Airstream Classic

Slowmover wrote:
Someone show me the threads where those shopping 1980s and 90s plastic trailers to use for extensive travel are located.

The criticisms, as usual, come from those with no relevant experience or line by line comparisons.

The fact remIns that the aero all-aluminum TTs have an indefinite lifespan. Anything else is a joke. Before the finance note expires, it’s junk.

Below is a photo, taken this fall right after Christmas, of our 2004 "plastic" trailer as I was getting it ready for our winter traveling. It has had extensive travel and is used heavily all year round. In fact, we are presently enjoying it in Texas for the winter. I expect it to last many more years also because I am almost anal about maintenance and keeping it leak free. Believe me, our trailer is no joke and it certainly is not junk!
Barney

Slowmover wrote:
Someone show me the threads where those shopping 1980s and 90s plastic trailers to use for extensive travel are located.

The criticisms, as usual, come from those with no relevant experience or line by line comparisons.

The fact remIns that the aero all-aluminum TTs have an indefinite lifespan. Anything else is a joke. Before the finance note expires, it’s junk.

The exteriors maybe. There are a S-load of gutted Airstreams around. Even in the boonies where I reside. Silverstreaks, too So why are they gutted? Rotted and moldy.
My camper is not a joke. It’s solid and will stay that way as long as I own it, and I stay at least semi-solid.
I would love to own an old Airstream and redo the insides. Somebody I love is dead set against the idea.
I have never felt my camper is junk. Worth every penny.

MSchu wrote:
My wife and I also love the look of the Airstream trailers and could afford one if we really wanted one but I'm too frugal to buy one. Here's the way I look at the value/depreciation debate. if you're looking at a $40k conventional trailer vs a $120k Airstream, in 10 years the conventional trailer might be worn out, and have depreciated the entire $40k while the Airstream might have only depreciated $30k so it looks like a better deal. But if you had invested the $80k difference for that 10 years, it would have appreciated way more than the $10k difference. (If you had put the $80k in the stock market 10 years ago it would probably be worth over $200k right now!)

What you correctly pointed out is neither an Airstream nor another brand is an "investment", but both are a depreciating asset like most cars and trucks.

Slowmover wrote:
...snip

The fact remIns that the aero all-aluminum TTs have an indefinite lifespan. Anything else is a joke. Before the finance note expires, it’s junk.

SlowMo, you always say that in every one of these threads.
As always, it's total bunk about white box constructed trailers being, to use your words "a joke....junk before the finance note expires".

Folks that think like that really need to get out more. I'm right now sitting once again for the winter in a Arizona resort, surrounded by snowbirds from all over the country. Most trailers and fifth wheels here are of course "white box trailers".

Many, many of them are 15 to 20 years old, and appear to have many years left in them, still being enjoyed by their owners. Graphics are faded, but that's just cosmetic, and could be easily remedied if they wanted to.

As I stated, some folks think that an Airstream is well worth the money simply because of their design, features and uniqueness. If you add to this the status factor it becomes a bargain.

If you do not feel that way, oh well. You are not part of the Airstream demographic. Neither they nor the people who buy them care about the snarky opinions of others.

They proudly make what they make, either you feel it is worth the price or you can go buy something else.

I do not care for Airstreams but I do not like golf either; yet I certainly do not complain about folks who are willing to pay a ridiculous fee just to play on a prestigious area golf course.

While I prefer to waste my money on my own unique hobbies, I certainly am not going to begrudge others their pleasure.

Be safe.

Passin Thru wrote:
the one my friend used to ahve always reeked of smoke due to the carpeted walls.

What is this "carpeted walls" you keep talking about. My 2017 Airstream does not have carpet on the walls. As a matter of fact, it has no carpet anywhere. That was a plus since DW was absolutely sick of the carpet in the Class C that we traded off when buying the Airstream. Is it possible that your friend put the carpeting on the walls himself, or a previous owner did, in an effort to insulate the tt better?

Quote: The fact remIns that the aero all-aluminum TTs have an indefinite lifespan.

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I don't care about a RV with an indefinite lifespan. I have a finite lifespan. In 10 to 20 years I will be dead from old age.

The dollars I saved by buying a white box trailer, I have used for travel.

MSchu wrote:
My wife and I also love the look of the Airstream trailers and could afford one if we really wanted one but I'm too frugal to buy one. Here's the way I look at the value/depreciation debate. if you're looking at a $40k conventional trailer vs a $120k Airstream, in 10 years the conventional trailer might be worn out, and have depreciated the entire $40k while the Airstream might have only depreciated $30k so it looks like a better deal. But if you had invested the $80k difference for that 10 years, it would have appreciated way more than the $10k difference. (If you had put the $80k in the stock market 10 years ago it would probably be worth over $200k right now!)

Buying an economy car and sleeping in discount motels will save even more.

But given that the AS will still be on the road in thirty years, you’ll be replacing a conventional about every five to seven given you actually travel in that span.

Or, with a budget of forty, buy used and replace what’s needed. And in a dozen years you’ll receive offers from other than RV salvage yards.

There are thousands to choose from.

Are you going to buy a used car from an Uber driver? Or the retired fellow down the street who never left town.

Restoration threads are for those who bought the former. Most need little if anything.

And there are MANY restoration or renovation threads. Some beautiful work in some instances. In fact, there’s a range not seen with any other brand. Should I state the self evident all over? Brand new or sixty years old. Those with little budget and those who’ll spend $30k on top of brand new custom-ordered price.

I’ve already said I have less than $30k into BOTH vehicles. I also have a lifetime of experience with them, more than fifty years, so knowing what to look for was a help. And, ZERO leaks.

“Budget” is a non-starter. An excuse.

.

While it may be true the shell of an older Airstream has a very long life, none of the rest of it does. Looking at restoration threads on the A/S forum, one will find that these old trailers often need extensive frame repairs, in some cases an entire new main frame needs to be fabricated.

As well as repair or replacement of functional parts like furnaces, air conditioners, wiring, addition of microwave ovens etc.

These repairs are very labor and time intensive to the point they are not really economically feasible. I applaud the efforts these folks put into the old trailers, but the reality is they are doing it for the love of the old trailer, not because it makes economic sense. They have more in just the restoration/refitting process than a new white box trailer costs.

Let's be honest here folks: people buy, use and restore these trailers because they like the unique, shiney, iconic shape. Not because they have any long term functional advantage.

Even if one were bought brand new and perfectly maintained, many owners would find the interior to be dated looking in 10 to 15 years, and would spend at least some money refitting the furnishings.

To each their own. You either want one or you don't, but potential owners should be honest with themselves if the dollar side of the equation is important.

EDIT: if a person wants to read an excellent thread on the resto of one of these trailers, go over to airforums, and search for millertimeUS thread on the resto of his '76 Tradewind. He started the thread in 2014, chronicles his restoration process. His project ended up very nice indeed. Lots of work, starting with a brand new custom fabbed main frame.