AS Current Quality of Workmanship

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by TKCamper

Well stated!!!

We'll see?

Bob
🇺🇸

[mefly2]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

panameriacn, I've read your posts, and I understand your personal perspective based on your observations. I don't doubt them in the slightest. My comments though are not based on my personal experience. They are supported by real and valid data. I have provided the source several times. There are customer survey providers with active websites who charge about $100 for customer satisfaction and quality/warranty experience. I bought one report four years ago. I have suggested those who wish to verify my comments and see for themselves some quantitative data can also purchase the results. If you were to purchase the reports, you too would have objective data.

It would be helpful if you would summarize that report to which you refer - bought four years ago ...
... you certainly throw that out all the time ...

[BayouBiker]

The terms of the purchase specified I agreed not to reproduce the report, or any part of it, but I have mentioned a few times that Airstream got well above average marks for quality. They were not among the best of the best, but respectable. Overall satisfaction was quite high.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by TKCamper

Well stated!!!

Agreed.

[Gene]

At one time Forum members wanted marine plywood in Airstreams, but the company did not respond, as least for years. They were aware of the problems—I know from the contacts I had at the company years ago. I don't think they upgraded the plywood, but I cannot recall right now. If they did it was in the mid-teens, before composite showed up.

Now there is pride in "composite". That could mean many things. For example, OSB is a composite and does extremely badly when wet. What type of composite and how does it do with water? Though posted before, one of the prime problems with subfloors for years was leaks where the awnings attached to the body. I had water coming in that way, sealed the subfloor (the factory seal was sloppily done and wholly inadequate), doubled sealed the awning brackets and the leak never came back. Even I could do it better than the "trained" workers at the factory.

There has been a trend in recent years to call people who are dissatisfied with something "whiners" if the name caller doesn't agree with them. Often the name caller is the real "whiner". Such has crept into this and other threads. Some people wrap themselves in statistics and then make subjective statements as if being close to a fact in a sense makes everything they say accurate. And quoting a report few people have seen as if it is true without anyone who doesn't want to spend a C-note having seen it, and then stating they cannot release more information seems unbalanced. This is an old tactic. This thread is a good example of how personal subjective attachment to something a lot of money has been spent on can distort rationality.

Having read thousands of Bob's posts for a very long time, I suggest :"hee hee" means "hee hee".

[GettinAway]

Quality threads will continue. With the same unhappy voices. Rehashing what they’ve read on the World Wide Web. Sorry I used the term whiner.. Frustrated individuals, or perhaps no label at all would have been more appropriate. Guess the cool aid label is much the same. I prefer to think that I just have a more forgiving, or realistic approach. After all, it’s my choice, my money etc.. I don’t want to stop someone from enjoying what I’m doing right now (camped near Tucson AZ). I don’t think the negative threads change much that AS is doing or going to do. Look at current lead times to even get one. I don’t see prices declining to unload them either. Sorry again. Tee hee hee or whatever it is seems unusual to me. Wasn’t quite sure where it was going.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Well I guess you can’t.

I don’t like Kate whining either..

Won't...M's on the Prowl. 😂😂😂

Bob
🇺🇸

Try petting, it works for 'Pirate'...

[Gene]

Yes, the threads about poor quality materials and workmanship will not go away because Airstream will continue to make trailers that way for the foreseeable future. And those threads are always started by someone who has brought an Airstream and is unhappy or someone who reads threads on this Forum, sees the threads and asks if he or she should not buy an Airstream. People who have had bad experiences or know about the bad experiences will continue to warn people what they should know about or how too deal with their problems.

The fault is not with those that warn people or try to help them, but with the company that turns out a fair amount of substandard trailers for a premium price.

Perhaps someday the bosses will do what other bosses have done—load Thor up with debt, pay themselves even more money and grant themselves massive stock options. You can do that with a failing company and still make a bunch. Then you sell it to an investment company that further milks it and then lists it on a stock exchange. The only losers are those that buy the stock and those that buy the product.

[BayouBiker]

You'd think a buyer about to spend $70-130k on a trailer would spend a little time making sure they understand what they are about to purchase and what they might expect the first few months. I went into the sale with all the information the web has to offer and more. I can't imagine what it would be like to be blissfully uninformed and plunk down that kind of money.

