Considerations when buying an Airstream

[mello mike]

I'm writing an article for Airstream Life on this interesting topic. I was wondering what things you considered when you bought your last Airstream. Price? Floorplan? Weight? Tow vehicle limitations? This article will try to be a buyer's guide for newbies who never owned an Airstream before and will focus on buying newer Airstreams rather than vintage one's.

Like my last article, I'd love to quote those with quote-worthy comments on this subject.

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[Janet]

Hi Mike - We looked at trailers we could tow with our spare vehicles. A ford exploder with a stick and a little 6.... we've learned a lot since then. Several years later - we've learned an important lesson.....

Tow vehicles come and go - but Airstreams last forever! Buy what you need - not what you can (currently) tow.

[overlander63]

Get the trailer you will need in 5 years. If you get a trailer too small now because that is all you can tow/afford, chances are good you will be disapointed in your purchase. If you are planning to have two children, get a 25' coach, not the 19' Bambi you need now because you don't have anyone but you and your spouse.

[Beginner]

My first and second travel trailers were a Playmore,22 ft and a Terry, 26 foot. Both towed like I was draging a stump behind me. The girls turned into teenagers and camping went by the wayside.
In early 2005 My beloved wife said she would like to get into trailer camping again. We went to RV shows and dealers. I would pull the selesman aside and ask this question: If I towed this trailer 5 to 6 thousand miles a summer how long would it last and what type of maintenance would I expect to perform. They all told me that in that time frame and number of miles the unit would be a shambles. The cabinets would be falling away from the walls and there would be leaks. In 10 to 12 years the roof would need to be replaced because the sun would rot it by that time(rubber), also depreciation would leave it in ten years worth about 600 to 1000 dollars. Then I asked what brand of travel trailer could I buy that I could possibly pass on to my kids and would not lose its value. They all said I would have to buy an Airstream.
So off I went.
I found this forum, the Airstream INC. website and the Vintage Airstream website. I was off and running. I found about the Combined Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. I found out about the rear end sag in the older units. I wanted a rear double bed or Queen with a center bath and the larger frame. I contacted GM for the rating on my 1990 GMC RALLY STX 3500 and weighed the van to see how much trailer I could get. Given these parameters, I ended up looking for a 31 foot Excella in the 1980s somewhere(the most trailer I could tow and stay below the Combined Gross Weight Rating). I found it on EBAY. A 1984 Excella 31 foot with a few changes and updates including a new rear Queen bed. Went to NJ to look at it and the wife liked it very much. We had seen a couple of the new CCDs and both she and I did not like them, but that was personal taste. She was amazed at two things:
1. The way it was appoited/furnished.
2. I was not trying to bring home another project/fixer-upper. I tend to do that. Go figure.
We spent that night in it in a NJ campground and continued home the next day. The only problem I have had with it was the junk ST tires, but I have taken care of that problem.
Hope this is what you wanted.
Beginner

[mello mike]

only three responses? Come on everybody, I'm sure there are more than only three opinions on this topic.

[rseagle]

Mike,

We got a 2004 22' CCD after alot of comparisons. Here is some of the things we decided on:

1. It had to be towed with our existing truck, a 1997 Ford F-150 Extended Cab 4x4 with a 4.6L V-8 and 3.73 rear axle ratio. Likely candidates were the 16', 19' and 22'.

2. We have 2 daughter ages 11 and 8 at the time. So while we considered the 16' and 19', we thought they would be too small using the "rainy weather scenario". The 22' seemed the best choice. Also, our first trailer was a 22' Jayco, so I knew I could maneuver the 22' Airstream into some of our favorite campsites. 22' it was. But which one?

3. We initially decided that the 22' Safari was going to be our trailer. This model was similar to the 2003 International AS model that had a sofa option. That was discontinued once the axle was redesigned because it would sit too high. We headed to Colonial Airstream in NJ to check out the floorplans, now narrowed down to the 22' Safari and CCD. My wife liked the Safari's warm colors, 4 CF fridge and slightly wider bed (52"). The wet bath's more efficienct use of space was a feature we like compared to our Jayco's Dry Bath.

