Just got a 2012 31' Classic

[casarodante]

After having a 1992 25' Classic for 12 years, that my parents gave to us, we have got a new A/S.

We went to Portland OR (800mi one way) to pick up a 2012 31 Classic (new). We wanted the 31' model because of the large wardrobe and the bathroom all on one side.

On our first full tow day home (down the Oregon coast) a piece of the counter (Corian) broke off. We didn't know why it did it until further investigation. The kitchen cabinet bracket was not secured to the exterior wall! The screw was there and just had a bit of fuzz from the wall on it. The sideways movement of the unsecured cabinet knocked into the secured counter top and broke off the piece of counter top.

We also had issues with the mirrored wardrobe doors. The roller at the top has loosened up multiple times, and I fix it multiple times. They also came out of the bottom tracks and one latch broke.

Here is a link to some pictures of the issues: http://portland.casarodante.org/problems.html

There are various other fit and finish issues but at least all the major systems are working well.

Towing is very good. My tow vehicle was a bit of overkill for our 25 but the 31 gives it a good challenge. However the trailer tows great. Much more solid behind us. I think I was getting 15 mpg on the flat ground of Central California.

I understand that there may be minor issues but this is pretty major and was due to lack of quality control. This means I have to take time to transport the trailer to the nearest Airstream dealer, 100 miles away.

Kind of bummed...

[TouringDan]

Congrats on the new Stream. Sorry about the problèms.

I'll take 15 mpg any day. Wow!

I wonder if the wheels are balanced properly.

Dan

[F450Harley]

Congratulations !!

It could be worse so be happy , enjoy your new baby and let your warranty go to work while you relax

[Steve & Mary]

Congrats on your new purchase and sorry to hear you are having issues. We purchased our trailer new in 2008 and it also had a number of small issues which showed up later on. Being the closest AS dealer is several hours away, I chose to fix them myself. The biggest job was the failure of the Actibrake unit. AS sent me a replacement by Dexter and I installed it myself. Now we have a recall on replacing and rerouting the brake lines at the axles. I think this one is going to go back to a dealer. A piece of counter-top broken off would have peeved me though!! Report it to AS but wait and see what else happens before you bring it in. Our trailer was also purchased from a Oregon dealer. We had it delivered in LA and then towed and camped all the way back to Louisiana. It was an interesting trip being it was December and the weather went through several changes for the worse. Most memorable was after our first night of sleeping in it at a Walmart parking lot and then having it sideways going down I-40 the following morning. We had got an early start, it was dark and we hit some ice. All I could see was myself calling my insurance agent, telling him our new trailer was trash :-( I never had to make the call. The trailer got traction, I pulled over at the next exit and we found a spot to park and went back to bed. It was the best nap I had ever had :-)

[ROBERT CROSS]

......one of the hardest things for the factory build guy's to do is work a screwdriver, i.e. roof vents, AC shrouds, fantastic fan hinges, skylights, cabinet latch's, screen door protector, radio speakers etc etc.

Fortunately there are many self help groups right here on the forums.

Two of our first "improvements"....replace all exterior fasteners with stainless,(clearance, tail lights etc), replace the cheep plastic, with a quality fire extinguisher.


Bob

[tuffr2]

Yikes - 31' 2012 Classic has to cost a bunch of $$$. For that $$$ I would expect no issues. I am surprised the hard to destruct counter top broke. Almost looks like a flaw in the counter top the way that piece broke off. No jagged edges.

What are you going to do? I would take it back to the dealer to put in a new counter top and triple cross my fingers they do a good job.

Good luck getting things fixed.

[casarodante]

Thanks for the responses.

I am in contact with the 'local' Airstream repair. The quickest time they had was 2/27 but luckily we don't have any trips planned. This is will also give them time to get the replacement countertop from Airstream.

Airstream themselves also called and talked to me about this. They said they have directed the repair to ensure this gets fixed correctly. I told them add a couple more brackets and screws to the wall if needed!

I am less bummed and this will give us time to transfer all (well maybe not all) our stuff from the 'old' trailer to the new.

[casarodante]

What brand is that extinguisher?

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by casarodante

What brand is that extinguisher?

Amerex Halotron.....

Also on Amazon....cheeper in red.

Bob

[jgerardi]

Why go all the way to Portland, from Visalia Ca? Was the price or selection better than what was availabe in Pasa Robles, Los Banos or LA?

