Bumper Separating from Shell--Help!

[Laure&Chuck]

We own a 1969 Safari Twin. The rear bumber is separating from the shell. Tried to fix it but it didn't work. We think the problem arose when the previous owner put in a too-thick bathroom floor. Any ideas on how to repair? Any help is much appreciated.

[dbtolman]

It's called Frame Separation, and it needs to be taken care of quickly. There's plenty of threads related to it. The fix isn't for the faint of heart, but with the help of this group I think damn near ANY Airstream can be made usefull again.

[Over59]

It would be best if you could post some pictures so people know for sure what's happening. That way you don't get a solution for a problem you don't have. But it does sound like separation.

[Ken J]

Hmmm to think bathroom floor in itself would not cause rear seperation. My guess is the previous owner did not bolt the shell to the floor when it was replaced.

Ken

[Silvertwinkie]

jpairstream here on the forum did the fix to his 70s coach and posted pics of the process. Unfort, when I went to look at the photo albums, the server couldn't find any of them. I would send a PM to jpairstream to see if he can email you the pics and instructions he posted. It is an involved process which I believe included cutting into the outer skins.

A heavy floor could add/cause frame seperation, depending on what kind of floor was installed. For example, ceramic or marble would add significant weight to the rear end and as the unit ages, the stress/flexing could eventually break the mount bolts.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by Ken J

Hmmm to think bathroom floor in itself would not cause rear seperation. My guess is the previous owner did not bolt the shell to the floor when it was replaced.

Ken

Ken,

Very likely, especially if the original floor was rotted out. It's possible the PO laid a new floor over the old and didn't bother to run it under the floor channel.

[Ken J]

Don

I agree - thats why I thought that thicker floor in itself would not cause rear end seperation. Or I've seen when floor are replace the interior panels are not taken out, the old floor is taken out, new floor shoved in - and - not bolted down. If I were going to fix it, I would not cut the exterior skin, I would remove the interior and interior skin and put new floor and new bolts in . Not that hard of a repair really, just time consuming.

Ken

[Laure&Chuck]

Here are a couple of photos showing the separation.

[53flyingcloud]

You may have more going on there than just rot'd floor issues..
I'd suspect a frame issue as well judging from your pictures..
Have you contacted anyone to examine your unit yet for a professional opinion as to the extent of repairs?
ciao
53FC

[Jalina]

If you are looking at a quick fix you might be able to do what we did.
Take a look at our pic's on how we replaced just the wood under the rear. My hubby went to an RV place in Okla City and this is how he told him to fix it. He said that that is how he fixes all the A/S that come in his shop that just has the rear problem. The bolts that hold the channel together was rusted off and part of the channel was broken. If you any questions just pm us and we can tell you how we did it.
The only rotten spots we had was at the rear. Fixed it. Now we have a spot in front of the front door. Some time or another we will be replacing whole floor.

[Ken J]

Yup I would say that has seperated from the frame - as mentioned above is should be addressed and can be done taking the interior panels off or cutting a section out of the rear as Jalina suggests

Ken

[Laure&Chuck]

Thanks for all the great info. I found an Airstream Dealer about an hour from us; they do this kind of repair all the time, according to the guy I talked to. I've sent him photos and now need to get a cost estimate and to figure out how to get the camper to him. My husband is afraid to tow it too far in its current condition. We'll see....