Visit our Popular Forums

Landmammal · 10-06-2010, 03:50 PM

Hello Streamers,

New member family from near Chicago.

In two days we are packing up and going on the hunt for an Airstream. We've been "looking" and saving up for about 4 years now and finally feel our little one is ready to camp and not spend all her time screaming about the bugs. We're tired of traveling thousands of miles in an SUV.
Hubby has never really camped in his life and I was always a tent camper but we love to travel and have done so since our little one was 10 months old.
We've been reading these forums for years and would love to rally and become a part of the AS community.
I often show hubby a thread just to exclaim how helpful and good everyone is to each other here. Yes, I read the entire "The Journey" thread, whew!

As my name would suggest, we were thinking of getting a MoHo LandYacht, but kept reading about delamination and living up north it is a real concern. No offense to LandYacht MoHo owners, we just fell in love with the silver.

Hubby is partial to the 345's and I am still toying with the trailer is more economical theory. Our TV is a V-8 Mountaineer with a tow capacity of 7700. Between that number and our budget, a brand new AS is out. We love the wood in the 80's models so I think thats what we're shooting for, just seems to be slim pickin's out there.

If anyone has a line on a 25'-31' AS in the age range of 1977-1994 or so, with mid bath, give a hollar.

Or, a 310, 345, something for hubs to drool over and possibly talk me into. I check the Ads every day. I keep thinking we will just step into one and it will feel right for us.

We are willing to drive just about anywhere for the right AS.
Georgia? yep. Montana? yep. Arizona? yep. So hopefully, in the next 3 weeks, we will be posting pics of our new used silver twinkie.

Landmammal

**DKB_SATX** · 10-06-2010, 03:57 PM

I have no connection with this, I just happened to see it linked in the "interesting Craigslist finds" thread yesterday, and it's a fairly pretty 345. It's in FL, so it's not convenient, but if it's anything like the pics and description it might be worth the $15k the guy's asking.

airstream

loudruff · 10-06-2010, 08:02 PM

Don't forget that there are volunteers that have signed up to help with or go and do an informal inspection if you are considering a purchase that is too far for you to get to in a hurry. You can click on the list and sort by state, or start a thread and ask for help with whichever state it resides in.

We found our 1989 Excella 29 ft. in the Classifieds here. Good luck in your search!

Tom Nugler · 10-06-2010, 08:43 PM

Welcome to the Forum.
Good luck with your quest for the perfect rig.
We out in the Northwest boonies. I'll keep an eye out for you.
If you need any help or info send a PM out our way.

Tom.

bredlo · 10-06-2010, 10:01 PM

We're in the Chicago area as well and would be thrilled to offer any help we can.

Landmammal · 10-07-2010, 02:35 AM

Thanks for all the kind responses. We've seen that 345 ad, figured it would be gone by now, which is part of the problem with the really good deals, they poof before your eyes, or, in a more recent case, the owner decided to keep his MoHo.

Do I understand it right that for MH's the price should be somewhere near the NADA price? Big improvements should bump up a price a bit, but seeing alot of 345's in the high 20's is daunting.

Part of me wants one I can personalize and choose all the interior soft goods, and the other more rational part says get one you like in the first place.

driftless · 10-07-2010, 06:58 AM

Greetings Landmammal and welcome to the forums.
We saw a 345 parked at Ho Chunk Casino near the Dells a few weeks ago. Folks were driving by just to look at it at midnight! They are eye catching..
If you find an AS with a floor plan that you like, and all the systems are in good working order, you can always add personal touches as you use and enjoy it. That way both parts of you are happy!!
Good luck in your hunt. If we see anything up here in Wis. we'll give you a shout.

dwightdi · 10-07-2010, 07:20 AM

There is a Rally of the Northern Illinois Unit of WBCCI at the Amboy fairgrounds next weekend. You are invited to come out and look over a lot of Airstreams and meet the Airstreamers in the area for free. If you stay for the big Thanksgiving Feast on Saturday afternoon, it will cost you $6 apiece. It a better deal than McDonalds, if you do not consider the gas to get there. Look at the website at Northernillinois.wbcci.net for details and for sale ads.

TinCrumpet · 10-07-2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landmammal

Hello Streamers,

New member family from near Chicago.

