2003 International AS

[uwe]

Not long ago I went looking at other brands of trailers. Some of them not exatly cheap either. I vividly remember leaning against a wallpapered wall in one of them, and feeling it give, and by the time I braced myself, it had cracked down the middle, about 24in vertical.
Another time I sat on a folding bed in a high line toybox type trailer, and it came clear off the wall - sending me tumbling on the floor. I could not help but laugh. The bed mechanism was secured to an 1/8in wall with sheet metal screws, none of them hitting the studs. No wonder these trailers depreciate twice as fast as an Airstream.
My point is, unless it's really large $$ like in a huge Diesel pusher, the quality just simply is not what it is supposed to be. Airstream or SOB, fit and finish are definitely lacking.
I still would prefer the Airstream product hands down, even though it is aggravating to see them p... away such a great reputation.
Thor probably does not care, because the company is profitable. They won't react until they see declining numbers, which probably will not happen for a while. So in a way, they have a take it or leave it attitude, which filters down to the dealers as well, I guess. I pointed out some problems in teh 28CCD to a salesman, and he just smiled, saying that even if it was much worse, the unit would fly off the lot as quick as if it was a perfect coach. Sad, no?
My wife and I were considering upgrading recently. Upon inspection of the new trailers, we decided to keep our 1971 and eventually refurbish it completely. We figured it will cost us less in the long run, and we will end up with a better built coach, exactly how we want it. But, if we did not already have our Tradewind, then we would have signed the dotted line and dealt witht eh quality issues later. Airstreams are just that cool!

[Pahaska]

For over a year, we have been struggling to find a good way to store the hand soap in the bathroom while travelling. The soap "dish" is flat as a fritter and the soap can't stay there. We have been putting it in the sink, but the drain, if open, tears the bar up and the drain, if closed, gets it wet from hand washing under way.

I recently installed a funnel-shaped soap holder to the left of the medicine chest to hold the soap while underway. Works like a charm. Any dripping from the soap is on the counter where it is easily wiped up.

One of my next changes is a momentary button in the bathroom to run the water pump for hand washing while under way without having to remember the switch outside.

[Pahaska]

I may never have to access the terminal blocks where the umbilical comes into the trailer, and maybe I will have to access them. It bothered me that have to disassemble the bed to reach the terminals.

I solved this by installing a deck plate that I had in the shop from my former sailboat days in the plywood under the mattress. Now, I can remove the front drawer, lay a flashlight in there, and access the terminal block through the deck plate.

[Silvertwinkie]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pahaska
[B]The Airstream site factory tour brags on how the trailer is inspected. What inspection?

IMHO, This is the flaw in their process. If the trailer is carefully inspected, the defects identified and fixed, and the workers who produce the defects identified, retrained, or let go, quality would improve in a hurry.


John,

I couldn't agree more. My list is about 16 items strong and growing. Most are just annoying little things that added up, but there are about 3 or 4 that are bigger and one or two that I am still scratching my head trying to figure out how it left the factory. I'll be down at the homecoming to hang out and get my issues addressed.

Maybe I'll see you down there.

Eric

[Pahaska]

and so do I. To me, a vacuum is a piece of my expensive silver real estate that can't be used for some good purpose.

A few years ago, my wife bought me a nice double-mantle propane lantern. It has been handy many times (Chas and PeterH will attest to that). Unfortunately, it is rather bulky and there isn't a good place to store it in the trailer along with the propane. It has been riding in the bed of my truck lately, getting dirty, and breaking mantles. I don't use it a lot, but I want it with me.

But wait! How about the curved area to the left of the under-bed drawers. A nice carpeted EMPTY area. Now how do I get into it.

Easy! My next modification will be to cut the plywood deck under the bed to make a hatch and install hinges. For the rare times I need the lamp, it is no great problem to raise up the corner of the mattress and open the hatch.

[markjoandall]

John,

We didn't buy an International, we purchased a 30' Classic. And all in all, everything seems fine, there are little things but not too bothersome. However the radio just irritates me.

I'm six foot four, 55, with eyes that don't focus as well as they used to so I need bifocals. The radio is in front under a top opening door over the couch. When I open the door, I'm too tall to see the radio because the door doesn't open all the way. I have to kneel down on the couch to see the radio face. However now I'm so close to the radio I have to use the reading parts of my glasses to focus. Consequently I have to tilt my head way back to read the radio which in now over my head.

Once while trying to see the radio and adjust the station, my daughter entered the trailer and began to laugh. She asked me if I was comfortable in that position praying to the radio gods.

I've just given up using the radio.

[Pahaska]

Originally posted by markjoandall
John,
I've just given up using the radio.

I have to admit that I don't always follow the "rules".

I suspect that there might very well be a window in that cabinet door before all is said and done. I would cut and trim the window and then put in some hardwood to move the radio out into the opening.

[Trailertroll]

What a great looking setup!!!

How about you letting your prototype go so that your next one is even better?

Seriously, any thoughts on making and selling more?