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12-30-2013, 01:23 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
1986 25' Sovereign
Cincinnati
, Ohio
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 98
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What do you think?
My wife and I are considering getting our first AS and looking at a 16'. We have an 85 pound 5 year old mostly German Shepherd mutt who is the sweetest dog ever. He would be traveling with us and I wondered if folks with experience have an opinion about the 16 footer being too small for the three of us. Thanks for your opinion.
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12-30-2013, 01:28 PM
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#2
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2 Rivet Member
2008 22' Sport
Lemon Grove
, California
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 87
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Hubby and I travel with our dogs in a 22' -- which can seem too small when they are wet and smelly from rain. Or having rolled in deer poop: but I'm not sure there's an airstream large enough to save us from that nightmare.
__________________
"It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive" - Bruce Springsteen
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12-30-2013, 02:16 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2010 25' FB Flying Cloud
Fall City
, Washington
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 90
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Size of AS and dogs
We have a 25 FC and travel with two greyhounds (have had three) and it works out ok. Your bed becomes their day couch with a full cover and they sleep on the dinette made down at night. I'm not sure if your sixteen will have all those options.
My wife's cousin bought a 19 Bambi and camped with two Borzois and a Chow. After five or six trips they traded it in on a new 27 FC which works great for them.
My personal opinion is that it is easy to fall into the charm of a smaller and less roomy AS so I recommend you think seriously about a larger one.
Lou
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12-30-2013, 02:21 PM
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#4
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2 Rivet Member
1977 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Vintage Kin Owner
Katy
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 41
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First off, welcome to the Airstream community. This forum is a wealth of information and support. Regarding your choice of A/S for traveling with an 85 pound dog - well, you make it work. We travel with two medium sized dogs (1 45# & 1 50#) and I can tell you two adults and two dogs will take up every available inch of a 6.0 Meter Minuet, a 19 ft trailer. We have two cats that have to stay at home till we get a bigger trailer. That's probably OK with them
Life in a small trailer is something you adapt to: life without our pets is not something we care adapt to. A weekend trip will be easy, a two week trip will require a routien of feeding/sleeping/walking that corresponds to your cooking/ eating/ sleeping. One thing we have eventually learned to live with as we all get older is the need to adjust. The midnight visit to the w/c requires skill to not step on a sleeping furbaby.
I am looking forward to someday getting maybe a 23 to 25 foot to make it easier. But untill then the "togetherness" will not stop our adventures.
You are about to have a great time!
__________________
The road goes on forever and the party never ends... Thks to REK
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12-30-2013, 02:28 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2014 25' FB International
2007 20' Safari SE
2005 19' Safari
Qualicum Beach
, British Columbia
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,096
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We started with a 19 with a Sheltie and a Samoyed. The dogs were supposed to sleep in the back of the truck. Ha. Guess how long that lasted. So we upped to a 20. Then our old cat needed meds every day and could no longer be left with the house sitter so the descision was made to move to a 25FB for our last trailer. Turned out to be a great move as we acquired another Samoyed and the cats get the back of the truck. There is so much more room in the wider body 25.
GM
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12-30-2013, 02:43 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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Depends on how much you love your dog!
My guess is most people don't mind sharing their space with their beloved pets. We don't. So, if the space works for the two of you, adding the dog is no big deal. Dogs adapt to just about anything. We are two adults and a small dog, and our 25 Flying Cloud seems like the minimum we would want. But if you think that size will work for you, I'd say no worries on the pet.
Welcome - and good luck!
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12-30-2013, 03:05 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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If you are set on getting a 16' trailer do not even walk inside some of the longer trailers...
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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12-30-2013, 03:33 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Northwestern Ontario
, - on the backside of the map and just above the big green spot
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 819
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I think you probably already know what you need to do to answer to that question positively - if your dog is a high energy dog that says something - if he is a calm dog then that says something else. Our pooch is a high energy Border Collie that loves to go camping in our 19' footer - we've never found it too small to accommodate her - but she needs her daily exercise .... and if she doesn't get it ..... well .....
.... we make sure she gets that daily exercise with a lot of "fetch" activities and then "tag teaming" her walks ....
Attica is as much a part of any camping adventure as our Airstream is .....
Jay
__________________
Bambi - 2002 (The Toaster)
Pathfinder - 2009 (The Buggy)
"I'm not young enough to know everything ....."
