What to do?

[schweetcruisers]

So the company I had planned to use to fabricate my new skin has informed me that they can't do a 6" break, even though I have talk to them many times over the past 5 months and they assured me they could make it.

They can do a 4" break and I guess its not the end of the world, but its not really the look I want. They told me they could do a 6" break on their hand brake but it would only be in 10' long sections so the street side would have a vertical seam, and according to them it wouldn't look as good as some run on the die press.

Only purist would ever know the difference, right? Its not like mine is a true restoration, I just don't know what to do.

[kto17]

I could be wrong but didn't yours have a vertical seam above the door originally like mine?

I don't think it would be that noticeable to others. Are really going to worry about purists when you've come this far? Silly Cutter!

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[schweetcruisers]

Kto, yes it had the seam above the door, so curb side in not an issue. What I am worried about is a long vertical seam on the street side. Airflytes don't have a vertical seam, Domes have a half vertical seam for the upper bunk but this would run top to bottom.

And my goal is to make it look as much like a original Shasta Airflyte as possible.

[kto17]

I'm guessing your original bottom skin for the streetside is not in good enough shape to reuse. That still doesn't get rid of the half seam.

If you haven't already, try Larry from Retro Restoration. He probably can point you in the right direction for a source. Looks like they shut down Retro Restoration, but they have vintage onsite rentals. Here are two links to his sites and the good news is he is in the same state as you!

www.retrorestoration.com/
www.starliteclassiccampground.com/index.html

[schweetcruisers]

Thanks KTO, I actually have talked to Larry a couple of times, in fact he was one of the ones I beat to the punch when I bought my trailer. He lives in the Denver area when its off season at Starlight, and I think he is on the VSTF too.

I think he had the same problems, if you look at his site most of the trailers that he put new skin on have 4" breaks. I am pretty sure he used the same place I had been planning on and probably will still use.

www.retrorestoration.com/59shasta.htm
www.retrorestoration.com/58corvette.htm

I guess it doesn't look awful in fact its kinda hard to tell on the Shasta because of the paint scheme.

[Deleted]

Schweet

www.all-rite.com has a 20 foot brake and can do the large panels by hand, infact they have given me a quote. The problem I had with them was the shipping costs. They have a $200 crating charge and they quoted me $542 for residential freight, so needless to say it was a bit steep. I agree with you on the 6” break, it’s a nicer look. Here’s a link for a restoration using 4” break metal…it still looks nice but I still like the 6” better. www.retrotrailerdesign.com/1962shasta.html

If you find another vendor let me know, we’re in the same boat. Ive been checking the websites of local sheet metal fab companies to see who has a brake large enough to do the side panels. Haven’t contacted anyone yet because I’m still a ways away from needing it.

regards

[kto17]

Wow. I never even noticed that on his Shasta! And I thought I was very observant.

You could also try gutter companies and metal roofers. I'm in commercial construction and a current project has 6" custom bent gutters and downspouts and they custom made all their roof flashing.

$750 for crate and shipping! Sounds like you might be able to drive to pick it up cheaper.

[universalexports]

I say bite the bullet, and do it the way you want it, other wise you will be haunted by the "what if" so what if it takes another 2-3 months to save the funds. do it like you want it and you will never have any regrets. not sure about you but my camper came with a life long contract.

[WingedWonder]

Bad karma from the Shasta Gods due to the chop.

[schweetcruisers]

Aug 29, 2012 19:43:34 GMT -5 WingedWonder said:

Bad karma from the Shasta Gods due to the chop.

Its ok, because even with 4" breaks, mine will look killer and won't have hail damaged and ripped aluminum, like it did when I bought it.

I have pretty much resigned myself to the 4" breaks, $750 for just the shipping is crazy, that's my whole budget for the skin!

[Hamlet]

There isn't a regular RV shop in Denver that can get it for you? When we added the extra 3" on top, we ordered some from a mom and pop RV repair place, and when we realized we were going to have to re-skin and paint the whole dang thing, we had it done at Camping World. They didn't even flinch.

[schweetcruisers]

Hamlet, its my understanding that most places in Denver buy for the place I was going to my skin from. I can get 10' long sections no problem, but I need 13', so on the street side I would have to have a vertical seam, to me that's worse than the 4" breaks.