Airstream with slide out ?

[woodfox45]

We are looking for a newer Trailer and it has a slide out does anybody have any pros or cons to say about Airstreams with slides I know they don't make them any more .
Hope to hear from someone .

[overlander63]

They added living area to the front of the trailer, but were heavy and expensive.

[jbroedlow]

We were in one in April. The slide pushed out the dining area. We thought it was very attractive. Of course, one more moving part to be worried about. The owners loved it. I've heard they were not very popular and that's why AS stopped making them. Not sure if that's true or not.

[bobmiller1]

We own a 2005 34' Classic Limited S/O which we purchased used in 2007. We tow it with a 2004 Yukon XL, 6.0 Litre, with Quadrasteer. The slide is awesome and we have never had a problem with it or any leaks. I feel the problems that are reported are what I call a code 77. ( operator error )...mostly due to mis-use..ie deploying the slide when the trailer is not level or not using the stabilizers due to laziness. Airstream even provides a way to crank the slide back in if there is an electrical issue to keep you on the road. There is a dual electrical lock mechanism to lock the slide to the interior wall when it is closed which I feel is overkill, but still pretty cool. They were extremely expensive to manufacture as was the Quadrasteer on my Yukon XL, and not a very popular option, that is probably why they are no longer produced, but I am glad we have one. We have towed from the East coast to Mount Rushmore and all through the mid-west.....Love it !

[GCinSC2]

Plan on taking care of our slide out for as long as possible. We like it.

[SeeMore]

Like mentioned above, most of the negatives you'll find posted are by either non-owners or a problem encountered by operator error (a very limited number). I have encountered 12 other units in my travels and none have had an issue with their slide. They are treasured by their owners.

The total built of all sizes and lengths over the years is reportedly in the 85-87 range so there aren't many. The slide is massively overbuilt using other manufacturers as a comparison. Surprisingly, my tongue weight matches the new 2015-16 28' and above units and has not been an issue. It tows very nicely.

Our unit, assembled in Oct. 2002, has seen extensive use over the years without failure. It has been towed about 35,000 miles to 44 states so far. I am in the process of refreshing all the interior fabrics/foam cushions and replacing the carpet with vinyl flooring as we plan to keep it for many more years.

[LucasS]

Even my baby 18" deep slide in my Moho makes a world of a difference. And as far as the Classic TT S/O's concerned they're the coolest thing to even happen to an AS (since the '14 Land Yacht....those don't need a slide to be jaw dropping stunners). All slides on any RV will give their owners code 77s if not properly maintained...and they're really easy to maintain and in the case of a Classic S/O COMPLETELY WORTH IT!!! Hehe. If you don't want it send me the info I totally want to add that to my collection one day.

[m.hony]

If they still made the 34' slide-out that is what we would have. My wife likes a trailer with a slide. I like a trailer that is reliable.

[mike28]

We have a 2005 28 Safari with the slide and have never had any problems associated directly with the slide. It was more money, but the folks at Airstream are still saying that they are holding their value because of demand. I am also told by other owners that the added tongue weight makes it a better tow. Production was stopped in 2008 when everything slowed down and Airstream realized that models with slides were down to 2% of total sales. It is something most prior owners were not ready for.

[Axeman]

We have the 28 w/slide. We like it real well so far. No problems with the slide yet. I will say that the tongue weight is substantial compared to the other units I've seen.

[jcanavera]

We have a 30' slide and as most slide owners report, has been very reliable. I remember when the trailer was new, the slide added about $7,000 or so to the price. My Classic is the heaviest trailer that Airstream has built on a tandem axle. Hitch weight is around 1,260 lbs. but I suspect that with full propane and camping gear, it is a little heavier. I tow with a 3/4 ton Chevy passenger van and had to upgrade the hitch platform to a Class V hitch that will accommodate up to 1,400 lbs.

Airstream did build a good slide which was built with a fiberglass shell and then clad in aluminum. On my 2004 model I remember that the fiberglass insulation they used in the floor of the slides was different than the batting used in the non slide models.

