Anyone know anything about Airstreams?

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:38 pm

Found a 76 Airstream Land Yacht for $5,000
All systems work, new tires, floor solid, original carpet (yellow shag aacckk), frig works on propane but not battery/electric (they think it should be small repair), possibly the top vent needs replaceing. It has a canopy on the front, back and side. Back and side ones work beautifully, front one needs a new spring. It has the double bed in front, twin beds in middle (we would use that for storage). They have a family emergency, need the cash. Googling, this seems like a more than fair price to me. Kenman wanted me to check in on here and see if anyone has experience with these. It looks smoking.

I want to be at the bank first thing monday morning, kenman is nervous.

Dustdevil · Post by **Dustdevil** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:50 pm

Is this a Land Yacht trailer or RV? What length is it? There is very little on a refridgerator that is easy or cheap to repair. When you say new tires, do you mean they look new or the date codes say they are new. RV and trailer tires usually deteriorate from age and the elements long before the tread is gone. Give me some more details.
In general, the Airstreams hold their value better than most trailers or RV's, but times are tough and there are some bargains out there.

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:08 pm

It's a trailer. 31 foot. New date codes on tires but they have been sitting in on spot for six months.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:23 pm

Sounds high.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:32 pm

Airstreams aren't cheap. 5000 sounds pretty reasonable. If you go over it with a fine tooth comb, you could probably sell it for twice what you paid.

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:37 pm

That's kinda what I'm seeing too Tomservo. Found one in Fort Worth that sold last week for 11,000 and it's floors were in pretty bad shape. This one's floors are solid. Carpet is ugly, but it is the original so some people like having that. Original 1970's era wallpaper.
Researching cost of springs for canopy and frig stuff now.

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:39 pm

It has a new hot water heater and new gas tanks. Needs a new battery, but we have one.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:52 pm

http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs

it's a bluebook for the RV-Trailers market.

you know more details for a accurate rating...

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 8:58 pm

Holy crap, suggested list price 14,305.
hmmmm, i think i'll be hitting the bank up on Monday.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:02 pm

tamarakay wrote:Holy crap, suggested list price 14,305.
hmmmm, i think i'll be hitting the bank up on Monday.

well maybe you can, as doc pyro say's "show me the back of the RV"..

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:05 pm

ibdave wrote:
tamarakay wrote:Holy crap, suggested list price 14,305.
hmmmm, i think i'll be hitting the bank up on Monday.
well maybe you can, as doc pyro say's "show me the back of the RV"..

Well, ok but i think the action will happen in the front of this one.

The back is the toilet

Post by **Elderberry** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:10 pm

http://rvs.oodle.com/airstream/

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:13 pm

tamarakay wrote:
ibdave wrote:
tamarakay wrote:Holy crap, suggested list price 14,305.
hmmmm, i think i'll be hitting the bank up on Monday.
well maybe you can, as doc pyro say's "show me the back of the RV"..
Well, ok but i think the action will happen in the front of this one. The back is the toilet

airstreams being what they are in our culture, so much is online about owning and repairing them.. have the brakes and hubs-bearing gone over.

what are you towing this with?

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:19 pm

Thanks JK, i've been looking through there for a bit too.

IBDave, we have an old F350, should haul it with no issues. That truck thinks it's a humvee.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:28 pm

Another question to ask your self is--- What will be the other consequences of purchasing this trailer(other than it being awesome to have for burning man). These could be. A need to get a bigger tow vehicle(a really big expense). If I have to store it somewhere how much will that cost? If I store it at my house will that be a pain in the ass for the other things I do around my house or will it not affect anything? What are the yearly maintenance requirements and does that fit in to my budget? Do I plan on keeping this trailer for a specific time frame and will I get the satisfaction value from it verses the sale price I may have to accept for it further down the road? Does it positively fit in to my and my partner's short or long term life plan? In other words will it be something that brings satisfaction to me and my partner throughout the year. If I buy this trailer will buying it eliminate some of my other planned expenses for the burn and have an economic efficiency with that in some small way? Will I have to buy a quiet generator to power the trailer? Is the $ I am going to spend on it going to cause a sacrifice somewhere else in my life?

It is very exciting to see an awesome asset for the burn and take action on buying it. I bought a $14,000 box truck 2 weeks before the burn in 2007. That is allot of $. It has been an awesome asset though. I have not had to rent a large vehicle to take my camp stuff to the burn and I think that has saved me about 4,000 dollars. Then there is the utility that it has provided me with between burns. It is a very nice asset to have at my disposal. It allowed me to take my mutant vehicle to the burn twice with out much greater expense. I have earned a little side $ with it and helped a bunch of my friends out with it. These things all have value. In the end it is a question of how much $ do I want to part with to make the things I want to do happen. Burning Man is my big blowout for the year. I justify some normally ludicrous expenses in the name of my one vacation a year. I am ok with that even though it does not make the best economical sense. It is ok to spend $ on ones self as long as all the other bases are responsibly covered.

If you think that it is a very viable option then get the $ out and take a long second look at it before buying it. Many times if one is terribly interested in an idea of a good thing we are blinded to the actual true condition of the thing we are buying. Take a close second look at it and make sure your man is on board enough that he will be game to work on it and it won't cause friction between you. The social consequences may be the biggest expense here and that is not quantifiable by any dollar amount.

Hopefully this rambling has a grain or two you can use. Otherwise I just raised my post count by 1.

Good luck!

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:30 pm

Damn I type slow! You guys are all over this.

