1993 limited Vs. 1994 Excella Classic

[Catfisherman]

A lot of good comments here, on my 92 Classic Limited Model, I have the leveling system where the front jacks are for lifting and stablizing (no single jack but a hole where it would be mounted), and two rear jacks that are only for stabilizing. I found that this 34 ft trailer with levelers not only is easier to level and set up than my last AS (75 31 ft model) this one also tows and pulls easier - must be that extra axle and two additional wheels. I have been trying to post this trailer for Sale in the Classified for the past three days without success. I got a heck of a deal on a large 5th Wheel Camper with a slide out so I will be selling this Classic Limited Model.

[Derk]

How would one of those 34's back into a spot next to my garage off of a medium to tight alley? I have this NEED to have a 34 for real long trips. Our 17' Caravel was great on last years 2.5 week tour of the CO/Wyo Rockies and was a blast. But any longer and we would need MORE of everything. Maybe that's the Rule Of Thumb, The longer the trip the longer the rig. Anyway, how's the backing on one of those triples? Thanks

[bill benton]

Wonderful. How wide is the alley? How wide and how long is your approach to the side of your house?

[85MH325]

Basically, if it's big enough to get the trailer into, you can back it in. Our street was a substandard width street at 24' and our driveway is 20' wide. I was able to back the trailer into, over, and to the side of our driveway to its parking pad without difficulty. Once you figure out the angles, it's a piece of cake. You DO need to have swing room for the rear of the trailer when backing though... It may have been possible if there had been fencing or block walls along the edges of the street or driveway, but I sure wouldn't want to attempt it without some really good wing-walkers.

Roger

[Russell2]

I'm in the market for that model and size AS. May I ask how much it cost?

[bill benton]

Check the classifides in this forum I've seen them for as low as 12-14,000 to 70-80,000for a new one.

[Derk]

The pad that it will on is 13' wide and about 30' between my garage and the garage behind mine. My truck has a 176" wheelbase, so that's almost impossible to crank. I was thinking on the lines of one of the electric trailer dollies. Has anyone used one of those with any success?

[Partsman]

Count me in on the love of the looong trailer. I realize it's and Avion, but I think it's great. After viewing and reading all of the post's on this thread it just makes me want to go out and hug my Silver Bullet (kid's named it).

Chris

[SilverToy]

Derk -

Backing the 34' (IMHO) is not difficult. Go back and read my earlier posts. There is a bit of a "Zen" to it. Go slow. Lots of looking and checking and the trailer can be put anywhere. Period.

Everyone, traffic, etc, EVERYONE gets tuned out when I am backing.... They are simply gonna have to wait!

Tight turns with a 34' are gradual, to a point, and then everything becomes magnified due to the long trailer & TV interaction ( your experience with your long WB TV my vary!). The physics/dynamics of arcs with long wheelbases and dictances between the hitch and the axles - both trailer and TV. Don't 'know' it all myself but I DO have the seato-of-the-pants 'feel' for it. Equally important? You decide!

When that starts to happen with mine, I just STOP, pull forward to straighten everything out, then back again. Again, this may or may not work for you in your backing/parking situation. I do know that you CAN chew up a lot of grass with the turning of the TV front tires and what not....

I am lucky as there is a side street T out in front of the part of my drive where SilverToy goes. "Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good". But I do have experience backing her into many tough spots. Practice is good!!!! Creasing the AS is bad!

Look at your parking spot and the area around it - be HONEST. Is it big enough for you to have confidence that she/he will fit? Obviously you have done the tape measure thing!?! Then look at the surroundings to the spot. There are swing issues like other mentioned (but not as bad as I would have thought prior to getting SilverToy) and then consider the aggravation factor. This is likely to be something you will encounter often if you choose older campgrounds/ stateparks and the like.

Now, don't get me wrong. You will never regret the comfort, space and ease as you sit in your 34' while others trip over each other in their little trailers.... Smiling as I write that! We travel with 5 - 2 Adult and 3 kids - and there are NO issues with space - personal, storage, eating or getting away from each other. They are great trailers, and as this thread suggests, there is simply no bigger or better AS than the 34'. Period.

The Peanut Gallery has been heard from! My 2 cents.

Axel

[85MH325]

Axel, what you missed is Derk's 176" wheelbase on the tow vehicle. That's loooong... like... an aircraft carrier! The longer the WB on the TV, the tougher it is to back the trailer where you want it with tight swing clearances for the tow vehicle. A crew-cab truck with a long bed is great for pulling but horrible for backing. I don't know whether I could get my 34' into my RV pad with a crew-cab long bed. I can JUST do it with the Excursion.

Roger

[SilverToy]

Derk -

Sorry, forgot to reference the Dolly part of your question. I personally wouldn't use a dolly to back the trailer. Not even sure if those dollies can 1) take the weight (tongue, mass of the trailer to move it on anything but totally level ground) and there is 2) a storage issue for something that will likely get minimal use. And 3. + 4) you have to basically hook/unhook the trailer twice. And what are you going to do when you encounter that forbidding looking spot at campground X when the dolly is a long way away...? I don't really see much of an upside - unless you got a deal on one of those 747 plane mover thingys.... That would be cool!!!

This advice is worth exactly what you paid for it!

Ciao

Axel

[SilverToy]

Roger -

Thanks for catching that.... All comments are hereby to be taken with an appropriate grain of salt and perspective related to my overlooking the TV WB. Sorry.

I was serious about the 'Zen' part though....

Axel

[Pat370]

Spend the $2,000 more the 93 is a much better built
trailer than the 94.

[2airishuman]

sure a long truck is harder to park in general....

but i have not found backing the 34 trailer with one to be that big an issue....
the hensley makes it even longer but also allows for tighter turns.....

and the newer 250s have a tighter turning circle than the excursions...

check this parking spot.....

http://www.airforums.com/forum...fit-17405.html

cheers
2air'

Your link takes you to the Airstream Community Forums??

[2airishuman]

this was my intended link

http://www.airforums.com/forum...fit-17405.html


well the link is correctly tagged...."now thats a tight fit" 17405....

thread posted by porky pig....

but the link isn't connecting to the thread....must be a forum malfunction...

so i'll just bump the thread....


cheers
2air'

[william Haym]

I have a 1993 Airstream Classic Limited 34ft trailer. The 4 electric stabalizer jack are wonderful,worth every penny. This trailere also has keyless entry, which is also 1 feature I enjoy!!!! This trailer is worth the extra $2500 .00

[Tarheel]

I had a 94 limited and loved the keyless entry, corian counter tops, leather uphostery and electric jacks. It made enough difference that I bought another limited.

[Burg]

Hi 34's
Got a 94 Excella and tow with a Ford 350 crew cab.(with Pullwright hitch and ordinary hitch mounted on the front bumper) another thing that helps manouvering that thing if you take lessons at a truck school (lot of fun).
Greetings from the Pacific George Krausse