24 Replies to “They’re Not Crap?”

  1. That’s better than the trailers that come with faux- brass plastic taps.

    Great infomercial!! Informative.

  4. Airstreams are definitely not crap, but they are not for everybody.

    You have to really, really understand what you need and want in a trailer, and Airstream isn’t the answer to everything.

      1. You are clueless. We have an Airstream (28 ft. International bought new in 2012) that now has over 100,000 km. of towing including three years of full timing around N. America. Yukon to Florida and Newfoundland to San Diego. Three times around the continent plus a half dozen winters towed to Florida. No leaks or anything falling off – rock solid and it still looks great. They are simple to maintain and not difficult to repair as most mechanical components (water heater, fridge, etc.) are industry standard.

        Are they expensive – yes, maybe even somewhat overpriced but you get quality. I expect we could sell ours for roughly 30% less (using $U.S.) than what we paid after 12 years or about the same as we paid in $Cdn. (given we bought ours when the two currencies were at par).

        My only complaints about the newer Airstreams are they are getting away from their roots and becoming less usable for dry camping (e.g. compressor fridge uses a lot of battery power, on demand water heater tends to use more water) and all models above the base have the trouble prone Zip-Dee power awning which is completely unnecessary as an average person can raise or lower the manual awning in less than a minute.

  5. Speaking of American companies rooted in the 1950’s design and quality? I am a true devotee of McIntosh audio equipment. And I LOVE their TUBE equipment … speaking of the 50’s. I own a pair of MC-275’s monoblocked into my sweet Spendor SP-100’s … thin walled TEAK speakers. It’s a lovely system … and yes … the entire system is McIntosh … all the way to my MT-10 turntable.

    https://www.mcintoshlabs.com/products/amplifiers/MC275B

    And yes, I can sell any piece of my McIntosh equipment for MORE than I paid for it.

    1. The MC 275 is iconic, rarely does equipment look as good as it performs. These are exhibit A.
      Being a poor Canadian, I have a Bryston 4B, NAD pre, Rega 2, B&O 3404, Tandberg TCD420A, AKG 701 and sold the good B&W’s to probs buy some better KEF or B&W’s in teak. (all the house furniture is 60’s-70’s teak) Somewhere in storage are a pair of Rogers LS3/5a which I paid $20 for at a local thrift store. Original KEF drivers inside work fine… “never pay retail”

      McIntosh was partially founded by Gordon Gow, born in Lethbridge AB, later a tech/announcer at CJOC Calgary

      https://www.cta.tech/Resources/i3-Magazine/i3-Issues/2017/September-October/2017-CT-Hall-of-Fame-Frank-McIntosh-and-Gordon-Gow

      1. I’ve got the book … haha ha ha

        https://shop.mcintoshlabs.com/products/mcintosh-history-book

        I buy everything used. One owner equipment … usually rich people who just buy, demo, and flip their equipment. I’m just a poor guy living in the unaffordable State of CA … I like nice things … but can’t afford to pay retail. I covet a nice pair of Ls3/5a’s BBC monitors. Have never spent the $1-2,000:00 for a nice pair. But I have a small bookshelf version of Harbeth’s C7ES-3 that are really sweet. Without a doubt … the British simply make the VERY BEST loudspeakers in the world… Harbeth, Spendor, B&W, Quad, Kef, Rogers, Tannoy, ProAc, Wilson Benesch … and the speakers I covet most … ATC SCM100’s. I ALMOST scored a pair being sold in Carmel, CA … but sadly, I was the SECOND buyer.

        I helped my best friend’s wife buy a system for her husband, which we built around a pair of Wilson Benesch ActII’s as I recall. Simply superb speakers … and I’m no fan of tower speakers.

          1. No automobile can get in or out of my street without being recorded on 20 cameras. You will then be identified from my own 16 cameras inside and outside. Chances of escaping our town are slim. You’ll need a hoodie, mask, gloves, and a stolen car. And you’ll need to know a little something about a two channel system … just to disconnect it safely. A skill lost on the music download generation. Oh! And the MC-275’s weigh 67lb each and are very delicate as well. Good luck getting them out safely.

