The ATLAS is HISTORY !!!!!!!

[Skymech9]

Truthfully I would give anything to have my old 71 VW Camp mobile back. Most trouble free unit I ever had.

[gmillerok1]

Originally Posted by RoadJager

....
The next safety issue I expect to be addressed by not only AS but the RV industry is failures related to GVWR of the loaded vehicle. In a recent survey by AS/Thor Industries sent to me spent a lot of questions concerning GVWR and speeds vehicle was driven at. Watch your GVWR closely, most B's and B+ are close to the max GVWR dry, before you put your stuff and people in the vehicle.

This is absolutely true of all of the Class C's. Fortunately, Class B's have a bit more capacity. The posted numbers of gross cargo capacity Airstream uses may be inflated a bit, because they may not include certain weights in the calculation. Here's how to do it correctly for my 2011 Interstate (and other similar non-extended models, give or take a bit for variances):

Gross Vehicle Weight rating (GVWR): 11,030 lbs.
Unit Base Weight: 8,436
CCC (according to Airstream): 2,594

Now, GVWR is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo but excluding that of any trailers. Does that include the water and LP? Probably not.

So, the correct calculation is:

GVWR: 11,030 lbs
UBW: 8,436
Less Sleeping positions x 154 lbs: 308
Less LPG (14 glallons at 4.2 lbs per gallon: 59
Less Fresh Water: 224
Cargo Carrying weight: 2,003

Now, let's play this game with the Atlas:

GVWR: 11,030 lbs
Unit base weight: 10,045
Less Sleeping positions x 154 lbs: 308
Less LPG (9.76 gallons at 4.2 lbs per gallon): 41
Less Water 23 gallons at 8.3 lbs per gallon: 191
Cargo Carrying weight: 445

Both of the scenarios don't include any liquid in the black or grey water tank. If you add that in, it adds 339 lbs to the weight on board, leaving you with exactly 106 lbs of capacity! Add food in the cabinets, clothes, and other miscellaneous items, and you quickly are at capacity or above.

But, Class B's, pretty much any of them, have more capacity, even those on extended bodies. The newer 2018 Interstates have about 1,358 usable CCC weight using the same formula above (adjusted for water and LPG which is a bit different). Even with full tanks a half a ton of weight could be added to the current models (and more in mine).

But this is why I don't drive around with a full tank of water and always dump the black and grey tanks before I leave or soon as I can after I camp if I can do so, and highly recommend others do as well.

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by JCWDCW

Kinda sounds like a small claims court would have gotten some satisfaction. Bet one or the other would anti-up if lawyers fees were involved
JCW

Small claims in the U.S. are generally very small - they handle disputes in the size range of less than $10K. I bet this differential was larger than that.

And re: the other comment, in most jurisdictions, RVs are not covered by lemon laws. See the video linked in the first post of this thread.

[TheParula]

Easier said than done🙁

[EarlM]

You can pretty much forget Lemon Law

It would be better to refer to it as Lemonaide for the R V industry

I had the same type issue with a large coach

Sometimes it is better to loose some money than go down with the ship.

I feel sorry for your issues but I feel you made the proper decision

[Ryoungca]

I know that Airstream monitors this list, at least they did in the past. From time to time we would see a company post asking the OP to contact the factory. Anyone know whether they are still monitoring this important forum? Are you there Airstream?

[gmillerok1]

Originally Posted by Ryoungca

I know that Airstream monitors this list, at least they did in the past. From time to time we would see a company post asking the OP to contact the factory. Anyone know whether they are still monitoring this important forum? Are you there Airstream?

Thor owns Airstream. That's all you need to know. That sticker with the Thor name on the side of every unit is not a sticker representing great quality of the build but should be more of a warning to potential customers. As long as enough customers (myself included) get duped into thinking because the name "Airstream" is on the side, they will get what they pay for keep buying them, the Thor owned and controlled company won't care. They are fully aware of the lack of quality control on the line-they see it every day in customer service and in the service department and it's not limited to the Interstate or Atlas line.

They can sell every one they hastily shove out the door at a premium because of the reputation of Wally Byam's quality now long gone and regardless of how poorly they are built. When that stops, maybe someone will take notice. But don't count on anything changing because of this one unit. They likely have many in the shop every day with similar issues (and the fact they couldn't even get to it for months is very telling, indeed).

There's lots of horror stories out there-and not only with Airstream, but pretty much all the RV manufacturers (although Leisure Van seems to have a pretty good reputation and I don't count Advanced RV, which is not really in the same league).

Sad, but true.

[gklott]

Sorry to hear of this incident and for your financial loss.