The key to keeping the slide functioning properly was to always have the stabilizer jacks down when extending or retracting the slide unit. The fellow who walked us through the trailer when we got it emphasized that issue. What this means is that if we are traveling on the road, and pull over at a rest stop to eat, the slide out stays in its retracted position. My practice is to have the trailer level and disconnected from the tow vehicle before I extend or retract the slide.

The slide outs have an awning that covers the top of the slide when it is extended. That same awning extends further to shade the slide windows if you release the locks and pull the strap to the hook that is located just below the slide windows.

Wind driven rain can accumulate on the roof of the slide which may run into the trailer when you retract the slide. The upper gasket is supposed to sweep the water off as it retracts, but it is not 100% reliable. I use a small long handled squeege to pull off any excess water if it we've had wind driven rain. The gaskets are definitely water tight when the slide is extended or retracted. Airstream did a good job on these. I was told that there was a retrofit done on the early slide units to replace the original gasket. I was up at Jackson Center in 2001 where I met a fellow who was having the retrofit done at no cost to him. I'm not sure what the first years of the slide outs were but I would check about any slide out built prior to the summer of 2001 to see if there was a retrofit done of its gasket.

All in all I would miss my slide greatly if I were buying new today.

Jack

[pappy19]

Had our 2002 for 5 years, love everything about it...except for the carpet and couch. Took it to the factory and now have oak floor and 2 recliners. Hard to find a SO and they aren't dropping in value very fast.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by pappy19

Had our 2002 for 5 years, love everything about it...except for the carpet and couch. Took it to the factory and now have oak floor and 2 recliners. Hard to find a SO and they aren't dropping in value very fast.

One of the reasons I bought my slide. I had a feeling that it would hold its value better. My local dealer says he has a list of folks waiting to be called if one shows up at his place. He'd love to have mine. It will be a while before I'd be willing to walk away from it.

Jack

[TinShack]

We've had our 28' slideout for 9 years and still love it. No troubles and it makes the living area much more usable especially with a couple of 100lb Labradors.

[royorr]

Purchased new 2002 30' with slide, still own it, love it and never have had a single problem however with the slide, no leaks. The slide awning locks can be somewhat touchy to maintain adjustment.

[carl johnson]

DITTO on your reply about slides, ares was a 2003, 34' had over 100,000 when we wanted something smaller, Big mistake, never did we have a problem with the slide, and we miss it. She was are home thru out every state in the USA, we did miss HI, Eighteen states of Beautiful MEXICO, and all of CANADA WE MISS HER!!! Carl Johnson

[woodfox45]

Thanks to all for the replies , I wasn't quick enough on this one , However now that I'm educated about slides I'll be quicker next time, I never got a chance to look at it in person.
Les Grace
Toledo Ohio

[JACQUIE]

We have a 2004 28 foot safari with the slide out & we enjoy it very much. As someone mentioned, if it rains & it needs to come in, the water does not get removed by the rubber gaskets. We have to wipe the outside as well as have chamois ready on the inside (a 2 person job). Much better if you know it is about to rain, pull it in before it happens.

We also have had an ongoing leak at the sofa end of the slide; Canam have worked on it for us over the past 3.5 years & Andy Thompson looked at it recently & what he had his service dept do seems to have worked. We are still testing it but so far so good. We are very happy with that for sure & appreciate Canam's time working on this.

Having a slide in our particular trailer is a plus for us.

[txtwin]

If folks are looking for one of there, there is one in the Central Texas area for sale. Been on there for months.

Airstream 30' w/ Slide out

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by JACQUIE

We have a 2004 28 foot safari with the slide out & we enjoy it very much. As someone mentioned, if it rains & it needs to come in, the water does not get removed by the rubber gaskets. We have to wipe the outside as well as have chamois ready on the inside (a 2 person job). Much better if you know it is about to rain, pull it in before it



Having a slide in our particular trailer is a plus for us.

Just to clarify my post, it's not an issue every time it rains, it's just those times where it is a wind driven rain that blows under the awning. If we are at a site for any reasonable length of time, any water will evaporate prior to our departure. For us it probably occurs one trip a year and is really not a big issue. If I had to pull the slide in every time it rained, that would be a major issue! The awning which covers the top of the slide does a good job in keeping the slide top dry. It automatically is pulled out as the slide is extended,

Jack