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11-16-2006, 01:32 AM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member 
1999 34' Excella
Fort Polk
, Louisiana
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22
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A newbie with questions
Hello! My husband and I found this site while researching the purchase of our soon-to-be first Airstream. Airstreams sell very quickly and we have been amazed to find they usually sell for well over the NADA guide prices! This weekend we will be heading out to look at the 1999 34' Excella that we hope to purchase - we have not been fast enough to purchase others that we have found! If anyone has any suggestions or tips, we would love to hear from you!
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11-16-2006, 06:09 AM
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#2
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1 Rivet Member 
1972 31' Sovereign
White Heath
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 19
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keeping cool under airstream pressure
The best advice I can give, as a recent buyer of our first Airstream, is to keep your cool. Don't get so freaked out by the buying frenzy that you rush a purchase and end up with regrets. Lots of trouble can hide in a vintage trailer. Take your time and look at a few so you get a better feel for what it is you need and want. While we were looking, we refined our idea of the best size for our family (two adults + two medium-sized kids).
Try not to be pressured by other would-be buyers -- if they rush into a purchase that turns out to be not so great, then you're the winner. And other buyers sometimes mysteriously disappear; if a lot of other people have seen and rejected an Airstream, it's a red flag (imho).
In our case, we looked at some real stinkers before we found our rose. And even the stinkers were very educational. I would recommend looking at any Airstream within easy driving distance, even if you're sure it's too big or too small or too anything -- every one you look at gives you new information and can help you realize things you haven't thought about yet.
Also, the more you look at, the better you get at making a quick, honest evaluation, and you can jump on a good buy more quickly and with confidence. Educate yourself as much as possible and get a feel for the product -- and trust your instincts! If the seller seems shady, if there is a strange aura of "not right" about the situation -- run!
We finally found what we hope is the perfect trailer for us -- the right size, good shape, has been used often and maintained well by hard-core Airstreamers. I'm so glad we didn't bite at one of those earlier, not-so-perfect trailers.
Good luck with your search!
__________________
Not all who wander are lost. -- JRR Tolkien
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11-16-2006, 08:38 AM
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#3
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Moderator

2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,219
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First of all, Welcome to the Forums! You mention that you are going to look at a 34 footer. Therefore, I will assume that you are interested in a larger Airstream. You failed to mention if you are an experienced RVer or trailer puller.
I would also suggest that you not rush into any Airstream purchase unless you have fully educated yourself on the ins and outs of Airstream buying and owning. I know the temptation is there to rush in and buy the first "jewel" that you find.
There's a lot of good information on these Forums. Ask questions.
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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11-16-2006, 08:55 AM
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#4
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Rivet Master 
1994 30' Excella
Currently Looking...
Milwaukee
, Wisconsin
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,935
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Welcome to the forums. Like the earlier posters said do not rush into a purchase. there is the right trailer waiting for you somewhere in Texas. Use the forum to learn about the trailer you want. There is a sub forum for each model and year open them and read about that model from those who own them. Fred's Page: http://www.airstreammotorhomes.com/ will give you specs of many different trailers.
Good luck with your search.
__________________
Chaplain Kent
Forest River Forester 2501TS
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11-16-2006, 01:02 PM
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#5
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2 Rivet Member 
1999 34' Excella
Fort Polk
, Louisiana
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22
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Thank you!
Good advice and I appreciate the thoughts! We have pulled rented trailers for several years and have some experience as "weekenders". We have looked at new and pre-owned at dealerships but at that time we felt it was just for education purposes - never really serioulsy considering a purchase. The quality of an Airstream really captivated us! I guess you never feel "prepared" enough to make a major purchase (for us anyway!) without some thoughts and suggestions from others! We have found the ones to "run away from" and have lost ones we were interested in because we were willing to wait and keep looking. I'm looking forward to more suggestions and thoughts! Ya'll are great!
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11-16-2006, 01:30 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
1984 31' Airstream310
Dunsmuir
, California
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 1,336
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Welcome.
This thread has some information. I'm sure there is a good checklist somewhere but I didn't find it with a quick search.
http://www.airforums.com/forum...ist-13963.html
Good Luck!
__________________
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion.
If you want to be happy, practice compassion - The Dalai Lama
1984 310 Limited Motorhome
Courtesy Parking (W/S/E/Wi-Fi) on I-5 in Northern California, 70 miles from Oregon border
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11-17-2006, 12:08 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master 
1963 16' Bambi
1962 22' Safari
Yreka
, California
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,937
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Welcome!