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

You'd think a buyer about to spend $70-130k on a trailer would spend a little time making sure they understand what they are about to purchase and what they might expect the first few months. I went into the sale with all the information the web has to offer and more. I can't imagine what it would be like to be blissfully uninformed and plunk down that kind of money.

Exactly.. it’s unfortunate a bad experience effects some more permanently than it does others.

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by GettinAway

Kind of the American way, right? Seems to be working. I’ll bet quality would improve dramatically if the government took over.

Whoooooo boy!😳

[KK4YZ]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

^
Here is my list for "Cloudsplitter".

Does anything sound familiar?
Sorry, I can't relate to the current "gizmo" failures.
How much has improved?


Posted AS Forums 2006
A LITTLE HISTORY….. MY WIFE SANDRA AND I HAVE BEEN STREAMING SINCE 1989. OUR FIRST WAS A 1963 22 FT. SAFARI. (kind of wish now it was still sitting on the pad) WE PURCHASED OUR 2003 25' CLASSIC IN JUNE OF 2004. BUILD DATE FEB. O3. NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF.....

ITEMS NOTED BEFORE TAKING DELIVERY THAT WERE FIXED BY THE DEALER.

1) BOTH FRONT SEGMENT PROTECTORS SCRATCHED AND DENTED.

2) REAR BUMPER COVERS CRACKED.

3) ACCESS DOOR UNDER BATHROOM SINK WOULD NOT OPEN, REPAIRED BUT SIEZED SOLID AGAIN BY THE TIME WE GOT HOME FROM THE DEALER.

4) PANTRY SLIDE-OUT OFF BOTH TRACKS, REPAIRED BUT FAILED AGAIN WHEN LOADED ON OUR FIRST TRIP. Took pantry out, removed slide tracks, removed all ball bearings and divided equally between tracks, AS sent replacement tracks, holding as spares until needed.

NOW FOR THE Q/C AND PDI STUFF... IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT ALL CONCERNS LISTED WERE REPAIRED BY MYSELF. THE SELLING DEALER HAD CLOSED.

1) THREE OF THE CLEARANCE LIGHT BULBS.

2) TWO STORAGE COMPARTMENT LIGHT BULBS.

3) TWO SCREEN DOOR PROTECTOR SCREWS MISSED THEIR MARK.

4) BAD VIBRATION IN LEFT FRONT SPEAKER, AGAIN MOUNTING SCREWS MISSED THEIR MARK. SCREWS REPLACED WITH VELCRO TAPE. CLOSE OUT PANEL NOW EASILY REMOVED.

5) WATER PUMP FAILURE CAUSED BY A SEPARATED WIRE INSIDE THE INSULATION WHERE WIRING ENTERS THE PUMP HOUSING….. FAILURE OCCURRED ON OUR FRIST CAMPING TRIP.

6) A MULTITUDE OF PINHOLES IN ACCORDION SHADE OVER SINK.

7) WATER LEAK AT SHOWER MANIFOLD CAUSED BY COLD WATER LINE BEING TOO SHORT.

8) THREE PLASTIC LATCHES FOR CLOSET DOORS AND TWO STORAGE COMPARTMENTS INSTALLED POORLY, MISALIGNMENT, CAUSING LATCH FAILURE.

9) STOVE IGNITER KNOB CRACKED/FAILURE.

10) BATHROOM MIRROR LATCH.

11) … HOLD DOWN SCREWS FOR CONVERTER MISSED THEIR MARK.
SLOPPY/NOISEY WATER PUMP INSTALL & WIRING. INSTALL RUBBER ISOLATION MOUNTS, RE-ROUTE AND SECURE WIRING HARNESS.

12) WATER HEATER<> THERMOSTAT NOT CALIBRATED<>SCALDING TEMP.

13) FRIDGE INTERIOR LIGHT INOP, SWITCH ARM CRACKED

14) KITCHEN SINK SPRAY HANDLE CRACKED,LEAKING WHEN USED.

15) CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS FOUND THRU-OUT TRAILER. BIC LIGHTER & CANDY WRAPPER UNDER RUG IN STREETSIDE REAR COMPARTMENT.

16) AC SHROUD, SKYLIGHT, FF VENT ALL CRACKED AT SCREW MOUNT HOLES FROM IMPROPER INSTALL. Overtightened.

17) BLACK TANK VENT LEAKING, POOR INSTALL/CAULKING. MISSING SCREWS.

18) WATER LINE FITTING UNDER BATHROOM SINK CROSS-THREADED, CRACKED, LEAKING.

