Attention: Driveway Campers _ time to hit the road !

[femuse]

As our work season approaches, I realize we have a lot of work to do to get our 32 footer ready for the road. But, nothing will be done unless I keep away from the computer, so I will be spending less time on the 4 or 5 forums I have been visiting lately (my right hand has a bad case of "MOUSE-itis"). I am sure we will still have questions from time to time, and may even post pictures of our new bedroom....when we get to it.

All you driveway campers, it's time you get out there. So hitch up that Airstream and drag it out of the driveway and down the road, have some adventures, and bring back some good stories.
You have been hesitant up to now to share your experiences with us, as obviously you do not have much to share yet.
At the end of the Summer, it's going to be a different matter.


No more excuses. You know who you are:

Let' see you get that new Bambi out of the the Yard and on the road, Ed & Nancy.

alt from British Columbia, you know now that you can make it on your own and your dream AS is not out of reach. Don't forget, first thing to do is, with the dealer watching, kick the tires and frown.

Stefrobrts_Stephanie I trust you will find your Argosy Minuet soon and we are all confident that things will turn out OK for you.

princem@visuallink.c_Millie: We expect you'll have some great stories to tell. Life on the road with 4 dogs will be a real adventure. They will enjoy your new 2003 Safari.

dougjamie from Massachusetts, you were afraid to be thrown out of the forum. I quote "a registered member since 08/2002 and I follow it regularly, daily even. I'm gleaning all the information I can to prepare myself for the time we buy our trailer. I've found the forum extremely useful and have even made a few posts (very few since I don't have a lot to offer yet)."
Maybe you could offer the benefit of the research you're doing toward buying your Airstream. That should win you some Bonus "Rivets".
In case you don't know what Rivets are all about, they're some kind of "aluminium Boy Scout badge" that confers status and power among forum members.

Reports from fledgling Airstreamers are important to us Old Hands. A lot of us have forgotten how exiting and maybe even frightening those first trips were. When, in time, towing a trailer becomes routine you'll revert to tales of polish & wax and won't be any fun at all.
The most exciting thing to happen to me lately was yesterday, when for a split second, I did not remember how to maneuver the Van backwards without the trailer !!!!. "What do you mean, turn left ?". Not much of a story.

I re-read the results of 2 polls: it's interesting that 50% have own their AS less than a year. Is this the same 50% of members under the age of 50? If so, I guess I've achieved "old fart" status, so I'd better think about getting out of the way so you under 50 pups can post your Airstream Adventures.

Remember: Make certain your Umbilical is secure and your hitch coupler is closed, etc,...etc,....etc.....

[Tinsel Loaf]

Well we took our new 32 foot AS for a 1000 mile trip last week and had a really great time in it. There was one problem however. While filling the new Ford E350 diesel at a commercial truck stop it seems that a contractor, with one of them over the truck hood carriers pulled up behind us for fuel. Well some pipes stuck out a little further than the front of his hood/rack and caved in the top right rear panel. He beat a hasty retreat (hit and run) and we're stuck with a several thousand dollar panel replacement. Thank goodness we did get collision insurance. But to have this happen to a new AS while the honeymoon is in full swing is disheartening. Now we will be down for a few weeks while the dealer does a few warranty repairs an replaces the panel. Are new Air Streams really the same after a panel is replaced? You know, like a car after a wreck . They really never perform like new again. Any comments?

[femuse]

We had an encounter at a gas station, in WV, about 8 years ago.

Their sign was about 7 ft off the ground, just next to the pumps. I was distracted by an onlooker while helping Mike to back our 1971 AS.

The result: the insurance did not want to pay for a full replacement of the panel, only a big patch. (trailer value was less than full repair)
In your case, the value of the trailer being well over the cost of a good repair, you should not have a problem. Supposely, AS dealers have repairs technicians trained by AS, and are able to do a job that will make it "as good as new". (that's what they told us then)

(did you check with the gas station? They should have had that guy's licence plate on their tape. Now, it'a too late, must be a 24h tape.)

[garry]

DISHARTENING !!!!!!!!! That may be an understatement.

For me that would be @#%&(*&^*)(#.........

Repair work will only be as good as the dealers repair techs.
If they are knowledgable and experienced on Airstream repairs you will be ok.
I would advise you to watch for leaks once you get it back.

Hope this one turns out not just good but very good.

let us know how it goes.

Garry

[jcanavera]

The Safari comes out of its inside storage home on Saturday Yea!

First stop is home to the driveway where we will dewinterize and reload the liquids and other perishables. Then out we go midweek to the first unit rally at our local dealer's new site up in Wentzville Mo. Since he has lots of open ground and has offered us inside use of his facility, how could we pass this one by?

I can't figure out a better place to have your first outing of the year if something goes south. I'm sure the dealer is hoping that a few of us will depart with something a little newer!

Jack

[53flyingcloud]

Tinsel Loaf

Sorry to hear about your experiences. Maybe this should be a wake-up call to; always have someone standing nearby?
Not that there's much you can do, if it's meant to be.
(Murphy's Law)
I'm sure that there's more than several folks on here who visited the A/S factory last year can recall this: There was, either brand new or close to being new A/S in for MAJOR damage control, as one entire side of the unit had been crushed in by an semi tractor. The driver, who took an exit too fast into a rest-area, flipped over onto its side and, of course, his tractor trailer landed on the poor A/S, crushing it. I understood it to be, that the family that owned this unit were sitting at a picnic table eating lunch and, witness it~!As bad as it was, and it really was a mess, the insurance company was/is paying for it to be repaired. (I lov'd for A/S to have taken repair work in-process pictures of this one, if they haven't done so yet.)
My unit suffered a freakish display of poor judgement, at the hands of a local RV dealer. While on the road traveling, back 3 yrs ago, I witness a A/C shroud coming off a Class A on interstate 70, just outside of STL, Mo.
Since my A/C shroud was old and,damaged by the Sun. I made arrangment with the local RV Center to replace mine. Well, even after prearrangment, making it clear to the service manger how I didn't want anyone just walking on it's top.(Which they were good about understanding my concerns) The tech assigned to do the work placed a ladder next to the rear bumper and, STEPPED on the center curved panel`!@ CRUSHED in..I was crushed as well~to put it mildly~!
They paid for the repair work at the A/S factory and, the resulting work has not made us think any less of; The RV Center, my faith in my A/S unit.
I'd say this, if you don't feel comfortable with the local dealer's work force..wait and, take it else where..After all, it's your rig..
I've talked long enough..lol
Good luck on your repair..
ciao