The 23FB forum

[Troutboy]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

Thanks for all the pre-purchase comments.



We signed the purchase agreement and put down a deposit on our order this afternoon!



The protective coat that they offer, is done at the dealer. $1200, includes protective coating on interior upholstery as well. Can't remember if they said it's warrantied for 5 years or 7 years. We don't have to decide until it arrives.



Bought the trailer at Airstream Inland Empire in Lake Elsinore. They were very pleasant and easy to deal with, so very happy with them!



Now....we wait!!!!

Congrats! You will love it.

[pcskier]

Don't spend a dime on any of the 'poly glip glop' treatments. (that's what we called it behind closed doors when I worked at an auto dealer back in college.) It's 80 percent or more profit. Airstream skins already have a beautiful clear coat finish, just keep it clean and wax it twice a year and it'll look good as new years down the road. Interior cleans easily with a damp cloth and mild soap if needed.

Save the $1,200 for other upgrades later, there will be some, believe me.

Congratulations on your order!

[GettinAway]

Congrats Weirdstuff! The 23FB is a great design for two people. You'll really enjoy it.

[jhaden]

We are on our second trip (currently in a park in Creede, Co.) with our 23FB and trying to work out storage solutions and dinette issues. Really don't like the dinette set up but I've already seen one solution here that might work - that was to just keep it set up as a lounging area and use "tv tray" when we need to be working indoor. Looking to add some shelving to the area to the right of the toilet, to the wall by the wardrobe and to the right of the stove. Not permanent shelving just something I can attach with Command hooks or similar. I'll be checking back regularly!

[VTSmitty]

We recently replaced our original mini blinds with the OceanAir shades that are now standard on the later models. We're really happy with the switch, and as a side benefit the cat no longer is playing with the shade cords. Now we have to figure out what to do with the old ones... If anyone is in need of a replacement set of mini blinds in excellent condition, and is willing to pay shipping, let me know.

Dan

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by jhaden

Really don't like the dinette set up but I've already seen one solution here that might work - that was to just keep it set up as a lounging area and use "tv tray" when we need to be working indoor.

Not sure what your exact issue is with the dinette, but this reminded me of something I wanted to share. I discovered this in our recent Airstream shopping excursions...

If you have an International, and if you find that the table is just too close to your body and seems cramped, and that the seat cushion is too short and uncomfortable....remove the back cushions. That way, you sit farther back in the seat, the seat cushions support more of your thighs, and amazingly, the seat back, without the cushion is even more ergonomic and comfy. And if you like it, you can always have a couple of thin back cushions made.

[Rob Edgerton]

Is anyone having problems with popped rivets along the edge of the overhead dinette storage? We had ours fixed once under warranty, which requires removing the overhead cabinets to get access to replace the rivets. Now we have four missing again.

Has anyone engineered a solution? I am looking at some kind of brace from the back of the dinette up to the bottom of the overhead next to the door.

Thoughts?

[PKI]

We had a few rivets in that area replaced. Afterward, we upgraded to 15 in wheels, the LTX tires and Centramatics. Seems to have mitigated the failures. Pat

[Xplore]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

Thanks for all the pre-purchase comments.

We signed the purchase agreement and put down a deposit on our order this afternoon!

Congrats, We just got back from a 2 1/2 week trip in ours. The 23FB performed great and were extremely happy with our purchase.

[switz]

Going to 44 psi with the 15" Michelins softened the ride as compared to the 65 psi in the stock 15" GYM ST tires.

[Rob Edgerton]

Originally Posted by switz

Going to 44 psi with the 15" Michelins softened the ride as compared to the 65 psi in the stock 15" GYM ST tires.

We have changed from 14" GYM's to 15" Michelins that I run at 35psi. Went from Portland OR to Jackson Center for Alumapalooza, and they performed fantastic. The tps would show up to a 7 psi increase when the ambient air was around 100. Tire temps never got over 120.

Michelin sent me an inflation chart for the tires with recommended psi for the tire load. At 35 psi it was good up to 7840# for four tires or 1960# each. This is way past our trailer loaded weight, so I went with it.

