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08-02-2015, 08:00 AM
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#21
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Rivet Master
2007 25' International CCD FB
Northridge
, California
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 516
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The regret that I had with my first trailer purchase is that I didnt have it checked professionally. With my current trailer I sent someone out of state to check it out for me and close the deal.
The 30ft bunkhouse layout might be nice for you especially with the kids..that way you have your own bedroom and the kids have their own space.
LilNomad
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08-02-2015, 08:19 AM
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#22
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,177
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Dan, no matter how much research you do before you buy, it is likely that you will choose the wrong coach first. Depending on how badly you misjudged, you will be trading in anywhere from a month to a year. Your second coach will be closer to what you need, and you will keep it for a year or two. Your third coach will be the keeper, as by then you know exactly what you need.
The general advice is to buy used for those first two coaches, as there won't be as much of a depreciation hit as with a new one. From what I've learned with my research, a 3/4 ton pickup will handle most Airstreams, and a one-ton will handle even the largest with plenty of capacity left over for the full-timer's other stuff.
We're looking at late 90's 34' coaches. Tow vehicle will probably be a late 2000's F340.
__________________
David Lininger, kb0zke
AIR 54240
Heartland mpg 181 (sold)
1993 Foretravel U300 (sold)
2022 Grand Design Reflection 315RLTS
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08-02-2015, 11:35 AM
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#23
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Vintage Kin
Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 8,014
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What do you regret about your first Airstream purchase?
I agree about twin beds. Far more practical. Think of these things as sailboats. Space utilization matters. And that increases with the years.
As to how one will fare with first one, my folks had theirs 27-years. I don't recall feeling cramped as a 6' teenager. Hell, my air mattress on the floor was better than the foldout couch my two sisters slept on. Three and four week trips were the family norm. In a luxury car at that point. I'd seen 46 of the 48 states before college. Many of them more than once. And parts of Canada. Today, I see no reason to sacrifice on length or for practicality sake so much as I am divorced. But if I buy another trailer it may be a 28' like my folks had.
The rear bath and twin bed plan really cannot be beat, IMO. 27-28' is the magic size for full time and short trips. It can get by with one A/C as we'll. Barely, in some cases. Bedrooms not centrally located are pretty well forced into two A/C units. Besides, who wants to camp in hot weather? A screen room under the main awning warrants your time to read upon.
This A/C thing may not matter, but the functionality of the classic aero aluminum floor plan is hard to top. The trade offs start to add up with other sizes and other floor plans.
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08-02-2015, 12:08 PM
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#24
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1Boyscout
2015 28' International
Edmond
, Oklahoma
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 125
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Regrets
should have bought 30' Serenity, not 28'.
Uncomfortable bench seat in front.
did not get awning on street side.
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08-02-2015, 01:10 PM
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#25
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4 Rivet Member
2011 30' Flying Cloud
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
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That we did not purchase a 30' trailer in the first place. For the five years leading up to the purchase of our 2006 28' International we thought that would be the one. That is until we realized that nothing we did could improve the quality of the casual seating in the trailer. The "L" shaped, straight backed sofa was never comfortable even after spending many $$$ on new foam, pillows, etc. I suppose if we had not seen the Flying Cloud at our dealer during a maintenance visit, we'd still be uncomfortable, but fortunately that was not the case.
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08-02-2015, 01:59 PM
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#26
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Rivet Master
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Newberg
, Oregon
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,052
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We bought a 15 27 FB. Wish we had a second ac unit (it's been really hot this summer in the west, and one ac unit struggles when it's over 95) and I'm going to remove the dinette and the attendant bench seats to replace with recliners for watching the tele. Speaking of the tele, the mushroom shaped TV antennae is a pos, and will get replaced with something that works...better. And then there is the converter charger...
One might think that for over 70k Airstream would address all this, but...we still are absolutely in love with our silver bullet, and will eventually get it the way we want it.
Mike
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08-02-2015, 02:25 PM
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#27
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Rivet Master
1965 17' Caravel
1983 27' Excella
Walnut Grove/Laguna Woods
, California
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,635
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What do you regret about your first Airstream purchase?
Only regret is that we did not do it sooner. Spent 27 years having great fun with our houseboat on the Sacramento Delta, but the Airstream has taken us to many other places with many new and wonderful friends. It also allows us to stay in our own "home" at the many kite festivals we attend around the country.
Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
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08-02-2015, 06:06 PM
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#28
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Rivet Master
2016 30' International
Scottsdale
, Arizona
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 723
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My biggest regret WOULD have been not being able to have recliners.