            The bad news is … I’ll probably get my homeowners insurance cancelled if I make a claim. Even with my Umbrella coverage extra.

  6. “You have to really, really understand what you need and want”
    I have a G Loomis and a House of Hardy.

    1. TnT rods and Nautilus here. Hardy was my first reel , a Marquis click . So much of the new equipment is awesome.

    2. Exactly, richfisher.

      Bentleys are definitely not crap, but they are not for everybody.

      You have to really, really understand what you need and want in a car, and Bentley isn’t the answer to everything.

      Same for fishing gear, (Kenji above) audio equipment, dogs (hi, Kate), cameras (hi, Robert) and a lot of other things.

      But it’s nice to know what’s out there and the Airstream video was interesting. I’m guessing that Francisco is in the market for a travel trailer and has been looking around.

  7. I’ve seen a few post-collision Air Stream trailers. They look like foil and umbrella struts.

    1. And how do other brands look after they get in a collision? Isn’t it pretty much plastic chunks and shards everywhere?

  9. Yea…Nice RV’s, But at ~150k…..Not EVER happening.

    I recently picked up a 2007 Travelaire TT346 CANADIAN built 32′ trailer built in Red Deer: Used for $16k. Dual slide 4 Season rig I now call home. Structurally sound, all original appliances in good working order. I removed the old underbelly insulation & redid with 3 layers of 1″ Pink Foam Brd covered with Reflectix. R-18. Had an Awesome Skirt built in Red Deer (Full Throttle Upholsterly), & just installed an HCalory ss2 Diesel Heater. (Far cheaper to run than a Propane furnace & moisture Free ducted heat.)

    Travelaire & Citation (Osoyos) as well, both went under ~ 2009 due to competition from Indiana RV manufacturers with their Cheaply made Particle brd crap… still, anyone looking for an RV that is pretty much bullet proof..?? Should Definitely consider looking at one of these.

    & btw, Citation Supremes also have shock absorbers

    1. At $150 grand … I start asking myself what it would cost to RENT one for the few number of times I would be out trekking in a trailer? Same thing with the nice ski boat my wife covets … meh. Just rent one rather than take the showroom-to-used HIT after the first use.

    2. Hi Steakman. Good luck on your full-timing adventure. I have been living full-time in my 1997 Monaco Signature Series 40 ft motorhome since 2013. Year-round in Alberta (Bragg Creek area) for the first 8 years. Power was my only hookup. Since then I spend the winters boondocking in the Arizona desert and summers in eastern B.C. wilderness areas near Radium Hot Springs. (I am posting this by using a cell signal booster and a Yagi antenna). This big motorhome has been the best money I have ever spent as it has been virtually trouble free and has saved me a fortune in rent. It has paid for itself well over twice now. It was 392,000 USD new in 1997. I paid 48,900 CDN for it on ebay in February 2013. I had switched my Canadian money to US when our dollar was at 1.02. My main point of posting this is to mention three things about purchasing an RV. One is that the older units are generally much better built than what comes off the assembly line these days. Secondly, I am a believer in buying top line brands as they do seem to be better built. The quality is usually evident and it pays off over time. I didn’t buy this top line motorhome because it was fancy. I bought it because the Signature Series has dual pane windows and the water and waste tanks are in heated bays. Very important in Alberta. Third, everybody thinking of buying an RV needs to do a lot of research before spending their money. One last thing. Vehicles and RV’s over 15 years old are quite easy to import into Canada from the U.S.. All you pay is GST and a hundred dollar A/C tax. BUT, be careful…not all RV’S or vehicles are eligible to be imported into Canada. Check the list on the government RIV website. Registrar of Imported Vehicles.

      1. Nice post. I’ve read good things in the past about Monaco motorhomes but didn’t they go under and stop production? Are parts and service easy to find?

  10. $150,000!!!!!???? I don’t know how the rest of you mopes afford this stuff. Way too expensive for me. I like Kenji’s idea of buying used high end audio equipment but sadly that time has come and gone for me.

  11. So I asked my neighbour, “How did your trailer purchase go?” And he said, “Without a hitch!” And now I don’t know what to think…

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