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11-05-2012, 08:41 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2008 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 235
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Trillium 1300 Frame Question
Quick question: Does the original frame on a '78 1300 contain any wood "beams"?
When I bought this, both my husband and I got down and looked underneath the trailer to check for the obvious. Neither of us actually slid under there for close inspection, unfortunately. I did yesterday for the first time and noticed two wood beams running the width from around the door area across. They were dark and looked like the metal until I actually scratched at one.
This may just be the straw that breaks the camel's back. I've had it with unpleasant surprises!
Ruth
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11-05-2012, 10:41 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: kootenai girl
Trailer: 1976 Trillium 1300
British Columbia
Posts: 1,411
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Oooo, I've never heard of that, only metal. But let's wait till some other people with more knowledge of trillium frames come along, it's a long shot but maybe someone will say it was unique to that year!
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11-05-2012, 11:04 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
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By 1978, the frames were done changing. There may have been some small changes, but wood was never part of the design.
Ruth, please post pictures. The wood members, (especially how they attach to the frame) the tongue, (from a low angle) and the axle are what I am interested in.
One of my Trillium 4500's had some questionable welds on the cross members. Maybe some of yours rusted off, and were replaced with wood. Believe it or not, this would not be too difficult to fix. The body comes off the frame with six bolts, and removing the propane connections. Welding on C channel cross members is not a big job.
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11-05-2012, 03:46 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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I'd really like to see pictures of the trailer underside/frame if you can take some.
That way we might be able to tell if the wood is meant to replace original steel cross braces, or installed for some other purpose....or even whether it's the original frame at all!
Francesca
__________________
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11-05-2012, 08:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Name: David
Trailer: 1978 Trillium 1300
Cumberland, Indiana
Posts: 392
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Ruth
My 1878 Trillium 1300 frame is all metal, no wood beams.
This is how it looked before I modified it extensively, I had already removed the propane shelf on the front. A PO had added the rack on the back.
Hope this helps,
Spanke
__________________
Trilliums Rock!
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11-05-2012, 08:49 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spanke
Ruth
My 1878 Trillium 1300 frame is all metal, no wood beams.
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How many "horsepower" was the tow?
Francesca
__________________
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Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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11-06-2012, 03:48 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Name: David
Trailer: 1978 Trillium 1300
Cumberland, Indiana
Posts: 392
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles
How many "horsepower" was the tow?
Francesca
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Oops!
Must have been one of those Conestoga 1300 Trillium Wagons. The TV was 4 "horsepower"!
That's what I get for having fat fingers.
Spanke
__________________
Trilliums Rock!
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11-06-2012, 06:10 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2008 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 235
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Frame Pictures
Thanks for the input, all. Spanke, just seeing that beautiful frame and knowing it's your "before" picture makes me think mine just needs replacing. One thing I've realized: Now I know why the floor felt so solid inside. With two beams right there, how could it seem soft?
I meant to post pictures but have to read the instructions first since I don't have pictures on a URL. What's up with that?
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11-06-2012, 06:16 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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Uh-oh...
Am I the only one that can't see those pictures?
I'm gettin' the little colored square here...
Francesca
__________________
............... ..................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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11-06-2012, 06:17 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: David
Trailer: 1978 Trillium 1300
Cumberland, Indiana
Posts: 392
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles
Uh-oh...
Am I the only one that can't see those pictures?
I'm gettin' the little colored square here...
Francesca
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Can't see them either
Spanke
__________________
Trilliums Rock!
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11-06-2012, 06:33 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2008 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 235
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Okay, I uploaded them to my album. Now I'll go see if I can find my album!
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11-06-2012, 06:35 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: David
Trailer: 1978 Trillium 1300
Cumberland, Indiana
Posts: 392
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Ruth,
Structurally my frame was in good shape. Replaced the axle with added brakes, rear jacks, front coupler to fit 2" ball and front jack, modified the spare tire holder and propane/battery shelf, added breakaway brake switch and painted it with por15.
Here's an "after" pic.
Good luck with your project!
Spanke
__________________
Trilliums Rock!
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11-06-2012, 07:23 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruth C.
Okay, I uploaded them to my album. Now I'll go see if I can find my album!
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Ruth to post a photo click on the Paper clip and you will get a pop up that allows you to select a photo off your computer & upload. If you click on the little world icon on it with the link you get asked for a url.
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11-06-2012, 07:30 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
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A couple of observations:
- Your frame is an original Trillium frame.
- Those wood beams have been there for a while.
