bringin her home!!!

[little59]

So we finally are going down to oklahoma from colorado to pick up our 59 shasta. I have only seen it once remembering it has the wings and is a short one.
What I need to know before we go is tire and wheel size, and new bearing and wheel seal numbers. Its been sitting for a long time so I want to make sure I have everything I need to get her home.
Any other suggestions would be appreciated as well.
Thanks-

[Bow_Tied]

Good luck on the trip... and congrats on buying the best year!

[safetybruce]

Congratulations on scoring your treasure and Welcome to the VSTF!! If your trailer does not have split rims, which a '59 should not have, I would suggest when you hit town the night before you plan on starting the trip home, that you locate the nearest tire shop that will agree to take you first thing the following morning. If the tires on her will hold air until you get her to the shop, you will not spend so much time jacking up your trailer to remove the tires and take them in for replacements. I have retrieved 4 campers from as far away as 500 miles and never had to worry about actually replacing bearings and seals...most campers that have sat for as long as 25 years did not "go into hibernation" because of bearing failure...the owner just stopped camping. If you use a tire place, while they are putting on new tires if that is the route you choose, one person can professsionally repack the bearings simultaneously and the shop can put a new set of lug nuts on at the same time. I had all that performed on my '59 Airflyte and was in and out in 45 minutes. Cost for everything except tires was $60...if you need tires, you will know the ones put on will fit properly in the wheel well if put on by a shop. Don't forget to criss-cross the safety chains under the tongue and take a set of cheap magnetic lights with the proper connection plug if the trailer lights do not work, and a good handful of long electrical tie wraps and a roll of gorilla tape...works for me. Good luck on the tow home!

[safetybruce]

Oh, and a couple more thoughts...if you have a Reese hitch on a pick-up, and you are pulling a Compact or Airflyte, you will want to confirm that the hitch takes a 2" ball, and I found that a slide in with at least a 3 1/2 inch to 5" drop lets both the Airflyte and Compact connect level to my '93 Z-71...if I connect them with the standard straight out the back slide-in, both trailers connect with a nose up attitude, making the rear closer to the pavement, something I try to avoid when towing an old trailer with questionably spongy springs over the bumpy Mississippi roads that are notorious for having 18-wheeler tire shreds appearing in my path with regretable frequency...catching the trailing edge of the aluminum sheathing on something will surely result in tearing at both back corners.

[Redwings]

I am in total concurrence with safetybruce. I was not prepared when I picked up my Compact 400 miles away and stupidly stupidly stupidly took off towing her without lights and a nose up attitude. I lucked out and got her home ok but gained a lot of new gray hairs worrying. Those magnetic lights would have been a Godsend and I'll never ever ever do that again.

[little59]

Thanks for the info I will be sure to get a set of those magnetic lights.

One thing I know for sure is the tires are shot and not road worthy, could some one let me know what size tires I should run on it at least to get her home. and from what I've read the wheels are a 15" 5x5 1\2 bolt patern is that correct?
thanks again for all your help.

[Gremlinguy]

Where in CO are you?

[Atomic Addiction]

May 10, 2011 18:23:38 GMT -5 little59 said:

and from what I've read the wheels are a 15" 5x5 1\2 bolt patern is that correct?
thanks again for all your help.

My 64 has 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern. Not sure if they were using a different pattern that early.

Brian

[little59]

I'm in Golden co.

[little59]

Thats what i was wondering brian, Not sure when they changed, or if they did. I saw a post somewhere about someones 60' trailer being the same as his 60' ford truck, which would be the 5 1/2 pattern.
thanks-

[safetybruce]

Ask the seller to tell you what size is stamped on the tire itself that is already on the camper, and I suggest not trying to replace or take another set of rims, if the rims are already on the trailer, I'd be looking to just replace the rubber, once you get her home, you can get the original rims blasted and powder coated to compliment the paint scheme you might want to put on it or to compliment the one (paint job) already on it. No sense re-inventing the rim unless the seller says he/she thinks the rims are shot. Also, if you are considering putting hub caps that are missing back on the trailer as close to the original ones that were on it, using the original rims will give you a better chance the (used) hub caps will fit.

[little59]

well the seller is acually my father inlaw and is in Co. also, and he doesn't know tire sizes either.
I'd just like to have a set of wheels and tires I can just throw on when I get there ya know..
It's in a small town but there should be a tire shop there.

I plan on completely restoring this trailer , just need to get her home first =)

[diamondrelics]

my 60 is the same as my 60 ford car

[little59]

well wish me luck!! We're headed out tomorrow with hopes of returning with a jewell of a trailer
Thanks everyone for the info!!-

[Gremlinguy]

Good luck. Lets see some pictures when you get back.

[little59]

well we didn't end up bring'n the shasta home this trip, instead we brought our new hauler home. A 63 chevy impala 2 door. This is the car my wifes grandfather pulled the shasta with for many years. Very nice car. The shasta will be coming home soon tho. I'll post pics soon.
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