Airstream not any different than the others

[Robbie R.]

Andy, I will have to look at the rating and get back to you, thanks.

Robbie R.

[VIKING]

I know that the weight of these Airstreams has gone up significantly with some models since the mid sixties, when mine was made. Has the frame and over-all structure been beefed up since then? My dry weight is #3100 with a 22' Safari. the new flying cloud 23' is #4708. The 27FB is #6500+. That's more than twice the weight of my old Safari for 5 more feet of length. Could this be a part of the problem? I also hear about cracked and sagging frames and outriggers, rear-end seperation, body cracks, etc. You all know.
It does seem to me, as a manufacturer, that Airstream is somewhat behind on these issues. It would be nice to hear from them that they have decided to improve the structure and warrantee, but it seems that they would rather invest in new electronics.
As a manufacturer I know that if my product doesn't perform I will lose potential customers. If I put a beautiful paint job on something that is not built well it will deteriorate too fast, and the customer will be calling me back for repairs or, worse yet, NOT calling me, but telling their friends that I don't build a quality product. As a manufacturer I have to stay ahead of my customers and anticipate their needs and wants, 'cause if I don't I will lose them, and more.
If Airstreams customers are damaging their rigs by incorrect hitching it will affect their sales unless they address it. To leave something as critical to the longevity of their product in the hands of people who know NOTHING about trailering is absurd. If they can't give recommendations or proper instructions for this CRITICAL aspect of trailering they should improve the quality of the structure to the point where it would be very difficult to cause this kind of damage to a new, "FIRST IN QUALITY" Airstream.
(quote from airstream.com)

Rich the Viking

[85MH325]

<Moderator Hat ON>

Please limit your posts to factual information, or opinions regarding the OP's issue. We'll not put up with any further personal pot-shots at individuals for any reason in this thread.

<Moderator Hat OFF>

Roger

[Cracker]

When new people show up on the forum all of us old-timers are usually more than happy to "re-hash" subjects that have been thoroughly gone over in the past. We all want to help - but the truth is, a rather simple search of the key words would bring up more than a full evenings worth of reading about any given subject. Some subjects evoke a lot of controversy - but there's always a lot to be learned. Afterwards, you're free to make up your own mind about the bulk of things and use the forums to refine the sticky points. Ultimately, the one thing we all share is our love of the lifestyle our Airstreams afford us - no matter what.

[dkottum]

There are fresh ideas, learned information, and new products every day. There is also the wisdom of experience. The archives are valuable, but the discussion must continue to be relevant.

Airstream is faced with consumers who want stronger structures but demand larger windows and access doors, and an extensive list of heavy factory-installed equipment. That is a conflict that may not be resolved at a price point that can sell trailers.

We have our Airstreams, love the heck out of them, and are not about to park them. So why not explore any and all possibilities top keep these jewels on the road with a minimum amount of damage. Less rigid hitching, balanced suspension assemblies, lightening the load. These initiatives, and others, have merit and should be discussed frequently.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by dkottum

There are fresh ideas, learned information, and new products every day. There is also the wisdom of experience. The archives are valuable, but the discussion must continue to be relevant.

Airstream is faced with consumers who want stronger structures but demand larger windows and access doors, and an extensive list of heavy factory-installed equipment. That is a conflict that may not be resolved at a price point that can sell trailers.

We have our Airstreams, love the heck out of them, and are not about to park them. So why not explore any and all possibilities top keep these jewels on the road with a minimum amount of damage. Less rigid hitching, balanced suspension assemblies, lightening the load. These initiatives, and others, have merit and should be discussed frequently.

That's what this Forums is about.

Andy

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by dkottum

...The archives are valuable, but the discussion must continue to be relevant...

a member posting about NEW cracks on a NEW trailer is relevant.

these reports help current owners by making us aware of issues that COULD apply to our trailers.

and help us learn about USEFUL repairs, dealing with the warranty issue (or lack of it) and so on...

this has be demonstrated many times here on many a/s related issues.

in past times, the owner would have NOT had this connected awareness,

and might have relied ENTIRELY on nonsense or double talk from a dealer or service stop.

"it's your fault" carries a lot LESS weight when we can learn about OTHERS with the same issues.
________________

what may not be obvious to you (dk') is that there are dozens of threads on these issues.

and 100s of extremely well written posts with engineering data, hard science as reference and so on, in PAST THREADS.

but the folks who post those intelligent and well supported replies GIVE UP after writing those replies a few times...

so in order to GET the good stuff YOU need to go back and read, that's part of cracker's observation.

because the really useful info doesn't get reposted.
_____________________

it's also apparent to ne1 who reads here or has been on the board awhile that...

every single issue, problem, failure and leak reported or repaired HERE...

has been attributed 2 overhitching, running gear, axles or owner neglect.

and typically WITHOUT any details about the actual setup or history or usage.

