New to forum - 2006 Bambi SE 75th Ed

[wagnerda]

Hi there,

Just finally figuring out how to join into the forum, so greetings to all...

My name is Dave, and I retired back in the fall of 2005 and as a present to myself I ordered a new 19' Bambi SE 75th Anniversary edition Airstream and picked it up in Feb 2006.

My wife & I have made a bunch of 3~4 day trips around the area (we live in Maryland) and one long road trip last summer -about 4,000 miles- out to Colorado / Wyoming. We have had a wonderful time with the 19 footer and it works out just right size-wise for the 2 of us.

My tow vehicle is a 2001 Ford Ranger extended cab 4x4 with the 4.0 liter V-6. It is rated to tow up to 5,600 lbs and does just fine towing the 19'. I normally drive 60 mph or less (I'm retired so what's the rush?) so it works out fairly well. I also have the Reese equalizer hitch and that works great.

I wouldn't want to have any bigger trailer though, because with just a V-6 it is a little low on horsepower when in the mountains. Last year in Colorado/Wyoming we were about 6,500 ft altitude and on the long Interstate uphill grades we were over in the slow lane with the 4-way flashers on at 40 mph grinding up the hill... But, on the bright side we were still faster than the big Class A's towing their dinghys who were doing about 35...

At any rate, heading out with the Airstream again in a few weeks -- Maryland to California & (hopefully) return... Taking a southern route down thru the Carolinas, then across thru Georgia, Arkansas, -- picking up I-40 -- to Oklahoma, Texas, and then plan on following along parts of old Route 66 starting in New Mexico and eventually end up in Barstow CA. According to Mapquest, the route we have mapped out will come to 7,429 miles so that will be a nice run...

I'll be on the highways, so if you see me give a wave...

best regards, Dave...

[SilverCabin]

Hi Dave and welcome. Sounds like a great trip coming up. I'll be retired too and just another few weeks then we are heading out to catch some fall color in Michigan. Sounds like you have an okay combination with the 19' and the Ranger. We went a little bigger, but looked hard at the 19' before making our decision.

See you on the road,

Randy

[Silvertwinkie]

Hi Dave...welcome to the forums and enjoy retirement...looks to me like you're off to a great start!

[moosetags]

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. Keep us posted on your travels with lots of pictures.

[TBRich]

Welcome to the "Air Heads", Dave...

We have hte very same trailer as you! ....And we also pull it with a V-6 ('07 Toyota Tacoma Quad Cab)... and it does just fine...

Have a great trip..sounds like a wonderful itinerary. We'll wave at you if we see you on the road passing through our neck of the woods!

Take lots of pics!

Happy Trails,
TB

[wagnerda]

Hi again,

Thanks for the welcomes... I have been busy perusing through the various forums and there are endless hours of wonderful info in here.

I also have a new Verizon broadband wireless card now in my laptop which I will be trying out on my next trip cross-country... Hopefully I will be able to take a bunch of photos and post a couple of the more memorable ones.

Here is a photo I took on my last road-trip. I had dreamed about getting this shot for years (if anybody remembers the old Alfred Hitchcock movie - I think it was "North by Northwest") anyway, there is a similar scene in the movie and I have always wanted to get my own version. Anyway, I was finally able to get it last July when we went thru Mt. Rushmore... (Also, in response to one of the other forums somewhere, I stayed at the KOA at Mt. Rushmore and it was an excellent park).

Hopefully there is a photo attached. regards, Dave