Aspiring to be new

[fahdk1]

I'm currently preparing to retire and want to purchase an Airstream and spend some time traveling. I live in Southern California (Orange County) and I need advice please. Should I buy new or used? (I will be a first time buyer) Where/who in Southern California are the best dealers to approach? Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks much.

[rmkrum]

As a SoCal local as well, our airstream was purchased lightly used. The original owners took it on one trip, and decided it was too small. Our son brought it into the family, and I am the current custodian, chief coo,k bottlewasher, and maintenance engineer.

The best bet , in my opinion, is to look for a well-maintained used rig in the size and model you like. Spend a fair amount of time looking at, sitting in, and evaluating the vibe of several models, and decide from there. Don't let a salesman push you into a hasty decision.

You will see a lot of gritching and moaning about quality on the forums. While valid, I believe its a minority having these issues...we have NOT had a similar experience. But in any case, you need to research these units in person...

[dbj216]

Hello from Colorado: When you get your Airstream, you can travel here and enjoy some beautiful mountain scenery.

I too recommend finding a good used trailer of the size and layout to your liking. Airstreams hold their value well, but they still depreciate some. We have a 1986 Limited 34' and a 1975 Overlander 27'.

Trailering is a fun way to travel, but it is considerably more work than taking a cruise for instance. I love the activity of safely towing my trailer, setting up the trailer, solving a problem or two, and breaking camp for the next destination. I trust you are a bit handy so you can figure out why the water heater won't ignite for example. If you get stuck, these Forums can help out.

These forums have a great classified section full of used Airstreams. That's where I found mine. Try taking a look there.

David