Airstream Trailers

The way they pull and hold the road. Few if any leaks. Quality materials and construction. Quality control. Ease of maintenance. Proven design.

Quaility says it all.

1) They're sexy to look at, but the floors rot out a lot!

2) No real storage to speak of.

3) Status appeal

4) For years it was an Airstream or a cheapo.

5) $50,000 and you're getting a "wet bath"

6) They've achieved a "cult American status"

I'm not knocking the brand or anything, it's just my opinion

if you're ever in or near Jackson Center Ohio stop and visit the factory I'm pretty sure the tours are at 2 p.m.

Real quality there ......however they are overpriced but people do pay it:W

They used to be top quality inside and out. Now they're made with all the same cheap junk (wall board material, counter tops, cabinets, etc) as all the other brands. Take a look at one and you'll see it looks just like any other brand inside.
Talk to any place that sells used trailers and they'll tell you they leak just like the rest of them.
My buddy didn't believe it until he talked to a couple of dealers.
No longer worth the high price IMO.

Pretty simple reasons:

1. Longevity. Ours is 47 years young this year; many are a good deal older. We see no reason why it shouldn't outlast us at this point.

2. Availability. Our rig, like those that came before and after, is easy to buy parts for. Much easier than, say, my wife's 1996 Honda car.

3. Strong club. The WBCCI has been providing fun, adventure and fellowship for Airstream owners for many decades now.

Enough said.

:)
Lynn

What other trailer can you buy used for say $18K and ten years later sell it for $17K. No other TT pulls as well and cross winds or trucks passing are a non event. Only trailer I own that can sit for a year and all the exterior lights will work. I've owned a 1953, 1970, and now a 1998.

Ivylog wrote:
Only trailer I own that can sit for a year and all the exterior lights will work. I've owned a 1953, 1970, and now a 1998.

What other trailers do you own?

Bruce

They are built differently from most mass market TTs, which don't all use the same construction in any case. The construction technology used by Airstream for the shell has quite high cost for both labor and materials. Thus original price has to be higher. People willing to pay a much higher price will believe it is higher quality; that part of the equation has long been used in the automobile market, badge-engineered premium price models. I'm thinking particularly of selling the Chevy Cavalier as a Cadillac Cimarron.

Airstream is not the only company building substantially differently. Molded fiberglass shells are also more expensive than assembling a wooden or plastic box. There are also manufacturers whose use some of the more common techniques but use better materials. And there are those who badge engineer premium models, just like the car cimpanies.

I am not an Airstream owner and scoff at their price and lack of space but I admire the quality. That is a BIG factor for me but not big enough to offset the price. As for the DW - she does not like their cramped feeling. Reminds her of an aeroplane.