|
|
07-27-2009, 09:48 PM
|
#1
|
4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
|
How do RVs get delivered?
I was just thinking. You go down the road and see an RV dealer --- Airstream or SOB. There's a bunch of rigs there. How do they get there from the factory? I have never seen them on a flat bed truck or train for that matter. Anyone know how these things get to where they are?
|
|
|
07-27-2009, 10:23 PM
|
#2
|
Site Team
2002 25' Safari
Dewey
, Arizona
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 15,606
|
Most are just towed from the plant to the dealer.
__________________
Richard
Wally Byam Airstream Club 7513
|
|
|
07-27-2009, 10:31 PM
|
#3
|
Rivet Master
1959 26' Overlander
1960 24' Tradewind
1961 16' Bambi
Oakland
, California
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 758
|
We'd like to volunteer for that job!
Pick us! Pick us! Please, pick us!
__________________
Gemma and Murray
|
|
|
07-27-2009, 10:32 PM
|
#4
|
4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 271
|
So when I see a new Airstream on the road, it might just be a factory delivery instead of some lucky owner?
|
|
|
07-27-2009, 10:54 PM
|
#5
|
Liberator
1972 Argosy 24
1989 34.5' Airstream 345
Heart of Dixie
, Alabama
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,659
|
Bread & Butter
Very interesting, never thought about it, but there are so many at so many dealers.
Does make you wonder.
__________________
Your opinion is valued, please not your opinion of someones else's opinion.
Click To See Me Wet
1989 Airstream 345 Liberator...
1972 Argosy 24'...
1954 Feathercraft Vagabond
|
|
|
07-27-2009, 11:09 PM
|
#6
|
4 Rivet Member
1961 22' Safari
Union
, Oregon
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 477
|
I live close to a couple of trailer plants, Fleetwood and Nash.
I quite often saw two or three trailers at a time hauled off on flatbeds.
At least I did until the economy tanked. Nash is still in business, Fleetwood is gone.
Sam
|
|
|
07-28-2009, 04:52 AM
|
#7
|
Rivet Master
1961 24' Tradewind
1969 29' Ambassador
1970 21' Globetrotter
Jamestown
, Tennessee
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,783
|
Most trailers, except the really small ones are towed to dealers by private individuals who lease their services to a transport company.
I have been doing this part time for the last ten years. (not for airstream)
and have been in every state except of course Hawaii and a lot of Canada.
check out www.rvtransport.com for an explanation of how it works.
Rick Davis 1602
PP VAC
|
|
|
07-28-2009, 04:59 AM
|
#8
|
4 Rivet Member
2019 28' International
Leonardtown
, Maryland
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 262
|
We were in West YellowStone last spring. We met two couples who were ferrying two motor homes to Alaska from the factory in North Carolina. They had 11 days to get to final stop in Ancorage, the drivers picked the route. They got paid on the delivery and reimbursed for fuel and any repairs, plus a one way plane ticket home. Any days over the allowed amount they paid as if they were renting the rig. Do not remember the company.
dale
__________________
_________________
Rebee - WBCCI #1325
2002 Classic Ltd 30'
2007 Dodge 2500, 6.7 Cummins
|
|
|
07-28-2009, 05:21 AM
|
#9
|
Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Florissant
, USA
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,083
|
Come on folks. A giant 2 story tall stork does the duty.
Steve
|
|
|
07-28-2009, 05:23 AM
|
#10
|
Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,759
|
As I understand it, dealers can either choose to have them delivered by towing or delivered by truck. The dealer we bought out trailer from insisted that they be flat-bed truck delivered to minimize wear and tear during the long trip from the Bigfoot factory to the Chicago area. I would presume that Airstream dealers have a similar choice.
Usually when trailers are towed from the factory to a dealership, they're towed by a commercial entity who have signs on the doors of the truck advertising their towing service. Whether that's a requirement or they do it for advertising probably varies from state to state, but you see a lot of them on I-80 running west from Elkhart, Indiana especially in the spring when the dealers are stocking up.
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 03:04 AM
|
#11
|
Rivet Master
2011 34' Classic
Westchester Cty.NY
, / Miami FL
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,122
|
i was at the mother ship on thursday. i was told that almost all are towed except sometimes the smaller ones get multiples towed on a flatbed trailer.
__________________
Ricky
2012 F150 Super Crew 5-1/2' bed Ecoboost 4x4 3.73 elec. lock diff. Propride hitch
give life. kidney & pancreas transplant 9/9/06
Ingrid-my unofficial '"World's Oldest Streamer" 1909-2008 R.I.P.
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 07:02 AM
|
#12
|
3 Rivet Member
1965 26' Overlander
1962 24' Tradewind
Vincennes
, Indiana
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 145
|
Anything over 28' long will typically be towed. Shorter than that they CAN be hauled on a truck (except 5th wheels) but most are still towed. There are a few trucks called "haul and tow" that have a 25' flatbed with dovetail and ramps that "haul" one camper and "tow" another behind the truck. Usually this is done when there are two campers going to the same dealer that will fit on and behind the truck. Campers can't be hauled on a regular semi truck flatbed because they would then be over the legal limit of 13'6" in height. A few FEMA campers were sent by train to Louisiana but for regular shipping it is not practical simply because of shipping logistics.
