|
|
01-09-2013, 10:00 AM
|
#2
|
Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,159
|
We had looked at the Earthbound at dealers on two occasions in the last couple of years. We were fairly impressed with the fit and finish. We also liked the concept and design. It was really nice to see a travel trailer somewhere between an Airstream and a low end econobox.
We, too, are sorry to hear of their demise.
Brian
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 10:26 AM
|
#3
|
2 Rivet Member
raleigh
, California
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 31
|
I did own an Earthbound for 6 months and can assure you that it good to hear these crooks are out of business. Only feel sorry for the people who lost their job.
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 10:52 AM
|
#4
|
Rivet Master
2006 25' Safari FB SE
Spokane
, Washington
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,858
|
I looked at one at last years RV show and was impressed with what I saw. I did not like the floorplan of the one on display. I was looking forward to the next show in hopes I might see more offerings.
Was your issue with the trailer or the dealer or both?
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 10:59 AM
|
#5
|
Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by NCstreamer
I did own an Earthbound for 6 months and can assure you that it good to hear these crooks are out of business. Only feel sorry for the people who lost their job.
|
Care to elaborate on what makes you call them crooks?
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 11:04 AM
|
#6
|
Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,408
|
I came close to consider traveling to a dealership out of state to look at one of these. Problem was a combination of lack of orders and quality control. From what I read, warranty work seemed to require a trip back to the factory in many cases. With small work force they couldn't build trailers and take care of warranty repairs. Some owners found that it took months (sometimes the entire summer) to get the warranty work done, even though they dropped the trailer off at the factory.
Unfortunately these folks started up when the economy went south. Most RV dealers were unwilling to buy these units in bad economic times with no guarantee of whether the RV public would buy them.
There are about 160 of these trailers built and unlike the standard travel trailer, the construction techniques and materials used are not universal. The folks owning them are really between a rock and a hard place since no one probably will be able to replace many of the components. Repairs will be haphazard since anyone working on them will be guessing or will be learning as they go.
Attempting to do a start up on a unique product like this is full of risk. You almost wonder if Airstream was a startup company in this economy would have ever made a go of it.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 12:42 PM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
|
Airstream started up in the Great Depression and has weathered the economy ever since.
I feel sympathy for those who were snagged by the hype, among them friends of ours who looked at our Airstream but thought these were better in every way. They have had trouble and difficulty getting them fixed.
doug k
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 01:24 PM
|
#8
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
I am suspicious of any RV/trailer start-up company that champions the environmental movement. Why? At first blush it strikes me as being misleading and explotive. Is there such a thing as an "environmentally friendly" trailer when it is pulled by a gas guzzler? It's an oxymoron. "Earthbound" was preaching to the non-converted. A true environmentalist would find the concept laughable. Most RVers/trailerites are indifferent - for the most part.
It's better to face that truth and try to do the best with what you have as a manufacturer and RVer/trailerite.
I am genuinely sorry that people have lost their job, and a community which is already struggling in the midst of an underwhelmed economy has to recover what they can.
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 01:32 PM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
1998 31' Excella 1000
1979 23' Safari
Mooresville
, Indiana
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 598
|
The auction is January 15th. I was temped in going but may not be worth taking the day off of work. They owe the city of Marion 2 million dollars, and now the city of Marion is hurting badly. They took a gamble and sadly lost.
Key Auctioneers*|* Auction Detail
Damon
#4827
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 02:55 PM
|
#10
|
Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
|
Airstream Has Had Its Ups and Downs
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum
Airstream started up in the Great Depression and has weathered the economy ever since.
doug k
|
Airstream went bust in the late 60s or early 70s and sold out to Beatrice Foods.
Later Airstream employees were able to buy themselves back from Beatrice.
More recently, Airstream sold out to Thor.
Not sure of the details and nuance in these occurrences, but both were driven by hard times not good times.
Perhaps others know the history.
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 02:58 PM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
2019 27' Flying Cloud
Albuquerque
, New Mexico
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,917
|
Great Post!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly at Night
I am suspicious of any RV/trailer start-up company that champions the environmental movement. Why? At first blush it strikes me as being misleading and explotive. Is there such a thing as an "environmentally friendly" trailer when it is pulled by a gas guzzler? It's an oxymoron. "Earthbound" was preaching to the non-converted. A true environmentalist would find the concept laughable. Most RVers/trailerites are indifferent - for the most part.
|
This is so true at so many levels. Thanks!
__________________
Ken L 2019 Flying Cloud 27FB
2020 GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 6.2L Max Tow Four Corners Unit WBCCI #5783
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 05:51 PM
|
#12
|
Rivet Master
2007 23' Safari SE
Central
, Connecticut
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,652
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly at Night
I am suspicious of any RV/trailer start-up company that champions the environmental movement. Why? At first blush it strikes me as being misleading and explotive. Is there such a thing as an "environmentally friendly" trailer when it is pulled by a gas guzzler? It's an oxymoron. "Earthbound" was preaching to the non-converted. A true environmentalist would find the concept laughable. Most RVers/trailerites are indifferent - for the most part.
