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AlumFalcon · 02-21-2011, 02:42 PM

I wanted an Airstream as long as I can remember, my wife wanted one for a couple years now. We got a 19ft Serenity last week and took it out this weekend to the Washington coast. I love it and I'm proud of my little Aluminum Falcon mixed in among giant star destroyers. But all my wife can think about is how small it is, and she really regrets not getting the 25ft. Any words of encouragement out there? Any stories I can tell her to assure her that the 19 was the best idea? I've been combing the forum for a while but seems like everyone sides with my wife and loves the 25. We're in our 30s, no kids, two 45lb dogs.

noreen&sal · 02-21-2011, 02:45 PM

Were in our 60s and D W still tells me size counts. Sal.

FreshAir · 02-21-2011, 02:51 PM

The bigger the coach, the more 'stuff' you will put into it.

Neil

tpi · 02-21-2011, 02:52 PM

Was she onboard with it before the purchase?

Even if you went back and swapped it right now, you may get killed on depreciation. You also may need new tow vehicle depending....

You may present to her it is a first step to get the feel for trailering, something easier to park and maneuver. If it goes over well, maybe upgrade in a few years. The 19 should be pretty easy to sell.

Sometimes i regret not having the 19 as single camper. Don't always need all the room, wish i could use smaller tow vehicle, etc. But in your situation I'm almost sure the 25 would be a better choice overall.

**Stefrobrts** · 02-21-2011, 02:56 PM

19 is a little big, my husband and I think 17 is perfect

newroswell · 02-21-2011, 02:59 PM

You're just mentally torturing yourself at this point. Keep camping and having fun until one or both of you are sure you want/need something bigger. That being said, the 19' is a big "small trailer", the 25' is a small "big trailer". Meaning, at 25' you get the larger fresh/grey/black tanks. The furnace jumps up to 25,000/btu's, etc...

None of this makes any difference when camping in fair weather with full hookups... Everyone's mileage varies.

mutcth · 02-21-2011, 02:59 PM

Congrats on having a lovely trailer! Is there a reason why your wife is bothered by the trailer being so small? Is it a relative thing (compared to the jumbo 5th wheels that abound) or is there functionally something about the trailer that she doesn't like? Did the dear wife like it at the showroom, or were there reservations there?

We're also in our 30's (OK, I'm over that by a few days), no kids, no pets. We're quite happy with our 20' Argosy - but to be fair, if we won the Lotto tomorrow, a 23' Serenity would be in our driveway. (Totally smitten by that trailer.) While we like the 25' floorplan, that bigger length and width feels like "living" more than "travelling" to us. Then again, we went cross-country in a T@B teardrop...

We like the ease of towing and maneuvering the smaller and narrower trailer. It gives us a wider variety of tow vehicles that we can use. We do wish we had a fixed bed - but your 19' floorplan has one of those.

Something to keep in mind - an Airstream will always look small parked next to slab-sided behemoths. I went to an RV show this weekend and the 28' Serenity there was dwarfed by almost everything.

My thought - find a nice state campground where you can tuck the trailer away into a wooded corner, off by its lonesome. Sit by the fire, watch the flames reflect and flicker on the side of your shiny new trailer, and appreciate and celebrate the achievement of a dream.

Tom

UAPachyderm · 02-21-2011, 03:01 PM

If you had the 25', you might wonder if you should have gone with the 19'. Consider getting the tropical screen room attachment for your awning and enjoy the additional outdoor space ... trading up would be an expensive change of heart!!

Sent from my iPhone using AIR Forums

garry · 02-21-2011, 03:32 PM

Well you can fit into just about any campsite so making reservations at CG's where they have restricted sites based on size you will be able to get a reservation where the big guys will be turned away. This happens at many state CG's.

**moosetags** · 02-21-2011, 03:54 PM

First off, welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.