[Ag&Au]

I don't know if you were going on some fairly bumpy roads. however it seems to me that you may want to do a little analysis of your hitch and weight distribution system. It sound to me like you may be getting more shock from the road transferred to the trailer than is good for it. I tow a Classic 31D with a 3/4 ton Dodge Ram quad cab 4X4 diesel. I have had some trouble with the closet door, but cured that with some upgraded latches and tightening the screws. However the only time I have had that trouble is on very bumpy roads. I am using a ProPride hitch with fairly flexible WD bars. I am curious about what hitch system you are using.

Read this thread for closet doors.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f38/...oor-80739.html

Ken

[casarodante]

Originally Posted by jgerardi

Why go all the way to Portland, from Visalia Ca? Was the price or selection better than what was availabe in Pasa Robles, Los Banos or LA?

We specifically wanted the 31' floorplan. We could have found a 30' floorplan somewhere else.

We got a bit over 20% off of MSRP in Portland. Naturally the other dealers we worked with were willing to order for us. And oddly their deals got better once they knew we were going to Portland.

I think we got a good deal, at least we are happy with it.

[casarodante]

Originally Posted by Ag&Au

I don't know if you were going on some fairly bumpy roads. however it seems to me that you may want to do a little analysis of your hitch and weight distribution system. It sound to me like you may be getting more shock from the road transferred to the trailer than is good for it. I tow a Classic 31D with a 3/4 ton Dodge Ram quad cab 4X4 diesel. I have had some trouble with the closet door, but cured that with some upgraded latches and tightening the screws. However the only time I have had that trouble is on very bumpy roads. I am using a ProPride hitch with fairly flexible WD bars. I am curious about what hitch system you are using.

Read this thread for closet doors.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f38/...oor-80739.html

Ken

Thanks. I will look at the thread.

We have an F250 6.0 diesel 4x4 Crew Cab. We purchased a new Equal-i-zer hitch for 10000 lbs (GVWR of trailer).

[ASwifey]

Congrats!

We're practically neighbors, and there's lot's of great rallies coming up.
Maybe we'll get to see it in person someday

[Jack46]

One would think for the kind of bucks paid for the "brand" design or manufacturing quality control would not be an issue. We've never had a problem having our warranty issues addressed by either Airstream directly or by the dealer. The issue is the number of times niggling issues come up, getting on the dealers schedule, and the 130 miles to get there, most often two round trips.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Jack46

One would think for the kind of bucks paid for the "brand" design or manufacturing quality control would not be an issue. We've never had a problem having our warranty issues addressed by either Airstream directly or by the dealer. The issue is the number of times niggling issues come up, getting on the dealers schedule, and the 130 miles to get there, most often two round trips.

Jack,

QC is not a new concern....

POI...it was JC who requested the thread be terminated.

Bob

[Jim Clark]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

Jack,

QC is not a new concern....

POI...it was JC who requested the thread be terminated.

Bob

Bob, I just read the last few posts of the quality control thread and they seem to be saying that other manufactures were have even more issues. Do you happen to have any insight as to why JC requested the thread closed? Many competitors do not like to be associated with negative comments on the others products in public or had the thread just deteriorated down to a venting rant?

Donna and I have just purchased a 2012(New) International Serenity 28, when we start using in it, I will post any current issues. Our 2005 Safari had a few issues which I fixed easily, but I am sure many would of been upset by them.

Jim

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Jim Clark

Bob, I just read the last few posts of the quality control thread and they seem to be saying that other manufactures were have even more issues. Do you happen to have any insight as to why JC requested the thread closed? Many competitors do not like to be associated with negative comments on the others products in public or had the thread just deteriorated down to a venting rant?

Donna and I have just purchased a 2012(New) International Serenity 28, when we start using in it, I will post any current issues. Our 2005 Safari had a few issues which I fixed easily, but I am sure many would of been upset by them.

Jim

Jim,

I can't speak directly to the why, but this may illuminate it a little.

The "in closing" paragraph is quite telling...


Bob

[Antique Pedaler]

Harleys aren't perfect either.

I was taking a walk down the street from the RV park we're in. Stopped into an rv dealership with lots of SOBs. I stepped into a featured trailer on the showroom floor. First thing I noticed was a springy floor. Then the TV was hanging out from the wall with a missing latch. Looking around, everything was really cheap. Just shook my head and left.

I wouldn't want any trailer but an Airstream.

[Alumaholic]

Beautiful Airstream! Identical to ours but 5 years newer.
predict you will enjoy it and come to love it as much as we love ours.
Don't let the little issues get you down.
Go ahead and purchase some spare drawer guides at Camping Worlds.
They will break from time to time. No big deal.