4. Once we looked at the interiors of the Safari and the CCD. Things changed. I liked the bare aluminum walls compared to the pink "fluffy' walls. "A guy thing" maybe, but my wife liked the CCD as well. We also loved the windows. The front panoramic windows and the large double dinette window let a lot of light in. The interior colors (white, black, aluminum and lemongrass green) as well as sharp contrasts in those colors really gave the trailer a contemporary look that appealed to us. Also, the interior was designed for easy cleaning. My wife loved the generous galley with counter space and the deep sink. The 22' CCD won out over the Safari. Even with the smaller bed, smaller refrigerator, a somewhat worthless desk and a bigger $$ price, we decided that we would enjoy the CCD better than the Safari. And after two camping seasons, things have worked out well with some creative modifications.

[FiveGreers]

Reasons why I chose my 22' Safari....
1. The 25' seemed SO HUGE
2. When I sat in what turned out to be "our" Airstream, I sat at the dinette, looked around, and said "this is it! If I were to get an Airstream, this would be it."
3. We got what we thought was a really good deal cost wise

We are a family of FIVE squeezing into this 22' beauty, but like my husband says...."we bought for tomorrow".

We knew we would NOT buy a "new" TV to pull with so we knew our limits. A 25' would have put us at our max-or thrown us over, I cannot remember. None the less, what we had to tow with was IT.

So far, we've managed so well it's not funny! I was concerned our first time out that we'd be cramped, but we managed fine and have done great every since. We have not ONCE regretted our decision to go small.

The counter space in the 22' is awesome. The wetbath, which at first I didn't like, now I really love. The bed is a great size-even though we sleep on a king at home! And I DO sleep better in "Margo" than I do at home!! She is the perfect camper for us! Short and Sweet!

[rseagle]

Originally Posted by FiveGreers

We are a family of FIVE squeezing into this 22' beauty, but like my husband says...."we bought for tomorrow".

Wow! How old are your kids and how creative are you in your sleeping arrangements? We have a 22' CCD for the four of us and it's tight for us. We've done the adult/child and head to toe arrangements. My kids are 13 and 10, and they are starting to complain about the tight sleeping quarters. We have a cot were thinking about using to free up some space on the dinette sleeper. Do you use a cot in the open floor space? Tents? Sleeping in the TV?

[FiveGreers]

Originally Posted by rseagle

Wow! How old are your kids and how creative are you in your sleeping arrangements? We have a 22' CCD for the four of us and it's tight for us. We've done the adult/child and head to toe arrangements. My kids are 13 and 10, and they are starting to complain about the tight sleeping quarters. We have a cot were thinking about using to free up some space on the dinette sleeper. Do you use a cot in the open floor space? Tents? Sleeping in the TV?

Our kids are 14, 11, and almost 6. The 6 year old is so tiny, he fits (and loves) sleeping next to the bed between it and the "dresser". We make a pallet several blankets thick, and he loves it! Our two older girls will sleep either way-head to toe or in the same direction, on the dinette.

During this past spring break, I let the 14 year old bring a friend. DH couldn't take off work, so it was me and four kids. I had my youngest two in the bed with me and the older girls slept on the dinette. I think I decided that next time, I'd bring a tent for them, only because they "wanted their own space" and with me cooking and what-not, they didn't get that.

One more major advantage we have is my parents....they have a 30' Excella- ! The kids LOVE to sleep with gahmee and papaw! So when we camp together, they take turns spending the night.

The cot sounds like a great idea. I had thought about getting one of those thermrest self inflating mattresses for the floor, but just haven't done it. When my younger two sleep on the dinette together, I take a blanket and stick it in the overhead cabinets and then drape it down to the floor-they love that-it's like their own tent inside the A/S!

[rseagle]

Hi Minya,

Thanks for the PM. We're leaving for the beach this weekend for a week and will be trying out the cot for one of the kids. I'll let you know how it goes.

Bob

[rseagle]

Originally Posted by FiveGreers

The cot sounds like a great idea. I had thought about getting one of those thermrest self inflating mattresses for the floor, but just haven't done it.

Minya,

We just got back from the Beach. We used the cot for my oldest daughter (age 13) in our 22' CCD so she wouldn't have to share the dinette bed with her sister or mother. She loved it. We placed it with the head right up to the front bed next to the wardrobe and angled it with the tapered foot against the oven. This allowed for everyone to get to the bathroom during the night. The only problem, she is a late sleeper, and that held up everyone from getting their clothes out of the ward in the morning. Other than that, it worked out great.

