Am I an AS snob? Are you?!

[yukionna]

I think it is just a "common interest" thing. We have friends who own a SOB and belong to a club of that brand SOB...they even have their own forum like this.

On the flip side, I have had people treat us differently because we own an Airstream. There was a thread on the forum a few years back on this topic of "millionaire Airstream owners". Because new Airstreams cost so much more than SOB trailers, some people think we Airstream owners are all millionaires.

[Mackhopp]

We had just finished the paperwork to buy our Airstream, and the dealer had parked it in their side lot. We were going to spend our first night as Airstreamers in their lot, as were another couple who had just purchased an SOB.

We got to chatting with this other couple, and of course we duly inspected each others' new purchases, ooohing and aahing all the while. It was comically obvious they didn't quite "get" it. She told me about seeing an Airstream in a recent tent sale and wondered who the heck would buy one of those things? Too much money and not enough storage space with all the curves topped the list of comments.

Most of the time though we get curious people asking about it, and generally being complimentary. Probably because Airstreams are few and far between as compared with SOBs.

Let's face it - if there was a parking lot full of boring beige and white Honda Civics (no offense intended; I've got one myself!) and one or two shiny Ferraris, which would get all the attention?

[Garfield]

We don't consider ourselves as snobs, but we have to admit to being VERY proud owners of one fine RV.

[Mexray]

...I thought SOB stood for 'Slide Out Behemoth'....

The seductive, aircraft-like shape of an AS will always stand out in the SOB world...poetry in motion, and when in camp mode too!

[bredlo]

Maybe a snob, maybe not... but I know one thing: I'd have absolutely no interest in trailers if Airstreams didn't exist. Its design, heritage and classic riveted look gave me the interest in this hobby in the first place.

In a world without Airstream, I'd still have a deep love for traveling to far-flung destinations. But it'd be in a tent.

[Becky B.]

People who aren't Airstreamers DON'T get it.....it's true. I remember, years ago, as a young mother with a desire to camp, looking at an Airstream that was parked along the road. WOW! It was so expensive. And it hardly had any storage space! And only two beds! I bought a pop up that slept my family of 6 pretty comfortably. But that shiny aluminum stuck in my mind forever. Even after the pop up, I bought a behemoth of a trailer & we all fit great (even the kids friends). But that Airstream always stuck in my mind....shiny, shiny.... Did anyone at a campground ever come in for a tour of those trailers? No! But with my Airstreams that I have had since, people (fellow snobbish Airstreamers, I might add), had come for a tour. I too don't think we're snobs, actually. I do think we have interests in common. I guess pop-ups are everywhere, and so are the huge bunkhouses! Thank goodness my kids don't all come on vacation with me anymore & I can actually have a trailer with only 2 beds! Shiny, shiny, shiny!

[mrmossyone]

Heck, I'll talk to anybody and offer them a beer as well, but if you have a Stream your likely to get two, three or six beers. I think it is just more likey that you will have more in common with a fellow streamer.

[Foiled Again]

Advice I got as a four year old, and it always holds true. I really enjoy my A/S but I don't think badly of people who have any variety of SOB. My home campground is full of people who leave their RV's there, have the campground staff move them from storage to a lot, and vacation periodically at this one campground. That kind of camping is wasted on an Airstream. I don't get to travel as often or as far as I'd like, but I still say Airstreams are meant for the open road. SOB's are fine to park at a lake for the summer.

I've visited people in the huge beautiful (and sometimes wh***house overdone) mohos. They are lovely and spacious, and 10 years from now will be ???? junked?

I know for a fact that at least three people I've met have bought Airstreams after seeing mine. I don't think that makes me a snob, but maybe it makes me a recruiter!

Paula

[ckeysor]

I agree with the general thought we are all bound together by the incredible design and heritage of Airstreams.

My funniest campground story happened when I had to live in my 79 International at Lowes Motor Speedway while I was waiting for my family to be able to join me in Charlotte. Except for semi-annual NASCAR races the campground was mostly filled with full-timers.

When I pulled in for my first night, I found out my gas water heater wasn't working so I went out to fix it. A couple of people came over to "help". One person was smoking and the other had a mason jar of shine.

Good intentions+bad judgement = me taking a cold shower that night.

[dufferin]

I think the AS bring us to speak with so many people I would be surprised if we could be tagged "snob".

