Anyone here own or previously owned an Airstream? We are looking at downsizing from a 31 ft Trail Lite into a smaller Airstream and need to hear some pro's and con's with ownereship.
Airstream
- Thread starter dannyballs
- Start date
Sideview has one. 1971 Tradewind. The build quality of the Airstream blows away anything else, although some of the newer Airstreams (2008 and 2009) had some issues.
There are some pretty hot deals here on vintage Airstreams. http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/
There are some pretty hot deals here on vintage Airstreams. http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/
I looked at a 15ft AirStream a while back, they wanted $5800 for it. It was a mid 70's and was holding up well except for the roof seams. Looked like the PO had used roof coating to stop the leaks. Don't know how well it would hold up.
My dad bought an Argosy (similar to AS) for a 'guest house' for his summer house. He got a good deal on a trailer that had been sitting 15+ years. Works well for it's intended purpose, but probably won't move again.
My main complaint about the AS or Agrosy is the feeling you're living in a tunnel. Small windows not well placed (and not wide opening) and a long hallway. Add in dark colors and you have a claustriphobic feel. We had a Sprite Alpine trailer when I was a kid and it had huge windows all the way around and they all opened. Bright colors inside and light beech wood trim. Modern trailers seem to follow that theme better and have a much better airy feel. I'd be looking at one of those if I was going to buy a trailer.
My dad bought an Argosy (similar to AS) for a 'guest house' for his summer house. He got a good deal on a trailer that had been sitting 15+ years. Works well for it's intended purpose, but probably won't move again.
My main complaint about the AS or Agrosy is the feeling you're living in a tunnel. Small windows not well placed (and not wide opening) and a long hallway. Add in dark colors and you have a claustriphobic feel. We had a Sprite Alpine trailer when I was a kid and it had huge windows all the way around and they all opened. Bright colors inside and light beech wood trim. Modern trailers seem to follow that theme better and have a much better airy feel. I'd be looking at one of those if I was going to buy a trailer.
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BTW, there's a 'trailer park' in Bisbee Arizona that has a bunch of 50's and 60's travel trailers set up as a motel. It's called the Shady Dell Trailer Park. You can rent 10 different models, complete with pots, pans and dinnerware. There's also a 50's diner on site. Here's the Airstream model they have:
http://www.theshadydell.com/Trailers/Airstream.html
$50-145 per night, depending on which trailer you pick.
http://www.theshadydell.com/Trailers/Airstream.html
$50-145 per night, depending on which trailer you pick.
Thanks for the tunnel comment. I need more pros and cons. We are actually looking at the 19 ft Int'l and I can not get over the new MSRP of $53k. Way over the top. I get the iconic value of the units; however, I could buy three traditional units over the course of it's lifetime. When looking at older units, what should I be looking at? I am familiar with traditional units and what to look for. With the Airstream and their construction methods, I am not sure how to gauge the structural integrity of the unit.
The Airstream is priced 3x more than a box trailer because it's made 3x better. An Airstream is built to last a lifetime. You're not going to find many Jayco's that were made in the 50's, 60's and 70's still left on the road.
I would not buy a new trailer. That's dumb. As soon as you drive that trailer off the lot it looses $5k easy. If you want a newer trailer, get a newly used one. I've got a 2008 Jay Feather here that still has tags on the couches that could be had for a lot less than a new trailer.
I don't get the "tunnel" thing in an Airstream. Airstreams come in 100's of different floor patterns. Some are very open, and others are very cramped. But they're all cool.
I would not buy a new trailer. That's dumb. As soon as you drive that trailer off the lot it looses $5k easy. If you want a newer trailer, get a newly used one. I've got a 2008 Jay Feather here that still has tags on the couches that could be had for a lot less than a new trailer.
I don't get the "tunnel" thing in an Airstream. Airstreams come in 100's of different floor patterns. Some are very open, and others are very cramped. But they're all cool.
I'm learning that an Airstream is an American icon with quite a big cult following. I'm totally digging it :victory: 25' pulls like nothing with the LR3.
It does depend on what model you get, some don't have many windows. Mine has lots of windows and is really airy inside. One thing that makes it feel tunnel like is the curtains that wrap the whole inside, even where there aren't windows. It looks like a fricken coffin to me :ack: so I'm gonna go for some micro blinds.
I think the small Bambi's are really cute and would be nice if you travel alone, but not really much space for family or entertaining.
It does depend on what model you get, some don't have many windows. Mine has lots of windows and is really airy inside. One thing that makes it feel tunnel like is the curtains that wrap the whole inside, even where there aren't windows. It looks like a fricken coffin to me :ack: so I'm gonna go for some micro blinds.
I think the small Bambi's are really cute and would be nice if you travel alone, but not really much space for family or entertaining.
dannyballs said:
Far from an expert, still learning myself, but I've been reading on the airstream forums a lot lol. Going for a vintage unit is a good move because taken care of the price will go up in time instead of down.
