New to the big leagues (first triple axle)

[Alden Miller]

Sadly we lost our 1981 31' Excella Limited to fire (it was near my workshop that caught fire) about a week and a half ago. But... I just returned from a quick day trip to FL where I purchased a 1993 34' Excella 1000. We thought we would be without an Airstream for a while but it didn't turn out that way.

I'll have to drive down in a couple of weeks to get it but I am looking for an owners manual. If anyone has one for sale or knows where I might be able to get one I'd be interested!

-Alden

[sandlapper]

Alden, I don't have an owners manual for sale but I do have a '93 34' that I dearly love. Sorry you lost your 81, but the silver lining is in the 34. Conrats on the alumaliner.
Safe & happy travels. John

[JimGolden]

I think you'll love this new one!

I went from a 31' Excella 500 which I liked a lot to a 34' Avion triple axle. It's very similar to the Airstream, though it's actually a wee bit longer as Avion measures them differently (mine is 35'-11" bumper to ball). I was scared to death the first time I tried to pull that thing. But, the triples pull like a dream! I find it to be naturally more stable than the tandem axle. And all that stuff about "...you can't park them..." is baloney. They do scrub some when making super sharp turns, but that is also what makes them track straight as an arrow; they pivot about the center axle and you have to scrub the two other axles to make it sway a lot. I towed mine 700 miles home on just he ball with no weight distribution or antisway at all and the thing did fine.

I now use a 14,000lb capacity Equal-I-Zer and it really does run straight as an arrow.

I would like to have a second, smaller trailer, for going to state parks and stuff where the big one wouldn't be allowed. But for longer trips, I really like the 34.

Hope you like your's as much as I do mine!

See ya on the road,

[Aviator]

Alden,

Head over to the Airstream.com corporate site, they have a lot of past owners manuals there. I was able to order a reproduction copy from the company for our '97. You will enjoy the new trailer. While our triple axle is the only Airstream I have towing experience with, it tows very easily.

[Riverrat6270]

Is this the 34' that sold in Florida on ebay recently? If the same unit, I'm jealous! lol I watched the two units that were on the auction closely. Loved both units.

[Alden Miller]

Thanks for the reassurance about the towing. I keep telling myself it won't be that much different. The only thing I am really worried about is getting it in and out of my driveway, there is a little rise at the end of the driveway and I am hoping it clears it no problem.

I'll go to Airstream.com and look for manuals.

I bought this one from a dealer in Florida, it's not the one that was on ebay. I am actually happy to get it from a dealer, even though it cost a little more they went through the whole trailer and checked all systems. New tires, bearings packed, brakes checked, etc., etc..


-Alden

[jbbaldwin]

Congratulations on the 34! We purchased our 91 last May and love it. I had never tow anything longer than a 17' Bass boat and had not trouble with the AS. Good Luck on the owners manual hopefully you'll be able to get one.

[Aviator]

Alden,

I have a fairly steep drive which I back the trailer up. One thing I have found helpful is to tack the tension out of my weight distribution hitch prior to pushing it uphill. This causes the tongue to lower and the tail to rise increasing clearance until the entire trailer is established on the hill.

[dwightdi]

I agree. Drop the W/D bars and the frictional dampener, if you have one, before you try to turn around and back the trailer in. I didn't do it back in 94 when I got my first long overhand trailer and put a big gouge in the drive and stress I did not need on the trailer. Don't put them back on till you clear the drive on the way out.

[Alden Miller]

Good idea on the WD hitch. I can pull over just before I get home and take it off.

I am also going to get the dealer to check my hitch height. It always looked a little high with the 31' Excella but it was set to what the manual said to...

Thanks everyone. Three weeks to go until I pick her up.

-Alden

[HiHoAgRV]

Sometimes it just doesn't work out...

Welcome to the Club!

[Alden Miller]

My new manual came in the mail yesterday. Now I have a reciept and a manual. In two weeks I'll pick the trailer up...


-Alden

[Aage]

I saw the photos of your fire, Alden. What happened?

[Alden Miller]

I did a small welding job in my shop. I went inside for lunch, in the time it took to get a drink out of the refrigerator and eat a sandwich the whole shop was on fire. All I can figure is a hot spatter of metal landed on something and I didn't see it smoldering when I left the shop.

I can't do anything about that now though so I get to look forward to the new trailer and rebuilding my shop this summer.

For now it's fun going through the new trailer and seeing the differences between the new and old trailer. So far I think my favorite is the AES refrigerator! It's so cool to let it determine whether it needs to run on propane or electric!

-Alden

[jbbaldwin]

Alden, I'm sorry to hear about your shop! Sounds like you are taking it in stride. I glad you have the trailer to look forward to.

[sandlapper]

How 'bout some pix of that baby?

[Alden Miller]

Pics in the "Alden Miller" members gallery. You can see the fire and the new trailer.

I got some little stuff for the trailer today (sewer hose, fresh water hose, etc.). My wife and I were putting stuff away tonight and exploring all the different cabinets and how things worked. Kind of fun!

My first repair is under way (new crank for the antenna). I picked up the older style handle today but once I took the one of the trailer I found it was the newer style. No problem, I'll exchange it tomorrow and get a water pressure regulator for the water hook up while I'm at it.

-Alden

[Landshark]

Alden,

So sorry to hear of your shop and trailer loss, but you are going to LOVE your 34'! We went from a 1977 23' Safari, to a 72 31' Sovereign, to an '86 34' Ltd, and have used the earlier trailers very little since because the 34' is so comfortable. In fact we sold the Sovereign because we knew we'd never take it out as long as the 34' is available; they really duplicate each other. Our shorties are for boondocking, shorter trips, places with shorter parking sites.

We have to back the 34' in our driveway over a sharp dip (when our road was paved, they raised the surface several inches, creating the dip) between where the ditch runs under the driveway, and it works just fine: a little practice is all you need. So far we have kept our monster out of the ditch. Enjoy your new 34'!

Vivian