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galfoman · 12-18-2006, 03:46 PM

Hey everyone.
I just purchased a 2001 Airstream Bambi.
My wife and I plan to use it for surfing trips up and down the east coast.
I also plan to use it with my buddies for mororcycle and mountain bike events as well.
The clincher is that the best waves for us are in the winter so I imagine the water lines could freeze unless they are insulated or constantly heated
I also need to start researching who will alow my trailer in their parking lot when I cant find a nearby camp site.
Anyway.
I have tons to learn.
Any recomendations would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Gary

Zeppelinium · 12-18-2006, 03:54 PM

there's surfing on the east coast?

Welcome. You've come to the right place.

Zep

TinShack · 12-18-2006, 04:00 PM

Welcome to the threads, Gary. You came to the right place to learn. There is a wealth of knowledge to be found here. With the Bambi, finding a place to park it is usually quite a bit easier than with the longer Airstreams.

str8strm · 12-18-2006, 04:06 PM

Welcome to the Forums, Gary. This is definitely the place to learn all the best AS info. Get to a rally if you can. Putting faces to the names makes it all more personal, and a lot more fun. Enjoy your new toy.

galfoman · 12-20-2006, 03:23 AM

Thank you,
I have already learned so much about winter camping in the day that I have been a member.
Looking forward to my first surf trip and can't wait to rig it up with tunes. I love camp fires so I will haul around a portable chiminea in the back of my truck for apre surf beers in the snow.
Yes Zep,
We do have occasional great surf, just as good as anywhere else but it's not all year.
It's usually in the late summer, the best is during the fall huricane season because the waves are big and you dont need a wetsuit.
Winter noreasters are another story.
Talkin rubber man... 6/5/4 full hoods and booties.
See nesurf.com for pics

**moosetags** · 12-20-2006, 06:23 AM

Welcome to the Forums. There's a lot of good information here. Mainly on Airstreaming and not so much on surfing.

balrgn · 12-20-2006, 07:24 AM

Welcome fellow East coaster! You have a great adventure ahead of ya!

Uberlanders · 12-20-2006, 10:06 AM

You are worried about where to park on trips? What about in Dorchester? Visions of tightly stacked homes and short driveways are filling my mind.

Welcome to the forums, there are a great number of New Englanders on this site. Be sure to check out one of our rallies, you will feel right at home I'm sure. We are all about camping....oh yeah...and great food and huuuuuge campfires.

As far as keeping the lines free of ice...anyone else out there do a little winter camping?

Pam · 12-20-2006, 10:44 AM

Hi,

Welcome, fellow New Englander! Sounds like great fun camping and surfing. Keep an eye on the New England Unit of WBCCI, there are several rallies that are pretty much oceanside, coming up this year. (Salisbury State Reservation, Scusset Beach and Point Judith).

If you join WBCCI, you also have access to courtesy parking around the country.

enduroryda · 12-20-2006, 12:02 PM

Hi Galfoman,

Welcome to the forums! You've come to the right place for all your info needs. Thanks for the great surf link...my husbands not a surfer but he love's to boogyboard..mostly out at Marconi at the National Seashore.

Definately check out the New England Unit....they're a great bunch and we'd love to welcome you by the campfire!

myboyburt · 12-20-2006, 12:06 PM

Hi Galfoman,

There are about 50 or so New England Unit members who are active here on the forums - so many opportunities for friends who are nearby! We'd love to have you join our progressive, fun loving unit. You can find out more information about the NEU here:

WBCCI New England Unit Airstream Club

or by sending me a PM - I'm happy to answer any questions.

BTW, you are welcome to attend one of our functions before joining, just to see if the club is right for you.

Chuck · 12-20-2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uberlanders

... Visions of tightly stacked homes and short driveways are filling my mind.

Driveways?? what driveways???

balrgn · 12-21-2006, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uberlanders

As far as keeping the lines free of ice...anyone else out there do a little winter camping?

