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mayco · 07-14-2018, 01:51 PM

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmm, yes. ball joints

mayco · 07-14-2018, 01:52 PM

dammit

Robrings · 07-14-2018, 04:28 PM

My mechanic is going over everything right now. I only drove it 9 miles home. I've had ball joints go out on me before. Not fun.

bobmiller1 · 07-14-2018, 04:42 PM

There’s more to that ball joint story.....as to the actual cause for the failure. Just saying, Regards, Bob

bobmiller1 · 07-14-2018, 04:44 PM

Why does “Tap” keep popping up in my head when we’re talking about this negative stuff ????

Robrings · 07-16-2018, 02:28 PM

Well, my mechanic got the wrong brake parts in twice. Apparently my airstream is a P30 utility with 4 wheel disc so they sent him 10 lug front rotors instead of the 5 lug it has. He can't believe how clean the frame is. Says the front suspension is rock solid. All the rubber lines including fuel are in great shape. He says If i want the fuel lines changed he will do it but it were himself he wouldn't. It is going to have to go back at a later date for exhaust manifold gaskets as the rear bolts are broken off. Said it has been getting huge attention from other customers. Says I'll be like a celebrity driving it on the open roads.

bkahler · 07-16-2018, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robrings

Well, my mechanic got the wrong brake parts in twice. Apparently my airstream is a P30 utility with 4 wheel disc so they sent him 10 lug front rotors instead of the 5 lug it has. He can't believe how clean the frame is. Says the front suspension is rock solid. All the rubber lines including fuel are in great shape. He says If i want the fuel lines changed he will do it but it were himself he wouldn't. It is going to have to go back at a later date for exhaust manifold gaskets as the rear bolts are broken off. Said it has been getting huge attention from other customers. Says I'll be like a celebrity driving it on the open roads.

If your mechanic says the fuel line is rated 30R7 then you're good to go. If it's not then for the money I'd replace it in a heart beat. Over the last year or two there have been several Classics burn up due to fuel line issues.

Robrings · 07-18-2018, 05:03 PM

So what do you other Airstream Motorhome owners thing the one I bought is worth? The only other one I see for sale in the US is 65,000. That seems pretty high.

Isuzusweet · 07-22-2018, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robrings

So what do you other Airstream Motorhome owners thing the one I bought is worth? The only other one I see for sale in the US is 65,000. That seems pretty high.

It's worth what you wanted to spend......prices are all over the map because motorhomes can be so differently equipped and used. You bought one that requires a bunch of mechanical work and possibly interior work as well; where as, the other one you've seen might have a turbo diesel conversion, bunch of electrical upgrades, renovated interior and in complete drive away condition. You'll see people asking huge money for junk and others asking fair money for good coaches. There is no hard facts or figures on what our coaches are worth; only what a prospective buyer is willing to spend.

We have an idiot up here called Tinman RV in Hamilton Ontario, who has listed a couple of 325's for $125,000; then $95,000; then $65,000; then $49,000; and now $39,000......regularly puts up ads for completely gutted, (I mean gutted; no interior walls, no electrical, no insulation, no floor) trailers for $10,000+ dollars.........goodluck to him I say.

If you plan on flipping it.........ask what you want to ask, and hope for the best.

Cheers
Sidekick Tony

Jakeo62 · 07-22-2018, 12:09 PM

With you being in Michigan(I'm in Ohio) and finding that beauty, I'm very jealous as are the majority that have responded....LOL .My dream is a 34' tri axle AS and have been looking but as has been stated , people whip up prices without thinking how much has to be done to make it road worthy.
Quick story here, I traded a truck for a 1992 34' Pinnacle that was made by AS and did not take time to do the maintiniance up front and it bit me very bad. First trip to Grayling I blew 3 tires, found out roof leaked and many little things but the trusty 454 did it's job giving me 7mpg.
Following trip with I "split the pig" on the rear axle and $4800.00 got it back on the road in time to need the manifold cover gaskets changed. Thank God for AAA Recreation package as three times they had to put it on a flatbed and get it in for repairs. The final straw was the roof. I donated my "money pit" and took the tax deduction!
The unit you have and the things you are doing now will get you YEARS of pleasure! Do NOT be afraid of driving it BUT gas pumps and all corners take alot of turning radius so go to a parking lot and practice. A back up camera is a MUST along with as I stated, upgrading your AAA package.
If I were to put a value on your unit(IF interior all working) I would guess $50K and up. At a AS get together I would up that price to $75.000.
You have what ALOT of us dream of so enjoy it!!!

engineerich · 07-22-2018, 12:11 PM

Congrats! I also have a 1992 350LE...looks likes the twin of yours...just drove it in May from San Antonio to Homer, Alaska... No issues during the journey, but I did a lot of prep too...new tires...replaced original alternator and water pump...replaced all belts and any hoses that looked original...inspected all brakes (all rotors and pads were good) and flushed out the old brake fluid; found the tag axle brakes had failed to the point they were largely ground to dust...flushed radiator... Fuel pump died shortly after these fixes and that was a major challenge since I had filled the tank before it failed...mechanic and I drained and then dropped the tank to replace...

