REALITY CHECK ✅: What BROKE on Our AIRSTREAM after a Year of Travel

[@kinnish5267]

Very real issues, I had most of those issues and still loving my Airstream after 20 years.

[@thewrightlife]

Love your positive attitude. We are still enjoying our Airstream as well and plan to for years to come. Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@jimmckinney8418]

Doing as much research watching many Airstream videos and want to thank you for the tips and comments. And thanks for wearing your 2A shirt. God bless and happy trails

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

Great video! My takeaway is - the structure of the airstream is built to a higher standard…but airstream uses the same low quality off-the-shelf components that the rest of the industry uses. I say this because I’ve replaced almost every identical component on my very low quality Forest River travel trailer in the 4 years I’ve owned it.

[@thewrightlife]

For the most part I think you may be correct. While I can’t speak directly to the quality of each component that Airstream / RV industry uses I do know that with use and over time components will break. It just the reality of RV life. Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@bobmariano3731]

Anything these manufacturers can use inferior parts to save money 🤛🤛👍

[@thewrightlife]

Probably true for most large manufacturers (Ford, GMC, Airstream). The challenge of building a quality product at a reasonable price. That said, I would still take my AS over any other RV brand. Safe travels.

[@jgyrwa]

Some of what you talked about is understandable, except a leaking roof, and design flaws. Mainly, because the design and structure is airstreams “ selling point”, to justify their extremely high price point for their campers. If it’s breaking down at the same rate as others, then it not better than others, not worth the expensive price tag imo. Your just a get it done kind of person.

[@MrMsowers22]

The structure of AS suck. Separation, poor door fit, door lock, the ride too low, are heavy and the dealers suck

[@RiggsjimJKD]

I bought a new Airstream International 31 foot and yes there are minor things that happen. We had several bigger or more difficult items to fix where we had to take our RV to multiple dealers to get it fixed. It spent a lot of time at dealers getting fixed or just waiting for parts. Items such as a malformed jack part, thermostat died twice in 4 years, window fell out since it was never screwed in and the list went on and on. You have to be handy to own one. It’s clear Airstream is using their dealers for final quality control (my opinion). Finally we got so fed up we finally sold it. If it was a 30 k investment, that’s one thing but if you spent 100k on a new car you would expect great quality which ours was not. We wrote to Airstream…no answer.

[@thewrightlife]

Sorry to about your Airstream experience. I agree, it can be frustrating at times and you’re better off if you are handy and able to make most repairs yourself (my opinion). My hope when I made the video was to provide a reality check on RV ownership. I’m afraid that some RVers have unrealistic expectations about RV travel and ownership in general. I hope you have better luck in the future and safe travels.

[@TalonID]

The "spare capacitor" tip also applies to your home. It is the #1 item that fails & will cost you big $$$s to have a service call during a hot spell. It is not "IF" it fails but rather "WHEN".

[@thewrightlife]

Great Tip and I completely agree. I keep a 45/5 capacitor on hand for the home HVAC as well. Money well spent for peace of mind. Thanks for watching

[@GabrielSBarbaraS]

I am a AC service tech and would rather you didn't keep a spare on hand, that way I can make 300 bucks off of you for a $30 part. LOL Just kidding, good point TalonID about keeping a spare.

[@redpanda_7008]

@@GabrielSBarbaraSyou’re not kidding. A/C techs are the biggest scammers IMO

[@jackroderick6757]

I sure like your attitude and the way you get things done.

[@thewrightlife]

Like Winston Churchill once said…”Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Safe travels

[@ShawnPatterson402]

Very nice reality check. No doubt if we are RVing (full time or part time or weekend) you need to be pretty handy. And of course when we are putting lots of miles on the things, it is all the more challenging. But I guess it is part of the fun. Safe travels....

[@TerrySprey]

I had an RV dealership when a customer came in with a roof leak I had my guys remove and reseal every vent and running light that got the problem solved almost 100% of the time. No the manufacturer didn’t pay me for this I valued my customers.

[@thewrightlife]

Great advice. Thanks for sharing.

