Beginning our search for our Airstream

[leeg01]

Hello,
We are starting our search for a used Airstream, and I have read that there are certain years that had frame sag with a rear bath. Can anyone give us any advice on this? I am sure this has been covered on this site but I cannot find it.

Thank You Lee

[Cantrell]

Lee,
In the blue tool bar above, use the search function to do a Google search. Key in Beatrice Frame Problems and you will get tons of threads on the eras that are more prone to rear frame sag.
Good luck in your search.

[r carl]

Hi, I too am looking for an airstream, 28' or 29'. I cant find exactly what yrs didnt have the 5" frame. Early 70s to early 80s is all i can find out. I hope someone knows and will post.
thx, Roger.

[Secguru]

I know that the Beatrice Food units utilized a smaller frame that experienced frame sag in the rear. But did any of the Thor units also have frame sag, such as any of the longer units like 34' units?

[Cantrell]

Thinking the earliest 34s were about 1982. All 34' trailers that I have seen have the 5" frame.

Beatrice years were 1967 to 1979. From what I have read, they didn't make the change from 4" to 5" across the board in one year--it is a little fuzzy to me what units got the bigger frames and when but the longer ones seem to have gotten the 5" frames first. Someone else with more knowledge on this will surely chime in and nail down the chronology.

An easy way to know what size frame you have (or one you are looking at buying) is to measure the exposed frame of the tongue area--it is the same size all the way back from there.

Stands to reason that any unit could have frame sag (Thor included) if abused or neglected (unchecked water problems allowed to rot out plywood which would permit the shell to become separated from the frame, for example).

[willyd]

Another welcome to the forum. Remember that condition of your new Airstream will be very important - very good condition means a premium price.

[r carl]

AMF did to Harley-Davidson what Beatrice Foods did to Airstream, and during the same time period, interesting.
Saved them-almost destroyed them-then sold them cheap.

[robandzoe]

What are you looking for? Year? Length? Price range?

[kevin242]

From what I have heard, it was the longer (27', 29', 31') trailers with the rear bath that had the tail sag issues not the shorter models. That was one huge factor in us buying a 1977 25' Trade Wind. We looked locally at a number of 31' trailers of the same vintage, and all of them had tail droop while the 25' does not.

If I was buying an Airstream to park on a lake lot and not pull around, I would not care too much if the rear had some sag, but we have to be more mobile...

[leeg01]

Thank You for the responses. We are looking for a 25-29 foot, Excella in good condition, in the price range of 8k-12k.

[Dwight]

Try and avoid the 32' trailers, they were too long for tandem axles and too short for the triple axles...