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01-17-2008, 02:01 PM
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#1
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1 Rivet Member
1966 26' Overlander
Weaverville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
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Hey! A New Member!!!
Hello everyone,
My name is Starr. I live in Asheville, NC and I am currently looking for a vintage Airstream in which to live full-time. It has been a long-ignored dream of mine to leave the world of stationary housing and enter the exciting realm of mobile living! The Airstream aspect of it is fairly new, though. I figured, hey, if I'm going to live in a camper, I might as well do it in style! I've already got my first two trips planned, and I'm so excited! Anyway, I'm pleased to be here on the forum, and I look forward to meeting some of you someday in the not-too-distant future...
XO,
Starr
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01-17-2008, 02:06 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
1967 22' Safari
1960 Caravel
Edmonds
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,445
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Hi Starr, welcome! Check out the Full Timing forum for lots of good reading. Do you have a tow vehicle yet?
__________________
Mel
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01-17-2008, 02:18 PM
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#3
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1 Rivet Member
1966 26' Overlander
Weaverville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
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Nope, no tow vehicle yet, either. But I am so gung-ho about this that I am doing some major downsizing of worldly possessions right now, pretty much selling all my furniture, my twenty-five years worth of books (totalling over 400), and other random stuff, because it all seems so boring compared to living in an Airstream, travelling around the country! Right now with my meager savings I'm a little over halfway to the amount I think I'll need to do this right. But where there's a will, there's a way, and where there's a house full of unneeded crap, there's probably a couple thousand dollars!
Thanks for the tip on the Full Timing forum. I think I'll go check it out now.
XO,
Starr
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01-17-2008, 02:23 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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Hi Starr, Welcome!
We enjoy meeting new people here on the forums.
You have some homework ahead of you.
Choosing the right trailer for you (model/length/weight) is of course a matter of personal choice, and you may have limitations due to the vehicle you would be towing with.
There are many threads here on these subjects, it does take some reading and searching to get to the bottom of it all.
Don't let that discourage you, it's fun and interesting learning about the trailers.
Check out the Classified section here, you will find quite a few trailers and motorhomes to look at.
Nice to have you, keep us up to date in your ventures.
Dave
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01-17-2008, 02:26 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1951 21' Flying Cloud
1960 24' Tradewind
West Coast
, BC
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,790
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Oh no, not the books.....that's the reason we could never fulltime. I'd have to part with my books and I think I'd rather stick needles in my eyes than do that .
Welcome Starr. There's a lot of knowledge on the Forum. Just play with the search feature and you'll learn more about each trailer and recommended tow vehicles (TV) in short order that when you do get into the purchasing mode you'll be absolutely dangerous.
Have fun and we'll be watcing for your updates.
Barry
__________________
Barry & Donna
Life is short - so is the door on a '51 Flying Cloud (ouch)
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01-17-2008, 08:02 PM
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#6
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1 Rivet Member
1966 26' Overlander
Weaverville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
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Thanks for the warm welcome, guys! I'm definitely learning a lot. I've been perusing this site for the past couple of weeks already.
My plan is to get my trailer first (a friend with a big truck has offered to go with me on a roadtrip to wherever to pick it up) and then park it at an inexpensive campground and stay put until I find a tow vehicle. It just makes more sense to me to do it that way than to get the vehicle first and then try to find a trailer based upon what type of tow vehicle I have.
Yes, and I thought I would never sell my books too, but I just don't really need most of them anymore (I am keeping about 40 or so). I'm actually having a lot of fun getting rid of all this random stuff. I'm doing a mystery box auction on ebay. Whoever came up with the "mystery auction" category is a freakin' genius! So if any of you folks still in stationary dwellings want some of my stuff, check it out!
XO,
Starr
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01-17-2008, 08:15 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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If your tow vehicle is still in the future, then you are absolutely right to buy the trailer that fits your needs, then purchase a T.V. to match the trailer.
Dave
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01-17-2008, 08:26 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
1971 27' Overlander
Central
, Ohio
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,365
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It's good to see another person with Airstream fever. I was hoping you might show up here - I put the first bid on your mystery box earlier today. Good Luck with your dream.
