Seven days in Jackson Center

[nesvt]

Spent all of last week in Jackson Center OH. Arrived Sunday. Left Saturday morning. Stayed at the terra-port each night. Used the internet to work from the lobby all week. Got a lot of work done on the trailer. All issues resolved. All under warranty. Took the tour three times. It was different on Friday because the factory was closed. Saw tons of trailers. Some old. Some new. Great group of people.

[dkottum]

Good to hear. We had a similar recent experience. For some of us with poor dealer service support, it may well be worth the effort to make the trip to get your warranty items done right and without hassle.

doug k

[Aage]

My golly, hard to imagine a 2008 would need a week's worth of work!

What did you get done?

[nesvt]

The two big issues were a leak in the front window, water coming inside; leak under the shower, water leaking outside.
I updated another older thread with details. A lot of re-sealing was needed around the front window. There was a bad fitting in the water line causing a leak that escaped under the shower.

It's my opinion, and only an opinion, that a lot of the issues were because it was on the lot for a few years. Dealer stopped getting new trailers in because they weren't going to sell them any more. Don't think it was every checked, waxed, serviced, etc. Caulking dried up. Leaks were staining ceiling and walls and nothing was done. A lot of different people went in and out of the trailer. It got a nice makeover.

[nesvt]

for what it's worth-
I recall seeing a thread asking about the foil covered bubble type of insulation. Can't find it now. After three tours in one week, I can say yes, they do use it. It's used on the ceiling and floor. They claim it had an R19 value.
Insulation-have you seen the new stuff? 6-9 months ago they started using something else. It's not pink. It looks brown, doesn't itch.
I was overwhelmed at all of the trailers in the parking lots. Found out they were being stored for their winter service special; discount on labor and parts, so they were piling up in order to keep busy all winter.
Lots of Flying Clouds heading to China. Do you think they'll copy them?

Norm

[Aage]

Thanks for the info, Norm. Yes, disuse and nobody "watching over it" could definitely be a negative.

Not a bad idea, leaving it there to have work done in the off-season AND getting storage for free, presumably.

Wow, there's one thing it might be interesting to see copied. Well, as long as they don't copy the leaks and defects one hears about in new models...

[nesvt]

a few pictures....

[nesvt]

more...

[nesvt]

and...

[Gene]

I'd like to learn more about that bubble stuff. R-19 is very hard to achieve in a 2" space between skins. I don't believe it; I think you were misinformed. If this stuff is impervious to water, leaks will cause water to run down to the sides and this will clump the fiberglass (probably the brown stuff is fiberglass—new fiberglass can now be bought that doesn't itch). They need weep holes at the bottom to let the water out like a car has.

We spent 4 days at JC once and that was more than enough. I drank a lot of free hot chocolate, played on the computer and talked to company officials. We stuck around because sometimes the techs have questions and they need answers right away or you may be stuck there for another day.

Gene

[nesvt]

almost done...

[Gene]

Did you hear how many they are shipping to China? It is very expensive to ship something as large and heavy as an Airstream. I don't think it is a big profit center. Auto and truck companies always build a plant in a country when they start to achieve some market penetration because of shipping. They also have to learn what people in the country want and you have to have a presence there to learn that. The Europeans learned it decades ago and the Japanese and Koreans followed. That's why there are so many foreign owned plants in the US and Canada.

If trailering takes off in China, maybe the government will allow financing of a plant in China to build an Airstream knock off, but bringing them here and convincing North Americans the quality is good will take a long time. I don't think there are any design patents on the Airstream body, so that shouldn't be a problem for a knock off.

Will Thor move RV manufacturing to China? They'd have to partner with a Chinese company to do it and cede a lot of control and they may not want to do that. Cost savings would have to major to make sense and we'd have to be convinced that quality is good. Some RV company will try it someday, but it will take time.

If a Chinese RV were sold in the US and Canada, I don't know the price would be very good. Wages are rising in China and cost differences are narrowing. The Chinese can build superior quality (see the iPad), but it would take some time to convince people of it. Check back in 10 years.

Gene

[nesvt]

Gene,

No idea on the R value for that foil type bubble insulation. It was mentioned twice, R-19, "better than the pink stuff". Only floor and ceiling. Seemed high to me, but I know little in this area. I saw it resting on the frame and it seemed so thin.

I believe there were five Flying Clouds on the line heading for China. Also saw some European models and one for Australia. Interesting to see the differences from the US models.... width, electric, outside handles, tires, floor types.

[nesvt]

I think the total count on all trailers built was around 31 per week. Also 6 or so coaches each week.
The tour was great Monday through Thursday because you could see the manufacturing process. Automated cutout of the sides and top was very cool (CNC machine).
The tour was just as good on Friday when the factory was empty. Got to go a lot more areas and check out many more trailers.

Norm

[nesvt]

Some of the "foreign" models had noticeable differences. I think the European model had no belly pan or metal underside. The floor was thick styrofoam sandwiched between thinner wood. Supposed to be lighter. One of the models, possibly the ones for China, had galvanized steel in parts for lighter weight. I think it was part of the frame.

[azflycaster]

You have to show us what you bought at the store!

[nesvt]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

You have to show us what you bought at the store!

I hid a lot of it from my wife. Picked up a few odds and ends for future replacement parts.... door catches, tabs that hold the shades in place. Grabbed some of the new Adseal caulking they are using. Then there's the Acryl-R and applicator, a couple t-shirts, key chains, necklaces, cookie cutter, coffee mugs. My favorite is the 75th anniversary book. Lots of stories and great pictures.

Norm