Visit our Popular Forums

SzochIsOn1st · 02-22-2008, 08:42 AM

As obviously stated, I am looking for something pretty small and definately light. I love the look of the Basecamp, but I want something smaller still. I only need room for my wife and I to sleep and we don't take too much equipment with us that doesn't fit into the Blazer. I heard there was an even more compact Airstream sort of in the mold of a Little Guy

I don't know how much validity there was to that statement though. Maybe they were talking about one of Little Guy's alternative lines which are a bit bigger (Shadows and Scottys), but I am open for the education....please educate this neophyte!

If so, it would be more in my budget too, so I am excited...I only have about 15K to work with so I might have to look at used Basecamps or begin exploration of Little Guy and others. Any suggestions?

wheel interested · 02-22-2008, 08:52 AM

Would that smaller lighter Airstream be the 1935 Torpedo built from a kit? I don't think there are any smaller than 10 feet (tiny bubble?) featured in Airstream Life magazine and I think Ken Faber owns an unique one like that. Or a Wally Byam Holiday.

InsideOut · 02-22-2008, 08:56 AM

Base Camps are the smallest current model Airstreams. Your other option is to go vintage...they are lighter and smaller than the current models. Otherwise, you may want to check out these non-Airstream trailers:

T@B
Tada
Teardrops

Good luck with your search ~

Shari

damonbeals · 02-22-2008, 08:56 AM

You might want to look at a Teardrop trailer, the T@B might fit your bill! I don't think any Airstream besides the basecamp is going to fit your needs.

Tab-rv.com - T@B Microlite teardrop RV travel trailer campers - Tab

Damon

CanoeStream · 02-22-2008, 08:57 AM

Welcome to AIR Forums! Until this decade the smallest Airstreams were conventional silver trailers in the 15-16 foot range. The T@B has been mentioned. That certainly is smaller than the Basecamp but I wouldn't get excited about any Airstream connection there. I've read and heard a lot of things about the T@B being fairly cheaply made.

Look into teardrops further if you want something smaller than a Basecamp. This is a pretty good site with a lot of links. And this looks like a large teardrop forum.

SzochIsOn1st · 02-22-2008, 09:00 AM

Hmm... I will have to check into that. Thank you for the lead.

cosmotini · 02-22-2008, 09:04 AM

On the other hand ...

The smallest, lightest new Airstream in the traditional Airstream shape is the 17' Safari Sport. It's a fully self-contained travel trailer (sleep/kitchen/shower/loo) but is larger than the Base Camp.

CanoeStream · 02-22-2008, 09:05 AM

We have a member who has this on his site. Might be wrong but I think he built his own.

Road Ruler · 02-22-2008, 09:23 AM

Here is the latest and the best. Tow it with a 4cyl.

We saw this unit at the Toronto RV show and the quality and design is 2nd to none. Slick!

ALTO - Safari Condo

Fyrzowt · 02-22-2008, 09:27 AM

Welcome to the forums!
If you don't mind stating, what is the reason for the search for so small?

Certainly, if that is what fits your needs and is what you want, then go for it. OTOH, many people buy small and then wind up trading/buying up to a larger size after camping in the small one a few times.

I just wanted to throw that into the mix of things to consider.

What kind of tow vehicle do you have?

Whatever you decide, let us know and post photos.

Nice to have you here,
Dave

**Stefrobrts** · 02-22-2008, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

ALTO - Safari Condo

Dang, that is too cool! I love the way the top lifts to reveal a row of windows. What an awesome idea!

overlander64 · 02-22-2008, 10:02 AM

Greetings SzochIsOn1st!

Welcome to the Forums!

As was mentioned by an earlier poster, there are a number of smaller, lighter coaches in the Vintage Airstream/Argosy ranks. While not the smallest of the Airstream manufactured coaches, the Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre (1977-1979) is among the lighter, fully-featured coaches, and many of them even have composite aluminum flooring thus avoiding floor rot issues. The empty weight of these coaches is in the vicinity of 2,400 pounds and the maximum gross weight is 3,250 pounds. I purchased my Minuet from its original owner, and have been enjoying the coach for the past four seasons. It is amazingly roomy, yet compact and easy to tow. A photo of my Minuet is attached below:

Good luck with your research!

Kevin

Fyrzowt · 02-22-2008, 10:04 AM

I have a 21' in the classifieds in your price range....

2airishuman · 02-22-2008, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SzochIsOn1st

...I heard there was an even more compact Airstream sort of in the mold of a...

nope bad info.

and as for the basecamp, RUN do not walk from these...

but THOR the a/s parent company makes (and imports) other little units...

like the t@b...

Tab-rv.com

there are also funky new popup styles like the chalet...

Chalet RV Inc.

and little tube like fiberglass units like the burro or scamp or casita...

America's Favorite Lightweight Travel Trailer

burro

Scamp Trailers

ALL of these suggestions r within your price range and NEW....

and they could be painted silver...

skip the old stuff, buy something that u can go camping in TODAY!!

cheers
2air'

Fyrzowt · 02-22-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

skip the old stuff, buy something that u can go camping in TODAY!!

My GT resembles that remark.

galfoman · 09-10-2008, 08:10 AM

I saw this one In Baja and is really small.
It cant be more than 10 feet long. It was just a carpeted shell with no systems.
Very cute,
G

PeeWee · 09-10-2008, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galfoman

I saw this one In Baja and is really small.
It cant be more than 10 feet long. It was just a carpeted shell with no systems.
Very cute,
G

In 1965 -1966 I became the first Personnel Manager for the Airstream Santa Fe Springs factory. The put together an office for me. It was basically a front and rear shell and enough center area for a door, and enough room for a desk on the back side, and chairs for employees in the front segment.

Airstream was under fire by a union trying to organize the factory. In keeping with laws governing a company, I went about individual interviews with each of the employees. It was done on a very simple basis. What do you want in a company? I asked a series of questions related to this paramenter.

We found that the plant manager created several management problems.

THe net result, the union was defeated in a vote, there were changes in plant management, and there was a new personnel department.

If the picture of the "shorty" trailer can be idenified by segments it can be confirmed as my old personnel office. Later on it became the security office.

Pee Wee

PeeWee · 09-10-2008, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeeWee

In 1965 -1966 I became the first Personnel Manager for the Airstream Santa Fe Springs factory. They put together an office for me. It was basically a front and rear shell and enough center area for a door, and enough room for a desk on the back side, and chairs for employees in the front segment.

Airstream was under fire by a union trying to organize the factory. In keeping with laws governing a company, I went about individual interviews with each of the employees. It was done on a very simple basis. What do you want in a company? I asked a series of questions related to this parameter.

We found that the plant manager created several management problems.

THe net result, the union was defeated in a vote, there were changes in plant management, and there was a new personnel department.

If the picture of the "shorty" trailer can be idenified by segments it can be confirmed as my old personnel office. Later on it became the security office.

Pee Wee

I just counted segments, 5 each. This makes it later than 65, 66. Yes?

Aage · 09-10-2008, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Here is the latest and the best. Tow it with a 4cyl.

We saw this unit at the Toronto RV show and the quality and design is 2nd to none. Slick!

They must have changed their site: it's Alto - By Safari Condo now.

I saw that last January too. I called shortly after the show to find out the price, and was told about $20,000 IIRC.

While it's spaceous and light and very pleasantly designed, I thought that was higher than it was worth.

However, it sure solves the question of what to tow if you don't want to have a big honkin' TV sitting in your driveway all the time...