Are conventional trailers consider "throw away" trailers? Meaning 10 years or so of useful life? Case in point... I like Airstreams and one day I will probably own one. I often go to the AIR forums and try to pick up a few tips and learn a little from them. I keep seeing a theme from Airstream owners that they refer to box trailers as throw away trailers. I kind wonder about this, and if its true??My box trailer is nearly 20 years old now and is a little long in the tooth in some areas. I will have to repair some wood damage and other various little things. However, with maintenance, I really don't see why a box trailer cant last 20-30-40 years. I mean, there are users on here with box trailers dating to the 70's and 80's regularly and some with even older trailers. Maybe it's an emotional thing? People love to pull an airstream out of the weeds and put 10-20k in it restoring it and then talk about longevity. Maybe I just don't understand the concept of a throw away trailer. Thanks!Jeremiah

More of an elitist thingOurs are better than.... Everything else

jerem0621 wrote: However, with maintenance, I really don't see why a box trailer cant last 20-30-40 years. JeremiahIt can.But I think more aluminum-sided stick-built trailers (not just Airstreams) will survive that long than will those sided with the various composite-sandwich type skins. All- molded fiberglass trailers like that used for boats are also noted for longevity (my own is a '78). But that's an entirely different type of construction from that used for most RV trailers.

A new Airstream already looks like it is 50 years old. They are UGLY!

Maintenance is the key. Some people will do nothing to a RV and it's trashed in 5 years. Others that take care of what they have get 20 years or more out of them.

I think it is about how well people take care of their trailers. Says more about being a throw away society than it does the trailers being throw away. If people did the maintenance on their trailers like they are supposed to, I think most trailers would last 20 years or more. Most people I talk to at best check their roofs yearly, wash and wax their trailer once a year maybe, fix it when it's broken but really don't give it a thorough inspection on all parts and appliances. I walk the roof every spring, every fall, seal or fix anything that looks like it might begin to be a problem. Wash the trailer after every trip, wax it twice a year (spring and fall), spray the stab jacks every other trip or so with silicone lub, check the water heater, furnace, frig vents a couple times a year and a general walk around inspection checking lights,windows, trim and the sealant around them. I'm hoping to get 15-20 years out of mine or at a minimum, get top dollar for it when I trade up once I retire.

Throw away trailers?? | Good Sam Community

popeyemth
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
More of an elitist thing
Ours are better than.... Everything else
Francesca_Knowl
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
jerem0621 wrote:
However, with maintenance, I really don't see why a box trailer cant last 20-30-40 years.

Jeremiah

It can.

But I think more aluminum-sided stick-built trailers (not just Airstreams) will survive that long than will those sided with the various composite-sandwich type skins.

All- molded fiberglass trailers like that used for boats are also noted for longevity (my own is a '78). But that's an entirely different type of construction from that used for most RV trailers.
Jack_Diane_Free
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
A new Airstream already looks like it is 50 years old. They are UGLY!
colliehauler
Explorer III
Aug 06, 2013
Maintenance is the key. Some people will do nothing to a RV and it's trashed in 5 years. Others that take care of what they have get 20 years or more out of them.
CincyGus
Explorer II
Aug 06, 2013
I think it is about how well people take care of their trailers. Says more about being a throw away society than it does the trailers being throw away. If people did the maintenance on their trailers like they are supposed to, I think most trailers would last 20 years or more. Most people I talk to at best check their roofs yearly, wash and wax their trailer once a year maybe, fix it when it's broken but really don't give it a thorough inspection on all parts and appliances.

I walk the roof every spring, every fall, seal or fix anything that looks like it might begin to be a problem. Wash the trailer after every trip, wax it twice a year (spring and fall), spray the stab jacks every other trip or so with silicone lub, check the water heater, furnace, frig vents a couple times a year and a general walk around inspection checking lights,windows, trim and the sealant around them. I'm hoping to get 15-20 years out of mine or at a minimum, get top dollar for it when I trade up once I retire.
JRS___B
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
Since an Airstream trailer is not likely to develop either a leaky rubber roof or delamination problems, in theory it could last forever if you have the money and the inclination to spend whatever it takes to refurbish it as necessary.

I would suspect that some (not all) non-airstream trailers with water leakage and delamination problems are simply uneconomic to repair, and thus become throw aways.

All the rest is Airstream elitism. JMHO
Sandia_Man
Explorer II
Aug 06, 2013
Whether a non-airstream unit is a throw-away trailer is dependent upon upkeep and maintenance through it's lifespan. I always manage to see quite a few very old non-airstream rigs every time I go camping that appear to be going strong, but I doubt I will keep our current 6 year old RV more than 10 years.

I've known neighbors who went from an airstream to conventional and from conventional to an airstream as there are pros and cons to either choice. As for us, my DW and I don't have any designs of owning an airstream in the future, but that's due to our personal tastes. They are no doubt durable units, but not our cup of tea so to speak.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
jerem0621 wrote:

Case in point... I like Airstreams and one day I will probably own one. I often go to the AIR forums and try to pick up a few tips and learn a little from them. I keep seeing a theme from Airstream owners that they refer to box trailers as throw away trailers. I kind wonder about this, and if its true??

that is because air stream owners are more "worthy" than the rest of us.
I think that that small all aluminum trailer with a welded square tubing frame including the support for cabinets, etc. with aluminum siding that I looked at when I was buying, will be around just as long as any airstream selling for 10 x as much. If they would have had a small one that had a sink/vanity in the bathroom, I probably would have bought it.
bumpy
RedRocket204
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
Meh, Airstreams...you can keep em. They feel very cramped and sterile inside to me and my family and we are not large or filthy people. I just don't care for them mainly because of the small space.

But throw away on the rest? Nah. Like everyone else is saying, depends on the owner and what maintenance is regularly done. When it comes to the inside of TTs, Airstream or other, if it is not taken care of, it WILL be trashed.

But yes, definitely seems Airstream owner forums come off as elitists.
Verne
Explorer
Aug 06, 2013
To me the secret is care and maintenance! There are Classy old box trailers and trashed newer Airstreams . . . the choice is, more often than not, up to the owner.