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02-12-2017, 04:02 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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2017 Basecamp Issues
Hi, I thought I'd start a discussion to see if anyone else is having any production issues with their 2017 Basecamp. I was told that the water tank needs to be replaced due to holes that were inadvertently drilled in the top during the installation of the tables (this happened on many of the first units). Also, both my BC and my friend's BC have leaks (we live in Washington State). I do love the BC, but I am concerned that the quality may have suffered in the rush to get them out on the market.
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02-12-2017, 04:21 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Welcome to the forum but sorry to hear about the QC issues! The holes in the tank sure make one wonder about the production line.
You might have better exposure in the Basecamp sub-forum:
[Edit where the moderators just moved this!]
Good luck!
Peter
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02-12-2017, 05:30 PM
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#3
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3 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Garland
, Arkansas
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 122
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When did your BC roll out? I'm taking ours out again next weekend and will fill up the fresh and check for leaks. Ours rolled off right after thanksgiving has had the fresh tank filled and didn't notice any but wasn't looking close for leaks either.
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02-12-2017, 05:43 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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Trae and Ann,
My BC arrived in December. I was told that all of the initial Basecamps had holes in the fresh water tanks. These holes occurred when the tables were mounted (they drilled through the floor into the top of the tanks). The water tank is okay as long as you don't overfill. They are replacing my water tank. Also, I discovered that my BC has a leak, as did my friend's. We both live in Washington state, so we get a lot of rain and it is easy to see when things are sealed correctly. Anyway, check to see if you need a new water tank… there is a service bulletin that explains the issue. Mine goes back to the dealership this week. Slightly frustrated, but hoping Airstream will fix everything.
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02-12-2017, 06:02 PM
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#5
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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It's a shame when this happens, but if you stay on top of the issues and work consistently with your dealer, everything should be resolvable within the warranty period. Keep a running punch list of "stuff that's broken" and when the list gets long enough to make you unhappy, take your BC in for service. For now, I'd say the holy water tank and the leak are pretty big issues and it makes sense to get them fixed ASAP. Unresolved leaks, as you probably know, are kryptonite for Airstreams. If you have one, it must be fixed right away.
In some cases the dealer may have to go to bat for you with Corporate to get a bigger issue taken care of, but if you have a good relationship with your dealer and keep pressing them, you'll get good results. It took us two years to iron out all the warranty issues with Rocinante, but she's in good shape now and we're very happy with her.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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02-12-2017, 06:06 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocinante
. . .
It took us two years to iron out all the warranty issues with Rocinante, . . .
. . .
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I realize you were trying to be supportive . . .
but really, Airstream and Thor, do you realize how crazy your quality control is?
Holes drilled through the floor and through the top of the water tank.
I am still gasping for air trying to picture how a mechanic on the assembly line could be so dumb,
and where were his supervisors and department heads?
___________________________________
We now return you to the regularly scheduled broadcast.
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02-12-2017, 06:10 PM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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Rocinante,
Thanks for the encouragement. I have full confidence in the dealership (Airstream Adventures NW), and corporate. I was interested to see if anyone else is having issues with their BC's as it is a new model (overhaul of the 2007 version). They are actually replacing my friend's Basecamp already.
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02-12-2017, 06:16 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Mantua
, Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
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They're replacing it with a new trailer?
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02-12-2017, 06:33 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
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I saw one of the first production models delivered to the local dealership and was not impressed with the fit and finish. Poor QC was obvious within two minutes of setting foot inside. The salesman attempted to open the flimsy propane box and the top fitting riped off. Two cabinets had screws missing from the hinge and the flooring was miscut around the read door by over an inch. To me it looks like a cheap horse trailer and the construction quality matched that look.
__________________
MICHAEL
Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
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02-12-2017, 06:39 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Lakes Region
, New Hampshire
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 815
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Quote:
Originally Posted by OTRA15
Holes drilled through the floor and through the top of the water tank.
I am still gasping for air trying to picture how a mechanic on the assembly line could be so dumb,
and where were his supervisors and department heads?
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Not disagreeing with anything you mean, just redirecting the aim. Most any worker in an assembly line would never know he did it, they serve a specific function - and design and engineering isn't it. They are told put the table here and screw it down and hurry up.
Save the sealing issues, exposed hardware, missing hinge screws, etc... blame for the line guys, this one isn't theirs.
I feel sorry for the beta testers out there who didn't know they were going to be.
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02-12-2017, 06:48 PM
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#11
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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Michael,
Thanks for your input. This is not meant to bash Airstream, or the Basecamp model. I really like the Basecamp and I have full confidence in Airstream that they will correct the issues. As with any new design, there are bound to be flaws… this is merely an opportunity for BC owners to express their concerns so we can all learn.
