Trying...to get back on the road...again

[kingfisher24]

after a 1000 days and nights of being homeless and traveling full-time in a 2008 25fb safari....we , in feburary of this year, (the dw did) decided we needed a house.....so we bought one...and sold the airstream

thinking that we would settle in the house , get our bearings and then figure out a new travel mode....thinking that i might fancy an airstream Interstate

and have been thinking and studying and test driving and trying to justify a $120,000 mode of travel...and i just would not fit in my mind....

then we start considering new airstreams...a 23 footer versus a 25 footer...international versus flying cloud...read bed with twins or front bed..., etc, etc....$60,000 or $70,000...

then it hit me/.......a vintage and so started searching...and found a website vintage-airstream.com....lots of vintage and not so vintage units...more so than the classified on this forum....

so now i have found this unit and it looks great and am going to see it this week.....

how does one make an intelligent decision about a vintage...without spending a few days with it....a new one ...well you have dealer support...a vintage is just a roll of the dice....

here is a picture or two....1975 trade wind...interior is immaculate and beautiful!!!!!

but look at the tounge...and hitch ....it appears very short....


anyway after i see it i will report further


comments please

[Distantdrummer]

Well, it's certainly shiny.
Can't tell much about the A frame & hitch cept the A-frame seems to have been overlaid maybe with that diamond plate, never heard of that before.
If that's not overlay but actual channel that is diamonded, well that begs a few (or alot) of questioning IMHO.

One thing for sure, those safety cables are a joke (I think). Even if the cable is strong enough ...is the S-hook.? You know what is said about weakest link...

so where did yall settle into a house? Texas ? If you buy another AS are you going to sel the house and go fulltime again?

[kingfisher24]

near elgin, texas....dw has to have a house...so no ful timing for us...just several six week kind of thrips...hopefully 24 weeks out of the year....

[mutcth]

That interior is lovely. But for the hefty price of $28,500, it better have had a few things done beyond 2 TVs, granite countertops, and nice wood:

- Were any floor repairs done? At this age, it would have needed them.
- Were any frame repairs done? Ditto.
- New axles?

I agree with Distantdrummer - those safety cables are a joke. And what is that diamond plate covering up? Details on the fundamentals are missing here.

If I were you, I'd buy a used 2007-2008ish Safari SE 25FB just like you owned. Those trailers can be found for under $40k. You still need to check the floor for leak damage, but the fundamentals should be solid.

[purman]

Biggest thing is floor, frame, and axels. A lot of the 1970's used fiberglass insulation underneath, it got wet and the frame rusted out. Then the floor rooted away. And Anything that old needs new axels, even if they look good the rubber in the axels is shot.

Start your questions there. The price if this is done is ok. A little high for not being totally re-done on the inside though. I have seen vintage go up to $50-60,000 but they were shell of restorations and totally custom done on the insides to the owners specs. When done like this are far superior to a new AS.

[kingfisher24]

is $28,500 hefty?????

all those questions about the frame, brakes, and every other system are...just big unknowns that ....kinda of like getting married...you just find out over time...or suddenly that it is all falling apart or not.......

if not a vintage...then i would ...i don't know ...??????

[kingfisher24]

a few mote pics...looks too good to be true

[Melody Ranch]

28,500 for a 75....regardless is really pushing the limit. We have to know more than the glitzy surface stuff we see....polish, floor covering and a 200 dollar TV can hide a lot. If this person is a member here more will be known and info available. I would not jump at this until you do LOTS more checking.

PS...the hitch area looks normal except for the fact that at 28,500$ I expect to see a heavy duty electric jack.

[kingfisher24]

that is why i am posting this....just exactly what should i check and how....according to the owner...who is a reputable business man in the dallas area...who hired an rv tech, in the business for 30 years to rebuild this unit from the ground up....

got it finished...and his wife said...i'm not going to travel in that....so he is selling...claming that he has much more invested than the asking price.....

so

[Lily&Me]

Hmmmm---we, of course, cannot advise you on this, but we do wish you luck!!

Hope you get back on the road soon.


Mggie

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

a few mote pics...looks too good to be true

Sure am glad the had the sign “kitchen” in the galley, otherwise I would of been lost...

[195Pilot]

Wow, Thats one pretty tradewind.
That being said you don't know what you have in an Airstream until you drop the belly pan and inspect the frame. That's a big (thousands of dollars and month's of work) unkown. I read a post awhile back were the couple were on the road cross country and the frame broke. That's what I didn't won't to do so I pulled the pan and took a look. Now I'm welding up a new frame. 37 year old frame in corrosive enviroment. For that kind of money I would like to know the frame is right.
good luck,
Jack

[kingfisher24]

what is a fair offer...on a really good looking trailer...with lots of unknowns?????

[mcair]

We have an expensive truck that was full of "unknowns". Get someone very knowledgeable to check this thing out.

[TG Twinkie]

Can you contact the RV Tech shop that did the work and get copies of the documentation of what was done on the trailer. New axles for example. Also if the shop has photo's of the work that was completed.

[kingfisher24]

i will know more wednesday when i go check it out.....

[the_bosco]

I have an '88 Excella 32' in great shape I'll sell for 1/2 that price!

[Melody Ranch]

I have no connections ...business or financial wise with these Folks. However, in this area why don't you call TOP or Pat McDowell or Paul Maheux...all sort of local to you. I can tell you they are all great honest folks and know what it costs for Airstream work. Make an arrangement for an inspection using the data provided by the seller as a baseline. Heck if he is really into selling have him split the inspection cost with you. This seller happens to have a business directly behind North Dallas RV so decisions in that direction and their relationship is something you will have to work out. Your on the right track....keep asking around. PS....I liked following your trip.

[safari57]

Welcome back. Glad you found a home base. Sad you sold the Airstream but there are certainly lots to choose from.

Any rebuilder doing a job for a client will likely take a lot of pictures to prove the work they are being paid for. Those should be available to you. Can you speak to the person who did the work? That would be interesting if he's "not available". Seeing those pictures will give you an idea of just how extensive the work actually was. Pull out some bottom drawers and with a flashlight look in along the wall for deterioration and to see if the new flooring was done all the way or is it still the old flooring and if so, what shape is it in? Fine to have the old stuff if it is not showing severe deterioration.

Take a pad to kneel on and check the bellypan. If it is good, that is helpful. If it has lots of patches I'd be concerned.

For this money it should have new axles.

There was another couple at Baker City, a retired lawyer and his wife, who were touring all over the place, who had a trailer similar to this. I can't remember their names but they would be a good choice to ask what to look for. I think their trailer was similar vintage. Perhaps King O D Road will remember who they were. She had misplaced her change purse or something if I remember right, if that helps to job the memory.

[kingfisher24]

found a vintage airstream forum...and was asking same questions...cortez...a moderator...had info that the unit was or had been supplied..worked on at north dallas rv and gave a couple of names there...i called and talked to one guy and was asking about axels and he said that they were guaranteed for life......
and he did not act like he recalled the trailer...although the trailer is located within a stones throw of north dallas rv....

seems like lots of folks know of this trailer...it looks too good to be true...is $28,500 way high???....maybe gone before i get there