Airstream Question

LarryJM wrote:
We seriously considered an Airstream until we actually went into some models and NO WAY do I want to stay in a "TUBE" and I found myself ducking as I walked down the aisle thinking I was going to hit my head on the cabinets, etc. However, each to their own...

Larry

Had an opportunity to go inside one in Australia.Same feeling you had as well as feeling I was in a naked 1950's Aircraft

Francesca Knowles wrote:

aftermath wrote:
There is a certain amount of mystique in owning an Airstream. Status perhaps but I think it is more than just that.

But what, exactly?

Not tryin' to be a smart aleck- you yourself only described the defects you perceive in the trailer....what sets it apart besides the obvious things you name above?

I have a very limited set of experiences with only having owned one SOB. The Starcraft hybrid was purchased new and we never abused it. The cabinets were very flimsy and the plumbing fixtures were downright cheap. The drawers under the dinette seats actually fell off the tracks, the slideout was troublesome, the switch burned out and the tongue jack blew a couple of fuses for no reason that I could figure out. The water pump made so much noise I thought the trailer was going to shake itself to death. Cheap materials, cheap construction and very poor quality control in the entire process.

I have had the airstream for 4 years now with nary a problem. The quality of the cabinetry is excellent, the fixtures are home grade and everything works and nothing has shaken loose. I do believe that the quality is the best thing. Of course there other brands out there that have figured this out as well so quality is not unique to Airstream. Towing is amazing. My Airstream is 5 feet longer and 2000 lbs. heavier but it is easier to two than my little white box. I get the same gas mileage using the same truck. It sits lower to the ground and is not affected to any large extent by winds either head or side. It is a very well made product.

There is also a mystique that I mentioned earlier. When you pull into a campground people usually notice. Many will come up and talk to you, some looking for a chance to blast your choice since they are expensive and they do not offer as much space as the typical box. You get much the same reaction on the forum. I like mine. I works well for us. I plan to keep it for at least another 10 years and will be interested in seeing what other 20 year old trailers will look like at that time.

Francesca Knowles wrote:
I noticed in an Airstream Forum (that shall remain nameless), many folks refer to anything that isn't an Airstream as an "s.o.b.".

Took me awhile to figure out that it stands for "some other brand"- whew! :B

That's good to know! We wouldn't want the Airstream crowd to be thought of as elitists, now would we? LOL

WoodGlue

WoodGlue wrote:
Just for a laugh, do you Airstream people have any negative terminology for people who tow Scamps or Casitas?

WoodGlue

I noticed in an Airstream Forum (that shall remain nameless), many folks refer to anything that isn't an Airstream as an "s.o.b.".

Took me awhile to figure out that it stands for "some other brand"- whew! :B

The closest the U.S. will ever come to European styling, practicality and quality. I don't understand why we're not copying Europeans and the Japanese. They do it so much better. We're still traveling in cracker boxes.

Speedogomer wrote:
...
An Airstream isn't a Camry. It's not supposed to be. Sometimes an objects "quirks" are what gives it character, what makes it great. It's what changes it from an object, to an object of desire. I've always said, a great car becomes more than a car, it comes alive, it has a personality. An RV can be the same. An Airstream may be an inferior product on paper, but it becomes so much more.

Very nice post and I agree 10000%.

But that cost .... It is out of whack with what the RV is, for me. I guess I place more on value for money quirkiness notwithstanding.

I would think one thing that the Airstream has beyond simple box trailers is the ease of towing. They tend to be a bit lighter but their best attribute is the domed ends, there is just a whole lot less drag.

There's probably been a study done on how we like the looks or feel of something that gets iconic. Even if that object could be improved in function or style, there is a presumption of venerability or quality about certain designs. I don't look at the Airstreams or Avions as really that much different than other trailers. Of course, an old Swedish cowpoke like me is more concerned about the function of what I have than the looks of it.

IMO, the smaller Airstreams have good functionality for a certain camping style. They are easy to tow and are built more for the guy/gal that doesn't need all the bells and whistles of some other types. One size doesn't fit all.

Francesca Knowles wrote:

aftermath wrote:
There is a certain amount of mystique in owning an Airstream. Status perhaps but I think it is more than just that.

But what, exactly?

Not tryin' to be a smart aleck- you yourself only described the defects you perceive in the trailer....what sets it apart besides the obvious things you name above?

I owned a Cadillac CTS-V and sold it a few years back. It was in the shop as much as it was on the road. In 2 years time I had 8 separate trips to the dealer for things repaired (under warranty). The interior was sub-par, and the ride was terrible. There was as much wrong as right with the car some days.

Here's the thing though. It was by far my favorite car I've ever owned. It had the most character, and sometimes flaws are what gives something character. To quote Jeremy Clarkson... "it's like Uma Thurman. It's perfect, but you can't really explain why". That car, on the right road when everything was working right, was absolutely sublime. The sound was intoxicating, it made me shiver. It was a religious experience.

Another quote from Jeremy Clarkson "just because something is reliable doesn't make it great. Steven Hawking is a great man even though most of him dosen't work."

For some people, the only thing they want is reliability. That's why so many Toyota Camrys are sold.

An Airstream isn't a Camry. It's not supposed to be. Sometimes an objects "quirks" are what gives it character, what makes it great. It's what changes it from an object, to an object of desire. I've always said, a great car becomes more than a car, it comes alive, it has a personality. An RV can be the same. An Airstream may be an inferior product on paper, but it becomes so much more.

Just for a laugh, do you Airstream people have any negative terminology for people who tow Scamps or Casitas?

WoodGlue

Francesca Knowles wrote:

aftermath wrote:
There is a certain amount of mystique in owning an Airstream. Status perhaps but I think it is more than just that.

But what, exactly?

Not tryin' to be a smart aleck- you yourself only described the defects you perceive in the trailer....what sets it apart besides the obvious things you name above?

I think they look sleek. Somehow that is attractive to people whether they look at another human, poodle, automobile or racehorse.

And would any of us want to fly today in a Boeing 767 that looked like a big, white, square box? Maybe for nostalgia's sake. I guess folks did fly in them before WWII, perhaps a trusty old Ford Tri-motor.

And my wife bid me add, there is yet a timeless quality. The Airstream does not seem to change, nor does the thump-thump of Harley Davidson's engine.

Wes
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