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02-12-2017, 06:52 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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I think the fresh water tank is contained, so it may not leak out on to the ground. Check with your dealer to see if your tank may have been recalled.
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02-12-2017, 06:56 PM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Currently Looking...
Garland
, Arkansas
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 122
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I haven't noticed any leaks on ours. Not in Washington but we did spend a very rainy night camping and other than a nice sound to sleep to everything seemed sealed tight. Definitely will check out the water tank recall. Thanks for the heads up. So far we have been out 4 trips and are very happy with the quality.
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02-12-2017, 06:59 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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I hope everything works out well… If not, Airstream should replace the tank. I look forward to hearing about your adventures )
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02-12-2017, 07:24 PM
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#15
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4 Rivet Member
2017 Basecamp
Conway
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 340
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I've had my Basecamp a couple of weeks. Still waiting for the dealership to mail me the title, so I can get tags for it. I did notice that the seal on the bathroom door sticks to the door when you open it, which in my opinion will make the door not waterproof. On the hinge side of the door facing, the seal was not installed properly, in my opinion, and the sticky part sticks to the door when you open it. I will ask about a recall on the water tank. That is discouraging! Also, the tube that holds the sewer hose was too small to hold the hose they sold me. The cover on the hose prevented the hose from going in. I took the covers and sanded four of the 'tabs' down with a disk sander and the hose now fits.
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02-12-2017, 07:57 PM
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#16
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2 Rivet Member
2011 19' Victorinox
2017 Basecamp
Lacey
, Washington
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 54
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Gail,
Thanks for adding to the discussion. I will ask them about the seal on the bathroom door and the sewer connector when I take mine in this week. I hope you get everything sorted out with your BC. They are really sweet units… I hope you have lots of happy adventures!!!
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02-13-2017, 12:44 AM
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#17
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3 Rivet Member
Colfax
, California
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 205
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2 easily resolvable issues
We got our BC with both tents. Had not set them up yet (we are in northern California where rain is now the order of the week).
Our sales guy sent me a link that showed the tent setup. The first thing the demonstrator demonstrated was the dealer prep mods that include snaps on the rear for the rear tent. The dealer overlooked the dealer prep install.
There is a rubber trim piece (black moulding) running along the wall/ceiling junction. It had a stickum bead that is about 1/4" wide and it optimally adheres to a flat surface like the top of the wall or the edge of the ceiling. If it is installed where the stickum bead is exactly at the ceiling/wall junction, it will be hit and miss and is likely to peel away and drop down. I had about 3 feet fall on the bathroom side.
The dealer is going to install the tent clips and throw in a free Walbernizer (sp?). They will also reset the moulding .
We have been through 8" of rain the past few days. No leaks.
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02-13-2017, 08:00 AM
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#18
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4 Rivet Member
2017 Basecamp
Conway
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 340
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4WetPaws
Gail,
Thanks for adding to the discussion. I will ask them about the seal on the bathroom door and the sewer connector when I take mine in this week. I hope you get everything sorted out with your BC. They are really sweet units… I hope you have lots of happy adventures!!!
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It could also just have been the brand of sewer hose they sold me that caused the problem. Rhinoflex was the brand.
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02-13-2017, 08:11 AM
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#19
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4 Rivet Member
2017 Basecamp
Conway
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 340
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Window latches
I read some concerns about there being no screens on the window latch openings when you pop the side windows open. This would allow mosquitoes to get in the camper. I made Plexiglas inserts for my openings. I added a bit of mosquito-proof screen to them, but realized later that that wasn't necessary, since you have the big screen on the window. My inserts fit snuggly but I added drawer knobs to assist getting them in and out and when I snap the cover back on them, the knobs help hold them in place. The inserts have to be taken out when the windows are closed as the window opening 'handles' would hit them. Attaching (hopefully) rather poor cell phone photos.
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02-13-2017, 08:26 AM
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#20
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4 Rivet Member
2017 Basecamp
Conway
, Arkansas
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 340
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No screens on side window handle openings.
I read concerns about there not being any screens on the openings where the handles are to pop open the side windows. No screens would allow mosquitoes to get in the camper. I made Plexiglas inserts for my camper. I added a bit of screen to them, but realized later that it wasn't necessary since there are screens on the windows. The inserts fit snugly, but I added a couple of drawer knobs to assist getting them in and out. They have to be removed when the window is closed as the window opening handle would hit them. I will try to attach a couple of rather poor cell phone photos.
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