That's very interesting. The new model year starts about Aprilish ('02). So I would think that the closer to that date it was built, could be why the inside is a bit different.
The fact that you had that exp is just the worst story I have ever heard. I can't believe that they would deliver you the coach with a soiled black tank. As for the humidity, it might have played a role, but I'm sure there are folks in similar areas that have not had that problem with the plasticoat. I tend to agree that it might have been an Alcoa production issue.
It's hard to believe that you have lam peeling on the interior surfaces that bad and that for an '03 you have different roof lockers. Perhaps a design change was implemented after yours was built.
At any rate, Jim is a great guy. I'm sure he'll take good care of you. He was key in getting to the bottom of the issue with my new coach. I was very happy he and Tim were there to help the dealer help me get the coach in the best possible shape. They really went the extra mile.
One thing to consider, is that if the coach has as many problems as it does, it is worth more at this age than it will be in a year or so. I needed a bigger coach and I too had nickel and dime issues with my Bambi (none near what you've had). In the end, I opted to crack two birds with one stone. I got a fair deal on a new coach with the quality improvements in place and traded in my Bambi to let the dealer deal with resolving the issues and worry about selling it. Contact me offline if you want to talk numbers. Perhaps you will tow the '03 to Ohio and leave with an '05 (since any orders placed now will most likely '05s).
I think the problems can be fixed by the factory: 5-6 skin pieces in the front, 2-3 small exterior cast parts, repair a few minor interior problems, and replace 4 wheels - it should be as good as new (or in my case, better than new).
Upgrading to a new trailer is probably not an option - as I am unwilling to pay a significant sum, given we have spent a total of 14 nights in this one!
All of this corrison also has peaked my interest. I was trying to figure out how all the different components were all showing signs. Especially the wheel since it obviously has no akinship to the panels. I was wondering if there was some kind of environmental conditions this unit was stored or towed in. Either ocean front camping or possibly it got towed down through a early spring snow storm and was never cleaned up for a lengthy period. Delamination from being stored in a high humidity area? Maybe this all has some common thread.
The fact that the trailer had contents in the holding tank obviously pretty much cements that this trailer has been somewhere. I don't know if you registered a complaint at that point but this is unacceptable.
The fact that you see 2002 components obviously makes this an early build 2003. I have seen the same component sharing on a 2002 Classic which carried 2001 striping and emblems.
Jack
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo. AIR #56
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500,'08 Vespa GTS 250
dmac, living here in the rust belt, and knowing firsthand what road salt does to aluminum, I'd guess that you have a classic case of salt exposure. Whether from a stay by the sea, or from being towed on salt-covered roads... who knows. It could very well be road salt corrosion if the trailer was delivered from Jackson Center during the winter months, and not properly washed for a significant period of time after arriving at a dealer. It doesn't take long to get the corrosion going. I ruined a beautiful set of chrome over alloy wheels in just three months after moving to Iowa. It could just as easily be from storage in sea-salt laden air.
Good luck with your trailer. I hope you can get it all taken care of!
The only exposure to salt during my ownership was during the drive from FL to WI at the end of December 2002. However, the roads were dry the entire way - and I rinsed off the trailer before parking it. In the early spring I washed and Walbernized it - and that's when I first noticed the problems.
As a 2003 model the earliest it could have been built was around April 2002 or so - so I don't think it was exposed to road salt on it's way down to FL. Clearly the dealer used it, so I'm starting to think they had it somewhere on or near the beach for a while. There is no way to prove this, and I guess it's irrelevant now.
I am confident, or perhaps "hopeful" is a better word, that Airstream will make it right.
The corrosion issues aside, I am shocked that a dealer would deliver a "new" trailer that has a partrially filled black tank. It ticks me off just reading it. I would have blew my stack and freaked out if that s**t came out when opening the black valve the first time without ever using it. Sounds like fraud to me. Airstream should drop that dealer yesterday.
And with the other issues, what a bummer experience. Buying a new Airstream should never be a bummer...
One other possibility, that it was parked near somewhere like a fuel plant, chemical plant, etc... That released something like sulfuric acid in the air. We had a problem in DE once, where a oil refinery released sulfuric in a small amount due to a fire... we had people come in from 100 miles from the plant, with clearcoat / paint issues on cars where it made contact (not to mention those of us with ponds tht days after the first rain - it killed thousands of koi and other fish).
I have had my AS literally on the beach, with no signs of corrosion on the wheels etc, and I have yet to walbernize it - only mildly wash it. Just a thought - you could check the local papers where it was purchased from and probably see if anything in those 6-7 months it sat - happened near that location.
The Tampa FL dealer was an "experience". The lot looked terrible, the office is in a trashy old building, the "offices" are in portable units, their service is performed in shacks, they used bait-and-switch type tactics on me (posted previously), and the place has that trailer-trash look. But they had a large selection of new Airstreams, the largest I have ever seen. And their pricing was aggresive. I suspect they are a big seller, and Airstream could not afford to lose them.
Have you lodged a complaint about the dealer with airstream? I'd also suggest writing a letter to the FL state Attorney Generals office and copy the dealer - you might be surprised .... they might be willing to make you whole to avoid hassle. Remember that they probably carry insurance to cover these kinds of situations. That they represented this as a new unit and it obviously wasn't should interst both Airstream and the FL Attorney Generals fraud unit.
__________________ 77 Argosy Minuet, 6 metre | 77 Argosy 24, Rear door AIR # 3181 | WBCCI # 5575
It would be difficult to prove fraud at this point. Also, although the toilet was used - the plastic was still on the carpet, and the stickers and tags were still on the thermostat, refrigerator, etc... I wouldn't call it used, just previously pooped-in!
Again, at this point I believe that Airstream will fix the known problems and we will be fine. I know that Jim reads the forum, so he will be aware of the dealer issue.
Dan,
I just gotta say you have one great attitude! There is no way I could be so positive after dropping so much money and having such an experience. This just proves again that Airstreamers are the coolest!
If Airstream keeps this dealer, I will be very disappointed in them.
Originally posted by Big Dee Dan,
I just gotta say you have one great attitude! There is no way I could be so positive after dropping so much money and having such an experience. This just proves again that Airstreamers are the coolest!
If Airstream keeps this dealer, I will be very disappointed in them.
One more photo - the front lower right panel. Notice the filiform corrosion. Anywhere a bug "donated it's life to trailering" resulted in a tiny break in the plasticoat. This provided an entry point for water and air. The "worm tracks" are where it eats its way along underneath the plasticoat.
My trailer has NOT been on gravel roads, except a couple campground driveways that were travelled at 10 mph - so for the most part these are not stone chips. My tow vehicle, a 2002 Explorer, is stone chip and corrosion free.
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