Airstream Front End Separation - Second Time!
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
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Who do you trust? Yes, Front End Separation can happen a second time if not fixed correctly. Learn how to identify the problem and how to work with a repair facility to correct the issue, hopefully doing it correctly the first time. I used #FoleyRV in #Gulfport MS and highly recommend them.
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Glad I have the Forever Warranty! Will be getting my checked out in a couple of months.
Haven't hear of a forever warranty but I have seen that Airstream is working on units with FES that are out of warranty, but it is probably on a case basis. Thanks for your comment.
@@LandingZoneHome - it’s a warranty program that I got when I purchased my 2019 Globetrotter and REQUIRES an ANNUAL inspection.
Thank you for another great video! It's structural design issues like this that can irreparably damage Airstream's reputation as a top-tier quality manufacturer. The entire RV industry is seen by many today as needing to dramatically improve all areas of RV manufacturing quality control. Unfortunately, certain aspects of today's Airstreams seem to be very similar in quality to what other RV brands are offering for far less money.
Thank you David for the very nice comment. I have come to believe that Airstream "appears" to have better quality than the overall RV industry only because the Airstream design is so simple. I spent years as a quality and process engineer in the technology industry so I understand the cost of quality to some degree. Employees missing a production step or just being lazy is a missing screw or unattached cable. Structure failure reeks of either poor engineering or management "quick to market" strategy; both of which will and have cost Airstream significant in expense and ultimately missed sales. Airstream should have taken a proactive approach and issued a Technical Service Bulletin or something similar to alert dealerships and owners of the FES problem and provide timely corrective solutions. Instead they ignored the issue and kept the squeaky wheel as silent as possible. Please share this video on Facebook, in Groups and on Forums so other Airstream owners and potential owners can hear the squeaky wheel. :)
I would like to agree with what you said about Airstream noting and correcting the problems that created your front end separation and that all new models coming off the production line will not have the problems that you faced. However, my new 2024 Trade Wind Twin, which is less than 3 months old and has less than 2,0000 miles on it, has already had dimples appear on either side of the front storage bin indicating that there is some sort of problem that needs to be addressed. I hope the second repair made by Foley to your Airstream actually fixed your problem.
Good luck with your issue and thank you for the comment.
Thank you for the update. Keep your videos coming. We and many enjoy seeing you and your content. We are airstreamers too. We don't have the front compartment. But always worry about separation. We all love to know what you have to say. :-)
Your comment made my day, thank you. If you don't have the front compartment you most likely will not have the issue. Just enjoy your Airstream and thanks again.
Jack, air tags are a great idea for sure. My wife uses those things in her luggage, backpacks, vehicles and her purses. Safe travels
We like them also. Thanks for your comment and for watching. See ya next time :)
I'm glad your Airstream final got repaired correctly.
We have had a few issues with our 2014 Classic. If your on the road in NC avoid Airstream of Greenville also called RV1, we have had numerous repeat issues with their repairs. Also of note, I left a 2014 Hensley Hitch there for them to sell for me, I checked on it last year and lowered the price. This year while stopping by to buy a part I was told that the new owners threw it away!
I'm not sure if I'm going to seek legal action yet. But avoid that dealership!
Appreciate the tip and thank you for watching. Good luck.
Thanks for your video. Glad you got the FES addressed. I had two buck rivets popped around the front storage locker on our '22 Classic 33 FB. Just returned from Jackson Center to fix those and 36 other items. Our tech told me we did not have the beginning of FES, no dimples. Others say I tow with too much truck. Tow with a F350 and a Propride hitch. Keep up the good work!
Keep watching it and just be careful not to scrap the ground with the back skid plates. Once those plates show scrapes Airstream will blame you for any FES. I had to provide photos to show them I had not scraped the ground. If you do take it in again I would find a different repair shop. Good luck.
Thanks. We will be watching everything closely. I was not aware of the scraping/FES issue; we have the 3 inch lift, since it's a 33. We plan on taking this rig to Alaska next summer. @@LandingZoneHome
Good job great layout
Thank you so much and hope you had a chance to subscribe. :)
No FES on our 2020 Flying Cloud 27 FBT. We tow with a Propride 3P. Awesome hitch. Claims that it causes problems are BS. No WD hitch should ever cause FES. It’s a design/manufacturing defect. We did, however, have a transverse bulge occur across the floor in the kitchen. Had it repaired, under warranty, by Woodland Airstream in Grand Rapids, Michigan (where we bought it). Amazing body shop and they did a great job. The problem was that two pieces of plywood subfloor met at that point on top of a longitudinal structural cross-member, but the plywood sheets were not secured to the member, and were not tongue & groove. The had to remove the rear half of the interior in order to pull the floor back and gain access to the area, and then put it back to factory original. We dropped it off in October, when we were done camping for the season, and got it back in the spring. We had the same factory warranty situation. Dropped it off just a few weeks before the warranty expired, got Airstream to approve the work, and we asked them to “take their time and do it right.”
