Airstream Travel Trailer

[Bob4x4]

Love my airstream,ended up buying new.The hunt for a good used unit was frustrating for me-either overpriced or needed more work than I had time to dver 10 years now and no repairs have been needed yet.Adding more Solar to uncomplicate dry camping was the biggest mod done to date.

What you give up in interior storage is more than made up for the great towing experience

 

[GCroyle]

Two other dealers that deserve mentioning, Out of Doors Mart in NC http://www.outofdoorsmart.com/ and Colonial in NJ http://www.colonialairstream.com/ . Both are well thought of in the Airstream community.

 

[crispyboy]

If your serious about wanting to see various models of Airstreams close-up find out where a trailer rally is being held or better yet attend the "Alumapalooza" event this summer at the factory. I have been to this event at it is a great time! I got a good dose of "Aluminitus" or drank the "Airsteam Koolaid" while there.
We went in 2012 and there were 177 trailers and motorhomes. Most folks are more than happy to let you tour the trailers and talk aluminum at length. They also have factory tours, riviting contests, a few seminars and some interesting entertainment. The event is open to all brands of RV's.
http://alumapalooza.com/?page_id=85
We are on our third Airstream trailer and really like the one we have now. The previous two I fixed up and resold as a fun project. We have liked each an every trailer for different reasons.
My towing fuel mileage generally hovers between 11 and 13 (68 mph) depending on terrain, wind or the weight of my right foot. With a good hitch setup you won't feel the crosswinds too much.

If you look at a used trailer there will be a few items you need to pay attention to.
1.) Airstreams can leak like most any RV. If you keep up with the caulking (maintenance) this is generally not too much of a problem.
2.) Torsion Axles wear out (sag) and need to be replaced after 25 years.
3.) If there is floor rot it will be near the door entrance, around vertical seams near the front and rear of the trailer or in the rear trunk area. Take an sharp screw driver with you to poke around the edges of the floor, use your nose to smell for musty odors and a good time to inspect the trailer is a day or two after a good rain.
4.) A trailer with a good clear coat will retain the best resale value.
5.) Appliances are the same as other RV's.
6.) Good used trailers are available but you need to be ready to jump.
7.) A good DIY person can fix most items - even panel replacement if you have the time and talent.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

As always, thanks to everyone for the great feedback. The Airstream plant is a four hour drive from where I am, so it looks like I already have a trip planned for next spring. I don't know if I will make Alumapalooza as the kids will still be in school on those dates.

Looks like I am on my way to doing some more learning about stuff!

 

[Buffalo]

Lots of good suggestions & experiences, here. I don't mean to be negative but, I will relate my experiences. I bought a used 1977 Airstream Land Yacht/Trade Wind, 25' quite a few years ago. Like others have said, It did tow beautifully!!! Very aerodynamic. I towed it with a '91-1/2 W-250 Dodge/Cummins with no problems at all. The trailers reputation is what made me want one. After actually having it, I decided to buy a traditional trailer & wouldn't go back.
First of all, the top of the entrance door is quite short. On my best day, I was 5'6" tall. So, I'm considered on the short side with absolutely no basketball career in my future. I'm now 67 y/o and have probably shrunk in size. I just stepped into the Airstream & standing in my slippers, I can hit the top of the entrance with the top of my head. I learned to duck & stick my head into the trailer, first & never hurt myself. However, a friend of mine that is taller than me jumped into the Airstream & hit the top of his head, so hard, that he was bleeding & he had a thick baseball hat on at the time. The trailer also felt like you were living in a tube, which, you were. I like wearing a cowboy hat sometimes when I'm camping & I could only stand up in the center of the trailer. Anything on the sides, I had to take the hat off or it got knocked off. Even cooking or washing dishes, if I leaned over the stove or sink I would hit the hat on the cabinets. I don't know if the new Airstreams have dealt with those problems but, my old one hadn't.

The door hinges that hold on the entrance door have enough metal in them to build a 1962 Volkswagen. I think you could hang the entire trailer on those hinges!!! Very durable!!! However, 3 of the 4 closet doors in the trailer have literally fallen off. The hinges that hold those doors to the trailer are so cheap (thin metal stamping with a small rivet) that they break, regularly. I travelled up Hwy.191 in Eastern AZ. from Clifton/Morency to Hannagan Meadow where I stopped to check on the dog & have a piece of pie & a cup of coffee. The dog was freaked-out when I opened the door to the trailer. Two of the closet doors had completely fallen off because of broken hinges & were laying on the floor in the hallway. Hwy. 191 is not the best of roads but, it is a paved highway & not that bad. I would take my present trailer up that road without a second thought ('98 Nash 25-S).
The Airstream has 2 couches that fold into beds & they are remarkably comfortable. Even my friends that have spent a night or more in the Airstream comment on how comfortable the couch/beds are.
My main purpose for the trailer was for remote camping. What I didn't know when I bought the A/S was the extremely small size of the gray water tank. I found out after taking my first shower & was standing in a pool of water and I hadn't used much water, in my opinion. I later talked to a dealer and was told that this trailer was designed to be towed to a developed campground or RV Park that had hook-ups for draining gray water, immediately. Not for remote camping!!! When looking for an A/S, check about holding tank capacities!!!! I didn't do my research & paid the price with an unhappy experience. My fault!!!!

