Airstreams Aluminum Wheels Made In China

[rmkrum]

My Toyota Tacoma was built in the US. It gets complicated.


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[J. Morgan]

With a LOT of parts sourced from China.


Superat stultitia.

[J. Morgan]

The funny thing is, domestic producers pay taxes, while foreign producers pay not a penny in taxes for access to our markets.

To me that just seems wrong on many levels.

Those Chinese wheels arrived here without a penny of American tax paid save the sale tax paid by the final buyer at the trailer dealership.

That is BAD POLICY tilted heavily against domestic producers.


Superat stultitia.

[dkottum]

Originally Posted by mojo

It is what it is. If you are not happy with your Airstream, post your complaints in the classifieds, sell it, and move on. There are a lot of choices out there.

The rest of us deal with it, replace what we don't like and go traveling.

Exactly.

[JCWDCW]

I Paid 25K Canadian for my '96 Classic. My friends in Michigan paid 25K USD for a 27 foot SOB with two slides. Beautiful layout and features. My trailer is now 20 years old. In 20 years time my trailer will still be on the road, while my friends' will be rotting in a field somewhere in Michigan.
BTW I had an Award before my first AS..fiberglass sandwich walls. They rotted out in 7 years....not so bullet proof in my opinion. Takes a bang; yes...can't handle a small leak without serious damage.

And where else would Airstream buy cast aluminum wheels. Everyone has either gone to China or Mexico or, God forbid, Brazil.
JCW

[gwilsonobx]

J. Morgan is right on domestic sourcing. Looking behind the wheels on my new Silverado molded into the aluminum is "Made in China" as is the small anti rattle rubber hood stops. Airstream is no different than any other large international manufacturer...just trying to maintain a sellable product.

[rostam]

The only thing that you don't have to replace in 20 years of use is the aluminum shell. Brakes, shocks, axles, frame, appliances, etc all have to be replaced or repaired similar to an SOB. Sure, aluminum trailers last longer than SOBs, but there is a major cost associated with it.

[Denis4x4]

Originally Posted by mojo

It is what it is. If you are not happy with your Airstream, post your complaints in the classifieds, sell it, and move on. There are a lot of choices out there.

The rest of us deal with it, replace what we don't like and go traveling.

Do what I did and turn the AS into a $67,000 wet bar on the river! Bought an LTV Unity Motorhome made in Canada by Mennonites and travel extensively in a quality RV.

[dames7]

It call common sense, I knew when I bought our AS that the option was to have AS put different Tires and Wheels on, and of course their price was somewhere in outer space.

So, when reviewing the weight of the AS along with the different of tires from the 15" Marathons made in China made to Michelin 16" w/ Sendal T03 would be a big different on how the AS towed and a much better grade of tire.

I decided to run the 15" for the first season and upgrade to Michelin 16", which I did see a very good difference in towing. The new 16" set-up cast me $1,650 ( order from a tire disturber in CA, NO SALE TAX & FREE SHIPPING) sold the 15" on craigslist in one day which made my total cost $1000, AS wanted $3,500 to do it.

I just did a upgrade on my toilet to the 320 model (like you have at home) for $145, once again AS wanted $345 + $60 to install, I did the install in 30 minutes, another great saving.

When you need to upgrade something use the internet, save thousands of dollars.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Tireman9

Before we go down the xenophobic path of bashing everything Chinese we need to accept the fact that we, as consumers, are constantly demanding lower costs for everything we buy. Why else do we have Wallmarts popping up like mushrooms. China just happens to be the current low cost supplier for a great many items. I am old enough to remember when "Made in Japan" was a sign of the lowest quality products.

As long as business owners (CEO, Board of Directors) and stock holders (us) keep demanding ever higher short term return on investment (profit) the siren call of low cost supplier is impossible to ignore.

If you want better quality they you have to back that demand up when it comes time to open your wallet.
I for one have chosen to stop frequenting Walmart far a variety of reasons. Does the Walton family know or care? I doubt it. But just as it is often said that if you don't vote, you really do not have a right to complain about your elected officials. I am voting with my wallet.
When it comes to quality, I use warranty coverage and length as a relatively reliable predictor. B to B coverage for a good number of years was a major consideration for the last three new car purchase. If all I can get is a short warranty then I expect a very low purchase price so I can afford to buy a replacement.

Well said because I agree on most of your points!

[AtomicNo13]

I for one demand the highest quality in materials and craftsmanship. I dont care what it costs!
I think the quality in new Airstreams is shameful compared to the same product of say 25 years ago.
In my opinion an Airstream is not a premium product, it just looks different.

[AWCHIEF]

I bet everyone that says they demand quality and only buy the best shops at Dollar Stores. 😜

[AtomicNo13]

Only if I blow out my flip flop!

[ROBERT CROSS]

I'm OK....well, not me but my AS wheels, both of us made in America.

Bob

[Mach5]

I bet the only thing preventing Thor from producing Airstreams somewhere in Asia (doesn't have to be China) is the shipping cost. It is a shame really; they would likely be less expensive and higher quality products. You only have to look as far as your smart phone to realize that.

[Denis4x4]

The vast majority of OE and aftermarket wheels are made in China very simply because EPA regulations are such that US manufacturers cannot compete on price.

[ijustlee]

China can build as good of stuff as any other country, it just depends on the quality control at the factory and the price point and profit of the supply chain. It will someday be realized that it was not a good idea to move all the factories out of the USA though. And just wait until all the jobs are done by robots made in China! The Chinese think much longer term than Americans and must be just incredulous that we gave them all our manufacturing!

[AWCHIEF]

Definition of xenophobe
: one unduly fearful of what is foreign and especially of people of foreign origin
xenophobic play \ˌze-nə-ˈfō-bik, ˌzē-\ adjective🤔

[J. Morgan]

The desire that the United States remains or recaptures production capability has not a single thing to do with xenophobia, bit good sense.

Our policies are tuned to favor off shore production and that really isn't smart policy.


Superat stultitia.

[J. Morgan]

Fwiw, I imagine that of all automotive makes branded as "domestic", about 40% of the content of the complete product is made in China.

For a long time (decades) I would buy products from Taiwan, but not red China. This approach is impossible these days.


Superat stultitia.