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Bumper storage fail...

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 7:35 pm
by RISK
Alright, so on the the way to the Coke shoot my trailer was in, my bumper "stinky slinky" storage partially failed. The 4 rivets that held it up on the inside of the frame sheared and the the only thing that did keep it from bouncing down the highway were the rivets underneath going through the bellypan into the rear most crossmember of the frame.

Upon removing the storage box, I discovered that it is a one piece formed box that looks like a water trap down there or at least an intrusion point to the bellypan. That said, I don't see any excessive rust but the design begs to be improved. Anyone deal with late '70's rear bumper boxes? I plan to reform it and add a bunch of seep/weep holes but wanted to see if anyone has been down this path...

Re: Bumper storage fail...

Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 11:16 pm
by silverloaf
Our 1988 30P came equipped with a hinged aluminum box sandwiched between the bumper and the rear cross member.

It's pretty flimsy; it fell apart when I removed it. It does not drain well and traps debris on the bottom; rather unsavory and unsanitary.

I did have some rust-out on the bottom flange of the rear cross member. I think it was due to water running down the outside wall and being trapped between the flange and the belly pan.

I'm thinking about leaving the box off. I have room under the belly pan at the rear to install several 3-4" PVC pipes. Maybe I'll dedicate one for the dump hose.

Bob

Re: Bumper storage fail...

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:01 am
by KYAvion
While the bumper design isn't optimal, it sure beats the design of my prior 79 Airstream. The bellypan ran all the way back under the bumper, which allowed for a ton of rain water to run into the belly and soak the fiberglass insulation.

Re: Bumper storage fail...

Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:07 am
by silverloaf
KYAvion wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:01 am While the bumper design isn't optimal, it sure beats the design of my prior 79 Airstream. The bellypan ran all the way back under the bumper, which allowed for a ton of rain water to run into the belly and soak the fiberglass insulation.
It appears the Airstream design had all the earmarks of planned obsolescence.

Re: Bumper storage fail...

Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2017 10:23 pm
by RISK
silverloaf wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:07 am
KYAvion wrote: Sun Dec 03, 2017 12:01 am While the bumper design isn't optimal, it sure beats the design of my prior 79 Airstream. The bellypan ran all the way back under the bumper, which allowed for a ton of rain water to run into the belly and soak the fiberglass insulation.
It appears the Airstream design had all the earmarks of planned obsolescence.
Yeah, my '77 Airstream is a mess when it come to water intrusion. Although, it's raining and as I sit here in my Avion working, it seems I've developed a leak. Post on that later...

Ian