New less expensive Airstream

[Denis4x4]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, my question would be; How many fiberglass bodies can be made in one day? I think this would be the major hold back in production. One mold would take forever.

Volumn fiberglass operations like boats and kit cars have any number of molds in various sizes for a steady stream of product.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, my question would be; How many fiberglass bodies can be made in one day? I think this would be the major hold back in production. One mold would take forever.

I believe they can use the first mold to create more molds, via an intermediate master body, in order to gear up for producing multiple bodies concurrently. They save the first mold, rather than use it, so later on additional molds can be produced.

Edit -- See concurrent post from Denis4x4.

[AWCHIEF]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, my question would be; How many fiberglass bodies can be made in one day? I think this would be the major hold back in production. One mold would take forever.

I used to lay up 8 ft dinghy blanks for a major builder. One man operation, three molds. On a good day I could pop out 6 hulls a day, usually 3. Depending on the orders and weather.
I still have the molds taking up room in the back yard. I think a family of turtles are currently homesteading under them.

[wbrisett]

Originally Posted by Tn Traveler

Which model economics will work for AS? Only the market will sort that out.

I'm sure AS has done their homework. And I guess there's some recent cases (Basecamp) that they can use to see if owner's move up. But it's still tricky. I guess it really depends on how the marketing works and how the dealer network treats these new owners (HD did a crappy job on both).

Wayne

[m.hony]

H-D really markets the "trade up" program with the Sportster-
Guaranteeing a trade in value from the date of purchase-


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[switz]

This acquisition could just wither on the vine as the reality may differ from the expectations.

Airstream has random major QC issues which are the same ones reported for at least the last 20 years on an eighty year old design. The plant expansion with over 200 new workers has not cured the QC issues.

A mental ajustement to "zero defects" and full implementation of that mind set would be a good start before starting something this company has zero experience with in the fiberglass world.

[OTRA15]

At the risk of being another stuck record, the "quality control" issue remains #1 on the list for Airstream management IMO, as switz has just reminded us all. The plant expansion, new workers, and especially a new material -- all align to move QC to an ominous and precarious tipping point . . .

As we all cheer-lead here for an improvement in QC, there is certainly the possibility that things could get worse . . .

Ugh, Wally!

[Gene]

I was surprised that Airstream had to buy a Basecamp to see how it was made. Didn't they have plans in a file somewhere? Didn't anyone remember how to make one?

Most Airstream dealers sell a number of brands. Just because they sell Airstreams doesn't mean they will want a Nest. The agreement between the dealer and Airstream will determine whether they have to take a non-Airstream trailer. If Airstream brands the Nest as an "Airstream Nest" they may be able to make the dealers take one. I don't know whether dealers have to take a certain number of trailers at all. Some dealers may have contracts going back decades and each version of the agreement may be different.

Airstream used to have only one person for marketing. In the "oughts" that person changed every year for a while. Very little marketing was really needed since the product has sold itself for generations. I doubt Airstream has any expertise at marketing a new product. Unless they make the Nest look like an Airstream I don't see how the two styles will cause people to move up. They can clad the fiberglass body in aluminum to create the illusion of an Airstream. If that worked out, then they might make all Airstreams with a fiberglass core body.

They have not had much in the area of engineering, quality control engineering, or otherwise. Since the products have changed very little over time and the company does not want to invest in anything that doesn't bring immediate results, engineering at the factory seems to be something they haven't invested in. I was told years ago by Wheeler they had a quality control engineer and I replied that he didn't seem to be doing anything. Developing a new style with different materials will require expertise Airstream will have to hire or they will fly by the seat of their pants. I suspect they will rely on the guy who designed this trailer and try to get by on the cheap. In any decision, Airstream can be relied to have a strong bias toward doing it on the cheap. No reason to believe they have changed.

I have noticed over the years that some people have posted many times they have had no problems with their Airstreams. It seems there are a lot less of them than of those who have had problems. I wish we had bought one of those perfect trailers. I also wish we had a perfect (or even a mediocre) dealer too.

Gene

[rmkrum]

I have to say the only issue we've had with our AS is the usual exploding GYM tyre issue. Beyond that, no real problems. Of course, we have no idea what the first owner may have dealt with. On our watch its only been routine maintenance and improvements.


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[Tn Traveler]

I have no knowledge of the inside workings of the Airstream Company. So, what follows are only my observations and opinions. First it seems that Airstreams are an evolutionary rather than revolutionary product. Kind of, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". They have been a very successful company over the years. It's kind of like Mexican food. Same ingredients in the envelope just rearrange them.

As for marketing, there are two kinds. One is marketing to the end use customers. The other is depending on dealers for most of this. It takes a lot of effort to keep a national dealer network happy. The dealers are usually supported by professional advertising materials and sometimes co-op advertising allowances. These allowances are usually based on units sold. What Airstream's policy on this probably only the dealers know.

I, too, was surprised that AS had to buy Base Camp and Nest as these aren't ultra sophisicated products. I suppose when you have been building an evolutionary product for so many years that R & D can take a back seat.

I am very happy with my AS, as probably most here are too. I love the way it tows and tracks, and the arrangement is about perfect for us. We are just two people and a small dog. Knowing the AS is sitting ready to go is a great feeling.

[AWCHIEF]

I can say the only issues I have are normal wear and tear of a ten year old man made product. Fortunetly the PO lived close enough to Jackson Center to have all warrenty service and maintaince work performed there. Regarding GYMs, there are literally millions of them on the roads. In the big scheme of things very few if any explode because of their design or place of manufacturer. Negligence on the part of owners is the number one cause of issues. All tires experience flats and other issues if mistreated.

[m.hony]

I had lots of problems- all fixed under warranty at Jackson Center-
Now, only minor things like one of the LED running lights has some LEDs out.
The Goodyear Marathons are strictly a 3 year from date of manufacture tire.
Mine were never mistreated.
The tires had the correct pressure, were balanced, rotated, never driven over 65 mph, and never struck a curb.
The tires failed anyway.
I did the 16' wheels and LT tire conversion/upgrade.

[TheCabin]

Related to this topic of a new type of AS are other approaches to how we currently operate our trailers. One is the water closet. Has anyone used a cassette toilet?

[moosetags]

We have a cassette toilet in our 2011 Outfitter Pop-up Truck Camper. It has a 5 gallon capacity. It's good for a couple of days of camping. It is very versatile as it can be dumped in down a sewer dump, pit toilet, portolet, or regular household toilet. We have had it for almost 5 years now.

Brian

[Rocinante]

Good to know, Moosetags. Cassette toilets give us this image of carrying a sloshing thunder bucket over to the bathroom in an effort to dump it and not get any on us In the process. Maybe it's not quite that bad, eh?

[OTRA15]

Hope we are not going out on the poop deck on this thread also . . .

[xrvr]

Cassettes and Porto potties are two different things.

[OTRA15]

The poop deck sub-forum is here FWIW:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f444/

As well as the many TP etc. threads located down the list in the forum one deck above:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f163/

[AWCHIEF]

53 pages of fictional speculation. Poop is as good a subject as any to discuss.

[AWCHIEF]

More fuel for the fire,

http://outsideinterests.info/article...-nest-caravan/