kayzap
Valencia, ca.
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Joined: 07/30/2005
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Vans wrote:Volkov wrote:
Personal preferences aside, along with StarStream and T@B the new Airstreams are the only interiors we've seen that look to have been designed this century.
lol, 100% agree. It cannot cost more money to put in some solid colored fabrics and walls. Cabinets do come in more colors than wood grain.
As for towing an Airstream. I hardly know mine is behind my F-150. It tows really well.
I too wish i could afford the $70k that the new one i want costs. We have an addition to the family coming in 9 months and our vintage trailer is going to be just too small. Looks like it is time for a conventional type trailer.
Not so. You're 23 footer is a very popular model due to it's size. So you can sell it and buy a bigger one for the same money.
2006 F-250 PSD
2007 Airstream Safari LS SE 25 FB
Adventure is everywhere but sittin
in your chair at home. Go get some.
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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Joined: 11/17/2000
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The reason the Silver Streak, Avion and Streamline are gone is simply marketing. Wally B did a supurb job of marketing the Air Stream trailer and it survived for this one reason. The Silver Streak and Streamline trailers were built much better than the Air Streams. The SS has 3 rails instead on just two for one thing and the list goes on from there. My SS has an anodized finish as compared to a polished and still looks good.
Funny thing is that I have had discussions with current AS owners that wish they had never sold their older AS to get a "new" one. All I hear is that the quality is not there and the newer ones leak.
You would be money ahead to buy a pre-Thor AS and put some money in to fix it up as needed.
Anyway that is my 2 cents worth. With that and 3 more cents, you would have a nickel.
ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
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tpi
Southern CA.
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Joined: 02/22/2005
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Quote:All I hear is that the quality is not there and the newer ones leak.
The quality of my '05 has been fine. No trips to the dealer for warranty work-I handled a few minor issues w/ third party appliances myself. I guess it isn't "all I hear" anymore.
* This post was
edited 08/07/08 10:17am by tpi *
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kayzap
Valencia, ca.
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Joined: 07/30/2005
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I have had no quality issues with my Airstream either. Since new it's been towed 20,000 miles and many of those miles were on dirt roads.
The years Airstream had quality issues were when it was owned by Beatrice. The problem was Beatrice in order to save construction cost used a smaller frame so 27 ft and longer rear bath models had issues. Thor returned design and build duties to the Airstream factory staff in Ohio.
The other difference besides marketing between Airstream and the other Aluminum trailers like Silver Streak, Spartanett and to a lesser degree Avion is the Airstreams were designed for travel so it was lighter wieght and back then smaller dimensions. The others were designed for camping. Thats why those extinct brands were so plush inside. The builders traded wieght for creature comforts.
Wally Byam marketed a trailer you could haul from Capetown to Cairo and provided a trailer that could do it. His whole marketing strategy was to sell you a trailer you could take anywhere. A boondockers trailer we'd call it today.
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TXiceman
(Near) Houston,TX
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The Silver Streak was not a pretty garage queen. We bought the SS from my Father-in-law and the trailer was used a lot...alot of miles. Alaska, Nova Scotia, Canada, US and Mexico. From his records on the 'Burbs he used as a tow vehicle, the trailer has about 200,000 miles on the chassis. The only maintenance and repairs on the trailer were the normal brake, wheel bearings and tires. He did have one spring break a few years back, but no other problems. The SS Club members he traveled with had similiar trips and mileage on their trailers.
We intend to put as many miles as we can on the "Silver Twinkie" as we can.
The trailers were built for being on the road. People are amazed at the amount of storage space stuffed into a 28' TT, yet it is not crowded. The SS did not have the corners rounded off as much as the AS, so it had a bit more storage room and did not feel as closed in.
Only in the later years did SS introduce the 32' and larger trailers. They built a few motorhomes and 5th wheel traielrs as well.
You can find out more about the SS, SL and AS trailers at this site.
http://www.tompatterson.com/Trailers/Trailers0.php
Ken
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Vans
Oregon
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Joined: 08/06/2008
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kayzap wrote:
Not so. You're 23 footer is a very popular model due to it's size. So you can sell it and buy a bigger one for the same money.
I know my '77 23 footer will be an easy sale. That isnt a concern. I would prefer a new airstream but dont want the payments and i do not want the work that goes along with owning another vintage AS. Ideally, i would keep my Safari and gut it to the frame and rebuild with a new floor plan. I dont have the time for that now and certainly wont once the new squirt comes along.
I am tired of the repairs that come along with older trailers. No thanks.
Vans
2005 F-150 SC 4x4, Magnaflow exhaust, AFE intake
2008 Fun Finder 250BHS
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Ahab
Oracle, Az.
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Joined: 06/23/2005
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Jack_Diane_Freedom wrote:It is my understanding that they do tow very nicely but do not purchase one for that reason only. They do not have a lot of head room and limited on slide availability. I would never be able to fit as they are quite narrow with the curving sides and low roof.
I'm pretty close to 6' tall and have more than enough head room. If you are 4' wide or more, I guess you could have a problem.
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Rubiranch
Salt Lake City, UT
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Joined: 03/09/2004
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Personally I never knew Airstreams were capable of towing anything  
Nothing more entertaining than a good Airstream thread.
TV: Mint 1972 Ford F-250 XLT
TT: 1969 19' Excel; entertains 6, feeds 4, sleeps 2
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I don't carry because I have to, I carry because I get to.
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- when they're 40 years old!
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slowolf
Central Coast, CA
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Joined: 01/02/2007
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2005 Airstream Safari 28' w/slideout
2006 Ford F250 PSD FX4 Lariat w/ Tow Command
Hensley Arrow Hitch
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bryanl
Reno, NV
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Joined: 12/25/2003
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Here's an Airstream, a 1991 B190, towing something
(another Airstream, a 1975 Ambassador).
Bryan
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