19) FILIFORM CORROSION

20) CLEARCOAT PEALING FROM ENTRY DOOR HINGES AND BATTERY DOOR SURROUNDS.

AIRSTREAM DID SEND US THE NECESSARY ITEMS TO MAKE THE REPAIRS ON SOME ITEMS:
WATER PUMP, SHADE, LATCHES FOR CLOSET AND STORAGE DOORS. NEW
DOOR FOR BATHROOM ACCESS, SLIDE FOR PANTRY.
OTHER NECESSARY ITEMS PURCHASED FROM CAMPING WORLD.
I NEVER RECEIVED A CSI REPORT FROM THE FACTORY, OR ANY FOLLOW-UP AT ALL.
THE FACTORY QC WAS LACKING, BUT THE DEALER MUST ASSUME SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A VERY POOR PDI. WELL I GUESS THAT JUST ABOUT COVERS IT, EXCEPT TO SAY I WAS MORE THAN A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED IN THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE!

Bob
🇺🇸

No excuse for AS but the dealer should have caught this in PDI. I think the selling dealership can make all the difference. That’s why we bought 2 Airstreams at Colonial. My only complaint about them is they’re 900 miles away😀. Of course they could say the same about me.

Neither of the new trailers we purchased there had anywhere near the list of problems you had.

[Gene]

Originally Posted by KK4YZ

Neither of the new trailers we purchased there had anywhere near the list of problems you had.

But we did, even more of them.

I researched Airstream before we bought one. I saw there were problems. We discussed that and weighed the options. My wife was in love with the design. I appreciated the design, was skeptical about the problems. We decided to look at them at the two Colorado dealers. The first place in Colorado Springs a salesman was showing us trailers, got a phone call and never returned. Neither did we. Not long after, that dealership stopped selling Airstreams. Later we were in Denver and looked at them there. The appeal of aluminitis was strong. We bought one, though the guy who did the closing was incredibly obnoxious and we almost walked out. The trailer came with many problems the dealer had ignored. Their warranty support was awful and we decided to take the trailer to Jackson center for warranty work. It was done well there, but we drove 1,400 miles each way to get things fixed. After our last time at the dweller, I discovered damage they had done—not theonly damage they did, but they owned up to some and fixed it. They were equally obnoxious about compensation, but eventually they paid me off. After the warranty expired, problems kept happening, but after several more years, things were going well. Leaks kept appearing and cheap parts kept breaking, poor workmanship was evident, and we fixed things or ignored them.

We got tired of running into each other in the "kitchen" and getting out of bed in a 25' FB is a challenge for the person on the front wall side (the 27' may have been a better choice). It was time for a change.

Did we make a mistake buying it? There is no easy answer. We enjoyed it, we took it to many far away places, we were often frustrated, but got through it all. It was good for long travels, but not so reliable. I was reminded of my English sports cars in the 1960's. Fun to have, cool to look at, endless repairs.

If I were going to do it again, I'd look at the Oliver and other similar designs and compared with the less efficient for towing Northwood Mfg. models (Arctic Fox, etc.) and possibly other manufacturers with a good reputation—unfortunately there aren't many of those. I would never buy from the Colorado dealer again and probably would end up going many miles to buy one, but would also consider a used one.

The idea of this Forum started out with people helping each other with Airstream restoration issues and also new buyers. After a while, new buyers started to take a larger role here. While it is easy to attack someone whose problems ended a long time ago, when people ask if buying an Airstream makes sense, helping them make that decision is part of that purpose of helping each other.

[GettinAway]

Gene, I’m sorry you felt “attacked”. I was just trying to clearly understand how you were arriving at the conclusions you were making. I won’t ask again. We will both probably speak up again on a future quality threads. I’ll be the guy with the cool-aid stains on my shirt.

[BayouBiker]

I'm in the camp that help means offering solutions that remedy the problem and help others to avoid the problem. I find it less helpful to assign blame, make it all sound hopeless, or imply the person should throw in the towel and go a different route. It sounds like you're the same way GettinAway. I hope I'm not just drinking the kool-aid too, but when my trailer has an issue, I come to the forum and find a solution, then I go out and fix it. If I need someones help, I hire them or ask a friend (sometimes payment is a dinner and some beer). My trailer does not sit at the dealership for three weeks, I am satisfied with the fix and the person who fixed it, and I'm just that much happier with the trailer and its present condition.

