Would you lend out your Airstream?

[Sugarfoot]

Sounds like you're in a bit of sticky wicket. Hmmmm . . . tactful honesty. After all, you have a lot invested in your vintage masterpieces.

I wouldn't trust leaving mine unsupervised even with family.

[JerryMcMunn]

For us, the AS was a very expensive purchase and involved our acquiring an appropriate tow vehicle, hitch and a commitment to learning how to safely tow the temperamental trailer. In our experience, accomplishing this goal has required much experience......not sure we're there yet. Therefore, it is hard for me to imagine a condition under which we would agree to loan-out the trailer.

[Ganglin]

I never thought it would happen to me - now what???

Sometimes there are mysterious electrical or propane problems that suddenly arise with tempermental Airstreams.

Sometimes they last long enough that thoughts of borrowing someone elses Airstream fades away.....

[Mikethefixit]

Becky
I would never ever loan my AS (if I had on,still looking) even if it was the Pres himself.
It may make her mad but she will get over it

[Toldfield]

Our Caravel is nothing fancy and I have always maintained that I would not loan it out. A year or so ago a co-worker of my wife did us a very good favor and my long suffering wife asked me if they could use Bucky for a week. She had not even offered it up to them before asking me. In the interest of domestic tranquility, and because she puts up with most of my nonsense, I agreed to let them use it. After a thorough checkout and the agreement that if they broke anything it would be fixed before they returned it the deal was made. They showed up on departure day in their 2-door Ford Explorer with a weezy little engine. So off they went not only with Bucky but they also had my Expedition. Did I mention that they were going to Burning Man? They returned a week later with everything intact. Both the car and Bucky were cleaner than I had ever seen them. They treated it very well, but I won't likely do it again.

[Mel]

Poor Shari!

I'd have to go with option #2, that you aren't really comfortable letting the trailer out of your sight. Anyone who has witnessed the work you have put into your trailer will understand (well, maybe not right away). Letting them take the Airstream after the rally may just be way too difficult, especially since you will have had 10 days to witness how someone else treats your trailer - not always a happy surprise.

[SwampBillies]

Oh Shari, I am so sorry. I know the guilt my mother can render with just a look. And she never forgets anything, and never lets me forget a mistake either. I guess if I were in your situation, I would lie. I would wait until they had enough time to make other arrangements but close enough to departure that I could say I was sure the trailer would not be ready to make the trip. With my mother I have found that the truth is not always the best policy, sometimes it is easier to lie to her than to upset her. Easier on me at least.

[scottanlily]

Im with Sugarfoot ,I would not do it . the airstream is a valuable thing to all
of us enthusiests .It is not easily replacable .Anything can happen and just might. Im in agreement that some unforseen thing could go wrong with the
coach and then what ? My brother hinted and kidded about using my 60 trdwnd ,absolutely not happening ,end of discussion ,even the travelall is totally off limits .so youve got to just figure out now how not to go or postpone it .The thing is these trailers are of great sentiment and value
and if it gets dented ,or otherwise not kept as you want it ,you will be the
one that will be the most unhappy .I love my dad ,moms gone now ,but he
has his own little RV van to go when we camp and it all works out great .

only my humble opinion ,

Scott of scottanlily

[Tinsel Loaf]

Sure I would loan out my Airstream. There are a few conditions.
First= a one time rnon refundable deposit of $ 80,000.00 deposit in CASH.
Second- borrower must assum all insurance, maintenance and any other and all costs.
Third- rent would be $ 3,000.00 A week. And last
Forth- It must be returned in better condition that it was loaned out in.

[richinny]

i'm with the above post. when my truck was new i let my dad drive it once. it came back ok, but it never happened again in 18 years. i'm funny that way.

[Becky B.]

Shari,

I got the same sick feeling reading your post as I did when my sister asked me to use my Airstream! I also had to chuckle, because I'm past the whole thing. Do you believe there was still drama over the whole thing this past summer?! She didn't ask me to use my coach, but asked my brother (who just got a SOB) to use his. He told her fine, as long as she fixed anything that broke. She asked me why he would say something like that & I told her that things DO break in trailers. Like the door in my bathroom. She was really mad I didn't tell her about the broken door (which I did when she asked what could possibly break?) and actually started to cry. Oh, the drama! Anyhow, she then called my brother & told him she didn't need to use his trailer & they used someone else's. Problem solved. She'll never ask to use my trailer again. I sold Bessie (which I offered to sell to her & she said I wanted too much money for an "old trailer") & have a different AS which I am fixing up. By the way, the door was quite a pain to fix & if you want to save yourself anxiety attacks, just make up some reason why you can't loan out your coach (insurance, whatever!) I'm much calmer now, since I've told my siblings that they won't be using my AS!

[clancy_boy]

Shari, just a quick question ------ Does your Mom and Dad use the internet?

Just had to ask. They know of your interests in Airstreams, I'm sure - could they read this thread?

My answer to this thread's basic question is and will always be - NO.

[rideair]

Shari,

I currently own four:
1966 GT, 1966 Safari, 1966 Overlander and a 1970 Safari. I have and will again let people use my 1970. I remember the first time was to some "young" friends of mine in their 20's going to a NASCAR race for the weekend. Since then, friends going to the OBX, etc... I've even offered it to my sister along with my 2002 Ford Diesel Excursion to pull it with. It's one of the very reasons why I keep the 1970. Would I loan out one of my 1966 "NO". Reason, the 1966-1968 had the famous Corning windows, if left open on a windy day, say "goodbye" to your windows.

I look at it this way, "its a trailer". Even with all the work, what's it worth? 5K, 10K, 15K, 20K. Knowing I give people the chance to enjoy something a "little different" means more to me than the money or the trailer. But as you already know, I'm a "little different" anyway. So again, "Done it, Did it, Do it Again"!

[StingrayL82]

I'll put it as simply as I can:

No F-ing Way would I ever lend Alice to anyone.

Frederic

[dudebb]

Hi Shari,
Be careful with the excuse you use. If you say the one trailer is not road worthy, they may say "Ok, we''ll wait until you come back and borrow the one that is road worthy". It might be easier to just say that your husband doesn't want any else towing your trailers. Blame the outlaw-in-law!
George

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, Shari. I think something critical on your trailer is worn out or broken; And you probably will have to use the Brakes, Tires, Wheels, Or an axle from one of your two trailers to make the other one useable therefore one trailer will just have to stay home. [sitting on blocks] Sorry Mom and Dad!

[TBRich]

Huh? No way, no how. What are they thinking, asking you something like that, and putting you in that? If they want a temporary RV, they can rent one, and everyone's happy.

TB

[barbara4rb]

Hi,
I've enjoyed reading these quandries about loaning out the beloved Airstreams!!

I don't have one yet, been looking seriously and know once I find it, I'd never loan it out. I love the posts-- only with an $80,000 deposit, -- call the RV rental place, great answers.

As for Mom and Dad, can you/would you sell them the trailer they've been using? We know they're careful, but if they owned it, they wouldn't have to ask permission, and you wouldn't have to worry. ???

[ScottW]

to put it simply....NO!

[TinShack]

NO-Nine-Nyet-Na-Non-Iie-Nee-Nao-Nie-Nahi-Siei-'A'ole-Nit-Nix-No!!!