[@davidserdar-v5e]

Thanks for compiling this list. It is a great resource. I also would agree with most of the comments regarding quality of components vs cost. Seems like for the price of an AS you should have longer lasting parts. A couple of additions to consider adding to your list of spare parts 1. H2O water heater mixing valve 2. H20 water heater electronic controller and thermal cutouts/switches Our 2018 Flying Cloud has a system with a mixing valve. The valve is utilized to mix cold H2O with the heater's hot output to provide more volume of hot H2O. The mixing valve has a small screen on both this input and output which has a tendency to clog with mineral hard water build up and/or particulate (if you are not using an external water filter). This fix requires accessing the H2O heater from this inside to remove the mixing valve. It can then be disassembled and unclog the screen with an overnight vinegar soak.I carry a cleaned spare unit. Also I have had the thermal cutout/switch on the H2O heater break. This part of the H2O heater electronic control system. There are actually 2 of these thermal cutout/switches for the mixing valve type of heaters. The electronic controller and thermal cutout/switches are accessible from the outside. Initially I thought it was a controller malfunction, but I was able to diagnose it to the thermal cutout/switch. Again, I care a spare set of controller and thermal cutouts/switches, along with some spare 1/4" & 3/8" crimp on TAB style electrical connectors. Cheers and Happy Camping!

[@thewrightlife]

Great tips. Thanks for sharing. Safe travels

[@johncashman1730]

❤ Excellent video! I can relate, my 2017 23 foot international has had the same problems you experienced, except the roof leak!

[@thewrightlife]

Glad the video was informative. For us, it was a lesson in managing our expectations. Once we understood that, we could enjoy our travels much more. Good luck and safe travels.

[@GabrielSBarbaraS]

Southwire 30 amp surge guard on Amazon is about 100 bucks by the way. ( I love to cut out the middle man )

[@streaminndreamin8244]

I have a 2016 and I have had to replace everything you have done. I have also replaced the skylight and two fantastic fans because of leaks and I did break the manual knob.

[@thewrightlife]

Hi…thanks for sharing your experience. Our Airstream is a 2017. We’ve come to realize over the years that repairs and maintenance are part of the price of Airstream ownership (Just like home ownership). Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@marybrooks4326]

Thank you for a great video!!

[@thewrightlife]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@RyanMcKenna-u1q]

The problem with all trailers no matter the make, none are not made for the environment - such as a boat is made for constant vibration and moving,,, these trailers are made of the same stuff you would put in a house which never moves..... if they made big boats with the same quality parts etc they would be falling apart in a week, just as these trailers seemingly do! Maybe I should take a boat put wheels on it and there no problems any more.

[@kcwerv]

I had a pressure test done on my 2020 Flying Cloud we had after a year and it had so many leaks Airstream agreed to pay the dealer for the fix. I highly recommend you have one done on your rig.

[@thewrightlife]

Fortunately, we have not had any more leaks since I fixed the roof vents. Safe travels

[@bobmariano3731]

What type of fix & repairs were made on it for the leaks ? ?

[@thewrightlife]

@@bobmariano3731 I had a roof leak around the Black and Gray tank vents. Here is the link to the video with the repairs that were made. Thanks for watching. kzbin.info/www/bejne/npPbeZdvoriBl5o

[@randygrebel1539]

Great content. I’ve learned so much and you certainly have a get it done mentality. Looking at Airstreams here in mid 2023, and geez, those puppies are expensive. Looked at other brands but those are clearly made to be sold and off the lot with little concern of longevity. But this video shows that Airstreams may be made be better, but not a lot. Airstreams are up to 3 times the price of other RV’s. This video was not encouraging, though I learned a ton.

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching. As for Airstreams, I would say they are still the best you can buy. And while they will break with use. The advantage they have over other RV brands is that they can be repair fairly easily where the other brands in my opinion are made to be disposable. Hope this makes sense.

[@JamesMasterPlaster]

Great video you mentioned woodland rv just north of Grand Rapids mi that’s where I bought my new 2012 30ft international which is for sale🤗👍🏋️‍♀️🤺☦️

[@thewrightlife]

Hey…thanks for watching and good luck with the sale.