Journey to Alaska was largely uneventful except for a bad bump in the Yukon which caused my refrigerator door to fly open and break off its hinges...the engine transmission combination was amazingly strong even with the steep climbs and descents through Montana and the Yukon and Alaska...

Oddly enough, when I arrived in Alaska, both heaters stopped working...they try to come on but do not light...haven’t trouble-Shot this yet... I have been living in it all summer while a build a barn for it...

Warm regards.
Rich

Urbanologist · 07-22-2018, 12:42 PM

Very nice, very interesting, and expensive — you’re re-abiliatating a vintage (OLD) classy icon. Larry Hagmam (I Dream of Jeannie) stored his 345 at the same location that I used in Lake Dallas, TX, for my Panamerica. He was having major updates with batteries for powering his solar systems (he was a big proponent of green living!). While I never had the pleasure of meeting him; the on-site Technicians allowed a peek at the work being undertaken. This was going on while he was in Dallas many years back filming the reboot of Dallas. He’s been gone five years now; even today, I recall a technician saying: Don’t skimp on making the fuel system and engine safe — AND — being able to stop!

http://www.icollector.com/Larry-Hagm...Home_i17179840

PS: l had to LOL when I saw the interior of his vehicle! It looked like “Jeannie’s” home interior at the major’s home.

Urbanologist · 07-22-2018, 01:14 PM

You’ve just joined a fantastic club — we are all addicted — aluminum-itis!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091541/

mayco · 07-22-2018, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robrings

So what do you other Airstream Motorhome owners thing the one I bought is worth? The only other one I see for sale in the US is 65,000. That seems pretty high.

Like Tony said, it's worth whatever someone is willing to pay......and this brings up another issue, insurance. Kelly Blue Book is no help. Finding comparables with an actual "sold" price is very difficult to find if not impossible. So that leaves us in a bit of a quandary when it comes to insuring these beasts. How do we go about determining the value for insurance purposes?

I chose to have a professional appraisal done on my 310. The company that did the appraisal is pretty well known for Airstream appraisals and the owner is actually a member here on the forums. James Polk n Associates. He is also a long term owner of vintage Airstreams trailers and has done a few restorations so I felt like he has the true skinny on value. With appraisal in hand along with some recent "for sale" ads I went to my Progressive ins agent and bought an "agreed value" policy. The agent basically told me that we can insure my rig for whatever value I was willing to cough up the premiums for.......within reason I suppose.

I think it boils down to gathering as much documentation as we can put together, including receipts for work done by others. I feel a bit safer now should I ever need to file a substantial claim but would anticipate the process to be a pain in the rear regardless.

For me, I think it's totally worth the cost of the appraisal ($250 I think) to gain a little bit of peace of mind should an accident ever happen. Just another form of professional documentation to have in your pocket should you need it.

Anyway......you brought up "value" and my mind went to insurance value, something you'll need to deal with at some point soon if you haven't already.

Mike

Robrings · 07-23-2018, 05:43 AM

Thanks for the input, I understand the old saying "Its worth what someone is willing to pay" but I think I'm grossly underinsured. The only one I can find that shows it sold was for $43,500 last year. I just had all the brakes done, fluids changed. Later this fall it's going back for exhaust manifold gaskets. So far everything works except the fridge doesn't get cold. Roof top AC units are both ice cold, tires are from 2003. The LP tank was left on for 10 years and it still has 1/4 tank. The automatic leveling systems works like it should. I had no idea how rare it was when I bought it. Will we be selling it? Haven't decided yet, we are taking it camping this weekend.

mojoe7009 · 07-23-2018, 03:37 PM

Tires should be replaced every 5 to 6 years if the mileage interval is not reached first. This is especially true if the unit has been sitting, unused, for long periods of time. Your tires are 15 years old. The probability of failure is high!

1969fowler · 11-19-2018, 07:41 AM

Our refrigerator door hinges broke the first day out at Garner State Park last year. I took a curtain tension rod and placed the door in place and put just enough tension on it to keep the door closed. After our week there, we drove home and the tension rod kept the door in place to make it home and order another door from Holiday World
We improvised and it worked
Van

bobmiller1 · 12-03-2018, 05:26 AM

By far.....one of the nicest pictures of a classic motor home ever ! Regards, Bob

Mike1997 · 12-29-2018, 10:27 PM

Beautiful Airstream!!! Hope you will be taking it to the Airstream International Rally in VA this summer. Its a classic so think of it as you would if you were restoring a vintage Cadillac or Mercedes. Sure its expensive, will keep you busy, but be worth lots of stories about lessons learned. That's half of what RVing is all about is sharing experiences. Other half is seeing and doing those experiences talked about

1969fowler · 01-03-2019, 04:53 AM

We need your help...

Our 1992 Airstream motor home classic 350LE has developed an electrical problem with the direction lights, clearance lights and headlights. When the headlights are on, directional and clearance lights do not work. Sounds like a short, right? But I am frustrated that I cannot find the problem in the ground.

Does anyone have an instrument panel wiring diagram? Our original manual did not have that information. Or does anyone have an idea as to where I might search?

Thanks in advance for any help,
Chief