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01-17-2008, 08:28 PM
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#9
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1 Rivet Member
1966 26' Overlander
Weaverville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
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A-ha! Thanks for bidding on my mystery box. There's some pretty good stuff in there.
XO,
Starr
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01-17-2008, 08:37 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
1969 23' Safari
New Orleans
, Louisiana
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 699
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Welcome! After Katrina we, too, felt the exhilaration of lightening up on many personal possessions (although not voluntarily ;-) and really, there is no substitute for absolute freedom. consider:
- possibly keeping a 'home base' from which to operate (hometown, parents house, siblings, etc.) in case you ever need to just veg out in one place for a while
- your friend's tow vehicle will want to have the right class of hitch for your size of trailer. bigger OK, too small: not OK sway bars are also a wonderful luxury, some would say necessity. I'm glad my Tundra's got 'em. And you'll probably want a brake controller too, most AS's don't do well without them,
- another wonderful addition would be to have internet connectivity while you're on the road...if only to keep checking the forums!
-some way to check weather forecasts will be necessary if your north of Baton Rouge ("up north" to us) or anywhere snowstorms are possible. You might make out OK with just a transistor radio for that,
- do A LOT of homework before you buy. for example, MOST vintage units really need new axles (mine does, a '69) and often the bath floor will need replacing due to rot (mine does, again) which is a HUGE job for the do it yourselfer. Not trying to scare you off, just give you a head's up. As you search the forums you'll see the most AMAZING renovations being done. check out Carlos Ferguson's "view pod", for example...mind blowing!
-often a Google search followed by "site:airforums.com" will search much faster than this forum's search function....wish they could fix that...
- use the VAC classifieds too. that's how I found my Safari/Tundra combo. also use "crazedlist.org" to search EVERY craigslist in the country. beware of scammers lurking there, though, fyi...
Learn as you go. Pretty much everything you need to learn is right here!
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01-17-2008, 08:39 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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Quote:
-some way to check weather forecasts will be necessary if your north of Baton Rouge ("up north" to us) or anywhere snowstorms are possible. You might make out OK with just a transistor radio for that,
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Or just head for California and don't sweat the weather.
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01-17-2008, 08:57 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
Florissant
, USA
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,083
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Starr,
Check out the classifieds link at the top of the portal page. There are several really nice trailers there (a 72 Globetrotter in particular). How much space will you require to be comfortable? A vintage unit will be less of a weight burden than a newer trailer for sure and can be towed with an SUV or 1/2 ton truck (Depending on what size you go with).
Good Luck,
Steve
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01-17-2008, 09:01 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1967 22' Safari
MILAN
, Illinois
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,013
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Weather vs. Mother Nature
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fyrzowt
Or just head for California and don't sweat the weather.
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He said, As he stood in the doorway, His knees buckling from the Earthquake tremors!
__________________
1967 Safari Twin "Landshark" w/International trim package
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab SLE
FORUMS MEMBER SINCE 12/16/2004AIR#7110
"My tire was thumping, I thought it was flat. When I looked at the tire, I noticed your CAT!" Burma Shave
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01-17-2008, 09:03 PM
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#14
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Rivet Master
1967 22' Safari
MILAN
, Illinois
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,013
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Starr, Welcome Aboard! Hope you find just the right size A/S to suit your needs. Happy Trails, Ed
__________________
1967 Safari Twin "Landshark" w/International trim package
2014 GMC Sierra 1500 Double Cab SLE
FORUMS MEMBER SINCE 12/16/2004AIR#7110
"My tire was thumping, I thought it was flat. When I looked at the tire, I noticed your CAT!" Burma Shave
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01-17-2008, 09:08 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
West of Fort Worth
, Texas
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 6,699
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BIGED52
He said, As he stood in the doorway, His knees buckling from the Earthquake tremors!
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Once every ten - twenty years, VS 10 - 20 times a year.
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01-17-2008, 09:26 PM
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#16
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1 Rivet Member
1966 26' Overlander
Weaverville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 16
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Wow! So much useful information!
