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ROBERTSUNRUS · 03-13-2009, 12:24 AM

Hi, as I was digging around in my trailer I pulled the cover off of the kitchen cabinet under my oven. I got my flashlight and was just looking around at things when I thought I saw a styrofoam coffee cup stuffed between the furnace ducts and sink drain pipe. Yes it was. And it was obviously left there by someone at the factory while my trailer was being built. As I looked deeper, I saw a piece of black plastic pipe, that seemed to be open on one end instead of connected to something. I reached in and pulled it out. This was a left over piece of black plastic pipe that was laying onto the furnace housing. Next I saw what looked like a white wire with a ground loop on the end of the wire, but was not connected to ground anywhere. I could not reach it from this side so I removed the three kitchen utinsel drawers and pulled it out; It was not connected at the other end either. While in there I saw a washer looking thing laying on the floor. It was a drill out hole of aluminum from some unknown place. These things wouldn't hurt anything and I really don't care about them; They could have been in this trailer for decades if I wasn't the kind of person who likes to dig. I do think it is a shame, for Airstream, that some of their employees think it's cool to leave trash in someone's trailer knowing they will most likely never hear or have to deal with it once it leaves the assembly line. On the other hand, I wouldn't feel sorry for this person if they lost their job because of our economy. No pride, No job. Anyone else have similar stories of trash left in their brand new Airstream?

I haven't been to the factory, but I would like to ask, or know, if Airstream has trash cans or recycle bins on their assembly line.

**Janet H** · 03-13-2009, 12:32 AM

You should ebay them as rare collectibles

PINKBIKE · 03-13-2009, 05:55 AM

I took off the wall that is in my kitchen,there written in black ink,was a Signature by the Lead Assembler in black ink,and in pencil ,His Helper ! Fire these two while your at it! Damn Hoodlums !

Silverhobby · 03-13-2009, 06:32 AM

When removing the "beautiful" shag carpeting from the 1978 Argosy Minuet, I found many rivet shafts under the padding. Obviously there is no time available to sweep these up.

shermantic · 03-13-2009, 06:59 AM

I think its cool if they if have a signature on you trailer! Might be worth more some day!

modarch · 03-13-2009, 07:01 AM

I found a ton of the metal "donut holes" in the bottom of my c-channel between the walls during my restoration. I didn't think anything of it... Now the pipe and cup are odd. But I wouldn't loose sleep about it.

funkill · 03-13-2009, 07:07 AM

I was thinking your story would lead somewhere else ... i.e. you would soon mention that you had a little visitor (mouse) collecting stuff and building nests.

Thankfully it was not that!

DanB · 03-13-2009, 07:11 AM

My city, Lorain, was home to a very large Ford assembly plant. Over the years they produced Econolines, thunderbirds, courgars, and others.

It is amazing to hear the stories of things that went into making Fords the best! Perhaps thats why they are no longer there....

Lets just hope that Jackson Center has more bathrooms than Lorain, Ohio

flitzwhopper · 03-13-2009, 08:06 AM

When I pulled the furnace out to replace the motor, I found the knock outs and filings where they drilled the holes for vents. What's worse is that it the furnace had been removed once before to replace the fresh air cross over hose. No pride of profesionalism there. They also bent the furnace box up because they didn't know how to remove the furnace properly. It may have been done at an Airstream dealer because it was a factory recall. As a rank amature doing the furnace service for the first time it was well within the ability of a common man to do it properly.

Silverwanabe · 03-13-2009, 08:27 AM

Same thing on my 67 during my restoration, I found all kinds of goodies lying around.
In the trash can they go.

I hope the commercial aircraft manufactures are not this lax in the cleanup.
They must in a hurry, slow the line down a little.

Silvertwinkie · 03-13-2009, 09:03 AM

Well, in digging around my 2004, I pulled several lbs of crap out. Routed out pieces of alum, rolled up wire, etc. It was literally several lbs.

The thing that really and truly ticked me off was when I installed my own subwoofer. Under my front couch, there is a white box type structure. I opened it up in the investigation stage to see about placement of said subwoofer because it was a bazooka and it was long, not the box looking one they shove in the arm storage of the couch.

To my absolute amazement, in the routed out hole that lead from the umbilical to the wiring inside, some clown had balled up and shoved a McDonald's breakfast sandwich wrapper into the hole.

After all the oddities and such I've exp with having owned two new Airstreams, it was this kind of mentality that really started to put the pieces together for me as to the mindset of the people building these units vs the issues I was seeing. I just couldn't believe someone would do something like that. When you post what you found, it really didn't shock me given what I have exp.

I know some folks get upset to find wood and alum shavings, to me that is small compared to 6x6 pieces of routed out alum, wiring and of course food wrappers.

Given the state of the economy, I am fairly certain the folks responsible for these lazy and rude acts have had time to think about their jobs as they have most likely been mothballed for periods of time due to production cutbacks at the factory.

AIR-Quarius · 03-13-2009, 09:13 AM

In one of the couch arm cover/lid we found all the clips n rollers (don't know real name) but are the runner attachments for the curtains that were originally in here...the former owners had taken out the curtains we are all familiar with and put in pull down shades which we are still useing today...we know there is one of you that specialize in making curtains and will probably get with you later. But this one was pretty darn clean when we purchased.

Silverwanabe · 03-13-2009, 10:00 AM

No excuse for food wrappers and coffee cups.
PERIOD

Ganaraska · 03-13-2009, 10:16 AM

This is not the first time this subject has come up. Apparently it is a long standing tradition, going back the 60s at least, to send out brand new Airstream trailers looking like the inside of a vacuum cleaner bag.

They are still the same today if not worse. In fact, if a bag of trash is the worst thing you have to deal with you are lucky.

It's a mystery to me why so called reputable manufacturers, and for that matter unions, let a few ignorant goons ruin the livelihood of a thousand honest workmen.

eubank · 03-13-2009, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silverhobby

When removing the "beautiful" shag carpeting from the 1978 Argosy Minuet, I found many rivet shafts under the padding. Obviously there is no time available to sweep these up.

Same with our 67 AS: Tons of rivet shafts. Oh, and one large, convex washer that made a lump in the carpet right in front of the kitchen sink.

The one good thing I found was a nice adjustable wrench, which was trapped under the heater vent at the back of the rig. It is one of those very small ones, pretty difficult to find.

Lynn

Airhog1 · 03-13-2009, 10:28 AM

While working on our 75 model...I pulled out our sofa bed and holy cow!

JIMMY HOFFA!!!!!

G

Blue Pearl · 03-13-2009, 10:53 AM

Don & Claudia, Tell what you found on the frame of your flying cloud. I think it is neat and I will put my signature and date somewhere on my renovations, not garbage.

AirsDream · 03-13-2009, 12:33 PM

Once I bought an Econoline van that had a persistent rattle that the dealer "couldn't find" ... once I took off the right had door liner panel, I found a Coke bottle left inside the door and was bouncing around in there. I think it was before bottle deposit came along, so I didn't get my dime for it!

SaabLover · 03-13-2009, 01:09 PM

I am not sure if these people live in a trailer but I thought that it was along the same lines as found things.

Pet cat found in used couch

SPOKANE, Washington (NBC) -- A Washington state couple got more than they paid for when they recently bought a couch at a thrift store.

The pet cat from the couch's previous owner has crawled inside the couch just before it was taken to a Spokane thrift store and stayed in there for three weeks until the couple found it.
The couple contacted the local media in Spokane who ran a story and was able to track down the owners.
The family says they are happy to have their pet back at home.

KSN.com - Also in the news - Video - Pet cat found in used couch