Is an Airstream worth it?

[HDRider1960]

I am not trying to belittle Airstream. I am just trying to find a good quality travel trailer.

I really like
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/202...8RB-5018206921 Flying Cloud 28RB

I also like
https://www.outdoorsrvmfg.com/back-country-series-20bd/
but it is too small

Can you offer other TTs and can you tell me if they are as good, better or not as good as an Airstream?

Here is my shopping list
2. No Slide
3. Murphy or Queen Bed
4. 3 Way or 2 Way Propane Fridge
5. Solar
6. Lithium Batteries
7. Self Cleaning Black Tank
8. All LEDs
9. How many inverter plugs
10. Three Burner Stove
11. Double Sink
12. Dry Bath
13. Self Leveling
14. Less than 30’
15. 2 A/Cs with Heat
16. Tank-less Water Heater
17. Metal Frame construction
18. Enclosed and Heated Underbelly

[radar]

I don’t know if they are worth it but they are sure purdy. If we decide to upgrade to a Cybertruck we will be looking at one, but much smaller than you are looking. Probably the base amp as we need to be small for where we go. We’ll see at the time.

For what it’s worth our current trailer uses the Alde system for heat and hot water just like the airstream. Very nice system. Works well. Hydronic heat is nice.

Good luck on your search.

[TXiceman]

After looking at Airstream, restoring an old Avion silver and a Silver Streak, I do not think Airstream is worth the money they are asking. The build quality is not there and the storage in them is limited. They are certainly not a wintry weather trailer.

Have you looked at the Lance trailers? They seem to be pretty nice.

Ken

[CecilD]

Pretty ambitious list. Check out Bigfoot 25B25RQ. List highlights:

5. Solar is prewired and is available as an option.
6. Lithium batteries - owner add
9. Inverter and outlets - ?
13. Self leveling - no
15. 2 A/C units - No. In my personal experience, the single air will cool the trailer to a chill in short order in 100+ degrees.
16. tankless - no
17. Metal frame construction - The running gear frame is massive 2" x 5" x 1/4" thick box section. The house itself has no framing, an insulation advantage.
18. enclosed underbelly - How about hand laid fiberglass?

Quality - excellent, rugged, leakproof, expensive, attractive. Box is only 22 ft.

[F4Gary]

What is a "self cleaning black tank"?

[Cumminsfan]

How long do you plan on keeping it? Depreciation might be better than other brands but they still lose value.

I personally like most everything about them but I would need a 30' As and then you're looking at $180K. Just not seeing the value there.

Looking at a smaller AS then I'd opt for a Bigfoot. IMO maintenance would be less on a Bigfoot vs an AS. No rivets, no roof membrane, no worrying about dents. Cost is less. Maybe not as cool looking inside and out but the overall build is worth 20 years easily.

They're also in short supply vs AS so IMO they would hold their value as well.

[tuffr2]

I think Thor bought Airstream several years ago. I even visited the factory a few years ago. I looked at Airstreams off and on for 20 years. I think they are worth it because they have a following like no other RV manufactures. I always liked to hickory wood in the 'Classic' line. I also like the 'Land Yacht' that they built for a few years.

Saying all that, they are not perfect. They will leak. No slide outs. I believe the rivets will loosen up over time. Aluminum is actually a soft metal. If you go to the factory you will see why they cost what they do. There is a lot of manual labor to build them and to put all those rivets in. Two people to do that job. Lots of chances to mess up one of 1,400 rivets.

I think they sell all the Airstreams they build so that tells me they are worth it.

[HDRider1960]

Originally Posted by F4Gary

What is a "self cleaning black tank"?

I picked up that term along the way doing my research. I may have fell for some marketing gimmick.

I took it to mean the gray tank drains through the black tank and out the same outlet.

Again, I might have latched onto the term not really knowing what it meant.

[HDRider1960]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

After looking at Airstream, restoring an old Avion silver and a Silver Streak, I do not think Airstream is worth the money they are asking. The build quality is not there and the storage in them is limited. They are certainly not a wintry weather trailer.

Have you looked at the Lance trailers? They seem to be pretty nice.

Ken

I just looked at the Lance. The size I want has a slide.

[HDRider1960]

Originally Posted by CecilD

Pretty ambitious list. Check out Bigfoot 25B25RQ. List highlights:

5. Solar is prewired and is available as an option.
6. Lithium batteries - owner add
9. Inverter and outlets - ?
13. Self leveling - no
15. 2 A/C units - No. In my personal experience, the single air will cool the trailer to a chill in short order in 100+ degrees.
16. tankless - no
17. Metal frame construction - The running gear frame is massive 2" x 5" x 1/4" thick box section. The house itself has no framing, an insulation advantage.
18. enclosed underbelly - How about hand laid fiberglass?

Quality - excellent, rugged, leakproof, expensive, attractive. Box is only 22 ft.

I am liking that Bigfoot a lot.

[propchef]

Originally Posted by HDRider1960

I am not trying to belittle Airstream. I am just trying to find a good quality travel trailer.

I really like
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/202...8RB-5018206921 Flying Cloud 28RB

I also like
https://www.outdoorsrvmfg.com/back-country-series-20bd/
but it is too small

Can you offer other TTs and can you tell me if they are as good, better or not as good as an Airstream?

Here is my shopping list
2. No Slide
3. Murphy or Queen Bed
4. 3 Way or 2 Way Propane Fridge
5. Solar
6. Lithium Batteries
7. Self Cleaning Black Tank
8. All LEDs
9. How many inverter plugs
10. Three Burner Stove
11. Double Sink
12. Dry Bath
13. Self Leveling
14. Less than 30’
15. 2 A/Cs with Heat
16. Tank-less Water Heater
17. Metal Frame construction
18. Enclosed and Heated Underbelly

Last fall we bought a Flying Cloud 27 FB Queen. We're very happy with it. We bought it used with everything you list plus 400w solar and two Battle Born batteries. It also has upgraded plumbing/sink fixtures and counters. We paid less than half of what a new one costs.

There's PLENTY of storage. It's just the two of us and we never come close to using all (or even 30%) of the storage.

They use two types of rivets depending on location and what they do. Yes, they'll occasionally lose rivets. Other brands use staples. I'd rather have rivets.

They tow like a dream. We just got back from the CA coast and traversed a road with 2 16% grades without issue.

I can set up camp in about 20 minutes.

Windows. Airstreams have windows everywhere. We have wrap-around windows on each end.

The Airstream community is amazing. It's truly a feature of ownership.

The fiberglass trailers are nice as well, but more nautical in their approach and weren't for us.

Good luck in your search!


FYI Airstream makes several models in and around that length. A FB is a 27 and a RB is a 28, but in reality, they're both 27'11" There's a 26 that's popular as well. All come in either a twin or a queen, and some have bunks.

[Dave Pelletier]

I think they make a good trailer; whether they are worth the substantial premium is a question only you can answer. I didn't consider one because of the lack of tank size and ground clearance as well as other things......plus they were double the price of my ORV. I'd recommend the Bigfoot as well, still not cheap but cheaper and very well built IME.

Dave

[Cumminsfan]

Thor bought AS out in 1980. 42 years ago.

https://www.airstream.com/blog/the-h...0Industries%2C

[bobbin]

price is what you pay. value is what you receive.


I owned an AS. For me, the value proposition is low.