Jimmickle, that was a great post. I agree with you, but there is a perception out there that some of the folks on the manufacturing floor are just simply lazy. My example where someone bunched up their McDonald's wrapper and shoved it into an access hole that was mostly out of sight (until I did some work) is unconscionable and a good example of some of the attitude on the floor.
They call the workers at the factory "True Artisans" but in reality most real Artisans would take painstaking attention to detail, which we all can say from these threads alone is inconsistant at best, but improving...slowly, but improving.
I don't know if it's true, but I heard a while back that RV builders get paid and receive bonuses based on meeting or exceeding production numbers. If that is the case or even remotely true, that kind of compensation would be in direct conflict with building a well built unit, that has good fit and finsh, doesn't leak, doesn't corrode, etc.
I also read somewhere about Thor's warranty claims were farly high, so it's not just Airstream that is having this issue as you mention, it's the whole industry. The one thing that is really frustrating is the simple 2 year warranty. If Airstreams were truely built by Artisans, they could easily have a 5 year warranty, but the folks at Airstream aren't stupid folks, they know that the warranty claims tend to get higher after year two and with the current level of good service centers out there, it even lowers their exposure in some cases as most of us either try to fix it ourselves, drive a good distance to get a good repair or simply just accept it, having spent more than 2-3x what a normal RV costs.
My overall observations of the folks at Airstream is a 10. The people you deal with are truely great folks to work with. My overall observation of the quality of the products leaving the factory, overall engineering of the build and how well it holds up over the long haul would be a 5 to maybe a 6 out of a possible 10 (10 being meeting or exceeding), having owned both a 2003 and a 2004.
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Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
You might want to do a search on solar and battery discharge or similar terms... There can be a number of causes for dying batteries, especially if left in remote storage lots...
1. Some gadgets, like propane leak detector or A/V stereo items might still draw power
2. There should be a "Main Power Cutoff Switch" that might also disconnect solar cell from bettery, if wired improperly
3. Some refrigerators have hidden switch to disable alleged defrost circuit, which draws power when active even if refrigerator is turned off.. (This is "ask me how I know" item..)
4. Battery may indeed have a bad cell in it, as many do when built...
5. There might be some obscure light in a storage compartment that was turned on by shifting boards or jack crank... (again, don't ask..)
An ammeter attached to power supply unit when all should be quiet is best way to determine how much electricity is going in or out of battery... Might also be worth removing battery and having local parts store test it for load and capacity...
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Condoluminum
In Theory, there's no difference between Theory and Practice, but in Practice, there is usually a difference...
Our 2007 Safari 27 FB SE LS seems pretty tight. We have only spent two nights and only 250 miles but are pretty happy so far. What we have found:
Water leak below shower door. What a surprise!
Cabinet doors over stove do not match. Very different colors. AS factory is sending replacement
Leaking petcock under trailer. Very slow leak but does cause the pump to cycle every so often.
I have a solar unit but the batterys seem to loose their charge. I don't know if I have a bad cell in a battery or the stereo amplifier is just always on. I need to check more.
.
You know this shower leak issue with me goes all the way back to 2001 with my new Safari. It continued in 2004 with my Classic. I fail to understand why this continues to be a high failure item (at least here at the Forums). Somebody is not doing their job right or they have a real engineering problem here.
I can't speak for the Safari's but the hickory interiors on the Classics provide a real challenge for some dealerships. A lot of folks do not like the variance in colors on the individual panels that make up a door or table. I know my dealer has had to ask for replacements due to the variances in the hickory colors.
Leaking petcock is also one of those unexcusable problems that if a trailer is being pressure checked, this should be found.
Someone has already noted the various items that constantly draw power. The anti-condensation switch on the refrigerator is a real power sucker and is easily left on. Also note that if the trailer is going to sit unpowered for a length of time you need to turn the master disconnect to the off position.
Jack
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Jack Canavera
STL Mo. AIR #56
'04 Classic 30' S.O.
'03 GMC Savana 2500
'08 Vespa GTS 250
We took delivery of our 2007 34' Classic on January the 4th and have been in it since we got it. This is our fourth Airstream and our first Classic. I love the hickory interior - the variances in tone are simply beautiful. So far, we have had no problems to speak of with Coco Kitty. No shower leaks (wish that were true in the CCDs). The fit and finish is above and beyond our expectations - which were high. We plan to spend most of the rest of 2007 in it and maybe all of 2008. Will keep this thread posted of any problems that may develop.
The only way to be sure that here is no draw from the battery is to put a master switch ON the battery, like the people who have classic cars that are driven infrequently do.
Some uneducated law writer made it a requirement that the propane leak detector not be turned off by the "master switch." Result: Dead battery in a short time, even with the master switch off.