- They have been installed in a way that will not compromise the strength of the frame.
- Your frame has plates welded on either side of the frame rails where the frame goes under the front, as it should.
- There is an extra square tube running from the coupler to one of the cross members. It looks like this was done to support the propane tank shelf. Way over kill.
- Your axle looks like it is sagging a bit. Not too bad.
- Your frame looks like it is in good shape, rust wise.
- You have the plates for brakes, but you don't have brakes.
- The wood beams do not seem to be replacing anything. They are installed where there was nothing. See attached drawing of my Trillium 4500 frame. I did not see the first cross member. It should be just before the frame reaches it's full width, in the front.
- The floor of my trailer feels firm with no cross members at all where yours has wood beams. I wonder if this was to deal with rot in the plywood floor. What do you have on the floor on the inside?
All in all, I don't think that this is a sign of any major problem. Just a previous owners over engineering.
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11-06-2012, 07:55 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Trailer: 2008 17 ft Casita Spirit Deluxe
Posts: 235
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Thank you!
Spanke, I am green with envy. It's almost a shame to cover up that beautiful frame with the body.
Carol, I KNEW it was easy to post pics. I think my frustrations with the trailer are addling my brain.
And David, WOW! You're more thorough than my doctor! Thank you so much for the diagnosis. I think you've given me a little hope because I'm now excited to get out there and get busy again (as opposed to hiding under the covers). As for the floor, since it felt so firm, I was just going to leave it, but now I think I'll have to pull up the linoleum and carpeting to check for rot. There is no flooring in the dinette storage areas or the furnace area, and under the replacement fridge there's a thin, dry, original floor area topped with a piece of plywood screwed down over it for some reason. I'll start a new thread on the floor if I can't identify any issues I find.
Thanks again for all of your help!!
Ruth
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11-07-2012, 11:28 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: Dave W
Trailer: Trillium 4500 - 1976, 1978, 1979, 1300 - 1977, and a 1973
Alberta
Posts: 6,926
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Ruth,
Attached are two pictures from the bottom of one of my 1300 trailers. You can see the two cross members near the front, but nothing till just before the axle. you can also see the extra metal plates that were welded in to reinforce the frame. Kinda looks like they went overboard. Those plates are almost 3 feet long on the sides.
If your wood beams are a fix for rotten plywood in your floor, It seems like a good fix. They probably don't add more then 50lb. If your floor is rotten, which is unlikely, it would be quite a job to replace.
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03-14-2013, 04:28 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Randy
Trailer: 1980Trillium 1300
Ontario
Posts: 373
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Frame of 1300 Trillium-1980
Here is my frame:
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03-14-2013, 06:38 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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Whatcha got goin' on there, Randy? Total frame-off restoration? If so, you might think about starting a whole new thread on the subject.
We love to follow individual projects like that!
Francesca
__________________
............... ..................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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03-14-2013, 06:47 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Name: Randy
Trailer: 1980Trillium 1300
Ontario
Posts: 373
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Francesca Knowles
Whatcha got goin' on there, Randy? Total frame-off restoration? If so, you might think about starting a whole new thread on the subject.
We love to follow individual projects like that!
Francesca
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...Hi, there. I am a...brand new member, just ....yesterday but I might have...hundreds of pictures about...DIY for your trailer, actually...my trailer. I am just 5feet 2, weight 130lbs but believe me or not, ALL I DO BY MYSELF, including...pulling the whole frame off the...shell, of course with....tricks. Please welcome to...ME, brand new member. Some.... of my tricks....might help...someone. Cheer!...
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03-14-2013, 06:53 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Name: Francesca Knowles
Trailer: '78 Trillium 4500
Jefferson County, Washington State, U.S.A.
Posts: 4,669
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Thinh
...Hi, there. I am a...brand new member, just ....yesterday but I might have...hundreds of pictures about...DIY for your trailer, actually...my trailer. I am just 5feet 2, weight 130lbs but believe me or not, ALL I DO BY MYSELF, including...pulling the whole frame off the...shell, of course with....tricks. Please welcome to...ME, brand new member. Some.... of my tricks....might help...someone. Cheer!...
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Mother lode!
Pleasepleaseplease do post a from-the-beginning type thread..."before and after" pics mandatory!
Here's a link to the right part of the site to start such a thread in: Modifications, alterations, and updates.
We'll be watching for it...
Francesca
P.S.
By the way:
Welcome to the site!
__________________
............... ..................
Propane Facts vs. Fiction:. Click here
Tow Limit Calculator: Click here
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