Airstream CLASSIC TRAILER - Manual (Page 4)

INTRODUCTION 2008 MODEL
with and practice. Inadequate and/or inappropriate wheel nut torque (tightness) is
a major reason that lug nuts loosen in service. Loose lug nuts can rapidly lead to a
wheel separation with potentially serious safety consequences. Be sure to follow the
instructions in this manual.
Appliances and Equipment (See page H-1)
The appliances (stove, refrigerator, etc.) and equipment (hot water heater, furnace
generator, etc.) typically operate on Propane gas. Propane gas is flammable and is
contained under high pressure. Improper use may result in a fire and/or explosion.
Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual as well as the specific
owners’ manuals of the appliances and equipment.
Tire Safety
Properly maintained tires improve the steering, stopping, traction, and load-carrying
capability of your vehicle. Underinflated tires and overloaded vehicles are a major
cause of tire failure. Be sure to read the Tire Safety Manual Addendum included with
your owner’s packet.
Chemical Sensitivity; Ventilation
Chemical Sensitivity
After you first purchase your new recreational vehicle and sometimes after it has been
closed up for an extended period of time you may notice a strong odor and chemical
sensitivity. This is not a defect in your recreational vehicle. Like your home, there
are many different products used in the construction of recreational vehicles such
as carpet, linoleum, plywood, insulation, upholstery, etc. Formaldehyde is also the
by-product of combustion and numerous household products, such as some paints,
coatings and cosmetics. However, recreational vehicles are much smaller than your
home and therefore the exchange of air inside a recreational vehicle is significantly less
than a home. These products, when new or when exposed to elevated temperatures
and/or humidity, may “off-gas” different chemicals, including formaldehyde. This off-
gassing, in combination with the minimal air exchange, may cause you to experience
irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and sometimes headache, nausea, and a variety
of asthma-like symptoms. Elderly persons and young children, as well as anyone with
a history of asthma, allergies, or lung problems, may be more susceptible to the effects
of off-gassing.
Formaldehyde
Most of the attention regarding chemical off-gassing surrounds formaldehyde.
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring substance. It is also a key industrial chemical
used in the manufacture of the numerous consumer products which we referred
to above and used in the construction of recreational vehicles. Trace levels of
formaldehyde are also released from smoking, cooking, use of soaps and detergents
such as carpet shampoos, cosmetics, and many other household products. Some
people are very sensitive to formaldehyde while others may not have any reaction to
the same levels of formaldehyde. Amounts released decrease over time.