First Look - New Bumper Trunk Lid - Keeping Water Out!!!

Just a quick sneak peak at our new bumper trunk.  This is not original to our trailer, so Colin's guys fabricated the aluminum lid.
Key to keeping the plywood floor from rotting is to keep it dry.  Our 1955 Flying Cloud has the sloping rear end which helps move water away from the trailer.  Colin added the aluminum flashing between the exterior shell and the C-Channel.  This small but huge addition acts like flashing in other applications, moving rain water away from the entry point.
We will definitely use the extra outdoor storage, and I really appreciate the extra protection at the rear of the trailer.

Belly Pan - All Curved Corners

A new belly pan is being attached to our vintage Airstream frame!

Our shell-off vintage Airstream restoration at this time looks like 2 completely different projects.
The shell was polished and we need to make a decision about which panel or panels to replace.
And our chassis is getting close to being completely done - so exciting!!

Cuts in the aluminum for the corner construction is very familiar to me.  It looks like fabric clipped to ease a concave curve.

Because we added a space for a spare tire under the frame, the belly pan is installed in a few more panels.  Just so I don't forget - the belly pan aluminum is not the same as used on the sides of Airstreams.  The belly pan is made of 505 032 thick.

 







The cleco fasteners are holding the rear street-side panel in place before it is riveted.  Cleco is a newer tool for me, so I googled the word to find out it is also spelled cleko.

Frame was 3" - Now 4" Deep - Or is it???

Prior to 1955 Vintage Airstream Frames were 3" deep.

The change to a stronger 4" frame was started in 1955.

Unfortunately, our Flying Cloud was manufactured in California with the 3" frame.  Our gray water and fresh water tanks from Vintage Trailer Supply are 4" deep.  As planned - to fit the tanks into the frame, Colin Hyde changed our frame to be 4" deep.

The longer frame will allow us to add a bumper trunk also.

With the small angle cut from the frame, the 3" bumper remains the original depth!

Welded closed, this also prevents water from sitting inside the frame causing rust.

And eliminates a way for mice and other critters to enter the trailer.

In 1955 and many other years, Airstream built trailers with  no rear cross member.  So the plywood floor was not directly supported by the frame, rather the floor was cantilevered from the next forward cross member.  And the plywood was originally attached through the C-Channel only to the aluminum shell.  

No wonder that attaching accessories to the back of an Airstream is a bad idea.  Spare tires, generators, even bike racks should not be attached to the trailer rear without significant frame work.

Colin beefed up our structure by adding a rear cross-member.  The aluminum shell, plywood floor, C-Channel, and shell will all be securely attached together with elevator bolts.

 

 

 

Rotisserie!

The front hold-down plate was removed, but will be replaced.  The hold down plate strengthens the connection of the frame to shell at the higher stress front area.

Nice Rear End!

Our bumper needs work. While functional for the time, the basic bumper won't cover all our need for more modern connections.  We are replacing it with a bumper trunk.  The new bumper trunk will look something similar to the one below.  Ours is being designed to hold a quick-disconnect mount for an exterior water hose. Great later-model feature for washing off mud from our fly-fishing boots and Byam's feet.  We want to keep the hose connection discretely hidden from view - vintage Airstream with an upgrade that we think Wally Byam would like!

And we are looking for a license and light assembly with fewer pits.  Shopping for vintage...