New Torsion Axle

[austinado16]

Only took about an hour to cut free the other side.  Learned a bit of a lesson!  Again, about a 2" hole torn out of the bottom of the frame.

New axle fit perfectly and I mounted it with grade 8 bolts, washers and nylock nuts.

The camper sits about 3" higher than it did before!  I took note of how much the old axle's trailing arms dropped with the wheels removed.  The trailing arms are almost horizontal.  The spec for the arms according to Dexter's records is 22.5 degree drop, so that's how I had the new axle built.  I'm not sure I like the new height, but the axle will settle some, and there sure is some nice suspension travel now.

Here's a shot of the axle's compared.


Here's one of the new fender height.  Prior to this, the bottom of the fender was only about 1" above the wheel.


Here's how the camper used to sit.

[wavery]

Man that PU is turning out to be quite a "love story".

I am shocked and amazed at the price of the new axle. I would have thought at least twice that amount.

I think that you have more $ in that than I do in my TrailManor. I know that you have a LOT more labor in it.

Nice job....congratulations....:sombraro:

[92_Flagstaff]

Nice Job Austin!

Is Dexter the only company making torsion axles in campers?  Can't beat that price.  Glad the shipping price was sorted out for you.

[austinado16]

Man that PU is turning out to be quite a "love story".

I am shocked and amazed at the price of the new axle. I would have thought at least twice that amount.

I think that you have more $ in that than I do in my TrailManor. I know that you have a LOT more labor in it.

Nice job....congratulations....:sombraro:

To know me is to know that I love "saving" stuff, and I love restoring things and then using them.

I think with the purchase of the axle, I'm at about a grand now, maybe $1,200 at the most.  While a do have a bunch of time invested, the camper has never needed any major components, other than the axle and the brake assemblies.  So $130 for the brakes, and now the $180 for the axle.

[wavery]

To know me is to know that I love "saving" stuff, and I love restoring things and then using them.

I think with the purchase of the axle, I'm at about a grand now, maybe $1,200 at the most.  While a do have a bunch of time invested, the camper has never needed any major components, other than the axle and the brake assemblies.  So $130 for the brakes, and now the $180 for the axle.

That's pretty good. I just seem to remember you putting a lot of work into that trailer. I guess that it was mostly labor. If the labor is "Hobby" related (which it seems it must be) that's great. I know the feeling. I used to build race cars and dune buggies when I was young.........the hours that I spent in the garage..:eyecrazy:......no wonder my 1st wife divorced me....:p,

Hey....when are you coming camping with us? (or are you too busy in the garage? :p). We'll be in your neck of the woods next week. We'll be at the Morro Bay CG Oct 4,5 leaving on the 6th. Then we're heading up Hwy1 to Carmel for a couple days, then back down 101.

[austinado16]

Yep, this one was sort of thrashed/dirty on the outside, but the inside was very nice.  Just the roof front panel and some of the front sides rotted out, and then that right front box corner rotted out.  So, yeah, I have logged some hours, but parts wise, it's been pretty cheap.  I got the original stove and dinette table for free when I picked up that rotted out Stracraft that I turned into a utility trailer.  The OEM furnace was cheap on ebay, as was the Wave 6 Catalytic ($40 on CL).  The decal refreshing was pretty cheap.  Paid $100 for the OE awning via some horse trading.

Plus, I've sort of spaced things out over the last 3 seasons.

I wish we could catch up to you guys camping.  Seems like when you come up this way, it's gymnastics season (just got back from a meet tonight) and we have a meet this coming weekend too.  Would like to meet you and see your TM......those things are cavernous inside!!  You tow that with a Kia Sophia right;)  I now tow my Starcraft with my Rabbit P/u.
(inside joke)

[flyfisherman]

Yep, this one was sort of thrashed/dirty on the outside, but the inside was very nice.  Just the roof front panel and some of the front sides rotted out, and then that right front box corner rotted out.  So, yeah, I have logged some hours, but parts wise, it's been pretty cheap.  I got the original stove and dinette table for free when I picked up that rotted out Stracraft that I turned into a utility trailer.  The OEM furnace was cheap on ebay, as was the Wave 6 Catalytic ($40 on CL).  The decal refreshing was pretty cheap.  Paid $100 for the OE awning via some horse trading.