[red2dogs]

We got our 2005 25 foot Safari Special Edition in January of 05.
These were the things we looked at:

1) not being too big to use in state park camgrounds. Didn't want slide outs - too much to go wrong there.
2)storage the 25 has two wardrobes and better storage.
3) kitchen functionality it has a great kitchen and dinette and pantry and built in microwave. It is so easy to cook in that kitchen.
4) open floor plan (for an airstream that is) which would handle a golden retriever in the camper. Room for a dog bed between the sofa and dinette.
5) Dog friendly - we didn't really see an airstream that would work for us interior decor wise until we stepped into the special edition with the shiny walls. All I could think of was dog hair on the white fuzz on the regular safaris and classic models. I adore the shiny insides.
6) windows - loved the special edition windows which are like the CCD's.
7) practicality of upholstery - never could understand who would want the blue and white decor - the taupes and browns suited us
8) wanted a vinyl floor - no carpet
9) easy to haul - I can tow this thing no problem which is nice for the husband. It drives better than my old popup little camper. You don't know it is back there. We drive with a Dodge Ram 3500 dually long bed big mid-life crisis guy truck (hubby bought the truck before we got the airstream thinking we would get a 5th wheel. At the rv show we didn't see a single 5th wheel that appealed to us)
10) That brings me to the cool factor. We got home from the rv show totally disgusted we didn't see anthing that tripped our trigger. We both looked at each other and at the same time said, "what I really liked was those crazy airstreams".
By the next weekend we bought one. It is just so incredibly cool. It defies logic how it makes you feel. It is like a happy zone for me. We store it in our backyard I love going in it periodically.
11) oh and the audio system - nice to have all that entertainment in the RV when weather is terrible.

I'm counting the days until our next trip we leave for Highland Haven on the 15th of July!

Barbara

[ALANSD]

for our family there are two sets of considerations when buying a used Airstream.

One, is the livability and practicality side;

The floor plan, whether rear or side bath, roominess of the model length, and storage.
The appointments inside, does it have microwave or oven, the heater and a/c functionality, the overall look; is there a fold out table and room for a tv/ stereo.Is it a big enough bathroom to be usable. Can we sit out a two day storm and not go nuts in this trailer?

Two, is the functional mechanical side;

How much interior/exterior restoration, or mods will be necessary to get the unit to our level of expectation?
How much work will be necessary (by me or paid for) on the "mechanicals" from the lp tanks and tongue to the water systems and heater and on and on. How much work is necessary on the visual end; cleaning and or polishing.
Interior upgrades for aesthetic appeal also.
When its a motorhome you add the obvious mechanical issues that may need work here also.

Then I mentally add up the overall costs in labor and dollars of all the above.
The bottom line is if it works for us!

[Bob J. Mariano]

Originally Posted by red2dogs

We got our 2005 25 foot Safari Special Edition in January of 05.
These were the things we looked at:

1) not being too big to use in state park camgrounds. Didn't want slide outs - too much to go wrong there.
2)storage the 25 has two wardrobes and better storage.
3) kitchen functionality it has a great kitchen and dinette and pantry and built in microwave. It is so easy to cook in that kitchen.
4) open floor plan (for an airstream that is) which would handle a golden retriever in the camper. Room for a dog bed between the sofa and dinette.
5) Dog friendly - we didn't really see an airstream that would work for us interior decor wise until we stepped into the special edition with the shiny walls. All I could think of was dog hair on the white fuzz on the regular safaris and classic models. I adore the shiny insides.
6) windows - loved the special edition windows which are like the CCD's.
7) practicality of upholstery - never could understand who would want the blue and white decor - the taupes and browns suited us
8) wanted a vinyl floor - no carpet
9) easy to haul - I can tow this thing no problem which is nice for the husband. It drives better than my old popup little camper. You don't know it is back there. We drive with a Dodge Ram 3500 dually long bed big mid-life crisis guy truck (hubby bought the truck before we got the airstream thinking we would get a 5th wheel. At the rv show we didn't see a single 5th wheel that appealed to us)
10) That brings me to the cool factor. We got home from the rv show totally disgusted we didn't see anthing that tripped our trigger. We both looked at each other and at the same time said, "what I really liked was those crazy airstreams".
By the next weekend we bought one. It is just so incredibly cool. It defies logic how it makes you feel. It is like a happy zone for me. We store it in our backyard I love going in it periodically.
11) oh and the audio system - nice to have all that entertainment in the RV when weather is terrible.

I'm counting the days until our next trip we leave for Highland Haven on the 15th of July!

Barbara

Hello