Re: [VAC] floor sag

[wescott50@xxxxxxxxx (Bill Scott)]

Anthony,  Frame sag, and frame separation occurred as early as 1966 and
as late as 76 and 77.  It all started mostly in 1973 because that was
the first year with the added grey water tanks.  If you take a 1973
coach over 25 feet and load it down with food, water, equipment, camping
stuff, bikes, then travel with the holding tanks almost full and fly
over railroad crossings and rough roads, the frame is going to bend.
Further, mice have been the culprits in the cause of frame sag.   Mice
somehow, get into the belly pan, and tear the fiberglass insulation away
for nesting purposes,  the nests and matting, attract moisture , then in
turn, cause frame rust and weakened outriggers, which in turn, may cause
frame sag and/or floor sag and rot.  The factory has a fix to strengthen
the frame.  In most cases, if the coach was not overloaded, and abused
on rough roads, the frame will be just fine.  But "caveat emptor" for
your friend,  1973 with the added tanks was notorious for frame sag.

Tell your friend to join the VAC and order the  November 1996 issue of
the Vintage Advantage, page 19, great article on Floor repairs.  Also
the Spring  1998 issue, page 13, frame separation for an excellent
article by Bud Cooper.   Hopefully , in the near future, those articles
will be archived on the VAC web site.   You can also get lots of info
from the archives of Tom Patterson, go to:

www.tompatterson.com

then go to trailers and Airstream list and VAC list postings.

Bill