[@salstube9]

Amen to on road repairs! One of our Oceanair window blinds exploded into pieces as I went to open it up this morning. Time to put on my MacGyver hat on and have at it.

[@thewrightlife]

Living full time in an Airstream, you learn a few MacGyver skills 🔧 🙂

[@Barchenhund]

You’re not fooling me. You’ve got a guy with a beard doing your repairs. 😊 Nicely done. The short video inserts showing repairs is appreciated.

[@thewrightlife]

Too funny. I think that guy is on the way back.

[@ajm1268]

Wow the price they charge for an airstream a lot of repairs had to be made!😊

[@thewrightlife]

Hi, thanks for the comment. I would say, that many of the items that did break on our Airstream are the same components used across many other RV brands. That doesn’t excuse the quality issues, it just means that many RV brands suffer from the same quality issues. Thanks again for watching and safe travels.

[@JeremiahHexx]

AIRSTREAM IS MADE BY THOR; it's not Airstream quality anymore after 2014; as a comparison, Bowlus Aluminum Trailers have not had a single warranty claim on any trailer in over 5 years. Airstreams of the past ARE NOT the same today; they are overpriced junk. Very sad.

[@thewrightlife]

You are correct that Thor is the parent company, but I would argue the trailers are still made by Airstream. Regarding Bowles trailers, I find it hard to believe that no warranty claims have been submitted in over 5 years and would be curious to know your information source for that statement. As for Airstreams being overpriced junk…I guess that’s a personal opinion. Overpriced…I think you can make a strong case. Junk…I’m not sure I would agree. Anyways…Thanks for the comments

[@PersononYT56]

Hasn't Thor owned airstream for like 50 years?

[@thewrightlife]

44 years when they bought Airstream from Beatrice Foods.

[@craig-n1f]

Blue lock tight is in a red tube 👍🏻

[@richardvila3]

Thanks for sharing

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching and the comment. Safe travels

[@rodneylw10]

What newer model water pump would your recommend? I have a 2006 Airstream but no extra water pump.

[@Pescador2022]

What do you use on the exterior of your airstream to keep it so clean and shiny? Thank you for the informative video.

[@thewrightlife]

We wash with Dawn dishwashing soap to clean and Walbernize RV super seal to wax and protect the finish.

[@ederler1129]

Thanks for the video. Was your surge protector also an EMS unit? I think an EMS unit would have detected low voltage and saved you from the burnt plug. Low voltage can also damage electrical components such as the AC capacitor and the water pump.

[@thewrightlife]

We use the Southwire Surge Guard 30A model. It is designed to provide protection against: Power surges, Open ground, Open neutral, Low (132V) voltage, and Overheating plug/receptacle. I can’t say with certainty what caused the electrical problems, other than the LED screen stated a Low Voltage situation and I noticed the plug had melted. I agree a prolonged low voltage situation could have caused both the AC capacitor and water pump to fail (prematurely) but I do not know if the low voltage was a one-time event or a reoccurring event that didn’t trigger the surge guard (>102v). Since then we have purchased and use a Hughes Autoformer with the Surge Guard. Thanks for the comment and safe travels.

[@jayztoob]

Your surge protector was most likely damaged buy the receptacle you were plugged in to. Another thing; your a/c pulls MORE amps when the voltage is reduced. The wattage stays the same, and volts multiplied by amps is watts. The extra six or eight amps would not melt you plug that way, but a loose-fitting connection would.

[@OurSecondLife]

I know that water leak drove you crazy for a bit there! Glad you found the root cause!

[@thewrightlife]

Yes, it was very frustrating, but glad we were able to find and fix it. Safe travels Guys.

[@hrock8081]

One thing we’ve learned, is that pretty much everything plastic will eventually break on the airstream.

[@thewrightlife]

I think you’re right. I have the same problem on my truck 😕

[@shawnsimmons-collier6978]

I’m impressed.