It's better to face that truth and try to do the best with what you have as a manufacturer and RVer/trailerite.
|
Looking beyond cynicism, I guess "try to do the best you can with what you have as a manufacturer" can involve different corporate choices.
- You can build an aerodynamic trailer that saves fuel when you tow it.
- You can try and save weight.
- You can use "green" building practices, like zero-landfill policies.
- You can use materials that don't off-gas - our eyes burn when we spend a sunny day touring RVs at a big show.
Sure, it would be silly to make "green" the primary marketing pitch, but Earthbound was also pitching style and innovation. Airstream makes a big deal of their "greenness" in their brochures, although they probably haven't substantially changed their process in years.
It seems that Earthbound was undercapitalized and launched at a bad time. I looked at various trailers they built - some were nice while others didn't improve on Airstream QC. Their final business plan - custom-order only, around $85k and up - seemed pretty unlikely from the get-go. (Too bad, because it included a nice 23' floor plan.)
Got to say, one of the reasons I got the AS is because many of the panels could be crafted by a skilled restoration shop - and there's enough trailers out there to find the formed end caps and windows, if need be.
I'm sad that Earthbound went under - I'm all for having more competition in the high-end "performance" trailer market. There's not much out there. Casita doesn't play there, Trailmanor doesn't build hard-side trailers anymore, Bigfoot is basically a regional brand now, but I guess the Evergreen Element can neatly slide into the spot where Earthbound left behind. And the Element seems to be more successful...
Tom
|
|
|
01-09-2013, 11:05 PM
|
#13
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Flying Cloud
Fraser Valley
, British Columbia
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,966
|
Quote:
Airstream makes a big deal of their "greenness" in their brochures, although they probably haven't substantially changed their process in years.
|
The difference being Airstream embraced some practical engineering aspects which are considered "green" today . Long before it became fashionable to ride the coat-tails of environmentalism.
__________________
easily distracted by shiny objects
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 04:59 AM
|
#14
|
4 Rivet Member
2005 28' Safari
saline
, Michigan
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 410
|
If I actually gave a crap about "green" manufacturing, I would have purchased a windmill instead.
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 05:39 AM
|
#15
|
Rivet Master
2007 23' Safari SE
Central
, Connecticut
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,652
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fly at Night
The difference being Airstream embraced some practical engineering aspects which are considered "green" today. Long before it became fashionable to ride the coat-tails of environmentalism.
|
Earthbound embraced "practical" engineering aspects too. No wood products in the structure, about 700 pounds lighter than a comparable 25' AS trailer, aerodynamic exterior. From what I've been told, they tow fairly well too - better than the average white box.
My take is that Earthbound, stuck with trying to publicize a new expensive product in a down market, found a marketing angle that had broader appeal. It's easier to market "green" than "aerodynamic lightweight trailer that has nothing to rot inside."
Tom
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 07:30 AM
|
#16
|
Rivet Master
2019 23' International
La Habra
, California
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,019
|
I don't think Evergreen is making the Element anymore.
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 09:22 AM
|
#17
|
Rivet Master
2007 23' Safari SE
Central
, Connecticut
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,652
|
Thanks for that mention subfan1. Yep - Element seems to be "dealer stock only." Maybe AS is the only company that can manage to ask over $40k for a non-5th wheel.
Makes me wonder how the $33k Safari Alto Condo super-pop-up (which I kind of adore, with visions of towing it behind a new Forester) keeps going...
Tom
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 10:03 AM
|
#18
|
Moderator
1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,255
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by mutcth
Makes me wonder how the $33k Safari Alto Condo super-pop-up (which I kind of adore, with visions of towing it behind a new Forester) keeps going...
Tom
|
Why did you show me that?! Now I want one...
__________________
Stephanie
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 10:09 AM
|
#19
|
Rivet Master
2009 27' FB Flying Cloud
1982 31' International
1991 35' Airstream 350
Jay
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,706
|
Must have paid for their website in advanced, it is still up.
JD
__________________
Jeff & Cindy
'09 27FB Flying Cloud;'82 31 International
'91 350 LE MH; '21 Interstate 24GT
|
|
|
01-10-2013, 10:37 AM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
1978 28' Ambassador
Morada
, California
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,584
|
If you read the article about the corporation's demise, the couple that was behind this enterprise also lost their two homes - they were apparently 'all-in'...
You've got to admire them (warranty problems not withstanding) for trying to bring their unique product to market, going for broke, as it were...
To bad they weren't making automobiles, solar panels, or blown away by a storm, as they might have been bailed out by taxpayers...
__________________
Ray & Pat; Morada, CA
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|