Great Day

[MeandMB]

Picked up our new Ext. cab (Silver) from Colonial on 10/30 and can't quite remember when we were this excited. We ordered the van without the back two seats and had the rear passenger side cabinet removed (holding rear TV). This allows for a fair amount of room to maneuver about and gives the dogs a much larger space. On our way home from NJ got a warning light indicating we had 10 more starts before shut down??? Whatever that meant, I now know I had at least 10 more starts before disaster. The indicator light was unusual to say the least looking something like three arrow hovering over water. Called Colonial on 10/31 and they stated sounds like a DEF problem and to take it to a MB dealer. At this point I now have 6 remaining starts to shutdown. I can ramble on but i'm sorta boring myself. The MB dealer in Catonsville, MD was outstanding and after a overnight stay the repair in (software) was made. In short the final test (Dynamic Test for SCR System) was not completed and the system was shutting down to prevent any damage. This test as best as I can describe is used to measure that the proper mount of DEF is circulating properly. Test complete all is well. Thought you folks might find this helpful

[Boxster1971]

Congratulations on picking up your new Interstate!

Thanks for the info on DEF warning and glad to hear that MB dealer in Catonsville solved the problem. I also use them as my primary dealer and have been pleased with their service.

[weirdstuff]

Oh boy. Picking up our new EXT cab, also silver, tomorrow, and taking her on a 3 night trip. Hoping we don't have a scare like that!! At least nothing exploded!!!

[m.hony]

While at Foley I walked through an Interstate that would seat 9! I told my wife we should buy one as a family car.
She replied, "This thing is $140,000!"
I'm like, "You could probably git it fir a hunnert."

[Lily&Me]

Congrats on your new Interstate!


Maggie

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by m.hony

While at Foley I walked through an Interstate that would seat 9! I told my wife we should buy one as a family car.
She replied, "This thing is $140,000!"
I'm like, "You could probably git it fir a hunnert."

I have it on good authority, from a fellow who did it, that if you start with a Sprinter 3500 high-roof cargo van (MSRP approximately $50k), and convert it to a Class B on your own, you can easily spend more than $150k by the time you're done and still not end up with a better product. Plus it will be months after you buy it before the conversion is done and you can actually go camping in it.

Poor guy was nearly in tears when he found out how much cheaper it would have been to buy an Interstate.

[73shark]

Originally Posted by m.hony

While at Foley I walked through an Interstate that would seat 9! I told my wife we should buy one as a family car.
She replied, "This thing is $140,000!"
I'm like, "You could probably git it fir a hunnert."

Can't find a nine seat version on the Airstream website. Did they eliminate the wardrobe behind the bathroom?

[m.hony]

Front row- driver and passenger- 2
Second row- 2
Third row, facing each other- 2
Rear couch- 3
Total- 9

[m.hony]

I don't remember a wardrobe...
I was perplexed by the wall beside the toilet that expands 3" by the toilet- does that really matter? Would that really allow a wide person to use the toilet? Maybe?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by m.hony

Front row- driver and passenger- 2
Second row- 2
Third row, facing each other- 2
Rear couch- 3
Total- 9

If so, they must have eliminated the hanging cabinet behind the bathroom, and maybe the rear television as well, since if the TV was attached directly to the bathroom wall instead of the cabinet, the television would be in the way of using the seat, too.

With the cabinet in place (as I suspect it is), the passenger-side "third row" seat isn't usable as a seat, and is only there to fold out into a bed. Airstream calls it an ottoman instead of a seat, and it has no seat belts. I use my ottoman as a convenient place to store pillows and bedding, wedged between the seat cushion and the hanging cabinet above.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I don't remember a wardrobe...
I was perplexed by the wall beside the toilet that expands 3" by the toilet- does that really matter? Would that really allow a wide person to use the toilet? Maybe?

The main reason for the extension isn't really to expand the bathroom, it's to expand the aisle when it's pushed in. If the aisle wasn't so narrow, the expansion panel would be out all the time. And yes, it's needed. I'm kind of stocky, and have wide shoulders— and as I get older, a wider waist and hips, too, but let's pretend I'm still young and fit, just for my vanity, shall we? With the extension pushed out, both of my shoulders just make contact with the bathroom walls when sitting on the toilet. If I modified the bottom edge of mine so it could be left in all the time as some thinner owners have done, I'd have to sit uncomfortably hunched over.

