Bumper Install Looks Shoddy. Thoughts?

[righttoroam]

Hi - Just got a 2017 '16 Sport this past July and had the authorized dealer attach the factory bumper. When they finished we looked closely and it just looks really shoddy. I'm no metal expert but something tells me this isn't how it's supposed to look, with the excess metal folded aside and a big gap between the frame and bumper.

Can anyone confirm?

*sorry about the pics being turned sideways

[Ray Eklund]

Your second photo looks exactly like my 25' International. The lid has some foam glued to the outside edges to... keep the area: not air tight, not dirt resistant, not water resistant, not fitting tightly... it does all of those very well.

When it rains... this area becomes a mud pie collection of leveling blocks and chocks. First thing to do... drill larger holes to... drain water and wash out the mud holding everything together when you have a chance.

The first photo, there is a trim piece the same color as the brown lid that is fitting to the curve on our trailer.

[GMFL]

St!!ty work. Looks like Plastic was cut out with a chainsaw and a stick of dynamite. You are going to need to caulk the joint with some Sika-flex (around the squarish hole they cut) to prevent water and bugs from entering. I hate to see crappy work or unfinished detail from people who should know better.

[Lumatic]

The aluminum bumper is more for looks than protection. Found my bumper on my 93 swinging in the breeze on a recent trip. Turned out my bumper was only attached to the frame by 2 bolts on each end. The bottom bolts were missing and one of the 2 remaining was so wallowed out it was not holding at all.

[craftsman]

Why such a big gap behind the riveted aluminum strip? Can water get behind that? Doesn't look right to me. You may have to do some of your own fabrication.

[Lumatic]

Water getting into the bumper storage no problem, as long as it drains.

Water getting into the coach in front of the bumper storage compartment, big problem. This is historically a design weak point and a major factor for rear end separation

[ijustlee]

Maybe they left that gap behind the lid to keep water from being channeled under the floor inside? Does the lid hit anything above it or does it open all the way? There may be a reason why it was done that way. It seems like it could have a trim piece and some caulking to look more finished as long as that doesn't cause a new problem. If you are not happy with it you should take it back and discuss the issue with the guys that did the work! The customer is always right should be the motto of every Airstream dealer...

[mmcgue]

The factory installs the hose carrier lid front between the C-channel which holds the subflooring and the frame. It is a horrible design that could easily be helped by sealing the body to carrier lid joint prior to the installation of the lower body molding.

The Jackson Center folks instinct seems to be to do things the way they always have and not mess with many suggestions to the contrary. I recently asked while on an Airstream factory tour why they used plywood subflooring instead of a more contemporary solution (like a Coosa composite that many on this site have used) and the tour guide replied: "We use plywood." End of discussion.

I agree with a previous opinion about your installation that, in the long run, water should drain in front of the lid as opposed to running into and onto the plywood subflooring (as it would be installed at the factory) so I'd be careful not to close the gap completely.

The aluminum bumper sure does look sharp!

[kdickinson]

If you paid for it and it isn't right to you then you should ask to have it done again and done right. If the dealer is reputable they will want you to be a happy customer

[PKI]

Our lid has the piano hinge flange folded under the lid, which makes it reasonably level. Looks like the tech installed the hinge flat as opposed to folded. Review the install on a set of new trailers and see if the method has been changed or the install is wrong. Pat

[Dan and Liz]

That really looks as h-ll. Our 87 looks a lot better fitted, and it appears the lid was installed upside down...

[PKI]

Originally Posted by PKI

-- snip -- Looks like the tech installed the hinge flat as opposed to folded. -- snip --

Looked a bit closer. Appears the hinge is folded. Does look odd though. Pat

[craftsman]

Looking at it more closely, it looks like it was installed upside down. The lip at the bumper should be level . It would be if the whole assembly were turned over.
I love my Airstream but there are a lot of things done in the assembly that I question. As a custom furniture maker my philosophy is the work that you can't see should be to the same level as the work that you can see. Apparently theirs is somewhat different.

[Silvr_Bullet]

I would ask jackson Center to email a photo of how it should be installed. I have 16’ Sport and planning on having one installed in Spring 2018, do you know what the weight of the bumper is. Thanks

[righttoroam]

Originally Posted by craftsman

Looking at it more closely, it looks like it was installed upside down. The lip at the bumper should be level . It would be if the whole assembly were turned over.
I love my Airstream but there are a lot of things done in the assembly that I question. As a custom furniture maker my philosophy is the work that you can't see should be to the same level as the work that you can see. Apparently theirs is somewhat different.

Agreed - The core is great but the attention to detail is very much lacking.

[righttoroam]

Originally Posted by Silvr_Bullet

I would ask jackson Center to email a photo of how it should be installed. I have 16’ Sport and planning on having one installed in Spring 2018, do you know what the weight of the bumper is. Thanks

I don't know the weight but definitely keep this in mind so you don't find yourself in the same situation.

[halfloaf]

I just had a bumper put on my Sport 16 and when I looked at I too thought it must have been installed wrong. The way the cover is designed is decidedly stupid. Also, as you turn the latches they immediately scratch off the black paint, so I don't know where that's going to go with rust/peeling paint.

[Silvr_Bullet]

Would anyone share what the labor cost is to install a rear bumper on a 16’ Sport excluding the cost of the bumper itself. I am primarily interested about costs from a Airstream Dealership, not other RV shops. Thanks

[SilverHouseDreams]

My dealer quoted me $1399 installed for a 22FB, I can’t imagine it’s much different for a 16, and $1487 for the segment protectors.

[cstein]

Here are some pictures from our 19’ CCD as factory installed. Lid looks similar but like a couple of others mentioned, the piano hinge may work better to help raise the lid if mounted folded under the lid.