ljp
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Post by ljp on Aug 9, 2019 17:39:02 GMT -8
AF dents 1 by Lonna Peters, on Flickr AF dents 2 by Lonna Peters, on Flickr Hello to All! I am new to this forum and new to vintage trailers so I hope that you will be helpful and kind to a newbie. I am interesting in this Airfloat but I am concerned (perhaps needlessly?) about the dents on the trailer body with the hitch braces connect. What, if anything, might this indicate?
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 9, 2019 18:13:10 GMT -8
Airfloats are rare here. I would just point out that the skin looks good wherw it meets the frame, so the body isn't sagging. This makes me worry that the tongue is bent up here and there may be frame problems. Take a 6 foot level or bit of string to check that the frame is straight?
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ljp
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Post by ljp on Aug 9, 2019 19:43:07 GMT -8
Thank you!Can you clarify your method of check the frame with a level and/or string?
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Post by vikx on Aug 9, 2019 19:43:59 GMT -8
Airfloats are pretty cool. I suspect there is bad wood behind the braces.To fix it, you would lift the skins and repair. I would add heavy duty wood behind the braces. Also have the frame inspected closely. Airfloats are expensive and if you don't want to do repairs yourself, you will be spending a lot. I wouldn't tow this trailer too far without addressing the brace issue. Good luck!
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ljp
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Post by ljp on Aug 9, 2019 19:46:12 GMT -8
I just checked your blog, Dan - gorgeous trailer!
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ljp
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Post by ljp on Aug 9, 2019 19:48:40 GMT -8
Thx, vikx. We will inspect it thoroughly tomorrow. Getting it home would only be a 30 minute tow down a very windy road . Eek!
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Post by danrhodes on Aug 9, 2019 20:45:58 GMT -8
Thank you!Can you clarify your method of check the frame with a level and/or string? I'd defer to Vikx who thinks it's wood rot behind the braces, but if you want to check the frame, a long level under this area should be enough to tell its straight. Either way, you will likely need to remove the skins to fix the hidden rot.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 12, 2019 11:53:31 GMT -8
The wood framing behind the skin where the braces attach is flat. While the profile is round... I would like to see up close photos of where the braces are attached to the trailer body. I'm willing to bet that the braces are mounted on the outside of the skin which at that point is round, to the framing which is flat. That would be a good reason for the dents and there is nothing you can do about it unless you remove the skin and add some rounded wood to the framing for the braces to attach to. The window itself is also flat. So you can see that the framing for the window is flat. As long as the wood framing is all new or fairly new all should be fine.
If this trailer was restored properly it will have pretty much all new framing. If it was done the cheap and easy way you don't want this trailer. I would demand photos of the build before I invested a penny in this trailer. It's very good looking and was probably done right, but I would need proof of that fact.
How much are they asking for this trailer?
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kirkadie
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Post by kirkadie on Aug 13, 2019 6:17:11 GMT -8
There was an Airfloat rebuild on this site a year ago, maybe two and in fact the weakness is in that framing. Owner reframed in steel supports under skin. It was an interesting post, wonder if it still lingers in archives.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Aug 13, 2019 9:58:25 GMT -8
There was an Airfloat rebuild on this site a year ago, maybe two and in fact the weakness is in that framing. Owner reframed in steel supports under skin. It was an interesting post, wonder if it still lingers in archives. I believe that the weakness is actually in the chassis at the tongue. These things leaked like crazy also and the metal is not aluminum but anodized steal/tin... I wouldn't want to deal with one. You all saw what my friend Walter did with his. That was truly amazing and it took him a long time to get it finished. If you haven't seen Walter's trailer it's in the July/August issue of Vintage Camper Trailers magazine... It's a 56 Airfloat Land Yacht. Absolutely amazing. And here's his website. For some reason I can't get the website to work.
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