Airstreams.....

[HoleshotHolset]

What makes Airstream trailers/RV's so nice and so forth?



I saw a lot of them on the way back from my 1200 mile road trip to and from Pittsburgh, PA this weekend and I remember everyone always saying how nice they were, etc... .



Just curious...



Matt

BTW, about 85% of everyone towing had CTD's!!

 

[MikeBeggy]

I 'll try not to be an Airstream commercial but I have had a dozen or so "conventional" types of trailers and the Airstreams are so different it's hard to know where to start. The most basic difference is the shape and resulting aerodynamic shape. I had listened to many Airstream owners tell how much easier their rigs towed and I just said yeah yeah. Well, let me say that there is such a differnce in ease of towing, wind resistance, sway in side winds etc that only expereincing first hand can one really appreciate the difference. You can tow faster, fuel mileage is better, less fatigue on the driver and so on. If you visit an Airstream dealer and get past the sticker shock, the differences in overall design, choice of components, finishes etc will make a convert out of anyone looking for the best of the best.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Thanks Mike!!



I'll have to take a look-see next time I'm near a dealer... .

I just wanted some firsthand experience and know-how... . that way I could justify the "hype"... so far the report cards are good!



Matt

 

[sewman]

The best lookin airstrem I ever saw has an Olds Toronado grafted to the front I couldn't see much of it cuz I was goin S. on the eway when it was goin N. but it sure looked nice ,even had it painted to match the trailer.

Let's see who's the first to make another one???

Bob

 

[HBarlow]

Airstreams

I owned and towed "stick built" trailers for 20 years and always thought Airstreams were just ugly and expensive. About ten years ago I listened to comments made by a good friend and Airstream owner whose opinion I valued. He got me interested and I bought one. I have owned four and currently own two of them, but didn't buy any of them as a new unit.



The advantages are many but include nearly perfect front to rear and side to side balance, an aerodynamic shape that requires less power to pull at highway speeds and allows improved fuel economy, and a very low center of gravity. These features make them feel balanced and very easy to tow. They handle very well in all weather and conditions. I'm not going to confess in this public forum how fast I have pulled a 31' Airstream behind my mighty Cummins, but they can be pulled fast! The suspension is so good in Airstreams that you can forget and leave an electric coffee maker on the kitchen counter and when you stop for lunch or at the end of the day, the coffee maker will still be sitting on the counter. Airstreams are all aluminum except for the platform frame which is steel (the vertical side ribs are aluminum) and floor which is good plywood. Damaged skin segments can be replaced as can major appliances because there will always be metal to attach or reattach screws or rivets to, not soft or rotted wood. They use only top quality materials and appliances which will last a long time and are normally repairable when they exceed their service life.



Airstreams are essentially all-weather RVs, particularly the ones with double-glazed windows. I have slept comfortably in them down to 9 degrees (Flagstaff, AZ Dec. '01).



Old but cared for Airstreams hold their resale value and will essentially last forever. If you pay attention to Airstreams you will discover that literally thousands of Airstreams from the '70s and even '60s are still in service.



The disadvantages include the cost of new or nearly new units, and the clearcoat finishes simply don't last as well as we would like. The finishes will last longer if bugs are quickly removed and the finishes are kept washed and polished at least twice a year but the heat and sudden temperature changes of the southwestern USA can damage clearcoat finishes. Extreme heat dries chemicals from the clearcoat finish and reduces its elasticity. Since aluminum expands when hot and contracts when cool, the finish must remain elastic to tolerate the expansion and contraction cycle. Old, dry finishes will fail when a sudden thunderstorm brings a 30 degree or greater temperature drop of the aluminum skin.



Another consideration is that Airstreams flex as they are towed. Over considerable time and rough roads, the seams may loosen enough to allow very slight water leaks to develop. If not caulked every several years, water leaks can result which can cause rotted plywood floors if not detected and repaired.



I don't sell them or build them but I have become a convinced owner. I believe in them. Given a choice between a new trailer of a lesser quality brand and a well-cared for used Airstream in the same price range, and Airstream can be an excellent value.

 

[GFoley]

Holeshot,



I haven't towed one like the others but I have looked at a couple.

What struck me most when I first went into one was how crowded I felt inside. Since the walls are curved, you loose a lot of interior space. I really don't know how much but it sure felt smaller than the 31' unit it was.

I too have always heard about the quality and cannot comment on it since I don't own one.



Glenn

 

[HBarlow]

Airstreams

Glenn Foley is correct. Airstreams feel more confined and less spacious to someone who is unfamiliar with them.



I guess I don't think of that as a drawback because I am accustomed to Airstreams. It probably feels normal and comfortable to me because I'm a retired US Navy submariner who rode diesel-electric submarines.



Actually, the taller and more spacious trailers like 5th wheels with 90 angles offer vastly more headroom and feel far more spacious but if you think about it, additional headroom is not truly usable space. It only provides the illusion of being more spacious. The several hundred cubic feet of additional space above the heads of occupants contains air that must be heated and cooled which takes time and energy.



Most people who study an Airstream realize that they make very efficient use of a relatively modest amount of space. Most new owners are amazed at how much storage space is provided.



I'm not trying to talk anyone into buying one. Airstreams are not for everyone. I had no interest in them for many years and understand why many others are not interested in them.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Thanks to all of you who responded with some VERY informative comments...



I'm definitely going to research Airstreams a little further..... worksmanship and quality of construction goes a LONG way in my book... Especially if it's something that I'm going to be sleeping in...



Do they feel crowded for a 5'10" guy? Just curious... . I'm no giant... but I'm not a small guy either.



If I wanted space... I'd drive to a motel/hotel and wouldn't bother trailering at all. But I do see how the rounded shapes have benefits and drawbacks. EVERYTHING in life has these same characteristics... . you gain in some areas and loose in others... . it all comes down to what you feel is the best product.



