Stupid Airstream Tricks

[thiel]

Originally Posted by Airtandem

Back to Emergency Exit, I am surprised the FEDS haven't picked up on it. OSHA ?

OSHA is for safety at work.

My guess is that the RVIA does quite a bit of lobbying to prevent regulations being applied to RVs. After all, a mobile home is property tax free, free from many building codes, and yet still the mortgage is tax deductible. That kind of "sweet deal" doesn't stick around long without some advocacy.

Which reminds me. Anybody find out if they "fixed" the recent tax bill so that towables are still eligible for the mortgage interest deduction?

[pcskier]

The thread headline maybe should be changed if possible to read 'Annoyances Airstream should change'. The current headline made me think it was a place to learn about hacks and improvement owners make to fix things AS got wrong. Like putting a gas strut on the angled mirror, for example, that several guys on the 23d thread have done.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I had a 1959 Ford Galaxie since 1977; I sold it about 4 years ago. What does this have to do with Airstream????? Well it had all original gauges and they all worked like new. The gauges in my Airstream never worked right even though they were fixed twice. Also there are no access covers to get to the tank sensors and Airstream can't even tell you where they are so you can cut your own access covers out and replace the sensors. Who wants to remove all three tanks just to find where the tank sensors are located. "We built it but we can't tell you where things are located".

[GMFL]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, I had a 1959 Ford Galaxie since 1977; I sold it about 4 years ago. What does this have to do with Airstream????? Well it had all original gauges and they all worked like new. The gauges in my Airstream never worked right even though they were fixed twice. Also there are no access covers to get to the tank sensors and Airstream can't even tell you where they are so you can cut your own access covers out and replace the sensors. Who wants to remove all three tanks just to find where the tank sensors are located. "We built it but we can't tell you where things are located".

I can tell you where mine are because I put them on!

[crispyboy]

I am used to dealing with older trailers but I do try to keep up with what is going on with the newer models.


Battery box - Airstream finally got rid of the leak prone battery boxes out of the body and put the battery box on the tongue but yet failed to make the box big enough to easily fit group 27 batteries or two 6 volts without a fight.


Ducted airconditioning - what took you so long!!


Cleanup - the workers on the line should be required to vacuum the construction debris out once in awhile. My earliest trailer was 1981 and it was a problem back then.


Insulate the water pipes from rattling, insulate the water pump base and install an accumulator from the factory.


Make the water valves, pump access etc. more accessible for winterizing or maintenance.


Better insulation around the sides and above the refrigerator so it vents properly.


A cage to protect the dump pipe from road debris.


Bring back individual recliner option.


Bring back slider option.


Get rid of gizmo's such as electric recliners in lieu of something more useful as a central vac system.


Finally - allow people to purchase through a dealership but have the option of picking it up at the factory. Take a page from the Corvette folks in Bowling Green, KY. Airstream could really play this up if they wanted and keep the dealers in the loop with sales and future service. They could have a "showroom floor" area where your trailer is under lights for the final walk thru before you sign the final purchase papers.
If I was purchasing a new one I would love to have the factory pickup option just so I wouldn't have some "yahoo" carelessly pull it from the factory to the dealership.

[moosetags]

I agree with all of your points, Steve. I especially like to Factory delivery suggestion. I have no idea why Airstream has never done this. I think that this policy has always been a big mistake. Other RV manufacturers have a factory delivery option.


Brisn

[Adventure.AS]

Originally Posted by moosetags

... I have no idea why Airstream has never done this. I think that this policy has always been a big mistake. Other RV manufacturers have a factory delivery option.

Perhaps because the PDI is profitable for the dealer?

[ROBERT CROSS]

These.....👎
Plastic

Base...

Wet carpet out....


With these....👍
Brass

Stainless

Drainage tiles in



Bob
🇱🇷

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by thiel

...
Which reminds me. Anybody find out if they "fixed" the recent tax bill so that towables are still eligible for the mortgage interest deduction?

I don't think that was ever a problem. Some "news" writer combined two parts of the proposed tax bill. There was nothing in there about needing a motor to qualify as a second home. That part of the bill was for automobile registration charges IIRC.


Find and review the thread to be sure.



Al

[kscherzi]

My suggestion is to get rid of the lug nuts with the flimsy chrome covers. Invariably the covers bend, break, and fall off. I suggest Airstream use regular chromed lug nuts from the start. I replaced all 24 on my trailer for $20. I imagine Airstream could do it cheaper from the start.

