Had It With My Basecamp

[AirstreamInc]

Hi TXTravelsUSA,

We're very sorry to learn about the issues you described with your 2018 Flying Cloud. Please send us a direct message with your contact information and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team.
You can also reach Airstream Customer Service and Technical Support at customer_support@airstream.com

Thank you.

[QC TORPEDO]

Clearly, Thor had it's fingers in the Basecamp and probably Nest. I love my '17 FC, and I would likely buy another AS, but Caveat Emptor!

[Foiled Again]

Airstreams ARE assembled pretty much by hand. Most of the components are bought and dumped in by people who have NOT been adequately trained to understand some of the dangers of doing it haphazardly. (See the Interstate thread regarding the burning Magnum... part of the problem was installation under a seat cushion without ventilation, and some fundamentally bad wiring, and lack of failsafes or even WARNING signs) Who are these "Airstream Engineers" and do they have incentives to find the safest solution or just the cheapest? Are the even that well qualified?

Automobile assembly lines have well programmed and tested robots, which are affordable only because of the number of units that are produced.

Get a group of RV mechanics together and you will hear stories about most SOBs that will make your hair stand on end. Airstreams are better... mine has had issues but not many and not that traumatic.

Airstream does get a lot of feedback from owners, RV techs, and dealers with Good service departments.. They don't seem to have a SYSTEM for evaluating it, finding out if the problem is systemic and getting good fixes - then passing that info back to owners, techs and dealers.

Here is an example. Three separate Basecamp owners had problems with fridges with drain hoses being squashed because there wasn't enough room underneath it. Supposedly Airstream recommended routing out a channel in the floor! Huh? Can't really believe an engineer would do that. Expensive and damages the floor. One owner went to the hardware store and bought 4 rubber stick on feet and raised the fridge 3/8. Cost $2.
Who thinks the two buck solution is obviously better?

Wheeler hire a smart nitpicker who can use a spreadsheet, understands simple statistics, and is allowed and reqiired to take action when they find smoking guns.

Market to your employees. How much would Airstreams profits go up if 1/3 of warranty costs could be avoided (and how much of that would go into your pocket).. Nagging can work very effectively when it is disguised as marketing. To Joe the guy working in assembly -- Profit sharing isnt magic Joe, if you want $400 to $900 more in your check, just do careful work, and if you see anything that could be improved, tell us? Repeat twice a week.

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[KWRJRPE]

Plan to purchase an AS and trying to decide on the right model for retirement - So Basecamp is a NO. Thank you for steering me away from this making this mistake

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by KWRJRPE

Plan to purchase an AS and trying to decide on the right model for retirement - So Basecamp is a NO. Thank you for steering me away from this making this mistake

Buy from a good dealer even if it is a 500 mile trip. Plan three to five day shakedown in a nearby rv park (the dealer might have discount coupons), check everything and have a fellow airstreamer along/nearby to catch anything you miss. Be prepared to do some simple stuff yourself.

Continue reading here. Get the dream not the nightmare.

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[fbgairstream]

Sorry to hear about your issues on your airstream. Its sad to see the same emailed with just a name change to so many new airstream owners. I do think airstream will work with you and fix your issues. I know many of you are like myself and cannot drive over 1200 miles one way for service. I have not had good experiences getting my airstream serviced close to home. I called wed of this week and I did get a returned phone call from airstream on Thursday sad to say Oct 3 was the soonest they could work me in for serve at the factory. To wait over 3 mo. ( 99 days to be exact) for factory service is not acceptable. I had a 1993 airstream and it was excellent quality. I had very few problems.. It was built solid never had leaks, the real wood cabinets where high quality and the fit and finish where perfect. Sadly someone kept bugging me to buy it and I sold it.Im going to try and stay positive because I love the look and ease of towing my airstream. I love that it is a American product. I hope airstream reads my post and would consider opening a factory certified service center in Texas. Please join me in encouraging airstream to bring Factory certified service centers. There are to many unhappy airstream owners...I love my airstream I just want fair pricing and good service.
PS airstream should build less trailers per day and go back to making quality..one can only survive on its heritage so long...customer service and a quality product is what has always made any product a success.

