Pull the trigger

[Betterboat]

Hi
This thread is for anyone considering whether to buy an airstream and put their tent in a yard sale . I’m 60 years old with 30 years tent camping with my enduring and endearing wife . Now with 1 year and 4000 miles of rv’ing behind us my only regret is I wish I had done done it sooner ! Does anyone feel the same ? Pull the trigger and start Streamin
Betterboat

[mpsgolf]

Agree!

These achy joints no longer camp but ww love the outdoors. Now we “camp” with our own heat and a/c, memory foam mattress and coffee maker. Ah, the life!

We have seen and experienced things in our Airstream we NEVER would have without our Sali. We are on a quest to visit as many National Parks as we can.

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by Betterboat

Hi
This thread is for anyone considering whether to buy an airstream and put their tent in a yard sale . I’m 60 years old with 30 years tent camping with my enduring and endearing wife . Now with 1 year and 4000 miles of rv’ing behind us my only regret is I wish I had done done it sooner ! Does anyone feel the same ? Pull the trigger and start Streamin
Betterboat

On the mark!
We have told many that exact same thing ... sooner rather than later. Prices are on the way up for new units and likely will also affect the prices on used as well.

[Matt D]

OK, I’ll play.

My name is Matt, and we are a family of 5. Me, my DW, Daughter (10), Son (8), and fur baby.

I’ve wanted an A/S for a LONG time. We recently had to replace my pickup and went with a decent tow vehicle (F-350 SRW).

We have been RVing for 9 years and most recently came out of a 45’ Pusher.

Yup. Going a completely different direction now.

So, here are my questions for anyone who knows..

I’m aware A/S has a 3 year structural warranty, but how long is a full warranty? A year?

As we aren’t locked into a new unit, are there any years to shy away from? Any years that were notably better than others?

I am aware of Colonial in NJ, and have found a few other dealers with decent prices. Who is a favored dealer lately, and why? I can travel, so have no geographical bias.

-Matt

[Mollysdad]

I've had a series of tents, even a pop-up camper.
I've backpacked short hikes (5 miles) just for a lovely view.
Today, I don't 'camp' per se, I travel. I use the Airstream to live in while I'm seeing beautiful parts of the country.

[Caffeinated]

Originally Posted by Matt D

OK, I’ll play.

My name is Matt, and we are a family of 5. Me, my DW, Daughter (10), Son (8), and fur baby.

I’ve wanted an A/S for a LONG time. We recently had to replace my pickup and went with a decent tow vehicle (F-350 SRW).

We have been RVing for 9 years and most recently came out of a 45’ Pusher.

Yup. Going a completely different direction now.

So, here are my questions for anyone who knows..

I’m aware A/S has a 3 year structural warranty, but how long is a full warranty? A year?

As we aren’t locked into a new unit, are there any years to shy away from? Any years that were notably better than others?

I am aware of Colonial in NJ, and have found a few other dealers with decent prices. Who is a favored dealer lately, and why? I can travel, so have no geographical bias.

-Matt

You might think about starting your own thread for these questions.

Mike

[uncle_bob]

Hi

We spent over 40 years camping in tents and looking at alternatives. We would shop and shop, each time we went back to the tents. The older we have gotten, the less appeal sleeping on the ground has. Watching the next door neighbors dry out their tents all day last Sunday, does bring back other memories as well.

Would we have switched over a decade ago to an AS? Likely not. If some of the other stuff that is out there today had been available 20 years ago ... maybe. Would a "buy" a year earlier have made sense in slightly different circumstances - sure. Equally if the whole retirement thing had gone down in another direction, a buy a year or two later would have made sense.

----------

Airstream's current three year warranty covers everything except the appliances and stuff that dies with normal wear ( brakes, tires, batteries ....). Those items are all covered by manufacturer's warranties of varying lengths.

Bob

[kb0zke]

Many of us have similar stories. I decided I wanted an Airstream back in the 60's, when I was in junior high. I grew up in a family that never camped, but I always thought it looked like fun. When Jo Ann and I got married in the 80's, she introduced me to tent camping. I found out that, yes, camping is fun, but it is also work - and bugs. In the late 90's we bought an old Class C, and used that for a couple of years before going back to a tent. When retirement was approaching we started researching full-timing and what to full-time in. We bought a small TT for a learning experience, liked what we learned, and decided to go full-time in something bigger. Did a year or so more research and bought our Foretravel MH. At the time it seemed like the best choice for us.


It wasn't. We started out thinking that we'd travel 2-5 days per month, staying for a few days to a week in each place. We've had several stays of 6-8 weeks, and one of five months. The Foretravel will be up for sale in January and we'll be looking for an Airstream.

[drbrick]

My wife and I tent camped for well over 10 years. Our first trailer was a 2007 T@B which we just love and enjoyed for several years until could fulfill our dream and satisfy that itch for the iconic Airstream. For us it's our 2004 International 25 CCD. We're now well into our 70s and this will be the trailer that we will take into Glory. We spend 6 months a year going to our favorite Boondock camp sites and travel our beautiful Canada.

[skyguyscott]

Originally Posted by Matt D

I’m aware A/S has a 3 year structural warranty, but how long is a full warranty? A year?

As we aren’t locked into a new unit, are there any years to shy away from? Any years that were notably better than others?

I am aware of Colonial in NJ, and have found a few other dealers with decent prices. Who is a favored dealer lately, and why? I can travel, so have no geographical bias.

-Matt

Matt, welcome to Airstream. I can give a quick few answers, but a deeper understanding will come from exploring this very forum. There are lots of fascinating rabbit holes to go down here on virtually any aspect of camping in an Airstream.

Bob dealt with the warranty issue. New trailers come with it, and you'll likely need it, given how fast the factory is churning them out (see forum threads here on "Quality")

Newer used trailers, those <2-10 years old will sell for very close to new, but should have all the kinks taken care of. AS trailers hold their value very well. Vintage trailers can be a great bargain. Generally the "cheaper" the sale price, the more work will be needed. That takes lots of time and $$, but if you are the type that likes to work on stuff yourself, this can be a great, fun and rewarding hobby itself. But if you're the type with limited time, tools, skills or space, and you want to spend your time actually camping, maybe not so much, unless you find a cream puff for cheap. (maybe possible, but highly unlikely in the internet age. -- cheapest used trailers will be found deep in the so-called fly-over country)

In the age of the internet, you can research and haggle and find a great deal. AS owners don't mind traveling across the country for a great deal from a dealer with a great reputation. They do mind traveling across the country for service however. So research, haggle and ask lots of questions.

[Hans627]

Originally Posted by Betterboat

Hi
This thread is for anyone considering whether to buy an airstream and put their tent in a yard sale . I’m 60 years old with 30 years tent camping with my enduring and endearing wife . Now with 1 year and 4000 miles of rv’ing behind us my only regret is I wish I had done done it sooner ! Does anyone feel the same ? Pull the trigger and start Streamin
Betterboat

Yes, I really wish we would have done it sooner. Time marches on and it's amazing that years can pass by while contemplating.

[uncle_bob]

Hi

If you are looking at dealers, consider more than just price. Like it or not, there is a *lot* of prep work that is done by the dealer. Just like a new automobile, these come out of the factory with this and that needing to be done. In addition, there are a bunch of things a good dealer will check (and possibly correct) on a new trailer. There also are care issues (battery maintenance being one) while the trailer is on the dealer lot.

You *might* assume that all dealers are trained / monitored / certified to the same level. In the RV business, that's not how it works. In an ideal world it would work that way, we do not live in an ideal world.

Bob