[@bobmariano3731]

Hey Rick , awesome & very helpful video 👍 . It’s disappointing for the money & investment made in an Airstream that most of the minor fixes could be eliminated with better quality parts , especially with the money that you pay for such a rig . AS should make available a travel & repair package as part of the investment a person makes to purchase these so when they are traveling they don’t have to worry about replacement parts or contacting am AS dealership to get these parts . This just go to show you the poor customer service & quality control of these companies & manufacturers making these units and AS quality is supposed to be superior than many others . By the way what’s your GVW of your AS & what tow vehicle 🚗 do you use ? Again, great advice & videos , safe travels to you & new subscriber here as well . 👍⚾️

[@thewrightlife]

Our 2017 27FB AS GVW is 7600 lbs. Our TV is a GMC 2500HD.

[@Sams911]

damn dude, all this just in one year? You have me reconsidering an Airstream ... How does a warranty repair work? you have to drive it to the nearest dealer? or do they send someone out onsite?

[@thewrightlife]

I bought my Airstream used during the pandemic. It was outside of the manufacturer warranty so I don’t have any experience with working with dealers for repairs. Hope this helps.

[@RyanMcKenna-u1q]

This is all fine and dandy if you are handy and you enjoy this kind of constant stuff, but Im a professor, I dont even know what a screw driver is,, I think its a drink, so what are poor guys like me supposed to do,, this would cost a fortune to keep going even if you could find a good honest place to service it, but what do you do when you are 1500 miles from home and your air conditioning goes,,, you are clearly very handy and like doing this,,, but the rest of us well good luck to us!

[@Michaelmontana08]

Good video. Minor stuff I get. Poor craftsmanship I do not. I have an Airstream and want to upgrade to an international from a Caravel but am a bit hesitant given things like front end separation that Airstream has simply been unwilling to fix…as they could from the design and build stage. They had the same stubbornness with owners getting locked out with a poor lock design on the door. The CEO needs a serious spanking if he cannot simply correct clear problems and keep his product at the top.

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching and your comments. I have mixed feelings about Airstream quality control as well. Not sure what the solution would be but hope that Airstream is listening to their customers.

[@Michaelmontana08]

@@thewrightlife I did get confirmation today from JC that the FES issue has supposedly been solved and anything made past 1/1/24 does have front end reinforcement now. Good to hear.

[@horizon42q]

Excellent well done video. I’m subscribing

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@skipjohnson1547]

You folks are great! We hope to meet you on the road and buy you dinner You have saved us $$$$$ Thank you so much.

[@thewrightlife]

Skip, thanks for watching. You made our day. We are so glad to hear that our videos have been helpful. We had hoped our channel would be a way to pay it forward to our fellow Airstreamers. Safe travel.

[@Realroyrogers]

Yikes, You are too kind considering the cost difference . I wouldn't have thought I would have to be a handyman to own a A/S and a roof leak crime is unthinkable

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching. My intent with this video was to provide a reality check for anyone considering full-time RV life. I will admit that it can be discouraging at times, but with the positive attitude, some basic handyman skills, and realistic expectations, full time travel can be a viable option. Safe travels.

[@DeniseCorcoran]

m a single woman traveling alone in a new 2023 Airstream. A lot of work and repairs I've had already and trying to do much of it by myself until I can get to a dealer as I travel. Spent more time working than enjoying.

[@carolbradley4845]

@@DeniseCorcoranoh no! That would be my fear is to invest that much money and then being pummeled with repairs. I hope you were able to learn a lot and develop the skills necessary to make, at least, the minor repairs. I think you are very brave to go as a single lady. Good for you!

[@jaymoar3561]

What make and model vehicle do you tow your Airstream with?

[@thewrightlife]

2010 GMC Sierra 2500HD

[@cackerson10]

Curious if you've lost any of the black plastic caps that cover the screws on the exterior of the windows? My Globetrotter is missing a few.

[@thewrightlife]

Only had one missing. Easy to replace.

[@jgyrwa]

No offense, for the amount of money airstream is charging for their campers and “ design”, the last thing it should be doing is leaking from the roof. That issue alone is a complete turn off. They need to rectify that issue with a better design/install.