If you are the kind of person who enjoys spending time inside the trailer, as well as being outside, consider seating carefully. When test shopping Airtreams, you may sit on the bench sofa for a few minutes, but don't have the opportunity to sit for a few hours. For many people, sitting on the bench sofa or dinette for more than about 20 minutes becomes very uncomfortable.
If you've already bought the rig, it will be about then that you start wondering what you can do to make sitting/hanging out in the coach more comfortable. As mentioned above, you can try different foam cushion insides, pillows, etc. But these are not solutions that will make a big difference in your sitting comfort for an evening watching TV. Many people have spent big bucks replacing the bench sofa or dinette with recliners. This often involves having some utility equipment relocated within the coach. The result can be fantastic. You can relax in great comfort for hours on end, if desired, in recliners. But some trailers can't be converted to recliners because of the placement of utilites. The 30' rear bedroom is a good candidate for this and does not involve removal of the dinette. The L-shaped sofa is replaced.
We knew going into our Airstream purchase than if we could not make recliners work, we would NOT be buying an Airstream. We would have bought some other brand of RV (most likely an Arctic Fox with slide outs and two rear recliners - for less than 1/2 the cost of our 30' Serenity.
It turned out that we were about to have the factory make a 30' Serenity for us with their recliner "layout", but without providing recliners - we wanted to use recliners of our own choosing. And with the 30', there is enough room to have recliners AND a dinette. Though we don't often sit at the dinette, we use the dinette's table space constantly and would not want to be without it. So, if your in-coach seating comfort is an important factor to you, this is something to seriously consider, especially if you would be inclined to spend extended periods of time traveling in the Airstream, or living in it for any period of time.
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08-02-2015, 10:49 PM
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#29
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4 Rivet Member
Rockingham
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 353
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That looks awesome ^^^^^^
Loved the 6-4-2 bit earlier
Thanks for all the comments and images.
Picture is worth 1,000 words!!! More please.
We are buying twins, that much we know. I'm 6'6" 320 lbs.
As for recliners, would be great 20 years from now. But my kids are 8 months and 2.5 years old so the L sofa/bench will be required for sleeping space if we went with a 28-30' Airstream, which we have strongly considered.
The 30' bunk has a unique layout and I emailed AS about ordering one with twins, no word after two weeks. Guess that's out. It would be our dream stream otherwise.
Now that we have decided on ordering a 2016 Dodge 2500 mega cab with 6.4 Hemi, I feel like we can buy any size AS we want. Previously we were wanting a new suburban and payload was a limiting issue, making the 791 lb hitch of the 27' FB twin very attractive.
In the case of the 27' FB twin that we are eyeballing hardest, we are planning on breaking dinette down to a couch for family times and evening, TV, etc. Thought I might get some 1-1.5" memory foam cut to cover the cushioned areas and add a bunch of big throw pillows for backrest. Foam will be covered by durable fabric at local shop. Will store rolled up foam and pillows in wardrobe.
That's the only way I can see a fairly comfortable TV/relaxing family area in the 27 footer. At my size, I sure as heck won't be sitting at the dinette. Maybe add a bean bag for one of the kids, storing under dinette. Not sure. But having a hard time finding a living room type atmosphere for evenings, movie night, etc.
Any ideas welcome of course.
Dan
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08-02-2015, 11:30 PM
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#30
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3 Rivet Member
2014 27' FB International
Arlington
, Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 107
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We bought a 23D initially, only to sell that one after two yrs and get the 27FB-you will love it. I completely recommend getting a small 16"W stool/ottoman as a footrest-the lounge side isn't uncomfortable if you can raise your feet up. Some people would think floor space is tight but we don't think it's a problem-plus it stores under the dinette. If the weather is nice, we will often leave the dinette converted to the sofa the entire trip, using a foldable table tray as a small table for drinks or snacks, with main meals outside. The kids like lounging on the sofa, too
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08-03-2015, 12:09 AM
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#31
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4 Rivet Member
Rockingham
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 353
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Thanks Wishing!
That's what I've been thinking, more or less. If I can add a small ottoman, bean bag for one of the kids, leaving dinette into sofa at times, it should work. We do plan on eating many meals outside, if not most. And we would be converting dinette in the 27' FB twin each night anyway.
Any other ideas appreciated.
Dan
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08-03-2015, 12:40 AM
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#32
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Living Riveted since 2013
2016 Interstate Lounge Ext
Green Cove Springs
, Florida
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 8,210
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No regrets here at all, though we were glad to live relatively close to our dealer for all the warranty work that had to be done. We love our 27FB.
