High-end Class B Diesel - Quality and Rattling

[Gerhardmayer]

Hi All,

I test drove an Airstream Interstate 24GL Std model (MB Diesel Class B). Liked a lot of things about it, but as we drove it around, everything is the back was rattling. Is this normal or to be expected?

[Camp CA]

Need to determine what is rattling.......for shades you can install pipe foam insulation on each end.

[NLOVNIT]

Yes some things can rattle. Some people drive themselves crazy trying to silence every little sound in their RV's. I control what I can but my RV is not a smooth riding car. It never will be. It's on a truck chassis & I expect rattles. They don't bother me.

[Rocinante440]

Not to be expected, but normal for them. We're on our second Airstream, this one a 2016 Airstream Interstate EXT Lounge. Rattles and more. We've whipped this one into shape over the last couple of years (bought gently used) and we are very happy with it, but it's our last Airstream. We're done with that brand. The only truly good thing about Airstream is the quality of their cabinetry vs. many other brands that rely on sticks / staples and MDF in their cabinetry. Aside from that, all the bling they like to throw into most units, and their 3-yr warranty on the stuff they build, Airstream isn't really much better than any other RV products out there. Oh, and as an added bonus, the more bling in the unit, the more things you'll have to get fixed under warranty. If you buy an Airstream then just like with any other RV you should expect to shake out a lot of bugs during the warranty period. In fact, before you leave the lot with your new unit, go ahead and schedule your first service visit a couple of months out. Again, we love our Airstream Interstate at this point, have upgraded it in numerous and significant ways, and will be doing more upgrades in the near future, but don't be confused by the Airstream name and the Airstream price tag. Buying a top of the line RV is nothing like buying a top of the line SUV (e.g. Lexus, Infiniti, etc.) It's more like buying a boat. Minor irritating things won't be working right on day one. Most are easily resolved and it's rare for any of them to be trip-stopping events, but they are definitely irritating. As for rattles in particular, you're probably going to find that the dealer is very little help in identifying and quieting them. That'll be something you get to do - no matter what RV you buy.

[JonMN]

I was surprised at the number of rattles and sounds our Class B had when I drove it home from the dealer. Some were addressed with foam tape, some with felt tape, and even one with rubber o-rings (the paper towel holder in this case). A couple glass panels were loose in their frames, and just using a plastic trim tool to push in a little foam into the frame took care of it. It's really different now. Not Lexus quiet, but a huge improvement.

What worked for me was to ride in the back while my wife drove. It made it easy to locate the rattles and come up with a fix. Again, I'm not completely rattle free, but it's way better.

[Mr.Mark]

I'm not sure if its the luck of the draw but I've only taken my Pleasure Way back to the dealer once in 1.5 yrs. and 14,000 miles of driving for warranty work.

I had a screw that was stripped on a drawer latch that caused the latch to slide which caused the drawer to not close fully.

Occasionally, on hard bumps my sliding door will make a rattle and/or my double magnetized bathroom doors will rattle. Otherwise it's fairly quiet.

Small upgrades: I had the soft start put on my A/C unit and the White Top Adventure overhead cab shelf installed which gave me great storage.

I'm thinking of having a suspension upgrade to eliminate body roll.

Safe travels,
Mark

[RonandDeb]

Yeah, it's normal, to a certain extent. Nothing should open, no doors, drawers, or the fridge, during normal driving. Things will bounce around, move and shake and you'll learn to tune it out. Even if it was completely empty, it would rattle.


Don't let that bother you. It's part of the life!