$46.5k for 2009 Airstream 27FB. Opinions?

[bambibooth]

$46.5k for 2009 Airstream 27FB. Opinions?


Not a new user, but a newly PARANOID user of Airstreams who is about to go live fulltime in one and buy a super nice 2009 27FB for that amount.

Would you buy at this price? It's from a dealer, so inspection and all that will be square.

I've searched and searched and it seems OK, but I'm still having trouble keeping my head from spinning on the amount of money.

I love the old ones but this one is just hard to pass up for a fulltime life.

Help!

[KJRitchie]

What trim line? Safari, International, Classic?

What options and upgrades?

Since you are in Texas it would be preferable to have dual AC.

Check the manufacture date on the tires. If they are original tires you will need to replace all five.

Kelvin

[bambibooth]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

What trim line? Safari, International, Classic?

What options and upgrades?

Since you are in Texas it would be preferable to have dual AC.

Check the manufacture date on the tires. If they are original tires you will need to replace all five.

Kelvin

Hey Kelvin,
Thanks for posing the questions. It is an International in Paprika. The tires were covered in gravel and mud but upon inspection, they seemed newer. I will look further tomorrow when I go check it out fully.

As far as options, I haven't had a chance to go over them but it only had one AC, one big awning, a smaller awning on each of front bedroom windows (back and side), two new batteries.
What other options should I look for?

[dkottum]

There are two recurring issues of Airstreams; in that time floor rot from poor or no sealant at the rear bumper plate/shell junction (this was corrected in 2012 with a factory seal during assembly), and filiform corrosion at the shell panel edges from exposure to coastal or northern road salt. And you must be sure all equipment works well and no internal/external or storage tank leaks. As well as overall wear.

These can be difficult and expensive to repair is allowed to process. I wouldn't trust any dealer to inspect and properly repair this on their own. Better to have an independent inspection done by someone who really knows Airstreams of this period. There is a list of volunteer inspectors on this forum.

The price seems $10k high to me and they would still have profit. But much more important than price nitpicking is condition. Find the very best used Airstream you can find, near new condition throughout, and negotiate like crazy for a good price. If you have no trade-in, just a cash deal, you have a great advantage; they can only beat you on one end.

[KJRitchie]

Check for roof solar, inverter, battery upgraded from stock size. You mentioned awnings, the normal upgraded over the standard curb side awning for a front bed room model seems to be one long street side awning and a rear window awning.

Paprika looks to be a fabric cloth-like covering. I'd prefer Ultraleather. We have it in our 2008 Classic and its very durable and easy to clean.

Make sure you verify the floor for rotting at the rear. A spongy floor is indication of rotting. Look under the rear dinette seats near the shell and check the floor under the table. A water moisture meter, like the Sonin, is required. Any signs in moisture means the water has infiltrated between the shell and rear bumper. Probe all along the shell/floor junction where you can get the meter.

Look for any buckling of the vinyl floor.

Use this link to determine how to check the tire age
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11

My 25fb Classic has the single 13.5k AC. I've been camping in Texas during the summer when it was 104F. The AC was just adequate for that day but we don't require 72F. We are happy with 80F-83F as long as the humidity is kept at bay. Knowing this, if I were to purchase a longer Airstream I would want 50amp service and 2 ACs.

Is the dealer an Airstream dealer?



Kelvin

[HowieE]

Have you compared prices on this site?

http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/

[Tincampers]

Ditto on the inspection. The dealer will tell you anything to get you to buy and get it off his lot.

[bambibooth]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Check for roof solar, inverter, battery upgraded from stock size. You mentioned awnings, the normal upgraded over the standard curb side awning for a front bed room model seems to be one long street side awning and a rear window awning.

Paprika looks to be a fabric cloth-like covering. I'd prefer Ultraleather. We have it in our 2008 Classic and its very durable and easy to clean.

Make sure you verify the floor for rotting at the rear. A spongy floor is indication of rotting. Look under the rear dinette seats near the shell and check the floor under the table. A water moisture meter, like the Sonin, is required. Any signs in moisture means the water has infiltrated between the shell and rear bumper. Probe all along the shell/floor junction where you can get the meter.

Look for any buckling of the vinyl floor.

Use this link to determine how to check the tire age
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=11

My 25fb Classic has the single 13.5k AC. I've been camping in Texas during the summer when it was 104F. The AC was just adequate for that day but we don't require 72F. We are happy with 80F-83F as long as the humidity is kept at bay. Knowing this, if I were to purchase a longer Airstream I would want 50amp service and 2 ACs.

