Airstream Question

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?

There is a certain amount of mystique in owning an Airstream. Status perhaps but I think it is more than just that. Why do some strive to own a Harley Davidson when they can purchase a very good motorcycle for a lot less money? Why do some like Apple computers over a less expensive PC?

I owned a Starcraft white box before we got the Airstream. Pulling an Airstream is a totally different experience. We do not live full time in our trailer and usually go out for 6 weeks maximum. When we do camp/travel I don't expect all the comforts of home. If I wanted to sit in front of a fireplace I would not leave home. Our Starcraft also had a slideout and while it did provide lots of room it was also problematic.

We are not large people and we travel light. My biggest complaint is that the Airstream does not have much storage, especially exterior storage. Like they say, for the price, you should have a place to store a couple of lawn chairs.

As far as a "weak frame" is concerned I really don't agree. They are built different and the strength comes from the shell and the frame acting as one piece. When people try to bolt on or weld additions to the frame to hold things like generators and extra storage containers they are really going to mess things up. The white box is built on a frame and the frame alone has much more strength because it has to hold the entire trailer. As far as having loaded tanks causing frames to break, I doubt that this is a common problem.

The shells are made of aluminum but they still can and do leak especially if the owner does not maintain them. The water makes it way down to the wood floor where it will rot out. A big white box can leak too but the rot will usually happen in the roof structure or the side walls first. When stories of rotted floors surface they are usually in older Airstreams but not always. When stories of rebuilding a 65 Airstream surface and talk about rotted floors and rusted frame members are shared please keep in mind that these trailers are almost 50 years old. How many 50 year old regular trailers do you see on the road?

The end line is, there are lots of different trailers out there because there are lots of different people camping. I like my Airstream but I will be the first one to say they are not for everyone.

I always read the RV ads in my local paper and have been watching these for weeks: three Airstreams, the most expensive of which is a '93 Excella 34' at $14,500.00.

Wes Tausend wrote:

westend wrote:
Thanks! Ill look over the situation with the Airstream before I go forward.

westend,

If you are interested, below is a multipage Airstream frame-off complete rebuild thread called Airstream - The Whole Enchilada right from our very own RV.net pages. Many, many pictures, extremely well documented.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/22391627.cfm

My guess is nobody on the "free" net has outdone dieseleagle in an RV rebuild story of any kind.

My Dear Wife and I considered buying a "pre-owned" Avion at one time. I discussed it here in an Airstream thread along with some 1989 brochure photo links (that still seem to work as of now)

The upfront cost of Airstream, Avion etc is high, but the resale holds well, possibly matching overall ownership outlay against rapidly depreciating low cost units. You can spend the kids inheritance, but they get it back. :)

If you decide to rebuild, good luck to you. It is surely a worthy endeavor if you have the time.

Wes
...

Wow,thanks, Wes! That is sure an excellent restoration thread. Yeah, the resale value is something that is making me interested in an Airstream restoration. I spent a lot of time and a fair bit of money on restoring The Hilton and sure won't be getting anywhere close to that out of it, should I choose to resell (I'm not). I have been looking for an older Avion but they are scarce up here.

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

wmoses wrote:
By your calculation that $101K would be enough to buy up to 4 decent new RVs not the 1 x $20K TT and an $81K TT. ;)

But your point is well made. :) Of course the Airstreamers would say that the one $70K would last all that time and still be "perfect". But who wants the same floorplan for all that time. My DW likes to change around the furniture from time to time - that does not bode well for the same RV layout forever.

My example was to buy a 20K TT and 10 years latter buy another 20K TT from the profit off the 50K. Of course there's inflation and what not but even using the 30K in profit you would still be ahead IMO.
I'm like you I wouldn't want a trailer for 20-30 years. My wife and I like to switch things up as well and being in the same TT for 20-30 years would be boring.

Another point that hasn't been brought up is while AS holds their value well. What about financing vs paying cash. Financing 50-60K, assuming 10-20% down for 12-15 years results is a fair amount of interest being paid. How does that factor in on the overall value?

I also wonder how many owners keep theirs for 20+ years. I would imagine they're like the rest and maybe sell or trade after 5-10 years. So paying interest on 50-60K over that span vs buying something the same size for 20K and paying way less in interest could offset the extra resale price.

A 20K loan for 12yr @5% has $6,600 in interest.
A 60K loan for 12yr @5% has $19,900 in interest.

I'm not sure what the values of each would be at the end of 12 yrs but it would be interesting to see. And then figure in the total interest.

By your calculation that $101K would be enough to buy up to 4 decent new RVs not the 1 x $20K TT and an $81K TT. ;)

But your point is well made. :) Of course the Airstreamers would say that the one $70K would last all that time and still be "perfect". But who wants the same floorplan for all that time. My DW likes to change around the furniture from time to time - that does not bode well for the same RV layout forever.

Anyone buying a new Airstream is just buying a status symbol. Diehard RV'ers don't by them as they're not as practical for everyday use.
I don't get why anyone would pay $70,000+ for a 23' TT. I would take the $70,000 and use $20,000 for a 23' TT, take the leftover $50,000 and invest it.
After 10 years with a 5% return rate you would have 81,000 in the bank.
Enough to pay cash for another TT.

Definitely ask questions about the flooring! Airstreams are basically bulletproof except for their floors, but as westend pointed out, there are available fixes for that like was explained.

owned one and just couldn't take the wet bath aspect of it, being so expensive. The storage situation also is problematic to my way of thinking. The Airstream was a sweet Victorinox Edition too, which I think they only made 300 of.

WoodGlue

westend wrote:
Thanks! Ill look over the situation with the Airstream before I go forward.

westend,

If you are interested, below is a multipage Airstream frame-off complete rebuild thread called Airstream - The Whole Enchilada right from our very own RV.net pages. Many, many pictures, extremely well documented.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/22391627.cfm

My guess is nobody on the "free" net has outdone dieseleagle in an RV rebuild story of any kind.

My Dear Wife and I considered buying a "pre-owned" Avion at one time. I discussed it here in an Airstream thread along with some 1989 brochure photo links (that still seem to work as of now)

The upfront cost of Airstream, Avion etc is high, but the resale holds well, possibly matching overall ownership outlay against rapidly depreciating low cost units. You can spend the kids inheritance, but they get it back. :)

If you decide to rebuild, good luck to you. It is surely a worthy endeavor if you have the time.

Wes
...