Very Disappointed with Airstream

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by TG Twinkie

I would NEVER buy a new A$. They are just not worth that kind of $$$$$. IMHO

The worth of anything is what someone is willing to pay. So obviously...

[Ray Eklund]

TorchLaker... have you asked Jackson Center to set you up on a date and drop it off? Make your Santa's List complete and anything else found will be taken care of in the process and walk through. You are close enough to do this.

I drove from Denver to Jackson Center, camped there a week in 2007. 100% happy with our 2006 Safari 23 foot after the check list fix. Other than the 14 inch Marathons... it was an excellent trailer.

I know it is frustrating. I had a neighbor if a seam was not perfect... it was a total wreck.

I take delivery on a 2019 27 foot International Serenity tomorrow. The walk through will not be like a Newbie with glassy eyes and the romance of traveling in their first trailer. The first go over was positive a week ago. I saw other trailers on the lot, new, that I would not buy at any price after looking them over. Why the hassle?

You are now getting hard earned experience. We all have learned. So far, the one Oliver II owner met this Summer was 100% content without complaint.

The worth of anything is the... RESALE VALUE. More bad press on the Nest, the resale value is going to be very, very low.

[Sav'h Steve]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

I take delivery on a 2019 27 foot International Serenity tomorrow. The walk through will not be like a Newbie with glassy eyes and the romance of traveling in their first trailer. The first go over was positive a week ago. I saw other trailers on the lot, new, that I would not buy at any price after looking them over.

I know you will have your mind on this transaction for a bit. When things settle, could you please share some of the salient points on inspection that might be missed even by the seasoned owner?

We have certainly learned a lot from this forum and look forward to passing it forward to others. We have had our 1990 Excella for 17 years and believe that more care was taken back then. Seems like the last 5-7 years has been different. I particularly noted NOT writing the check until satisfied.

TIA,
Steve

[MAJORJDB]

IMHO, there are a lot of folks who drink the "AS is best" kool-aid and pay accordingly. Everyone has their own reasoning for buying one and that is their business. We bought ours for the timeless "silver bullet" shape and history behind it. With the exception of the base camp, nest and square streams, that shape has been basically the same from the beginning. The average person both RV'r/non-RV'r usually can recognize an AS. We have owned several
S O B s in our 30+ years of RVing and they have all been on par with our AS. Except for the cabinetry, AS styling is the nicest with our vintage (1989). The components (fridge, A/C, stove, etc) are basically the same industry-wide and they are all assembled by people and thus are prone to failings/sloppiness. The value of a new AS is what it is to the buyer, but to think that they are really anymore special quality-wise than most other TT's is somewhat misguided these days. Many folks point out what AS could do better, the bottom line is that they build what sells at the price they want, why improve??
Good luck and safe travels!! : )
Jim and Gretchen

[switz]

I spent 50% of the purchase price on both the 2014 31' Classic and our 2015 23D International Serenity at an authorized independent Airstream Repair facility (A&P Vintage Trailer Works) near DFW airport in Texas. All of the many factory defects (both large and small) were fixed with many custom modifications well. They are just the way we want them now.

BTW. Our 2013 25FB International Serenity was built in July of 2012 at a rate of 26 per week. Not one defect or issue until the different but local servicing dealership screwed things up due to their gross incompetence.

The Classic was built starting 20 Dec 2013 and resumed 2 January 2014 until mid January with production at 41 per week. Three trades in the living room tripping over each other with time study chap outside the door. Many issues and I was there every day and saw the less than sterling work. Factory ignored the QC issues list I gave the QC Supervisor at the end of the line.

The 23D was built in September 2014 at a rate of 51 per week. Major screwups and the selling dealership did their PDI over the coffee table in the shop by what we found wrong that would have been fixed just by looking inside. Even the Airstream name was off the back of the trailer.

[rowiebowie]

I'm amused at reading the posts where the validity of reports of poor condition and cleanliness of trailers arriving on the dealers lots are not really questioned. But rather, are accepted as ok, so long as the agreement is the dealer takes care of it.

It's poor quality control, pure and simple. Any manufacturer who releases units like this simply cannot know the condition of their product. Hmmm . . . might explain a lot.

Did my 2012 Airstream class b come from the factory like this? I'll never know. Plus, I bought it used anyway. But I'd have serious reservations if I ever witnessed it first hand, much like the OP.

If he didn't care about Airstream as much as we do, he would have simply moved on to another brand and we'd never have heard his story.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

The only problem that I can see is that the dealer let you into the trailers before they had done their work. Presumably the dealer would have complained about that work IF it were unusual or unexpected.

