We now have our Dream Machine

[JimW]

We now have our retirement dream trailer. We've been casually looking at used AS ads for the last couple of years. Nothing really caught our attention as they were too big, too small, too old, too new or their were too many "issues". In fact, we had never even been inside an Airstream. I came across the ad for this trailer in August and told my wife, "This is it!" We drove from Omaha to Buffalo and bought it on the spot just two weeks after first seeing the ad. Did we get a good deal? Not according to the Bluebook Value, but it was the only late 90's 30 footer for sale in the country. We couldn't be happier.

As luck would have it. We took it on its maiden voyage to Lake Superior. On the first night, a 40' Class A backed into the left rear corner. The trailer's name is now "Dimples". We still enjoyed two weeks on L. Superior.

Dimples is now in Jackson Center getting new skin as we wait here at home for the repairs to be completed. At least it's dark, cloudy, and raining.

I love Airforums and read the forums daily, almost to the point of obsession. Sure beats "The Diesel Place". Now I've got to get my "blue Numbers".

JimW and Mary

[Bird's Nest]

Very pretty.

Sorry about the "dimple."
It almost looks like a "cartoon" impact of two people.

[Kevin245]

Welcome JimW and Mary,

Good to see that you made the transition from "Wanna Be" to "Owner". Glad you're here with us and congratulations on your purchase.

Kevin

[DEITZ645]

JimW and Mary,
Welcome aboard and you've got a very nice Airstream there. I really like the red graphics they used on the Limited trailers in the 90's. It's flashy, but not obnoxious.

I bet you were just sick to get her "Dimpled" on her maiden voyage, but now you have the first dent out of the way, got an intersting moniker for your coach, and a great story to tell about how she got that moniker.

Enjoy your Airstream and we'll see you down the road...

[redstart]

Wow... That is one biggie dimple! Were you inside the trailer when it happened?

We love our late 90s a/s, similar to yours just one more axle. Congratulations on your purchase! We have a dimple too, a nice little one on a top endcap - mystery how it got there! Actually I think a cat jumped (fell?) on it from a beam in the barn where we store it.

Happy travelling!!

[blacksheep]

Congrats! Really like the looks of those Limiteds...

Godspeed,
Trent

[ROBERT CROSS]

WELCOME ABOARD....

Great looking trailer, and you came all the way to our Home Town to find it.

I know how that feels, we just got back from Arkansas picking up a new to us boat.

Good luck with the repairs and Stream Safe.

[pmclemore]

Yup - love those red limiteds. By the way, the blue book values aren't valid for Airstreams. If you're happy with the deal, you got a good deal. Your rig looks to be in pristine condition.

Welcome to the forums.

[AIR-Quarius]

We have an identical dent in the same spot as yours does...

[JimW]

Originally Posted by redhawkerII

We have an identical dent in the same spot as yours does...

[QUOTE=redstart;759640]Wow... That is one biggie dimple! Were you inside the trailer when it happened?

My wife was actually standing in the rear bedroom when the trailer was hit hard enough to lift it up at least a foot. At first we weren't sure if she broke or sprained her foot, but after a month and a half, we think it was a sprain. Never-the-less, it was painful for her and quite debilitating. It put quite a damper on our L. Superior vacation.

[redstart]

That is really scary!! Hope your wife is all better now. I've sprained an ankle myself and it is not fun - very painful but mine was self inflicted (fell down a hill). Wow, you've been through a lot on your first trip - hope the rest are not as eventful! And who backs up a Class A motorhome!!

Safe travels!

[2vets]

She is beautiful! Congratulations! I have never seen one with red stripes- she is very striking! I am glad it was "love at first sight!" Please tell us your adventures with her!

[Janet H]

I hope they had insurance? That looks like an expensive repair.... Love the red stripes!

[JimW]

Originally Posted by Janet

I hope they had insurance? That looks like an expensive repair.... Love the red stripes!

The guy that ran into the trailer was very remorseful and actually submitted the claim to his insurance company. His insurance is Progressive insurance. We were impressed that Progressive sent an assessor to our location on L. Superior within 3 days of the occurrence, even though the accident happened 350 miles away. When this episode is over and if Progressive takes care of repairing our trailer as they promised, we will very likely change our present insurance to Progressive.
JIM

[Pink1]

It sure is pretty. Happy Trails!
Smiles,
Pink

[Catman6]

Originally Posted by redstart

And who backs up a Class A motorhome!!

Safe travels!

I back up 53' trailers several times a night in to tight spots, but I understand what you mean. Sorry about Dimples' dimples. Let us know how Progressive works out

[Alwhisman]

Welcome, congrats, and ......sorry! At least you got that first "uh-oh" out of the way fast..

It's a beauty! Enjoy


Al

[JimW]

On Jan 6, we picked up "Dimples" at JC. Of course she had no dimples thanks to the fine workmanship of the JC technicians. We also had some other work done including new higher rated (5000#) axles installed and a thorough inspection.

The other party's Progressive Insurance fulfilled their part as they should have. $4500 for AS repairs, $2400 pain and suffering, $1400 transporting trailer from Omaha to JC in October and JC to Omaha three months later.

We were impressed with Progressive enough to change our AS' policy to Progressive in December.

We enjoyed traveling with our new trailer to the southwest directly from picking it up from JC. It is superbly comfortable, tows like a dream, and makes a great home. I especially like the real oak floors, 3/4' real oak woodwork, heat pump, super comfortable couch, openness with multiple windows, skylights, etc., and all the top-of the line features and accessories. I want to master the convection oven (If I could just read the key-pad!) and fix the fart-eradicator fan in the privy.

We are always surprised at the attention we get because of her. People of all ages pass us on the highway and give us the "thumbs up", they make a point to stop on their daily walks for a visit, even multi-megabuck class A owners see us as equals admitting they at sometime had considered an AS. We, of course, like the chance to meet and talk with new friends that, perhaps, we would not have met with our SOB trailer.

7000 miles later we returned home. Now we can't wait to get back on the road again. Next major trip will be to visit the kids in Vancouver, BC, this late summer and fall. We hope to take 3 to 4 months this time.

Anyway, thank you for the kind and supportive words. I still have a difficult time looking at the pictures of the "Dimples".

Jim