Tuna, if you are going to put in a new ladder frame, like Bud Cooper did on his 48 Liner, you would be wise to go with a new "Dura Torque", just like his. I think the only design limits will be the amount of room left in your wheel wells, for the additional "travel" the wheels will have. If you decide to go with a less expensive I-beam axle and leaf springs, I'm sure it will perform adequately, but not with the superior ride of the "Dura Torque". In terms of a lowered profile, you may be asking for trouble. One or two inches may just be the amount that some driveways require, so as to avoid the "swale" of the dip. Many dips and driveways now do damage on lower components like rear sewer connections, and water connections. If all those lower water and sewer connections are protected by the frame, in some spots the frame will still drag, so, you should be aware of that problem. Bill Scott 61 Bambi, VAC & WBCCI #3221 1VP & Membership Chairman , WDCU http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/
Bill - when Bud showed me his restoration pics, he mentioned that he'd replaced the 'truck' (axle, suspension, etc.) with something that used what appeared to me to be an 'offset' suspension - would that be the 'Henschen Dura Torque'? I'm looking to lower my trailer a couple of inches - would the Dura Torque permit this? Tuna '49 Clipper WBCCI #8862 ----- Original Message ----- From: Bill Scott <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 04, 2000 10:55 AM Subject: RE: [VAC] Shocks? Bambi's and Henschen Axles > Sherry, and Jim Stewart indicate their Bambi's sit a little high in the > front. Yet the ball height is lower than the 16 1/2 inch as specified > by the factory. Since many of our Bambi's will celebrate their 40th > Birthday in the next few months, it leads me to the following > conclusion. > It is not necessarily the shocks. In 1961, the Henschen Dura Torque > axle was introduced as standard equipment on all Airstreams. The > Henschen factory, says the rubber in the Dura torque, torsion type axle > settles and loses its elasticity after about 25 years. Since most of us > Bambi's are pushing 40, except Sherry who is just a young "37". I would > say the rubber axles are probably in need of a rebuild. This is > possibly true of many of the 1960's models, I know my 61 has settled, > and bounces badly when I hit bad bumps at some bridges. > Solution,..........have your axle rebuilt at the Henschen factory, about > one mile from the Airstream factory in Jackson Center , Ohio. I think > you must have your axle removed and shipped for rebuild. For details, > call the Henschen factory and talk to Jim Kitzmiller, at > (937)-596-6125-X102. The rebuilt axle should raise your coach a few > inches and change the geometry at the hitch. It will also change the > travel distance at the shocks and let them perform better. I have not > yet had my axle rebuilt, but it is a high priority project, next on the > list. > > Bill Scott > 61 Bambi, VAC & WBCCI #3221 > 1VP & Membership Chairman , WDCU > http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/ > >
