Which model will meet my needs?

[MChristopher]

Hi I am a total new guy. My wife and I have just begun investigating a travel trailer. We have two children, 4 and 2. We're looking at something in the 16-20" size range and Airstream is one of the manufacturers we are considering.

I've been to the website and looked at floorplans. We have two things that are imporant - a toilet and bath set up and a private bedroom for the parents. Something with a door versus a screen would be ideal.

What is the smallest Airstream that has a private bedroom? It appears the Bambi does not have a provate bedroom, or am I mistaken.

Thanks

Chris

[SilverCabin]

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the forums, and I hope you choose an Airstream. It's going to be hard to find a private bedroom in the smaller Airstreams. My 23' only has a screen versus a door. Click on the Airstrean.com link above to see all the floor plans for the new models.

Good luck with your search,

Randy

[Safari-Rick]

The 25 ft Safari has a door. If you want seperate bath and toilet, you need to look at the Front Bed models. They Do run a little more then the rear beds.

[MChristopher]

Thanks everyone, this is helpful.

[Airhog1]

Here is a floorplan of the 25' FB.

Good Luck!

G

[Boondocker]

I love the bed in front lay out. If I were buying non vintage or gutting a vintage to start over; I would want that lay out. The best views are usally out the back window it seems.

[Silvertwinkie]

I'd have to agree, with 2 kids and 2 adults, you really are looking at about a 25' unit. 23' might just squeek you by, but 19 or 20 feet is just going to be plain uncomfortable IMHO.....

[Airhog1]

Originally Posted by Silvertwinkie

I'd have to agree, with 2 kids and 2 adults, you really are looking at about a 25' unit. 23' might just squeek you by, but 19 or 20 feet is just going to be plain uncomfortable IMHO.....

I agree with Twink...I have sold several 23' to families with a couple of kids and they usually trade up to a 25-28 eventually...

G

[Silvertwinkie]

FWIW, with one dog and two adults, it's like Gene said, we were one of the ones that traded from the 19' Bambi to a 25' Safari.

Night and day difference. If you like the 19' Bambi floorplan, you should like the 25' SS floorplan too.

[Boondocker]

I'm sure you are already thinking about it, but: the tow vehicle is a vital part of the equation.

[Silvertwinkie]

Rodney is right on there.....our sedan did a great job with the Bambi, but struggled with the Safari.

[dbradhstream]

Our 28' safari has the separate bath/bedroom and the additional benefit of having the toilet on one side of the hallway and the shower on the other - so even if the shower is occupied the toilet is available.

... but then you're into pulling a big trailer. still, with 2 kids and up to 3 dogs, we get crowded even in the 28.

[cosmotini]

Airstream makes / made a Safari 30' bunk which would probably give you what you want.

2 problems.

• It's a lot longer than you are looking for.
• I think they've been discontinued.

They still have the floorplan on their site, however.

[Pacerized]

We have a 25' model, and have 2 kids as well. I wouldn't want anything smaller. I'm not sure why your looking for something smaller, or if you're wanting to buy new. If weight is an issue consider that some of the older models weigh a great deal less then the newer ones. My 1981 weighs only 3600 lbs. dry, and around 4700 loaded. We have the center bed, rear bath floor plan. I do like that front bed layout, it looks like it would work well.
Charlie

[CaddyGrn]

In addition to what your family needs/wants... you might consider where you expect to tow your trailer and camp. Do you always go to RV Parks or do you prefer the wilds...??? Size and length may be a consideration there. Also your tow vehicle will need to accommodate what you will be pulling. If you go vintage you can create exactly what you want if you begin with a "clean" slate and remake the interior to your liking! But then, you may have to wait to go camping for a year or two...

Here is a thread that might have some things for you to read and consider, others have found it helpful.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f353...eam-22920.html

Mrs. NorCal Bambi traveling in S Tardis

[Motoman]

For us an actual door on the bed area wasn't important, we were concerned about bed widths. The 25' Airstreams have 54 inch wide beds. The 22' Safari is the only one of the shorter Airstreams with a 52 inch wide bed. All the others have 48 inch wide beds. My wife and I found the 48 inch bed in the 22' CCD tolerable at the Los Angeles RV Show but it became very narrow on our first trip when our little dog squeezed in between us (should have taken the dog to the RV show)! Our tow vehicle wouldn't handle the weight of a longer trailer but a year later after buying a new Dodge Ram 2500 we traded up for a slightly used 25' CCD we found on vacation.

I will echo what others have said, the front bedroom models allow you a great view at the back from the dinette and sofa but they don't have feel as open and spacious as the regular 25' CCD or Safari.

Another thing is that the models with a dinette and a sofa provide more sleeping space fro children and grandchildren.