New less expensive Airstream

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by field & stream

Or, how about a fiberglass body painted silver?

I was thinking the same thing, but also would think for cost reasons it would be better to not paint the gelcoat. However, I know there's silver gelcoat, and the Airstream shape would be fairly easy to mold, like the Casita and other fiberglass trailers.

[KJRitchie]

What are the major costs of building the typical Airstream? I would think the aluminum panels and the assembly of them into a shell then then assembly of the interior panels after the installation of insulation and wiring.

I can't see Airstream building a white box and slapping on a Airstream decal.

Airstream could produce a fiberglass shell trailer like Casita and Oliver. It would be priced in between the Casita and Oliver but would probably weigh closer to the Oliver. Hopefully, Airstream would make something different as the Oliver Eltie II to me is just a stretched out Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe with more features but it still retains the rear dinette/bed, 2 person side dinette and forward wet bath and wardrobe and narrow shape.

Kelvin

[Denis4x4]

Originally Posted by tevake

I'm wondering if adhesives have come along to the point that an aluminum skin can be built without the labor intensive rivets. Allowing a simpler to build, less expensive airstream to still be shiny and curvatious.

Cheers Richard

DeLorens were basically a fiberglass shell with the stainless steel panels bonded to a body shell

[Piggy Bank]

My vote is to start with the biggest factor that will impact AS in what is different about the 50 and under market segment.

These people have 2 kids, and don't have a pickup truck.

They need to sleep 4 people (and if a girl and boy, have 2 kids sleeping apart), and have this towable with a Honda Pilot 3500 # max type of vehicle.

I bet they have a trailer with single double bed for the parents, and 2 dinette benches that make 2 cot sized beds for kids at the table. I would expect a wet bath, and kitchen like in the sports.

All in a product that is the size of the sport 19-22, but costs less than the sport 16 and weighs no more than the sport 16.

So maybe they have figured out how to stretch the sport 16 to be a couple of feet longer. Then kept the same sort of kitchen setup , and made the table area different to make 2 beds.

And cut 10K off the price. So the construction methods of the underbelly probably are similar, but the top sections are somehow prebuilt to drop on and attach. Maybe aluminum, maybe not. Probably not.

[BoldAdventure]

Don't forget, people wrap their vehicles in chrome, aluminum, and stainless steel wraps, why not do a fiberglass body in one of these? Pretty sure the Aluminum body adds 30K to the cost of an Airstream from the start if you consider current commodity prices. Not only that, it's a violate area of the market.





I can certainly agree with the comments above. Airstreams seem designed with grandparents and older couples in mind. The modern interiors are very appealing to people my age, along with the iconic design. Very "Apple-ish" and was part of the draw for us.

But the price points, are near house prices compared to the rest of the RV market which is attracting more and more younger buyers in their 30's & 40's. The layout's aren't suited for families without some compromises.

And let's be honest, Airstreams are heavy compared to how they used to be. You need a truck, and in some cases a big one. Yes, I know about CanAm but the average 30 & 40 yr doesn't even know about that. They're just thinking, I have a Cross-Over and now I need a truck? No thanks.

[tevake]

A number of high end auto builders are combining composites for the upper parts of bodies, aluminum and steel down low where weight is less critical and their strength and durability are an advantage.
It funny that Ive spent most of my life using fiberglass, then more modern fibers and epoxys in surfboards, sail boards , and boats. Only now to be bitten by the aluminumitus bug.
When most R Vs are built using the very materials I'm so comfortable with. It's just that most builders are using those materials so poorly .

Cheers Richard

[Piggy Bank]

Bold,
Those are really cool.

[mandolindave]

Originally Posted by Piggy Bank

My vote is to start with the biggest factor that will impact AS in what is different about the 50 and under market segment.

These people have 2 kids, and don't have a pickup truck.

They need to sleep 4 people (and if a girl and boy, have 2 kids sleeping apart), and have this towable with a Honda Pilot 3500 # max type of vehicle.

I bet they have a trailer with single double bed for the parents, and 2 dinette benches that make 2 cot sized beds for kids at the table. I would expect a wet bath, and kitchen like in the sports.

