'83 Sovereign

[Mac1]

Welcome,
I hope you enjoy your '83 31' as much as we have so far.

Mac and Linda

[tomdaniel]

Make that 4. We bought a 1983 31 foot Sovereign just recently. Like all the above posters, the title says 1983 Sovereign. It says Sovereign on the side of the trailer. And of course, I cannot find any reference to any such animal including on this web sight. I even had to settle for 1984 Sovereign when I registered here as the 1983 wasn't listed! I also just squinted at the front data plate and it says the trailer was manufactured in Dec of 1982. So it is for sure not a 1984. The weights seem to match what a International would be from that year and length.

[310astream]

Add me to the 83 Sovereign owners list. Manufactured Jan. 83. 31' center bath with rear twins.

[Tim J]

One more for the 83 Sovereign owners. We've had it since 2001. Ctr bath and now rear queen.

[GGirl]

Originally Posted by huntoctober

I bought this trailer a month ago and the title says it is an 84 model Sovereign, 27 ft. The original owners manual says 1984 on the cover, but there is a plate on the front above the fuel bottles with a mfg. date of 8-10-83. Also on this plate is the weight and serial number.

We own this trailer now. I just want to say thank you and R.I.P. Huntoctober.

[geodude1958]

We just bought a 1983 Sovereign - center bath with rear twins, her name is Georgia. The date of manufacture was 4-83. Came with a 1983 Owners Manual. On the Airstream website, the trailer specifications 2 for 1983 shows the Sovereign, although the trailer specifications only lists the International. Moderator: you should add a 1983 Sovereign category.

[Phil and/or Sue]

Originally Posted by geodude1958

We just bought a 1983 Sovereign - center bath with rear twins, her name is Georgia. The date of manufacture was 4-83. Came with a 1983 Owners Manual. On the Airstream website, the trailer specifications 2 for 1983 shows the Sovereign, although the trailer specifications only lists the International. Moderator: you should add a 1983 Sovereign category.

Congratulations. Ours was twins and the PO "converted" it to a "queen". I assume it's a 31' also. Our kitchen and bathroom are on the curb side, which someone told me that it means it was made in one factory or the other (I don't remember which).

Will you be taking it to the CanOpener in Destin Florida in January?

Will you be taking it to Springstream in April (Hiawassee GA)? Hope so.

Phil

[Morebees]

I am about to buy a 1983 Airstream Sovereign and I have questions!
First I want to know how much we should be paying for her. She seems to be in great condition except for the long poles on both sides of the underbelly they seem rusty, and the heater does not work.
I started looking for similar trailers but I can't find much info.
Is $8000 fair?
All info, stories, advise etc is welcome!

[Aage]

Howdy and welcome to Airforums.com! This is where you can get answers to all your Airstream-related questions.

Hard to say what that trailer is worth, not knowing anything about it, really. Those long poles are the frame rails, and being steel, they rust pretty quickly. Can you post any photos of it, interior, exterior, wheels and so on? That might help.

Apparently there were not a lot of Airstream trailers manufactured in 1983, either due to weak demand because of world financial problems, or a change in ownership (I can't remember which). Neither fact should have any impact on the price, just that it makes it harder to find records of sales.

If you really want to give it a once over to find faults, go to this page and you will see the second sticky thread is called Trailer Inspection Checklist. Download it, print it all out, and go over it in detail while at the trailer. You will soon get an idea of its condition.

ps: a dead furnace in a trailer almost 30 years old is not unusual. I bet you replaced your home furnace well before it was that old...

[Morebees]

That checklist will be very helpful!
We did look it over best we new hoe and it seems to be in great condition.
If everything checks out, would you say $8000 seems fair?
I just have no idea what trailers f this year and model normally go for when they are in great shape.
Thanks so much for your help.

[Aage]

Well, if, if, if. You could easily spend $3,000 if you need new appliances, which is entirley possible. If you have frame damage (rust), if there are leaks, if there are soft spots in the floor... Any of that could interfere with your enjoyment of the trailer.

But if none of those are true, I would say that if you like it, it could well be worth that much.

One good thing about 1983 Sovereigns; it is the lightest 31-footer that Airstream has made since the early '60s and that makes for easy towing.