Putting my question re:tires first, discursive reply to Harvey and the list follows: I'm renovating a 1950 'Jeepster' for use as a tow vehicle for the '48 'Trailwind'... Both the Jeepster and Trailwind have the same size wheels... (15" 5 bolts on 5.5" diameter)...I'm thinking i'd like to mount the same tires all the way around, on both the jeepster and the trailwind... wide whitewalls. i've been perusing my own archives of this list re:tires, and still have a couple of questions: a) 'Tubeless' bias/ply tires are often available with optional tubes... is there an advantage to operating these tires with tubes? b) The jeepster has, i believe, a 'caster' axle... /-----\ ...while the airstream appears to have a significant 'camber'.... \-----/ ...(have i got this the right way 'round?)... would there be a problem with rotating tires from the jeepster to the airstream and vice-versa? it seems like the wear-patterns would even out, over the rotation cycles... c) anyone have pro/cons re: classic-style whitewalls on a travel-trailer? e.g. http://www.coker.com/ Harvey, I've had a soft spot in my head for jeeps since i owned a brand new AMC cj5 in the '70's... and when someone on this list (possibly Fred 'Agrijeep' Coldwell, our Historian) recommended a vintage utility wagon as a tow vehicle, i was off and running. i've eschewed the utility wagon in favor of the more sporty 'Jeepster', which is regarded as one of the most collectible vehicles out there... (there were fewer than 6,000 of the '50 version made, the "'51's" were leftover '50's). This was a post-war Willys-Overland/Brooks Stevens designed jeep aimed at the returning GI, based upon the (apparently mistaken) assumption that these guys hadn't had their fill of jeeps overseas... A jaunty little convertible, these great little cars have been faithfully restored to original condition by purists, and re-powered by people who like to drive them. For my money, the stock 4- and inline 6-cylinder engines are, to my thinking, a bit underpowered to haul even my little Trailwind. Fortunately, i had the opportunity to buy one at a very reasonable price from a gentleman in California who has too many 'projects' and too little time... A previous owner had replaced the original drive-train with a '60's V-6/4WD drive train - I'm about to take it down to a mechanic and have it gone over - I'd rather bring the existing drive train up to snuff, if that's possible... the other route (which is beyond my means, at present) would be to install a small-block v-8, autotrans and transfer-case... and the power steering, brakes, and in-dash A/C. The rear seat in this Jeepster's long gone, leaving a wonderfully large space for traveling 'extras', I'm thinking this might actually work out quite well as a tow-vehicle. Tuna '48 Trailwind WBCCI#8862, VAC Reno, NV ----- Original Message ----- From: Harvey Barlow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Multiple recipients of VACList <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2001 5:12 AM Subject: [VAC] Vintage Jeeps > Tuna, > > I just got around to reviewing the page reference you provided on vintage > Jeep restorations. I like old Jeeps and especially the Jeep wagons. > Several nice examples on the web site you offered. I'd like to see photos > of yours when it is completed. A Jeep wagon with small block Chevy or > Vortec V6 Chevy, TH-700R4 transmission, power steering, power disc brakes, > and air would make a great vintage A/S hauler and attract a crowd every > where it goes. > > Harvey > To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