All in a product that is the size of the sport 19-22, but costs less than the sport 16 and weighs no more than the sport 16.

So maybe they have figured out how to stretch the sport 16 to be a couple of feet longer. Then kept the same sort of kitchen setup , and made the table area different to make 2 beds.

And cut 10K off the price. So the construction methods of the underbelly probably are similar, but the top sections are somehow prebuilt to drop on and attach. Maybe aluminum, maybe not. Probably not.

Wheeler said not Aluminum, about $33K, smaller, and looking like an Airstream

I'm thinking 14-17 feet, fiberglass ( the only way I can think of to make it look like an Airstream ) They must already know more than they are saying if they plan to launch it in the middle of 2016. Sounds like they are targeting the 40s, late 30s crowd.

[tevake]

Oh. I missed the not aluminum part, interesting.
Thanks Dave for pointing that out.

The history of Airstream motorhomes shows that they are not adverse to fiberglass.

Cheers Richard

[ROBERT CROSS]

"Price point? Wheeler wouldn’t say. But he hinted that it would need to be below the company's bottom of the line Sport trailer, which retails for about $43,000, and well below the cost of a Land Yacht, which starts at $146,000."

“The least expensive trailer we make costs about $43,000,” he said. “We think we need to come down about $10,000 to really move the needle.”

Buy used?

They 'kinda look like sausages....why not squeeze them out as such.

If the new composite AS's get really popular, think what you'll have to pay for a "real Airstream"....be prepared.

Bob

[kdickinson]

the more the merrier but so far these alternative models have not been long-lasting money makers

[m.hony]

This is the first post on Airforums that I am aware of.
There was a post a few days ago on Airstream Addicts on Facebook.
I'm concerned about what type of cheap garbage it will be that will tarnish their reputation-
Not aluminum they said-

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

If the new composite AS's get really popular, think what you'll have to pay for a "real Airstream"....be prepared.

Bob

That's what I like about you, Bob....always the optimist.

[dcasr]

If not aluminum, would it be fiberglass, or even carbon fiber. Where does carbon fiber cost out? Airlines are now using it to replace some aluminum.

[mandolindave]

Originally Posted by m.hony

This is the first post on Airforums that I am aware of.
There was a post a few days ago on Airstream Addicts on Facebook.
I'm concerned about what type of cheap garbage it will be that will tarnish their reputation-
Not aluminum they said-

Aluminum isn't necessarily the best material to make a trailer. It came about because of what they had and knew at the time, which was building airplanes.
Granted aluminum is strong and light when assembled like an airplane. But I've seen some OLD Scamps still going strong. ( at 800 lbs )

At the risk of ruffling more feathers I apologize in advance. Who knows what changes Airstream might make. I've seen some space age composite sheet metal that you can bang with a hammer. BIG BUCKS though

[cameront120]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I'm concerned about what type of cheap garbage it will be that will tarnish their reputation-
Not aluminum they said-

Similar sentiments were voiced about the Argosy back in the day. Not an Airstream, they said.

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by dcasr

If not aluminum, would it be fiberglass, or even carbon fiber. Where does carbon fiber cost out? Airlines are now using it to replace some aluminum.

Aircraft companies and high-end exotic cars don't use carbon fiber in place of aluminum because it's cheaper, they use it because its strength-to-weight ratio is better and it's STIFF. It's not as exotic as it was 10 years ago, but it's still not a budget choice.

[DKB_SATX]

If they put a plywood floor in the newer/cheaper/non-aluminum one it'll be a big disappointment.

[BoldAdventure]

I just don't see how they are going to make something smaller than the sport and expect it to sell when one can get huge 5th wheels for half the cost of an Airstream. Hope they are pulling a rabbit out of their preverbal hat.

[remphoto]

There has been some speculation that Thor might buy back the Little Guy T@G line which they sold off some years ago. If one looks at the T@G Sofitel model it has a number of Airstream-like features and sells at a premium price for its type/size ($20,000-30,000 range) and a number of AS dealers also carry the LG line. Would be an interesting partnership.