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Old 02-13-2008, 07:05 AM   #21
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1982 31' Limited
1953 25' Cruiser
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I don't know everything I should about this subject, but here is what I do know. In 1981, Airstream sponsored a series of caravans to China. In support of these caravans, Airstream manufactured a number of small bodied (7'6" wide) models and shipped them to China. Participants used the trailers to caravan around China, then returned and the next batch of caravanners picked them up and began the next caravan. My understanding is that these trailers were left in China at the conclusion of the caravans.

Previously, I knew of only two of the 7'6" models that weren't shipped to China. One in Washington State and one here in Texas. It sounds like you have another. What I am saying is that the '81 you have is probably a fairly rare trailer. The 7'6" Texas trailer was exhibited here at the Second Texas State Vintage Rally held in Montgomery this past week. It is owned by Gary and Marilyn McClannahan of Austin, Texas.
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Old 02-13-2008, 12:00 PM   #22
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Any idea of where I could find out more about these trailers that were made for China? Serial # listings? etc....
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Old 02-13-2008, 12:19 PM   #23
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1981 25' Excella II
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I'd have to measure mine again to be certain but I think the exterior was exactly 7' with the interior at it's widest point being 6'8' or 6'10". When I spoke with the owner of the NJ airstream dealership he seemed to think that I had a unit that was made for China or possibly a prototype that never went to full production. He said I could get a good price for it in Europe if I ever wanted to. I'll also see if I can find his contact info, he seemed very knowledgeable. The dealership was a sponsor on the forum last year.
I guess it's safe to list the serial #. I'll pull that and list it later. The letters and #'s indicate an 81 excella between 24-25', but there are couple of extra digits in addition to the check digit that show no meaning on the airstream serial # breakdown chart.
Charlie

Quote:
Originally Posted by GStephens
I don't know everything I should about this subject, but here is what I do know. In 1981, Airstream sponsored a series of caravans to China. In support of these caravans, Airstream manufactured a number of small bodied (7'6" wide) models and shipped them to China. Participants used the trailers to caravan around China, then returned and the next batch of caravanners picked them up and began the next caravan. My understanding is that these trailers were left in China at the conclusion of the caravans.

Previously, I knew of only two of the 7'6" models that weren't shipped to China. One in Washington State and one here in Texas. It sounds like you have another. What I am saying is that the '81 you have is probably a fairly rare trailer. The 7'6" Texas trailer was exhibited here at the Second Texas State Vintage Rally held in Montgomery this past week. It is owned by Gary and Marilyn McClannahan of Austin, Texas.
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Old 02-13-2008, 12:33 PM   #24
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Maybe someone can help me decode my trailers' serial number.

Serial #1stdbcf21bj500376
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Old 02-13-2008, 12:44 PM   #25
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Pacerized, now that I think about it, I believe Marilyn told me thay her trailer was only 7' wide. I used the 7'6" width because it had been mentioned above. Sorry about that. I still think you may have one of the China trailers that for whatever reason wasn't shipped over to China.
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Old 02-13-2008, 08:43 PM   #26
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ole81 mentioned above that his 31' trailer was 86.5" wide and the specs in the pdf file show 20' and 22' models in that width. I'm wondering if all the Excella II models of that year were slightly over 7' wide.
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Old 02-13-2008, 09:04 PM   #27
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I just ran across an NADA guide on RV Trader and it listed the 20' and 24' as 7'3" while the 27' and 31' were listed at 8' exterior width. Hmmm.
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Old 02-13-2008, 09:28 PM   #28
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The dealer in NJ that I spoke with was at Colonial Airstream Colonial Airstream "Of Lakewood New Jersey" Contact Page The guy seemed very knowledgable of newer vintage Airstreams.
Crispyboy as far as your vin number try this link http://www.airstream.com/docs/vin.pdf it's in a pdf file so I couldn't copy and past it.
My vin # is a 17 digit number as this link decodes for later model airstreams.
ISTTECH22BJ500388
I am not the best person to do this but here's an attempt.

