Bob Kiger wrote:
>
> I am looking for one of these (or a comparable Airstram) to use as a
> workshop on the bed of my puller. Anyone have any leads?
> Bob
>
> 1966 Airstream "Safari" WBCCI #2857
> 1966 Ford F-250 "Camper Special"
> Mira Mar Mobile Community
> Oceanside, California
Bob:
The Avions I have seen extend 2 or 3 feet to the rear of
the pickup bed, to accommodate their interior toilet &
shower. This feature moves the hitch point for your trailer
from, say, 3 feet behind the rear axle to maybe 5 or 6 feet
behind the rear axle, and gives the trailer increased
ability to exert more unstabilizing leverage on the rear of
your pickup truck. The Avions also hang quite low in the
rear, below the level of the pickup bed, and may make it
more difficult to mount and run a receiver tube or other
trailer hitch underneath them.
I love their look, but believe they are not the best choice
as a luxury camper shell on a trailer tow vehicle.
Have you considered using an empty Alaskan camper shell
("It raises, it lowers") for a workshop instead of an
Avion? The Alaskan popup camper sits in and even with the
bottom of the pickup bed so a hitch can be easily mounted
underneath. It lowers for travel and can be raised on
arrival, so is slightly more aerodynamic than an Avion whose
frontal are cannot be reduced for travel. I imagine it is
easier to use a trailer hitch with an Alaskan than an Avion,
but don't know for sure because I never owned an Avion or
tried to place a receiver tube underneath one.
To see a 10' Alaskan in it's lowered travel position on
a 9' long utility bed, look at my 1968 Dodge W300 towing the
1951 A/S Clipper in R.J. Dial's vintage Airstream photo
page, www.vintageairstream.com. An empty, or stripped,
Alaskan should be cheaper than an Avion. A utility service
bed adds plenty of useful and readily accessible outside
storage to a pickup truck.
The Alaskan was also made in a 8' length that fits
wholly inside a typical 1960-70 pickup bed, so would not
change the present receiver tube or trailer hitch set up on
your Ford.
Fred Coldwell
Denver, CO.
1951 18' Clipper
1957 22' Flying Cloud
1970 Dodge W200 w/383 & 4.10s (not pictured)
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