Very interesting comment. Thanks for sharing and for watching.
It’s the BS hitch you use, all of the hitches are BS and you shouldn’t use them at all, especially with a heavy duty truck 😂😂😂
We bought our 2023 Classic from Airstream of Mississippi. They are a great group to deal with. Also, I pull mine with a 3500 Dually. I use the shocker hitch only without any weight distribution as I heard this can cause this issue as well.
Appreciate your comment and thank you for watching.
So sorry to hear you are experiencing the Airstream separation. More and more folks are having this issue. Structurally Airstreams have not changed very much since the 1960’s. Remember when folks towed their campers and Airstreams with cars and wagons? But today its all about towing with trucks and they are getting bigger and beefier. No disrespect to you or anyone else having this issue but I’m convinced the tow vehicles are too heavy duty. What I mean is when you go to 2500 and 3500 like your Ram truck the rear leaf springs are too stiff/ridged. So when you drive over a hump, bump, driveway or pothole the truck is literally smashing the RV down and no trailer can withstand that force. Unfortunately the separation will happen again. I may be mistaken but I haven’t seen this when towed with a 1500 truck. My sister sent me an add for a shank with an air shock built in, this might help reduce the impact on a trailer when towed with such heavy duty trucks.
Thanks for the comment. Do you use a weight distribution hitch with your 1500?
yes, I do use a weight distribution. On both Airstreams I had (at different times in my life) and on an Airstream they help with anti-sway although with its aerodynamic shape, they do very little swaying
I agree with Joe. However, I tow a 27’ FB with a 1/2 ton Tundra and I have FES. But I also have airbags and I suspect the bags are inflated too much. The biggest factor is load: If you’re hauling too much crap- water jugs, fuel, gennies, etc, it ultimately affects the force on the tongue and frame. The frame will flex but the shell does not apparently.
I owned my last Airstream, a 25' Safari, and pulled it with a 2003 and a 2014 Lincoln Navigator. The previous owner towed it from Florida to Alaska and back and I towed it for 18 years after its trip to Alaska with no problems at all. I recently purchased a 2024 Airstream Trade Wind Twin and took delivery early this year. The unit is not even 3 months old, has less than 2,000 miles on it and already I'm having dimpling on the lower portions on either side of the front storage bin. I'm towing with the same tow vehicle, the same hitch and I'm packing even less "stuff" inside this Airstream than my previous one and yet there is something going on structurally, so how can it be the tow vehicle?
@@cheryluhrig-rivard2963 This kinda kills the throry that using large trucks for a tow vehicle causes FES. Sorry for your troubles but thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your informative videos. I have a 2021 Globetrotter 25 FB with queen, so I don't have the storage bay in the front. I'm hopeful that this means FES is less of a risk for my rig, but will definitely keep an eye on it.
After Mark and Trish from KYD recently posted about FES, I considered the possibility of towing without a WD hitch. I have air suspension on my RAM 2500, so I could easily level the rear end sag caused by adding around 1,000 lbs to the bumper. However, CAT scale measurements showed that over 400 lbs was being removed from front axles. This 400 lbs plus the 1,000 lb tongue weight was being placed on the rear axles. While my rear axles are rated for more than this, the lighter front end didn't feel safe and I'm not sure that this is any better for the AS since the rear of the truck is very rigid with the 60 psi in the air suspension required to level the truck. After properly setting up the WD hitch, it sent 32% of the hitch weight to the front axle, 50% to the rear axles, and 18% to the trailer axles. With this setup, very little air is needed in air suspension and it feels terrific while towing.
Appreciate your comment and thank you for watching.
Quite the traffic jam heading in the opposite direction.
Semi on fire, started to include that in the video but a little off topic. Sharpe eyes.
I am so hesitant to purchase an Airstream given the front end separation issue. These things are not cheap; it shouldn't be happening at all.
