What does that mean for the rest of us? Do we get warranty replacements? Extended warranties on the original axles at no cost? Obviously, it was an error in design if the axle should have been the 5,500 LBS. axle.
I don't believe Airstream's posture would be anything but "you overloaded your trailer."
That being the case, a warranty issue would not come into play.
All we can do is to identify the problem, and come up with a fix.
...bunk house owners may have a forth coming axle problem, depending on use and loading.
(Emphasis mine.)
Given that we kept our Airstream fully loaded for three years, lived in it full-time, and towed it over 60,000 miles, it's not surprising my trailer shows more wear and tear than the average.
So far, I've only seen one other bunkhouse that showed an axle angle that suggested a possible issue. The others appear to be within specs. So most of you probably don't have anything to worry about. And if you do have a problem, a fix is readily available.
We've weighed ours at CAT scales several times. In 2005 we recorded a weight of 7,040 lbs on the axles. (Tongue weight was additional but doesn't show up directly on the weight receipt, because tongue weight sits on the truck.) In 2006 we recorded a weight of 7,320 on the axles, and that's probably the heaviest we've ever been. We always weighed with full water in the fresh tank and full propane. We have never towed overweight, so I assume it was the heavy use that stressed our axles.
I'll post my axle weights when I get home. I weighed mine a few months ago and was below the max that Airstream had posted on their website for our trailer and are in the '05 book. Unfortunately, my brief case got stolen with my '06 brochure in it, but I doubt there is any difference in the limits.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821 streamin across america
I may well be posting this incorrectly, if so my apologies. In any case, I recently purchased my own 2005 bunkhouse. I know diddly about rv's, and would like to ask anyone and everyone what modifications they would suggest I make now, before things go badly wrong. Bigger axles? Bigger hot water heater (I have a wife who likes her hot water)? Twin turret roof mounted belt fed machine guns? If anyone's been itching to share their insights with a grateful new owner, now's the time.
I may well be posting this incorrectly, if so my apologies. In any case, I recently purchased my own 2005 bunkhouse. I know diddly about rv's, and would like to ask anyone and everyone what modifications they would suggest I make now, before things go badly wrong. Bigger axles? Bigger hot water heater (I have a wife who likes her hot water)? Twin turret roof mounted belt fed machine guns? If anyone's been itching to share their insights with a grateful new owner, now's the time.
If you will travel with consideable weight, you can upgrade to a higher axle rating, if you so choose.
Many things can be added, depending on your wishes, within reason.
Bigger hot water heater (I have a wife who likes her hot water)? Twin turret roof mounted belt fed machine guns? If anyone's been itching to share their insights with a grateful new owner, now's the time.
Andy has addressed the axle issue for you. The twin turret roof mounted belt fed machine guns really sound cool, but might get in the way of some low hanging tree branches.
As far as larger hot water heaters, sorry, but you are stuck with the six gallon size unless you do major remodeling. There just isn't room for a larger unit.
If you read through this thread you will find some of the ideas folks have put into their 30' Safaris. There is also a thread, sorry can't remember the name, about a multitude of improvements that have been made to a Classic model. We have found our 30' Safari to be very serviceable just the way it came from the factory. The only changes we have made is the bed spreads. We didn't like the ones that came with ours and they were too heavy so my wife found some that matched (twins and a queen) and altered them herself to match the curves of the mattresses.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821 streamin across america
I may well be posting this incorrectly, if so my apologies. In any case, I recently purchased my own 2005 bunkhouse. I know diddly about rv's, and would like to ask anyone and everyone what modifications they would suggest I make now, before things go badly wrong. Bigger axles? Bigger hot water heater (I have a wife who likes her hot water)? Twin turret roof mounted belt fed machine guns? If anyone's been itching to share their insights with a grateful new owner, now's the time.
We love our 30’ BH. “The only three bedroom Airstream”
Here are a few tips specific to your new AS. The forums are a great resource for advice that will apply to all models.
I think you'll find the water heater to be adequate, but you might want to carry a couple (A93866) thermal cutoffs incase you need a new one. When they go bad, the heater won’t work anymore.
It’s important to have this camper leveled correctly, to insure that your shower drains, since the drain plumbing wraps all the way around the back.
Your front storage compartment door will get dinged up if you let it hit your torsion bar clamps.
Make sure to secure the bedroom door before you hit the road or it will come off its track.
Don’t open the window over your couch/chairs (depends on model). The entry door will hit an open window.
Watch out for your holding tank drain. It’s way out back and kind of low. A few owners have broken it when exiting steep driveways, or going on rough roads.
You have a big awning. Make sure to drop the back down a bit to encourage water runoff and avoid breaking a support rod.
If your fantastic fan vents close when they sense moisture, they will open again when it’s dry, so be sure to turn them off when they are closed.
Read Rich Luhr’s blog at AirstreamLife.com. He and his family went full timing in a 30’ BH just like yours and encountered and overcame many challenges.
__________________
2006 30' Safari - "Changes in Latitudes"
2008 F-250 Lariat Power Stroke Diesel Crew Cab SWB
Family of Disney Fanatics
WBCCI# 4821 streamin across america
I may well be posting this incorrectly, if so my apologies. In any case, I recently purchased my own 2005 bunkhouse. I know diddly about rv's, and would like to ask anyone and everyone what modifications they would suggest I make now, before things go badly wrong. Bigger axles? Bigger hot water heater (I have a wife who likes her hot water)? Twin turret roof mounted belt fed machine guns? If anyone's been itching to share their insights with a grateful new owner, now's the time.
Please read poast # 377 above.
We suspect far more owners will share the same problems as Rich Luhr has with the axles on that model.
Congrats on the "new" bunkhouse! So psyched for you and your family
I was down at Colonial Airstream recently, dropping my 25'FB off for service, and hoped to take a look at one on their lot, but it had just sold. I'm guessing that might have been you?
One of these days I'll get to see the inside of one! I'm sure the pics don't do it justice
"I paint to make myself happy. Color delights my spirit. I search for it everywhere, and surround my life with it always." http://beverlyamitchell.com/home.htm One of Beverly's gorgeous paintings is my avatar :-)
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