Stupid Airstream Tricks

[80Ram]

First I appreciate AS for installing a satellite connection. Now they need to make it a working connection one that you don't have to unscrew your cabinet, find the satellite coaxial and install it in your newly purchased 2x4 splitter.

[xisme2]

All good points, particularly the inverter plug in the kitchen. I'd also like to see Velcro or snaps to anchor the single matresses to their platforms, they flop around and if the trailer isn't perfectly level side to side tend to slide into the space between beds.

[xisme2]

I think you guys are hitting on what happens when a big company like Thor takes over. Wages go down, build pride starts to disappear. Go look at a tract home development under const and an expensive custom home project. Airstream at heart is still a quality product, but I know QC and can spot the "little things" like you all are seeing. Unfortunately, the competition is even worse.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by xisme2

I think you guys are hitting on what happens when a big company like Thor takes over.
... snip ...

Unfortunately, the competition is even worse.

Nail on the head. Here's the thing - as long as they're marginally better than the competition, they don't have to be GREAT - just good enough. If they can spend (for example) $1 per trailer to make them "good enough" - no way are they going to spend $5 per trailer to be GREAT. Basic business economics.

[rmkrum]

Yup. The old saying is, "...'Better' is the enemy of 'good enough'..."

Very, very true in any business that wants to make a profit, and is not burdened by extreme regulation...

[Tim A.]

Originally Posted by xisme2

I think you guys are hitting on what happens when a big company like Thor takes over.

Well, Thor began with Airstream. Here is a little history (from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...inc-history/):
"Thor was founded in 1980 with the purchase of Airstream.....When Wade F.B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein purchased Airstream in 1980, they had been involved in the recreational vehicle business for only three years. In 1977, the two entrepreneurs had combined their marketing and financial expertise to purchase HI-LO Trailer, a small player in the industry. Under their leadership, HI-LO prospered, and the two looked around for a bigger opportunity. Airstream was an obvious target.
Combining the first two letters of their last names, Thompson and Orthwein formed Thor Industries, Inc. in order to acquire Airstream."

I would suggest that any problems with Airstream are not because of a takeover by a "big" company.


Tim

[thiel]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

Well, Thor began with Airstream. Here is a little history (from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...inc-history/):
"Thor was founded in 1980 with the purchase of Airstream.....When Wade F.B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein purchased Airstream in 1980, they had been involved in the recreational vehicle business for only three years. In 1977, the two entrepreneurs had combined their marketing and financial expertise to purchase HI-LO Trailer, a small player in the industry. Under their leadership, HI-LO prospered, and the two looked around for a bigger opportunity. Airstream was an obvious target.
Combining the first two letters of their last names, Thompson and Orthwein formed Thor Industries, Inc. in order to acquire Airstream."

I would suggest that any problems with Airstream are not because of a takeover by a "big" company.


Tim

Don't confuse the issue by sharing facts!!!!

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by thiel

Don't confuse the issue by sharing facts!!!!

[emoji3]

Sounds like a lot of meetings I attend [emoji3]

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

Well, Thor began with Airstream. Here is a little history (from http://www.fundinguniverse.com/compa...inc-history/):
"Thor was founded in 1980 with the purchase of Airstream.....When Wade F.B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein purchased Airstream in 1980, they had been involved in the recreational vehicle business for only three years. In 1977, the two entrepreneurs had combined their marketing and financial expertise to purchase HI-LO Trailer, a small player in the industry. Under their leadership, HI-LO prospered, and the two looked around for a bigger opportunity. Airstream was an obvious target.
Combining the first two letters of their last names, Thompson and Orthwein formed Thor Industries, Inc. in order to acquire Airstream."

I would suggest that any problems with Airstream are not because of a takeover by a "big" company.


Tim

Salient ?
.......😳>>"they had been involved in the recreational vehicle business for only three years."


