Airtstream quality
Posted: Fri Sep 22, 2017 10:54 pm
Attended the Hershey RV show last weekend. We stayed at Hershey campground, met a nice family across our site, and had a good discussion on tow vehicles
I spent a couple of hours at Airstream's "booth" and carefully inspected all their models (Basecamp, Bambi, all the way to 33' Classic). When I was trailer shopping I had inspected 2 Avions and 2 Airstreams (one 70's and one 80's Airstream) and I thought the build quality difference between Airstream and Avion was night and day. I had not inspected any new Airstreams though up until this weekend.
I'll start with the positives: The older Airstreams I had inspected were narrow-body and felt claustrophobic. The new Airstreams, however, are wide-body and are also less aerodynamic. Hence, the interior feels much roomier. The vista windows are very nice and let a lot of light in (Vista windows reduce the interior storage though). Interior and exterior of Airstreams looks nice.
Now the negatives: I am sorry to report that the complaints you read on Airforums seem accurate. The fit and finish was poor in all the trailers I inspected (there were maybe 12 trailers there). Caulking was terrible. I am not a pro by any means, but I have caulked our Avion MUCH better than Airstream factory. No wonder Airstream leaks so much. The trim work was bad. You could not find a trim sitting flush against a wall/cabinet/etc. There was always some gap some where. I looked under the couches/cabinets and could find garbage, screws, etc. Apparently nobody uses a shop vac at Jackson center. Believe it or not, the cabinets felt cheap. The doors would not open smoothly, and they would shut close suddenly. They had a cheap feeling to them. I saw surface rust on A-frame of a brand new trailer. Also, I found it worrisome that the frame on a 33' Airstream with 10,000# GVWR was weaker than the frame of my 26' Avion. Inside one trailer, I saw a gap between the window frame and the wall and insulation was sticking out. The rear hatch gasket on a trailer was already coming off. The worst thing was the flimsy step that could not even handle my 160# weight. It was just terrible. IMO, Airstreams are worth less than half their MSRP. These new trailers are a project, and require significant work to remedy the shoddy workmanship, Mind you this is what I could see. Who knows how the electrical, plumbing, LP lines, etc are assembled.
Its funny how when someone complains about Airstream QC on Airforums, the fanboys collectively attack the person. I have owned things that were imperfect and I loved them regardless. I never claimed they were perfect, the best, the greatest, the first, etc. though. Airstream community seems more like a cult and it seems independent thinking is discouraged.
I spent a couple of hours at Airstream's "booth" and carefully inspected all their models (Basecamp, Bambi, all the way to 33' Classic). When I was trailer shopping I had inspected 2 Avions and 2 Airstreams (one 70's and one 80's Airstream) and I thought the build quality difference between Airstream and Avion was night and day. I had not inspected any new Airstreams though up until this weekend.
I'll start with the positives: The older Airstreams I had inspected were narrow-body and felt claustrophobic. The new Airstreams, however, are wide-body and are also less aerodynamic. Hence, the interior feels much roomier. The vista windows are very nice and let a lot of light in (Vista windows reduce the interior storage though). Interior and exterior of Airstreams looks nice.
Now the negatives: I am sorry to report that the complaints you read on Airforums seem accurate. The fit and finish was poor in all the trailers I inspected (there were maybe 12 trailers there). Caulking was terrible. I am not a pro by any means, but I have caulked our Avion MUCH better than Airstream factory. No wonder Airstream leaks so much. The trim work was bad. You could not find a trim sitting flush against a wall/cabinet/etc. There was always some gap some where. I looked under the couches/cabinets and could find garbage, screws, etc. Apparently nobody uses a shop vac at Jackson center. Believe it or not, the cabinets felt cheap. The doors would not open smoothly, and they would shut close suddenly. They had a cheap feeling to them. I saw surface rust on A-frame of a brand new trailer. Also, I found it worrisome that the frame on a 33' Airstream with 10,000# GVWR was weaker than the frame of my 26' Avion. Inside one trailer, I saw a gap between the window frame and the wall and insulation was sticking out. The rear hatch gasket on a trailer was already coming off. The worst thing was the flimsy step that could not even handle my 160# weight. It was just terrible. IMO, Airstreams are worth less than half their MSRP. These new trailers are a project, and require significant work to remedy the shoddy workmanship, Mind you this is what I could see. Who knows how the electrical, plumbing, LP lines, etc are assembled.
Its funny how when someone complains about Airstream QC on Airforums, the fanboys collectively attack the person. I have owned things that were imperfect and I loved them regardless. I never claimed they were perfect, the best, the greatest, the first, etc. though. Airstream community seems more like a cult and it seems independent thinking is discouraged.