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Old 09-20-2014, 10:21 AM   #1
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Thoughts on a 345 LE

First post here so forgive me if I posted in the wrong place. I am currently looking at several Classics. I would appreciate some advice as I've never owned an Airstream. Here are some pics of the under carriage and engine of one I'm looking at. I'm concerned the rust is going to be too much of a problem but wanted a second opinion to be sure. Thanks in advance.

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Old 09-20-2014, 12:44 PM   #2
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Welcome and it looks like you posted in the correct place. From the pics I'm guessing it's just surface rust as if maybe it was thoroughly steam cleaned then parked and sat. If so and you're thinking of buying it be sure to take it for a good long drive then give it a good looking over for any oil leaks, etc.

There are many people here to assist in if help is needed to check out all other systems as well.
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Old 09-20-2014, 01:44 PM   #3
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Welcome and it looks like you posted in the correct place. From the pics I'm guessing it's just surface rust as if maybe it was thoroughly steam cleaned then parked and sat. If so and you're thinking of buying it be sure to take it for a good long drive then give it a good looking over for any oil leaks, etc.

There are many people here to assist in if help is needed to check out all other systems as well.

Thanks for the reply. Did the 345's typically come with 30 or 50 amp?The owner said he thought it was 50 amp.
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Old 09-20-2014, 03:12 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by roscoe210 View Post
Thanks for the reply. Did the 345's typically come with 30 or 50 amp?The owner said he thought it was 50 amp.
30 amp was stock, you get 30 and 20 amp if you run the generator and can use both A/C's
I would take a closer look at the rust and make sure it didn't cause problems beyond surface.
I am in Austin, Texas and could check it out for you if you can run it by my house. I am very familiar with the MH's especially the 280 and the 345's.
Its very easy to sink 10-15 k in these rigs, so consider that when you do the negotiating.
Good Luck
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Old 09-21-2014, 07:43 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer View Post
...............

Its very easy to sink 10-15 k in these rigs, so consider that when you do the negotiating.
Good Luck
Just to get them usable and reliable..... Even more if you want to make it nice looking and fashionable! ....but so worth it!
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Old 09-21-2014, 10:39 AM   #6
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Couple questions for you:
1. How handy are you?
2. What is your experience removing, and treating rust?
3. How long do you plan to keep it?
4. How much is too much before you move to another prospect?
5. Where can you go in your area to have this taken care of?

The answer to your question is "it depends..."
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Old 09-21-2014, 12:02 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by Vycan View Post
Couple questions for you:
1. How handy are you?
2. What is your experience removing, and treating rust?
3. How long do you plan to keep it?
4. How much is too much before you move to another prospect?
5. Where can you go in your area to have this taken care of?

The answer to your question is "it depends..."
Oh Manhattan. I had many a fun nights in that town. I lived in a house off of Osage for a year during college. Loved Pilsbury crossing, tutltle creek and Rocky Ford Tavern.

1. I'm just handy enough to be dangerous but have very handy friends and I'm not affraid to get after something and learn. After scouring these forums for the last month and a half. I feel reasonably confident that I will be able to tackle most of what I've seen on the forums. With the help of a few friends that have owned or own a trailer.
2. limited
3. forever
4. 10-15k
5. Honestly, I haven't gotten that far. I would be willing to exhaust all DIY methods before I would take it somewhere.

From a price standpoint, what do you feel a well maintained, 70k miles, beautiflul inside and out classic is worth? I see them anywhere from 10k to 65k. Obviously the lower end are going to be more project oriented but some in the 30k range look as though one could get lucky and find one with minimal issues. I'm trying to decide wether to go on the low end and just accept that its going to be a project regardless and make it mine. Or spend a little more and hope that there aren't any major surprises. Surprises are inevitable, this I'm aware of but that's part of what attracts me to the Airstream lifestyle. Thanks for the input.
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Old 09-21-2014, 12:26 PM   #8
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30 amp was stock, you get 30 and 20 amp if you run the generator and can use both A/C's
I would take a closer look at the rust and make sure it didn't cause problems beyond surface.
I am in Austin, Texas and could check it out for you if you can run it by my house. I am very familiar with the MH's especially the 280 and the 345's.
Its very easy to sink 10-15 k in these rigs, so consider that when you do the negotiating.
Good Luck
I would love to however its not in Texas. I'm hoping to get an inspector out to look at it this week. I share your concern with just how far did the rust spread. Any other advice you can offer will be much appreciated. Nothing speaks like experience.
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Old 09-21-2014, 01:29 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roscoe210 View Post
I would love to however its not in Texas. I'm hoping to get an inspector out to look at it this week. I share your concern with just how far did the rust spread. Any other advice you can offer will be much appreciated. Nothing speaks like experience.
Only collective experience would speak louder.
There have been may posts about pre purchase inspections with many good inputs from the experienced MH owners on this forum.
If you would ask me personally, what my criteria to purchase another classic would be, here you go:
1. One owner vehicle
2. Low documented mileage
3. Maintenance records
4. Original, non modified Interior
5. Original, non modified electrical system
6. A well maintained generator, able to pull the 50 amps it's supposed to.
7. Lots of zip dee awnings
8. Accident free exterior (clear coat peeling is part of the game)
9. Southern vehicle, not to close to the coast

