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Old 10-13-2016, 09:02 AM   #1
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Considering A Purchase

Hi. New to the forum. My wife is retiring in about six months and we are looking to get an RV. I'm researching Airstreams and heard that leaks and dents can be an issue. Anything to worry about?
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Old 10-13-2016, 10:59 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by wswhiting View Post
Hi. New to the forum. My wife is retiring in about six months and we are looking to get an RV. I'm researching Airstreams and heard that leaks and dents can be an issue. Anything to worry about?
Not a big issue. New or used? New comes with a warranty. Airstreams are more prone to hail damage.
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Old 10-13-2016, 02:08 PM   #3
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I've owned two Airstreams and they both leaked.
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Old 10-13-2016, 02:15 PM   #4
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Don't run into things and you will not get dents. Leaks are possible due to the construction materials and techniques used. Regular Preventative maintaince is the key to long life with fewer issues. Neither one of my Airstreams have experienced any leaking issues, so far.
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Old 10-13-2016, 03:16 PM   #5
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I just inspected 4 "white box" trailers that were each less than 10 years old. Three of the four of them had rotting roofs and rotting floors. The 4th one had a roof that had either rotted away and had to be rebuilt, or had been damage by falling branch, etc., that resulted in the rebuilt trailer having a salvage title.

My point is simply that leaks and floor rot are not unique weaknesses of Airstream trailers. Any trailer you buy, you will have to maintain.

good luck!
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Old 10-13-2016, 03:59 PM   #6
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Dents happen when I didn't see something and backed into it, or someone/something else hit the trailer. Dents, in these situations would happen to any trailer you purchase. They may be more money to fix, but not more "dent prone".

Scratches are the price you pay for the beautiful aluminum bodies. Looking at a tree branch sideways will scratch your trailer. It won't be a big scratch and you'll only notice it in certain light. But I do believe Airstreams are more "scratch prone."

Leaks, in newer Airstreams, seem to be from penetrations in the body after the panels have been put together. In other words, the panels themselves don't usually leak. And in 2017, a model improvement I noticed recently on the forums, was a single sheet for the roof. Though I'm not sure how they would do the front and rear caps.

That leaves penetrations such as the AC, lights, fans, antenna, etc. those are what leak because they rely on sealants that either wear out or were never installed correctly. All trailers deal with this.

Good luck!
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Old 10-14-2016, 03:48 AM   #7
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Thanks!

Thanks for the replies! Might take the wife shopping this weekend!
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Old 10-14-2016, 04:52 AM   #8
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How many White Box trailers are still on the road after 30+ years ? not many My last Airstream was 31 yrs. old and I sold it in 2days . Airstreams last a long time .
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