Airstream Caravans

[Peppadog]

You've hit the nail on the head there Les - and a nice example at that

There's a 1962 Globetrotter for sale (fully modified) and I have to say that it's a true work of art inside. It makes the new versions look like a cheap piece of tat by comparison.

I'll see if I can post some pics up - they are truly amazing.

All the best Les

Andrew

I think you are right Andrew. I am currently looking for a new moho (to replace a soon to be sold - I hope - Eriba Touring caravan that is fantastic but not really worked for us unfortunately) and have looked at a few Hymer and similar A class vans. Older ones seen dating from 2005 -2010 seem so much better built (interiors anyway) than later ones. It must be even more true of quality 90's vans.
I am currently tempted by a 97 Hymer at £32k, though there is an Arto 64 on the classifieds that looks very nice.

 

[Blue Knight]

I think you are right Andrew. I am currently looking for a new moho (to replace a soon to be sold - I hope - Eriba Touring caravan that is fantastic but not really worked for us unfortunately) and have looked at a few Hymer and similar A class vans. Older ones seen dating from 2005 -2010 seem so much better built (interiors anyway) than later ones. It must be even more true of quality 90's vans.
I am currently tempted by a 97 Hymer at £32k, though there is an Arto 64 on the classifieds that looks very nice.

I don't want to upset the Hymer boys but I think the new stuff is overpriced by £20k while being fairly bland in terms of design and internal style.

The older gear seems to be the best IMO and I wish you every success with your search - it's not an easy task.

 

[Peppadog]

I should have written 2007, not 97. Thanks for your support in my quest BK. That quest has found me the Hymer owners group and this forum, which seems to cover everything very well.

 

[Blue Knight]

I should have written 2007, not 97. Thanks for your support in my quest BK. That quest has found me the Hymer owners group and this forum, which seems to cover everything very well.

You don't need the HOG when you've FUN

 

[Blue Knight]

Here we go Les @TinaL, as promised.

BTW, I got it wrong. It's actually a 63 AS Tradewind.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TinaLes]

Here we go Les @TinaL, as promised.

BTW, I got it wrong. It's actually a 63 AS Tradewind.

View attachment 255249

Wow! Andrew, I have never seen a copper fronted interior AS van before, not sure if I could live with that interior looking at me all day/night.
Makes me think that if it had a ball pein hammer finish to the copper bulkhead, and the TV was replaced with an open fire, a couple of beer taps, and hey presto your at your favourite local pub
Thanks for posting though did give me a smile.
Any exterior pictures available?
Les

 

[Blue Knight]

Here we go Les:

 

[funflair]

This pulled in next to us in France a couple of years ago, the couple went out looking for a VW camper but she couldn't stand up in one so they came back with this, "first van" its a guy in France that imports them.

Sounded nice if nothing else.

Martin

 

[Blue Knight]

This pulled in next to us in France a couple of years ago, the couple went out looking for a VW camper but she couldn't stand up in one so they came back with this, "first van" its a guy in France that imports them.

View attachment 255437

View attachment 255436

Sounded nice if nothing else.

Martin

Very nice Martin. Those things are very rare indeed with only a handful still registered in the UK.

I'm not aware of anyone on my Airstream journey who has turned one of those vans into a modified palace like they have the travel trailers; the owners seem to retain the van's original design and charm.

Thanks for posting-up as they are lovely motorhomes.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[TinaLes]

Here we go Les:

View attachment 255433

Wow !! Andrew that a highly polished shiny one! Anyone following behind would need to put their shades on
Dont know if its just me but, The MH or RV's dont have the same appeal as The Caravans, somehow, cant explain it, maybe different if I was there in the flesh?
Found an interesting "alternative option" for PVC's will try and find again and post on your Globecar thread.
Cheers mate, Happy travels.
Les

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

Wow !! Andrew that a highly polished shiny one! Anyone following behind would need to put their shades on
Dont know if its just me but, The MH or RV's dont have the same appeal as The Caravans, somehow, cant explain it, maybe different if I was there in the flesh?
Found an interesting "alternative option" for PVC's will try and find again and post on your Globecar thread.
Cheers mate, Happy travels.
Les

The old shiney ones are fantastic to look at Les but they really do need some spanner time if they are to be maintained at their optimum shine. There are some guys who take upto four days of machine polishing to achieve the desired effect.

There's also one guy who I've come across who spends two days polishing his vintage AS every 6-weeks. His trailer is truly immaculate.

The new ones on the otherhand cannot be polished and can sometimes look a bit tatty after just a few years.

Like you I also think that the trailers are far better looking than the vans but there's no denying the exclusivity of the van-type Airstreams because so few were made by comparison.

