Re: [A/S] Front Kitchen model?

[Perry Scudder <perryjoe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter,
We have a 1998 34' Limited Front Kitchen and love it. I just returned
from a 14,000 mile trip to Alaska and the Rockies in Mid October. The
trailer tows extremely well behind my Gas 6000 Vortec 2000 GMC Sierra
2500 with the short box and extended cab. I have a Hensley Hitch and a
Jordan Ultima 2020 Controller to round out the package. I made the
entire trip without one mechanical or electrical problem, but I backed
into a limb I thought looked harmless, but had been cut off earlier to
leave stiff stobs. The ends of the stobs dented the corner panel enough
that I had it replaced at Out of Doors Mart near Greensboro, NC. I had
noticed a small, 1" long, crack starting at one of the rivets at the
corner of the door. I talked to the service manager, and he told me they
had seen one or two more of these small cracks in 34' trailers
regardless of floor plan. The theory seems to be the length of the
trailer can cause excess flexing if the unit is towed at high speeds
over roads that cause lots of side to side trailer motion. The Alaskan
Highway supplied plenty of this for my unit. They put a rivet at the end
of the crack and used a clear sealer, which they said had stopped the
other cracks they had seen to date.
The front kitchen layout is really great if you do much food preparation
in your trailer. We have the full range with oven and a microwave. The
ample counter space and storage space make it really great for the cook.
Mary and I both like to cook, so we put it to good use when we travel.
I have heard some old stories about the evolution of the current front
kitchen trailer that were said to be the reason people quit buying them.
It seems the original units had more weight on the hitch than that
generation of hitches were rated for, and were seen as possible safety
problems. The fix for the problem was to relocate the axles closer to
the front of the trailer, but the first move was over done and caused
the front of the trailer to be to light. The light front loading caused
the trailer to tow poorly, and be a really safety hazard. The last move
of the axles to the current location solved the weight distribution
problem, and the trailer now has the proper tongue load, and tows like a
kitten. The long list of problems had caused such an uproar and bad
press that front kitchen models were not selling. That is the reason
they were dropped from the lineup, but everyone we have talked to that
has one loves it sense the towing problems have been solved. This tail
of the front kitchen has been pieced together from lots of sources, and
may not all be true. I have done lots of listening, and not much
talking, in gatherings where the subject came up among long time
Airstreamers, and pieced it together.
I wonder if this list has any additions or deletions to the story as
printed above. I would like to here them myself, even though we are
thoroughly committed to our front kitchen Airstream.

Joe and Mary Scudder
Wilmington, NC
WBCCI 8624