Airstream Heresy

[Belbein]

We're starting to think about moving up from our Sport 22 FB. So I started thinking outside the box and found it really difficult to think non-Airstream. Yet I keep reading posts from people who say they're upset about QC issues in ASs (which we mostly haven't seen). So then the heretical thoughts started. Am I just an Airstream snob? Did I just drink the KoolAid? Is there anything out there built as well or better than an AS? I don't mean lighter, I don't mean more spacious, I don't mean bigger for the money: I mean *made* better?

[GMFL]

In my opinion the Answer is NO, not in the Travel trailer market.
Oliver, Bigfoot, Castia, all make great units but I do not think they are better than Airstream in design.
Expectations are high for Airstream as they should be based on value and price.

[Hans627]

We bought a used AS (2009) and a new AS (2018). Yes there has been a few small issues, hot water mixer failed, toilet bowl seal leaked, a few screws needed to be tightened, etc. But the water heater was a supplied item as was the toilet. So even other brands purchase these items from the same suppliers.

I've had a SOB and I can tell you from my experience the AS is much better built with less failures that the SOB.

FWIW!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Sure, move up into the 500K to $1M motor homes and you will get a different class of RV. You still will find lots of complaints, but about very different things.

All RV's / boats / summer cottages / swimming pools / trucks / TV's ..... have issues and forum sub-sections dedicated to going into those issues in great detail. In some cases, people are still moaning about a problem they had 20 years ago like it was yesterday. Others are going into problems they *think* somebody else might have had. It's in no way specific to AS, people just like to complain.

That in no way means that there aren't very real problems with all of the items listed above. Pretty much everything in life has its down moments. Focus on them long enough and life is a pretty big downer. Next step seems to be to find somebody else to blame.

AS is what it is. They are far from perfect. Get over that and move on. They cost what they do and that's the way it is. Either they are worth it to you or they are not. If you want "better", it will cost more. Welcome to markets and how they operate. Dig deep enough on your more expensive "better" and you will find people who've had issues .....

So how can you maybe improve the odds?

1) Don't buy something odd. They have made some of these trailers for > 60 years. Stick with the mainstream.

2) Don't buy the new tech expecting it to work perfectly the first year or two. There's a learning curve on all this stuff. It applies as much to companies as to people.

3) If you are 10 hours from the nearest competent service outfit, plan on living with this or that for a while. Having an idiot try to fix something rarely is a good idea.

Some would suggest buying used as the magic silver bullet. I've bought more used this or that with (hidden) issues than I have new. It's a gamble either way.

Like it or not, AS builds stuff today pretty much the same way they always have. My grandmother had a tick list of "Airstream issues". That was back in the 1950's. They are as valid today as they were then. Despite that, the aluminum Twinkies are still on the road and pretty much noting else from that era is ....


Bob

[J. Morgan]

Have you ever seen a nice 30 or 40 year trailer from a non Airstream manufacturer that's still making trailers?

Of course you haven't....... [emoji4]

I think that it's beyond dispute that Airstream makes the best trailer built today.

[Halford1]

Originally Posted by J. Morgan

Have you ever seen a nice 30 or 40 year trailer from a non Airstream manufacturer that's still making trailers?

Of course you haven't....... [emoji4]

I think that it's beyond dispute that Airstream makes the best trailer built today.

Yes I have. The Coleman popups the king of all Popups similar to AS with TT. There are plenty of 1980's Coleman popups out there. A few 1970's Apache popups are also out there that are around 40 years old.

But as for travel trailers, I suspect Airstream last longer than any.

[uraljohn]

Growing up in the 60's my parents belonged to a camping club. Most folks had Airstreams. Our family was 5 kids plus Mom and Dad. An Airstream was not in the budget. We had a Holiday Rambler. Even as a kid I remember my dad joining in the discussions on various problems and fixes with Airstream and the other brands in the club.

Fast forward 50 years. Looking for our first travel trailer. Looked for 2 years at everything out there. We bought an Airstream. We are now on our second new Airstream, a 2019 FC25 RBT. First two outings and everything works as it should. Fit and finish is really very, very good. We sold our first Airstream for just $3k less than we paid for it. I would not spend our hard earned money on any other brand.

[Daquenzer]

About 5 miles down the road is a camper (not an AS) that has been for sale a long time. It looks pretty nice. If it was an AS it would have been gone in a few weeks at most. That’s why I bought an AS.

[Halford1]

Originally Posted by uraljohn

Growing up in the 60's my parents belonged to a camping club. Most folks had Airstreams. Our family was 5 kids plus Mom and Dad. An Airstream was not in the budget. We had a Holiday Rambler. Even as a kid I remember my dad joining in the discussions on various problems and fixes with Airstream and the other brands in the club.

Fast forward 50 years. Looking for our first travel trailer. Looked for 2 years at everything out there. We bought an Airstream. We are now on our second new Airstream, a 2019 FC25 RBT. First two outings and everything works as it should. Fit and finish is really very, very good. We sold our first Airstream for just $3k less than we paid for it. I would not spend our hard earned money on any other brand.

I was a popupper until last May. I bought Bambi as the starter AS. Yes, it has been my dream to own one since I was 11 years old when I saw an AS during a month long camping trip out to the WEST.