[Robere]

Originally Posted by az-streamer

This thread is less about “tinkering “ with things we would like and more about “what the heck were they thinking “ during the design phase. Tinkering is changing the curtains or upgrading to less. I should not have to tinker to get a cabinet lid to stay open.

Of course, however I do believe that AS wishes to remain somewhat competitive. They continue to resolve many issues and redesign numerous aspects of the product (i.e. A/C in 2016). What would the price point be if all of these ideas were implemented? 20, 30, 40, 50% higher? In a short time many of us would be priced out of the market. Question to the forum: Are some of these ideas "tongue in cheek" or do you really want another door in your AS?

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by Robere

Of course, however I do believe that AS wishes to remain somewhat competitive. They continue to resolve many issues and redesign numerous aspects of the product (i.e. A/C in 2016). What would the price point be if all of these ideas were implemented? 20, 30, 40, 50% higher? In a short time many of us would be priced out of the market. Question to the forum: Are some of these ideas "tongue in cheek" or do you really want another door in your AS?

Hi, I have done several little improvements to my Airstream which costs very little to do. Airstream already wants triple the price of a similar trailer as mine with not much to show for it. I also thought it would be nice to have another door on my trailer. But then of coarse, I would have two finicky doors to tend with. Maybe if you bought a used door, and had Vinnie install it, It might be somewhat affordable.

[Forrest]

The Thermosan was a great idea, but had one serious short coming: on long descents the engine didn't produce enough heat for incineration and well, as you can imagine it got kind of disgusting. However, the idea was sound and certainly there ought to be a fix, such as a thermostatic controlled valve to shut off the flow.

[biyak269]

Our 27FB tosses its galley stuff all over the floor, since the rear end bounces way more than the front, and doors and drawers fly open underway.

And the BR in front generally faces the road in camp, with the noise, eyes, and headlights.

After having 2 rear BRs, I wouldn’t buy another FB.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Forrest

The Thermosan was a great idea, but had one serious short coming: on long descents the engine didn't produce enough heat for incineration and well, as you can imagine it got kind of disgusting. However, the idea was sound and certainly there ought to be a fix, such as a thermostatic controlled valve to shut off the flow.

I'm trying to understand the concept. Like - it funneled black tank goop to contact the exhaust manifold for burning????

How did it work?

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by biyak269

Our 27FB tosses its galley stuff all over the floor, since the rear end bounces way more than the front, and doors and drawers fly open underway.



And the BR in front generally faces the road in camp, with the noise, eyes, and headlights.



After having 2 rear BRs, I wouldn’t buy another FB.

True that the galley in a FB setup is more prone to bounce (being on the opposite side of the hitch and not directly over the wheels) but that much activity (as you describe) may be fixable with adjustments to your setup. We just left a campground Monday that had no dump station and had to head out (over their insanely bumpy roads) and get on the highway for several exits before getting g to a Cabella's that had one. When I went in the trailer, I realized I left Daisy's half full water bowl on the floor in the kitchen. Not a drop on the floor. We've never really had a problem with it unless we're on a washboard road or hit a construction bump on a highway.

Good luck!

[graygoose]

Our 2017 Int'l Serenity did not come with a bathroom mirror hinge, so I agree with previous comment that there should be a better way than holding it on your head (some newer models do have an arm). That being said, we are getting one put in when we visit the factory in June.
The one thing that we would like to know about (and will ask at the factory), is why (and who) put the thermostat for the air conditioning units behind the tv, and right against the fridge....?? In hot temperatures, when the tv is on, main room air unit is running quite often.
Oh, and when input cables for the dvd player disconnect, why does it have to be in such a painfully inaccessible area in a little box?
Love our Airstream, but just a few curiosities!

[Rzrbrn]

Early in this thread someone (Pteck?) asked for a high rise option, that is, a way to get more road clearance. This can now be ordered from the factory on some models (at least that is the way I read it on the AS factory website). One reason I am thinking about ordering rather than buying off the lot. Unless, of course, the dealer ordered it that way.

We like to go on very primitive roads with a lot of ruts and steep entry and exit. Having 16' tires and a bit more road clearance would be just the ticket for our way of camping and traveling.

[wdcgator]

All of the tiny screws around the windows of my 2018 Sport are rusted. I replaced them with stainless for $2 duh!

Here is a picture of the cool trailer hitch rack that I mounted behind the propane tanks by moving them forward 3” and sawing the hitch tongue off. My generator sits there also.

I also removed protruding hooks and hangers on walls that have torn my skin wide open.

Love our Bambi.

[moosetags]

You forgot the picture.