The company I drive for has about 1000 drivers delivering campers, boats, horse trailers, mobile cell phone towers, motor homes, delivery trucks (UPS, Frito Lay, etc.). Some drivers are full time like myself and others are "just every once in a while". Anyone interested in driving can look at the recruiting page of Horizon Transport Inc. .
Godspeed,
Trent
__________________
TV1: Black Sheep, 2001 Dodge 3500, 800,xxx miles, a few non-stock parts here and there...
TV2: Brownie, 1989 Dodge W250, only 256,000 miles!
TV3: 2004.5 Dodge 3500, 415,000 miles, 6 spd
TV4: 2005 Dodge 3500, 478,000 miles, 4spd auto
"Too much of what I once knew I now know not" Me
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 07:33 AM
|
#13
|
Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,401
|
FYI in case you were thinking of asking to pick your new one up at the factory...they don't. I tried.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 07:58 AM
|
#14
|
Rivet Master
Airstream Dealer
1975 31' Sovereign
Searcy
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,714
|
They are towed to us from the factory.
If you get two small ones coming at the same time, sometimes they put them on a flat bed.
G
__________________
Airstream of Arkansas
www.airstreamofarkansas.com
877-Air-hog1
877-247-4641
Keeping the Airstream Dream Alive!
AIR #8844
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 08:08 AM
|
#15
|
Moderator
Vintage Kin Owner
...
, ...
Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 11,696
|
Thats Too Bad....
Quote:
Originally Posted by jcanavera
FYI in case you were thinking of asking to pick your new one up at the factory...they don't. I tried.
Jack
|
That is too bad.
Factory delivery is a great way to bring the purchaser into the AS fold so to speak. Building brand loyalty by immersion is done by many companies. European automobile manufacturers have had overseas delivery programs for years. John Deere here in the US has a Gold Key Program that lets the buyer watch his/her JD purchase being assembled.
Imagine working through your local dealer to spec out "Your New Airstream" , then travel to the Mother Ship to see the end result of your planning. The AS Customer Service Concierge meets the new buyer, tours the factory with them, lets them apply the AS badging (symbolic cutting of the umbillical), then signs the discharge papers. Ths Concierge hands the new owners a travel package with pre-planned route coordinates, maybe a pair of show tickets at some venue along the way, and the happy couple (assuming they have not noticed some shotty workmanship at this point) is off on the path of AS ownership.
The selling dealer contacts the new owners on an agreed upon date to schedule a "Preliminary Shake Down Inspection" at the selling dealership. Here the new owners meet the service and parts departments, and get acquainted with (hopefully) the people who will assist them in service and repair of their baby.
Oh well just a thought.
Kevin
__________________
"One of the best lessons I've learned is that you don't worry about criticism from people you wouldn't seek advice from."
William C. Swinney
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 08:23 AM
|
#16
|
Tramp Streamer
Commercial Member
1995 28' Excella
Artist
, at Large
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 2,002
|
Come on
Come on folks!
Soldermedic was so close, but we all know that
A
Giant
pink
Flamingo
delivers
all
new
Airstreams
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 08:33 AM
|
#17
|
3 Rivet Member
2009 27' FB Classic
Smithville
, New Jersey
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 162
|
When I was a kid, my dad sold monitors, prowlers, etc. A salesman of his used to drive all the way to Elkhart, pick up the trailer, FILL IT WITH PARTS, and then drive home. Imagine the shipping he saved on the parts.
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 09:32 AM
|
#18
|
4 Rivet Member
2002 22' International CCD
San Luis Obispo
, California
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 418
|
I'm with ArtStream on this.... delivered by a giant pink flamingo.
__________________
Wayne
2002 22' CCD
2008 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 09:58 AM
|
#19
|
Master of Universe
2008 25' Safari FB SE
Grand Junction
, Colorado
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 12,694
|
I believe in olden days there were no dealers and you had to go to the factory.
Since the late 1960's, the Enterprise beams them to the dealer. Helps pay for all those Federation starships.
Gene
|
|
|
08-01-2009, 12:52 PM
|
#20
|
Rivet Master
2010 27' FB Classic
N/A
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,809
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by monkeypants
When I was a kid, my dad sold monitors, prowlers, etc. A salesman of his used to drive all the way to Elkhart, pick up the trailer, FILL IT WITH PARTS, and then drive home. Imagine the shipping he saved on the parts.
|
Your story made me think of the Airstream dealership in Houston where I bought mine in 1987, they used to have their trailers loaded down with parts when they were delivered out of Jackson Center.
I wonder if Jackson Center still delivers parts that way to dealers?
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|