2006 23' Safari LS

[cyafishin]

Going tomorrow to do final inspection on 2006 23' safari. Has two nickel sized dimples on exterior front, otherwise very clean. Inside minimal wear. Needs new bedding but otherwise great. Price is 25k. Seems like a fair deal. It has very bland interior: white counter tops, light (fake) wood cabinets, vinyl flooring that is also fake wood.
If I pull the trigger, Likely gonna remove the white curtains and put in some more colorful ones, along with more colorful bedding.

[cyafishin]

Originally Posted by cyafishin

Going tomorrow to do final inspection on 2006 23' safari. Has two nickel sized dimples on exterior front, otherwise very clean. Inside minimal wear. Needs new bedding but otherwise great. Price is 25k. Seems like a fair deal. It has very bland interior: white counter tops, light (fake) wood cabinets, vinyl flooring that is also fake wood.
If I pull the trigger, Likely gonna remove the white curtains and put in some more colorful ones, along with more colorful bedding.

The question I have is this trailer is not exactly what I want. It has a sofa in the front instead of he desired dinette or L shaped lounge. Plus it has boring colors for floor,cabinets, counters, etc. However, 23' models that have taken the big initial depreciation hit are hard to find in the NW. let alone one that is an SE or international. I'm torn between waiting and trying to find the perfect one or jump in and customize this one down the road. My kids are 13 and 11 and time is slipping by.......thanks for the advice.

[zlee]

Everyone told me to wait for the close-to-perfect trailer, that it'd come by. It did, and a lot faster than I thought it would.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, if it's not what you want keep looking. My trailer was boring too, but after owning it for three years, we personalized it. Actually all of the trailers are boring until you decorate them/it yourself. After about five years, I remodeled my living room. You can see and read about it in my Blog. Or for a quicker look and description of our trailer check out our registry.

[nsbcpa]

If the trailer is mechanically sound pull the trigger and get it.

You can't get back the lost time with your kids. You are going to personalize any trailer you purchase in order to make it "yours".

[handn]

We have a 2004 25 foot Safari and always disliked the front couch. We replaced it and the flimsy flip out trailer with a dinette with a counter surrounding it. We replaced the worn out carpet and linoleum with composite flooring. We put a small flat screen tv on the wall. We purchased a factory made dinette and had a carpenter do the work. Cost was under $5,000 but we have a functionally new trailer.
Now we can seat 4 for dinner, have a place to do paper work and a place to put items which were always in the way.
If you know the year and model Airstream that you like, you can probably find one if you look long enough. Otherwise buy one in good condition for a fair price that you can customize into what you want.

[mutcth]

I've also been watching the used 23' market. Used 2007-2008 23D Internationals have been popping up for $32k-$35k. Not only do you get the decor and dinette (and sleeping for 1-2 more people) that you want, you also get the front panaromic window and the fully-opening side windows.

I'd wait - but yeah, I understand the temptation, especially with the price...

Tom

[Goal15]

That's a decent price if its all in good shape other than the small dimples. We have same trailer but with L lounge in the 75th Anniversary edition. We don't miss not having the dinette at all in that we are usually eating on the picnic table. In 6 trips now, I thnk we may have pulled out the fold up table and used it once. Whether the couch will give you as much flexibility as the L lounge would be had to say. We've added lots of blue and beige accents and bedding to make the interior more colorful and found that the lighter wood makes it feel more spacious than it is.

However, there are just two of us and the dog. Not sure it would be enough room for 2 adults and 2 kids... i think i might want at least the 25

[dkottum]

Agree, a 23' is quite small for 4 people. A 25' is in a similar price range, more common, pulls about the same, but offers much more interior space. Longer, wider, more storage for stuff and liquids, the spatial difference is striking.

doug k

[cyafishin]

We are gonna do it! Put some money down to hold it, and having it inspected tomorrow. We think the 23 will be workable with the kids ( before too long they would rather be in a tent outside) and better for the two of us long term. We do lots of weekends and one 10-14 day trip a year. At 25k I figure it's a fairly safe bet. Thanks for the input.

[Goal15]

Originally Posted by cyafishin

We are gonna do it! Put some money down to hold it, and having it inspected tomorrow. We think the 23 will be workable with the kids ( before too long they would rather be in a tent outside) and better for the two of us long term. We do lots of weekends and one 10-14 day trip a year. At 25k I figure it's a fairly safe bet.Of

Thanks for the input.

if the kids are going to be tent ready soon it does make sense. Enjoy

[dkottum]

Buy what you can afford and can use. Kids like tents for camping (I liked them until hit 55 or so). Good move.

doug k

[subfan1]

It sounds good. Use it now that you all are young and start making memories. My kids now that their older always remember the trips we took them on when they were young. When they went back to school in the fall they could relate to lots of history and geography lessons.
You are making the right move with your Airstream. Most of the trips we used a pop up and took it everywhere.

[mutcth]

Congrats! Hope the inspection and the deal works out. At that price and age point, you're getting in at a good point of the depreciation curve.

Tom