Took delivery of a 07 Basecamp in December. Have not used it yet due to work schedules. Bought it primarily to move from tent camping to hard shell camping and to be able to carry my toy on board...a big Harley Davidson. I took it in today for warranty work at local Houston dealer. Most of the issues are related to the seals around the doors damanged or adheasive is failing. Some poor bondo "rework" on the inner layer door edges as well. Also, the fiberglass panels behind the wheel wells look like they were hand trimmed and very uneven. I could hand grind them myself, but noted it on the warranty to see how the dealer does. Also, the sliding doors in the galley come out of their tracks easily.
I was responsbile for auditing product quality at the end of the line (BMW Z3 and X5 in South Carolina) a few years ago, and with a new model introduction, I understand the issues with first production. The key is, will Airstream improve the build quality as they go, and will the dealer warranty service folks be able to repair the issues effectively. A trip or two to the dealer is expected, but persistant issues will tarnish the reputation.
One interesting point. I bought the optional loading ramps after speaking to the Airstream design engineer to load my Harley on board. They indicated they had done so themselves successfully. When received, the ramps were rated at 400Lbs max each. The bike weights in at 800 lbs!! So I bought a new ramp set up which is capacity rated for a large bike (1500 lbs). Has anyone loaded a "toy" in the Basecamp and if so, how did she do?
I think you are the first Basecamp posted to the QC threads ever....I am eager to hear more about you and others that have these units and how they perform.....
__________________
Computers manufactured by companies such as IBM, Compaq and millions of others are by far the most popular with about 70 million machines in use worldwide. Macintosh fans note that cockroaches are far more numerous than humans and that numbers alone do not denote a higher life form. -NY Times 1991
Welcome, and glad to hear that you have a Basecamp. WAY COOL!
Took a look at one at the local dealer, and while it seemed in interesting concept, I AM attached to my 34'er....!!! I couldn't see myself wedged in the BC, much less adding the family to the mix...
Is there room for you AND the bike, say for instance, if you are hauling accross the country, in a downpour, or on the way to a bike show where unloading is impractical? Now, I know you said you hadn't yet had a chance to use the BC, but wondering if you had considered that scenario or similar, given the size of you bike and etc... Just curious.
It will be just my wife and I enjoying the BC as the youngins' are no longer underfoot. We are moving from tent camping to the BC, to a product most would consider the minimalist approach. It's the toy hauler aspect on a lightweight multipurpose platform that most appealed to us. (My wife refers to the BC as George Jetson's horse trailer! That's ok because Harley's are often referred to as "iron horses".)
As to the experience of toy hauler, camping and bad weather...not to worry, this pristine piece of art can withstand the elements parked outisde...what some may consider, another "work of art"!
I'll keep you all informed of how our adventures shake out.
At Silvertwinkie's request, my trailer has a manufacturer date of June 2006. We purchased it off the internet from Bates RV Exchange in Florida in November 2006, and took delivery in December 2006.
I had already started a discussion in the 2007 Safari SE area on what we found on delivery and first use when I received Silvertwinkie's request: http://www.airforums.com/forum...tml#post344041
So, to not be posting things twice, I'll just keep my input on that thread. I hope that's okay with everyone.
Randy
__________________ Randy and Pat Godfrey
1st VP Florida Unit WBCCI# 7591 - AIR# 17017
2007 Safari SE 23' - Daisy
2006 Lincoln Mark LT - Hoke
Well, yesterday my wife and I excitedly drove to the AS dealer 2.5 hours away from home to pick up our new baby. A quick walk though showed everthing to look wonderfully done, until my wife noticed the "kaleidescope aluminium", which was supposed to be along the galley wall in our 19' CCD "Ocean Breeze" was missing. If you're unfamiliar with the Ocean Breeze package, it is very similar to the QuikSilver but offered in Internationals of all sizes in 2007. When reviewing pictures sent to me a few weeks ago by the dealer, I had noted they installed the wrong table, which I called and asked for a replacement for. That was replaced by the time we arrived. The Kaleidescope Aluminum, though, was the one thing that made my wife say "this is the one. We get this trailer in our size" when we looked at a 23 of the same decor. A call from our sales person to "Al" at AS revealed that it was supposed to be installed, but was left off for whatever reason. This was the first 19' Ocean Breeze produced, so no one at the factory questioned it. Can't be added without removing the galley, wardrobe, too much work for the dealer. So we were offered $1000 off to drive off with it, or order another and wait again. I have to admit I was dissappointed it was missing too, but would have taken the money and ran. As I was about to say "OK, that's fair, let's hitch 'er up", those words that make all men cringe "could we have a few moments to discuss this alone, please" echoed in the small room. Long story short, we asked them to order another one, drove home and the wait continues. But you know what? We're going to have this for a long time, it had better be right. 10 years from now, as I sip my coffee and look across the galley at the shiny swirly aluminum, I'll be glad I waited. Right?
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