Though I have to say that I love to see another AS in a campground and spend time talking about them... but I was never lucky enough to meet another forum member... sad.

So not Snob but I would say "concern"

[bredlo]

Thinking back to high school, it seemed to always be the prettiest girls who were labeled "snobs", even if they were actually kind, sweet people.

So I wonder if jealousy doesn't play some role in landing us with the undeserved label of snobbery.

[Ganaraska]

Invite them over for champagne and caviar, that will show them who is a snob! Ha ha ha ha ha.

Then explain that your Cayman Islands trust leases it from your Lichtenstein corporation through your Swiss bank, resulting in a perpetual tax loss carry forward for your Delaware corporation.

The real expense is having all that aluminum polished by topless bikini models!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

[purman]

When we were in ZION last weekend my wife called me a snob... As we walked by a huge fifth wheel the dad was outside washing his kids with the hose... Come on It's a huge fifth wheel...

I said " man doesn't' that big fancy thing have a shower in it like mine" jokingly of course. He said he didn't want to fill up the grey tanks... My wife said I was being a snob.... I let my kids shower inside... Guess I'm a snob...

But I do talk to the SOB's next to me.. Mostly the older retired folks as they are friendly and like to talk most of the time... But yes I do go and talk to the other AS owners or they stop by and talk to me....It fun...

[Goin camping]

Originally Posted by Ganaraska

Invite them over for champagne and caviar, that will show them who is a snob! Ha ha ha ha ha.

Then explain that your Cayman Islands trust leases it from your Lichtenstein corporation through your Swiss bank, resulting in a perpetual tax loss carry forward for your Delaware corporation.

The real expense is having all that aluminum polished by topless bikini models!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!

I tried that one but since I was cooking a hot dog and drinking domestic beer. I don't think they bought it.

[U.PenAir]

Everyone harbors a secret hatred for the prettiest girl in the room--Ani

I believe this translates to Airstreams and campgrounds.

[jerrypeterma]

I think one reason for this type thinking is the rarity that you find the airstreams. My wife and I drove from my home town to Carolina beach NC (200 miles) and I bet her that we would see a Airstrem on the road. I lost 5 dollars.
Double or nothing on the way home lost me another fiver.
So it only makes you glade when you do see one.
Take care
Jerry

[63Silver]

It's kind of like Harley's and Corvette's and other unique products, it's a brotherhood. I don't think we are called snobs. Take a look at my pictures, most people are just surprised it can still make it to the campground. I've been thinking about putting a donation pot in front of the camper to get donations. "Give money or I'll keep bringing this mess here every weekend!!!"

63silver

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Roamin' Cat

So, AM I an AS snob?

Are you?

Do you care? Just wondering!

Yep...you are

Yep...we are

Nope we don't

Ain't it fun??

[Eliminator46]

I couldn't help but chime in on this one. I feel a strong need for diversity. My wife and I are bikers too. We road Jap bikes, and now a HD. We are welcome at all bike events. Never was there a snob in my mind other than the hot cheerleader in school. As a child 30yrs or so ago, my neighbor rolled up in this shiny new AS. He couldn't help but hollar at Dad to "come check out my new toy". It was a beauty. All the years growing up until recently have been checkin out SOB's and just didn't find the WOW factor. Now at 38, I have this 1970 AS and in the process of getting it road ready and can't wait for someone to give me the WOW factor (positive comliments) that the neighbor got. I just don't see the longevity in the SOB's or even a new AS. The point is, all bikers crave the wind in our hair, despite what we ride, and all RV'rs crave the freedom to stop anywhere we want. The difference is, it is a solid groung for longevity, and pride in USA. We seek out common interest. The AS always looked like an airplane to me, and I always wanted to be a pilot. Now can't wait to fly my own BIRD soon.
Adam

[Skater]

Back in July, I was camping at a campground in Indianapolis, when someone knocked on my door and asked about my tow dolly. Turns out she'd just bought a camper and had gotten the same brand of tow dolly, so she wondered if I had any pointers.

Are we tow dolly snobs because we didn't talk to the other motorhome there with a different dolly? No, of course not. As has been said a couple times, it's just a common interest thing.

There was a couple there with their Airstream, and they swung by one evening and we chatted for a bit. I talked to a couple other people in the campground, too, and I almost always do.