Originally Posted by dkottum

...That is a conflict that may not be resolved at a price point that can sell trailers....

the fact is that MANY current and recently built travel trailers from OTHER builders...

are either LIGHTER or STRONGER or LESS EXPENSIVE that streams.

and with more features or more carry capacity.

and NONE Of them carry the risk that a bicycle hanging off the back will break them either.

so it's NOT about price point.

it IS about NOT EVOLVING the product or DE-CONTENTING key structural elements...

while focusing on swiss army knife and quicksilver trim or a few modern trendy cosmetic elements.
______________________

Originally Posted by dkottum

...Airstream is faced with consumers who want....

while i'm sure YOU don't mean to imply it's the owner/consumers FAULT that IS how this phrase reads....

and the simple fact is that a/s is faced with FEWER repeat customers and seasoned RV consumers...

and more who primarily are attracted to shiny yard ornaments.

cheers
2air'

[Airslide]

When I see all three of these words together, Aluminum, Corrosion and Cracking it makes me wonder... Does SCC apply to our newer trailers? Maybe this is actually different..




"Aluminum alloys that contain appreciable amounts of soluble alloying elements, primarily copper, magnesium, silicon, and zinc, are susceptible to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC)."


Stress Corrosion Cracking of Aluminum Alloys

[2airishuman]

that's an interesting reference 'slide...

we'll need to read it in some detail.

i'm not a metal expert but i have had 3 a/s rebuilders report that the CURRENT skin is BRITTLE in a way that alcad or 70s skin was not.

the ENDCAPS are somewhat unique and fragile imo compared to older/narrower/less windowed/more riveted designs.

the earlier poster who mentioned the LACK of R&D and reliance on the historical reputation hit the mark too.

cheers
2air'

[Airstream01]

Rob, unless you are a midget, I think all Andy is trying to say is that if you jump up and down on your hitch, it should move a little bit. If it is rock hard, it probably is too harsh for the airstream.

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

Physics is physics, it never ages.

Cause if it did, as some suggest, then we need to kick to the curb, everything Newton and Einstein, came up with because it's way to old.
...

You are correct up to a point. The fundamental laws of physics haven't changed since right after the big bang. However, there have been advances in our understanding of the application of those laws of physics and in some cases there have been new knowledge that has contradicted both Newton's and Einstein's.

There have been tremendous advances in engineering since the days of Wally, but it appears that Airstream hasn't kept up with them.

I use an F-250 crew cab to tow my Airstream with an Equal-i-zer brand hitch with 1,000 Lbs. bars and haven't experienced the cracks at the corners of my front hatch door (happens to be square) on my 30' Bunkhouse. Many of the posts that 2Air has linked are from 30' Bunkhouse owners and it seems to be a design issue know by those of us that own 30' Bunkhouses.

I regularly check the temp of my Marathon trailer tires with an infrared thermometer and have never had them as warm as the tow vehicle's tires so I guess I'm doing something right.

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Minnie's Mate

You are correct up to a point. The fundamental laws of physics haven't changed since right after the big bang. However, there have been advances in our understanding of the application of those laws of physics and in some cases there have been new knowledge that has contradicted both Newton's and Einstein's.

There have been tremendous advances in engineering since the days of Wally, but it appears that Airstream hasn't kept up with them.

I regularly check the temp of my Marathon trailer tires with an infrared thermometer and have never had them as warm as the tow vehicle's tires so I guess I'm doing something right.

Most owners don't get involved with PM's or checking things as they go.

Those that do, such as you, can observe problems when they are minor, instead of major.

Once minor issues are observed, it's much easier to correct them as well as possibly determine the cause.

Hat's off to those that "watch it".

Andy

[OB Bambi]

After reading this original post, then the threads (direct or hijacked), I still don't know where these cracks are. I would love a photo or two. As far as I can tell, you get cracks from either bad design, bad aluminum, improper hitches, bad adjustment of the improper hitches or spots on the moon.

Randy

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by OB Bambi

After reading this original post, then the threads (direct or hijacked), I still don't know where these cracks are. I would love a photo or two. As far as I can tell, you get cracks from either bad design, bad aluminum, improper hitches, bad adjustment of the improper hitches or spots on the moon.

Randy

Hi, I haven't seen any pictures from the original poster, but 2air has links of similar cracks in post #7 on page #1.