If I recall correctly the Airstream Factory in Jackson Ohio knocks out about 85 travel trailers per week so not many really. The UK sales are still incredibly poor with no hope of them increasing in 2019 so if they sell circa 2-4 units per year from now on then Swift will be lucky to achieve that.

The original UK AS dealer had one main supply outlet and at it's peak sold about 30-35 Airstreams in one year (MY11 and 12) but since then the unit price has rocketed and the sales figures have plummeted, to the extent that only 2 units were sold in 2016.

Swift has come along and has bunged a further £20,000 onto the original 2016 sales price and wonders why its strategic sales plan has fallen on its arse. They now have a 6-dealer network with stock galore sitting on their forecourts. There's also the issue whereby most aspiring Airstreamers don't want a 'Swift Airstream' so it really has made a mockery of the AS brand IMO. Enough said.

All the best Les,

Andrew

 

[Duez-floozy]

Hi, I’m relatively new to this search, but looking for a 4 berth airstream, perhaps a 534 or similar. Any thoughts? Not sure I want to part with £75k that I’ve been quoted for a new Missouri even with all its extras!

 

[Blue Knight]

Hi, I’m relatively new to this search, but looking for a 4 berth airstream, perhaps a 534 or similar. Any thoughts? Not sure I want to part with £75k that I’ve been quoted for a new Missouri even with all its extras!

You can now get a new Missouri for £66,000 all-in from Catterick Caravans but since they don't know much about Airstreams and their repairs then I for one would refrain from approaching them.

The sales of the new AS models have been a bit of a flop since Swift took over the franchise in the UK but that's mainly due to the initial unit cost and the very small client base that supports such sales. The quality of the build is not as good as the pre-2016 models while Swift has had to fit the vans with its crappy electrics as that's what it does to its own UK caravans and motorhome models.

If you really want an Airstream then I would approach Michael Hold of Adenture Leisure Vehicles (ALV) in Tebay, Cumbria, as they were the previous importer of AS trailers and can strip and reassemble them with their eyes closed. NOTE: Michael got rid of the franchise in late 2016 because the vans were becoming far too expensive to import and the sales just plummeted in the last 2-3 years of his 10/11-year franchise term.

ALV sold a MY10 534 last month for c.£42,000 and it was in mint condition so that IMO is the place to visit. They have two Airstreams in stock at the moment (MY14 604 and MY07 532), so if you're serious about Airstreams then the 604 could be right up your street. Pics below, but note that Michael @ ALV has a constant flow of AS trailers coming and going since he's the trusted guy in the UK.

If you need any info then drop me a note.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[7735]

I saw 2 last Friday driving through Stockbridge in Hampshire being towed by 2 very large classic American cars. I assume they were going to a show.
Spongy

 

[Duez-floozy]

Next time you see them could you please stop them and say you know a lady who would like to buy one!!!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Duez-floozy]

You can now get a new Missouri for £66,000 all-in from Catterick Caravans but since they don't know much about Airstreams and their repairs then I for one would refrain from approaching them.

The sales of the new AS models have been a bit of a flop since Swift took over the franchise in the UK but that's mainly due to the initial unit cost and the very small client base that supports such sales. The quality of the build is not as good as the pre-2016 models while Swift has had to fit the vans with its crappy electrics as that's what it does to its own UK caravans and motorhome models.

If you really want an Airstream then I would approach Michael Hold of Adenture Leisure Vehicles (ALV) in Tebay, Cumbria, as they were the previous importer of AS trailers and can strip and reassemble them with their eyes closed. NOTE: Michael got rid of the franchise in late 2016 because the vans were becoming far too expensive to import and the sales just plummeted in the last 2-3 years of his 10/11-year franchise term.

ALV sold a MY10 534 last month for c.£42,000 and it was in mint condition so that IMO is the place to visit. They have two Airstreams in stock at the moment (MY14 604 and MY07 532), so if you're serious about Airstreams then the 604 could be right up your street. Pics below, but note that Michael @ ALV has a constant flow of AS trailers coming and going since he's the trusted guy in the UK.

If you need any info then drop me a note.

All the best,

Andrew

View attachment 308422

View attachment 308423

 

[Duez-floozy]

Thanks Andrew, thats all really interesting and very useful. I've also been reading some of your earlier posts and feel a little more 'up to speed on the subject now' I did see the two at Adventure Leisure and spoke to Mike yesterday in fact. I've asked him to keep an eye out for me for a AS 534. The 604 (if I'm right is basically the Yukon) and only sleeps 3. I did wonder if we could adapt this to try and house our two teenagers when in tow but actually I think this might be a bit too big for my husbands XC90 hybrid to tow when fully ladened anyway. Looks immaculate though as you say and quite liking the red leather too! The 532 is a great price but sadly too small I think for 4 plus a dog! Also a bit concerned to hear that I think this is what Andrew Ditton had (that's not you is it?!) and didn't it have a problem with the floor, resulting in big expense and warranty issues... that concerns me a bit about the 604 too? (could be just the sales patter from Swift though to get us to buy new!)