Yep...Thor is just your typical Pop & Pop operation...😂

Thor Industries
Headquarters
Elkhart, Indiana, United States
Key people
Peter Busch Orthwein, Robert Martin
Revenue
$7.25 billion USD (2017)
Operating income

Net income
$374 million USD (2017)
10 more rows
Thor Industries - Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_Industries

Bob
🇺🇸

[Tim A.]

Ah yes, but Thor became such a big company after buying Airstream. In fact, Airstream probably was the engine driving the first major growth of Thor. It is also worth comparing the size of Thor to the size of Beatrice Foods, the owner of Airstream before Thor.

All I am trying accomplish here is to move away from bashing Airstream and Thor on general principles and get back to some of the more fun stuff on this thread.

Tim

[Foiled Again]

I used to be an entrepreneur.... retired now and can barely remember how to spell the word.

IMHO failure to understand financial realities is one of the biggest reasons small businesses fail. A harsh reality is that it is more important to have your customer base BELIEVE that your company is the best than it is to actually BE the best. You sell more units on reputation than on facts.

It is also supremely important to sell whatever you sell at the highest possible price. Airstream has that certain something that looks and feels "classier" and they do really good product placement. And they charge out the wahzoo... which is the best assurance that they will be around for a long time.

If you look closely, you will see that there are a whole lot of RVs that sit in storage or a back yard and haven't moved in years. More Airstreams than I like to see too. Why build for the 20% fans that fulltime or travel extensively when 80% of owners use the things 4 times and abandon them? That is an ugly but financially sound choice.

I was lucky, Eddie's first owner apparently had his for 9 months and realized he didn't have the time or want to do the routine maintenance, and got LOGICAL. Sold it back to Colonial for a loss. I think I got it as the transporter drove it onto the lot.

Really Airstream WILL listen to ideas that improve the owner experience and don't cost money. Making satellite and wifi hookups more accessible should be a no brainer. An inverter plug in the kitchen... not so sure... I am pretty ignorant about electricity, but I would never use a toaster or electric griddle on battery... resistance elements suck batteries flat. I discharged my first Airstream's battery and killed the tow vehicle's ONCE as a newbie. Hasn't happened again because ignorant is actually a learning opportunity, but stupid is forever.

Well back to cleaning.... still have 3 bins of clothes to throw out or donate.

Paula

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by Tim A.

Ah yes, but Thor became such a big company after buying Airstream. In fact, Airstream probably was the engine driving the first major growth of Thor. It is also worth comparing the size of Thor to the size of Beatrice Foods, the owner of Airstream before Thor.

All I am trying accomplish here is to move away from bashing Airstream and Thor on general principles and get back to some of the more fun stuff on this thread.

Tim

A parasite on a reputation built by a savvy visionary and monetized by a modern bean counting entremanure. 👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[Rzrbrn]

Thanks for the history of Thor, very informative and interesting.

If Thor and Airstream are not profitable, one or the other would soon be gone.

I would rather AS focus on quality than doodads. I don't mind modding a new purchase to suit my needs.

[xisme2]

All, I take the attitude that Airstream should exploit the "custom order" market. If you want an inverter outlet in the kitchen so be it, $100. If you want want grey water flush, $400. Valve to fill fresh tank from shore fill connection, $300. Porsche, BMW and Mercedes are all masters of this. They combine options into packages and you can really build a rig suited to exactly what you want. Bear in mind 2 things, it is virtually impossible to modify a car after it is built and secondly, people that work on cars like this charge big money. Same deal with Airstream, could cost a lot for a water connection, but if you do it after the fact it will cost even more.

But!!! What's irritating me about my new $100 K Globetrotter are things like about half the screws in the cabinet hinges are stripped out and the hinges are falling off. All the opening windows lower frame tracks are loaded with aluminum shavings--to the point they are imbeded in the gaskets. I ordered the backup camera and the WIsight unit that was installed is an older model with a cord that apparently (according to WIsight) was upgraded sometime ago. These kind of things will not happen on a Porsche or Benz, their prices are ridiculously expensive but you get fantastic Quality Control and Service Support.

