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Dakota · 11-12-2011, 07:59 AM

This isn't a sales pitch or recomendation. In my search for parts I stopped by Denver Colorado RV Dealer | Travel Trailers, Toy Haulers, 5th Wheels for sale yesterday. They have a pretty good supply of Airstream parts. I asked a couple of questions about dent repair and guy introduced himself as their Airstream repair man. He took me back into the shop and showed me a unit that he had just replaced the entire lower side pannel on. Couldn't tell that it had ever been worked on. He spent about an hour showing and telling my how to work on them along with all the special tools. Rivet cutters, etc... I learned a lot and will definitly go back for parts. Very nice people in the parts a service department.

We stuck our heads in a bunch of new Airstreams. Not impressed! I like the older stuff much better.

What's with the bare aluminum interior walls? Vinal flooring? And the woodwork looks like cheap laminate. The only thing that impressed me was the price.

Gringo · 11-12-2011, 08:30 AM

Well, it's different strokes for different folks I guess. We love the new, mod look of our 2011 27FB. The old stuff just looks like old stuff to me. And I appreciate old stuff, but the old stuff I appreciate either comes in a bottle or was around with the Romans. Thirty year old camping equipment...uh...not so much.

Thanks for the tip on the Denver folks. Our trailer will be spending most of it's life an hour north of there. While it ages.

Dakota · 11-12-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gringo

Well, it's different strokes for different folks I guess. We love the new, mod look of our 2011 27FB. The old stuff just looks like old stuff to me. And I appreciate old stuff, but the old stuff I appreciate either comes in a bottle or was around with the Romans. Thirty year old camping equipment...uh...not so much.

Figured I take some heat for that!

I like the "warmer" look myself. I did see quite a few flaws like outlets that looked like the holes were cut crooked and a lot of other fit and finish issues. American craftsmanship isn't what it used to be.

tphan · 11-12-2011, 10:37 AM

This is Windish Airstream, and I see they have a somewhat new location right off I-25, near Longmont. They are also in Lakewood, a Denver suburb. I personally did not have particularly good luck with their parts department when I was scrounging for various things years ago, had better luck with OasisRV and InlandRV. Seemed like nice folks, though, certainly worth a try.

CrawfordGene · 11-12-2011, 11:14 AM

Our experiences with the Denver dealer were not good. We had difficulty with warranty repairs and I had to contact Airstream to get the items done. They backed our trailer into the tongue of another trailer and put a hole in the rear panel and a dent in the side. They repaired the rear panel and did it properly, though it delayed us and we never made it to the state park where we had a reservation. We had to struggle with them about the dent and finally we settled with them on a cash payment.

After that we took our trailer to the factory for warranty repairs. Another 1,200 miles each way, but the work was done much better. One time when we were at the factory, two other trailers from the Front Range were there and their owners had stories about why they never would go to Windish.

The service writer was nice, but I's rather talk to mechanics about repairs since every time the story gets told to another person it changes. When we signed the papers for the trailer we bought there, the finance guy was extremely obnoxious and tried to sell us an extended warranty in a very aggressive manner. After I said no the 3rd time, he turned to my wife and tried to scare her. We have a special contempt for a salesman who tries to come between us and uses such tactics.

The salesman was personable, but didn't know much about the hitch they sold us. It was improperly adjusted and used bars that were too heavy. I guess it was what they had in stock.

What you like in terms of new or old is very much a personal decision. We like the aluminum interior. It will not absorb food odors and the light patterns on it are cool. The other interiors deteriorate over time and eventually have to be replaced, so if you buy an older model, make sure the interiors are in good condition. The vinyl floor is very practical because dirt is always being tracked into a trailer—the living area is the mud room. Vinyl cleans easily. The woodwork is cheap with Formica over particle board. Formica cleans easily, but doesn't look like wood, but I got used to it. Particle board doesn't hold screws well and they will back out over time. But the solid wood interiors are heavy and expensive and we didn't want to spend the very high prices for the solid wood models. Particle board is heavy too so I'm unsure how much difference there is between the weights of each, but the Classic models are a lot heavier than the cheaper trim lines.

Gene

Gringo · 11-12-2011, 11:34 AM

Hear hear. We love our shiny metal interior. So easy to find accessories. Stainless or Al both work. matches anything, basically. We have the dark wood color. Some name I never heard of. I'm not a huge fan of particle board, but it's temperature and humidity stable. Dimensionally stable, I think the term is. We had some screws back on on the panel between shower and bedroom. I dipped round hardwood toothpicks in good yellow glue and stuck em in the holes and put the screws back in. Solid. And likely to stay that way for a while.