You might want to test the john to see how well each person fits in there. In case it matters, I've heard there is less knee room in the head for the 27FB vs. the 28. Both trailers are actually the same length, just different layouts, and that room is apparently a little...roomier in the 28.
__________________
Rocinante Piccolo is our new-to-us 2016 Interstate Lounge 3500 EXT
(Named for John Steinbeck's camper from "Travels With Charley")
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08-03-2015, 01:05 AM
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#33
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Rivet Master
2015 30' International
2009 27' FB International
2007 25' Safari
Currently Looking...
Greensboro
, North Carolina
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,564
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What do you regret about your first Airstream purchase?
Regrets.....probably would have purchased the new Classic....but there was not even a hint of this when I ordered my Serenity. Now, the 26U is the one I think I would get, the dinette treatment and bath are IMO real winners. I can see this U dinette in a front bed configuration, with no pano windows at front, but more storage closets.
As to TV, it would have been nice to have an upgrade from the SLT package in my Dodge RAM 2500 Cummins, but at least I have the diesel, which , again IMO, is the best diesel one can purchase in a truck. If one purchases a used diesel, it helps to take it to a diesel specialist for "tuning" as fuel mileage goes up, towing ability is improved and overall the engine runs smoother.
Well, after posting, I see it is about my first AS purchase which was a 2007 Safari 25D purchased late in the year. This I traded in about six months for a 2009 Int Ocean Breeze 27 FB, as I found the bathroom and impossible to make bed too much hassle in the 25D. Not so much regrets as an expensive educational process to trade a new trailer within its first year
Ms Tommie Lauer
Greensboro, NC
2015 Serenity 30 RB / 2008 Dodge Cummins 4 X 4
WBCCI #4165 AIR #31871
__________________
Happy trails and Good Luck
Ms Tommie Fantine Lauer, Greensboro, NC
AIR #31871 KQ3H
www.fantinesvoice.com
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08-03-2015, 01:06 AM
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#34
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4 Rivet Member
Rockingham
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 353
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^^^ diesel tuner. Hmm. Have not heard about it. Thanks. Plan is for 6.4 Hemi, but I would be lying if I said I still didn't have some diesel thoughts lingering. Mostly worried my stop and go short daily commutes would work against its long term reliability. Plan to keep truck 10-15 years minimum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rocinante
No regrets here at all, though we were glad to live relatively close to our dealer for all the warranty work that had to be done. We love our 27FB.
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Thanks. Certainly something to check given my size.
What type of warranty work might be considered typical?
We live just over an hour from Out Of Doorsmart, our NC Airstream dealer. They seem like great folks and my parents bought a new 34' Classic from them about 15 years ago, kept oceanfront at Apache CG in N Myrtle Beach for 3 years, then sold it back to OODM. Although I would like to think after buying a $85-95k camper my only future correspondence with them would be receiving their Christmas cards each year. Hah.
Dan
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08-03-2015, 01:32 AM
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#35
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4 Rivet Member
Rockingham
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 353
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Quote:
Originally Posted by happycamper2
As for campgrounds in the Smokies, we prefer Tremont Outdoor Resort in Townsend TN,. Its considered the peaceful side of the Smokies and they have nice riverfront sites.
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Thanks!!
Just checked out website. That's just like what we are looking for. Trying to find as many options in Smokies of NC,Tenn, and Va as we can. That's where we want to be. Been all over the Smokies tent camping, taking our whitewater raft to Johnson City and Bristol Tenn fly fishing, Bryson City, Mtn biking Tsali, etc. but we always avoided the very campgrounds we now seek. Ha ha.
Dan
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08-03-2015, 04:30 AM
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#36
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ShinyPete
2014 27' Flying Cloud
Bushnell
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 413
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Dan-
Our purchase experience was summarized on Post #18, but your post #29 got me thinking about our practical night time experience with our Grands aboard.
Our nearly 5 yo grandson has spent I bet 45 nights with us in Pete (a guess without checking the log book). What we have always done is put a portable bed safety rail under the edge of the pullout couch next to the fridge and remove the large back cushion and put it on the floor along and under that rail. That leaves a small cushion along the wall, and makes a "mini-twin" for him and he sleeps great there. That same pullout couch when fully extended makes like a double bed I think when the other cushions are added. Your 2.5 yo would be fine there for a long while.