"IST" is the code for Airstream travel trailer.
The second 5 characters identify the type of trailer, series, body type, length, and axle configuration.
T (according to the airstream code chart T-Z was not used)
E is for Excella
C is for a 102" wide body (not correct in my case)
H is for length of between 24'-25' (this is correct for my airstream)
2 is for double axle.
2 is a check digit and means nothing
B is for the year which is 1981
J is for location of manufactor Jackson Center Oh
The 12th through 17th digits are to show the sequential production number of the unit.
00388 I guess would be the 388th. unit made that year.

From what I can understand from site the T and the C in my vin # make no sense using this chart. Everything else seems correct.
Charlie
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Old 02-13-2008, 10:28 PM   #29
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1981 25' Excella II
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidz71
ole81 mentioned above that his 31' trailer was 86.5" wide and the specs in the pdf file show 20' and 22' models in that width. I'm wondering if all the Excella II models of that year were slightly over 7' wide.
I've only spoken with a few other excella 2 owners but all said their trailers were 8' including another 25' owner. I e-mailed him yesterday to see if he was still on the airstream forum. I didn't catch where Ole81 said their trailer was 86.5" wide.
I have the owners manual that came with my unit but it's a 1980 manual with a sticker on the cover that says with 1981 supplement. The books list everything together for 80, and 81 but I know some of the models were made in 1980 only not in 81. It list the following lengths as available in excella only 25,28, and 31'. The book shows that 24' units were only available in the Caravalle, and Minuet models which I believe were only available in 1980 not 81. 20' , and 27' floor plans are listed but they don't specify which models were available in this size. My unit was made in March of 1981, so someone with a later 1981 manual may have better information.
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Old 02-13-2008, 10:46 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by crispyboy
Maybe someone can help me decode my trailers' serial number.

Serial #1stdbcf21bj500376
1ST Airstream travel trailer
d Center bath, center kitchen
b classic
c 102' wide body
f length 22'-23'
2 2 axles
1 check digit
b 1981
j Jackson Center, Oh
500376 perhaps the 376th. unit made that year.

Either I'm not using this code chart correctly or I'll bet it doesn't work perfectly on your trailer either. I'll bet you don't have a 102" wide body as the "c" character suggest. Do you have a center bath?
Charlie
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Old 02-13-2008, 11:57 PM   #31
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Thought maybe I would chime in on this, my 27 measures 91.5 at the widest point inside so that makes it 8' exterior. If I remember correctly it is 27' 10" stem to stern. For the record I have #414 of 1981. Those of you with the "skinny" bodys scored, how cool it that!
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Old 02-14-2008, 05:59 PM   #32
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Thanks for the link to decipher the VID....but it appears that our unit is a non-conformist.....
With a VID of 1STTEAR29BJ500407
Is it really true that Airstream produced 500,407 units in 1981?

Also.... the Customer Checkout list in the back of the owner's manual shows a chassis # E31-T-0389.....how does that decipher????

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Old 02-14-2008, 06:12 PM   #33
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Here's a pic of one of the 2 7'ers that were at the Texas Rally last weekend.
My neighbor was unable to accurately provide a history of why his unit did not go to China.....
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Bob (K5RPS) and Gail (MAAAA)

31' 1981 Excella II
2001 F-250 7.3D Crew w/8'bed and Pullrite 180degree

"Ask the Man Who Owns One" (Packard, Of Course)
or
"Ask the Woman who lives with one...or more!" (Gail)
'
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Old 02-14-2008, 06:43 PM   #34
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1981 25' Excella II
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ole81
Thanks for the link to decipher the VID....but it appears that our unit is a non-conformist.....
With a VID of 1STTEAR29BJ500407
Is it really true that Airstream produced 500,407 units in 1981?

Also.... the Customer Checkout list in the back of the owner's manual shows a chassis # E31-T-0389.....how does that decipher????

