Hello
I am new to the Airstream business, but let me be presumptuous enough to try
to answer your question concerning outriggers. If you have access to the
book Airsteam by Burkhart and Hunt look at the picture of an Airstream
frame with the skin off on page 74. The main floor support members are
channels which run forward and back (length of the trailer) and are
supported on the axles. All the other parts of the framing attach to these
channels. The channels between these two beams are joists and the ones
which project beyond the main channel beams (towards the outside of the
trailer) are the outriggers. The Airstream's body shell frame bears on the
ends of these outriggers. If you look at a framing diagram for a simple
platform framed house you will see a similar configuration.
Michael Weinberger
From: Sarah Calhoun <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Multiple recipients of VACList <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Friday, March 30, 2001 11:27 AM
Subject: [VAC] Re: Aluminum source
>Joy: I am unclear on what you mean by "outrigger" as opposed to "frame
member"
>in discussing what's underneath the floor. I assumed the frame reached all
the
>way over to the shell; if that is the case, what does an outrigger do/look
>like? How would one install additional outriggers that would increase
>load-bearing capacity? Could you possibly attach one of your great
drawings, if
>you have the time to do one, to clarify this? Alternatively, is there a
source
>of drawings or plans that show details of this kind? Thanks.
>
>--Sarah
>
>"Mr. Joy H. Hansen" wrote:
>
>> Have you given thought about the strength of the existing combo
>> (floor/shell/outrigger) to support the battery load? I recall a posting
>> where an outrigger broke off due to the added weight of batteries in the
>> locations you mentioned.
>>
>> My limited experience with the A/S construction is that the floor is
bolted
>> to the outrigger. Much of the aluminum "U" channel at the base of the
inner
>> and outer skin is connected to the floor with sheet metal screws and
>> infrequently a bolt. If the bolts/screws are the least bit compromised
by
>> rust or water damage to the plywood, the support for additional weight is
>> not available. The Suburban furnace is in part supported by the outer
skin
>> through the vent connection. The furnace is not as weighty as batteries.
>> Of course, if you keep the batteries close to the main frame rail that
might
>> be 18 inches inward from the shell, the frame could carry the weight.
>>
>> My '69 Safari has an isolated outrigger for especially heavy accessories.
>> For example, under the water heater and under the refrigerator. The
>> furnace is located next to the wheel well and has only a single outrigger
on
>> one side of the furnace.
>>
>> All this said, it seems that you should give a lot of thought to the
>> integrity of the fasteners and consider installing an additional
outrigger
>> under each battery bank.
>>
>> '69 Safari, Joy
>>
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>
>
>
>
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