Aside from checking the working systems and all that a couple important things to look out for in buying is
- the floor integrity. Check for any soft spots that would indicate leaks, especially around the bathroom. Look behind some of the cupboards/along walls for visuals of leaks.
- Frame. Check that frame is sound, and not separating from the bumper in the back. You can do this by bouncing on it.
This is a good list of pricing/conditions - http://www.vintageairstream.com/rr_topics_pricevscondition.html#SSS
Reading up on this forum will help a lot too -
http://www.airforums.com/forums/
Thanks. We bought a 31 ft unit thinking bigger is better. The reality is that when we camp we are barely inside the unit except to sleep. I am hoping to have mine sold this month to start looking at a few Airstreams.
Ron said:
Sorry, don't mean to hijack! I have a scamp. Love it. It's great for quick weekend getaways. I'm 6'4" and I fit in the bed just fine.
dannyballs said:
Before we had kids it was great because we were the same way. We only slept in it. Now that the family is size 4 it's a bit harder but we can do it since the kids are 2 and 5. Who wants to go camping and hang out inside a trailer all weekend? Not me.
No need to discuss. Call Craig Dorsey, Owner of Vintage Vacations, an objective expert and pose the question. Found this...Nomar said:
Airstream has a number of nice features I'd like to have on my Silver Streak, among them the semi-independent suspension versus buggy springs. And better the door hinges.
That said, the S/S is not significantly heavier but is constructed on an absolutely super frame, not semi-moncocque like the A/S. All appliances (furnace, water heater, pump, etc) are mounted on the sub-floor and easily accessed by doors or false panels from the interior. Same for the fresh water tank. The trailer is .032 double-wall with 2" insulation in walls and roof, the floor is 4" insulated and 4" dead-air space between skins.
The subfloor is NOT a structural piece so you have no frame sag or separation problems as with A/S. My folks had their S/S for nearly 30-years, and beyond replacing appliances as they wore, or carpeting, the maintenance costs were minimal. Repairs were easily handled by more than one tech who simply wouldn't work on an old Airstream due to the problems of accessing appliances, lines, etc. There isn't anything you can't access in only seconds if need be.
The interior fit and finish on a Silver Streaks without question superior to A/S. Besides the higher quality of workmanship, the materials in a decently kept 1970's model will look far better than any A/S of the same age and relative condition. I have read plenty of threads on cleaning interior walls of older Airstreams and have yet to find (of seven recently inspected) anything like this problem.
Storage space is incredible. I recently read a blog of another owner who purchased his new in 1980, and, having inspected and measured carefully all the competitors, chose the S/S based on that storage and construction. He and his wife found over 250 cubic feet of storage onboard, not even close, they said, to the others.
Now, I realize that in intervening years that Airstream has become porky (slide-outs? 11,000-lb GVWR? Wide-body?) as the market has changed. S/S really hasn't been seen since the mid-1980's so they are not as easy to find. The prices are also lower. Cherry condition for a nice early 80's model shouldn't be in excess of $15,000 at present. Prices are appreciating, however, so a good S/S can be remodeled more easily than a comparable A/S with a higher potential profit for resale after a few years (or lower operating cost in this sense).
Best of all, a Silver Streak isn't generic like an Airstream. You won't see yourself coming and going on the road. No African herds at rallies. Just have to get used to people thinking all aluminum trailers are A/S. There never were as many S/S, and, as they only made a few hundred per year with an accomodating factory ["Want an LPG generator? Okay, we'll fit one in"] there are plenty of variations.
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As I was tired of seeing unsubstantiated comments from very opinionated people, I went ahead and posed the question to one of the best expert out there. Here's Craig Dorsey of Vintage Vacations answer to my question...
Some of us were having a discussion and I wanted to get your professional opinion. All things being as equal as possible (year, size, extras, etc...), what was a better made trailer?
Airstream
Silver Streak
Streamline
Hands down, the Silver Streak and Streamline are a much better built trailer than the Airstream. You will find twice the amount of rivets and walls frames in the S's than in the A's. They are both a much better built body with no compound curves, only lap curves which makes it much easier to work on should you ever need to replace a panel. Between the 2 S's I would have to say that it is a tie.
There you have it. Not even close.
Some of us were having a discussion and I wanted to get your professional opinion. All things being as equal as possible (year, size, extras, etc...), what was a better made trailer?
Airstream
Silver Streak
Streamline
Hands down, the Silver Streak and Streamline are a much better built trailer than the Airstream. You will find twice the amount of rivets and walls frames in the S's than in the A's. They are both a much better built body with no compound curves, only lap curves which makes it much easier to work on should you ever need to replace a panel. Between the 2 S's I would have to say that it is a tie.
There you have it. Not even close.