Bumper Bike Rack as part of rear frame upgrade

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by perryg114

Structural problems with Airstreams are caused when the attach points between the frame and shell break down. There are a few bolts and thin aluminum sheet metal holding these things together and that is at the front and back. The shell holds up the frame and if you put too much weight on the frame, it pulls loose from the shell. Also adding weight to the rear has a negative impact on stability. See this link.

Perry

So please tell me, what is the shell attached to above so it can hold up the frame?
Your post is utter nonsense. The frame is the foundation that holds everything and carries the entire assembly. Axles ,brakes wheels coupler that pulls the loaded weight of the trailer.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by pteck

To your point, I am mounting an EU2200i to the tongue of my Airstream. That 50lbs there should easily restore any potential change in COG to the trailer. Additionally, there's ample of opportunity for me to loadout my airstream with more bags/weight in the forward bedroom of my 27FB.

I don't necessarily agree with a bigger truck to compensate if one's tow vehicle meets the capacity requirements . A trailer should be inherently stable within itself by having the correct percentage of tongue weight. While a large truck is nice for more payload and capacity if one needs it, using a larger truck as compensation for a badly setup trailer is buying false confidence. It can and will sway just the same.

Just what exactly do you mean by a " badly set up trailer " ?
In our case we simply fill up the fridge, the water tank and basic necessities in the cupboards and closets. I never get anywhere near full capacity of the trailer payload.
Hook up the Blue Ox and the truck and away we go. Been doing this for six years over three of those I have been also loading our to bikes onto the Sari bike rack mounted on to the frame in the back of the trailer .
I haven't done anything special to set up our trailer beyond installing the hitch and bike rack.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

So please tell me, what is the shell attached to above so it can hold up the frame?
Your post is utter nonsense. The frame is the foundation that holds everything and carries the entire assembly. Axles ,brakes wheels coupler that pulls the loaded weight of the trailer.

You need to look up the definition of semi monocoque construction. You can do that on Google if you like. You knew that you were paying for it when you bought your Airstream, right?

[PKI]

[pteck]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

Just what exactly do you mean by a " badly set up trailer " ?
In our case we simply fill up the fridge, the water tank and basic necessities in the cupboards and closets. I never get anywhere near full capacity of the trailer payload.
Hook up the Blue Ox and the truck and away we go. Been doing this for six years over three of those I have been also loading our to bikes onto the Sari bike rack mounted on to the frame in the back of the trailer .
I haven't done anything special to set up our trailer beyond installing the hitch and bike rack.

Not sure if you're trying to ask a rhetorical question. You've been on these boards long enough to know that every trailer is different.

Some have more tongue weight at birth by virtue of their internal configuration. Some have tanks located in different positions that change the weight balance depending on fill. Some have their major internal/external storage areas in the tail. Yet others, like me, make modifications that effect balance, including but not limited to batts, solar, LP tanks, remodels, etc.

There's more subtle variables to stability like single/multiple axles. Length/weight. Tires/axle health. You name it. Some configurations more sensitive to the addition of bike storage on the rear than others, especially when weight balance is not considered.

A badly setup or poor WD/sway solution enters the equation too. BTW, I consider friction based systems just fine when used correctly.

Fortunately, I think we're all generally better off with AS's as they fundamentally have some nice architectural features that make them more stable than SOBs.

Point is, it has to be considered as a system. Many factors contribute to the overall stability. Stepping up to a bigger truck is not the silver bullet, especially to compensate for a badly setup trailer. There's enough examples here where even a 1-ton truck can and will sway.

[GMFL]

pteck,
That’s some might fine welding you’ve done there. High school shop class did you well also I see.

[pteck]

I appreciate it GMFL.

Never took a class. Great learning gleaned from another forum - weldingweb.com. Self taught and started on aluminum intercooling piping of all things. I'll give some credit to the modern inverter based TIG pulse welders available today.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by jcl

You need to look up the definition of semi monocoque construction. You can do that on Google if you like. You knew that you were paying for it when you bought your Airstream, right?

You are not serious are you ?

[Tony24]

I have a spare tire mount on the rear of mine and put a bike rack and 50lbs of bike on it and it have gone over 1000 mile this summer and it tows like a dream. My weld mount is kind of sketch so just yesterday I looked into a receiver hitch installation. Love your idea/method and plan to copy you! Thanks!