I have 500388, so I take that as unit #388, and your unit as # 407. I don't know about the chassis # code.
I see that your vin # has the "T" as the 4th. character just like mine which the code says Airstream didn't use. Everything else seems to be make sense.
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Old 02-14-2008, 09:37 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pacerized
I didn't catch where Ole81 said their trailer was 86.5" wide.
My fault. According to the specifications pdf posted by Crispyboy and the NADA Guide I gathered that the 31 was wider than 86.5". Somewhere a search on another thread ran across a 31' that someone posted as 86.5". I stand corrected.
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Old 02-15-2008, 09:03 PM   #36
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1981 25' Excella II
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davidz71
My fault. According to the specifications pdf posted by Crispyboy and the NADA Guide I gathered that the 31 was wider than 86.5". Somewhere a search on another thread ran across a 31' that someone posted as 86.5". I stand corrected.
No big deal, a 31' trailer in that width would be interesting to see though.
I had a guy in Georgia e-mail me about a 1981 25' excella 2 that he thinks is from the China Caravan series and it's only 7' wide. I've asked him to join in on the discussion with anything he knows about this year of Airstream and his trailer. He sent me some pictures and the trailer body is significantly different then my 25' narrow body trailer. He has 4 big windows with an additional narrow strip window under one of these on his off door side. My unit has only 3 big windows on this side. On the side with the door he has only 2 big windows with the narrow strip window under one of them and no window on the door. On my unit I have 2 big windows only with a window on the door. He has the front kitchen floor plan. I can understand the floor plan difference but for the window layout to be that different in the same year excella 2 seems strange. From what I've seen of everyone else's pics it looks like your window layout is more like mine? Does anyone have any thoughts on this difference? Ole81 did the China unit at the Texas rally have the same window layout as your unit?

Charlie
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Old 02-16-2008, 01:55 PM   #37
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1981 31' Excella II
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The 7'er that was next to us at the Texas Rally, I believe, was a 25' International.
Here's a pic of the tails of several. Wish I had taken more pics at the rally.
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Bob (K5RPS) and Gail (MAAAA)

31' 1981 Excella II
2001 F-250 7.3D Crew w/8'bed and Pullrite 180degree

"Ask the Man Who Owns One" (Packard, Of Course)
or
"Ask the Woman who lives with one...or more!" (Gail)
'
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Old 02-16-2008, 06:33 PM   #38
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Ole81: The pics you have do look like their from an international. At least the stripes are different the an excella, and they're definitely different models then the 81 I mentioned above. I'm going to try to post a couple of pics of this unit so everyone can see what they think. It certainly looks like it's a 7' wide model and an excella 2. I read in my manual that the vista windows were optional, but that doesn't explain the lack of a window on the door and the additional large side window on the one side. I put 2 pics of my airstream beside this one for comparison.
Charlie
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Old 02-16-2008, 08:45 PM   #39
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Hmmm...we don't have a window in our door. This weekend when we take Ole81 out again, I will get pics of the exterior sides.

I have just uploaded a bunch of interior pics to my Members Photos page...
http://www.airforums.com/photos/brow...0&userid=21963
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Bob (K5RPS) and Gail (MAAAA)

31' 1981 Excella II
2001 F-250 7.3D Crew w/8'bed and Pullrite 180degree

"Ask the Man Who Owns One" (Packard, Of Course)
or
"Ask the Woman who lives with one...or more!" (Gail)
'
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Old 02-16-2008, 09:04 PM   #40
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1981 25' Excella II
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ole81
Hmmm...we don't have a window in our door. This weekend when we take Ole81 out again, I will get pics of the exterior sides.

I have just uploaded a bunch of interior pics to my Members Photos page...
http://www.airforums.com/photos/brow...0&userid=21963
Nice pictures. From what I can tell your interior decor is about the same as mine. Couch bathroom, and counter color are the same. The other unit while having the different floor plan also has a much different interior decor package. Your non-door side has the same window layout as mine. I guess not all of the excella 2's had the window on the door. Do you have only the 2 windows on the door side of your unit then? The remaining windows on this unit are still far different then either of ours. It seems unusual that 2 excella 2's of the same size and year would vary this much. Also keep in mind that my blue stripe has been painted now, but I haven't replaced the lighter blue thin decal over it yet so that would have been the same.
Charlie
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