In the spring of '98, I found a Nash 25-S that was about 7 months old & used. It still smelled new & looked that way, also. I've had that trailer ever since & love it!!! It does everything I need from a trailer & has been from San Diego, CA. to the Toronto, Ontario, Canada area. Seattle to Charleston, WV. & many parts of the Country especially, the mountainous states in the West. And, it has been remarkably reliable.

Again, I don't mean to knock the A/S but, I did think that the "other side of the story" should be told. I don't mean to ruffle any feather's here. I know some of you folks that have A/S's & have had them for years, with good experiences. I'm glad of that & only wish my experiences had been as positive. Maybe, if I had done my research before my purchase of the A/S I wouldn't have this negative view. Moral of the story is to do your homework. I wish I had!!!!

Joe F.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

My experiences with my 1995 Airstream have been quite positive. While it is a little guy, 21' long, it has 50 gallon fresh, 35 gallon gray, and 23 gal. black tanks. I ordered it with dual batteries and at zero degrees or so elk hunting in CO, the heater kept us warm all night on the batteries. Each evening I gave them a couple hours charge with a generator.

 

[Buffalo]

After thinking about this thread, I seem to recall that the grey water tank was only 7-1/2 gallons, which, is a joke for camping. I just remember that it didn't take much to overfill the tank. My other experiences are true, also. The trailer did not live up to my expectations, at all. Nor my friends that had experience with the trailer. They really hated it.
On the other hand, the experiences of Joe Donnelly & Bob4X4 are very worthwhile. Each of them has a lot of technical & mechanical ability & I hold their opinions in very high regard.
The reason I purchased the A/S was that I wanted a high-quality, durable travel trailer to replace a Wilderness that I was having to replace the wood framework on an all too regular basis & it was becoming expensive & no longer reliable. I, also, liked the looks of the A/S. I still like their looks whenever I see one on the road. But, I don't miss mine.

Joe F.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Yep, as with anything, you need to do research first, if possible. I was pleasantly surprised at how big the tanks were, and that helped me decide to buy my late-95 in May. It is one of the last 8' wide; in 96 AS went to 8.5' wide.

 

[RikDavis]

Airstreams , like all trailers can have their share of problems. Perhaps one of the major advantages however is long term durability.. Most stick built trailers seem to die of rot problems from leaks. Airstreams and similiar trailers being all aluminum except the floor do tend to hold together longer. I have just recently done some extensive floor repairs to mine (not shell off though) but I can't get too upset about that on a 53 year old trailer.
One of the advantages of an older trailer (any brand) is I am not nearly as hesitant to make it the way I want it with out worrying about adversely affecting the value.
We currently have 4 Airstreams ranging from 1961 to 1970 vintage. Most of our traveling for the last ten years has been done in the 1961. Prior to that we took rebuilt a 54 model and towed it many miles, including Alaska.
I personally do not attempt to make them original and add solar panels , more batteries etc.
There really has not been much in the way of technical advances in travel trailers in the last 60 years other than slide outs and a few power accessories prone to failure

 

[Bob4x4]

Still loven my wide body........the tanks are much larger now.I don't remember the number but it works out good for us.We have separate grey and black tanks.IRRC some early models only had one tank.The solar I added makes the wifes over use of lights a non issue dry camping.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Buffalo, Joe, and Bob 4x4: thanks for the conversation. I appreciate reading the different points of view, and the whole idea here is to do my homework. I have found that you can never do too much homework.

I thought I did my homework well when I bought my truck - a 2012. In a way I did, as the truck has exceeded every expectation I had and I love it. However, if I had found the TDR then I would have waited for a 2013 due to the revised emissions system.

So, please keep the experiences and points of view coming. I am happy to listen to others and then come to my own conclusion.

Thanks!!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

OK, guys, I have been studying on this issue of an AS travel trailer and I have to admit I am rubbing my head.

I understand the points on construction, towing, etc., and I heard all the same on the AIRforum. Folks that have an AS travel trailer love 'em => proves to me they must be good.

So, I'd like to ask the question a little differently.

The TT I bought last year - knowing nothing more than some reading about what to look for in a used trailer from the web - is a 1995, and it seems to work fine to me. $5,000 for the trailer and $3,000 for the new axles, tires, and Equalizer hitch. There are some small things: rust on the galvanized steel around the wheel wheels, some things like a blind coming loose inside, need to replace the toilet, some small dents and dings in the aluminum skin, etc. This TT is almost twenty years old and it seems to me it is still working OK. It looks fine outside and it is nice inside.

I have studied on the AS TT issue, and found that price new is tough - a 30 foot new AS TT is a great BIG pile of cash. I don't have that much cash, and would have to finance - financing means even more cash out of the pocket in interest. I just don't have the dollars for new. That brings me to used - and as jgillot points out above, used AS TT seem to vanish as quickly as they appear - and the price is still considerable.