[PamsCruiser]

It's disturbing to read so many comments/complaints about new/newer Airstream products. What is going on with Airstream anyway? It can't be THAT HARD to make a quality product and have a quality program. Wow...And, they charge a fortune for their stuff! It's sad to hear. That said, I am ever more Grateful for my trailer. 65 years old and she keeps on going, doesn't leak, is solid, we can fix most things and everything is working. I guess its true, simpler is better.

[Foiled Again]

Today's workers are not that much lazier or more stupid than they were 10, 20 or even 50 years ago... But they are inexperienced, believe they are invincible, lacking all caution, and don't connect behavior with consequences.

And life doesn't often visibly hand out horrible examples. And the 3 day news cycle doesn't keep anyone's attention lomg enough to encourage deeply learned lessons. Advertisers GET what it takes to sell a new thing - that is why you'll see and the same commercial 20 time a day.

It is hard for every company to find and keep good employees. Anyone who wants quality from an employee has to define what it means, train their employees to buy into the goal, reward achievement, and somewhat publically eliminate the people who create problems.

Normally takes one supervisor for every 6 to 7 employees... and the supervisors have to be actively pushing the corporate line too.

Prison officials say that many criminals offend "age out" after 40..... because they are no longer able to run fast, or jump fences. And a minimum wage job starts to look OK compared to a year in jail. Airstream IS todays average employer.


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[Milo1952]

I have a "17" INTERNATIONAL SIGNATURE 30 .
Yes I did have issues, the biggest one being an improperly installed
brake on one of the wheels. Just hanging there unattached. Everything else was minor.
Things I do to make sure things don't fall off is hand tighten everything I can reach using the proper tool. I have been on some pretty knarly roads with my tin can. Anything that shakes and rattles going down the road is bound to loosen, and a little TLC is what is needed when owning a rolling house on wheels. I recommend hand tightening rather than use of a power tool so that over tightening will be less likely. Stripping being the issue.
Other than that I just wash it, inside and outside, after every trip, wax it a couple of times a year and enjoy. SO FAR SO GOOD.
Did 6800 miles this last trip, popped 1 interior rivet, which is less than I expected,given some of the roads i was on, and everything still working fine.
Only water issues I have are self inflicted. Forgetting to shut off faucets and then turning water on with cutting board over sink, and having the bathroom sink overflow because I had the stopper down. When we leave the trailer, I always turn the water off at its source. This way I avoid a major water leak when I am not there. Also, I once got into a tight situation and jacknifed. Fortunately for me I damaged my new truck and not the trailer. Much cheaper fix.YES there is a learning curve. DUH !!!:rolleyes
Still a happy camper though. We learn through our mistakes. If you don't learn, then it becomes a problem. Quality to be better than OK IMHO.

[1000Miles]

Originally Posted by Twitterpated

Fed up with my Basecamp and Ewald Airstream of Wisconsin (I usually have to go back to Ewald two to three times per repair in order for them to fix the stuff they screw up in the process of fixing some other thing...like my refrigerator). [emoji4]

Sorry to hear this Twitterpated, the Ewald part in particular. I'm also in SE Wisconsin, and if you are getting the run around, and you're not the first complaint I've heard, it just feels like one more nail in the coffin on AS as the premier trailer.

[texasvette]

Originally Posted by MickeyC

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences with the base camp. You might look at the Oliver Elite or Oliver Elite II. I am driving over to their factory next week to look at the Elite II. Their quality looks to be a step above Airstream. I have only owned a vintage AS but the horror stories I see online have put me in search of a better product for the money. My wife and I are planning to retire soon and want to travel with the least amount of problems as possible. Airstream doesn't seem to be the product!

Anyway, Good Luck!
MC

Could you tell me where the vendor is for the Oliver trailers? Last word I got from them it was too far to consider, at least for us. Thanks in advance.

