Another First-time Airstream Owner

[AirMiles]

My wife and I have put a deposit on a "new-to-us" 2014 FC 25FB to be named "Air Miles". We are very excited about our purchase and can't wait to get it home from the Airstream dealer. We need to patiently wait until the previous owners get their on-order larger Airstream.

We are not new to travel trailers as we are trading in "Miles", our 2013 Casita 17SD, on "Air Miles". We have put 15,000 miles on "Miles" in less than two years and have a 6,000 mile adventure planned for "Air Miles" this summer.

We can't wait to start racking up Air Miles!

[Belegedhel]

Welcome to the Forums!

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. We would love to see pictures of your new baby when you get her.

Brian

[gypsydad]

Welcome to the "family"! Many of us also owned Casita's...great little trailer, but it can get cramped on a multi-day trip, especially if you have a large dog!

We got our 2014 25' FB Twin new few years back, and with any luck, will be upgrading to a 2017 model later this spring...perhaps a 27'; still considering if we really need the extra 2 feet...

Hope you enjoy your AS when you finally get it...lots of smart people on the Forum to help answer questions!

[AirMiles]

Moving to a FC25FB from a Casita is a process.

First step was to go to the Tampa RV show and fall in love with the FC25FB - that was the easy part.

Then it takes a few days to get past the sticker shock - do we really want to do this?

Next you need to get a real tow vehicle that can pull a FC25FB.

Then you need to find the right "deal" on a FC25FB. Was I just lucky to find a clean late model trade at a local dealer?

Then you need to wait to take delivery on your new baby because of the backlog on new Airstreams.

Here is a picture of Miles and my new tow vehicle "Monster Max" - a Nissan Titan XD Diesel. Soon there will be a picture of Monster Max and Air Miles. I can't wait to post it!

[Mrjkq]

Welcome to Airstream and the forum. What's this 6000 mi trip encompass? BTW, we have the same truck.

[teampodo]

We just put a deposit down on a 2017 Bambi--excited about joining the community and getting out on the road.

[AirMiles]

What's the 6000 mile trip? Tampa to the Great lakes area. Going to spend time in Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota. Camping along the St. Croix River and the North Shore of Lake Superior. Planning a short trip up into Canada. Then probably take the long way home to Tampa from there.

[AirMiles]

MrJKQ, what's the fuel mileage on our truck pulling the FC25? At what speed? I got an honest 16.9 until a regen knocked it down pulling my Casita at 65 mph.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by AirMiles

[snip]
We are not new to travel trailers as we are trading in "Miles", our 2013 Casita 17SD, on "Air Miles". [snip]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Welcome to the "family"! Many of us also owned Casita's...great little trailer,[snip]

I feel kind of silly saying "welcome" to the AirForum since I'm so new around here myself. Just the same, a hearty "welcome" from one ex-Casitaite to another. I wonder how many of us "knew" each other over on the Casita Forums.

Rob ("Rob and Linda" on both Casita Forums)

[Mrjkq]

Originally Posted by AirMiles

MrJKQ, what's the fuel mileage on our truck pulling the FC25? At what speed? I got an honest 16.9 until a regen knocked it down pulling my Casita at 65 mph.

I'm about to embark on a Florida to Vegas trip, round trip about 6000miles+, at that point I'll be able to respond with some accuracy. As of now my towing has been limited to 1000 miles averaging about 13.5 mpg @ 65 mph towing, non towing a couple mpg more. I've hit 16 towing & 19 non towing but what I stated is long term. A diesel takes many miles to settle into decent mpg so the future will tell.

[AirMiles]

Fortune Cookie and Cookie Monster - I love it!

[AirMiles]

MRJKQ:

I get what you mean 13.5 average up to 16 . . . My Titan mileage varies greatly with load and headwinds. Its hard to pinpoint the mileage. I only have 1300 miles so far and towed a few hundred. I've gotten 21.5 mpg at 65 mph with a tail wind and 18.5 on the return trip with a headwind non-towing. I got 19.5 on the same trip with no wind. This was from Tampa to Sebring FL. Then I got 16.5 mpg towing the Casita home on the same trip with only 660 miles on the truck (no headwind). That trip is on two lane highways with 60 mph speed limits and small towns. I'm very happy about that fuel mileage towing and non-towing. Its about the same as I used to get with my Nissan Frontier towing and non-towing. I am hopeful that we will average 13+ MPG towing the FC25 with the Titan Diesel.

[MIFC]

Welcome to the Forum and the Airstream Universe!

We also have a 2014 25' Flying Cloud FB, twin beds in our case.

Nice looking rig you have there, it will look great with that silver bullet behind you. Have fun Up North as well . . .

[tvketchum]

Great find! Good deals are not unheard of on used trade ins at dealers, they just get snapped up right away. Our 08 Classic was a trade in to Reliable, in Springfield MO. We were at the right place at the right time to snag it. Welcome to the Airstream life, and consider joining the Owners Club at www.wbcci.org. The best friends you haven't met yet!

[AirMiles]

TVK: I have found two buyable used Airstreams in Florida at dealers. The 2014 FC25FB Queen I have the contract on and a 2015 FC25FB with twin beds. So there are a few out there, but I was lucky to find the exact one I wanted at a price I thought was fair. Oh I think there are two 23' late model used ones available as of yesterday too.

[AirMiles]

Final Chapter:

My wife and I decided to buy a 2017 FC25FB to get ducted air rather than buying the used 2014. To make this more affordable, we decided to sell our old Casita on our own. With the extra dollars from selling our Casita and tough negotiating on the 2017, we were able to buy new for about $12,000 more than buying the used 2014.

And now the best news. Our dealer just called and our new Airstream is here! We will be on our way shortly to see it. And yes, there will be pictures posted.

[AirMiles]

2017 Flying Cloud 25FB Queen as delivered from factory

[AirMiles]

We preferred the Gold Alchemy: Cashew with Golden Night decor. Luckily, we got our dealer's last unit with this decor and were told it is now discontinued.

[AirMiles]

Our new Airstream