We do! Dry camp, more or less. Throw a porta potty in the shower and off we go!

classic67 · 12-21-2006, 05:24 AM

Welcome Gary. As a fellow East Coast Airstreamer, I can tell you you won't find a nicer group of people online with lots of experience and knowledge than you will here. I have received alot of great advice and assistance by searching old topics here as well as posting questions. I hope to return the favor one day as our own travels rack up the miles and experience too.

Enjoy your Bambi !

galfoman · 12-21-2006, 09:17 PM

Hey everyone,
You all sound like a great bunch of people and I hope to run into you in the near future.
I know nothing about my Bambi but my instinct tells me that I can wrap mywater lines with electric tape and throw some rock salt in the toilet and be good to go this winter. I hear it has to be below 20 for a period before things get damaged and I don't think I would be camping unless it was a mild winter weekend anyway.
What do you think?
And yes we have no driveways in Dorchester since our houses were built berfore there were cars but we do have huge horse barns.
Perfect for keeping a Bambi warm.
G

balrgn · 12-22-2006, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galfoman

Hey everyone,
You all sound like a great bunch of people and I hope to run into you in the near future.
I know nothing about my Bambi but my instinct tells me that I can wrap mywater lines with electric tape and throw some rock salt in the toilet and be good to go this winter. I hear it has to be below 20 for a period before things get damaged and I don't think I would be camping unless it was a mild winter weekend anyway.
What do you think?
And yes we have no driveways in Dorchester since our houses were built berfore there were cars but we do have huge horse barns.
Perfect for keeping a Bambi warm.
G

Ummmmmm No
It is not likely you can access all your water lines, as they run back to front. No water in the toilet except in the lines, so salt may do more harm than good.
2 schools of thought:
Several threeads on here about each method.
Use an air compressor (carefully)to blow my lines free of water
Also
You can get RV anti freeze and pump it thru the system. This work great as well.

Chuck · 12-22-2006, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by galfoman

?
And yes we have no driveways in Dorchester since our houses were built berfore there were cars but we do have huge horse barns.
Perfect for keeping a Bambi warm.
G

well, that's even better!! but....how did the horses get to the barn, if there's no "driveway"??

oh, and "no" to the salt; it'll rot the rubber seals in the toilet. put a splash of rv antifreeze in there. at the very least, drain the water lines; pumping antifreeze through is better, as it will get into all the nooks and crannies of the water pump. blowing air in from the city connection won't reach the water pump, as it is isolated from that end by a check-valve.

classic67 · 12-22-2006, 07:56 AM

This year was our first winter with our new airstream. $55 +tax at the dealer (cheaper if you do it yourself) and the entire system was winterized. Make sure all of your tanks are emptied from your last use. RV antifreeze down the pipes (drains in the sinks and shower) and toilet and cycle some through the pump is what they did to make sure the water was out... After the spring thaw, run water through all the pipes and pump to flush out the antifreeze (which actually can be done on your first outing), then drain it all out...

You don't need to have a dealer do it, it's really straight forward it seems. I just had it done at the dealer as a matter of convenience becuase my Airstream was already there for some warranty repairs...

(Did I miss any steps?)

galfoman · 01-01-2007, 09:54 PM

Ok Got it.
No Salt.Just Antifreeze.
But I would love a hot shower after a 3 hour sesion of surfing 35 degree water.
I like the thread where they owner said that the lines will only freeze in very low temperatures like below 20, for extended periods and that he can winterize his rig in 10 minutes in an emergency.
I wont be travelling for more than a long weekend onwinter trips anyway.
What do you think? Wet or Dry camping in the winter?
Is it risky?
Dont want to ruin anything.
G

Chuck · 01-02-2007, 08:09 AM

well, in theory, if you keep the furnace running, you should be ok; the only problem would be an external water connection...so don't connect it; run off the on board fresh water tank. The furnace is ducted so that the fresh + waste tanks are heated, too. The problem: the furnace is a big electrical draw...you won't last on the battery for much more than a single night...let alone the fact that you'll have to have it running all day, as well. So if you've got an external 110volt hookup you can use wherever it is that you're headed, you might be ok; otherwise, I don't know if its really practical.