Old Airstream Trailers

[Deezul1]

Has any body had experience with older Airstream trailers? I am going to go look at a 71 23 foot and they are asking $5000. 00 for it. What should I look for and how hard are they to get parts for like windows and other special to airstream stuff.

TIA

John

 

[Jammar9082]

Airstream

I saw a post recently on the IRV2 or the TDR that Airstreams can leak water at the joints just like other RV's. Look for water damage. I once looked at an old Avion that had been in Florida a number of years and the corrosion was rather bad. Even some of the flooring in the storage area/trunk was gone.

 

[B.G. Smith]

Airatream

I have a 78 31'. Just leave it at the lake in the summer and move it to the deer lease in the fall. It flexes in the middle real bad and is bad about popping rivets out. Would not do to pull on a long trip or frequently. I had a 78 23' before this one and it was fine. Yes they will leak just like the others if you use them. I think you can still get parts for them from somewhere in Ca. The original AC unit that comes on them is obsolete. bgl

 

[Bob H]

Airstreams

Price seems a little high for a 71. Some of the older airstreams have a side rail problem. Plus they don't have a "gray water" tank. Check out www.airstreamtrailers.com. Lots of older airstreams for sale there. Also airstream has a vintage club that tends to run up the price on the older units.

 

[Deezul1]

Thanks for the link Bob, lots of info there. Thanks everybody, still looking. Maybe want something a little newer, folks want too much for the older ones.

 

[Trinary]

I'm 80% done restoring my '65 22 foot Safari, but I've had it real easy. It's been an AZ trailer it's whole life, so no water damage to the plywood. I'm always looking for older trailer (pre '68 because of the change in the aluminum skin after that date), and I generally look for:



1. Good shell - it's 1000 bucks a panel or between 50 and 100 hours of my time to repair

2. Good plywood - bad sections are always near the edge of the trailer, which means you'll have to lift the shell to repair properly.

3. Good appliances - they were all good appliances when new. Again, I got lucky, all my appliances worked perfectly; air, 'fridge, water heater, water pump, furnace, range, stove. Hard to imagine that the air fired up and got cold after sitting since 1971.



Good luck in your search. I bang on a lot of doors during my travels to see if folks want to sell their old trailers sitting out back



Regards,



JAC

 

[rrausch]

I must admit I've always wanted an old Airstream. I used to look at those advertisements in "Outdoor Life" when I was a kid, showing a whole bunch of Airstreams on safari in Mexico or Arizona somewhere all being pulled by Internationals! Looked cool.



I just saw an ad for one here in L. A. for $1,500. 00 I didn't go look at it, I figured it couldn't be any good at that price, but now I wish I had!

 

[Forrest]

My 31' had the real bad sags. If you stood back, the droop from axles to rear & axles to front was inches.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

IF you want one just for pure nostalgia reasons, that's one thing - but for VALUE, you could buy *2* similar year/size trailers for the price of that one Airstream - and probably get less weather damage and MORE storage area thrown in for FREE! I think they are neat looking RV's, but seriously over valued and over priced for what you end up with in practical terms - and the curved exterior may LOOK neat (if undamaged and in good shape), but seriously compromises storage space in cabinets inside... And as mentioned above, ANY significant skin damge will cost real GOLD to repair/replace, compared to conventional rigs...

 

[dewdo]

My brother-in-law has an older Airstream I think is about 31 ft. he has had for several years and never uses it. Keeps it in his heated shop and keeps saying he shoul sell it. I have been in it several times and it looks new inside and out. If you are interested in it let me know and I can send you his phone number. He lives in Camas, WA.



Dewdo in the other WA

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Just hadda say a few words in defense of my belowed Airstream after the above comments:{



Cabinet space is impeded somewhat, but mostly tall cereal boxes are the problem. Mine has no sag problems, but it is a 1995, 21' with 25' heavier suspension and brakes, not an old model (I dunno, is 7 old?). It has taken me to the outback for hunting faithfully, and gone at the interstate speed limits for days with excellent lateral stability. I feel the Henschen independent suspension (since 1968) and the rounded shape (since Day 1) help towability.