Originally Posted by moosetags

I am very disappointed in Airstream as a company for not standing behind their brand new product. I am also very disappointed in Airstream for not bending over backwards to correct this situation ASAP. After hearing this story, I think a lot less of the Airstream Company.Brian

Given all our poor quality issues, I previously held Airstream in low regard. I agree with Brian, and this incident lowers Airstream further in our regards.

All potential new buyers - BEWARE!

73/gus

[AzAirstream]

The best way to draw attention to these problems is through the press. Get them involved.

[Vinster]

I do not know enough about the specific situation to comment on that, but did hear about the Atlas at the International Rally. AS is maxed out on its motorhome factory as the sales of motorhomes have increased exponentially. Atlas has been very popular, to the point where AS is not even selling it anymore due to backorders that it cannot fill for a year. Due to space constraints, even repairing motor homes at the factory is not what they want.

So - this is where the new trailer factory comes in. Once the new 750,000 sq ft trailer factory/office/museum is built (sometime in 2019), the trailer factory (250,000 sq ft) will be repurposed to the motorhome factor, triple the space they have now, with new equipment, training facilities, etc.. Plus over 400 new workers will be hired for both factories. So while that does not help the gentleman with the Atlas and wiring problem, it at least shows AS is cognizant of issues and trying to do something about them while selling ASs. The quality control issues are a symptom of increased demand of product and a attempts to try to supply the increased demand of product before the new facilities are in place. This is not the type of fix that happens overnight so suggestions of being dramatic probably won't get anyone anywhere.

[xyzabe]

Originally Posted by Skymech9

Yes. And was told that they could do nothing until much later this year due to being backed up with repairs.
After the warranty issue that I had to pay for that was the last straw and got rid of the atlas.

Appreciate the warnings and information. Had been looking at buying one of these, but no way now.

[AirstreamCSH]

My 2-cents is that Airstream does a good job with simple travel trailers. You purchased a newly designed, high tech model from a company best suited mentally to produce Yugos. They couldn’t manage to crimp the black tank flush elbows in my basic Flying Cloud so I wouldn’t expect them to have sufficient acuity to produce something as complex as the Atlas. Doesn’t make them bad guys, just people I wouldn’t trust with a potato gun.

So potential travel trailer AS buyers are fine buying their product as these units are fairly simple to repair so long as you keep with basic electrical and heating systems. Interstate is probably OK just because of how long they’ve been producing them but I’d skip AS on this product as well because they don’t care enough to build something that requires more than a modicum of thought. Atlas is simply beyond their engineering and customer service ability.

Love my Flying Cloud and my well stocked tool bag. Just couldn’t in good conscience recommend a new unit to anyone. Used; certainly.

[DeltaRon]

Originally Posted by xyzabe

Appreciate the warnings and information. Had been looking at buying one of these, but no way now.

Wise choice. I have a lightly used 2018 Classic 33 just sitting in storage if you’re interested in buying used. Of course, main TV doesn’t work, dinette frozen in down position, front door leaks, drawers that have been fixed three times still fall off the hinges, etc., etc.

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by DeltaRon

Wise choice. I have a lightly used 2018 Classic 33 just sitting in storage if you’re interested in buying used. Of course, main TV doesn’t work, dinette frozen in down position, front door leaks, drawers that have been fixed three times still fall off the hinges, etc., etc.

How much you want for it

[DeltaRon]

Originally Posted by GMFL

How much you want for it

Wish I could unload it. Have too much invested in it at this point. It’ll just sit until end of September, the first appointment I could get at JC to fix issues that were just fixed there in June.

[GMFL]

DeltaRon,
I hope things work out. Are any of these issues something you can fix in order to get you out on the road?

[AFTER TAXES]

Originally Posted by moosetags

I am also very sad to hear this story. I am very disappointed in Airstream as a company for not standing behind their brand new product. This almost sounds like a Lemon Law situation.

I am also very disappointed in Airstream for not bending over backwards to correct this situation ASAP.

After hearing this story, I think a lot less of the Airstream Company.

Brian

totally agree with Brian........that is bad news, WOWW

[Alex AVI]

Skymech9 - I am so sorry for all your troubles with this brand new Atlas. I still can't fathom how MB and/or AS would expect you to pay for a warranty repair and then not even prioritize repairing your unit. Understandable why you would get rid of it. Best of luck with your new rig. Anything would be better than your previous experience.

[Andrew T]

Originally Posted by DeltaRon

Wish I could unload it. Have too much invested in it at this point. It’ll just sit until end of September, the first appointment I could get at JC to fix issues that were just fixed there in June.

Just a question. I don’t want to know who it is but have you spoken to your dealer? They should be able to get you in before September.

Andy

[DeltaRon]

Originally Posted by Andrew T

Just a question. I don’t want to know who it is but have you spoken to your dealer? They should be able to get you in before September.

Andy

Yeh, right. They couldn’t even fix the run-a-way drawer.