Our son has a 19' Bambi and we have a 25FB. If it weren't for the corner bed, we'd probably have a 19 footer. We want the absolute smallest Airstream that we can be comfortable in. If the 23FB had been out when we bought Lucy, that's what we would have now.

Also keep in mind that once you go to a 25, you need a serious tow vehicle. Ready to go camping, Lucy weighs 7400#.

Brian

PA BAMBI II · 02-21-2011, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

19 is a little big, my husband and I think 17 is perfect

Yep- my wife would not let me go over 17'. Our Bambi II will be a perfect size, but had Der Klein Prinz (13'), a Cruisette (14' 8"), or Wee Wind, Pacer, or Bambi (16') come our way first, we would have gone that route.

Until the Bambi II is finished (hopefully for next year) we are using our 13' Scotty. The addition of a newborn (our first baby!!

) here in a few weeks is prompting us to get the AS ready for action. The 13' Scotty will do for this Summer's vacation, but not too well in the future!

Ben

rock60 · 02-21-2011, 04:33 PM

if a women says she don't like something, you will never change that.....

**Stefrobrts** · 02-21-2011, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garry

Well you can fit into just about any campsite so making reservations at CG's where they have restricted sites based on size you will be able to get a reservation where the big guys will be turned away. This happens at many state CG's.

One year we turned up at a state park without reservations and the RV sites were full, so the ranger put us in a tent spot - sometimes there's a plus side to being small!

osolow · 02-21-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rock60

if a women says she don't like something, you will never change that.....

this is true

but i think after we went to J/C and were able to see a few 16-30ft trailers I think i have my wife finally convinced that a 19-23 ft is what we need i just hope she goes with the 19ft when were ready to buy another A/S the wife tells me as long as she can sleep comfortably and the bathroom is easy to use were good to go.

but i have yet to find a A/S with just a big bathroom and sleeping area and that's it but i doubt that they will ever build one with just these two

ASwifey · 02-21-2011, 04:49 PM

I think you really have to take something out for at least 5 to 10 trips to try it out before you make a decision about not keeping it.

If storage is an issue, ask around. Aistream owners get very creative with that.

Serenity's sure are purty, hope she gives it a chance.

Gil Reinke · 02-21-2011, 04:54 PM

19 ft is a great size for 2 people Easy in & out of gas stations. Sometimes r v parks don't have room for a big unit but have room for a small one Easier on gas

PA BAMBI II · 02-21-2011, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gil Reinke

19 ft is a great size for 2 people Easy in & out of gas stations. Sometimes r v parks don't have room for a big unit but have room for a small one Easier on gas

All true- Dad never squirmed an inch about maneuvering our 31' Sovereign Twin into and out of gas stations and the like- but it got pretty tight at times, I am sure. I like being able to park my rigs in two parking spaces in the mall parking lot with very little hanging out of either end!

OB Bambi · 02-21-2011, 05:15 PM

You will get to see that there are quite a few campsites, especially National Forest and State campgrounds that feature smaller sights. You will notice when you make reservations online they will give the maximum trailer length. I have found that many say 18'. I have found that a 19' Bambi fits. The photo below is in one of the "most perferred campsites" in Yosemite Valley. A 20'er with my tow vehicle probably wouldn't fit.

Randy Bowman

AlumFalcon · 02-21-2011, 05:58 PM

Thanks all, this is very helpful for easing the mentor torture

(newroswell). She was onboard and is still very excited. It probably didn't help that it was rainy and cold our first time out and I didn't brush the dogs (it looked like we were shearing sheep in our Airstream after a couple days). But the points you make are great and why I went small in the first place.

Rivet3177 · 02-21-2011, 06:01 PM

You may not like this but, I had the same experience with a 19' Int Bambi. After buying it and spending two weekends, it was clear my wife was not as much a fan of the size as I. In an effort to make this new trailering lifestyle harmonious, I returned to the selling dealer and asked for mercy in my quest to upsize our rolling abode. Long story short, we are absolutely thrilled with the 25 Ocean Breeze and the rewards have been amazing.