[lsbrodsky]

Good plan but it does not always work out that way! My trailer sat at the dealer for 11 weeks for a fw tank replacement. I knew the tank had to be replaced and I knew I could not do the job myself, after reviewing posts of those who had done it. So off to the dealer. First the queue for service, then they ordered the wrong tank, out of the queue, then back in the queue, then the work. But I did not miss a day of camping since it happened over a winter. My solar kept the batteries charged. I would feel fine except that examination of the problem showed that Airstream(or at least this installer) does not know how to rotoweld and the leakage was destined from day 1. This is why I do not drink the Kool-Aid.

Larry

[Gene]

Originally Posted by BayouBiker

I find it less helpful to assign blame

Good idea. Start now.

[sterlinghick]

Originally Posted by Gene

But we did, even more of them.

I researched Airstream before we bought one. I saw there were problems. We discussed that and weighed the options. My wife was in love with the design. I appreciated the design, was skeptical about the problems. We decided to look at them at the two Colorado dealers. The first place in Colorado Springs a salesman was showing us trailers, got a phone call and never returned. Neither did we. Not long after, that dealership stopped selling Airstreams. Later we were in Denver and looked at them there. The appeal of aluminitis was strong. We bought one, though the guy who did the closing was incredibly obnoxious and we almost walked out. The trailer came with many problems the dealer had ignored. Their warranty support was awful and we decided to take the trailer to Jackson center for warranty work. It was done well there, but we drove 1,400 miles each way to get things fixed. After our last time at the dweller, I discovered damage they had done—not theonly damage they did, but they owned up to some and fixed it. They were equally obnoxious about compensation, but eventually they paid me off. After the warranty expired, problems kept happening, but after several more years, things were going well. Leaks kept appearing and cheap parts kept breaking, poor workmanship was evident, and we fixed things or ignored them.

We got tired of running into each other in the "kitchen" and getting out of bed in a 25' FB is a challenge for the person on the front wall side (the 27' may have been a better choice). It was time for a change.

Did we make a mistake buying it? There is no easy answer. We enjoyed it, we took it to many far away places, we were often frustrated, but got through it all. It was good for long travels, but not so reliable. I was reminded of my English sports cars in the 1960's. Fun to have, cool to look at, endless repairs.

If I were going to do it again, I'd look at the Oliver and other similar designs and compared with the less efficient for towing Northwood Mfg. models (Arctic Fox, etc.) and possibly other manufacturers with a good reputation—unfortunately there aren't many of those. I would never buy from the Colorado dealer again and probably would end up going many miles to buy one, but would also consider a used one.

The idea of this Forum started out with people helping each other with Airstream restoration issues and also new buyers. After a while, new buyers started to take a larger role here. While it is easy to attack someone whose problems ended a long time ago, when people ask if buying an Airstream makes sense, helping them make that decision is part of that purpose of helping each other.

I want to say thank you ever so much for the raw honesty of this post. As someone who is shopping, I often wonder if buying an Airstream is worth the price. I told my husband that I feel like we are chasing a ghost. There is an illusion created by the iconic Airstreams of the 60s. Today, it’s become a glitzed out overpriced status symbol. Somewhere in between is a price I can easily afford but I can get so many more features if they don’t come in an aluminum wrapper.

[farafield]

In my ignorant bliss, I bought my AS sight unseen, 1500 miles away. And it has been perfect. I guess I lucked out with a good individual AS and a great dealer. With all of the people on this forum happily talking about what their AS's have brought into their lives, it's important to weigh the pros and cons and make a rational decision taking all perspectives into account.

[n2916s]

Originally Posted by sterlinghick

I want to say thank you ever so much for the raw honesty of this post. As someone who is shopping, I often wonder if buying an Airstream is worth the price. I told my husband that I feel like we are chasing a ghost. There is an illusion created by the iconic Airstreams of the 60s. Today, it’s become a glitzed out overpriced status symbol. Somewhere in between is a price I can easily afford but I can get so many more features if they don’t come in an aluminum wrapper.

At this point, purchasing an Airstream could only lead to disappointment as you have predetermined that it will not live up to your expectations. Thoroughly understandable, especially if you have been diligently reading the “quality” threads.

Unfortunate, though. Most of us are thoroughly satisfied with our purchase.

I have heard nothing but good things about the Oliver and the Casita. I hope you find your dream trailer.