One other thing that popped out to me - 6 leaks? Wow ! I'm starting to wonder if buying an Airstream would just add to my stress level.
The leaks were air leaks from a pressure test, never had water coming in. I've had other brands and leaks are all part of the game and that is why every RV owner has to stay on top of keeping seals and caulk in good condition. I'm not sure if FES is still an issue with current production models and some are starting to blame WD hitches. Thanks for your comment.
I'm seeing a lot of conversations too regarding heavier WD hitches and HD trucks. I think if I buy an Airstream I'll get one of the 28RBT varieties; eliminate the front compartment maybe you lessen the chances of having the problem.@@LandingZoneHome
I’ve been told by a dealer FES is often a misuse of stabilizer jacks (twisting frame). I can see how that could happen.
I rarely use the stabilizers and when I do they just touch the ground without any real force. Ask that dealer about their training program on how to teach owners the proper use of stabilizers.
You should have used Vinnie’s in GA.
Completely happy with Foley RV and BTW wasn't aware Vinnie's has a location in Georgia, can you provide more info please?
We have a 2021 Caravel 19cb. We tow it with a 2020 Jeep Gladiator (Max Tow Package). We use a Blue Ox wdh. We are in our third year of full-timing in it. Whenever I read or hear about fes, the problem is with longer units that have a front storage door. We don't have any indication of fes. Is fes more prone to happen to the longer units?
Yes, I think so. FES is a result of frae flexing and a short unit such as the Caravel will have less flex. Thanks for watching.
Interesting I had minor FES fixed at JC last year weeks before warranty went out. They did my repair in a short amount of time so I hope that's not a bad sign. What weight distribution system do you use on your rig?
I have a Equilizer. Thanks for the comment.
Any vehicle that goes on a highway should be tested for all aspects of road worthiness JUST LIKE TRUCKS, CARS, etc.
Thanks for the comment.
The question is what the cause of front-end separation is. Is it an engineering problem or a result of using an equalizer hitch that accelerates the engineering problem? If it is an engineering problem shouldn't Airstream extend the warranty on that issue. Just saying.
Some great questions and I guess only time will tell. Putting my money on engineering shortfalls!!
Sorry Vinnie’s is in Tallahassee FL. He specializes in Airstreams
Thanks.
Did the second fix, fix the problem? I have a 2022 Classic 33' with less than 3000 miles show signs of FES. i have owned several trailers, and this Airstream has been the worst. Never again.
Haven't travel much at all since the last fix so I don't have a good answer at this time. Good luck with your issue.
So if we have the issue what is the ultimate fix that Foley RV did?
Technical?
In my case, they completely removed the front panel and secured the L-brackets. Jackson Center did not remove the panel and therefore the L-brackets were not sufficiently secured. Thanks for watching.
@@LandingZoneHomeWhen they replaced the panel did they use buck rivets or Olympic rivets? I would assume by now you know the difference. Because in the video you pointed out the rivets on the hatch frame as having holes in them- those are Olympic. But I’m not claiming to be an expert, I’m genuinely curious how they fastened the new panel.
Do we know what year Airstream fixed this issue? 23? 24? Models?
I was at Jackson Center in the Spring of 2022 and was told the "fix" was going into current production models. So model year 2023 sounds correct.
@@LandingZoneHome it didn't make it into my 2024 Trade Wind or if it did, then there is some other structural issue at hand! I have dimples that appeared on both lower sides of the front storage bin and my Trade Wind it is not even 3 months old and has less than 2,000 miles on it!
how did the separation occur
The Airstream was designed and built with insufficient braces connecting the shell to the frame. So just going down the road with twist and turns over time cased the separation. Some folks think the weight distribution hitch contributes to the problem.
@@LandingZoneHomeits likely the 2500, 3500 heavy duty trucks with leaf-springs that are too ridged with little to no give. No camper Airstream or otherwise can take that abuse long term
Maybe your truck is to stiff try different hitch
Gen y hitch
I'm hearing more and more people thinking this same thing. Thanks for your comment.
Hmmm so goes Boeing so gos Boeing 😱
haha
So how much for that 32’ Cougar trailer? $80gs and how much for that 28’ Airstream? $140gs? What? It’s high quality? Hmmm?🤔
Quality has become elusive. Thank you for watching.
The reality of all the time you wasted is Airstream needs to get there shit together, capitalism shuffle fuck the customer.
Indeed, its all about profit first, second and last.