Hello Airstream Forum Members! "Spidey" here (a.k.a. "Bill"). I'm new to the Forum and wanted to give you a little introduction, so cue up the music, maestro!
I'm Airstream dreamin'! Ever since I was a little kid. No rig currently, but it will be in the making a couple years from now. I simply have to retire first and move to a place where we will be able to store the future "Miss Montana" in a garage or under cover. I've really just started to do my research and want to have a pretty decent knowledge base when we (wife "Bonnie") and I decide to pull the trigger.
We are not
total Newbies as we owned an Airstream several years ago. Here's the Reader's Digest version - We lived in the DC area and were both fed up with our jobs. In the fall of '99 we quit our jobs, bought a used '88 Excella 25' Rear Twin, hitched up and took off for 3 months around the country. Neither one of us had ever towed a thing in our lives; not even a garden cart behind a lawn tractor. Nothing like trial by fire! We had a '96 Tahoe which was set up with a towing package from the factory, and the dealer told us it would work fine as a TV for that Excella. Now I know not to believe everything I hear from an AS dealer.
We didn't have any issues, but that poor Tahoe was simply NOT the right TV for that rig. During our travels, we landed in Montana to visit a friend and while there I got not one, but two job offers! After lots of prayer we decided to go for a big life change and move to Montana. My future boss let us finish up our 3-month trip by the way. We sold the Excella shortly after that trip because I simply did not feel comfortable towing it back to Montana in January.
I've been dreaming of another silver bullet for a while now and have been seriously bitten by the bug. I recently called the president of Palmetto State South Carolina Unit #22 to introduce myself and pick his brain. He invited us to a Unit Rally at Palmetto Cove RV Park the weekend of August 12. As it was only 40 minutes from where we live, we jumped at the opportunity. There we also met the Region 3 First VP (names omitted to protect the guilty, er... innocent) as well as a host of others.
I had almost forgotten that Airstream folks are the nicest and most helpful people on the planet.I was able to ask LOTS of questions and we were invited to join a bunch of others for a bite to eat at a local winery down the road. We were welcomed like family and that is
SPECIAL. We will be going back up in October for Alumilina to see the sea of silver bullets. Unfortunately it will be without an Airstream of our own.
So what AS will we be in the market for? Great question, and I thought you would never ask! If we were to pull the trigger on an AS today, for us it would easily be a 26U with twins. For just the two of us and a future puppy dog, the 26U seems to fit our lifestyle perfectly. Absolutely love the "U" lounge and the ability to get comfy and watch TV. Stow the table tops if necessary. Or put the tables up and have a few friends over for a bite to eat. The flexibility is key. The exterior storage is a huge bonus with the twins, and the large bathroom (with window) is great. I just saw a 26U for the first time this weekend and was smitten. After seeing just about every 26U online video review out there, I was somewhat concerned that the hallway might seem a bit claustrophobic, but I did not feel that way the entire
3 hours I spent in that trailer.
So here is a question for you - What tow vehicle and hitch should we get? No, WAIT!
Strike that question from the record!!! I'm just kidding as I know that will seriously draw the ire of the Forum. You can rest assured of one thing. We will be deciding on the Airstream
prior to acquiring the tow vehicle. I have lots of research to do in that department and I know there is a wealth of information on this Forum, but to satisfy any inquisitive minds, I am leaning toward an F-250 diesel. We will most likely be back in Montana, after all.
Well, this is turning into a novel. Thanks for stopping by, if you made it this far, that is. I look forward to future discussions with you and seeing you down the road in a couple years!
Bill