Still on the fence...

[DeltaRon]

Still deciding between 24 ft. Leisure Travel Van or 2015 AS 25. Was leaning towards AS, even bought 2015 Tahoe as TV. But, I keep reading about AS maintenance issues, ie. waxing twice/yr, skin leaks, corrosion issues, etc. and that's turning me off. The thought of having to "wax" a 25 ft trailer and deal with leaks, etc. is a turnoff. Experienced AS'ers, am I overemphasizing the wrong things?


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[Ahab]

We bought our '08 22' Safari Sport 7 years ago, still looks great. Are we missing something by not polishing it?

[dkottum]

There are maintenance issues and needs with any RV. Corrosion and leaks must be inspected, treated and repaired as needed on a regular basis or will lead to larger problems. Research it and plan on it from the start. A few hours spent quarterly on this can prevent extensive future damage. If you're not up for it, you need to have a real good Airstream dealer or shop do it for you.

If you park a Leisure Van or an Airstream at the beach or drive on northern winter road salt frequently, either will corrode. They are metal.

When the drivetrain of a Leisure Van wears out you need a new Leisure Van. When you Airstream tow vehicle drivetrain wears out, the Airstream is still good to go.

It can be a close call, we struggled with it. For the purpose of touring the country and no extended stays, we would probably choose a van. But we do extended stays and the Airstream is ideal. A cozy little cabin wherever we park it, and the tow vehicle a daily driver.

[Kevin245]

Maintenance is a way of life for any RV owner. RV's , automobiles, boats, etc all require specific maintenance. We do a exterior cleaning and sealing inspection every 6 months on our 5er, Avion, and Airstream. It is part of the ownership experience/responsibility if one wants longevity.

Whether you select the Leisure coach or an Airstream your responsibilities will likely be similar.

Good luck in your decision process,

Kevin


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[prairieschooner]

RV = Repair Vehicle!
My advice would be to first decide if you want a Motorhome or Travel Trailer, they both have their advantages and disadvantages. After that you can narrow your search for the RV.
If you decide on a newer Motorhome you can always restore an older Airstream... nope, too much maintenance!

[truxpin]

Yes, maintenance is a constant with any RV. But what scares me about someday "upgrading" to a new Airstream are the things I read about, that a LOT of new owners are voicing concern over..... most of which seem to be quality control issues and equipment malfunction.
Dont get me wrong, I love the Airstreams! But I'd never drop $80-100K on a new one, not when you read about people who have and don't make it through their inaugural trip without major mechanical issues, or people returning to the "mother ship" withing a year of purchase with a laundry list of warranty repairs.
IMO, for that kind of money you should not have to deal with those kind of issues. A.S. has been assembling these trailers for quite some time and should be turning out mostly perfect examples by now, especially considering their position and reputation.

My opinion only, but, if you have this kind of money in your budget (New Airstream MSRP $$ ) and your thinking about buying an Airstream to actually use and not just to have as a fashion accessory to "glam" up your property. Research and shop for one that is within a few years from new, one that has seen some real use and has had any "bugs" dealt with already. Then if you decide you want to upgrade the look of anything inside ( or outside ) of the trailer, you can pay for it with the $30,000 you saved not buying a new one.