Advice Needed for Soon-to-be Airstreamer

[Butch Stuart]

this is my first post to the forum, but i have been going through the forums for my Airstream-101.

i have been a tent-camper all my life, did a cross-country for the national parks. eveything packed and crammed in a VW Golf. along the way, i saw a few of these giant aluminum toasters, which i found out later to be AIRSTREAMS. www'd on it, saw pics, and since then my daydreams got stuck on the airstream. 2 months ago, i checked one out in vegas, a 19' bambi, and now, i'm hooked.

the forums have provided great information on airstreaming tech and experiences. despite some disheartening tidbits of information, i am a month or two away from making an airstream move.

my questions and concerns are these:

• the airstream will not have a homebase. i plan to airstream for 2-3 months, then store it wherever i end that part of the trip, drive the towing vehicle to the airport, return after a month or two, and pick it up where i left it, and on again for the next 2 or 3 months to somewhere,, the colder places during summer, and the warmer places in winter. is this workable? any concerns?

• i will be traveling mostly alone. at the most, joined by a friend or friends, 1-2 weeks during each trip. and, not a whole lot of brawn here, but hardy enough for the much simpler demands of tent-camping.

• i plan to get a 19' bambi/safari and tow it with a sequoia with a rating of 9,600. threads have suggested: do it right the first time. so i'm looking for advice on the best choices for a good hitch, sway control and whatever else i need.

• what would be the security and safety concerns for solo-airstreaming? the schedule will not allow for a guard dog. some threads suggest "packing heat." i would love to boondock, but perhaps that is not advisable. i will probably start with national parks and state parks and whatever open and scenic space is safe and available.

• is end of May the wrong time of the year to start airstreaming? what are the chances of finding national park vacancies? nil to none?

thanks in advance for the info and advice.

butch

[juel]

I camp alone on our lot at the lake and although it's not officially boondocking, it is way out of town and I am alone. Yes, I do have a gun, BUT most importantly, I have taken a gun course and have a concealed weapon permit. What I'm getting at is, I know how to use the gun I have and I'm not afraid to use it if I need to. I have dogs, two Pomeranians, need I say more. I need something to protect them with! Your plan sounds workable as long as you have a safe place to leave the AS when you leave him. Remember weather conditions wherever you decide to leave the trailer because you won't be able to move it easily if bad weather moves in while you're gone. They usually offer covered parking off-airport. You may be able to work a deal with those folks to keep your trailer secure while you're gone and it would be right there with your TV when you fly back. Sounds like a fun time whatever you decide.

[Lumatic]

Butch
1. I have never found myself in a situation I needed a gun for anything, but who knows

2. A lot of National Parks do not open until May, so it is not too late. Some take reservations, some don't, there is an online and/or phone reservation system. The more popular destinations are harder to find a spot. Sundays or weekdays are easier to find a site in a NP than weekends. There are usually private campgrounds or BLM land near National Parks you can find a spot.

[Wayward]

The Safari was our first ever travel trailer and looking back the one thing that stands out as the first thing to get, was the last I'd thought of:
Sewer Solution

The Reese Dual Cam my dealer put on has been extremely stable, low cost and easy to hook up. Find an expert to set up the sway/WD hitch - I think it is the single biggest thing for stable safe towing.

................Scott

[mandolindave]

I really like your idea of leaving the trailer where it sits while you take a break, and then coming back to resume your travels. However, I would be nervous leaving my pride and joy in most places. I would feel comfortable leaving it with a trusted friend, a secure storage facility, or perhaps an RV
lot.

[flamingo-kid1]

Originally Posted by Butch Stuart

.

my questions and concerns are these:

• the airstream will not have a homebase. i plan to airstream for 2-3 months, then store it wherever i end that part of the trip, drive the towing vehicle to the airport, return after a month or two, and pick it up where i left it, and on again for the next 2 or 3 months to somewhere,, the colder places during summer, and the warmer places in winter. is this workable? any concerns?

• i will be traveling mostly alone. at the most, joined by a friend or friends, 1-2 weeks during each trip. and, not a whole lot of brawn here, but hardy enough for the much simpler demands of tent-camping.

• i plan to get a 19' bambi/safari and tow it with a sequoia with a rating of 9,600. threads have suggested: do it right the first time. so i'm looking for advice on the best choices for a good hitch, sway control and whatever else i need.

• what would be the security and safety concerns for solo-airstreaming? the schedule will not allow for a guard dog. some threads suggest "packing heat." i would love to boondock, but perhaps that is not advisable. i will probably start with national parks and state parks and whatever open and scenic space is safe and available.

• is end of May the wrong time of the year to start airstreaming? what are the chances of finding national park vacancies? nil to none?

thanks in advance for the info and advice.

butch

1) May is camping season START., so have fun! You'll see a few people who are sick of winter.. like US!

2) only store her in a SECURE facility.. fenced. Or where the storage people live on site. Seen the price of aluminum lately? Stranger things have happened.

3) Don't carry a gun unless you're well trained... you could kill yourself OR have it turned on you. I'm afraid that criminals are well ahead of us in that respect. If you feel that strongly, carry pepper spray or a stunner. But we have never seen the need for a pistol, we always meet other people and are not totally alone in parks.

4) Bambi = cute = NO ROOM for friends.. it will be a tent for them :-)

5) A Sequoia should be ok for a short trailer.. we use a Tundra for our 28' Ambassador. She tows like nothing is back there, and we don't have sway control.. just a torsion bar. This is all an individual decision.. we don't travel cross country so you may want more. Although we HAVE travelled cross country several times.. so I can't say "never."

6) WELCOME TO OUR WORLD!!!