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Old 08-17-2014, 03:08 PM   #2041
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Looked it up a little = If pool cages are anodized, why can't they just anodized airstream? Right?

They could anodize them. I think I'm right here, but don't quote me: Avion's were anodized. That solved Filiform corrosion, as anodizing is a chemical bonding with the base metal (where is Robert Cross when we need him. Robert, if you are out there, explain anodizing and it's properties to us). But you look at old Avions, they are a dull gray. There is a lot of use of anodized aluminum on boats, especially the metal work, outriggers, tuna towers, T tops, hand rails, etc. Most of these accessories look great and are a bright shinny silver finish. I suspect there are different quality levels of anodize finish and the brightest/most durable being the most expensive. Anodizing will still, however, not solve all problems. If scratched through to the base metal, corrosion will have a place to start. Drill a hole and you have the raw AL there that will allow corrosion also. We have a lot of holes drilled in Airstreams, in a corrosive environment an owner would still have to be on watch.


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Old 08-17-2014, 03:38 PM   #2042
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Zigzagguzzi is missing the point altogether.
I love my Airstream. I camp in it every weekend. I owned an sob before the Airstream.
I still reserve the right to comment on the peeling paint on the stove vent.
How much it costs isn't the point. No one forced me to borrow the money from Good Sam/Bank of the West. The point is that the build quality should be better. For that amount of money it should be flawless.
I am grown and live in a free land. I don't think I need anyone to tell me what I should/should not say or do. I pay all my bills by myself.
I still have never seen this corrosion y'all are speaking of (thank goodness), but I have seen all types of other problems that should not be.
I love my trailer, and for me it's an Airstream or no trailer, but I 'm not going to sit back and pretend it's perfect, 'cause it ain't...
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Old 08-17-2014, 04:17 PM   #2043
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Zigzagguzzi is missing the point altogether.
I love my Airstream. I camp in it every weekend. I owned an sob before the Airstream.
I still reserve the right to comment on the peeling paint on the stove vent.
How much it costs isn't the point. No one forced me to borrow the money from Good Sam/Bank of the West. The point is that the build quality should be better. For that amount of money it should be flawless.
I am grown and live in a free land. I don't think I need anyone to tell me what I should/should not say or do. I pay all my bills by myself.
I still have never seen this corrosion y'all are speaking of (thank goodness), but I have seen all types of other problems that should not be.
I love my trailer, and for me it's an Airstream or no trailer, but I 'm not going to sit back and pretend it's perfect, 'cause it ain't...

M., I've found the customer service guys great at AS. You are still under warrantee and I bet if you call CS directly with your list of all the problems and ask them to run interference with your dealer, they will. Not that your dealer would not do all the work correctly for you, but why not get Johnson ctr involved with you directly from the get go since you have so many small problems to fix. Just a thought. I went that route with the clearance lights fix and the work by the dealer was quick and done correctly.


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Old 08-17-2014, 04:27 PM   #2044
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I'm not trying to tell you what to do. I am trying to tell you what you should have done. Resign yourself that you have ,in your idea, an inferior product for the price and need to fix it to your idea of perfection, or sell it and move on. I could have kept my last AS, but being retired, the constant maintenance required to keep it looking nice and safe was too much. I own a fifty year old Avion that someone else restored. It looks like it is fifty years old, but it is safe and dry. I don't need to worry about dings or rust. I guess what I am saying is if you have a newer AS you can always expect to have one thing or another show up tp agrivate you if you let it. Two options to keep from going crazy.. Sell it or get used to it. Life is too short and fragile to have a TT frustrate you to the point of distraction to happiness. I see too many people on the forums that seem to worry too much about whether they got their money's worth or not. If you camp in your AS and it gives you peace of mind, regardless of the faults, it was worth the money. Don't feel guilty. And don't worry about what other people may think of your As. Peace, jim
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Old 08-17-2014, 04:35 PM   #2045
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Chris Burch, Randy McNeeley, and others at Airstream are aware of all the problems with my trailer. I have a service center appointment September 16. My idea is to try to get all issues resolved before the warranty runs out in October before I have to fix it on my dime.
It is a beautiful trailer, and as far as I can tell every RV made has issues. The problems are not just with Airstream or Thor. The shortcomings are industry-wide. It is partially our fault for continuing to but them. Just sayin'...
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Old 08-17-2014, 04:36 PM   #2046
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But = buy...
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Old 08-17-2014, 04:47 PM   #2047
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Absolutely correct!! Good luck with your appointment! Jim
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Old 08-17-2014, 04:56 PM   #2048
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They just don't make them like they used to. Airstream owners that is.
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Old 08-17-2014, 06:17 PM   #2049
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We've bought three new Airstream products in the past 10 years.

The 2005 Interstate had body rust issues....but in 80K miles and 8 years did not have any systems or build related problems.

Our 2013 International Signature 19 had 10 K flawless system and build miles.....but had constant corrosion issues.

I expect our new 2014 International Signature 23D to have stellar performance and longevity. It came with some filiform squiggles but I've got that under control and I'm much wiser in the corrosion prevention department.

We expect to enjoy our newest Airstream to the fullest and have it many years to come.

