FOUND!! Wally Byam's '55 Cruiser - 1956 European Caravan trailer

[goransons]

Lesson 1 I learned on the Air Forums, NEVER ask an axle question in a thread...

So here goes. I have yet to find information on a 55 26' with double axles, everything I've found so far is a single (enter point where first poster points me to tons of examples I missed).

What rating axle should I use, and how many leaves per axle?

Why am I upgrading axles. Well, in short the springs are shot, the tubes have a tremendous amount of rust, the bearings are totally shot, and I want modern electric brakes on it for safety. I just want to make sure I size everything correctly. I'm going to go through a reputable shop here locally that still even does blacksmithing and custom suspension fabrication. I know he'll have a recommendation but I want some airstream folk input so that I can make sure we're making the right decisions.

For historic integrity I do want to stay leaf spring suspension. I'll even tuck away the original axles if someone wants to put them back on down the road.

[Melody Ranch]

I found 'em. and...all sorts of other old Airstream hardware.

[wkerfoot]

Scott,

Here is a picture of the springs and axle on my 1954 Liner. The spring pack was quite high, I don't remember how many leafs but more than a current spring pack.

Bill

[Ken J]

See my the new set up I did on my 58 Overlander here http://www.airforums.com/forums/f97/...n-12320-2.html

When I did that one, I could not duplicate what was there originally - I know spring shops can re-work existing springs, but I opted for new for the same reason as you - in the Flying Cloud, I was talked into torsion and I'm glad I did - much better ride - I left all the mounting brackets in place in case I or someone ever wanted to put it back to original. If I remember the axles were a 3500 lb rating.

Ken

[goransons]

Looks great Ken! Is the vendor you used still in business? I'd be interested in pricing parts out from them.

[Ken J]

Well actually no he is not in business anymore - I looked up that post - I realized it was 12 years ago - whoa - but as you know there is no budget for restoring these things - lol ! So I did get the best I could find - seems like everything I did was about $1000 for each project on the "to do" list - which is the first thing I did when I got these trailers - I broke it up into phases - so every time I finished a phase I felt pretty good - project seemed more doable breaking it up rather than one big to do list


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[goransons]

The best laid plans fail! First of many setbacks

Trying to get glass in windows to keep things dry. The jalousie clips I have are 4" and these windows use 3" clips. I need 8 sets. Can anyone sell me some?

Here are close ups




Please pm if you have some or know a source! Thank you!!

[goransons]

Learn something new every day. Spent a good amount of time on the phone with Robert at Vintage Trailer Shop (.com) Learned that the windows in this Airstream, out 62 Tradewind (also a California build) have non-Hehr windows. They are very different and have no brand or numbers but clearly were used in California trailers for at least 7 years. I'm really hoping someone has one I can buy to get this thing dry inside. If you know anyone with west coast window stashes please share my plea. Here's a few more pictures to help ID. I'm sending some samples of the weatherstrip to Robert and he's going to try to match and if unsuccessful look at reproducing them. I'm also going to get out the calipers and measure the side metal weatherstrip and see if a local shop can make me replacements. I still need some clips and hardware too so please please check your stockpiles. With our Streamline pending pickup I'm about ready to start ordering parts to get her dry inside and good suspension and wheels/tires.

[wkerfoot]

Scott,

Give C&G a call, they have been in business for a long time have a parts stash.

Bill Kerfoot

[Hittenstiehl]

You might also speak with Steve at Vintage Trailer Supply and Andy at Inland RV. Both have a wealth of knowledge of Vintage trailers and might have some contacts for part and pieces.

What a great project and find.

[goransons]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll make calls tomorrow if folks are open. Been out of town the last 4 days, but am home, and once I get some sleep I'll be back at trailer work. New tires going on the Streamline tomorrow along with repacking bearings so it can hopefully go to it's new owner later this week. Then progress can really start on this project.

[goransons]

Weather is improving although it rained and snowed all day today. New owner picks up the Streamline in 5 days then we can get serious on things. Tradewind gets finished first but I am going to do enough paint stripping I can rebuild windows and keep the majority of weather out.

I also noticed wires coming out of the wall and then saw wires cut off going into the water heater when I realized the water heater was gas and electric. Now that's crazy stuff for 1955!

[goransons]

Does anyone have a good interior shot of a properly installed H-20 lock? Here's the mess. I'm mostly interested in how the inside lock lever is supposed to come through the door skin. The inside sheet metal is clearly a hack job on mine at the moment
.

[Overlander & Sea]

Scott, is this what you need? It's an interior photo of the door lock on my '55 Flying Cloud.

BTW, GREAT find!!!!!

[goransons]

Thanks and thank you! Yes that's what I needed! I need to find that knob for the lock/unlock and make a new sheet metal cover. I'm just about to order the outside handle, spring and lock cylinder for it so I can get the door to stay closed. Also need to track down or have made some main door hinge pins. The bolts they have aren't right.

[goransons]

The hunt continues for parts, not because I need them now but because I know it will take time to track things down. Our streamline is in California with its new owners, and tomorrow I order the new refrigerator and the last big ticket items for "Windy" so I can finish her up and get her on the market in early April, then the attention can really focus on this one. A great friend found me 4 stock wheels with clips and I have 4 NOS baby moons for it. I've also found (I think) a craftsman to build me 3 new front exterior segments for the rotted out panels.

I did find a picture on the vintage trailer archives that shows the type of shades I need for this project. I need 3 doubles (as seen in the Wally/Stella picture) and 1 single shown in color off the archives. Anyone have a lead on these? They appear to be fiberglass so I'm guessing I can find an artist to recreate something close but of course I'd love to find originals. The one off the archives is in a 1955 flying cloud.

Picture #1, Wally/Stella for 2 lights (what I consider a double since it would have had two bulbs) over the table, and over the love seat, there is one single not shown in the kitchen area.

Picture #2 - off the vintage archives, in color

[goransons]

Today I spent a few minutes investigating the door mess. Removed the weird hack job holding the step part way up. The back arms are not aligned with the outriggers, one is quite rusted out too. Any chance anyone has a donor trailer with a good step unit that could be transplanted? The step outriggers look paper thin and bend all over the place due to the rotted plywood.

I have access to a great welder but would love to not have to fabricate everything over.

Also did a lot of clean up on the handle. New parts from vintage and lots of cleaning of the mechanism. Just have to file out for the new lock cylinder

[goransons]

Today I swapped tires so I could return the retrieval tires to our friends that helped us go get it.

White it was up on blocks I got a good look under it. Front kitchen drain runs down the center of the trailer, a copper drain pipe that switches to hose near the fixtures. The line come out centered right under the bumper. Oddly I haven't found any type of vent for it.





Rear curbside wheel well outrigger took quite a hit at some point

Finally, took the cover off the water heater. Was disappointed at the level of rust, I had hoped for better. None of the parts I recognize. This part may be a lost cause but I'll do my best to find parts.





Attachment 1


Lastly removed the scabbed on plates on the bumper that were added at some point. One moped mount intact under that.

[goransons]

I forgot to mention the front brakes are electric and the rear are hydronic. Is that typical for the 50's or someone's upgrade

[66Overlander]

Scott, I would guess that the brakes were hydraulic when the trailer was initially built because you can see some of the apparatus on the tongue in photos from the 1956 European Caravan, but someone added electric brakes to one axle at some point because they wanted some trailer brakes without modifying the hydraulics on their tow vehicle. But that's really a guess. Building the trailer with two different brake systems makes no sense to me.

Regarding a plumbing vent, I will guess the trailer never had one originally. Probably not code then, and I can confirm that a 1955 Airstream that I used to own had no plumbing vent.