quote:

I guess you could say the same thing about many Airstream owners who are also approaching 80 years on this earth.

I guess you haven't been to one of our gatherings lately.

it is interesting to see the put downs and rationalizations in this thread.

For me, the Airstream was a cost effective RV solution that met my needs and preferences in RV lifestyle. I bought used and got a lot more than if I had spent the same money on some other brand.

I agree that the Silverstreak, Avion, and Argosy, all built in the same manner as Airstream can also be cost effective used RVs.

I agree with BryanL (it had to happen). The put downs and rationalizations are a hoot. Unless I am mistaken, none of the put downs come from someone with REAL experience in the AS.

I have had a 29', 31' and a 34' triple axle. I don't understand the "space" thing. I suspect it grows out of the "curved cabinets cut storage" myth. It is true that the upper cabinets have a curved back. It is hardly a problem, just put the tall square stuff in a lower cab. We put over 20 years in our AS and never had a "space problem." There is storage under the couch, under the beds, closets, cabinets etc.

As for why to spend that much money... you either understand or ya don't. There are reasons why people buy a top notch sports car; they are fun to drive and that experience is worth the cost of the vehicle. Once you've towed an AS with a proper set up and TV, everything else will pale. I wish I had a copy of a film I saw playing on a loop in a dealer. A shorter unit, (perhaps 25') was being pulled through a cone course and thrown into 4-wheel drifts on the corners. Big 'ol black marks. I would'nt want to do that, but I doubt seriously that any other trailer made can do that. Nice for emergencies. An AS can be driven 50 miles at 50 MPH on 3 wheels. Can yours? An AS shell is built and then everything is put inside. This means everything inside will go back out through the door. That is not so with many SOBs. Keep a chain saw handy for repairs.

The insulation comment is interesting as the AS has as much insulation as any other that I have seen. We've stayed in snowstorms in CO at below 0 temps. It takes a bunch of propane, but we were fine. Admittedly, the later 34' had only single pane windows and because of the size it cooled quickly.

There are some legit problems with AS. The floorplans are for two adults. Recently they've added more family friendly FPs, but I don't think the AS is optimum for a large family. I bought a Holiday Rambler as my current TT because of the family issue. But, if fuel prices ever stablize, I will be looking for another AS. It gets in the blood. The HR is considered top of the line for TTs and it is no better than the AS I've had. Just different. No more storage space that we have noticed.

I have always advised that if a person is buying just to take the TT somewhere and sit out the season, there are better choices. If you plan on towing, nothing will touch the AS.

One last thing, having OWNED two units made pre-Thor and one post-Thor, I can state with some authority that the comment about post-Thor being lesser quality is bunk. You can get good units from cheap makers and bad units from great makers. It happens.

Good luck and happy trails!

quote:

Originally posted by BryanL:
[QUOTE]

For me, the Airstream was a cost effective RV solution that met my needs and preferences in RV lifestyle.

I agree that the Silverstreak, Avion, and Argosy, all built in the same manner as Airstream can also be cost effective used RVs.

Actually, the similarity is in all-aluminum construction, zero wood. The differences are that Silver Streak, Streamline and Avion were all built on a heavy steel framework ( Argosywas a lower-priced Airstream) and thus need, when one purchases a vintage unit, very little in the way of major work; unfortunately an A/S may need frame-separation issues addressed depending on the decade of manufacture.

Of the three alternate trailer brands above, the Avion in the later years had independent suspension, where the others still utilized leaf-spring/shock absorber suspensions.

What should be emphasized is that all of these trailers are far more road-worthy than any fifth wheel or conventional travel trailer. They are ideal for the full-timer who actually travels, in contrast to other types which are about good enough to go from Point A to Point B if all conditions of weather, road type and traffic are mild.

Not to mention 20, 30 or 50% better fuel mileage. After all, my trailer is 34' in length, has all amenities, plenty of storage but only weighs 3.5 tons compared to the 5,6 and 7-ton trailers I see listed.

One can get into one of these trailers quite reasonably, and spend not a lot to bring it up to date. I have less into my trailer and truck than most here have in their tow vehicle alone.

What is really kind of sad about all of the aluminum trailers is that of them (Silver Streak, Stream line, Avion and Air Stream), the poorest built trailer of the group has survived. Air Stream has survided due to the marketing.

My 29 year old Silver Streak has zero leaks, doors and windows are tight and has very few problems. Peoplel are amazed at the amount of storage we have in a 28' trailer and some of the things it had. Back in 1979, the Silvers were not cheap. You paid a good dollar for them, but you got a quality product.

So if you want a good older trailer, look for the Silver streak, Streamlines and Avions. The pre-Thor Air Streams are pretty good, but it would be my last choice.

Rednax, do you ever get up toward Houston? We bought our SS from the in-laws and the trailer has a lot of miles on it. I estiamte it was pulled close to 200,000 miles since they bought it used in 1981.

On a side note, your link to Tom's site is not working.
Ken

No, we have been meaning to attend the "faithful remnant" of S/S Owner Club at Coushatta [sp?] but have been tied up. Bought the trailer from friends of Ashby, near Montgomery. Beautiful condition.

Back to the original; I'd be pleased and proud to own an Airstream, one need only look at some of the gorgeous renovations done by owners on vintage units purchased used.

The lighter weight of the older (say, pre-1985) units is a huge boon to economy as one can use a better TV than a heavy pickup; when any structural problems are addressed (they are known, the fixes are understood, and there are kits for some types), the superiority of all-aluminum, low-center-of-gravity, independently-suspended (with upgrade to disk brakes) travel trailer is clear.

Can Am RV of Ontario has tested their trailers, big ones, with high-zoot European TV's and run slalom courses in excess of 80 mph.

One may say that this is beyond my needs, but remember that in roadability there is no trailer currently available that is superior. High winds, passing traffic, road hazards, etcetera, are all handled better by this type of trailer, ESPECIALLY when hooked to a well-sorted TV with a superior hitch.

I, for one, would never consider one of the "boxes" that handle poorly, and are built with, it seems, a low mileage/10-yr life span.

One gets what one pays for, and in an Airstream (and its late competitors) one gets the best.

And, with fuel prices the way they are, let's not forget the fuel economy advantage.

With my LARGE TRAILER (34'), I travel the Interstates at 15 mpg behind a diesel engine.

Compared to some of the fifth wheels around here, my fuel consumption is reduced by 50%.

For a rig traveling from, say, Ohio to Florida for the winter, all this may be irrelevant. For someone who actually travels, it may be the difference between going somewhere or leaving the rig parked.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rednax,

I just wish they would make a new model with a fulltimer floorplan: Large LCD TV, two recliners, freestanding dinette table, bigger tanks, etc, just like the nicer fifth wheels have. I would love to have an Airstream for fulltiming, but none of the current models is set up for that. We cannot relax watching a small TV from the booth dinette!

If they made a 34' fulltimer unit, I'd get a tow vehicle with a bunch of storage to make up for the lack of storage in the trailer. The AS stuff is cool, but I wish they had something for us to choose from!

Roy

quote:

Coushatta

Rednax.

We have been trying to get to Coushatta, but always have something come up. We will try for the fall months. The in-laws were very active in the club in Houton and the trailer knows it way to Coushatta without the truck. They gave us a whole stack of the SS National Rally stickers that they attended. Plan to mount them on a nice mount to display with the trailer.

Ken

This message has been edited. Last edited by: TXiceman,