BTW......the customer service guys at Airstream are pretty good. Take advantage of their services.
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Old 08-17-2014, 07:11 PM   #2050
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We are really looking forward to our trip to Jackson Center.
Chompin' at the bit!
Rarin' to go!
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Old 08-17-2014, 10:10 PM   #2051
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We will hit JC next year likely

The drawers coming out is painfully absurd. Same thing happened to mine - same for iggywalker (same 2014 unit as us)....I mean seriously put in the proper hardware or do latches or something to prevent the innevitable - they been making these since the 40's lol

I put new hardware on myself and this has totally fixed it

I looked over iggywalker's trailer today on one side only - no signs of corrosion - washed and did quick speedwax of mine and still luckily no signs

I will soon be re-applying corrosionX as I put it on approximately 9 months ago last time and I did spot a few more small scratches I need to hit with the clear coat pen this week.

Also a touch of rusty residue is coming from the cap in center of rims where it contacts the rim - perhaps I need to remove that cap and check it out and apply some boeshield in that area

Rims and all still look fantastic - I sprayed them early with boeshield and wiped off to clean and only this area has managed to do this
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Old 08-17-2014, 10:31 PM   #2052
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...
I view the Airstream as the result of the best in 1930's technology (the riveted aluminum shell) combined with middle of the road components (Safari line) put together in a haphazard fashion with little concern about durability. In Seattle, up till recently (I can't comment on the new dealer) the dealer was not focused on Airstream and did minimal preparation on delivery. So between a factory lacking quality control and a mediocre dealer support there was lots to be done the first few months of ownership. And yes my airstream was delivered with water levels in the running lights among other things.


Whether it's worth the Airstream premium in cost is a personal decision....

I can comment on the new Seattle dealer, AS Adv NW, as we have voted for them with our checkbooks twice in the last several years. They have been excellent to deal with both before and after the sale.. providing a very competitive purchase price, prompt pdi, and customer service above and beyond for us (as exemplified by John). In fact, it is a very long drive to Seattle from Montana to purchase from them - bypassing both a local dealer and one in between. AS Adv NW is a single line dealer * focused on Airstream ONLY. YMMV
Metal exposed to the elements *especially if unprotected from sea air* will oxidize or corrode; period.
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Old 08-17-2014, 11:55 PM   #2053
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The drawers coming out is painfully absurd. Same thing happened to mine - same for iggywalker (same 2014 unit as us)....I mean seriously put in the proper hardware or do latches or something to prevent the innevitable - they been making these since the 40's lol
Supposedly the new 2015 International Serenity have a new drawer grabber catch system that was upgraded from 3 lbs. to 5 lbs. This may fix the drawer issue but I have not heard from new owners about this issue yet.
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Old 08-18-2014, 04:48 AM   #2054
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Overloaded drawers, is that what causes them to open while driving. Or is that what you get when a truck hits your AS from behind and spins you out? Jim
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Old 08-18-2014, 05:51 AM   #2055
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The cause for myself and iggywalker was not overload.

It only happened with the larger drawers and it did it with an empty drawer on one weekend trip.
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Old 08-18-2014, 06:45 AM   #2056
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So if this is a known problem, then why would anyone buy an airstream ? I can't imagine my new car having a similar significant issues. So sad. I don't understand?!
I had some white stuff on my first AS, and have seen a bit on this newer one.
It didn't bother me on the first one,mans I'm not losing sleep about this one either. A little bit of white stuff just isn't that big of a deal to me.
Would I prefer "not to have it?" Sure, but it's just that big of a negative, to not buy a AS..
(Just my $.02) about what it's worth..
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Old 08-18-2014, 12:48 PM   #2057
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Overloaded drawers, is that what causes them to open while driving. Or is that what you get when a truck hits your AS from behind and spins you out? Jim

I think the wheels are not balanced from the factory. I don't see any weights- not even on the inside if the wheels are "static" balanced- not even stick-on weights- nothing-
Drawers in the kitchen- some lightly loaded with dish rags and others heavily loaded with silverware or dishes-
Drawers in the bedroom lightly loaded with socks and underwear-
No rhyme or reason for it, but no good excuse, either-
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Old 08-18-2014, 12:49 PM   #2058
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Old 08-18-2014, 01:18 PM   #2059
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Balancing trailer tires not only makes the ride smooth, but it extends tire wear. Had my AS tires balanced a week after I bought it.


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Old 08-18-2014, 02:17 PM   #2060
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The bean counters at Beatrice Foods started all this...

In the 1960's the aluminum was Alcoa‐Aluminum Alclad sheet 2024‐T3 .032

In 1969‐Beatrice Foods questioned cost of material. They started experimenting with 6061-T6,
it was still heat treatable and less expensive than 2024.

1972 switched to 6061‐T6 .032 1977/78 Alcoa 3004‐H291 Brite Panels .032

1983 Alcoa 3003‐H18 .032 Controlled mill finish

1986 Alcoa 3005‐H18 .032 Controlled mill finish

1993 Switched to Alumax 3005‐H18 Controlled mill finish W/ Precoat side and window sheet .040

1994 Trailer shape changed –material remained same thickness increased to .040 to help carry the weight of shell change.

1998 ‐200….Alcoa Bright Versatrim leveled sheet 3004‐H18 side and window sheet .040 3003 O Temper .040 thicknesses with special coating from Alcoa for the segments used to make the front and rear end caps. This material is stretch formed at Airstream.

I just wonder how much money they saved per trailer by switching alloy's.
I'm sure most here would pay extra for the better alloy.
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