding as it will soldier on with minimal maintenance while providing reliable service -- you may have to go to a marine/boat service center to source parts/rebuild kit as it seemed Airstream, Argosy, Avion and a few other premium travel trailer manufacturers were the only ones in the industry who used PAR pumps (PAR pumps is now a part of JABSCO and there is a difference between the new PAR pumps and the Vintage although they still make the Vintage design pumps, but they are much more expensive than the modern version). The argument can also be made that the original 2-way Dometic refrigerator can be rebuilt with a new cooling unit from one of the Amish Manufacturers known for building new cooling units for them -- the caveat is the condition of the interior and exterior door of your refrigerator, and how comfortable you are with not having the option of running on 12-Volt DC when traveling -- I know that this is the reason that I didn't put up with the original style and had a new Dometic Americana 3-Way Refrigerator installed in my 1964 Overlander Land Yacht International more than 25 years ago.

Good Luck with your Safari, and Safe Travels!

Kevin

This is my 1964 Overlander Land Yacht International with my favorite tow vehicle, my 1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible, sadly, it was stolen in 2014 so I am not towing with a 1992 Buick Roadmaster Limited sedan.

As a Post Script:
I might suggest that you consider joining the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI)/Airstream Club International (ACI) along with your local Unit as it is an excellent way to meet other Airstream owners in your area and experience the camaraderie of Airstream ownership firsthand. You will often find someone in your local Unit who either owns or has owned a 1964 Safari identical or similar to yours who can be a great source of information. In addition, you have access to State, Regional, and Special Event Rallies as well as the Annual International Rally that will be held in York, Pennsylvania this year at the end of August (different state and dates each year). Members are also welcome to attend the Rallies and functions of other Units on a space available basis as you travel. There are also the Caravans that are led by Volunteer members who attend training seminars at the International Rally, and these Caravans are typically a great value as they generally include campground fees, many if not all attraction fees, some group meals, sometimes include tolls/ferries, and often include being able to see/do things that are often not available to solo travelers. There are also ten Intra-Clubs or Clubs within the Club for persons of varying interests. For instance, I belong to two -- the Vintage Airstream Club, for owners and enthusiast of Airstreams 25 years of age or older where preservation/restoration/maintenance/upgrades are often topics of discussion -- Pride Streamers, one of the newer Intra-Clubs for LGBTQ owners, their friends and family. There is a great diversity among the Intra-Clubs from which you may choose, and there are many options available to members to enhance their enjoyment of the Airstream ownership experience. With several of the Intra-Clubs, you are offered the option of parking with your Intra-Club at larger Rallies like the International Rally.

[kenfconnor]

With so little damage I would not bother to replace that. I have had a 63 and a 66. A little road rash is part of the character. If those are the original rivets they are much better than what you will use for a repair. You may also find it difficult to match the curvature. I had a wheel come off (retorque your nuts!) And it ripped a huge opening in one of the side panels. Insurance did cover it.

[perri]

The damage does not look bad from here. I know it must be incredibly frustrating to experience damage within the first few minutes of ownership. And it’s possible that some precautions may have prevented the incident. But it looks like you got lucky, and didn’t get much damage.

From the vantage of long years of owning, you might sigh, wipe your brow and smile with relief as you towed to the tire shop.

Ken is also right about the rivets. Maybe live with this for a week or two and see if you want to research dent repairs, or let it go.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Andy543

It may not have been a blowout, just a flat tire. The problem is that when you get a flat on a trailer you can't feel it, and then you keep travelling along unknowingly until the tire disintegrates. The flying pieces then destroy your wheel well, causing thousands of dollars in damage. It is essential that you have a tire pressure monitoring system for your trailer tires to let you know when the air has run out. You can get a monitoring kit with sensors that screw onto your tire valves fairly cheaply from Amazon.

Jim,

I agree with Andy. A tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is critical on a trailer, espcially an AS. After getting new tires this should be near the top of your "mst have" list.