Is the dealer an Airstream dealer?

Kelvin

Hey thanks for all that info. I was able to check the floors the first time I saw the trailer. Today, I'll inspect it further. I have one of those moisture meters and will be checking all seals, roof, etc. The dealer is going to hate me but for that much money, they can deal with it.

The price seems $10k high to me and they would still have profit. But much more important than price nitpicking is condition. Find the very best used Airstream you can find, near new condition throughout, and negotiate like crazy for a good price. If you have no trade-in, just a cash deal, you have a great advantage; they can only beat you on one end.

I agree that it does seem high, but when I first checked it, it was in dang near unused condition. I'll investigate it further today. I check a lot of sold prices and the 'archives' of the Airstream Classifieds, and the price seems on par with what private party sales were going for. However, the earliest 27 foot 2009 I could find was from about a year ago.

I'll update this thread if I actually purchase it today.

[moosetags]

Be sure to check the production date on the tires. The date (week/year) is imprinted on each tire in a small oval on the sidewall.

If they are the original tires from 2009, they need to be replaced immediately regardless of how much tread is left. Trailer tires should be replaced after six years.

It will cost you about $1,000 to replace the OEM Goodyear Marathons or about $1,600 to upgrade to 16" wheels and Michelin LT tires. The latter option would be the preferable.

Since you are being charged top dollar, you should be getting top end safe tires.

Brian

[bambibooth]

Be sure to check the production date on the tires. The date (week/year) is imprinted on each tire in a small oval on the sidewall.

If they are the original tires from 2009, they need to be replaced immediately regardless of how much tread is left. Trailer tires should be replaced after six years.

It will cost you about $1,000 to replace the OEM Goodyear Marathons or about $1,600 to upgrade to 16" wheels and Michelin LT tires. The latter option would be the preferable.

Since you are being charged top dollar, you should be getting top end safe tires.

Brian

I will definitely check them out and demand new tires from the dealer.

Also, here's a photo I took, though it doesn't say much.

[KJRitchie]

If you get new tires from the dealer they'll put on some no name ST trailer tire. I would get a reduction in price and get the Michelin 235/75-15 MS/2 LT tires on your own or go with the 16" conversion.

You should also be able to get a hitch thrown into the deal.

Are you able to get them to plug it into shore power and check how the AC is working? Going to be 83f in Austin today. With it sitting in the sun all day you can get an idea how well the AC works.

Kelvin

[HowieE]

When I bought my trailer the dealer wanted $35,000.00 I paid $24,000.00 and got 2 designer French folding chairs and a new hitch.

I would start at $35,000.00 for this one.

Please look around.

[BoldAdventure]

I paid 20K less for a 2007 in 2014 if that makes any difference.

Since it's a dealer, I'd start by asking for 12K off and work from there. It's priced high, but most Airstreams are honestly overpriced and you need to pressure the price down. The needle always moves with some haggling.

[bambibooth]

I paid 20K less for a 2007 in 2014 if that makes any difference.

Since it's a dealer, I'd start by asking for 12K off and work from there. It's priced high, but most Airstreams are honestly overpriced and you need to pressure the price down. The needle always moves with some haggling.

Ha! No, that doesn't help. Sounds like the trailer is overpriced, which I have found to be typical of Airstreams here in Texas.

For 20k less, I'd buy it without question. There seems to be a line of used buyers behind me ready to buy every time I look at one in that price range.

[BoldAdventure]

Tis the other end of the problem. Even with some over priced, someone else will still buy it. When we found ours I scooped it up right away.

Personal theory, whatever the dealer is selling used for, he probably paid 10K less for. Sometimes probably less. They want to maximize profit, and that means there is room for haggling.

[KJRitchie]

I guess I'm not the best negotiator when I purchased my preowned 2008 Classic 25fb three years ago. I did get them to replace the Actibrake EOH pump with a Dexter, got new batteries and an Equalizer hitch. One issue we had back then is not the freedom to travel widely to look for one and after looking at a couple of rough ones we found our Classic that appeared barely used despite 5 years old. We couldn't get the dealer to budge and decided due to its condition to purchase.

Kelvin

[dkottum]

Bold' and Kelvin, wouldn't you guys agree it would be wise to plan the cost of some repairs when purchasing a used unit, and negotiate a price accordingly. You never know what you might find until you bring it home.

[bambibooth]

I ended up not following through on the purchase for various reasons. We can consider this thread closed. Thanks for all the input y'all!
I am curious to see what they will relist it for....

[KJRitchie]

What changed your mind? Find a glaring issue with it?

Kelvin