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osolow · 09-15-2008, 10:31 AM

OK i want to know what Airstream says the life of there trailers are?
or expected life should be?

richinny · 09-15-2008, 11:22 AM

never dies, it can last forever!

Boondocker · 09-15-2008, 11:23 AM

Mine turned 40 this year.

flyfshr · 09-15-2008, 11:28 AM

Mine turned 50 last month. With proper care, they could last indefinitely.

Brad
FF

InsideOut · 09-15-2008, 12:00 PM

One of mine is 44 and the other 53 ~ although both have had "some work done" as many well preserved folks have around that age! I'd say with a 1990, you've got at least another 25-30 years ahead of you before she'll have to go under the knife!

Shari

willyd · 09-15-2008, 12:24 PM

I guess my 1986 should last a while.

utee94 · 09-15-2008, 12:27 PM

Mine is 45 years young right now.

For the 50th birthday, I think I'm going to throw a big party.

osolow · 09-15-2008, 12:32 PM

it's already under the knife aim already patching 3 places in my floor in the front of the trailer, and thanks to Ike and all the rain he drop on us i was able to find were some of my leaks in the front of my trailer are. this is the part that gets me a little mad my leaks are coming from several of the rivets not any of the seems.
I like my trailer and i would more then likely buy another A/S in fact me and my wife are actually thinking about selling are 29 ft er and buying something around a 19ft er possibly 22ft.
i was just curious to know what an A/S expected life is with out having to do a complete remodel or floor replacement? I mean if you could buy a brand new A/S of any year and did nothing to it but the basic maintenance and used it.
with everyday wear and tear how long Dose the company say that trailer will last you in good working order? will it be 10 years 20 year 30 or more years? i mean everything mechanical has an expected life expectancy.

soldiermedic · 09-15-2008, 01:14 PM

D,

You will always have things to maintain with an RV. The 1953 I am redoing right now needs all systems replaced (Plumbing, electrical), and we are replacing the floors, gaskets, etc. The shell is aluminum ans will last forever. 65% of all airstreams ever made are still being used today. Show me an SOB that claims that!

Steve

InsideOut · 09-15-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osolow

it's already under the knife aim already patching 3 places in my floor in the front of the trailer,

Sorry to hear that...fix 'em while they are small and just patches.

Quote:

Originally Posted by osolow

and thanks to Ike and all the rain he drop on us i was able to find were some of my leaks in the front of my trailer are. this is the part that gets me a little mad my leaks are coming from several of the rivets not any of the seems.

I assume when you say the leaks are "coming from the rivets", you mean inside the trailer. Leaks don't always show up on the inside where the cause is on the outside. As we all know, rivets don't go all the way through the shell. There probably is a leak in an exterior skin seam. The water is most likely traveling between the skins and/or along a rib to an inner skin rivet. The inside skins and rivets are not sealed.

My first thing, as a starting point, would be to double check the seams on or near the roof, vents & awnings for seams or seals that have gone bad...

Finding the source of the leaks now will prevent future floor repairs ~

Shari

2airishuman · 09-15-2008, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osolow

OK i want to know what Airstream...expected life should be?

define life.

when a unit is reduced to pieces and re-assembled is that still the orignal trailer?

how about after part or ALL of the frame is replaced, or floor or inner skin...

or several out skin sections or the axles, tongue and crapper?

IF you save one original panel and "build around it" is that a wally-trailer or a jimbob-trailer?

imo the primary 'longevity feature' of 'steams is that they are almost entirely rebuildable...

but at some point and like a cat, the unit is into it's next life.

few would disagree that a li'deuce coup isn't cool and at some point WAS a '32 ford...

bur are the 'boys still the boys?

the real boys...

now on the more serious side a/s has altered assembly methods, framing, floors and shell materials a few times over 75 years...

so a 90s trailer may NOT have nearly enough genetic ties to the 50s/60s units that suggest a long life...

i just don't see the CURRENT skin/rivet count/ribs/size/frames, with the current WEIGHT surviving, in use for 40 years.

cheer
2air'

soldiermedic · 09-15-2008, 02:06 PM

D,

Like Shari stated, you need to find your leaks at the source.

Finding RV Leaks

Moonstruck · 09-15-2008, 04:15 PM

I think we all know the answer to this question. I have two trailers on the site I inhabit here in the UK. Both are older than anything else on the site, yet look better AND will last longer! Whether it be tinkering, refurbishing, or ground-up rebuild, it's worth the effort and gives more back than any SOB. This can be the only reason that so many survive, in whatever form.

Inland RV Center, In · 09-15-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osolow

OK i want to know what Airstream says the life of there trailers are?
or expected life should be?

The lifetime of a poorly rigged Airstream trailer tow vehicle combo, maybe 6 months to a year, "IF LUCKY."

The lifetime of a properly rigged Airstream trailer tow vehicle combo, with proper PM's when required, would be 200 to 300 years, being "VERY CONSERVATIVE."

An Airstream is like a DC-3. With proper care and a little TLC, their life expectancy, is almost beyond emagination.

The enjoyment from an Airstream properly taken care of, "PRICELESS."

Andy

Sixty3TW4US · 09-15-2008, 05:50 PM

Mine is 45 yrs young, she is so HOT that if you have a boy vintage AS I know the night would never end.

mandolindave · 09-15-2008, 06:07 PM

I got a headache trying to do the math. Mine was 34 years old before it needed bigtime repairs. I would say that most Airstreams will outlast
their fridge, water heater, furnace, pump, etc. I think one factor that
would skew the lifespan, would be that Airstreams are cool, and expensive. Owners are willing to spend time, energy, and money to preserve, or revive a cool Airstream. They might not care to hassle with a corny SOB that will never be worth anything.
Back to not answering your question. Compute the percentage of
existing Airstreams ( minus lost by collision ) to number produced for every year of production ( also minus lost by collision ). Find the year that has
50% of the trailers produced still on the road. There you have it.

juel · 09-15-2008, 06:34 PM

I think they will last just as long as someone loves and takes care of them. Actually they will last to some degree even if no one takes care of them. I see several very old AS around Oklahoma that are just being used for storage. Their owners won't sell them, they are not being maintained; however, they are still standing proudly in the open fields of Oklahoma, a tribute to the quality with which they were produced. I have a 1976 and a 1978 that have had excellent care. Both are still on the road with no floor rot, no big leaks. Both are still giving the great enjoyment they were built to give. I will say that I also have a 1957 Santa Fe that is still on the road. I has a flat roof that allowed for some leaks, but that has been replaced and a rubber compound applied to keep it water tight. It's a wonderful little trailer, but not the beauty of the Airstream/Argosy.

overlander63 · 09-15-2008, 06:41 PM

They will last as long as you are willing to properly maintain them.

94Tri · 09-15-2008, 07:52 PM

Maintenance is definitely key to the lifespan of most anything. At least with AS, you are dealing with a durable hull and frame assembly that will resist the effects of weather. It seems to take a lot of neglect to ruin an Airstream. Our 1st was a 31 foot Sovereign and it was great.