In two days we are packing up and going on the hunt for an Airstream. We've been "looking" and saving up for about 4 years now and finally feel our little one is ready to camp and not spend all her time screaming about the bugs. We're tired of traveling thousands of miles in an SUV.
Hubby has never really camped in his life and I was always a tent camper but we love to travel and have done so since our little one was 10 months old.
We've been reading these forums for years and would love to rally and become a part of the AS community.
I often show hubby a thread just to exclaim how helpful and good everyone is to each other here. Yes, I read the entire "The Journey" thread, whew!

As my name would suggest, we were thinking of getting a MoHo LandYacht, but kept reading about delamination and living up north it is a real concern. No offense to LandYacht MoHo owners, we just fell in love with the silver.

Hubby is partial to the 345's and I am still toying with the trailer is more economical theory. Our TV is a V-8 Mountaineer with a tow capacity of 7700. Between that number and our budget, a brand new AS is out. We love the wood in the 80's models so I think thats what we're shooting for, just seems to be slim pickin's out there.

If anyone has a line on a 25'-31' AS in the age range of 1977-1994 or so, with mid bath, give a hollar.

Or, a 310, 345, something for hubs to drool over and possibly talk me into. I check the Ads every day. I keep thinking we will just step into one and it will feel right for us.

We are willing to drive just about anywhere for the right AS.
Georgia? yep. Montana? yep. Arizona? yep. So hopefully, in the next 3 weeks, we will be posting pics of our new used silver twinkie.
Landmammal

I dont very often go a wandering form the The Journey Thread,
But Vinnie gave me a nudge by emailing me your post
I would love to travel round in willynilly
but we work full time at the mo
I'd like to wish you the best of luck, one day we will be back,
and you never know, we may meet up
cheerio for now
Lili Lettice Leatherby aliasTinCrumpet

Landmammal · 10-07-2010, 12:55 PM

Hi Lily, hi lily, hi lo!

I can only hope that our journey is as successful as yours.

If only I had a knight in shining aluminium like Vinnie! Or lived anywhere near California, where all the long, lost, and forgotten Airstreams seem to go to retire, or is that Florida? But I think that trip and back would take more than 3 weeks! I must confess that I read "The Journey" partially to soak up the forgotten vernacular that is part of my past, as I was married to an Englishman for a while. To this date, he was the most complicated man I have ever known, in mostly good ways of course.

Landmammal

Landmammal · 10-15-2010, 09:17 PM

Well, the hunt went great. We officially became Streamers when we bagged our new to us 77 Argosy 24', lovingly dubbed the Silver Snail. We are currently in a campground in western SD with a Bambi parked nearby. Once we get home, we will post pics.

Landmammal

Jammer · 10-15-2010, 10:03 PM

Congratulations.

I have a busy week but nonetheless stop by on the way home if you are inclined.

Landmammal · 10-19-2010, 02:51 PM

So far everything works with the exception of the door lock. We are now headed to council bluffs camping world for a fix. Dang pot metal only lasted 33years eh? Also hoping to get a couple of fantastic fans. Thata our update for Tuesday afternoon.

Landmammal

Landmammal · 11-02-2010, 08:16 AM

Here it is before we took it to Jackson Center and got Fantastic Fan and New Antenna and well, 2500 worth of fixes. Wayne there was awesome, above and beyond the call of duty, I wanted to kidnap him for sure. He said we "did good" buying it so I am appeased about the purchase price. What I love about it is the paint job and the openness and what is not there that I get to complete over time. Curtains, Awning, homey touches. We camped in it for 2 1/2 weeks and amazingly, everything works! Everything.

We drove through "the worst wind storm in 70 years" so we feel like towing pro's now. We did all the things you are not supposed to do and survived to tell, like ending up in a "no outlet" road with no way to turn except to back it out,

, and we are still loving the big guy...

And here are pics of the inside before I reno that bit, and you can see what I should have paid for it....except the seller, when we got to Wyoming, thought I should pay what was on the sticker on his lot instead of the Ebay-buy it now price, hmph!

I paid it because he could have charged us a bunch of dealer fees and such, but I wont be leaving good feedback for it. Does anyone love a used car salesman? I didnt think so....

1977 Airstream Argosy - eBay (item 200528141278 end time Oct-12-10 09:09:21 PDT)

It is in storage now, but I think we are taking it out again next week to head up north a bit for hubbys job. Does anyone sane camp in below freezing temps and live to tell about it?

Landmammal (should change my name now, its not a landyacht after all)

How do I do that?

TouringDan · 11-02-2010, 09:00 AM

Landmammal

Congrats on your purchase. It sure looks great. Nice open floor plan and it sure is light and airy. It is also a good size to tow. We have a 24 ft and a 31 ft and will be selling the 31 ft.

