parnold wrote:St. Patron, the frames look identical, did you replace the tires, mine came with the wide tires. Also my axle has the square flanges so I can add brakes if I decide to, I can't tell from your picture if yours does or not. Do you know how yours started out it's life?
I see more similarities with each pic you post, Paul. I think the stoves are identical or close, been looking for a pic of mine. The dinette table hardware, the rooftop corner trim, the back bumper... the list goes on and on. Then, when I saw those white porch columns, I really freaked. Got those too. I'm thinking about going outside and taking a peek just to make sure you aren't out there. Remember, I've got a .177 pellet rifle.
I replaced both tires on mine. It was a near miracle I was able to drag it home after purchase, had to air up a tire and both were in advanced stages of dry rot. I went with Carlisle's, can't remember the specs now. I don't have the brake flanges, but with my 1/2 ton truck that's not a worry for me. Mine was a "Chuckwagon" model or brand, not sure where it originated. It had a split galley, consisting of an interior sink, ice box, cabinets and drawers.. along with an externally accessed pull-out "box" that was mounted on white oak sliders. The stove was located in this "box" and there was also lots of storage. Cook the bacon outside? Good thinking! The copper tubing propane line (seen running mid-frame) terminated in the slide-out box and was then connected to a loop of rubber hose. As you pulled the galley out to full extension, the hose extended.
The roof-top support arms on yours also look the same. IMO, that was a design that lead to the eventual death. During the autopsy I noted that all 8 arm attachment areas (4 above, 4 below) had failed. Too much lateral flex in the arms resulted in an inordinate amount of stress at those attachment points. They wiggled loose and allowed water penetration followed by rot. The ONLY rot areas I found were at each corner. The flooring..... with absolutely NO treatment on the under surface ... was as solid as ever. I used asphalt emulsion on the flooring of DD... but, I'm definitely in the "let the floor breathe" camp. Ok.. got kinda carried away there. I think by studying what caused these to fail we can learn a lot.
I've sometimes wondered where it had been before I brought it home. What states, who had camped in it. I never got any history.
by parnold » Mon Jan 02, 2012 3:55 pm 
