Jackson Center

[AZstreamin]

Originally Posted by artlink

Ok, me thinks me has experienced me first hijacking

Michael

I believe you may be right.. so help get this thread back on track by sneaking a camera in there and taking some photos for us

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

hi jackson center junkies........

minnie's mate has reported the mishaps and
sway/instability/tracking issues well in this thread...

http://www.airforums.com/forum...ighlight=hitch

there is also lots of good advice on the hitch set up...

if the truck needs alignment, symptoms should be present when not towing also....no mention of this....and going faster doesn't improve this either...

using tow/haul or not on my 05 superduty the 'sweet spot' for towing seems to be 1950-2050 rpms.....this translates to 69-72 on the speedo......with wider variation for larger inclines, or winds...

2air'

I appreciate all the advise and 2air's looking up my earlier thread. I did have an oil change, tire rotation and balance the week end before we picked up the AS. The week end before the 4th of July I took the truck in for an alignment and was told it was spot on. This has led me to think the problem lies on the trailer side of the receiver.

Now back to the thread. I talked to my insurance agent yesterday and he received the estimate for the deer damage and my "ooops" mentioned in the thread in 2air's post. Those two little mishaps will cost me $1000 in deductables, plus about $600 in disiel for two trips to Jackson Center (one to drop off and one to pick up in a couple of weeks), plus a night's camping at a (really nice I might add) KOA in Corbin Kentucky, yadda, yadda, yadda. You get the picture. And the insurance company will have to pay $8,700 ($9,700-$1,000 for 2x$500 deductables). Moral of the story, watch your mirrors when going around corners and watch out for deer!!!!!!!

I got a real good feeling from Jared, the service tech that went over the items on my short warranty list of about 3-4 items and the deer damage. I also felt good about working with Chris Birch. They both understood that I wanted bucked rivets so the Airstream would be returned to "as new" condition and why I wanted it that way. Chris had explained over the phone that everything along those walls would be removed, furniture wise, and the interior panels would be removed and reinstalled after the exterior panels were replaced. We removed everything from that side of the trailer that wasn't necessary before the trip and the necessities were packed up and stowed in the back of my truck the morning we dropped it off. We don't travel light but it is amazing how many necessities we have for two nights camping. There weren't any surprises from Airstream. My wife did purchase a pair of pink flamingos while we were there though...from the July photo contest submissions, I see you have them too Brent.

I will say one slight dissapointment was the condition of the "museum Airstreams". I would have thought they would have been polished to mirror finish and I would have thought they would have been more representation from 75 years of business. I had also hoped they would have been open so we could have gone inside to see how things have improved even if it had to have been a guided tour. Maybe they could enlist a docent like they have for the factory tour or maybe they could make it part of the factory tour, perhaps a prelude to the tour. You know, "this is how it started, these are the changes over the years, now lets go see what Airstreams are like today and how they are made." Maybe you could suggest that while you are there?

[HHP]

the stretch from El Paso to Ft Worth..

Since I was born in El Paso...I hear you!!! lol

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I had also hoped they would have been open so we could have gone inside to see how things have improved even if it had to have been a guided tour. Maybe they could enlist a docent like they have for the factory tour or maybe they could make it part of the factory tour, perhaps a prelude to the tour....

good idea m'mate....
and this actually does happen.
depending on weather and how many folks are on the tour,
don will open 1 or 2 of the historical units,
so folks can go inside, touch, smell and see them...just b4 the tour.

i've been in the gold trailer and 2 others, including the darth vader decco clipper model...from 1936...
seen here.....
http://www.airforums.com/forum...46-post79.html
it smelled like my really really old gramps farm house...the one without indoor plumbing....

as for polishing them...
i agree it would be neat but truth is
they are worth more in an "original condition"......
i learned this watching the antique road show!!

if ya want a nicely polished vintage unit,
dickie's trailer and truck are kept indoors and can be looked at briefly too.

cheers
2air'

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

if ya want a nicely polished vintage unit,
dickie's trailer and truck are kept indoors and can be looked at briefly too.

cheers
2air'

Forgive my ignorance, but who is dickie?

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

Forgive my ignorance, but who is dickie?

dickie riegel....
well he's the former a/s boss man....
now the thor boss man....
pictured here....
http://www.airforums.com/forum...90-post66.html

a very nice guy, and he's got a restored 50s trailer and a studebaker? or old gmc truck? to pull it with....pretty neat set up and it's kept inside the service area....when not in use.

cheers
2air'

and it's about time artlink, the tour is long over......
WE WANT DETAILS!!!

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

dickie riegel....
well he's the former a/s boss man....
now the thor boss man....
pictured here....
http://www.airforums.com/forum...90-post66.html

a very nice guy, and he's got a restored 50s trailer and a studebaker? or old gmc truck? to pull it with....pretty neat set up and it's kept inside the service area....when not in use.

cheers
2air'

and it's about time artlink, the tour is long over......
WE WANT DETAILS!!!