I could buy a new Jayco for around one-third of a new AS, and for about the same price as a twenty year old used AS (judging by units that have sold in the classifieds.) If the Jayco will only last fifteen years, and allowing for inflation over fifteen years, I could buy two new Jaycos for less than a new Airstream. In fact, I would have to keep a new Airstream 45 years to break even financially with buying three new Jaycos each fifteen years apart. Since I am 55, I would then have to RV until I am 100 to break even financially.

A couple of questions for guys who know a lot more about the RV thing than I do:

(1) Why does everyone say the "stick and tin" trailer won't last? This kind of says to me that my 1995 Jayco should fall apart any minute - but, it doesn't seem that way when I am using it, and I can't see why it would. Is it going to fall apart any second? Why? How would I know?

(2) I will be using the TT to camp in with the family; would like to take some long trips to the west. How would a "stick and tin" trailer not work to accomplish that? I will not be using the TT full time - due to kids being in school, the TT will only be used around 80 days at the very most per year (that is what I would like to see - I'd be very happy if the wife and kids would put 60 days in a year). What is it about a "stick and tin" trailer that will cause it to fall apart with that kind of use? I don't get it.

(3) Isn't there any way to take care of a "stick and tin" TT so that it will last?

I REALLY, REALLY like the AS TT; I just find the price tag new and availability of used a huge hurdle.

Thanks!!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

The riveted Airstream shell makes a monocoque case that is rigid and strong. Open up an access door and you will see that conventional trailers have 2x2 wood framing that is either screwed or stapled--not very strong, especially when the wood dries and a lot of the fastening points split.

 

[GCroyle]

Russell,

Water kills trailers I think, stick or aluminum. Keeping things sealed and if you can under cover is a big plus.

Lets chat about finding a used AS. Don't know if you've called many dealers Colonial in Jersey has a good reputation, Out of Doors Mart in NC also has a good reputation. I'd like to add one more that while not really close, has used inventory, a lot. This is a sat view of DonMar's inventory but I don't think this really tells the story, that will take a phone call to Mary. They are on I-95 just a bit south of Florence SC. This pic even has Spartans in it, the top row plus some is Spartans. Here is contact info but it looks like their full used inventory may not be posted.
http://www.donmarrvsales.net/default.asp
They sell used only, service, parts, panel R&R.

Disclaimer time. I bought my 2007 30' S/O from Mary and that is my rig at the top of the web page! Just saw it for the 1st time.

Construction, I've never seen a SOB that was in an accident first hand, but the few pics I have seen look like its shovel and broom time. I have seen a few seriously damaged AS's at DonMar and yup they crunch and get real ugly. But they are intact.

Gary

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Joe, I hear you on construction. I don't think there is any way to debate that the AS construction approach is superior.

Here is an analogy on my dilemma. Prior to the 2013 model year and the Aisin transmission, I concluded that the truck I wanted had the Ford frame and suspension, a Cummins engine, and an Allison transmission. This was available in the Ford F-650. While better, I could just not see how to justify the cost difference to tow a 9,000 lb travel trailer. My 2012 2500 does the job just fine and for over $20,000 less. So, I am trying to understand whether I could spend a lot less and still get the job done fine.

Gary, I looked at Colonial and Out of Doors Mart. They had a number I was interested in - all sold or pending sale. I'll take a look at the site you suggest.

There was an ad posted in the AIRForums classified for a 30 foot in New York this afternoon. I inquired - perhaps it is not sold yet.

Thanks!!

 

[RUSSELL5000]

Gary, I looked at the DonMar website. I recognize your rig from pictures you have posted here on TDR.

I'll place a phone call => website showed one 17 footer for sale only.

Thanks!!!

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

My little Airstream probably cost about double what a Wilderness or other wood/staples or screws framed trailer would have cost. It will be 19 years old in May, and is still solid and tight. It still tows so well I can change lanes, etc. without any fears.

 

[crispyboy]

Russell5000,
most folks ask themselves the same question about "why spend so much for an airstream" unless they have really deep pockets.
The trailer you have will last if you keep up the maintenance and it "will get the job done".
For me I knew the white box trailers will do the job just fine but none of them excited me enough to open my wallet. I was patient and when the right one came up at an affordable price I jumped.
The good thing for you is that you have the time to find the right one.

BTW - Our KY WBCCI unit just had a mid-winter luncheon last weekend. Apparently there was a member of the southern Indiana unit that just past away and the family is going to sell a mid-1980's 34' Airstream (3 axle trailer) and duramax truck. I might be able to hunt down some information if you want it. PM' me.

 

[NIsaacs]

Try "KSL" they list 15 Airstream's, mostly older but some nice ones. The best one is a 1996 Excella M-28 Widebody for $17,500. They are in the west tho, long ways from you. Also I checked Phoenix C/L for just the past week and found several mid 90's models for about the same price as above.

Nick

 

[RUSSELL5000]

NIsaacs, thanks. Yes, it looks pretty good. Like you said, that is an awful long way. I'll see if I can't find something east of the Mississippi; at least, I'll make a real good look first.