Escape vs. Airstream

[Eggscape]

Very popular in the day. This picture was said to be take in the interior of BC in the 60s.

It is interesting to remember that cars had the big power to tow. My day had one of the slant light 62 Chrysler’s.

Ontario snow and salt would pack up in the fender above the headlight rusting a big hole on each side. That is how I learned to do fiberglass...from watch my dad repair the rust holes.

[cpaharley2008]

I would certainly hate to be the guy parked in the middle of the 4th row and having to ask to leave early........

[Art M.]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

The correct order is needs then wants. Once the first is satisfied, work on the second.

I learned need/want prioritization from my father; who, as a minister, never had much money. He and my mother scrimped on the necessities to free up a little money for their wants, which were mostly books and music. I'm fortunate to be able to practice a more relaxed version of their philosophy.

[h2owmn]

I’m of the same mind, Donna. I had a tiny Aframe and then a little bigger one when my grands got old enough and outgrew the floor/bed of the first. Both were magical to me....but after 11ywhen i stepped into my friend’s new 17B i was head over heels. I did my choice of fabrics, Formica, and floor. Six months and 120 nights later I still look around with wonder as i fall asleep and say This is MINE. Both my kids are doing well so I don;t worry (and they encourage me not to worry) about enjoying the fruits of 38 years in education. I’m a very lucky person.

[Seneca]

Our path started with Airstream, just because it was a familiar name to completely uninformed potential buyers, then we compared Airstream with Oliver and preferred fiberglass to stick built (the Nest ruled out because any new model of anything street legal scares the you-know-what out of me--I wait a few years). Surveying the world of fiberglass, we covered the landscape from Oliver to Scamp, basically, keeping tow vehicle capacities in mind. Inclined initially towards Casita, mostly because they are so popular, are built in an adjacent state, and apparently hold resale very well so if we decide we like the trailer experience and wanted to trade up the hit would not be too bad. In the end, realizing that the Escape 19 weighed within a 100 pounds of the Casita 17, we chose the Escape 19, basically indifferent to the 25% price differential. (Fully aware in both cases, incidentally, that the dry weight of a stripped model is a good 1000 pounds less that what you need in terms of towing capacity--but it's the same 1000 pounds for both alternatives).

My sense is that ETI is the kind of the company today that Airstream was, a long time ago, and that now Airstream is a valuable brand in the Thor portfolio. The people responsible for building Airstreams today do a good job but the mystique at this point is a carefully cultivated brand legacy. Nothing wrong with that, of course, and it can contribute mightily to the ownership experience, as any brand steward will remind you.

My two cents. YMMV. And, BTW, love that picture of the Airstream rally in mid-60s BC. I couldn't see a single pickup truck or SUV among the tow vehicles. A couple of things that looked like station wagons.

[Donna D.]

I kept this picture from a while ago because I thought it was totally cool. I suppose if you had damage on an Airstream, standard body work and paint might be a possibility. And no, it's not an Argosy.

[Eggscape]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I kept this picture from a while ago because I thought it was totally cool. I suppose if you had damage on an Airstream, standard body work and paint might be a possibility. And no, it's not an Argosy.

That would make for a great mobile barbershop...if they still have barbershops...I have not need one of them for some time.