Hi all. I am new here, live in Southern California, Inland Empire, and am seriously looking at a 16 ft Sport AS. Talked to a nearby dealer today and I would say I am closing in on a 2012 purchase.
Please don't bother trying to talk me up a size. My current tow vehicle limits me to 3500 GVWR, and only the 16' Sport fits that requirement in a newer AS. I love the vintages, but doubt I would spend the time needed to restore.
Also, don't bother talking me out of my tv, for now, at least. I know it may not be ideal (2008 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, 3500 GVWR, with factory tow package). However, I am not rich, so buying an new TV AND a new AS are not doable right now, and have money left to enjoy them. Also, I am a jeeper, and wouldn't get rid of the jeep. Down the road I may add a small more capable TV, but not until I pay down my AS. I hate owing money.
That said, I actually like the floorplan of the 16' better than any of the others I have seen, especially the ones with corner beds. To me the Sport 16 looks better organized and actually less crowded. (But then I also drive a small roadster comfortably that most people feel squeezed into.)
I am right at 6', will be using it for weekend camping, beach trips and the like. Maybe nearby mountain camping now and then. Also, it will serve as an extra bed for my small house. BTW the 16' will also just fit into a remaining space in my backyard.
I have searched through some of the forums here and already gained a wealth of knowledge. It has been very helpful in talking with the dealer about details.
So, all that being said, I would love to hear from all of the 16 foot owners/prospective owners and about your experiences or questions.
Just like my jeep, which I bought new in '08, owing an Airstream has long been a dream that I am starting to think...why not?
The Rubi will work and you like the 16' Airstream. Now all you need to do is work out the details on the connection hardware choice, set up, and adjustments. Brake controller type?? Get it all right and you will really enjoy the ride.
__________________ Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
Rich, it is a nice floorplan. Seriously thought about buying a 16' at one time ourselves. Too bad the Internationals are so much more $$ - the dual panoramic windows in those are awesome. The smaller Bambis also enjoy pretty strong resale.
I assume you searched the forums - there are other Unlimited owners towing 16' Sports with no reported issues.
We bought our 16ft international this summer and have never regretted it! My husband is 6'3 and he fits in it just fine! We love the compact size...fits nicely in just about any camping site any time....fits nicely in our driveway, and we didn't have to purchase a full size truck to pull it.
The sales people thought we were crazy and the service manager actually laughed and said we'd be back in a month to trade it in...nope...We wanted it for weekend adventures and it suits our needs perfectly! We've put a lot of miles on it already, and we look forward to many more!
We also really wanted the panoramic windows...
Best of luck with your purchase...get what fits your needs best!
We have had the luxury of being able to purchase a 17 Sport in 2007, then moved up to the 23FB in 2009, and then BACK DOWN to the 16 Sport in 2011, for a variety of reasons, the most important being parking space. We pull with a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The 16 (or any small unit) is adequate for two adults depending on how you camp. My wife and I are very "active" campers, and we spend very little time actually indoors, or cooking. We usually have coffee in the morning, and maybe a small salad for our evening meal. Lots of times we buy those salads at crackerbarrel or Sams Club and take them back to the trailer to eat, sometimes not.
We are not retired, but I have the good fortune to be able to take two or three extended trips a year, so when we travel we tend to drive lots and stay in one place for no more than two or three days max. The Bambi Sport 16 is ideal for that sort of travel/camping.
Even though the trailer is comfortable, the shower/toilet takes some getting used to, even if you are thin like we are. Ten pounds above average and you are going to have trouble using the shower. The AC is too loud, but will really chill down this small volume within the trailer. The furnace heats it nicely for the same reason. We don't use the television or microwave, so I removed them. I do intend to replace the microwave with a smaller "tabletop" model for quick heatups though.
I like it a lot, but I also like very large trailers and even those monster motorhomes. Like I said earlier, it is a question of camping style as much as anything else. But for us the 16 Sport works fine.
The Rubi will work and you like the 16' Airstream. Now all you need to do is work out the details on the connection hardware choice, set up, and adjustments. Brake controller type?? Get it all right and you will really enjoy the ride.