(Oscar Wilde)
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12-30-2013, 04:08 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2002 19' Bambi
Northwestern Ontario
, - on the backside of the map and just above the big green spot
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 819
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I should add .....
..... if your pooch enjoys the luxury of sharing your bed then it just ain't going to work ..... a 48" bed is tough enough for two ....
..... we put Attica's bed underneath the dinette - and she loves it ....
Jay
__________________
Bambi - 2002 (The Toaster)
Pathfinder - 2009 (The Buggy)
"I'm not young enough to know everything ....."
(Oscar Wilde)
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12-30-2013, 05:11 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1976 31' Sovereign
Missouri City
, Texas
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,233
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Our People
"Those people can stay in our Airstream as long as they don't get in our way, Right Duke" (Duke is on the Couch). I don't have a problem with that Duchess (Duchess is on the floor) but they have to feed us and take us for walks to". You are right Duke, do you think we should let them come in now its almost dinner time. I guess so Duchess, the things we do for these people. Make sure they wipe their feet.
__________________
Don Hardman
1976 31' Sovereign
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12-30-2013, 05:38 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2007 25' Safari FB SE
2000 30' Excella
1999 30' Excella 1000
Low Country
, South Carolina
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 820
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We love our '07 25'FBSE, had larger but this works for us and our cat. Just enough room to throw balls down the hall for her run after. A larger queen bed, a full shower, a decent kitchen, enough storage, all things to look for. We have never bought new.
What ever you end up with you will enjoy. Just make sure you seriously consider your needs and how you will live in your Airstream.
__________________
StreamNTyme
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12-30-2013, 06:17 PM
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#12
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Our tent's were considerably smaller that either of our AS's......that didn't didn't stop us from camping with any of our dogs....
100lb OES in one of these cross-country....fun wow!!
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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12-30-2013, 09:45 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1997 30' Excella
1961 26' Overlander
1954 22' Flying Cloud
1981 28' Airstream 280
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,436
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My opinion. A 16 footer to me would be too small for me. We have Great Pyrenees(avatar) that range from 85# to 160#. We camp in a 31' wide body. Our dogs are affectionately known as furry speed bumps. They will lay wherever they want to and since they a guardians, it will be by the door or in the middle of the trailer where they can see everything. Would not work for us, even in the 31' it doesn't work.
I'm sure your dog has better manners about where you would want him to be than mine do.
Mine are going to lay where they want so they can do they're job.
__________________
Bruce
WBCCI# 9259 AIR# 38927 TAC-TX 14
Stop Littering-Spay & Neuter-- Adopt From Rescue
No amount of time will erase the memory of a great dog.
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12-30-2013, 10:10 PM
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#14
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4 Rivet Member
2018 30' International
2014 30' Flying Cloud
Los alamos
, New Mexico
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 359
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Ordered a 30 ft FC because I need space our 85 Lab-Sophie , just sleeps where ever she wants and we learn to fit around her. Always go bigger, it's like the secret to a long marriage, " start out by over marrying"
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03-10-2014, 02:38 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
1986 25' Sovereign
Cincinnati
, Ohio
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 98
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Thanks for all of your comments. It's been a couple of months since my initial post and want everyone to know that my wife and I decided to purchase a 25 '. We are still looking for one. We will be purchasing a used AS and am checking the internet sources we know (RV Trader, and Airstreamclassifieds) We ideally would get one from 1995-2007. We think the bigger size makes more sense for us after actually being in several models at Ohio dealers in Troy and Columbus Ohio. Moses, our 85lb mutt (mostly Shepherd) is happy about our decision.
Will keep you posted.
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03-10-2014, 02:42 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2013 30' Classic
Greenwood
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 12,111
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Get it soon and go camping.
We are coming to Ohio in September for a service appointment at the mother ship.
I am so excited about the trip I am just about to bust...
__________________
2013 Classic 30 Limited
2007 Silver Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited 5.7 iForce
2006 Vivid Black Harley-Davidson Road King Classic
1999 Black Nissan Pathfinder LE
TAC #MS-10
WBCCI #1811, Region 6, Unit 56
Airforums #70955
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04-12-2014, 12:36 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 24
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we have three boxers in sport 16, which is perfect proof my wife and i are nuts!
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