Oh! that dickie.

[Streamin 65]

And must confess. I live 35 mi. from Jackson Center and have NEVER been there! (Feel free to assign an appropriate punishment.) Need to take a day off and go check it out. In fact, the wife thinks I should apply for a job while there. (what the hey, I already drive 35 mi. to work anyway). Sounds like I'm missing a lot! --dave

[tslanier]

Just beginning the AS adventure. Do you take it back to the factory for repairs or can you not find someone competent in your area?

[ArtStream]

Please calibrate your decoder rings now.

Well here is that I have discovered.

1: Bubble insulation is used under the flooring only, I ask on the line and saw only fiberglass being installed between wall and roof skins.
I saw the BR under the flooring.

2: A unit called the "Reto" based of the 19 Bambi is in "Limited custom production" 60-90 units. No spy pictures but I did spy one in production:
No wood involved in base cabinets, these were all fabricated in SS, as was stove and fridg. Porthole in door. $60,000 price tag. The floor was a black with beige flicks, I think it was cork?

Don could not take us to the Basecamp production area and there was none in the parking lot. I did get a snap with my phone.

25 FB is the most popular unit.

There is a back-up of 750 units.

There is a rumor that names like Flying Cloud and other names from the past will return.

The Classic will get a makeover

The roofs are now painted a light gray and no longer white.



A new pressure sensitive sender mounted on the floor of the tank is being used in all tanks.



That's todays report from the front line.



Signing off



Michael

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by artlink

Please calibrate your decoder rings now.
That's todays report from the front line.
Signing off
Michael

excellent agent art!
great spy photos...
has anyone got a camera-in-the hat
they can overnight to michael?

you are gonna do the tour again right?
don loves it when folks do multiple days....
it's like being ed, johnny's co host...

i knew the 'bubble wrap in the walls' was still urban myth...
and i think you saw a david wynick...75th model...the retro unit.
finally tanks sensors that might work!

what are they doing in the space formerly occupied by the class a moho production?

my decoder ring has more space!

cheers
2air'

[AZstreamin]

Originally Posted by Streamin 65

And must confess. I live 35 mi. from Jackson Center and have NEVER been there! (Feel free to assign an appropriate punishment.)

Absolution will be granted, now for you penance: Walbanize your AS and tell her you love her.


Artlink: stealthy. mission complete.

[ArtStream]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

you are gonna do the tour again right?
don loves it when folks do multiple days....
it's like being ed, johnny's co host...
2air'

Yup, I'll be doing the tour again, and report back.
Stay tuned....

[AZstreamin]

Standing by.

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by tslanier

Just beginning the AS adventure. Do you take it back to the factory for repairs or can you not find someone competent in your area?

No, you don't have to take your AS back to the factory for repairs. Many dealers have very capable service centers. I chose to take mine back to the factory because I had two accidents that resulted in (first) minor and (second) major body damage to my brand new Airstream within the first three weeks of ownership. The first was a scrape when I cut too short and rubbed up against a guard rail coming out of a campground, the other was a deer running into the front curb side corner and that one was the most extensive. I wanted to go back to the factory to get the trailer restored to the "from the factory" condition and felt the best place to get it was the factory. My dealer could have done the work, but his body man didn't have a lot of experience and I just felt more comfortable taking it back to the factory.

Also, most Airstream owners will at some time during their ownership make a pilgimage back to the mothership at least once. In my case, it will be twice including drop-off and pick-up.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by artlink

A new pressure sensitive sender mounted on the floor of the tank is being used in all tanks.

That's todays report from the front line.

Signing off

Michael

Michael, just curious about this since Airstream switched to pressure sensor a couple of years ago. My 2004 unit has them. Or I wonder if they switched to a different design?

Jack

[ArtStream]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

Michael, just curious about this since Airstream switched to pressure sensor a couple of years ago. My 2004 unit has them. Or I wonder if they switched to a different design?

Jack

Hi Jack,
I'm not sure, Don did not say how long this sensor has been in use, other than that it was new.

[Minnie's Mate]

I have an '06 and the black tank always reads full. One of the warranty items being fixed while there is to calibrate the tank sensors. During the delivery walk through, the service manager said that it had a presure senor. This is a fairly common item on the warranty item list I have read on the forums.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

I have an '06 and the black tank always reads full. One of the warranty items being fixed while there is to calibrate the tank sensors. During the delivery walk through, the service manager said that it had a presure senor. This is a fairly common item on the warranty item list I have read on the forums.

And if you want to do it yourself, here is a link to a post that gives you the calibration instructions.

Callibration link.

Jack

[ArtStream]

Here are some of the sights from the Jackson center trip.

Michael