This maybe somebody looking for a "Prop" for a photo.movie shoot for like a day or two. I'd rent for that as long as I could stay with the coach. I'm actually concidering do that for a little extra cash every once in a while.
One of my buddies familily has rented several of their classic cars for movies over the years. They got to spend several days IN the Biltmore house while their Model T was used in the movie they were filming.
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1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
Opening up the Airstream experience to everyone, not just those with $30K or $40K to plunk down, should be a priority for any company that wants to continue to grow their customer base. Which is exactly why Airstream would've been a good candidate for this 8 or 10 years ago when the customers were literally dying off of old age (and not being replaced!) But maybe they'd be silly to consider the time-share concept now, with all the renewed interest.
Look at like this. If I was a dealer, have a rental fleet of used 1-5 year old units with tow vehicles. Offer the rig as a package. Set the rates where you will not get riff raff. Offer a % refund of the rental against the purchase of a new or used unit. A higher percentage of the rental could be used to reduce the price of the unit you just rented.
This allows you to offer the units for rent. Would offer an outlet for the used fleet that you have on trade, as a dealer you already have a service department to fix them if they get damaged. You will get some people that want to rent on for a month, but won't be a buyer.
The companies that rent the class C Motorhomes make money, I think this would too.
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Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
"Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and celebrate the journey." -- Fitzhugh Mullan
Wise men talk because they have someting to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
In politics, absurdity is not a handicap— Napoleon
This is totally relevant to me. I am a TV producer looking for an Airstream motorhome (vintage 60s/70s) or trailer for use in the making of a TV documentary in the North West. I am tearing my hair out trying to find one! I had no idea it would be so difficult!
Why not buy one then sell it when you're through? It seems on a 60's/70's model you would be hard pressed to loose money after using it for the period it would take to film your documentary...I would think in the end, it would be much less expensive to the bottomline!
Shari
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Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
I agree with Shari that it would not be financially a poor decision to buy one and resell it when you finish. The danger, however, is that you'll fall in love with the old girl and start fixing it up. Pretty soon, it'll be "full monty" time, and your other pursuits will languish as you pursue your own new-found Airstream dream.
Pretty soon, you might even find out what "cyclo" REALLY means.
...I am a TV producer looking for an Airstream motorhome (vintage 60s/70s) or trailer for use in the making of a TV documentary in the North West....
There are movie prop dealers that rent Airstreams if that's what you are looking for. I don't recall the links off hand but I'll try to find them if you like.
Steve
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Have you never questioned those who travel?
Have you paid no regard to their accounts- Job 21:29
I just read a ad in the local paper where someone is leasing their 24 footer for 6 months at $ 225.00 a month. Must be kept in one location. They will tow it to your location. People could really trash a trailer in six months.
You know, I thought that I would NEVER be asked if I would rent my '81 MH to anyone, yet a dad and his 2 sons got kicked out of their house (a rental) by his divorcing wife and asked if they could rent mine for two weeks! Since I was going away for a week, I couldn't, but gave him the # of a friend of mine who has rented his class C out several times. Unfortunately he wanted $600.00 a week! That is outrageous if you ask me, and they only wanted to park it at a homesite they are building, not drive it around anywhere. He was firm with that fee. This dad couldn't afford it due to attorney fees etc...I felt terrible, until his soon to be ex told me that the home is built and they are able to stay there. He didn't want to so that they could sell it for a better price...I said that no matter what the realtors told him, he has a home for those 2 boys and they should stay there til sold.
Then I thought about the idea of renting it out when I'm not using it. I don't think I could ever do that unless I charge an even more outrageous price so that if it gets trashed, I could upgrade with finer materials.
Renting coaches (non Airstream), particularly in the "popular" seasons is a complete scam....but $750 a day and $500 each additional....you could stay in a 5 star hotel in a major city for less (in some cases) and folks here are right....if you can shell out those kind of dollars, you could buy one!
Friends of ours rented an SOB to join us at the Midwest Rally last year....when they told us what they paid to rent it for the weekend, I seem to recall it was near or over $1000 after all the fees, insurances, etc.
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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
SafeHarbor, you are right. I have fallen in love with Airstreams. A month ago I had never heard of them and thought they were just some daft notion my director had. Now I get all twirly at pictures of proper vintage ones. The guy on vintageairstream.com has some beautiful pictures.
The problem with buying one is that I am an Irish producer working for a company based in London. Buying one wouldn't be an option for us as nobody on the team is resident in the US (for licence and registration)- we all have media visas. We're just filming here.
Anyway the good news is I think I have found a nice lady who will rent me her motorhome. I have to go to see it tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is nice and that she is as nice as she sounds. I have met more than one dodgy character in my quest.
But thank you all for your advice. Will keep you posted as to progress.
Airstream is going to sell units in Europe pretty soon (if they aren't already)--see their website for details. There are also vintage inspired folks who pay to have units shipped over the atlantic. Either way, with persistance, you can get an Airstream.
Meanwhile, there is a lady down on the Isle of Wight who seems to be trying to copy the Shady Dell concept--you could occupy (but not tow) a unit for a few days there:
SafeHarbor, you are right. I have fallen in love with Airstreams. A month ago I had never heard of them and thought they were just some daft notion my director had. Now I get all twirly at pictures of proper vintage ones. The guy on vintageairstream.com has some beautiful pictures.
The problem with buying one is that I am an Irish producer working for a company based in London. Buying one wouldn't be an option for us as nobody on the team is resident in the US (for licence and registration)- we all have media visas. We're just filming here.
Anyway the good news is I think I have found a nice lady who will rent me her motorhome. I have to go to see it tomorrow. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is nice and that she is as nice as she sounds. I have met more than one dodgy character in my quest.
But thank you all for your advice. Will keep you posted as to progress.
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Mary Dotson, WBCCI/WDCU #9026
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