the definitive euro, asian and international model thread...

[2airishuman]

the global expansion continues...

a/s has recently added a new dealer,

DOWN UNDER

which is pretty cool.

the basic info is "swagman aust pty ltd" queensland, au.

it looks like they manufacture BIG mohos for the home market...

Swagman Motorhomes - HOME

and are doing some innovative stuff with carbon fiber-kevlar one piece skins...

http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/atta...s3_swagman.pdf

and have partnered with a chinese company on product manufacture...

Swagman Australia’s ‘Next Generation’ Motorhomes

very interesting.

i would be fun to have a 'stream and go for a long trip way down south...

cheers
2air'

[brunoffrance]

Originally Posted by remcolent

I don't even want to get close to a euro airstream.
A airstream is a icon, making it a euro airstream is like puting a japan made diesel in a cadillac.
A other bad example are the US cars build for our european market.
The lack the comfort of a real US full sice car and they don't handle like the european cars , so you get a uncomfortable car that handles like a fried egg in a non stick frieingpan.

I totaly agree with you; No imitation, only the genuine one with all the american stuffs that make the Airstream , unique.
About galvanizing, if,it was THE solution against rust, all 'ld be galvanized...
Sure it's really a progress but parts or pieces are rarely well galvanized just see the security rails along the roads.... In fact, it's an economic question... if steel and metal no more rust after galvanizing, what become their production in the world; don't forget we are in a consumption economy.
The more difficult is to plan the just no-rusting time that make the consumer
not angry and ready to buy again...

Curiously, the Wally Byam vision was not in this consumption economy as the most of the trailers built from the beginning , is always on the roads... Was he wrong ? so Airstream is always alive today.

Bruno.

[safari62]

the global expansion continues...

a/s has recently added a new dealer,

DOWN UNDER

which is pretty cool.

the basic info is "swagman aust pty ltd" queensland, au.

it looks like they manufacture BIG mohos for the home market...2air

Swagman Motorhomes - HOME

I see they also rent. Now if Swagman can build up a small fleet of rentals to increase the visibility of the silver product down under. This would save us all that crane work with units available for rent!
Now do you think these will be us or euro models? They have higher mileage toyota diesel and land rover type vehicles that would make a great pairing for a outback camping experience
Bruno....Maybe thor can start dumping the us models in France that are not selling here. The exchange rate must help?
Then airstream can sell euro models here

[Pschoerrn]

I´ll probably won't make friends with this posting (in the European side of the web ) but I think that the new euro streams are the best Airstream/Thor has brought to the market in the last years!! They point into the right direction of lightweight trailers that can be towed by economical friendlier cars, without loosing much of the luxury stuff we need on the road and without loosing the iconic shape and the history of an Airstream.
Would I buy one?? Sure if only I had 75,000 Euro. So I have to stay with our beloved historical 1971 Ambassador...
One thing could be better (and I think it will come in a soon to come future) and that is a longer and wider body for continental europe and maybe also for the home market of north america.

BTW: Bruno, why are you against the galvanized, light weight frame?? Nearly all european trailer frames are galvanized and it works!! So saying that the galvanized frames are not well done and nothing for Airstreams is like walking on really thin ice...
Our Ambassador frame is rusty and rotten and we'll have to do some really hard work to it - ok, it's 37 years old and the shell is still great, but we have a 25 year old european (detleffs) trailer and the only thing that is still in great shape and not rotten is the galvanized frame!! So bringing together a aglvanized frame and the unique shell of an Airstream is one of the best things ever done for us - the Airstream community on planet earth!!


So, you may now throw stones at me...