I have been looking at those issues. They use the Equalizer at that particular dealer. I have read pros and cons. Too stiff, friction type not good, etc. But is a Hensley Arrow overkill for me? What about the Hensley Cub?
That's why I finally joined here and posted. So much info.
Rich, it is a nice floorplan. Seriously thought about buying a 16' at one time ourselves. Too bad the Internationals are so much more $$ - the dual panoramic windows in those are awesome. The smaller Bambis also enjoy pretty strong resale.
I assume you searched the forums - there are other Unlimited owners towing 16' Sports with no reported issues.
Good luck with the new rig!
Tom
Thanks Tom. Yes those panoramic bedroom windows ARE nice, but I will only be sleeping there. The dinette in front still has those windows for morning coffee and pondering the day ahead. I love the way those areas are laid out. But isn't the International over 4000 GVWR also?
I did find 2 threads re towing with an Unlimited, and one did get the 16 and reports no problems with the tow. That definitely encouraged me. There is plenty to be see in So Cal locally. If I want to travel further later, a new tow vehicle might in doable in a couple years.
We bought our 16ft international this summer and have never regretted it! My husband is 6'3 and he fits in it just fine! We love the compact size...fits nicely in just about any camping site any time....fits nicely in our driveway, and we didn't have to purchase a full size truck to pull it.
The sales people thought we were crazy and the service manager actually laughed and said we'd be back in a month to trade it in...nope...We wanted it for weekend adventures and it suits our needs perfectly! We've put a lot of miles on it already, and we look forward to many more!
We also really wanted the panoramic windows...
Best of luck with your purchase...get what fits your needs best!
-Kim
Oh I know you did! You guys are my heros. I love your pics of beautiful Oregon and Washington. Makes me homesick. I went to college in Portland. You seem to be on your way to visiting every campground out there (and that's a bunch). Your model is beautiful. I will have to be content with the plain base model Sport 16, not just for the money, but for the weight. But it is close enough that I am sure I will enjoy it.
We have had the luxury of being able to purchase a 17 Sport in 2007, then moved up to the 23FB in 2009, and then BACK DOWN to the 16 Sport in 2011, for a variety of reasons, the most important being parking space. We pull with a 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The 16 (or any small unit) is adequate for two adults depending on how you camp. My wife and I are very "active" campers, and we spend very little time actually indoors, or cooking. We usually have coffee in the morning, and maybe a small salad for our evening meal. Lots of times we buy those salads at crackerbarrel or Sams Club and take them back to the trailer to eat, sometimes not.
We are not retired, but I have the good fortune to be able to take two or three extended trips a year, so when we travel we tend to drive lots and stay in one place for no more than two or three days max. The Bambi Sport 16 is ideal for that sort of travel/camping.
Even though the trailer is comfortable, the shower/toilet takes some getting used to, even if you are thin like we are. Ten pounds above average and you are going to have trouble using the shower. The AC is too loud, but will really chill down this small volume within the trailer. The furnace heats it nicely for the same reason. We don't use the television or microwave, so I removed them. I do intend to replace the microwave with a smaller "tabletop" model for quick heatups though.
I like it a lot, but I also like very large trailers and even those monster motorhomes. Like I said earlier, it is a question of camping style as much as anything else. But for us the 16 Sport works fine.
Those are my thoughts as well, about smaller camping. Thanks for confirming them. I like visiting other peoples monster rvs, but for me, compact and clean works wells. My first trip will probably be to Newport Dunes, or somewhere similar, which is near the beach coast of Southern California. A comfortable nights sleep and I will be out the door enjoying the sun, the beach and the water. Easy in and easy out sounds perfect.