Right away, you can count on $2000 for tires, no matter how pretty the thread is.
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Old 09-21-2014, 04:49 PM   #10
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Where there's that amount of rust on the chassis there could likely be sub-floor rot as well. Be carefull as a moisture meter will not detect a bad floor with dry rot.

Also make sure that the metal frame work that the sub-floor is mounted to is okay. The metal is very thin walled stuff to begin with so having to jack the floor up to replace sections will be a beeaatch.

Welcome to the insanity.
Cheers
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Old 09-21-2014, 05:27 PM   #11
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I spent five years researching and lurking on these forums before I purchased our classic this last March. (These were my observations for 345 and 360 any other models or yers before 78 were not involved in my research):
1. 78-84 classic gas; average was 12-18k, usually had lots of work to do, and were in disappointing condition. Add 5K if it was a diesel. (only looked at four)
2. 85-93 classic gas; average was 18k-22k, a couple very nice ones, and I mean Solar, Cable, and lots of goodies was 30k. Add 7k to the price if it was a diesel (majority of the ones we looked at approximately 12)
3. 94+ Classic Gas; average was 28-39k, best of the best here, but if you were looking for a diesel pusher, add 40-60k due to rarity. I think a total of 25 were made from 94-97, and four went on sale this last spring. One in California was stock setup with polished exterior, and 400 watts of solar on top, sold for 90k, another in Georgia with tiled bathroom and all reupholstered leather in modern themes sold for 60k.

I would recommend finding a place that can service it before you get forced into a corner on a project. It is nice to have the lifeline. I would also highly recommend a diesel over a gas, just on the fuel economy. I get double the economy with 12-14 mpg over my gas counterparts at 6-8 mpg stock, and 11 mpg with toad attached, compared to their 5-6 mpg.

Additional considerations:
1. When traveling in the summer months the Generator will run when you are driving to provide power to the A/C's. The Dash A/C is about worthless unless you add a clear plastic curtain right behind the driver and passenger captain's chairs. In the winter it's not so bad because of the auxiliary heater core next to the entryway.
2. To make the RV worth the purchase you need to spend at least one weekend a month camping.
3. Recommend looking into what your RV insurance covers.
4. Recommend you have the seller get an RV appraisal to validate the price, then use the appraisal for your 'cash value' insurance.
5. Always use a ground guide, and do not trust the backup camera.
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Old 09-22-2014, 05:45 PM   #12
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Ok, here's a few questions.

1) Where is the Classic located?
2) Inspector someone familiar with Airstreams? Or Airstream Motorhomes?
3) What is asking price? Is it negotiable?
4) Is interior in 'good' condition, awesome, or lots of tears and ripped upholstery?
5) What years is this Classic, any idea if if has any of the options?

While to me your chassis photos appear to be surface rust, a one-on-one close up look is the only thing that will be satisfactory.

The 454 Chevy motor is about indestructible. Just read a Hot Rod article where they totally rebuilt it for less than $1500. Yes, the gas mileage can really suck on these things, but from what I hear, if you want to do 70mph in a Classic, you don't want a Classic, back off and do 55mph and enjoy the view.

Yes, if you can't go camping in it once a month, it's hardly worth the expense, but when you're working on it day and night to get your Classic to where you want it, waiting on camping is a small price to pay. I've had mine 3 years, and only camped twice before tearing it apart and getting rid of previous owners 'improvements'.....

This is totally a personal decision. Go by what you're told by Inspector. I drove over 7 hours to look at one, almost cried when I saw that about the only thing worthwhile on it was the brand new tires. Poor girl was just on eBay for $3000.00 more than what asking price was 3 1/2 years ago, so maybe these things are going up in value??

Good Luck, Derek

PS if you want, PM me, I'll try my best to answer any questions you may have.
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