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Tony24

I have a spare tire mount on the rear of mine and put a bike rack and 50lbs of bike on it and it have gone over 1000 mile this summer and it tows like a dream. My weld mount is kind of sketch so just yesterday I looked into a receiver hitch installation. Love your idea/method and plan to copy you! Thanks!

I can't believe you are here alive and well to tell us about it.
According to many of the physics geniuses here your rig should be in the scrap yard and you in the cemetery.

[jcl]

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

You are not serious are you ?

Not sure what you are asking about. Whether the Airstream is actually a semi monocoque? Whether the aluminum shell is a stressed member that helps stiffen the frame? Whether Google explains the above points?

[Overstreet]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

…………………………...

Sure all of that. but look at how that thing in a roll over stayed together. I've seen other brand trailers that would be contents all over the Highway.

I came up on one of these back in about 2000. The AS and the truck with shell were upside down on their roofs still hooked up, like someone put them there. Everything intact. Amazing.

[franklyfrank]

Originally Posted by Overstreet

Sure all of that. but look at how that thing in a roll over stayed together. I've seen other brand trailers that would be contents all over the Highway.

I came up on one of these back in about 2000. The AS and the truck with shell were upside down on their roofs still hooked up, like someone put them there. Everything intact. Amazing.

But, but if it would have had a Bike Rack attached other than a FIAMA or one installed by CANAM the frame would be split off from the body laying on the other side of the road don't you know.

[OTRA15]

I think we get the point . . .

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

. . .
Your post is utter nonsense.
. . .

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

Just what exactly do you mean by a " badly set up trailer " ?
. . .

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

You are not serious are you ?

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

I can't believe you are here alive and well to tell us about it.
According to many of the physics geniuses here your rig should be in the scrap yard and you in the cemetery.

Originally Posted by franklyfrank

But, but if it would have had a Bike Rack attached other than a FIAMA or one installed by CANAM the frame would be split off from the body laying on the other side of the road don't you know.

[pteck]

Ah, was waiting for this to come in to finish my install. The magic rivet nut, or rivnut. Just what I need to secure against the far blind cross member. No need to open up the belly pan there.


Here's my completed and painted hitch. Ready for install.

[sgschwend]

Nice, always good to have a magic fix for a fastener.

[hollihan]

On airstream.com community ambassadors
https://www.airstream.com/community/...and-stephanie/
Gus shows they have done something very similar. It allows them to move the bike rack from the back of the trailer to use on their TV/Pickup. I emailed him and he was so great in responding on the how, but his setup suggests it is working pretty well. We have already committed to the Fiama, and since we don't have a back access that the Fiama will interfere with, we will proceed.

[sgschwend]

Yes this contributor I believe created a video and posted it. I did start my project by reviewing that third party work.

My frame is four sided and his is three sided which the purchased solution did converted the rear section to four sided. I did pickup the idea of keeping the hitch inside the storage area which requires the square hole to be cut into the bumper (not my most favorite idea, but it did look OK). I did not like the storage area space being cut in half by the square tube in his solution. As you can see in my last image posted my hitch is completely hidden by the rear bumper maintaining nearly all of the storage space.


Here is a picture of his solution (assuming I have the correct contributor), and a repeat of a shot I took look down of my trailer bumper storage area.

[pteck]

I've seen that video before and like the installation. A bit heavy handed and it's likely stronger than the frame rails themselves. But it'll do the job. Like sgschwend, the bumper storage is important to me so I did not want to sacrifice any space there.

[pteck]

I've finished! Those rivet nuts really are magic. The whole thing is a bolt on affair.

Finished at sunset so I wasn't able to throw the bike rack on it yet to try it out. It's solid. I threw on a ball mount and jumped on it. No deflection what so ever. It'll be plenty sturdy for a relatively lightweight bike hitch.

It's tucked right up under the bumper. Now that it's painted black, it's hard to even make out that it's there unless one is looking for it. Just how I want it.




While I was at it, I always disliked that frame to bumper connection had a pretty significant gap to the sides. I've lost at least 1 tool this way. Took some spare aluminum sheet I had lying around and created a contoured block off plate. This should do the trick.



I'll throw the rack and bikes on there to see how things work tomorrow.