RE: [A/S] Towing without floor

I've done some searching in the archives, and it sounds like someone here
can advise in my situation.

I've bought a completely stripped out 24 ft Airstream Argosy. The previous
owner bought it for restoration, but then found that the floor was totally
rotten, so had to strip out the entire interior and floor. At which point he
lost heart and sold it as is.

I plan to convert it into a trailer for carrying an ultralight aircraft. It
seems that it would be ideal for that purpose, since it's light and easy to
tow. The only other enclosed trailers big enough that are readily available
are car haulers, but they're heavy, and sprung for a 4000lb load, which
would be too rough for the less than 500 lb load that I will be carrying.
The trailer is in New Mexico, and I need to tow it to Houston to do the work
on it. The shell and frame are reportedly in good condition, and the shell
is temporarily bolted to the frame. I haven't seen the inside construction
of an Airstream yet, but from the forum it sounds like maybe the floor is
bolted to the frame, and then the shell is bolted to the floor? Or is it
bolted through the floor to the frame? I'd like to install the new floor in
Houston.

Now my question is, can I tow it that distance just by bolting the shell
more securely to the frame, with no floor in it??

JG

Hi JG,

There is a "C" channel in the base of the wall where the inner & outer skins
attach. There is also another leg that creates another "C" than encompasses
the plywood floor. If you remove the interior skins, you'll be able to
access the bolts that extend through the "C" channel, plywood & the steel
outrigger. If your floor is gone, you can insert blocks of wood in the lower
leg of the "C" channel simulating a floor. As long as the body is attached
at all of the original points, ie outrigger ends, rear crossmember & front
crossmember, you'll be fine. I have had clients tow their trailers to my
shop like this without any problems.

Good luck,

Colin

www.colinhydetrailerrestorations.com

www.thevap.com

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