Lot of great info John already pointed out. I think if you are looking at a diesel for a 19 or 23, it'll be way overkill, but nothing wrong with that, particularly if you go the upgrade route many of us have.....
One suggestion would be to wait until you get the diesel and then you can get any coach you want. The diesel in most cases will tow even the largest of Airstreams (not that I think you'd need a 34'). I say this as a former 19' Bambi owner and my story is very simialr to others that bought a 19' or 22' (sure the 23' might be in the same boat). Once you get the coach, you find it's limitations pretty quick. I've seen countless folks (me included) that went with the 19' or 22' initially and upgraded to a 25' the start of the wide body, or larger, with gobs more storage and comforts like 2 door fridge (one for freezer, one for fridge--not freezer inside fridge compartment), dual sinks, a sofa and a dinette (not one or the other), a bit bigger bed, etc.
Between the two (19 and 23), the 23' IMHO has a lot of great features compared to the 19'. Dual axles (really, really great to have) and a bit more space (always great to have), more wardrobe and storage space (really great to have). If I were back in early 2003 and the 23' was availibe, not knowing what I know now about the 25', the 23' would have been my first Airstream, without question. So much so, I might not have been as tempted as I was with the 25', with the exp of the 19'. The 22' may have a place in between, but the lines get a bit more blurred with the availibe 23'. I'm also not a wet bath fan, which is found in the 22', so to me the 22' was never really a contender for my Airstream buying dollars. I however, I would suggest, that you look closely at the 23' and the 25' and if you fall for the 25' as hard as we did, you'll see why I suggest getting the horse first before the carrage.