[uraljohn]

Originally Posted by Halford1

Yes I have. The Coleman popups the king of all Popups similar to AS with TT. There are plenty of 1980's Coleman popups out there. A few 1970's Apache popups are also out there that are around 40 years old.

But as for travel trailers, I suspect Airstream last longer than any.

The main problem with the Apaches was the gear box giving up the ghost. Once that broke you hard a hard time cranking them up. This would be on the solid state models. No canvas on the pullout ends. Also, the small, fat tires were a real issue. Make sure the bearings were well tended to and always carry 2 spare tires. My first wifes parents had one of these and really liked it but learn the limitations of the small, fat tires and the need to take real good care of the wheel bearings.

[Belbein]

Our first trailer was a Coleman popup, bought used at 10 years old and kept for about 8. It was an original Coleman. The only thing to criticize about it was the plastic top shell, which was cracking everyplace. But that thing was engineered like a brick ... whatever. Airstreams are sort of that way, but I can't say I'm all that impressed with their engineering. They just seem better than other travel trailers which are flashy and spacious but flimsy. (In sailboat terms, the others t. t. s are Hunters and Beneteaus, the Airstreams are Catalinas... but none of them are on the level of Morgans or Pacific Seacraft.) (There's an idea. I'll buy a Pacific Seacraft and put wheels on it...)

[lsbrodsky]

Originally Posted by Belbein

Our first trailer was a Coleman popup, bought used at 10 years old and kept for about 8. It was an original Coleman. The only thing to criticize about it was the plastic top shell, which was cracking everyplace. But that thing was engineered like a brick ... whatever. Airstreams are sort of that way, but I can't say I'm all that impressed with their engineering. They just seem better than other travel trailers which are flashy and spacious but flimsy. (In sailboat terms, the others t. t. s are Hunters and Beneteaus, the Airstreams are Catalinas... but none of them are on the level of Morgans or Pacific Seacraft.) (There's an idea. I'll buy a Pacific Seacraft and put wheels on it...)

Amen! I had a Pacific Seacraft for 16 years and I would love to have that back with wheels on it!

Larry

[skyguyscott]

Yes, it seems overall the marine industry is far ahead of the RV industry in quality construction and engineering.

Whenever I am in need of replacing a component, I always look first to see what is available from a marine vender; most recently, for instance, something as simple as a cabinet latch. What I found from the marine folks was far superior in craftsmanship to anything from the RV world and a far better fit for the application than anything from the home construction or RV world.

Regarding AS overall, two things are true at once. Airstream, compared to the rest of the RV industry, makes a superior product to everything except the most expensive Class A MH or custom rigs. (But that is not saying much, considering the state of the rest of the RV industry!)

And, Airstream, compared to the price you pay for new, does not measure up to other goods, (such as automobiles) at a similar price point. (Some will argue this is not a fair comparison; they need to make that argument with the disappointed buyer, not me)

And what makes this particularly frustrating is that AS could do better if it really tried. (see various relevant threads on this site) Instead, some new customers are genuinely shocked to discover sloppy workmanship and numerous failures in various components on their brand new Airstream, which, from their perspective is a luxury item.

If you get a decent Airstream with few mistakes, (either thanks to the factory or your dealership or both) thank your good fortune and enjoy the journey. If you get one with numerous flaws, you at least will not be surprised as you are aware of the situation, unlike some new-to-Airstream or new-to-the-RV-world buyers.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If you pay over a half million for your new boat, you *should* get some nice cabinet latches. The same is true if you pay the same for your RV.

Bob

[Mollysdad]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Sure, move up into the 500K to $1M motor homes and you will get a different class of RV. You still will find lots of complaints, but about very different things.

Talk to people with million $$ motor homes and you'll find they're always fixing stuff. There's just too many systems. Of course, they can just take it to a dealer and write a blank check.
RV's bounce down the road, flex and twist and stuff happens.

[Fly at Night]

This is off-track a bit, but look at Boeing. The USAF has cancelled its KC-tanker order because of construction debris being left in the aircraft. Debris has also been found in the Dreamliner. Junk banging around inside an aircraft is a safety issue.

Then there is the issue with the still-grounded 737 Max.

Construction debris is also the bane of some AS owners, but it is highly unlikely that it will cause a fatal crash.

If a company like Boeing can blow it, nothing is sacred, IMO.

Forget about buying "the best." A stab at the best, perhaps.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by Mollysdad

Talk to people with million $$ motor homes and you'll find they're always fixing stuff. There's just too many systems. Of course, they can just take it to a dealer and write a blank check.
RV's bounce down the road, flex and twist and stuff happens.

We've owned popups, Motorhomes, a Casita, and 4 AS's. They all have had some issue or another. The MH was the most inconvenient when things went wrong...when it needs to go into a shop, your "home "is in the shop and you may need a hotel typically, hoping they can fix "quickly"...engine, transmission, radiator, etc; not to mention the generator, AC, fridge, or some other problem...at least with a TT, most of the time you can "get by" with any systems that might fail and still use the trailer for sleeping/cooking etc..my 2 cents.