It's perfect for us. We've been on trips as long as 2 weeks, and it's been great for us. We made a few tweaks and mods... Get yourself some kind of shower mat. We had a custom one made out of teak, which was surprisingly not expensive (highly recommend www.teakworks4u; they're awesome!). It's amazing how much the shower experience improves when you're not standing on that fiberglass. We had shelves put into the closet. Who hangs things anyway?? We sure don't. Makes for a LOT more useful storage. What else can I tell you... We have an Equalizer hitch and it's been great. Get their Sway Bracket Jackets and you'll really quiet down the loud creaks, pops, and groans. Ours is virtually silent now. And take a look at this thread, http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...nce-73584.html particularly post #6 from Robersunrus. I did the same thing and it totally solved the "walking" bracket problem. So much great advice on the Forums! I'd say a Hensley is probably overkill for our little rigs, and they ain't cheap. Hold off on that until you get a bigger rig. Speaking of that, you may want to think about the 80% rule about towing, that is, you want to tow no more than 80% of your TV's capacity. You'll be maxed out just with the trailer, then you have to add all the other goodies that come along, like bikes, canoes, dogs, significant others... I don't mean to be the party pooper here, but it can become a safety issue. Just something to think about. Maybe win the lottery and eventually get yourself a little bit bigger of a truck. That's my plan, at least!
But the main thing is to get out and enjoy it! You're going to love it.
It's perfect for us. We've been on trips as long as 2 weeks, and it's been great for us. We made a few tweaks and mods... Get yourself some kind of shower mat. We had a custom one made out of teak, which was surprisingly not expensive (highly recommend www.teakworks4u; they're awesome!). It's amazing how much the shower experience improves when you're not standing on that fiberglass. We had shelves put into the closet. Who hangs things anyway?? We sure don't. Makes for a LOT more useful storage. What else can I tell you... We have an Equalizer hitch and it's been great. Get their Sway Bracket Jackets and you'll really quiet down the loud creaks, pops, and groans. Ours is virtually silent now. And take a look at this thread, http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...nce-73584.html particularly post #6 from Robersunrus. I did the same thing and it totally solved the "walking" bracket problem. So much great advice on the Forums! I'd say a Hensley is probably overkill for our little rigs, and they ain't cheap. Hold off on that until you get a bigger rig. Speaking of that, you may want to think about the 80% rule about towing, that is, you want to tow no more than 80% of your TV's capacity. You'll be maxed out just with the trailer, then you have to add all the other goodies that come along, like bikes, canoes, dogs, significant others... I don't mean to be the party pooper here, but it can become a safety issue. Just something to think about. Maybe win the lottery and eventually get yourself a little bit bigger of a truck. That's my plan, at least!
But the main thing is to get out and enjoy it! You're going to love it.
Happy New Year!
Great tips! I was just thinking about some type of mat for the bathroom. Kept getting an error on your link for some reason, but I goggled and found it. Nice looking mats.
The dry weight for the Sport 16 is 3 pounds under 2900, giving me about 600 max to play with. I plan to go as light as possible until I get the feel of the tow. From everything I have read, and know about my Wrangler, and experiences of others I think it is very doable. I don't intend to do 80 and 90 mph like I see many others doing (illegally, of course). Towing speed in California is 55 mph. And I have a Superchips programmer with a tow tune available for more stable driving. With proper safety equipment and safe driving practices I feel confident it can be done with what I will have. Definitely intend to use weight distrib and sway control hitch. Probably will go with the Equalizer. Thanks for your vote. So far I have read pros and cons to every hitch I have researched. Lots of variables and points of view. Thanks for your input.
I have been looking at those issues. They use the Equalizer at that particular dealer. I have read pros and cons. Too stiff, friction type not good, etc. But is a Hensley Arrow overkill for me? What about the Hensley Cub?
That's why I finally joined here and posted. So much info.
Thanks for the response.
The best connection resource is a towing specialist. Maybe your Airstream dealer there has a good rating. In Ontario Canada we have Can Am.
Suggest you do some research to see who you may have out your way.
__________________ Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
The best connection resource is a towing specialist. Maybe your Airstream dealer there has a good rating. In Ontario Canada we have Can Am.
Suggest you do some research to see who you may have out your way.
Good advice, but how do you go about that? I have spent much time reading info (including CanAm stuff) and lots of people seem to claim to be "experts" even if they disagree with each other (like many things in life). The salesman did have a guy take a look at my hitch. I doubt they are experts since neither could decide if I have a class 2 or 3 hitch.