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:41 pm

I totally loved your rambly post lol

We have been wanting a good trailer for a long time. Our kids are scattered around Texas and are in various stages of struggling student, new marraige, young family so space at their places is limited. We would like to be able to pull up, say howdy, visit, then go sleep in our trailer. Plus, Black Rock City is the first in a bucket list of stuff we've been wanting to do.

We have been bit by the impulse bug before. We have an old Excel trailer in our yard (we have 60 acres) right now that we got for 900 and were enchanted at first. Needed brakes, however they don't make brakes for that old a trailer anymore, we had to buy new axels to get the brakes, then we took it for a test drive yesterday, the front of the trailer started wobbling. Took the front couches out and the windows had been leaking so long, wood was rotten all along the sides and front of the trailer. It is essentially FLOATING all around the front, not attached to the base of the trailer at all. So it is parked. We can rebuild the front of it, but crap.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:41 pm

They may be higher in california and spot markets.
For close to $5000 you can start looking at interstate buses.
Under $10,000 will get you a restored late model airstream here.
Don't buy retail in a wholesale market like we have now.

The one you're looking at may be nice enough for $5000, but not from the description.
Should be functionally perfect for that price.
You'll have to judge that for yourself.

If you want to restore one, get one before 1976.
I think they quit using aircraft aluminum in 1974.
That's not an upgrade you can add.

They may be cheaper here, and might be worth getting one here and taking it back.
Markets vary.
I've seen more than one airstream for $1000 here.
I know of a bus for $1000 now.

Consider getting a fully restored one, esp if you want an older one.
It can be much cheaper than doing it yourself, unless you already have the skills and even then sometimes.

The fridge electric heater is a cheap part, but work to install.

Consider the lack of newer electrics.
Older ones usually need updated lighting, etc.
Older generators were inadequate for modern use.
Check the plumbing electrics well.
If you want a tankless heater, add that cost in.
Is the central heat and blower good?
How about the old ac unit(s)?

Trailer Life's books are invaluable, esp if this is new for you.

I've never seen one with front and rear canopies.
Are we talking about the same thing?
Mine has a canopy on the side and little shades for the other windows.

Look at other airstream options.
Reflective windows, double pane windows, many others.
It's a shopper's market.

See if they will include the receiver gear and hitch.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 9:46 pm

Tamarakay, I wish you had been on here when you had the brake issue.

There are some tricks that might have solved that issue, and it gets easier as time goes by.

motskyroonmatick · Post by **motskyroonmatick** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:03 pm

Sounds like a case of "strike while the iron is hot" to me.

I'm on board for you buying it on Monday.

Dang 60 acres would be nice. Way to go.

TomServo · Post by **TomServo** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:30 pm

Don't know much about class C trailers, but check out if it has electric brakes....I think it should...and have them inspected!

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:42 pm

I'm just concerned about her getting the best deal.
Great time to buy.

I've seen others with carpet, but added, I think.
Mine is hard flooring.

The years after the metal quality was downgraded are the least desirable.
Older, but without the most desirable attributes.
A 1976 should be very perfect or very cheap.

I looked at a later model one here with new furnace and ac units, etc.
Asked $7500, went for less.
Probably 5K.

I bought a small rv once from an rv salesman.
I looked at stuff on their lot once.
The difference between real world value and their retail cost was staggering.
Worse than a used car lot.

We have a lot of professional musicians here and our big bus repair and storage lot closed, so many deals on buses here. (interstate aluminum type)
I saw a diesel pusher go for $3500, fairly late model.
There are 5 or 10 at the storage lot I use.
Ten times the buses if you go to nashville.
Common to see entire interiors sold cheap there as people upgrade.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 10:43 pm

TomServo wrote:Don't know much about class C trailers, but check out if it has electric brakes....I think it should...and have them inspected!

As far as I know, all airstreams are equipped.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Sat Apr 23, 2011 11:15 pm

Check for the original aluminum rims and propane tanks.

Windows that open are another option.

A lot of people in airstreams camp on the playa.

http://www.airforums.com/

Post by **Sham** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 12:17 am

I'm picturing you printing out this thread and meeting with the person selling this and saying, "I love this Airstream, but I have some questions from 10 of my friends"!

There are truly some incredible bargains out there on these type of luxury toys that people bought before the economy hit the toilet. There may be some hidden things on this, but most likely they just need to sell it quickly for the cash.
Don't ponder too long, or you'll miss out.

goathead · Post by **goathead** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 2:12 am

Hi TK

One of my co-worker got an old airstream I think it is about 31' in ROUGH, ROUGH shape. He has put a lot of clean up/work into it and LOVES it. Ripped out the old carpet, put in a laminate floor. Tinted the windows. Had to do some work repairing the hitch.

It tows better then the 24' trailer he has, even though it is heavier and longer. It is a lot better balanced.

You will have a lot of fun with it.

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 5:56 am

Shambalalala! I've been missing you.
Everyone has made some very good points. We are going to go look at it again today without the drool factor, have our list of questions and things to look at closer ready. Still calling the bank monday

Hopefully no one has the cash in their pocket and gets it before our bank moves.

delle · Post by **delle** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:29 am

Is your bank actually open on Monday - it being Easter weekend and all?

tamarakay · Post by **tamarakay** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 7:59 am

They are open Monday, but they were closed on Friday

delle · Post by **delle** » Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:03 am

Ah. Good.

This sounds like a really good score to me under your circumstances.... something you'd enjoy year-round, sounds like.

Hope it works out!