Airstream Shortification!

[northern 85]

Very cool! Tell your dad he ROCKS, looks like he works smarter not harded.

[aerotruk63]

Originally Posted by Torrey72

This is NICE!
P.S. Don't forget to nab the "Airstream" name plates off the scrap heep.

The only plates I'm not saving is the Land Yaght on each side of the trailer. I'm hoping to add the 62-66 Aluminum moldings that run along the fleetsideside of the pickup box to somewhat match the truck.

[aerotruk63]

[NONHOG]

Too bad the center folded up it could have made for a neat little tool shed.

[Gumby]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

My Dad built this for moving my buddy's trailer in and out of the shop.

whats that unused gear for?

or did the chain pop off?

[aerotruk63]

Originally Posted by Gumby

whats that unused gear for?

or did the chain pop off?

My Dad originally thought that it might be too fast, so he had planned to gear ir down with those gears. When he got it together he found that the winch could pull the trailer no problem with only the gear on the winch and the gear on the axle.

[aerotruk63]

Got two panels on today, it's a start.

[Gumby]

OT, would you happen to have a few spare tires I could use

[Torrey72]

Did you have to put the curve in the panels before you put them on or do they take that shape when you rivet them in place?

[aerotruk63]

Originally Posted by Torrey72

Did you have to put the curve in the panels before you put them on or do they take that shape when you rivet them in place?

While the panels look curved, their actually straight. Perhaps it's the riveting that gives off the illusion.

Were finding the best method for riveting is to leap frog the drilled holes before, between and after the Cleco's to keep the panels samwiched.

[aerotruk63]

Originally Posted by Gumby

OT, would you happen to have a few spare tires I could use

We have lot's of tires, though here in Canada our prices are higher than in the States. Tire Rack sells and ships for the price we pay the distributors here.

[aerotruk63]

Now were covered. It's riveted half way up the roof on the other side. Dad get's tired fast and I don't want to work him to hard. Then again! LOL

, have this side to finish

[northern 85]

Wow that looks great!

[Warrens69GMC]

Must be a b*t*h to get in and out of that thing

[aerotruk63]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Must be a b*t*h to get in and out of that thing

Break and enter style, through the open window for now. The original door frame needs welding in the bottom corner before installation.
I wonder if we can get tempered glass cut. I`d like to cut down the width of the original side window to fit between the door and the rear curved section. There`s a water cut place down the street, I`ll ask them.

[NONHOG]

Mind showing some details as how your doing the riveting?
BTW Its looking really cool!

[aerotruk63]

I'll try to make a video on Saturday when we start riveting again. And I'll take some stills if I can't get the video to work.

[aerotruk63]

Originally Posted by Warrens69GMC

Must be a b*t*h to get in and out of that thing

I'm installing the door to the drivers side. My contribution to the world of customization. Wild and crazy me.

[Thealien]

very cooool!!

[67ChevyRedneck]

I took this pic a few days ago on my way up to NC. I passed this guy on the interstate, but I got a new phone and was too slow to get a pic. I stopped at a rest stop and when I came out of the building this was parked near me so I grabbed a pic. It's the biggest airstream I've ever seen, 3 axles! It looked really cool... and the small crappy pic with my finger in it proves I still suck using these fancy new phones (droid x2). It was being pulled by a great big ass cummins ram 3500 crew cab dually.

[aerotruk63]

Airstream was purchased by Beatrice Foods in the early seventies and went on a kick to lighten the frames of the trailer. In those longer model trailers you'll often find the frames are bending and the shell of the trailer is straining not to flex. Airstream sells a frame reinforcement to help solidify the frame behind and forward of the axles.
The smallest model " Bambi " in current production was built in the winter to fill in while they waited for the orders on the longer models. These short trailers are now the rage as they can be pulled by a smaller vehicule.
The trailer above could be in the 34 foot range. There's also a adventure trailer made, Eddie Bauer edition with the " Sport Hatch ".
http://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/eddie-bauer/

[aerotruk63]

Put one of the old windows from the wall section into the new upper door skin. Never had a window there before, I like the change.

[aerotruk63]

And followed that up with a window below it. Now it looks balanced with the front.

[chevy_man5]

That is looking really good Aerotruk!

[OrrieG]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

I wonder if we can get tempered glass cut. I`d like to cut down the width of the original side window to fit between the door and the rear curved section. There`s a water cut place down the street, I`ll ask them.

When we do custom windows for buildings the glass is cut to size, then tempered, then assembled. I once tried to cut a tempered piece, still finding piece of the "gravel" in the garage.