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ciquing · 11-20-2006, 05:08 PM

Would love to hear from any other owners! Tips, pointers, "watch for" anything you'd like to share! We will start shopping for the ZipDee Screen room this weekend - has anyone else used one? We have ZipDee chairs but now the research begins to find what "extra's" we just can't camp without!
Thanks!
Mona

hookedonclassic · 11-20-2006, 05:32 PM

Mona: Congrats on your purchase. You'll love the space of a '34. They tow like a dream.

ciquing · 11-20-2006, 06:36 PM

Just finished reading about COST of a Zip Dee screened room - I think we'll use a Coleman that we already have! Not as big - but we own it!

Mona

Tarheel · 11-20-2006, 07:10 PM

Keep a watch on the front corners under the stone guard. I have seen some with skin fatigue in this area. First clue is the trim begins to come loose. The hinged steps can have/will have the screws work loose over time, tighten them and keep the hinges lubed. LED taillights are a nice gift to give your unit it really makes it visable. A good choice it should bring you many years of pleasure and fun.

bill benton · 11-20-2006, 07:33 PM

Welcome Well you can't get any better than a 34.Mabe others think you can but we 34 owners know better.Glad to have you aboard. On word of caution.SWING WIDE. But watchout for the rear end whiplash into the other lane on corners

68 Overlander · 11-20-2006, 07:39 PM

Congrats. Owned a 34 footer for a few years and loved the space. You even have the wide body! Ours was a 94 model in perfect condition but we sold it because the headliner was falling everywhere and the smell of "something" got to us. Not offensive, just overwhelming. I think they have fixed all of that, hopefully.

Tarheel · 11-20-2006, 07:44 PM

Taking mine in next week to have a 20' panel replaced, didn't swing quite wide enough. Stuff happens.

ciquing · 11-20-2006, 09:21 PM

Thank you! We are presently towing with a '95 G20 Conversion van 3/4 ton with 184k will be purchasing new tv. We are seriously contemplating an F250 Quad Cab 6.0 diesel Super Duty 2WD with tow package. Is there any need for us to think about a full ton F350?? Of course, more is always better, but is this over kill to tow the 34' Excella?? Any thoughts??
Thanks!
Mona and Michael

bill benton · 11-21-2006, 07:12 PM

No a F250 diesel will do fine.

tslanier · 11-21-2006, 07:44 PM

Purchased an 87 34' Excella 1000 this summer and have been refurbishing. This is our first RV and we love the extra room in the 34'.

Steve Heywood · 11-21-2006, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ciquing

Thank you! We are presently towing with a '95 G20 Conversion van 3/4 ton with 184k will be purchasing new tv. We are seriously contemplating an F250 Quad Cab 6.0 diesel Super Duty 2WD with tow package. Is there any need for us to think about a full ton F350?? Of course, more is always better, but is this over kill to tow the 34' Excella?? Any thoughts??
Thanks!
Mona and Michael

I tow my 30' Excella with a F250 Crewcab with the 6.0L diesel and the 5-speed automatic. My truck is a 2WD, weighs about 6800 lbs empty, and has a 9800 lb GVWR. With 3 people, 2 dogs, and the bed of the truck full of bikes and camping gear the truck has never been over 9000 lbs with the trailer hooked up.

Plenty of power, good mileage (17 commuting-12-13 towing) decent ride, and a bunch of room in the cab.

There is a reason Ford sells more Crewcab Super Dutys than Supercabs.

ciquing · 11-21-2006, 09:20 PM

Great to hear what is working! Looks like our Van may not be able to pull the trailer so the truck is "calling" to us even now! We like Fords - own a Ford Explorer (my daughters) and a Ford Windstar. I'm not really crazy about the minivan - they are for "mini" size people! I'm almost 5'10" and my husband is almost 6'. Nice vehicle but I guess we really want that truck!
Thank you for answering the question - we appreciate your thoughts!
Mona

nilesrob · 11-27-2006, 06:40 PM

We had a 1999 34' Classic and loved it - upgraded to a 2005 34' Classic with slide-out.

