Re: [A/S] Frame droop repairs

[Roy Lashway <rlashway@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>From my files.  This may be helpful.  Incidentally I had a friend who had 
tail droop and he purchase frame reinforcement plates from A/S and 
installed according to  instructions on below service bulletin's.  These 
bulletin's maybe on file on the Vintage Web sit.  If not contact 
Airstream and they will provide them.
========
I'm sitting here staring at copies of Airstream Bulletin #1 and #29 and 
remembering how confused I was (I get that way often) when I first heard 
about the dreaded FRAME SEPARATION and even worse TAIL DROOP!

I think now that I understand that there is a difference.  And the 
bulletins help sort out what that difference is.

My understanding is the following:

TAIL DROOP is caused by a bending or failure of the frame members in the 
general area of the axle caused by overloading (gray water tank, other 
equipment, corrosion, or any of these in combination with rough roads 
etc, etc) that manifests itself by the buckling of the outside skin and a 
noticeable "droop" in the rear portion of the trailer.

FRAME SEPARATION, on the other hand, is a condition where the rear of the 
trailer disengages from the frame, most likely from the severe bouncing 
of the unit combined with corrosion or an inherent design flaw in the 
fastening scheme, or both.  The important difference between this and the 
above is that it can occur without frame bending or failure.

Bulletin #1 came out in at least 1972 and deals with both the 1968 and 
older models and how to fix it, and the 1969 through 1972 model fix. It 
deals with how to get some additional fastening installed between the 
body channel and the frame.

Bulletin # 29 came out in at least 1983 (It mentions 1982 models) and 
deals with installing main frame reinforcement plates in cases of frame 
failure.

These are good instructional documents and should be obtained by anyone 
concerned with this issue.
===========

Roy Lashway
'78 Argosy,'56 Bubble
WBCCI 1610     VAC
rlashway@zianet.com
web site: www.zianet.com/rlashway
   (polishing report included)