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Old 06-21-2021, 08:23 AM   #1
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At The Mothership...Exterior Restore (sort of)

Good Morning Team,

We are at the Mothership for a week while our AS gets everything from new skylights to axles, disk brakes, shocks, lift kit, tires, etc. The interior was redone a few years back. This is the exterior redo.
A couple of observations:
1) Wow is Jackson Center now really Airstream Central. The factories were up and running before dawn.
2) One of the Airstream Reps said they have gone from 250 employees (a few years back) to 1300. I figure some of the quality items reported are growing pains.
3) As others have said, the folks at the AS Factory Service Center are really great. I would encourage anyone having AS issues to make the trip. This morning, after working with our Service Advisor, we have every confidence they will do a great job.
4) We have quite a list for them to do. The interior was redone a few years back. This is the exterior redo. To facilitate them completing within the week, we stayed in a hotel. Our Service Advisor was most grateful. Having to clean up and move trailer back to the teleport every evening really does cut into their productivity.

Be glad to answer any questions.
Dan
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Old 06-21-2021, 08:48 AM   #2
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Can you let us know if the factory tours are back on yet?
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Old 06-21-2021, 08:53 AM   #3
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What did they quote you for the lift kit and labor? I'm thinking of having this done to my Classic.
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Old 06-21-2021, 08:59 AM   #4
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Hi

The whole RV industry went into a tailspin in the 2008 to 2010 time period. All the factories slowed *way* down. I believe they were up around 800 to 1000 employees back a couple years ago.

Have fun !!!

Bob
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Old 06-21-2021, 09:44 AM   #5
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Following for enlightenment.
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Old 06-21-2021, 10:00 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by panamerican View Post
Can you let us know if the factory tours are back on yet?
I did ask. The goal is to open them by the Sept Aluminapolusa.
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Old 06-21-2021, 10:03 AM   #7
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What did they quote you for the lift kit and labor? I'm thinking of having this done to my Classic.
You need him to tell you the labor for new axles and the lift kit (lift kit by itself is remove axles, install lift kit, reinstall axles). Actually if you have drum brakes yours should be cheaper then his disc brake axles, probably an hour less.
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Old 06-21-2021, 10:20 AM   #8
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Originally Posted by turk123 View Post
What did they quote you for the lift kit and labor? I'm thinking of having this done to my Classic.
buryed
It was sort of in the axle replacement estimate and it is not clear what it was. I will ask.
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Old 06-21-2021, 10:23 AM   #9
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Chatting with them, we are considering a complete reseal of the exterior. this is removing every item, cleaning it up, resealing as well as all the seems.. This would involve everything from solar panels to sky lights, etc. Cost for a 100% reseal of outside is about $3500.
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Old 06-21-2021, 12:55 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cru-in View Post
Chatting with them, we are considering a complete reseal of the exterior. this is removing every item, cleaning it up, resealing as well as all the seems.. This would involve everything from solar panels to sky lights, etc. Cost for a 100% reseal of outside is about $3500.
A number of years ago, Airstream had a winter discount where if you brought the coach to them in the off season, they would keep the trailer there over the winter, do the work and you'd get something like a 15% discount on the job(s). Do they still do that?

Thanks for the info on the tours!!
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Old 06-21-2021, 01:23 PM   #11
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A number of years ago, Airstream had a winter discount where if you brought the coach to them in the off season, they would keep the trailer there over the winter, do the work and you'd get something like a 15% discount on the job(s). Do they still do that?

Thanks for the info on the tours!!
I will ask. About 4 years abo, when the previous owner dropped $30K on the complete rework of our As's interior, he did this and the receipt shows a 10% discount.

Interesting, 5 years later, our tech immediately recognized the AS and asked if it was the one that was redone about 5 years ago. He remembered replacing the mouse fur.
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Old 06-21-2021, 01:25 PM   #12
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A good bit of the ASs sitting outside appear to be new (some still having the plastic wrap on the rock guard).