We haven't had baby sister aboard overnight yet but will on Sept trip and we hope a lot more after that. We're thinking initially a pallet on the floor between our twins for her, or maybe make the previously mentioned couch double size and she'll sleep with my wife for a few trips with 2yo on the wall side, and grandson and I in the twins. We have had adult guests as well and we make up the dinette bed for them. It's a bit of a hassle, but makes a fine bed when done.
Seeing as your 6'6", I would only see you comfortable in a twin layout. The queens are all RV size, meaning like 78" long not 80. You can even cheat a bit on the 27fb and make the 80" twin a bit longer because of the 12+" of space between foot of bed and wall on both sides-a great feature for several purposes in that model.
We do exactly as Wishing with a padded footstool I pull out and use to make the curbside dinette bench a lounger to face the tv, and my bride likes to lay down and watch tv anyhow so she takes the street side. We also use the twins sometimes for TV and pre-bedtime lounging, that works too. Being as your close to OODM, go spend an afternoon "camping" in several rigs on their lot. The more time you can spend in a floor-plan simulating living, the better.
Hope that helps!
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08-03-2015, 07:38 AM
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#37
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Rivet Master
2008 25' Classic
Full Time
, Texas
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,309
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When we started looking at preowned AS we started with the FC 20. We hoped we could save money buy not having to buy a new tow vehicle, 2005 4Runner 4.7L. We didn't like the bed arrangement since it was similar to our Casita. Then we looked at a 23d. The corner bed/bath didn't work for us. Then looked at a 23fb. The side dinette didn't look workable for us and now we were going to have to get a new tow vehicle. After reading a lot of posts we decided to look for a 25. Anything larger we weren't comfortable towing or paying for. We found our 2008 Classic 25fb the same week we were looking at an older, well used 25A.
Our Classic is our first and likely our last. We say that not because we are dissatisfied but because when we stray away and look at SOBs we don't find anything we like and we can't afford a larger or a new Airstream and really don't want a larger since we like to frequent National Parks and other federal campgrounds which often have smaller sites.
After using ours for 2 years we've decided to get the queen bed front bedroom converted to twin. Trying to line up the work now. A lot of places I think could do the job are too busy right now.
Yes, I'm not crazy about the rear dinette/side couch for living room comfort but we live with it since all RVs are a compromise of one sort or another.
Kelvin
__________________
2008 Classic 25fb "Silver Mistress"
2015 Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins. Crew Cab, 4x4, Silver
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08-03-2015, 08:02 AM
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#38
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4 Rivet Member
Rockingham
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 353
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Thanks Shinypete and Kelvin.
Appreciate the thoughts. Especially about accommodating little folk.
Making the TV/family room comfortable is a priority. Looks like we four will be fine sleeping in 27 FB twin. Or larger 30' of course, which we still consider.
Dan
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08-03-2015, 11:16 AM
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#39
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The Sign Lady
1969 23' Safari
1974 Argosy 22
1964 24' Tradewind
Victoria
, British Columbia
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 677
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kb0zke
Dan, no matter how much research you do before you buy, it is likely that you will choose the wrong coach first. Depending on how badly you misjudged, you will be trading in anywhere from a month to a year. Your second coach will be closer to what you need, and you will keep it for a year or two. Your third coach will be the keeper, as by then you know exactly what you need.
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or...you could just be a hoarder like me so on any given day you can choose what to use for whichever adventure, I searched for years my first Airstream for my family of 5 and finally found a 72' 22 foot Argosy, I love, love, love it the interior and the panoramic windows are awesome...but the exterior isn't silver, Sooo... after many years and much lurking I found a nice silver 23' '69 Safari with almost the identical interior layout, well in those years of searching those darn kids of ours had grown and I could no longer get the three to share a bed and we were relegated to sending one or two of them outside to sleep in a tent so we searched for one with an additional bunk area and now we have the 24' '63 tradewind :-)
In theory I'm supposed to sell at least one but I figure hey, if the big earthquake ever hits and takes out my house I'm set. One for the adults, one for the teenagers and one for the farting dog :-)
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08-03-2015, 11:22 AM
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#40
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Full Time Adventurer
2007 27' International CCD FB
Nomadic
, USA
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 2,748
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I regret not asking for a lower price. The floor made me nervous, but I knew this was the Airstream I was going to buy. If I had just spent a few more minutes poking the floor under the dinette, I could of called BS and talked him down some more.
__________________
Family of 5 exploring the USA with a Ram Power Wagon & Airstream in tow.
OUR BLOG | INSTAGRAM
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