[John&Vicki]

Recent QC discussions have made me think a blind dog found a bone when I bought my now 28 year old 1990 Excella a few years ago. I’ve owned and restored Porsches for many years and I always thought of Airstreams as a comparable high quality iconic product. I have been very pleased with my oldie.

After using my trailer for over four years, and talking to many old time AS owners, I’ve come to believe that the best way to own an AS is to buy and older one that has been well maintained. I haven’t had any issues at all other than normal wear and tear and maintenance.

There is what thing I’ve been curious about though. It’s well known in the Porsche world what are the best Porsches to own and the ones to avoid year wise. I would love to hear from longtime streamers as to how they rate quality of trailers from different production periods. Might be a good thread.

Cheers,
John

[Muriel 1]

Wow ! Paula
Workers are lazy and stupid!
This site has turned into a total
Bitch Fest!
Loaded with wordsmiths that write scathing
bullshit about hardworking people in Jackson Center.
Please ,if your unhappy with your airstream sell it. It’s propably worth what you paid for it. Buy a box trailer and be gone.
My 23 fb international is darn near perfect.
Nothing like it on the planet!
Just please quit trashing hardworking salt of the earth folk in Jackson Center
Tom

[PapaJeeper]

Originally Posted by Twitterpated

Fed up with my Basecamp and Ewald Airstream of Wisconsin (I usually have to go back to Ewald two to three times per repair in order for them to fix the stuff they screw up in the process of fixing some other thing...like my refrigerator). Considering options as I can’t believe someone might want to pay me money to take the POS off my hands. Sink it in the local SCUBA lake for wreck diving? Chop the top and turn it into a greenhouse? Chicken coop? [emoji4]

I vote you turn into a chicken coop! I’m so glad that I didn’t purchase a Base Camp. every time I come to this forum all I do is read about the negativity and the problems that the base camp has. It’s time for airstream to man up recall all BC and do the right thing and fix them all.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by PapaJeeper

. . .
It’s time for airstream to man up recall all BC and do the right thing and fix them all.

For the fridge problems, a real lasting solution might require a total re-design, involving moving the fridge to one side [out of the direct sun], and adding a flue through the roof.

Basecamp III?

The Simple Survey thread has posts, from late last summer, about such a need for a total re-design.

[RandyNH]

Originally Posted by texasvette

Could you tell me where the vendor is for the Oliver trailers? Last word I got from them it was too far to consider, at least for us. Thanks in advance.

They do not have vendors, they are factory sold only and are in Hohenwald TN. They do have a large contingent of current owners in Texas though, most of which would be happy to show you their trailer and after seeing one might make the trip to TN much more doable for you.

[dkernc]

What a nightmare! I had my doubts about the NEST when it came on the market...much more drawn to the traditional AS design and durability. My sympathies. Hate this for you!

[Skipper345]

Relax, Deep breaths and think cool, Airstreams R still Awesome. Been living 2 decades + and still loving it. hope for you good Aluminum Falcon. Skipper

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by Muriel 1

Wow ! Paula
Workers are lazy and stupid!
This site has turned into a total
Bitch Fest!
Loaded with wordsmiths that write scathing
bullshit about hardworking people in Jackson Center.
Please ,if your unhappy with your airstream sell it. It’s propably worth what you paid for it. Buy a box trailer and be gone.
My 23 fb international is darn near perfect.
Nothing like it on the planet!
Just please quit trashing hardworking salt of the earth folk in Jackson Center
Tom

Tom. My first sentence said workers AREN'T... aren't is a contraction for are not.

The point is that today today's youth did not grow up in hard times. Today 25 year olds commonly live with parents, and are not real grownups. Mom gets sick, dad becomes disabled, that starts changing fast.

Airstream and every other company has to hire and train the gen-x they get. They do good marketing to.customers, but based on buyer dissatisfactiom, they are not doing a good job inspirimg workers to keep the promlse of quality they advertise.

If a post seems bitchy at first glance, is rereading it before responding that onerous?

I am done. Self imposed 10 day silence.

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[boondockdad]

Originally Posted by husk n tusk

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