. I assume :
1) The factory messed up and they are repairing
or
2) They are returned from dealers.
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Old 06-21-2021, 01:37 PM   #13
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Probably just waiting for a part to complete them.
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Old 06-22-2021, 06:48 AM   #14
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Probably just waiting for a part to complete them.
Hi

......Or waiting for the haulers to come by and deliver them. The supply and demand for hauling is a bit out of whack with the surge in RV sales.

Bob
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Old 06-22-2021, 01:17 PM   #15
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Today's check on our AS went well. At noon, they were done resealing about 50% of the roof.

I wanted to mention, we chose to stay in a hotel vice the Terraport. I wanted to do what I could to make them as efficient as possible. Staying in a hotel allows them to not have to clean up and prep AS for us to use, they don't have to plan to have it mobile by 4 , and suffer the loss of productivity of moving it in every morning.

Hotel in Lima cost us $100 a night. I figure, at $140 and hour, we are probably saving that much. Plus they will finish earlier. Had they been moving it in/out everyday, I am doubt they could finish all the work in a week.

Something for you all to consider in your visiting JC.
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Old 06-23-2021, 07:43 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by cru-in View Post
Today's check on our AS went well. At noon, they were done resealing about 50% of the roof.

I wanted to mention, we chose to stay in a hotel vice the Terraport. I wanted to do what I could to make them as efficient as possible. Staying in a hotel allows them to not have to clean up and prep AS for us to use, they don't have to plan to have it mobile by 4 , and suffer the loss of productivity of moving it in every morning.

Hotel in Lima cost us $100 a night. I figure, at $140 and hour, we are probably saving that much. Plus they will finish earlier. Had they been moving it in/out everyday, I am doubt they could finish all the work in a week.

Something for you all to consider in your visiting JC.
Hi

There's also only just so much to do in JC. You will exhaust all the options way before a week is up ..... For a week+ sort of thing, you might consider Cincinnati ....

Bob
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Old 06-23-2021, 08:10 AM   #17
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There is a lot to do closer by. Dayton has a lot to offer and there is always the small, but interesting Neil Armstrong moon shaped Museum in Wapakoneta. Additionally there is some great old buildings/archiecture to look at around the Wapakoneta area.

If JC Pizza is still around, fairly decent pie, and a must if in Jackson Center... nowhere as good as Chicago pizza, but far better than Florida.

There is also a fair amount to do by Indian Lake to the east.

A weeks worth, prob not, but beats being parked in the customer waiting area, or spending fare more than you should at the factory store.
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Old 06-23-2021, 10:14 AM   #18
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Hotel in Lima cost us $100 a night. I figure, at $140 and hour, we are probably saving that much. Plus they will finish earlier. Had they been moving it in/out everyday, I am doubt they could finish all the work in a week.

Something for you all to consider in your visiting JC.
I'd bet your right, 40 minutes to cleanup, 10 to take it to Terra Port, and 10 minutes back to the shop could be a low estimate.
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Old 06-23-2021, 11:13 AM   #19
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I'd bet your right, 40 minutes to cleanup, 10 to take it to Terra Port, and 10 minutes back to the shop could be a low estimate.
...and then time, once back in the barn the next day, to get all set up again.

Now if it is warranty work, or work that can be accomplished in a day, the rationale may not apply.
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Old 06-26-2021, 10:10 AM   #20
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Ended up leaving our AS at JC. Work took longer than a week and we had to get back for appointments. Not too big of a deal. We only live 500 miles away. It is mostly an easy interstate drive.

Glad we stayed around for a while to have chats with the service folks on how the work would be done.

Can't say enuff good things about the folks at the AS Service Center. Bill our technician was great. As was Kevin, our Service Advisor. Josh, the Service Manager was friendly and available.

Bill cared for our AS as if it was his own. Lots of pride in workmanship.

With all the new ASs being sold, they were very busy. Be sure to make your appointment early.
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