What you describe involves essentially a preparation contract between the dealer and Airstream and does not affect you, as a customer.

I have done extensive work in our Airstream and it always makes a mess. After that mess is cleaned up (by me, unfortunately), the trailer looks great. Does the mess mean that my work is poor quality or that I don't exercise quality control. I don't think so.

Tim

Tim...you are joking right? 🤡
JC delivers them messy and needing much more than just a clean sweep.😟

They sell all they make so don't expect anything to change...oh wait, the advisory plank is on it.

Bob
🇺🇸

[JonDNC]

So our experience was a 180 from the above. We were not planning on buying an Airstream but walked onto the lot and just knew was the right choice. Our unit had no obvious flaws just on display. Agreed on the deal and when we went to pick it up did a very thorough inspection, we walked through every system and looked inside every cabinet and opening. While I don’t have any prior RV experience I have owned large boats for over 30 years so understand systems and good vs not so good construction.

Have not had any real issues at all so far. (Knock on wood). Biggest issue was main lights were flickering on our first weekend. Did some troubleshooting and turned out to be a loose fuse. Pushed it in and works fine so far. Only had it a couple of months on our third trip and having fun.

[mkcurtiss]

Lordy....if folks think Airstream is crap, then go buy something else.! And in 10 years you can sell it for virtually nothing, but hey, at least you got to spend a ton of money on it and watch it fall apart before your very eyes !

It is what it is. They are not perfect. They require service. Its a house on wheels for pete's sake. But what's interesting is I see these folks complaining and complaining, yet they own 1, 2 or 3 Airstreams? So obviously you are not too disenchanted, or you would go buy an SOB!......It's like the guy that complains incessantly about his wife, and how terrible she is, but he stays with her! If she is so terrible GET RID OF HER!

[PC Conner]

Now I know why my flooring had a small but noticeable cut near the table and door. I bet someone stepped on a loose screw. Seems it would have been better to remove it when dropped.
Also, I wonder what I can't see or haven't found. We did have a major leak in the sink.

[banderabob]

Originally Posted by Daquenzer

The point is that dealers are the last stop. They go through the units to make sure they are ready to sell. Whether we like it or not this is how AS does it. Ultimately the dealers have to do it anyway. When I bought mine they said they would have to go through the unit to make sure everything works properly before I took delivery. That means cleaning and system checks. They are the AS cleanup service, and the last in the quality control line to test all the systems. I can understand that. Doesn’t bother me in the least. The dealer isn’t dealing with hundreds of units coming off the line at once. They are dealing with a few units coming in at a time. Contractors don’t clean the house. I don’t get why this is so bad. It’s just the OP saw things he didn’t realize before. So what. Ever see a new house before it is cleaned up. Looks pretty bad. I owned a modular home dealership from Wisconsin Homes for 5 years and went through that process. Homes would be shipped and we found all kinds of stuff. There were ALWAYS issues. And we ALWAYS told people. It’s going to look like crap when it comes from the factory. Don’t worry. It will be fixed.

The point I made regarding new cars that are ordered is that the dealer STILL has to make sure all the systems work properly. They are the last quality control stop.

When a dealer receives a new vehicle from the factory they must remove the protective plastic coating covering the inside and outside of the vehicle, check the fluids, install fuses, road test 3 to 10 miles, wash, wax, vacuum, put on the antenna, and install the license plate holders.

How the AS is delivered to the dealer is no big deal to me. I’m really buying the AS from the dealer as well.

I could not agree more.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by mkcurtiss

Lordy....if folks think Airstream is crap, then go buy something else.! And in 10 years you can sell it for virtually nothing, but hey, at least you got to spend a ton of money on it and watch it fall apart before your very eyes !

It is what it is. They are not perfect. They require service. Its a house on wheels for pete's sake. But what's interesting is I see these folks complaining and complaining, yet they own 1, 2 or 3 Airstreams? So obviously you are not too disenchanted, or you would go buy an SOB!......It's like the guy that complains incessantly about his wife, and how terrible she is, but he stays with her! If she is so terrible GET RID OF HER!

And you have had a good experience with your new trailer? 🤔

Bob
🇺🇸

[J. Morgan]

Having built the entire interior of my trailer, I can say for sure that people who are complaining about screws and sawdust being on the floor after a trailers first, second or sixth trip have never built a trailer.

The screws might not have fallen out of anything but a persons hand, and sawdust is an inevitable part of a build. It just happens.

