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OUR 3rd AIRSTREAM FACTORY SERVICE VISIT (OH)

As you read in the previous post we made it from western Nebraska over to western Ohio in 4 days. I had to go back and do a double check on the math, but the mileage from the Bessey Recreation Complex camground to the Airstream Factory Service center was exactly 1000 miles.

Here's John and I speaking in the parking lot shortly after our arrival.

Their Airstream #13737 in the foreground with ROVER and THE POD on the right.

MONDAY - At 7:00AM this morning John and I were the first two customers to enter the Service Center doors to present our lists of repairs to the Service Advisors.

Before 7:30AM both of our trailers were in separate service bays and work had already begun.

Our primary reason for being here is to get the front aluminum panel on the trailer replaced and to reinforce the framing that is located behind that panel. We had the same issue two years ago and Airstream thought they had fixed the issue, but there is a new repair procedure in place now and let's hope this time the problem is finally resolved. Fortunately for us, even though our 2-year Factory Warranty period had expired 18-months before the first attempt to resolve the issue they covered the costs to repair it.

Now a full 3½-years after our warranty has expired they once again are covering the costs to repair our trailer.

Here's THE POD with his front end exposed again.

These are the heavy duty corner brackets they are now using to fix the problem.

TUESDAY - Yesterday they opened ROVER up and today they are putting him back together.

We also had them tighten up the rivets on the front awning window, replace the city water inlet to bypass the holding tanks, repair our dented wheel wells that were allowing road dust to get inside the trailer, replace any missing rivets on the interior of the trailer, adjust the stove burners so they work work properly, fix our shower exhaust fan, repair the clearance light on the back of the trailer, replace the thermostats and overflow valve on the water heater and finally service of the electric patio awning.

What did all that cost? A mere $1775, not bad for two full days of labor and a few parts.

At 1:00PM today we have tickets to go see the new 750,000 square foot factory that Airstream opened several years ago. That's right I said 750,000 sq. ft.! When you consider that the average size of a Walmart Supercenter is only 179,000 sq. ft. you'll realize this place is more than four times bigger than the Walmart you're shopping in.

When we were here two years ago the factory tours had been suspended due to concerns about COVID. So we didn't get to see it then, but today they also have completed the Airstream History Museum on the property. Did I mention that this facility is about a mile down the road where they used to assemble the trailers since the 1950s.

Today the old trailer assembly building is being used to build Airstream vans and 16' & 20' trailers called Base Camps.

Approaching the 750,000 sq. ft. assembly factory.

It's hard to believe this used to be a corn field. Now it employs 1400+ residents.

Airstreams are built when they are ordered, all different sizes and models in one plant.

They are hand build one at a time, no robots to be found here!

Airstream will build you a custom one-of-a-kind shell if you're willing to finish the interior. We saw one on the assembly line today with a large window opening on one side and two doors on the wrong side of the trailer. It will be outfitted as a food truck as soon as it leaves here.

THURSDAY - Today we'll finally be leaving the Airstream Service Center, but before we do we're going to go and visit the museum down at the new factory.

After the museum we only have a short drive to our next campsite so we have just enough time to squeeze in a visit and share it on the post.

AIRSTREAM HISTORY MUSEUM

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This one is the Clipper model and nicknamed Ole' Grandad, owned by the Wally Bynam museum.
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It has some rather unique looking front and rear windows.
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Here are some interior shots.
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The first "two door" model.
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An interior photo.
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This gold colored Airstream is a Wally Bynam owned one of a kind.
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This is an Airstream made Funeral Coach from the 1970s.
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This is Old #1, the very first trailer off the assembly line here in Jackson Center, OH.

Airstreams were originally made in California from 1931-1951.

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