Matt

 

[RustyJC]

The "conventional campfire wisdom" is that the Airstreams built since the Thor purchase are not of the same quality as the older ones. Airstream owners, is this true or not?



Rusty

 

[swampfox]

airstreams

A question for you Airstream owners out there (I'll probably buy a used 30 foot or so trailer in the next 12 months)... ... How do the Avon (airstream look-a-likes) compare to an Airstream? Thanks for any info you can give me.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I guess "They don't make 'em like they used to..... " still holds true here... .



I'm glad I started this thread... . very informative so far... .



Matt

 

[Cummins Corvette]

So you're saying that they might not be the best thing for tall people? Sometimes I hate being tall.

 

[rcaldwel]

airstream

We have had two airstreams. The first was a 1972 31ft and our current one is a '01 19ftBambi. I can tell you that there is a difference from the 72 and the 01. Just like houses, my father in law still thinks PVC plumbing does not match his old metal pipes (even though their rusted had have collected junk where they only trickly water out). Same way with Lathe and plaster compared to drywall. I think in many ways you can appreciate the old, but I sure enjoy our new airstream very much.



I believe it was it the 1980s that quality became a real issue. Airstream seems to have gotten their act back together. Although owned by Thor, airstream is separate from their other recreational products. Our 01 has all the new electronics(converter, electronic stove, frig,water heater start up) and the fit and finish is what you would expect from a high end product set.

It pulls like a dream. The only problem we have is remembering it is hooked on back there!



Like most things, you have to draw your own conclusions as it what you want, like, need etc. I don't plan on buying another trailer. I am confident that this one will last a life time if taken care of - just like our diesel trucks.



Shop around, get on the internet and visit the airstream.com site, and try and talk with the offical Wally Byam Airstream club members(WBCCI). Try this airstream link library (airstreamtrailers.com) for a wealth of information.



Bob Caldwell

 

[Bob H]

Airstreams

I've been towing them since "68". Best one was a "69" Kept that one for 22 years. Pre 70's didn't have gray water tanks.

Beatrice Foods bought the factory in the early 70's and they sort of messed things up. There too old to consider anyway. Newer one's are pretty good. Got to remember they are built for TWO people. I've seen some pretty tall people using them also. Check out www.airstreamtrailers.com plenty of info there.

By the way I know of a 1988 32' for sale with a 98 12 valve quad cab for 30,000.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Bob, now THAT's a good deal!!



Thanks again for all the very good info!!



Matt

 

[dewdo]

I was talking to my brother-in-law last night about his Airstream. It is a 1978 and he has used it three times while he was building his house. It has been stored inside most all the time in a heated barn. It is 31' and he said he had sold his truck that could tow it and is now thinking of selling it. I asked him what he was asking and he said somewhere around $10,000. I have looked at it, and it is in like new condition. If I didn't have my fiver, I would buy it myself. It is a beautiful rig. If anyone is interested I can put them in touch with him. He lives in Camas, WA just a little ways out of Portland, OR. Send me an E-mail -- email address removed -- and I will give you his phoine number.



Dewdo in the other Washington

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Dewdo, that's a good deal!

... . too bad I'm temporarily poor... .



Matt

 

[OILBRNR]

Those Airstream owners that have posted above, are correct in all their comments.



My family has owned at least one since '67. The Beatrice days were not good, but our '99 seems pretty good. There have been a few issues, but overall it is a nice 28' TT.



This past Memorial Day weekend I took it up to the mountains of Eastern AZ (9,000'+), while my buddy was pulling his 24' toy hauler with two Quads inside. The Airstream is right at about 8k, and I'd be suprised if his trailer with load was 5k. We both have CTD's, and though I have an EZ, I'd go off and leave him on the hills.



Put a Hensley Arrow hitch on it, and it is a tough to beat TT.

 

[MikeBeggy]

Just to add my 2 cents here, the current body style of Airstreams is called 'wide body' because the round cross section was changed to a more squared wider section that doesn't give one the feel of being in an airplane. It's also 8'5" wide.

 

[OILBRNR]

That is a good point Mike, the new 'wide-bodies' make a big difference. Also, I'd never thought about all the extra sq/ft it takes to cool/heat those big 5'ers like someone mentioned above. I remember when my Father and I drove back to Ohio in '99 to pick up this Airstream from a dealer about 20 miles from the factory. We went in a HUGH 5th wheel that was considerably less then the $48k he paid for the Excella. It was big! Big and cheesy! We didn't get the impression that in 10-20 years that there would be anything left of it, more so, anything left of value to sell. Maybe that is the wrong way to look at TT, but we got over $12k for our '67 24' TradeWind. Try that with any other glue-n-screw box from the same year! It is not going to happen! There are so many points of quality, it is tough to list. From the skin, to the ribs, frame, heated fresh/grey/black tanks, Corian countertops, Moen faucets, Maytag range/oven, Dometic A/C-Frig, Fantastic Fans, solid Oak cabinets/trim, and the suspension! I can't, off the top of my head remember who makes the suspension, but it is outstanding! It is a rubber/torsional tube with shock absorbers. So much better then leaf-spring crap on everything else. And it lasts! And helps to let the coach (Airstream speak) last too. I can't tell you how many Forest Service roads the '99 and '67 have been down over the years, and NOTHING came apart. If you have a flat with a twin or triple axle unit, just take it off and let the hub dangle until you get the tire fixed.



I think the whole Airstream thing is akin to the Cummins thing that we all share. There is a common bond among owners. They know they have the best of breed so to speak. Yeah, there are some issues here and there, but overall, the mystic (sp?), resale value, pride of ownership, and durability outweigh other factors.