 

[Camping Gaza]

I knew I should have opened a caravan dealership.... Damn!

 

[Camping Gaza]

I saw 2 last Friday driving through Stockbridge in Hampshire being towed by 2 very large classic American cars. I assume they were going to a show.
Spongy

What's spongy? the suspension on the American cars?

 

[Camping Gaza]

This pulled in next to us in France a couple of years ago, the couple went out looking for a VW camper but she couldn't stand up in one so they came back with this, "first van" its a guy in France that imports them.

View attachment 255437

View attachment 255436

Sounded nice if nothing else.

Martin

Superb! looks like George Jetson should be driving it

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Blue Knight]

Thanks Andrew, thats all really interesting and very useful. I've also been reading some of your earlier posts and feel a little more 'up to speed on the subject now' I did see the two at Adventure Leisure and spoke to Mike yesterday in fact. I've asked him to keep an eye out for me for a AS 534. The 604 (if I'm right is basically the Yukon) and only sleeps 3. I did wonder if we could adapt this to try and house our two teenagers when in tow but actually I think this might be a bit too big for my husbands XC90 hybrid to tow when fully ladened anyway. Looks immaculate though as you say and quite liking the red leather too! The 532 is a great price but sadly too small I think for 4 plus a dog! Also a bit concerned to hear that I think this is what Andrew Ditton had (that's not you is it?!) and didn't it have a problem with the floor, resulting in big expense and warranty issues... that concerns me a bit about the 604 too? (could be just the sales patter from Swift though to get us to buy new!)

I wouldn't worry so much about the floor issue as that seems to be a one off from what I've heard. Some of the older UK trailers (2007 and 2008) are starting to look a bit tatty now because the owners cannot afford the time or the money to maintain their upkeep - you'll know straight away if something has been well maintained or not.

That said, you really need to keep an eye on the market and if it was me I would avoid a new Missouri and instead opt for a 534 which was manufactured between 2010 and 2013. These were the best years. The AS' range before that date (i.e. 2007 being the first import year) were still good but from 2010 the vans were manufactured to a slightly more modern standard with a few more quality items fitted as standard. The UK range of AS trailers then took a quality downturn in late 2014 and started to fall away thereafter albeit not my significant margins. This had nothing to do with Michael and ALV but had everything to do with the workshops in the States and its attempts to cut corners for better margins. One of the important points to consider is that the Swift era of Airstreams is probably the worst of any UK/Euro-orientated AS trailer and IMO I would always go for a quality secondhand trailer than a new one.

There are a few guys that I've befriended that would say that their new £91K Swift trailers are great quality but I think they say this to avoid being made to look like a tit for spending huge amounts of money on a product that really isn't that great - enough said.

I would stay in touch with Michael as he really is a diamond chap when it comes to Airstreams and he can put out the feelers on your behalf to help you get a nice 534.

One word of warning though; don't think that you'll get a cheaper deal by buying privately as you'll often find that private sellers inflate their prices because they are trying to keep up with the equivalent new price of the Swift vans - and they aren't selling well!! I have found that you can buy from ALV in Tebay at a price which is upwards of £10K cheaper than an equivalent private sale (this applies to the 684s as an example), but it just proves that buying from a dealer does not always kill your wallet.

Also, be aware that the new AS trailers in the States have succumbed to having higher reports of damp ingress issues since 2016 because the quality control in the US has slipt a bit. This means that the new Swift era of AS trailers can potentially have many more issues than the pre-2016 period which to me are a much better investment. This change has nothing to do with Swift per se since the shell and interiors are built in the States and then a few things are added by Swift to complete the process. I'm also quite sceptical as to whether the Swift Team has sufficient skill and corporate knowledge to repair the skins and frame of an AS trailer as they are complicated things to fix.

I don't have a Facebook account but if you do have an account then why not join the UK Airstream Club and post-up a purchase request and I'm sure that you'll get an offer or two in the coming months. If you receive a price then give me a bell and I'll tell you if it is reasonable or not.

Good luck and please feel free to ask as many questions as you like - this is a big purchase after all.

All the best,

Andrew

 

[AnnK]

Wow, a Lada 65 with the bodykit and the optional front electric window package. Does it get much better............

I'll see your Lada with a Polski Fiat that my dad used to drive, always spent more time off the road than on it, and when it was on the road spent all the time praying it would get to the end of the journey

 

[Blue Knight]

Duez-floozy

How's it going with your Airstream hunt - any luck with ALV and their database.

