Hudson and Airstream

Oz54Hornet

Hi All, This is my first post. Just wondering if anyone knows anyone who has hooked up a Hudson with an Airstream. We have a 1959 24' Airstream trailer which we would like to one day pull with our 1954 twin H Hornet. Perhaps someone knows the owner of this stepdown and Airstream? The picture is from the South Texas H.E.T news March 2014 page 6. I have not seen another Airstream and Hudson combination. Peter Weinzettl

ski4life65

Peter

Welcome. I will send you pictures of the parts I have found so far later tonight. I am sure you will be able to find the rest of what you need here.

Don

Oz54Hornet

Thx Don!! I just posted a wanted ad also. Pete

Jon B

Welcome to the forum, Peter.

I've heard stories of people who dragged "house trailes" as we used to call them, long distances in a StepDown.  In fact, there was a fellow from Canada who used to drag a trailer down to Hudson meets in the states, behind his '29 Super Six.  So....it's do-able!

Be patient; I'm sure someone will jump in here with some ideas. Meanwhile, you might want to read this discussion about towing trailers, which dates back to 2012: http://www.openforum.hetclub.org/discussion/161203/pulling-a-airstream-trailer-with-a-hornet  (There are references to sketches and photos there, which you won't see; that's because these were lost when Classiccar transferred this forum to the Hudson club a couple years ago.)  Park W. may be able to help you, because (according to the 2012 discussion) he dragged a trailer with a Hudson back in the 1950's.

Oz54Hornet

Hi Jon, thanks for the reply and the link. I had a good look at that old post. Some usefull info here. I have also previously found his link and that looks like a good sollution too... http://hudsonrestoration1948-54.com/Trailer Hitch 2.pdf

Kdancy

Can't direct link to Ken's site.
Here were forum posts on the HET club main site for trailer hitch.
http://hetclub.org/index.php?option=com_kunena&view=topic&Itemid=1367&catid=18&id=3032&limitstart=0

lostmind

Jack Smith was the 29 Hudson owner from Canada that towed his motor home to Hudson meets.

He often said he drove further to get out of Canada than the folks in the USA drove to the meets.

He used his 29 coupe or sedan , both were set up to tow.

Oz54Hornet

Well its good to see its been done before! Hope it all works out. Anyone got ideas on how to run the 6v car with 12v in the Airstream?

Glowplug

Use a electrical generator for the Trailer Power needs.

keithfullmeryahoocom

A stepdown Hudson pulling an Airstream trailer.  I can't imagine a rig that turns more heads and starts more conversation!

Oz54Hornet

keithfull - I couldnt agree more - that the Stepdown and Airstream is the perfect combination. So before we get them together i couldn't resist and had to try a scale get together... Oldfarmer1947 - yes i thought some idependant power source would be the way to go. Just haven't worked out how to get the trailer brakes and siganls converted from one to the other. Im sure its been done and pre 55 all rigs would have had some sollution - as Airstreams would have had 12v while cars were still running 6v...

BillUSN1

Why not run one of the 12/6v dual batteries that allow you to tap each off the same battery.

Then just run the 12v wires back to the hitch wiring while retaining the Hudson on 6v.

It will require a 12v alt.

What I did was convert to a standard12v batt and alternator but run a 12v to 6v regulator to still run the rest of the Hudson on 6v.

You can also have the 6v Gen converted to a 12v alt to retain the stock looks.

Oz54Hornet

Not a bad idea... I will look imto that for sure! Thanks for the idea

ESSX28-1

Why not run one of the 12/6v dual batteries that allow you to tap each off the same battery.
 Bill, I've not come across the dual 12/6v batteries you mention. Are you able to tell me more about them please. Manufacturer, model number etc.
Thanks

BillUSN1

Here you go.

Dual voltage battery.

http://www.antiqueautobattery.com/accessories.html

 

ESSX28-1

Thanks for this info

Oz54Hornet

BillUSN1 a Just wondering how the 12v altenator charges the 6v part of the 6/12v battery? Many thanks!

bob ward

From a charging point of view the 6/12V battery its pretty much a standard battery with whatever number of cells joined up to give 12V, it uses a 12V charging system. The 6V terminal is only connected to half of the cells.

Theoretically if you had say a 6 cell 12V battery you could have 5 extra terminals on it and also draw off 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10 volts.

Oz54Hornet

Here is what my auto elec says: The problem with the 12/6 volt battery is, that if you fit a 12 volt generator to charge the 12volt battery, and connect existing loads to the 6 volt tap, you will have an in-balance between the cells. Three cells will overcharge ( like in 24 volt trucks when people try to tap 12 volts from one battery). On trucks we overcome this by fitting a charge equalizer, but I have never heard of a 6 volt unit.

Glowplug

All the USA electrical systems that use 24 volts in over the road haulers are equipped with an automatic load equalizer. The load matching assured each 6 volt battery is properly charged. The 6/12 batteries offered to the vintage car market usually incorporate similar load matching. I recently saw a dual 6 VDC optima battery system installed using a 12 volt negative alternator. The internal regulator in the alternator managed the battery charging. 6 VDC was isolated from on battery to make accessories work.