2005 Airstream Sprinter Westfalia

2005 AIRSTREAM WESTFALIA SPRINTER 2500 CONVERSION VAN THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THE PRESENCE OF CROSS WINDS OR LARGE TRUCKS PASSING BY. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I PURCHASED THE VAN BUT ONLY ON WINDY DAYS AND/OR HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF AN AIRSTREAM REPRESENTATIVE BUT DID NOT RECEIVE ANY POSITIVE FEEDBACK. I CANNOT HELP BUT THINK THAT SOMEDAY THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. SINCE I HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME, I WAS HESITANT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BUT NOW THAT I AM PLANNING ON RETIRING AND UTILIZING THE VAN MORE, I HAVE DEEP CONCERNS. *TR

RUNNING BOARDS ARE FALLING OFF. THEY ARE MADE OF SOLID ALUMINUM AND ATTACHED TO THE BODY WITH #12 SELF-DRILLING SHEET METAL SCREWS. ONE OF THE RUNNING BOARDS CAME OFF WHEN I STEPPED ON IT TO GO SOMEWHERE. OUT OF THE 16 SCREWS (8 PER RUNNING BOARD), ONLY TWO WERE TIGHT, AND I WAS ABLE TO TIGHTEN TWO MORE. THE REMAINING 12 WILL NOT TIGHTEN. ONLY THING I CAN DO IS EPOXY THEM IN. *TR

POSSIBLE FIRE AND ELECTROCUTION HAZARDS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET. THIS OUTLET IS LOCATED BEHIND THE RIGHT-REAR BACK DOOR. IT IS ABOUT ONE FOOT BELOW THE WATER CONNECTOR PLUG FOR THE OUTDOOR SHOWER. ALL THE MENTIONED EQUIPMENT WAS BUILT AND SOLD BY AIRSTREAM. 1. POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD: BOTH THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET AND THE CABLE (14/3 CABLE) ATTACHED TO IT ARE RATED FOR 15 AMPS. (THIS IS A TWO-PLUG OUTLET.) THE PROBLEM IS THAT: 1A. THE 15 AMP CABLE IS SPLICED TO A 20 AMP CABLE (12/3 CABLE) SOMEWHERE WITHIN THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. 1B. THEN THE 20 AMP CABLE RUNS TO A 20 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER BOX. UNLESS THERE IS AN UNDOCUMENTED 15 AMP FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER BETWEEN THE 12/3 CABLE AND THE 14/3 CABLE, IT IS POSSIBLE TO DRAW 20 AMPS THROUGH THE 14/3 CABLE CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. 2. POSSIBLE ELECTROCUTION HAZARD: 2A. THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET IS MOUNTED ABOUT ONE FOOT BELOW THE SNAP ON WATER PLUG FOR THE OUTDOOR SHOWER HOSE CONNECTION- THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET CAN EASILY GET SPLASHED. 2B. THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET DOES NOT APPEAR TO HAVE GROUND FAULT INTERRUPTION CIRCUITRY. 3. OTHER (POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL CODE VIOLATION). IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE, THE OUTLET IS MOUNTED ON A DOOR (THAT ALLOWS ACCESS TO THE WATER HEATER AND SOME ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT). THIS INFORMATION WAS REPORTED TO AND RECEIVED BY AIRSTREAM CUSTOMER SERVICE ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2006. *JB

POSSIBLE ROOT CAUSE: USE OF A 13 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER (TOO SMALL) IN A LINE FOR A PART THAT SPECIFIES A 15 AMPS LINE. DESCRIPTION: INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT TRIPPING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THE 2005 AIRSTREAM (DODGE SPRINTER WESTFALIA MODEL) ELECTRICAL LINE DEDICATED TO SOLE USE BY THE TAPPAN MICROWAVE OVEN, WHEN THE OVEN FIRST TURNS ON OR CYCLES ON (WHEN AT POWER LEVELS LESS THAN 10). THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT DATES. SUPPLY VOLTAGE WAS MEASURED IN THE AIRSTREAM ON TWO OF THESE DATES AND FOUND TO BE 120 VOLTS AC (WITHIN SPECIFICATION). TAPPAN'S WRITTEN REQUIREMENTS SPECIFY A 15A LINE, BUT THE AIRSTREAM'S CIRCUIT BREAKER IS RATED FOR ONLY 13 AMPS. NOTE THAT AIRSTREAM SUPPLIED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, OVEN AND WIRING IN THE NEW VEHICLE. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: IF THE MICROWAVE OVEN CAUSES CURRENT SURGES GREATER THAN 13 AMPS WHEN IT FIRST TURNS ON AND/OR CYCLES ON (AT POWER SETTINGS LESS THAN 10), THEN THE CURRENT WOULD EXCEED THE SPECIFICATION FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, CAUSING IT TO TRIP.*JB *NM *AK *NM

MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT A 2005 AIRSTREAM WESTFALIA 18 (DODGE SPRINTER-BASED) CAMPER CONVERSION VAN IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. AFTER GETTING THE UNIT HOME AND GIVING IT A ONCE-OVER THAT INCLUDED INFLATING THE TIRES TO THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURES, WE LEFT UPSTATE NY FOR A TRIP SOUTH THROUGH PA, TO WASHINGTON DC AND THEN ON TO NYC, RETURNING HOME AFTER PUTTING ON ABOUT 1200 MILES. DURING THE TRIP WE NOTICED THAT THE VAN HAD NOTICEABLE BODY ROLL (TO BE EXPECTED FOR A HIGH-TOP CAMPER) BUT THE HANDLING AT SPEED, IN ANY TYPE OR WIND CONDITIONS OR WHEN PASSING OR BEING PASSED BY LARGE VEHICLES, THE VAN WAS UNSTABLE AND DARTED FROM SIDE TO SIDE (AWAY FROM THE OTHER VEHICLE). AT THE ABSOLUTE WORST (CROSSING THE SESQUEHANNA (SP)) ON I-95, THE VAN WAS A FRIGHTENING HANDFUL TO KEEP IN LANE. I HAVE ASKED AIRSTREAM/WESTFALIA/SPRINTER TO PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION THAT SHOWS THE VAN IS PROPERLY EQUIPPED WITH ANTI-ROLL OR SUSPENSION DAMPENING EQUIPMENT FOR A MODIFIED VEHICLE WITH THE HEIGHT INCREASE OF THE CONVERSION. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET THAT INFORMATION THOUGH I HAVE COOPERATED WITH THEIR REQUESTS AND REPORTED THE CONFIGURATION OF MY VEHICLE TO THEM. I FEEL THE VEHICLE IS UNSTABLE/UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE SUSPENSION SHOULD BE REMEDIED BY THE MANUFACTURER(S). *JB