Plus, I've sort of spaced things out over the last 3 seasons.

I wish we could catch up to you guys camping.  Seems like when you come up this way, it's gymnastics season (just got back from a meet tonight) and we have a meet this coming weekend too.  Would like to meet you and see your TM......those things are cavernous inside!!  You tow that with a Kia Sophia right;)  I now tow my Starcraft with my Rabbit P/u.
(inside joke)

A friend & his family have an identical looking Starcraft, brown in coloring and looks to be the same size ... don't know the year but it goes back into the 80's. They bought it from an estate sale where it had been garage kept and the thing looked new! And got a bargin on it, too!

Here's the only pic I have of it on one of our outings ... that's my little 1706 Starcraft on the left and the their's is all the way to the right ~









Fly

[austinado16]

You have to put the tag.



That one on the right might be one of the lightweight models, like the "Venture" line.  They were white, but usually had the tan canvas with white vinyl over the bunks.  Spare tire was exposed with just a vinyl cover, as was the propane tank.  That "circus tent" type of awning is about 1983/84 from what I've seen in brochures.  Nice little campers and uber lightweight.  The brochures show them being towed by a 4cyl sedan of the era.

[flyfisherman]

Thanks for the pic help! ~

But I don't think a four banger would haul his camper ... it's a 12' box! Just don't remember the specifs (or the year!), just that when I looked at yours it looked the same. For sure the tan canvas, seems to me the sides were painted tan (looked like yours!) as best I can remember and don't remember the spare and L/P tank covers.

P/S: Your wheel weels looked the same, too! My friend had a slow leak in his curb side tire and we had a bear of a time getting the wheel off and the spare tire on. Had to deflate the tire in order for it to fit into the wheel well. And it was a 13" tire and wheel! Leads to me to believe ssomeone had made some "modifications" somewhere along the line!

[austinado16]

Mmm......wonder what it was then?  I blew that photo up 400% using internet explorer and it IS a big camper isn't it!  Wish I knew more about the models and all I have is a brochure from '87.  It shows the "Starstream" as being the longest model, at 15'-10" closed (bumper to tongue) as compared to the Constellation/Galaxy/Nova bodies, which were 15' even.  The Starstream didn't get the plastic aerodynamic nose and tail panels or the plastic tire and propane tank covers, it was a body shape like your camper.

But that brown/white awning that has the side panels, and peak roof, along with the white (at least it looks white in the photos) bunk roof and bunk end vinyl, make your buddy's look like something maybe pre-85?  Maybe it was a big Constellation....they were really big back in the early 80's from what I've seen.

[austinado16]

I've got a new left brake drum coming and it'll be here in the morning.  When I put the new brake assemblies on, I saw that the left drum was really torn up where the magnet rubs, and had a big trough gouged out where the brake shoes make contact.  Figured I better grab a new drum for that side since I'm doing all this work.  Probably being stupid not to replace the other drum, since everything else is brand new.  Depending on how much this drum runs, I may do it.

[austinado16]

A new Dexter brake drum arrived today.  Came with bearings, races installed, grease seal, and because it's a wheel stud mount version, 4 lugnuts and a new grease cap.  $70 including tax.

[wavery]

A new Dexter brake drum arrived today.  Came with bearings, races installed, grease seal, and because it's a wheel stud mount version, 4 lugnuts and a new grease cap.  $70 including tax.

Now aren't you sorry you didn't order 2.......:p

[austinado16]

Yep.  Although I may just pound the studs out of the drum and drill/tap the holes to fit the original lug bolts.

Oh good grief....what am I saying?

Update:
The new drum is on and I ordered another new drum for the other side.  Once I saw how far out I'd had to adjust the brake shoes in order to reach the old drum...as compared to the small amount of adjustment that was needed on the new drum, I knew it was stupid not to replace both drums.  The new one should be here in the morning.

[flyfisherman]

Was keeping quiet over here on the Right Coast as I had heard something to that effect awhile back. Seems I broke a leaf spring on the pup way back when it was on the new side ... turns out Dexter replaced BOTH springs, the one that broke and on the oposite side as well. For all practical purposes,  they said (as did Starcraft), that anytime you replace a segment of a running gear on one side you should do likewise on the opposite side.

Maybe it's because the opposite side will feel slighted and give you much grief later on ... I duno ...



Fly