New, and my feet are getting cold

[Djmclean]

Seems like the first question you need to answer is do you want to go Rv-ing? If the answer is "Yes", then the Airstream is probably your top-quality best choice.

Before purchasing our 1988 Argosy (by AirStream) 5th wheel, we owned (and still do) a 1990-something Sportsmen 30'. We loved going camping in it and were devastated to find leaks and rot under the skin. The rotting was so bad that it hasn't moved in over 5 years. Inside, the floor, rug and furnishings are barely used, but the shell and body is garbage. My husband swore he would never own another wooden framed trailer again. True to his word, our horse trailer is all aluminum (in that-even the floor) and now we have the Argosy. Even though there were multiple leaks in the Argosy's roof, it was very solid. We replaced the ceiling and it's looking great.

If you really want to travel in an RV, I think the AS is a no-brainer!

[casa3805]

Originally Posted by Fly at Night

Some Airstreamers with older trailers seem to be pretty smug about the quality of their trailer and expound "Do not buy new!" (I sometimes wonder if they secretly long for a new Air Stream but cannot afford one - don't kick me! lol!) .

Hey!!!! Yes.

[newroswell]

This wood floor thing really takes a beating. Most RV's all the way up to the million dollar monsters, still have wood subfloors. They are reliable, inexpensive, and easy to work with. Is the new, no rot, no VOC, no glue, materials the way to go? PROBABLY. Airstream's way of adopting these things is slow and I think that is a good thing (most of the time). No changes, only improvements. Sometimes the New-New Thing seems obviously better. Sometimes it turns out to have unintended, disastrous consequences. If these new materials show they can hold up to real world usage, they'll make their way into the Airstream production line.

Earthbound can afford to experiment on its customers. They have no market share, no brand legacy, no loyal customer base, NOTHING TO LOSE. If those trailers start falling apart and the company is crushed by a class action lawsuit, they'll fold, leaving everyone with no warranty, no parts, no dealers. You can bet the principle investors will spring up with the next New-New Thing a year later.

The great thing about an Airstream is that if you want to get out of it and into something else, it'll have a much better resell value than anything else. I actually sold my 2007 25FB CCD for a few grand more than I paid for it just 18 months before (bought it used). We had over 60 nights of great fun and we learned what we wanted different in our next one.

Go to a vintage trailer rally. I've seen hundreds of vintage trailers, and it's not uncommon for one to have an original floor that is 50 years old. And the others are usually rescues and the current owner rebuilt with wood again.