[old 10s bum]

Saw an old AS for sale at Lakewood Camp Grounds in Surfside Beach, SC. It looks about 50 years old and about 25 feet long. If anyone is interested I'll stop and get stats

[Bobbo]

Just because Airstream didn't think the 2017 FC 23FB needed 12v outlets doesn't mean I think it doesn't need them! (I leave it laying at the bottom, back of the wardrobe till I need it.)

[OTRA15]

What size wire did you use please, and where did you bring the 12-volt feed from? If the feed is from some intermediate location [not the 12-volt distribution panel], what is the wire size feeding that location?

Three 12-volt devices all charging at the same time could draw quite a few watts/amps IMO. Curious to know if you use these outlets for anything other than cell phones and tablets.

Thanks,

Peter

[Bobbo]

The 12v outlets came with a 15 amp inline fuse on 18g wire. I cut off the inline fuse since I wired it to an empty slot on the 12v distribution board with a 15 amp fuse. I cut the 18g wire as short as I could and butt connected it to 12g wire (seems like that is all Airstream used, the wide spot in the wire right in front of the shelf are the 2 butt connectors, staggered so they are not too wide). Like I said, I ran the hot wire to an empty slot on the 12v board, and ran the ground wire to the ground wire buss in the 120v side of the breaker panel (be sure NOT to use the neutral buss). The 120v ground buss is connected to the 12v ground. The wardrobe that it lives in is only about 2 feet from the breaker panel/fuse box and on the same side of the trailer.

Right now, the only things I will use them for are a rechargeable shaver and a laptop, and then, only when boondocking. Other uses may occur, but right now, that is all I need.

BTW, I am impressed that I have interested the great OTRA15!

[switz]

When we were rewiring our 23D and the Classic, we did add one 12Vdc circuit cigarette lighter socket in the middle of the Classic attached to the front of the rear dinette seat and one under the dinette and under the refrigerator in the 23D, both in the cabinet facings.

The Classic socket is used to power the Fantastic fan floor model so we can blow cold air as needed to either end of the trailer when on only 30 amp service or with only one operational A/C . We tied into an existing 12Vdc circuit that had #12 wire.

We also have a Fantastic floor fan stored inside the 23D under the bed in the extended storage area we created by making an opening in the center web bed support. The one under the fridge ran to the 12Vdc fuse panel about three feet away. The front tied into the front 12Vdc bus.

[lindaebrewer]

Originally Posted by Bobbo

Just because Airstream didn't think the 2017 FC 23FB needed 12v outlets doesn't mean I think it doesn't need them! (I leave it laying at the bottom, back of the wardrobe till I need it.)

WHAT? AS did away w the 12 volt? Why???? I use our 12 volt (2015) all the time.

[Melissa Lee]

Howdy All:
Let us see your 23FB with 16" Tires. I have just begun to put them on my 2008 23FB. I am not sure yet if I will need a lift to go with the 16". I am a little concerned about wheel well clearance. My TV is a 4 X4 one ton dodge mega cab (romper room ) so I have all kinds of power and clearance. Let the fun begin.

[Troutboy]

Originally Posted by lindaebrewer

WHAT? AS did away w the 12 volt? Why???? I use our 12 volt (2015) all the time.

USB ports are the new 12V delivery system. If you have USB ports but old cig lighter appliances, you can use one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/ARECORD-Cigar...arette+lighter

If you have the old cig lighter and want USB, use one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_s...=25QJNEKRO84BI

I think the USB are more compact, sturdier, safer, and most of the devices I now use have a USB power source.

That's just me, but YMMV

[Bobbo]

Originally Posted by Troutboy

USB ports are the new 12V delivery system. If you have USB ports but old cig lighter appliances, you can use one of these:

https://www.amazon.com/ARECORD-Cigar...arette+lighter

Considering that the old style 12v outlets could supply 8ish amps, the 0.8 amp (maybe) limit of this adapter is kind of anemic.