"New" banana wraps

[j54mark]

I did get something finished today.

The previous owner seems to have been unable to drive between any two objects without hitting one, or the other, or both. He had managed to hit both front banana wraps just where they join the lower aluminum side wraps.

Mark

[j54mark]

And on the other side:

Mark

[j54mark]

And it would be interesting to know what happened here. No sign of fire - or even anything singed inside. About the size and shape of dual exhausts - but how?

Mark

[j54mark]

I was able to find used banana wraps at Colaws RV salvage, so they are used, but so is the rest of the coach. As you can see, it is dark now, but I did get the streetside finished.

The "new" blue insert is from the same source. I found a rather long piece of the molding lying on the ground, so I pulled out the insert.

Mark

[j54mark]

And finally the curbside. I drilled the rivets in the lower wrap all the way back to the wheel wells, and discovered no insulation whatsoever outboard the main frame rail! Was it in the way of some past repair? Was there never any insulation there?

There is an overlay on the aluminum portion just above shaft for the stabilizer. It's about 8" wide, but for some reason does not show up in the photo.

For the first time since I have owned this coach, it doesn't look like it was dragged out of a creek bottom.

Mark

[59toaster]

Originally posted by j54mark
And it would be interesting to know what happened here. No sign of fire - or even anything singed inside. About the size and shape of dual exhausts - but how?

Mark

Jacknifed the tow rig and left it running when they couldn't get it straighted out.

Looks good!

[trogers713]

Mark, could you tell me what the used Banana Wrap cost you? I called Colaws and they told me it would run 5.00 per inch. Did you pay that much.... I need to find several pieces for my 69. Does anyone fabricate it new? Tim

[j54mark]

Yours are quite different. Mine are plastic, where you have aluminum. I have been through the Colaw lot pretty thoroughly, and I am certain there is nothing there that would work on your '69. It would be interesting to know what they thought you wanted to buy.

I got the wraps, some trim, and a couple of odds and ends (litterally picked up off the ground), and paid $50.

Mark

[gerbermania]

Wow, those wraps look great, Mark.

Does anyone know when AIRSTREAM switch to plastic banana wraps?

I'm guessing that is also why they started making them a darker grey, it gave them a reason to color-code different materials, which is generally a good thing IMHO.

I have a 1969 with aluminum banana wraps, and they all have some dents. Plastic would be *much* easier to refurbish.

Christopher

[uwe]

Christopher,
Andy from InlandRV says the plastic ones can fit the earlier trailers without a problem. I was eyeballing them at his facility in Corona recently....mine are sorta rough also.

[apple 1]

My 81 Excella had the plastic parts and was also the first year for the grey bottom.
Jim