For your purposes, the F250 will work just fine. We towed our 1999 with an Excursion (same thing as F250) - no problems. When we moved to the slide-out version, the tongue weight was greater. I have added air bags to beef up the suspension, and might consider an F350 if I was in the market for a new TV. But we just returned from 5,000 miles and many elevations and the Excursion did just fine.

empresley · 11-27-2006, 07:09 PM

We love the room. Like a small vacation home on wheels.
I tow a lot of trailers with our F250. Nothing has ever been so recognizable while towing as our 34 footer. It does the job & we move on down the road but if I were in the market, I would certainly look at the $ difference between the 250 and 350. (not the dually, just standard F350). (sorry for the run-on sentence)

ps Tarheel is right about the folding steps. Ours just fell apart one day. We were lucky the screw was right there and I learned that this was something to keep an eye on.

tslanier · 11-27-2006, 07:22 PM

I was just in the market for a tow vehicle for our 34' and made the decision after considering a great deal of advice to go with the 3500 instead of the 2500. I know many who are totally comfortable with the 2500 which will certainly do the job. But since I was in the market, and there was a new 06 3500 with the options we wanted on the lot at a very good price, I went that way.

ciquing · 11-30-2006, 10:20 AM

My husband borrowed a friends F250 Diesel and loved it! No problems, other than the people on the road who just can't seem to "see" the huge silver "UTO" - unidentified towed object! We'll keep the "good 'ol van" to pull the 14' utility trailer.
It's been amazing how much attention an Airstream gets! We had it parked in front of our house over the weekend and ended up taking several people on tours through it!
Can't wait to "get out there" and meet all of you! Thanks for all the input on the tow vehicles, we'll let you know how we end up!
Mona

elolson · 12-20-2006, 07:26 PM

I tow my 34' with a 3/4 Dodge diesel. No problems at all. The 1 tons have the same frame and driveline but a stiffer suspension. I guess they were about the same price, at least when I was shopping a few years ago; did seem like the 1 tons mostly came with dual rear wheels. Apparently if you tow a larger 5th wheel, a dually is the only way to go.

As far as issues, watch the center support for the awning. That can be tricky and I think mine fell into the side a few times and they can tear your skin up getting them tight, get good gloves. I replaced the sink fixtures, both bathroom and kitchen with replacements from Home depot. The bathroom faucet did not stick out far enough and water was always slopping around. I found a faucet with an extra long neck, what a world of difference and it was about an hour to replace.

Good luck with yours, I know we have had fun with ours.

william Haym · 12-20-2006, 07:37 PM

congradulations on your purchase ,I really like my 1993 34" airstream classic limited.
I like all the options ,electric stabilers jacks ,keyless entry ,etc.
These trailers are the cats meow!!!!

hookedonclassic · 12-20-2006, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nilesrob

We had a 1999 34' Classic and loved it - upgraded to a 2005 34' Classic with slide-out.

For your purposes, the F250 will work just fine. We towed our 1999 with an Excursion (same thing as F250) - no problems. When we moved to the slide-out version, the tongue weight was greater. I have added air bags to beef up the suspension, and might consider an F350 if I was in the market for a new TV. But we just returned from 5,000 miles and many elevations and the Excursion did just fine.

Brad: Did you notice any difference in the ride after the air bags were added. I have a chopping ride on concrete highways and looking for a way to improve. Sorry for being off the topic.

GStephens · 12-20-2006, 08:51 PM

I think you'll find there is little real difference between the F-250 and F-350 other than the tires. E rated on the F-250 and G rated on most F-350s. I've been told by the dealers that the spring rates, frames, axles, brakes, etc. are the same on both trucks. Either will do the job just fine. We tow with both but prefer the F-250 only because it is a little bit more tricked out than the F-350 and since it has a "real" job, it is usually dirty everytime we want to take the trailer somewhere. Welcome and enjoy.
GStephens