Further, just because there is sawdust and screws in the middle of the floor when a trailer is delivered to a dealer, it doesn't mean that they were in the middle of the floor when it left the factory.

That crap is going to shake out.

Someone might say "well if someone drops a screw they should pick it up".

That's not how that works. a dropped screw will always fall where it can neither be found or retrieved.... duh.

The inside of these trailers are hand built, any comparisons to assembly line built cars is actually kind of ludicrous. It's not even the same sport.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Sloppily hand built.

Bob
🇺🇸

[Bill M.]

I think delivering them at 75 mph on the 80 psi inflated tires with the 3500 trucks takes a toll.

My only reason for not buying a new one is cost.

[CBWELL]

One being delivered passed me on Wednesday of this week. I was on #1 highway west of Winnipeg, on cruise at 68mph. I think it was a 23 ft Flying Cloud pulled by a 1 ton dually that went past me like I was stopped. That trailer will be well shaken up by the time it reaches the dealer!! If I was buying a new trailer, it would be picked up by me at the factory or the closest dealer. Other than that it must be delivered on a trailer!! JMHO

[goransons]

I've avoided chiming in on this and similar threads because of my lack of first hand experience with newer units. We took delivery of a 2020 Globetrotter 2 weeks ago today, here's my 2 cents.

Having built a few more Airstreams that I'd like to admit, I completely understand the hand built element, and am confident that anything I've been proud to build can be picked apart by another trained eye.

We've spent years of our life at this point in our vintage trailers, and our first couple of nights in our new unit have been incredible, we feel spoiled.

As far as QC, the dealership fixed a few lights that didn't work before delivery, and did a lot of cleanup. We looked through the trailer with the frame of mind it is a hand built unit and a realistic eye. We still did have a few issues for them to address. Despite the cleaning they did we did find quite a few metal shavings where cushions meet the wall, in corners, etc. To be fair to the dealership we rushed them to get it ready for us and they really needed more time but did what they could to try to fit our schedule so that to an extent was on us.


There were some issues I documented in another thread, things in the 2020 manual that aren't available, and are old info from 19, and some cosmetic issues that the dealer will handle, a broken switch in the freezer door etc. Was it perfect? no way, but we love it and are happy. Those that had units that are filled with problems, I completely understand the frustration and I can't say I would react any better, but that doesn't mean every unit off the line has the same problems. Can QC be better, for sure, and hopefully with the new facility it can be.

[Ray Eklund]

Left Las Vegas Airstream yesterday afternoon. New 2019 27 foot International Serenity with 15 inch Goodyear Endurance tires, behind our over kill F350 diesel Ford pick up. Called the 'Rivet Killer' to some.

Traveled 22 miles from the dealer, to the NEW Interstate 11 to the Hoover Dam exit, at 65 to 70 miles per hour, exited to reverse direction, took the Boulder City, Nevada exit home.

No blowouts or parts scattered along the Interstate.

After reading this Thread... we meekly opened the door. The keys worked perfectly.

It looked exactly like it did when we left the dealership. It was still 100% perfect. We must have purchased the only PERFECT Airstream.

Talent runs in my family. Not myself, but when it comes to this 2019 Airstream... this was much like a Video Poker five cent machine at the local Casino... dealing me A Royal Flush!

Oh yes. We paid for the trailer before we left. Had we not, I would have driven faster.

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

Left Las Vegas Airstream yesterday afternoon. New 2019 27 foot International Serenity with 15 inch Goodyear Endurance tires, behind our over kill F350 diesel Ford pick up. Called the 'Rivet Killer' to some.

Traveled 22 miles from the dealer, to the NEW Interstate 11 to the Hoover Dam exit, at 65 to 70 miles per hour, exited to reverse direction, took the Boulder City, Nevada exit home.

No blowouts or parts scattered along the Interstate.

After reading this Thread... we meekly opened the door. The keys worked perfectly.

It looked exactly like it did when we left the dealership. It was still 100% perfect. We must have purchased the only PERFECT Airstream.

Talent runs in my family. Not myself, but when it comes to this 2019 Airstream... this was much like a Video Poker five cent machine at the local Casino... dealing me A Royal Flush!

Oh yes. We paid for the trailer before we left. Had we not, I would have driven faster.

Enjoy, like your setup. Coming from someone with the same thing [emoji41]

[SYC2Vette]

Guess we all paid big $$ for this too.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/mil...ers-yet-again/

Perhaps our AS really are "built like aircraft" in some ways