Greets,

Bjoern

[brunoffrance]

not against galvanised frame, but against a galvanized one , not well made as it is , most of time ... not made in the rules of art, not made to never see rust in the treated parts....

bruno

[qqq]

I agree with Bruno & bienvenu chez les Chtreams

Ron

[ticki2]

My question has always been why not an aluminum frame to match the foundation with the structure. Many trailers are using alum. from small trailers to commercial 18 wheelers.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by ticki2

My question has always been why not an aluminum frame ....

hi tiki2, and thanks for joining us...

i would suspect the steel version is cheaper and better supported by past a/s engineering and research.

i think there have been discussions about frame/materials (for domestic trailers) in several other threads....

a/s is an ASSEMBLY company primarily, using parts supplied and sometimes spec'd by other vendors...

this thread focuses on the euro models but i'll diverge here because of the interconnected nature of the world markets...

-leland engineering of michigan? supplies the steel frames for a/s (domestic/canada) trailers...

-leland engineering is a subsidiary of L.E. Technologies, along with amfab and venture technologies.

L.E. Technologies was purchased by DEXTER AXLE about 3 years ago (march/april 2005)

this is about the same time a/s switched over to dexter alxes, hubs, brakes for all domestic trailers...

see the interconnected issues here?

dexter axle is a subsidiary of tomkins plc a GLOBAL manufacturing company based in the U.K....

Tomkins plc - Tomkins

which brings us back to the original theme...

the 'euro/international' trailers are built on frames and with axles/brakes/hubs from BPW limited (i think)...

Welcome to BPW Limited's Home Page

this is a U.K. company that is part of the even BIGGER german/worldwide bpw bergische achsen kg...

another huge global company in this biz....

BPW | Bergische Achsen KG

assembly companies like a/s are very dependent of their suppliers...

while a/s may be one of the best known brand names in the rv industry,

it's still a small company and small companies don't have much leverage on their suppliers...

___________

now do any of our world wide forum members (or their friends) own one of these things yet?

IF they really are priced at 75,000 euro (THANKS FOR POSTING the price bjoern)...

that's 110-120,000 BUCKS U.S.! for a little trailer.....holy smokes!

cheers
2air'

[ticki2]

2air
Didn't mean to get off track , just seemed the focus was on frames for a while .

Interesting last post , should keep me reading , and out of your hair for a week .
You're more dangerous than a dictionary . Look up something , which leads to something else , which leads to something else....... LOL
You are a wealth of information , thanks

[2airishuman]

ticki2...

u weren't off track at all.

i'm just suggesting there may already be good stuff buried here, on the 'frame material question'...

here's one on the aluminum issue, but i've also read long exchanges about frame materials buried in other threads too..

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ase-26036.html

i think for a/s to start utilizing a different material,

they'd need their SUPPLIER to already be using some other technology (galvanized steel, alum, bamboo or whatever) for frames...

i have no idea if leland/dexter/tomkins makes any aluminum frames...

cheers
2air'

[ajdesq]

I've just put down a deposit on a 532 International!






I pick it up at the end of July.




If you can't already guess, I'm just a teeny-weeny bit excited.

Expect a zillion photos when I get it... should I post them here or on a different thread?

Cheers all.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by ajdesq

... I'm just a teeny-weeny bit excited...Expect a zillion photos when I get it...

alrighty andrew!

i've been waiting for that follow-up and congratulations on the soon to be yours 'stream.

it will be fun to see your pictures HERE and read about the trailer.

don't forget to share info about the tow vehicle and your rving adventures.

lots of us (worldwide) are subscribed to this thread and will be watching...

cheers
2air'

[Goin camping]

Originally Posted by ajdesq

I pick it up at the end of July.

I know just how happy you are Congrats!

Please post A LOT of pictures here.

[ajdesq]

Thanks guys! I can hardly wait. I'm having it specced up and down so it will have no microwave or TV, but it is having a built-in solar panel, refillable gas cylinders (first AS in the UK to have that), and some other bits and bobs. I know there may be a couple of issues during ownership, but the guys here in the UK who run Airstream Europe really do care about their owners.

29th July is the big day, let's just hope I can get online asap after that to post the pix.

Cheers for now!