I've already got my homebase decided upon. Here's the entire story: My husband Eric and I are each going to buy a trailer. We are going to park the trailers in a local inexpensive campground, since we want to keep roots in Western North Carolina. We also have a daughter who will be almost three when we are projecting to make the move. (Hence the two trailers. Well, that and the fact that Eric's gonna need practically a whole trailer for his mobile recording setup.) We will have one tow vehicle between us, and probably spend 6 or so months out of the year travelling, doing one month on, one month off or something like that. When we travel, we will only take one trailer to save on gas etc.
Internet Connectivity is pretty much settled. My laptop has a wireless card in it, so if I'm near a coffee shop in most parts of the country, I should be able to get online. Also understand many campgrounds have wifi.
OMG thanks for the crazedlist tip! I didn't even know that existed! It's my new obsession site. You know, the one that you go to every 15 minutes while you're surfing the web...
I've looked at all the classifieds here and at the VAC site, and been searching ebay. I'm thinking I'll want about 24'-28', and the same size for my husband. Just want to be sure that they both have sleeping compartments that are seperate from the rest of the living space. Any tips on what model to look at that would be most likely to meet those requirements?
Okay, I think I answered all the questions.
XO,
Starr
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01-18-2008, 07:10 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Vintage Kin Owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Greeeneville
, Tennessee
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,301
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Star and Eric, Welcome to the FORUMS. The transition to AS living can be rather simple when you have done your homework. Take your time, search the threads and classifieds, and if you need help in evaluating a trailer, ask a friend or fellow AS forums member to assist in looking a unit over.
__________________
Kevin with Baity the Lab/Pointer //------AIR # 7303------\\ WBCCI 17109 visit my restoration blog at:
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01-18-2008, 09:49 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1969 23' Safari
New Orleans
, Louisiana
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 699
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Quote:
Originally Posted by starr
Wow! So much useful information!
I've already got my homebase decided upon. Here's the entire story: My husband Eric and I are each going to buy a trailer. We are going to park the trailers in a local inexpensive campground, since we want to keep roots in Western North Carolina. We also have a daughter who will be almost three when we are projecting to make the move. (Hence the two trailers. Well, that and the fact that Eric's gonna need practically a whole trailer for his mobile recording setup.) We will have one tow vehicle between us, and probably spend 6 or so months out of the year travelling, doing one month on, one month off or something like that. When we travel, we will only take one trailer to save on gas etc.
Internet Connectivity is pretty much settled. My laptop has a wireless card in it, so if I'm near a coffee shop in most parts of the country, I should be able to get online. Also understand many campgrounds have wifi.
OMG thanks for the crazedlist tip! I didn't even know that existed! It's my new obsession site. You know, the one that you go to every 15 minutes while you're surfing the web...
I've looked at all the classifieds here and at the VAC site, and been searching ebay. I'm thinking I'll want about 24'-28', and the same size for my husband. Just want to be sure that they both have sleeping compartments that are seperate from the rest of the living space. Any tips on what model to look at that would be most likely to meet those requirements?
Okay, I think I answered all the questions.
XO,
Starr
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I believe the RJ Dial site with price vs. condition also may contain historical data regarding different layouts for each year. I KNOW one exists cuz I've seen it...somewhere. The separate sleeping compartments may be hard to find in smaller vintage units. Simple laws of physics. You can always rig curtains or something. We have an 8 yr old daughter and well... ummm... let's just say that when camping you may have to get creative (extremely quiet?) regarding your notions of ummm...conjugal bliss...wait, I'm not going there... that is simply something each 'married with children' couple must figure out for themselves! The old maxim 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' has never rung truer. And that's all I'm gonna say about it ;-)
re:crazed list. sounds like you've already figured how to retool Firefox to make it work (just change one parameter. it works) but BEWARE THE SCAMMERS. craig's is just ripe with crooks, but still amazing when you find honest sellers. I'm so glad to NOT be there every 15 minutes since I found a trailer. it was taking up too much of my time...
re: recording I have a friend in The Iguanas who has a lovely 27' International and has recording some truly beautiful stuff in his trailer. The acoustics can be so perfect when they're tweaked for it. Your hubby can have his own version of the Rolling Stones "remote unit" for recording around the country... or the world... hey, if Pete Townshend can do it (see the current issue of Airstream Life magazine) anybody can!
Given the astronomical housing costs that still exist I think buying an Airstream or two is a great strategy for owning your own 'home'.
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