I've not visited the Airstream FB bunch for a while but I'm sure someone will sell a 534 soon.

 

[wiljoy]

Evening All,

Nicky and I have been intrigued for some time by the whole Airstream-thing so today we visited one of the four UK dealers to see the three main vans in the flesh.

We were really impressed by their unique looks but the van which caught our eye was the twin axle Colorado which incidentally is the biggest of the international range, (6.81m long, internally, with a total external length of 8.25m).

Unlike the two or three hundred motorhomes and caravans which we saw on the A1 today, Nic and I have only ever seen one Airstream on the road in the past few years so we like the uniqueness which comes with the brand. (The UK dealer network sell about 10 units per year collectively).

May I ask if any fine Funster has knowledge of Airstreams in terms of usability (UK and Europe), quality and any other points, good or bad.

One thing I didn't know is that the Airstream shell is built in the US while the internal bits (electronics, fridge, pipes, gas systems) are all fitted in the UK by Swift.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

All the best,

Andrew

Mention Swift and my neck hairs stand up. They couldn't built Lego properly. But at your own risk.

 

[Blue Knight]

Mention Swift and my neck hairs stand up. They couldn't built Lego properly. But at your own risk.

Yep, I'm with you there. My heart stopped when I heard the news that Swift was finishing them off.

As one member on the Airstream Forum once said: "It's a bit like getting Vauxhall to build the next Rolls Royce".

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MC Turbo]

Blue Knight bit of an old thread now but as we enter our third lockdown (and yet again we can't head south with our AS Colorado) I thought I'd take some time to share our Airstream journey....

My wife and I had been wanting to own an Airstream for at least 10 years... over this time we nearly bought two different RV Airstreams (a 28ft and a 33ft) before deciding that they were just to old and impractical for our needs. We nearly bought a few older AS trailers as well but each time they were not the condition or specification that we were looking for (and I didn't want to spend all my limited spare time renovating/updating). We new we wanted an AS but it never seemed to be the right one...
As regular visitors to at least one of the yearly NEC shows we always made a beeline for the Airstream stand telling ourselves would love to be able to afford a new Airstream but 73k was a lot of money for a new 684 back then.

Well the searching ended when we finally bought our new AS Colorado at the NEC C+C show in Feb 2018 and it was the first one sold by Paul Toplis @ Lowdhams I believe. We paid substantially more than if we had purchased one in 2014-2016 but we weren't in the same financial position back then. We got insurance through Simon Hogg @ ProAktive, just over £1,000 p.a.

We collected our Colorado from Lowdhams at Nottingham with our trusted 10 year old Nissan Pathfinder, it had 200,000 miles on the clock but it pulled the trailer on the 2hr journey home no problem. It didn't do so well at reversing the trailer into the drive and I soon realised a manual clutch simply wasn't up to the job. I had been looking for an excuse to replace the Pathfinder so now was my chance. Like elsewhere in the thread I soon discovered that very few cars can pull the Colorado and in particular take the required 150kg tow ball weight. We had looked at the Toyota Land Cruiser but it was just so dated and in the end settled for a Discovery 4 XXV and it's perfect for the job.
Its very stable at 70mph and fuel consumption drops from 28mpg to 22mpg when we are fully loaded.

I was proper terrified the first few times I towed it, you really notice the extra width and I was constantly checking the mirrors for clearance on roundabouts and B roads but you do get used to it. A classic Sat Nav re-route taking us through tiny medieval villages in central France soon battered my fear and boosted my confidence! I've since added a rear licence plate mount wi-fi camera to aid rear visibility when reversing.

We've been to Norfolk and Wales, we spent 3 months in southern Spain and a month in southern France. In March 2020 we were off to Portugal for 3 months but thankfully we didn't go.

We haven't had any build quality issues though. We did have water leaking through the front window (whilst towing through France in heavy continuous rain) but that was fixed by tightening up the adjustable window locks. We had a broken Thule step but we were sent a new one F.O.C. by Paul @ Lowdhams (even though we were well out of warranty).
I have to say that our experience of dealing with Paul @ Lowdhams has been exceptional from the very start.

Airstreams are not for everyone, some people just don't get them, others do. I wouldn't say that they are 'value for money' but it offers the two of us something different, something stylish and something we will keep to travel far and wide.
We have no regrets and my only gripe is keeping it clean!

 

[busby]

I love em however I sometimes wonder if they are a bit like a Harley Davidson.........

Wonderful to look at but a pig to actually own and ride .... poor value for money and not really living up to the dream

(Oh, before anyone yelps..... I have owned 2 Harleys)

Still......... Airstreams do Look sexy

Bit like the older American Trucks,,very impressive to look at but not a patch on Europeans at the time..European Truck manufacturers are well established in USA now.BUSBY.