But I have read a lot of web info from several sources, including here. In the end I will just have to try something and learn from experience...with lots of caution. Then I will be able add another opinion to the mix.
The salesman did have a guy take a look at my hitch. I doubt they are experts since neither could decide if I have a class 2 or 3 hitch.
Wow, isn't that scary!
When it comes to towing the trial and error method is a common one and the down side is.... to what degree the error side becomes. Wish I had a better answer for you. Realize that a very small percentage of the rigs on the roads today are connect to their full potential.
__________________ Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
Wow, isn't that scary!
When it comes to towing the trial and error method is a common one and the down side is.... to what degree the error side becomes. Wish I had a better answer for you. Realize that a very small percentage of the rigs on the roads today are connect to their full potential.
Well they did measure the inside of the receiver. It is slightly over 2 inches. Not an expert, but when I goggled hitches that does seem to be the class 3 type. I was pleased to see that the hitch receiver is mounted on the jeep frame. I had read warnings of them being stuck on an added cross piece, but when I looked underneath I could easily see the frame and how the receiver was attached.
In the end it is all trial and error. You try what someone recommends and hope that isn't an error!
BTW my dealer left me a message that he had the numbers ready for me for financing. Gotta call him and see the results and talk more setup costs, etc.
Looking a bit better now. The numbers are good. Easy payment plan (early payoff will be my goal, but interest seems reasonable). And got to talk with a real tech person. The guy trying to guess what class receiver I had was just another salesman, it turns out. They agreed to my request to replace their standard Equalizer hitch package with a Reese dual cam wd/anti-sway system for the same price even with 1/2 more labor (really?? half hour to cut 2 holes?). And brake controller is a basic Tekonsha Voyager, which is not the dreaded time delay type. It seems adequate for the job as far as I can tell.
So the Sport is being delivered from a distant sister-dealer to the one close to me so I can inspect it before we firm up a purchase.
Looks like I am on the verge of becoming a Streamer. My sales guy has been very accommodating and instructive. He is my age (which means old) and in the biz for many years. No high pressure, but answers all my questions or finds the answer.
I'm hoping our Spring/Summer-like weather holds up a little longer for my maiden run.
Rich, just currently running the Craigs list, and in Anniston Al. a fellow has a 2010 model 16 sport, for just a little over $29,000. Don't know what you are giving for a new one, but might be you could save some money to use some where else.....Just a thought.....the phone number is 256-689-7171. Hope this helps....Good luck.
Rich, just currently running the Craigs list, and in Anniston Al. a fellow has a 2010 model 16 sport, for just a little over $29,000. Don't know what you are giving for a new one, but might be you could save some money to use some where else.....Just a thought.....the phone number is 256-689-7171. Hope this helps....Good luck.
Thanks. That would save me a little, but not as much as you would think, given the 2 year diffence and old vs new factors. Plus it's quite a ways for inspection, getting financing, etc. And wonderful California would charge me sales tax all over again when I brought it here. Been there, done that.
But I appreciate the heads up. Nice to know Streamers stick together.
BTW my trailer is in at the dealers now. Going to check it out tomorrow a.m.
Yesterday I did a walk-through (no sale commitment yet) at the dealer, a unit they drove out from another location about 80 miles away, for me to see.
I liked most of what I saw, but when I started to discuss adjustments to the offer they already made me (10% discount off MSRP) the salesguy dug in and changed from the nice helpful guy he had been to the usual car salesman defensive posture. Specifically I wanted to discuss the add-on charges for "prep" ($390) and the "hitch package" ($1000). Purportedly this will include everything I need to get rolling. They did accommodate my request to change the Equalizer hitch for a Reese dual cam,w/600 lbs bars. And the electronic brake control is a Tekonsha Voyager, which seems ok. At least it's not a time delay type.
So I left telling him I wanted to contact other dealers for competitive quotes, which I will do. Needless to say, some of my initial enthusiasm has been dampened a little. But maybe that's a good thing.
This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.
Nice to know Streamers stick together.
Linear Mode