I understand that Airstream is building something like a 250 K SF expansion facility. I just hope they are able to staff production management and QC to the level it needs to be. Bear in mind it's so much easier to loose one's reputation than to build it. Or even more so, rebuild it.

[glh101282]

I own the post about connecting the grey water tank to the black tank with a pump. To an engineer this is not complicated, but is convenient.

My Airstream is 35+ years old. Many times I have thought about buying a new or newer one. After reading the Forum and learning that some of the old problems are still present in new trailers, I decided to keep my older model.

Over the years I have corrected many of the problems mentioned in this thread. Making improvements as I go. The basic structure is tried and true, it is how they put the inside together that is the main problem in my eyes. I have replaced a lot of rivets with screws and put extra wood backing in to give them bite. Quarter inch thick plywood is not able to hold a screw that is holding up a cabinet when bouncing down the road.

When I worked building the M-1 combat tank, there was a book in each department where the workers or anyone could enter suggestions or problems. An engineer was assigned to each issue and was responsible for investigating it. The solution was then published in the book for the writer and everyone else to see. Changes were made and the product improved/became more user friendly/production more efficient. This concept should also be applied to the marketing side at Airstream with customer input and reply.

Since Airstreams are made mostly by hand or using manual tools (shears/brakes/drills/saws, etc.), change is not hard to implement. Putting backing washers on rivets when possible, periodic vacuuming during production before walls are in place and after completion, use glue and screws in wood joining, are a few changes that come to mind.

Overall, I have found Airstream very responsive to problems and issues I have had. I have found, though, especially with an older trailer, I get better service at an older established service center, C&G Trailer Service in Bellflower, Ca being my go to place.

[LEA777]

Awful, Awful and more awful. The couch in this Airstream is too short to sleep on except If you’re a small child. The footrests are useless as the back of the couch doesn’t recline. The 65” Projector screen wilth BOSE speakers was a plus until I realized that it’s too uncomfortable to watch the screen from a poorly designed sitting area. I resorted to watching TV and Movies on a 23” screen in the front bedroom. No Bose speakers in the bedroom. We paid for this brand new Airstream with the thought this would be our forever home. We tried to get a custom couch that reclines but was told by the company that manufactures these couches is that the wheel wells are in the way. I really believed that Airstream stream would have put more thought into functionality instead of aesthetics!

Plus: Great big bathroom and we purchased sliding metal baskets from the container store to put in the wardrobe closet. All clothes in one place! Bathe, dress, and groom I’m the bathroom just like home. I love the electric shades in the main cabin but why are they not in the front bedroom as well?

[joanbob27]

Welcome to the "CLUB" ! Some of us who have been using our trailers full time, (and even part time), have discovered that our company apparently has discovered that they can travel on the original company's coat tails, while including inferior components and poor designs, and charge higher prices, so they can make higher profits. At least that's the perception that we get when we discover faulty wiring, misc. garbage left by the factory, poorly designed plumbing, cheap electronics, unreliable appliances and more. It's a trend ! Almost all successful corporations are doing it ! It's the world we live in, so I guess we have to get used to it. How sad is that ?

[LEA777]

Originally Posted by 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

We bought a 2018 33FB Classic from the Dealership. We were sent away with one of the stabilizers broken. A few weeks later when we were cleaning the window sills there were rivets and other debris. Quality Control? I guess we ‘assumed’ that AS had us covered or is this the Dealership?
By the way: We never received a follow up call from the salesperson at the dealership. We left a few messages and emails and still nothing. We sent an email to Corporate two to three months ago and have not heard back. We’re going to stop in Ohio on the way to the East Coast and hopefully get a resolution. Do I dare name the Dealership on this site?

[AirstreamInc]

Hi LEA777,

Congratulations on your new Airstream! We are very sorry to hear this. Please send us a direct message with your contact information and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team.

Thank You.

[AirstreamInc]

Hi xisme2,

Congratulations on your new Airstream and we are very sorry to hear this. If there is anything we can assist with, please send us a direct message with your contact information and the last 6 digits of your VIN so we can share it with our Customer Service and Technical Support team.

Thank You.