[@thewrightlife]

Not offended at all. I agree that a roof leak is unacceptable, but I don’t think it was a design, flaw but a manufacturer flaw (faulty install). That said, Airstream should consider better QA/QC processes to prevent future occurrences. Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@DeniseCorcoran]

i was in my new 2023 for less than two months and my roof was leaking. I've been to quite a few dealers with issues. No excuses! @@thewrightlife

[@RyanMcKenna-u1q]

I have watched many video's like this,,,, and I conclude all trailers are made of such low quality products its unbelievable. air stream makes better product than any other and here they are falling apart as well, what a shock for me. and NO these problems are not something just anyone can fix. you are very handy etc. Im sure not and most are not

[@BorealisNights]

You have a bunch of spare, cheap(quality, not price) plastic latches on hand? Because you expect them to break? They make such a big deal of dual metal hinges, but cheap out on the latches? that alone tells me they don't give a real F about quality, they just hype a few solid parts, and expect us to think its all quality. THANK YOU for letting me know I don't want what I thought I wanted. 3 minutes in, and you've warned me well. The part didn't fail, but the factory installation of the part was a fail, and you think that's OK? AND... all that was in one year of living? WHEW! again, thank you, I almost made a big mistake! (Airstream must LOVE you! I mean, accepting all those failed parts etc, as normal and happy to pay for, KaCHING!!!)

[@RyanMcKenna-u1q]

Is this just one year of usage. good grief. if this is what I have to go thru every year of use this is not for me.

[@RyanMcKenna-u1q]

This is way too many things for me,,, like really - these things should be like tanks for the price - compared the rest of the junk out there these are supposed to be the best,, this is impressive not in a good way - Im not handy and I dont have time for this - back to a pop up tent for me!

[@LGM2000x]

Interesting. I thought Airstreams were made to a far higher standard. Clearly they're the same garbage as the rest of the industry

[@jodywellwood5969]

😢

[@thewrightlife]

It’s all good. The excitement and memories from Airstream travel are worth it. Safe travels.

[@ronny8855]

Isn't it sad, that you have to pay a pile of money to buy an Airstream and then you have to spend bunches of money to fix all the things? Is profit more important than satisfied customers? At least I could learn not to buy American stuff. I prefer quality and warranty. So rather stick with a manufacturer outside the US.

[@thewrightlife]

My intent for the video was not to bash on AS, but to provide some insight and a realty check for those considering full time travel in their AS or other RV so they could make an informed decision. Hopefully the video has provided that to the viewers. Thanks for watching and safe travels.

[@ronny8855]

Don't worry. I totally understood your intention and I'm grateful for your video and information. Good luck for you and your AS.

[@chriseddy7992]

fantastic video. Wife and I are considering an Airstream purchase in our near future, pre retirement planning. We would be doing it full time. We have been watching numerous videos on KZbin about Airstreams, good and bad. Also any maintenance videos like yours, which are extremely helpful to see what happens on the road full time. I know there is no perfect Airstream, so you just have to roll with the punches. Like other people have said here, Airstream is quality mostly, but still uses low quality components for some things. So having parts on hand as you do, and all the right tools, sure makes sense to help ease the stress. Glad we found your videos. A couple questions... would you recommend a new Airstream, with full warranty? or a used one that has had a good inspection? We are looking at a 30ft, and one that is just a few years old, can save us thousands of dollars. Also after all your traveling, do you have some RV sites/areas around the country that you really like and would recommend?

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching. Regarding the purchasing of a new or used Airstream, I guess it depends on how much of the maintenance & repairs you plan to do yourself. We decided to buy a good quality used Airstream that we had inspected because we were out of State. It had no warranty so I have completed all of the repairs and maintenance myself. If we had purchased a new Airstream I would probably still done the maintenance myself as I have heard getting warranty work done can be very time consuming. Additionally, we saved $$$ buying a used Airstream. There is really no right answer, New vs Used as both options have their advantages and disadvantages. As for our travels, we really enjoyed the New England states in the Summer (cooler temps) and Florida in the Winter (warmer temps). Our goal was to chase 70 degrees as we traveled. Hope this helps. Safe travels.

[@billkrill4656]

Oliver

[@dancox9902]

Good information thanks for the video

[@thewrightlife]

Thanks for watching…safe travels