Welcome to the forums! This is the place to learn all Airstream!
Excellent suggestions so far and I agree, really look at lots of them before you commit. Here is another good thread that covers a lot of ideas you might want to think about before you part with your hard earned money!
http://www.airforums.com/forum...eam-22920.html
Be prepared for dealing with storage, winterizing, repairs, etc. Check with your insurance folks for what additional costs you may need to have. Also check to see if your tow vehicle breaks down if the insurance you have will also have your trailer towed along with your tow vehicle... you just don't want to have it sit on the side of the road... lots of stuff to think about! Grab some coffee and read through lots of threads on the forum. Good advice here.
Good luck, and let us know how your search is going!
Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)
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11-17-2006, 07:39 AM
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#8
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FT RVing
1976 31' Sovereign
Always searching for a place w/low Humidity
, FT RVing, N & S, E & W, & in between
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
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Advice
As usual, there is a lot of good advice posted above. I would just add that you should read it all again...at least twice! I'm a new owner and I am convinced that no matter how careful you are, you will get a surprise or two when you get your new new possession home and give it a careful examination.  Your best insurance against finding expensive to fix surprises is to have strong reasons to trust and have confidence in what the PO tells you. Bill
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11-17-2006, 11:00 AM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member 
1999 34' Excella
Fort Polk
, Louisiana
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22
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Thanks for all the links!
BTW - I'm Mona, I used my husbands name to register and since I'm the one posting, I thought I'd introduce myself! The links have great information and we thank each of you for taking the time to point us in the right direction! We'll let you know what happens! Thanks again and we'll keep reading!
Mona
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11-17-2006, 12:00 PM
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#10
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FT RVing
1976 31' Sovereign
Always searching for a place w/low Humidity
, FT RVing, N & S, E & W, & in between
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
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Verify
Hi Mona, welcome to the Forums. I should add this comment to my previous post, "Trust......but verify when possible". Bill
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11-17-2006, 12:35 PM
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#11
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FT RVing
1976 31' Sovereign
Always searching for a place w/low Humidity
, FT RVing, N & S, E & W, & in between
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 271
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useful list
Mona, I thought this list would be helpful.
It's not the things that you can easily "see" with your own eyes that you should be concerned about when you look at an Airstream. Most people are reasonably good judges of the quality and merits of what they can "see". It's the hidden or not so obvious things that can be big surprises and expensive to fix. Some of them are:
1) Water leaks - these can sometimes be hard to spot and usually expensive to fix and repair the damage, especially if they have been leaking for a long time. Some clues are musty moldy smell, darky colored/rotten sub-floor, areas that are damp to the touch or water stained, sewer vents are notorious leak candidates, holding tanks (look for RUST eating through the pan or belly cover), leaking sewer dump valves (gate valves).
2) Old tires - forget the tread, look at the age. Tires that are over 5 years old will need replacing....that at least $500.00.
3) Defective Fridge - That's a $1200.00 to $1500.00 item.
4) Defective AC - $600.00
5) Serious frame rust/decay - many $$$$
There are some other less expensive things, but any of the above can be a "deal breaker".
Good look and successful hunting. Bill
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11-17-2006, 01:14 PM
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#12
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Frank S
1973 27' Overlander
peoria
, Illinois
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 316
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Hi ciquing--You mentioned that you were interested in a 34' A/S, but didn't mentioned what you plan to tow with. A good minimum rule of thumb for a tow vehicle would be a truck with a V-8 engine: 1/2 ton up to 27' A/S, 3/4 ton over 27' A/S. Further refinement would be transmission cooler, engine oil cooler, 10K lb capacity hitch receiver, trailer wireing harness, and a 4.10 rear axle ratio with a 5.3ltr V-8, or at lease a 3.73 with any engine. This is some starting info, that you can build on.--Frank S
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11-17-2006, 02:00 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member 
1999 34' Excella
Fort Polk
, Louisiana
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 22
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We have a '95 Chevy G20 Conversion Van
It has V8 350, 3/4 ton class three hitch with electric brake control (7 pin)
It has high mileage and we are considering the long term use and moving up to an F250 Diesel. We also own a utility trailer and will need 2 tv's as other vehicle is a Ford Explorer. The van would then be the tv for the ut.
I'm still finding check-lists and enjoying navigating this site! Am going to print-out the lists for my husband -
Mona
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