So, so long in the waiting ... the frame is almost done!
Since the beginning we’ve had conversations of do we build the frame? Meaning buy a welder. Learn good welding skills and hope the welds hold. Or just throw money at it, save some time and have a professional do the job?
Thanks to our trip to Texas where we not only got the range and ice box, we also got frame plans used for another ‘48 Liner. THANK YOU TEXAS! Then once we found a welder, who is also an engineer - that we had confidence in, we gave him the go ahead and a set of frame plans. Tim modified the plans slightly to fit our rig. Our welder was excited to take on the project. He has been working in his spare time on building the frame over the past month in his shop. After seeing what he has done so far we know we made the right decision and anyway we by no means had all the proper tools and space like he has in his shop to accomplish what he has.
Tim and I have been going out for visits to see the progress. Just this past Tuesday it had none of the outriggers attached. Today it is looking a little more complete.
Tomorrow we take a short trip to Cedar Key in the ‘04 Airstream. By our return the axle should be attached and ready to tow home! Then the rest of the build should be all on us.
I’m sure some are saying ‘over kill’ on the frame build. Yes. We agree. In order to accommodate fresh and gray tanks we needed the frame depth. In order to keep the look of the original deep belly pan ... we needed this frame depth. Tim will respond to any technical questions anyone may have about our new frame.
Guess this will be the last outing in our other A/S for awhile. Once we return it will be full speed ahead on the ‘48!
Since the beginning we’ve had conversations of do we build the frame? Meaning buy a welder. Learn good welding skills and hope the welds hold. Or just throw money at it, save some time and have a professional do the job?
Thanks to our trip to Texas where we not only got the range and ice box, we also got frame plans used for another ‘48 Liner. THANK YOU TEXAS! Then once we found a welder, who is also an engineer - that we had confidence in, we gave him the go ahead and a set of frame plans. Tim modified the plans slightly to fit our rig. Our welder was excited to take on the project. He has been working in his spare time on building the frame over the past month in his shop. After seeing what he has done so far we know we made the right decision and anyway we by no means had all the proper tools and space like he has in his shop to accomplish what he has.
Tim and I have been going out for visits to see the progress. Just this past Tuesday it had none of the outriggers attached. Today it is looking a little more complete.
Tomorrow we take a short trip to Cedar Key in the ‘04 Airstream. By our return the axle should be attached and ready to tow home! Then the rest of the build should be all on us.
I’m sure some are saying ‘over kill’ on the frame build. Yes. We agree. In order to accommodate fresh and gray tanks we needed the frame depth. In order to keep the look of the original deep belly pan ... we needed this frame depth. Tim will respond to any technical questions anyone may have about our new frame.
Guess this will be the last outing in our other A/S for awhile. Once we return it will be full speed ahead on the ‘48!
No comments:
Post a Comment