Is this an Airstream Killer?

[farafield]

The one that looks interesting to me is Happier Camper. It's very young, modern, the various components are modular, and you pick what you want--a la carte. My beef with AS at this point, 2 years in, is that I am discarding a lot of the stuff it came with: microwave-out, accordion privacy curtain-out/replaced, shades/curtains-out/replaced, radio-may come out, converter/solar charger-may come out. Would prefer more clearance underneath. But other than that, I love my Bramble and I guess they know they have a market niche no matter what.

[xrvr]

Another home away from home,,,,not a camper. Tatoos?

[Ray Eklund]

I am led to believe that Airstream offers TOO MANY floor plans. The installation of everything is different and I can understand why work becomes sloppy.

With a time limit for installing everything, the employee just cannot keep up to figure out what needs to be done with a totally different floor plan and options added.

Maybe someone who understands how each trailer is built can help this idea. The days of 'keep it simple' obviously are no longer practical... unless you are building automobiles, which seem to have this all figured out.

[Fly at Night]

The only thing that could kill Airstream is Airstream itself.

[SewStream]

We saw the prototype for this trailer at the Hershey show a few years back. All I can say is that Airstream has nothing to be worried about. There is no comparison.

Off gassing of the materials. Flimsy construction. Bathroom is a great idea...execution leaves me underwhelmed. Sliding doors that expand and contract the toilet area, not appealing to us. IMO - Not even in the same league as Airstream.

Now...if someone could create this floor plan/space planning idea within an Airstream...you might have the FIRST innovation in the RV industry in a long time.

[Ted S.]

Airstream is too big to fail.

[Daquenzer]

There are some things that Airstream could do that this camper does:
1). AGM batteries should be standard in AS’s.
2). The battery shut off should be standard in AS’s.
3). The electric stabilizers should be an option.
4). The wifi booster should be standard.

[rmkrum]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

Airstream is too big to fail.

So was PanAmerican, a whole bunch of Wall Street firms, dinosaurs, wooly mammoths, and the Soviet Union...size does not determine longevity.

[Fair_Enough]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

Airstream is too big to fail.

Does anyone remember Lehman Bros. or that all the other banks that would have gone belly up if they were not rescued. Government Motors is another. Nortelnetworks, I know personally and I said, "its too big to fail".

I certainly hope Airstream does well. I do think, they are going too far with way too many floor plans and models, not to mention high tech gadgets that are totally unnecessary. JMO.

WW

[AndyW]

There’s a newer one here where I live for sale, it’s a beautiful trailer but he’s had it listed for a very long time. My concern would be resale..

[kbmwrs]

Originally Posted by Ted S.

Airstream is too big to fail.

Isn't that what GM was thinking just before....they failed.

I think Thor may have overstepped their demographics when building the new production facility but then again the current one is run like someone's garage build. They do need a process which may improve quality.

[Sojourner69]

Lots of bells and whistles reflecting thoughtful modern design. Since most manufacturers use the same chintzy materials, I see lots of gizmos to malfunction. Wow, 41 gallons of black water-great in case there’s a cholera epidemic. Finally, I can stand up in my ‘69, I couldn’t in this.

[Bbelk]

I am afraid that what will kill Airstreams is the same thing that will kill the entire RV industry. All of us old people with our pensions will die off and the youth will understand that 10MPG and global warming are related.

I just got home from 7,500 miles and a couple months on in the camper. I love the life, but I fear that $2.50 gasoline is unrealistic. My TV (2500 crew cab long bed) already won't fit in urban parking lots and that ain't getting better.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

That’s a reasonable hunch just from the quality perspective. I have a different hunch based on the fact that twice in the last 5 years they’ve had to expand the factory. They produce in a quarter what they were producing annually (rough estimates) when I bought my 2012. Sales demand is through the roof. Perhaps with enough complaints things would change but consider at a rate of say 75/week, they’re cranking out 3750 units/year. 1 complaint is one too many - but what do we see here - maybe 20-30/year buyers think are lemons - some % of that die to misaligned expectations / user error and some % of that truly missed quality opportunities. Multiply it by 5 and say there’s 150 questionable trailers out of those 3750 - that’s 4% - still WAY too high and nowhere near 6 sigma - but manageable through warranty (with costs passed in to new buyers - so theoretically that has to end some time...).

What’s infuriating and frustrating is that some of this is so readily avoidable! A little more commitment from the top all the way through and you could probably remove 50% of the errors without breaking a sweat!

What the heck do I know - just another hunch based on skyrocketing sales data...people need to “stay away in droves” before this changes much [emoji3]

^
YES

Consensus here...some nice ideas with a butt ugly exterior. 🥴

Without a hands-on, it's hard to have any build quality opinions.

Duz it matter? No. We are not shopping.😂

Bob
🇺🇸

[Rovin Raven]

Nice! But, after witnessing a flat sided trailer shaking in the cross winds at a gas station out west while our Airstream was perfectly still in the wind, I still would prefer to drive an Airstream. If Scamp or Oliver made longer models, I might consider them. But at least it looks fantastic inside.

[Rovin Raven]

Originally Posted by Bbelk

I am afraid that what will kill Airstreams is the same thing that will kill the entire RV industry. All of us old people with our pensions will die off and the youth will understand that 10MPG and global warming are related.

I just got home from 7,500 miles and a couple months on in the camper. I love the life, but I fear that $2.50 gasoline is unrealistic. My TV (2500 crew cab long bed) already won't fit in urban parking lots and that ain't getting better.

I have faith in vehicle manufacturing innovation, although it should have been speedier. My commuting car for the last 6 years has be 100% electric. Possibly hybrid tow vehicles in the near future? More biodiesel? I’m an optimist.

[Dick tracy]

interesting, but not for me. AS is an Icon and I love the new models and tech upgrades AND I'm not on a pension. I appreciate excellent engineering in all respects, watches, guns, cars, bikes.

[wcrockett]

Originally Posted by Tincampers

Thor. Thor will be the Airstream killer.

Thor owns Airstream

[3DRad]

Originally Posted by wulfraat

I like the clean look of the front garage- everything tucked away inside.

The "front garage" as you call it, caught my eye. I do not think I would want propane tanks in the same compartment with batteries. On my first outing with our Airstream, another AS owner had a propane leak from the valve of the tank itself. On the AS Southwest caravan, I found and repaired a propane leak on a fellow caravan traveler's AS, involving one of the brass fittings. A propane leak combined with a spark could be very unfortunate in the "front garage". I put safety first.

[Anders79]

Nope.
Doesn't pass the 1st test of "is it something i want parked in front of my house"