Well, we have been away for a week or so (the Region 9 Rally), so I am just now picking up on email. We bought our Bambi 19C, new back in Oct. Ours is a bit unusual in that it has the front couch along with the LS Safari Upgrade package. The couch added an additional $675 in the form of a customization fee. We found it on a dealers lot, he had been sitting on it for months and the new '03s were arriving...so we did get a fairly nice discount (spent more than what we saved though on all the upgrades we added after the fact)
The LS Safari upgrade was not cheap ($2700), but it added Corian countertops, the AquaJet water pump, a 13,500BTU A/C/Heat Pump, a blackwater flush system, a spare tire and rack under the trailer (hard to believe that a spare on a single axis should be an option), Fantasic Fan, Electric Hitch Jack, Cast Aluminum Taillights (identical to the taillights on the Classics), the Screen Door Guard (really stabilizes the screen door and helps prolong its integrity) and finally, upgrades to the all the faucets including the integrated Moen PureTouch faucet in the kitchen (filters taste, cysts, etc).
We really hated the bland interior so did a massive makeover (see our pics). In addition we added two, 50 watt solar panels with an MPP controller, a Tri-Metric battery telemetry system (so as to really know what was happening with the battery when boondocking, a second full sized Zip Dee awning (on the road side) and a rear window Zip Dee Awning. At present we are still running the factory battery, but once it reaches the end of its usefullness, I am going to have a custom battery box build to hold two 6V Rolls batteries (over 350 aH total). The '03 Bambi has gone to two batteries in a battery case that drops partially below the frame, just behind the propane cover, so the need for two batteries was recognized even by Airstream. We plan to add a Honda EU2000, but have not done so yet.
Our Bambi came installed with the Sony 10 disc CD changer, and we added a 12V DVD player and a 17" LCD TV. As counter space in the Bambi is at a premium, I mounted the LCD TV on a fully articulating arm in the back corner above the refrigerator.so that it can be swung to face the bed or the couch as well as adjusted in all planes for best viewing.
On the issue of what works with ZERO battery....basically nothing expect the stove and oven. The refrigerator, the water heater, the furnace, the water pump and all the lights require 12volts. As long as you keep the battery charged though, everything except the A/C/Heat Pump works. If you are serious about boon docking, then I HIGHLY suggest you look into installing a Tri-Metric as it monitors all aspects of the battery...not just voltage. With the Tri-Metric, you know exactly how may amps you are currently pulling, the percentage of charge left, the total amp/hrs drawn since last full recharge, the total amp/hours drawn since the battery was installed (or the Tri-Metric was installed), the number of days since last equalization and the number of days since last recharge. There are some other parameters it monitors, but those are the main ones. As I have the solar panels, I really don't have to worry about pulling the battery out and putting it on an external charger. Even in the covered storage, there is enough bounced sunlight in the winter to keep the battery charged.. The solar controller I chose also has an equalization program, so when I am getting the rig ready for a road trip, I simply activate the equalization and let the solar panels to the work. I did add a switch with pilot light so that I can kill the power to the LP gas detector as it can run the battery down all by itself over time (it is the only item that the 12V kill switch does NOT disconnect). Although A/S recommends leaving it connected, I have talked to both A/S and the LP gas detector manufacturer and they indicated that as long as the unit has a few minutes to warm up and it does not indicate a fault after such warmup, there is NO reason to leave it powered.
As for the heated holding tanks, I have been told by Airstream that they are indeed heated by the gas furnace, but there seems to be a lot of confusion on the matter and I have not taken the time to investigate. I do know that the furnace that is used in Bambi can vent hot air to both a single duct as well as to the front(it is documented in the manual for the heater). All the water lines are actually above floor grade so that are in fact inside the trailer, so as long as you keep the trailer warm, the water lines are safe. My Bambi was the 1st to have the 18 gallon black water tank, but a good portion actually resides above floor level under the toilet so it has the advantage of heat from inside the trailer. The grey water tank actually hangs down underneath the trailer (in an enclosure). I have thought about dropping the enclosure and adding one of the 12/110 volt tank heater pads, just to be safe. At the Region rally, the A/S rep indicated that A/S was going to be offering these heating pads as an option starting on the '04 models.
I chose to purchase a Hensley Arrow hitch as it seemed a solid bit of insurance against not only sway, but controlling the rig should a tire blow on the trailer. Hensleys certainly are not cheap, but they work like magic. Absolutely NO hint of anything when a semi passes, even on narrow two lane highways.
We really do like our Bambi. While functional as purchased, it lacked warmth and character, which we provided. Understand that you can buy a 22-25' A/S for almost the same money as a loaded Bambi, but your tow vehicle requirements go way up and you will find that it is more difficult to find parking on the larger units. Contrary to intuition, backing the Bambi is more difficult that backing a longer rig. With only two tires, it is a pretty twitchy rig when backing up, where as the multiaxles have more rubber and therefore more resistance to change in direction. I have found that if the trailer starts to turn in a manner contrary to my wishes while backing, it is quicker to stop, pull forward slightly and then start backing again. It tows like a dream behind our Explorer Sport Trac and the combo is a really nice looking rig (the Explorer is Black, and the lettering and pin striping on the Bambi is black as well). We get about 15 MPG if we stay at 55MPH, at 70MPH the mileage drops to about 10MPG and while on a trip into KS we had the legal opportunity to pull it at 75 MPH which resulted in about 8.5 MPG.
Sorry about this being so long, but lots to say. If you wish you can sent me a PM and we can discuss anything about our rig in more detail.
david