I think you will be happy that you found a trailer since you already have a tow vehicle. They are also much simpler and require less upkeep and maintenance than a mh. But it really comes down to what works for you and what you want.

I have camped in cold weather (10 degrees) and I enjoyed it cuz I like a challenge. I parked my Airstream in a campground in the mountains in West Virginia and used it when I went skiing. I dry camped and did not have water in the system. I cooked a little mostly heating stuff up with the stove or the microwave. I recommend aluminum insulation (Lowes or HD) to cut down on heat loss thru the windows and an electric blanket was essential for me since the camper was cold when I showed up. Make sure your furnace is putting out good heat.

Dan

Landmammal · 11-02-2010, 09:31 AM

Do you mean the insulating silver things you put in the windshield to keep the sun/heat out? I was thinking about those since I do not have curtains yet, just some heavy towels we velcroed up as temporary privacy curtains until I get some made.
I do have an electric blanket, thanks for that tip, I was not sure how much the electric could handle, even hooked up? We have 30 amp power and only one deep cycle battery so electric hookups are essential to us in colder weather I am assuming.

We did camp in 30 degrees on 3-4 nights, in Rapid City, SD and again one night in Jackson got real cold, and the furnace runs so hot you cannot touch the grill vent! We had it checked out in Jackson, and its fine, better than fine. I think the only thing that sorta sucks about freezing temps is not being able to cook outside. It is supposed to get a bit colder than that in Wisconsin next week.

SilverSnail (as soon as I can get name changed)

Kathleenh · 11-02-2010, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Landmammal

Well, the hunt went great. We officially became Streamers when we bagged our new to us 77 Argosy 24', lovingly dubbed the Silver Snail. We are currently in a campground in western SD with a Bambi parked nearby. Once we get home, we will post pics.

Landmammal

Wonderful! May you have many years of fun with it!

As for an electric blanket, if you have a really warm down comforter, that should work also. We wound up in the mountains in early June and woke up to a snowstorm. My down comforter kept us warm and cozy. We had no idea how cold it was until we got out from under it!

SteSpot · 11-02-2010, 02:03 PM

Looks like you got a great buy. It is so clean looking....open and airy.....you are going to love it......keep posting pictures of your adventures, please. paula

robert claus · 11-02-2010, 06:08 PM

Nice trailer! I think you did well. If it dips into the freezing zone at night, and warms up in the daytime, you should be alright as long as you keep the furnace and water heater lit. A protracted period of freezing temps could cause your waste tanks to start freezing, so you may want to put some RV anti-freeze in them. I don't know if it really makes a difference, but I put a gallon in each when empty. The theory is that it runs into the valve area pipes and everything else is added on top when used. Of course, useage dilutes the anti-freeze. maybe it's all psychological, but I feel better.
Anyway, we're headed to Indiana this weekend for one last three day trip, and I'll winterize when we get back. Right now, our trailer is sitting in the driveway with the heat and water heater on each night as the temps get down to about 30.
Have fun in WI! On our very first night camping in a brand new A/S, we were in Eminence, MO and it went down into the 20's. The furnace went out and would not re-light. It got cold! In the morning, i grabbed a hot shower to warm up. Felt good! My wife went next and quickly ran out of hot water - turned out the h/w heater wouldn't re-light either. She was frozen, and steamed too. We went to the A/S dealer in AR the next day. Turns out the power converter had failed and we simply ran out of 12v juice. They put in a new one and we were good again. My wife reminds about that from time to time. I'd talked her into trying camping, and this was her first experience. She's really into it now, though, so I think I'm forgiven.

TouringDan · 11-02-2010, 10:23 PM

SilverSnail

The aluminum foil insulation is called Reflectix. I am sure that you can cut it with heavy sissors. It has an R factor of 3.7. It comes in a roll like 16" x 25' and costs $15.00 at Lowes. You can cover the roof vents and the windows although maybe not all of them. You maybe could use 2 layers of Reflectix and cover this with plastic to sandwich the Reflectix between the window and the plasic. This would inctrease the window r factor to more than 7 since you are trapping air between the glass and plastic. I think this would go a long way toward minimizing how much your furnace runs, reducing the propane usage and keeping the interior temperatures uniform.

The electric blanket uses only 180 watts (3 amps). It is real nice if your trailer is cold. The eb will heat up the sheets while the furnace heats up the trailer interior. Another helpful idea is flannel sheets.

Happy Camping, Dan