[Tiato]

Protagonist,

Do you have any pictures of your modified bathroom wall bottom piece?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Tiato

Protagonist,

Do you have any pictures of your modified bathroom wall bottom piece?

No, because I didn't modify it. I need the extra space provided by the extension. Others here on the Forums have modified theirs, however.

[m.hony]

I was intrigued by the wall extension and demonstrated it to my wife.
From what I remember the passenger side 3rd row seat was immediately aft of the shower- no wardrobe.
It appeared as though the 3rd row sideways facing seats would flatten out and make a bed.
It looked like the couch would make a bed as well.
Is it supposed to be 2 beds? Or 1 super huge bed?
If it is 2 beds, the people in the rear bed could not go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
From my memory the end of the shower was even with the end of the galley with the 2 burner cooktop.
The only television I remember is toward the front in the raised roof section above the driver and front passenger.

[m.hony]

Hey, Protag- when you go to Foley Friday check it out. It is the first black Interstate just inside the fence on the left between the showroom and service department.
Then- post your observations about this awesome ride.
In all reality it would make an awesome family car and weekend camper van, but we will probably stick with our plan to get a Honda Odyssey next- with a built in vacuum and cooler-

[73shark]

Originally Posted by Protagonist

If so, they must have eliminated the hanging cabinet behind the bathroom, and maybe the rear television as well, since if the TV was attached directly to the bathroom wall instead of the cabinet, the television would be in the way of using the seat, too.

With the cabinet in place (as I suspect it is), the passenger-side "third row" seat isn't usable as a seat, and is only there to fold out into a bed. Airstream calls it an ottoman instead of a seat, and it has no seat belts. I use my ottoman as a convenient place to store pillows and bedding, wedged between the seat cushion and the hanging cabinet above.

That's what I figured that the layout was also. It was just that the Airstream website wasn't showing that new floor plan.

[Tiato]

This may be the one:

2014 Airstream INTERSTATE 3500 LOUNGE NON EXT Class B Gulfport, MS Foley RV Center

Interesting, and I get it, but I would prefer having that extra storage.

[Tiato]

Originally Posted by MeandMB

Picked up our new Ext. cab (Silver) from Colonial on 10/30 and can't quite remember when we were this excited. We ordered the van without the back two seats and had the rear passenger side cabinet removed (holding rear TV). This allows for a fair amount of room to maneuver about and gives the dogs a much larger space. On our way home from NJ got a warning light indicating we had 10 more starts before shut down??? Whatever that meant, I now know I had at least 10 more starts before disaster. The indicator light was unusual to say the least looking something like three arrow hovering over water. Called Colonial on 10/31 and they stated sounds like a DEF problem and to take it to a MB dealer. At this point I now have 6 remaining starts to shutdown. I can ramble on but i'm sorta boring myself. The MB dealer in Catonsville, MD was outstanding and after a overnight stay the repair in (software) was made. In short the final test (Dynamic Test for SCR System) was not completed and the system was shutting down to prevent any damage. This test as best as I can describe is used to measure that the proper mount of DEF is circulating properly. Test complete all is well. Thought you folks might find this helpful

Congratulations!! Its an awesome ride. Just took ours up to Vermont last weekend to finish up the engine break in period. Comfort is amazing. When comparing the level of fatigue on a 700 mile (roundtrip) ride between the Airstream and my old class C, the Interstate left me half as tired than driving the Class C for the same distance.

Bummer about the DEF issue though but tank you for the technical heads up.

[73shark]

Originally Posted by Tiato

This may be the one:

2014 Airstream INTERSTATE 3500 LOUNGE NON EXT Class B Gulfport, MS Foley RV Center

Interesting, and I get it, but I would prefer having that extra storage.

That is what I thought the floor plan would look like with 9 passenger seating. I am surprised that they still put a TV up there since it looks like it would be a head knocker for the passenger sitting there. I too value the extra storage over the extra passenger capability.

[MeandMB]

On the 2014 model the bathroom wall kick out has been modified to allow for a few additional inches without taking up any additional aisle space. This modification now allows you to study your owners manuals with a bit more elbow room.