Urgent Airstream recall!

[MSHappyCampers]

Airstream is recalling 1,888 model year 2019-2020 Sport, Nest, Flying Cloud, International Serenity, International Signature, Classic, Globetrotter and Tommy Bahama trailers and 2020 Basecamp, Bambi and Caravel trailers. Due to improper welding, the Demco ball coupler installed on the travel trailers may not provide enough clamping force on the tow ball, potentially causing the coupler to separate from the tow ball.

If the coupler separates from the tow ball, the trailer can detach from the tow vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Airstream will notify owners, and will send a temporary use adaptor that can be slipped over the ball portion of the coupler to allow owners to tow their trailers. For the final remedy, dealers will add a shim plate to the backside of the ball coupler clamp to put it in position to apply the required clamping force on the tow ball, free of charge. The recall, #19V753000, is expected to begin December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-6111 extension 7401 or 7411.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153).

[egwilly]

It will be interesting to see how many Airstream go careening off the highway before they're repaired (if any are).

My bet is none will. Some owners will just keep using the adapter and never take them in for the shim fix.

Yep,I'm good they will say.

[momdoc]

Originally Posted by egwilly

It will be interesting to see how many Airstream go careening off the highway before they're repaired (if any are).

My bet is none will. Some owners will just keep using the adapter and never take them in for the shim fix.

Yep,I'm good they will say.

That would be a mistake and not a good way to solve the problem. But you are right some will just wait for disaster to happen.

[mobilemike]

How does improper welding effect the clamping preload on the ball itself. And IF it was improperly welded how does adding a shim to the shoe of the clamp fix a poor weld?

Adding a shim will close the distance between the shoe and the cup containing the ball. Making the hole the ball rides in smaller.
It seems to me the improper welding was actually PROPERLY welding on a coupler that was defective and does not close far enough to contain the tow ball.

[Losthikers]

Originally Posted by mobilemike

How does improper welding effect the clamping preload on the ball itself. And IF it was improperly welded how does adding a shim to the shoe of the clamp fix a poor weld?

Adding a shim will close the distance between the shoe and the cup containing the ball. Making the hole the ball rides in smaller.
It seems to me the improper welding was actually PROPERLY welding on a coupler that was defective and does not close far enough to contain the tow ball.

Exactly what I was wondering.

[blahargoue]

I read several post on an Airstream owner's site about the new auto coupling DEMCO couplers failing. This was about 6 months ago. This coupler is non-traditional in that it latches itself with having to be locked down. I remember one guy saying that the internal self coupling mechanism broke at a weld.

Sounds like the problem is widespread.

Bruce LaHargoue
No. I don't own an Airstream.