Vanessa, for as much work as I've done so far on my trailer, and as much
there is still to do, $15,000 for a frame up restoration looks pretty good
if you have the cash.
On my 56 Overlander, I do not notice any sagging, however the trailer is
pretty much victim to frame separation all the way around. The rear bath,
entire front (which used to house the pressurized fresh water tank) and the
curb fridge quadrants were rotted to pith. From what I can see so far of my
chassis, it is pretty thin material, rust can make short work of it.
I've wondered about having a new frame,axles, and hitch fabricated for my
Overlander since I've got rear frame repair needed and I wonder if my axles
need replacement. I know I will replace the split rim wheels though.
I don't think your A/C caused any frame sag. The monococcque shell does a
pretty good job of distributing the weight.
Since you have talked so much about Wally Byam (you need to write a book
about it all too!!) I have wondered if my trailer has been on the 59 Caravan
you speak of too. The age is right, and there is an old faded out remnant
of the Wally Byam Caravan sticker on the front of my trailer. Was there a
list of trailer serial #s kept of those that went on the African trip?
Jay L. Griffin [a.k.a. Jrnymn "Journeyman"]
http://homepage.dave-world.net/~jrnymn/jrnyindex.htm
http://homepage.davesworld.net/~jrnymn/jrnywebarchive.htm
____---,____
/ � [ ] � ) Ayrstream Overlander '56 26'
:-----��---------------^#6066 WBCCI / VAC
----- Original Message -----
From: Vanessa Dillon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> When I bought my '56 AS and everyone thought I was crazy because I
preffered
> it to the new SOB trailer I had, It wasn't until I had it a few days that
I
> noticed that the front and rear had a droop, including a sagging hitch.
It
> had an old Box shapped A/C on the roof, not a evaprative cooler and Bill
> maybe you can help me here, but do you think the weight of that artifact
on
> my roof could have caused it? I had to get a spring shackel replased on
one
> of my axles and the guy who did it told me that the chanel chassis was
made
> out of little more than sheet metal, maybe why my coach is so light. Have
> any others of you on the list owning a fifties model trailer noticed a dip
> in the chassis and thus body? It makes me wonder if my trailer went on
the
> '59 African caravan when Wally said that axles were breaking like match
> sticks and decided to go to the dura torque suspension/axle. I've since
> taken it down to Mexico and noticed no further deterioration in the sag.
> Classic AS Restorations has told me that they would love to do a ground up
> frame off restoration including custom building a new chassis. They told
me
> I have a very rare model that is well worth investing in, Because it has a
> slanted wheel well cut out slanting from front aand slopping down to the
> rear of the dual axles to back. The bedrom area it has a continuous wall
> of windows on both sides of the twin beds., from the curbside it looks
like
> solid windows from the rear dome to the front. How ever the cost would be
> around $15,000, They sell restored fifties Airstreams to the Hollywood
> insiders for guesthouses and such for up to $40,000. I realize that it
> would be a good investment but unless I have an Aunt Concertina lurking
> around somewhere with money to burn it's not going to happen soon. Do any
> of you guys have any suggestions on how to straighten, stabalize or
prevent
> my chassis from any futher sagging?
>