We live in a very high maintenance house on a bluff overlooking the Caicos Bank, and into the trade wind. We like getting away to a little home where a damp paper towell is usually enough for anything and the whole place can be cleaned in five minutes.

And playing with a laser inside at night in the dark....almost makes me wish I had a cat again. I said almost.

w7ts · 11-12-2011, 02:20 PM

If you want a more classic interior, look at the classic trailers.
Airstream, Inc :: Classic
I don't think Windish usually has any on their lot. If you want to see one, send me a PM and I'll show you mine. It is in storage, but no problem getting to it. If it makes you feel any better I agree with you on the shiny interiors, but then again you'll never catch me shopping at IKEA either.

Here is a link to one like ours, just different interior color.

Colonial Airstream NJ - 2010 Airstream Classic Limited 31'

Dakota · 11-12-2011, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by w7ts

If you want a more classic interior, look at the classic trailers.
Airstream, Inc :: Classic
I don't think Windish usually has any on their lot. If you want to see one, send me a PM and I'll show you mine. It is in storage, but no problem getting to it. If it makes you feel any better I agree with you on the shiny interiors, but then again you'll never catch me shopping at IKEA either.

Here is a link to one like ours, just different interior color.

Colonial Airstream NJ - 2010 Airstream Classic Limited 31'

Thanks! I probably ruffled some feathers.

I did have a positive experience with Windish in Lakewood but have never delt with their sales staff. A salesman did jump us but I told him we were just there for parts an looking around. He left us alone and said to stop by his office if we had any questions.

w7ts · 11-12-2011, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dakota

Thanks! I probably ruffled some feathers.

I did have a positive experience with Windish in Lakewood but have never delt with their sales staff. A salesman did jump us but I told him we were just there for parts an looking around. He left us alone and said to stop by his office if we had any questions.

Don't worry about the feathers, if it is like birds, they will grow new ones.

. It goes both ways. Someone, a week or so ago, said that the classic interiors looked like their granny's living room. I think it was supposed to be an insult, but I took it as a compliment, because my grandmother's living room is a good memory to me.

The bare aluminum walls are just too sterile and cold looking for my taste. But the world would be a dull place if we all liked the same things.

I bought my trailer at Windish's north location here in Longmont. We ordered it, if I remember right, a couple of months after they opened. I had no problem at all with the sales staff. The salesman that were worked with us now works at their Lakewood location.

Ken

bonginator · 11-12-2011, 05:45 PM

I also have used Windish in Longmont for smaller parts and they also did a winterization for me. Their service was ok but I did have some issues with the winterization when I went to start 'er up in the spring.

Nice to see some other Longmont folks here!

w7ts · 11-12-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonginator

I also have used Windish in Longmont for smaller parts and they also did a winterization for me. Their service was ok but I did have some issues with the winterization when I went to start 'er up in the spring.

Nice to see some other Longmont folks here!

You may already know this. I have discovered that, if you want a part that is not specific Airstream, K&C RV has much better pricing.

BTW, they installed electricity in our building at Andersen's. So, I was able to leave the batteries in the trailer this year. Did they do your side yet?

For future reference, I winterize just by blowing out all the plumbing thoroughly and adding a bit of antifreeze in the sink and shower traps. If that is sufficient for you, you are welcome to back your trailer into our driveway next year and use my large compressor.

I ride my bike around town a lot and have discover several ,mostly vintage, Airstreams in out of the way yards.

Ken

Gringo · 11-12-2011, 07:08 PM

What's Andersons?

w7ts · 11-12-2011, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gringo

What's Andersons?

It is where we keep our trailer.

See post#5 in this thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...ado-83136.html

Ken

Gringo · 11-13-2011, 07:40 AM

I had an appointment at Windish, for what I thought was maybe a clogged gray valve. It somehow mysteriously healed itself. Then afterward I read the thread on here about venting that tank, and some tumblers fell into place. Funny that both Airstream and Windish must have been aware of this potential source of my described problem, yet neither brought it up as a solution. It was puzzlement all around. Now I realize that the fix for that vent issue is not something anyone would volunteer to tackle on their own nickel.

Now I remember Andersons from the other thread. I think at the time we thought we had inside storage north of FTC. Alas, upon close examination, the overhead door would only clear about 9 ft. even.
It was suggested we flatten our tires. I had a counter suggestion that wasn't that polite. So ours is outside for this season. Once we pull it out of there in the spring we'll re evaluate any options. Andersons looks pretty good. Are they all filled up? Looks busy on Google Earth.