A few years ago the Wall St. Journal had an article on celebrities remodelling old Airstreams at outrageous costs. New mine cost about double a Terry or equivalent, but I have found it worth the cost in safe towing, durability, quality, etc.



It seems there will never be coincidence of opinion on brands of trailers, tires, etc. Just like not everyone has a WHITE Ram yet

 

[Bill Stockard]

I agree, Joe. We have owned 2 new ones, a '76 Land Yacht 27' that we towed all over the USA and a '82 Excella 31' Both were fine trailers and the only 2 RVs of the many we have owned in the last 30+ years that we got our money back when we sold them. The '82 is the one I regret selling. In hindsight, we should have kept that one.



Bill

 

[Deezul1]

dewdo



I would be interested if priced right as its a little bigger than I want. I will be in the Chehalis area right after May madness. PM me with details if possible.

Thanks

John

 

[Steve Graham]

More words in defence of the Airstream$

As as owner of a new Airstream (99 25' Safari) and having owned 3 other "regular" travel trailer over the years I must confess that the Airstream is the best I've ever owned! My only conplaint is they don't make one in a 5th wheel



Steve

 

[Bob H]

Airstreams

Since 1967 I've had 4 Airstreams. 67 22' == 69 30' kept 19 years, an 88 == 32'. Now am rebuilding a 88 34'. Never had any mayor problems with any of them. Finish on the new trailers seems to go down the tubes pretty fast.

They need a darn good uv resistant polish on them, and a 34' trailer is one heck of a project to polish.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

No one needs to "defend" the Airstreams, they're nice rigs - it's just reasonable and proper to discuss and recognize whatever weaknesses SOME might find in them. Certainly, price is a large factor - but they ALSO have good resale value - the substantially increased seams due to their unique construction contributes to potential leakage problems, and the specific design of the exterior is often expen$ive to repair. And noyhing looks much uglier than a used Airstream with a damaged or poorly maintained exterior - they REALLY stand out!



RVers tend to want/need LOTS of storage space - and that streamline Airstream shape comes with a price - and that price is reduced storage area. For RVers who tend to do lots of backwoods or rough country camping, the more vulnerable Airstream MIGHT not be as wise a choice as a less expensive rig - but THAT opinion is sure to vary widely among users...



Nothing WRONG with "different" - as long as a person does their homework, and fully realizes all the good/bad points involved as it applies to THEIR expected use...



Ya makes yer choice, and pays yer price...

 

[Gene Arnold]

I'll weigh in with my $. 02 on older Airstreams. In 1983 I bought a '69, 31 ft. International model. The decor was atrocious and it had had som collision damage at the right rear corner. However, I bought it because it was about the only AS I could find at the time. My wife and I redid the interior and got a good do on it--really sharp! I kept it until three years ago when I bought my '92, 34 ft. Limited Edition. I sold it to a guy north of San Francisco for $7,500. 00. He seemed tickled with it.



I pulled it all over the west with few real problems. Leaks were no problem. Replaced the refrigerator in '90, had some trouble with the Suburban furnace, but the a/c worked the whole time. Had to engineer a new support for the holding tank in '96. All in all it was filled with very pleasant memories.



Low profile has some trade-offs as might be expected. We didn't retire until last month so were not in it as much as we'd like to have been. After we've spent more time in the Limited I may sing a different tune, but up to now I haven't minded the lower headroom (and I'm 6'3"). I love the ease of pulling and the good fuel mileage that accompany the low profile!

 

[Bill Stockard]

Steve,



We bought a new 35' Argosy(squarestream) 5th wheel in '87--about as close as you can get to an Airstream 5th wheel. Airstream had a lot of problems with the slideout on them and discontinued production in '89. We got our money back on that one too when we sold it. That trailer got us hooked on 5th wheels and have had Hitchhikers since.



Bill

 

[bombero]

I really liked the quality of a air stream but as soon as my wife entered a RV with a silde it was all over. Just make sure that BOTH of you are happy

 

[Deezul1]

We both agree we dont want a slide out.