Our first travel trailer is an Airstream...

[warmrain]

... so it will also probably be our only one! We just purchased an unused "used" 2013 23D and we couldn't be happier!

After living aboard a small quality sailing yacht for most of 3 decades, it was only an Airstream that provided the luxury and quality for make us feel at home for our land-yacht cruising during the sailing "off season".

The forums have already been a wealth of valuable information for us, especially regarding towing, TVs, hitches, brake controllers, etc. As well as information regarding solar installations.

We are so very pleased to be a part of it all.

[Condoluminum]

Welcome! You've apparently figured out the search function here.. That is good.. There are a lot of sailors who enjoy Airstreams, as there are a lot of pilots and plane owners who also admire solid riveted aluminum.. Moving home to different parts of the country at highway speeds is a special luxury a lot of people miss out on, but you sound like you are ready.. Enjoy your new toy/home/land yacht...

[wrochdvm]

Welcome. As a sailor who recently went over the to dark side (now own a small trawler), I believe you will find many similarities to cruising with your AS as you did with your boat. At least, for my wife and I, that has been the case. One of the nicest parts about the RV is that provisioning is much easier, no need for the meticulous planning required when sailing since grocery are passed on the road every day. Also, lot less need to carry spare parts other than fuses, light bulbs and such.

Be sure to check out Facebook, both the Airstream Adventures and the WBCCI pages, lots of nice people and links to some very good blogs.

Once again, welcome.

[Kevin245]

Welcome and congrats on the rig.

[cwf]

Road sailing..... AirStreamin'. Kewl.


Welcome aboard!!!

[Ahab]

Welcome, we know where your coming from.

[warmrain]

Well... as it turns out we are both pilots and the owner of a conventionally (semi-monocoque) constructed aircraft (upon which I have bucked rivets for 40 hours). So, in many ways we are already feeling at home with this new vessel. Thank you all for the warm welcome. ~Cars

[Condoluminum]

Sounds like you may be members of Van's Air Force.. Cherry or Olympic rivets used in Airstream repairs much easier than bucking rivets.. <NOT a typo..> As owner of vintage Comanche I have just become used to occasionally having to fix things...

[John&Vicki]

It's as if you have been in training for years to live in an Airstream. I have friends who have lived in a sailboat for decades and I marvel at how adjusted they have become to living efficiently in a small space. And I have other friends who have recently downsized from 4,500sf to 1,500sf and they are really struggling.

Poppy

[BAB]

I find living in the trailer very refreshing. I have a big house, big yard, etc., but having taken a solid 4 weeks in my trailer I soon found how it suits me. Efficient, clean, and simple. It makes going home a pleasure, and then I begin the process of deciding where I'll go next in my totally self contained aluminum sanctuary.

[dprvashon]

Warmrain.....welcome. Fellow islander and sailor here. We debated on a 23 D but chose a FC 19. Our first land yacht and a chance to roll around and see different harbors. Enjoy and here's to short ferry lines.

[Bruce B]

Warmrain,
We too are sailors who joined the Airstream lifestyle in order to .."cruise off season". We could not be happier! We chose to go the route of the Serenity 16' though. You will be amazed at both the similarities and the differences.
Have fun with your new yacht!
Bruce
...just making the transition from Esmeralde to our Bambi now for the "off season"

[warmrain]

1977 Cessna Cardinal 177B: I replaced a lower firewall from a previous owners wheel-barrow imitation. We travel on business up and down the west coast in the best first-class seats (they have forward facing windows).

1986 Hans Christian 33: We've been living aboard between San Diego and Friday Harbor for 26 years.

Yes, living comfortably in a small space requires some effort, and doing that with your spouse requires some developed emotional harmony (e.g. mostly respect for the other's "space"). However we'd never chose to change the arrangement. Thoreau said that we go through life dragging out furniture around behind us, that definitely doesn't apply now!

We made the decision: No storage space! So our life is simpler.

Our living area is about 10' x 23' on the yacht and about 8' x 20' in the Airstream (best as I can guess). The boat swallows up a lot more "stores" as weight is not an issue (she displaces 24,000 #).

With the Airstream we get the heat pump and forced air heat, a diesel furnace keeps the boat toasty. Otherwise it is much the same in terms of comfort level and we view the airstream as just another yacht (or more accurately a house barge).

We looked at everything from 16' and up, and especially liked the 16, 19, 23D and 25 FB. The decision ended up between the 19 and 23D and in the end we were seduced by the extra windows. On a seaworthy sailing yacht you don't get many places to look out, and since the airstream is going to be the winter home, we desired that.

One last thing, like the water-borne yacht, we added a full sign wave inverter and solar array. As this has made an incredible difference for us. The same 150 watts on the boat powers the refrigerator/freezer and water maker (the later of which I'd love to have on the airstream ).

Thank you all for your warm welcome, I've already learned so much.

~Cars

[Condoluminum]

I was sales manager at Cessna dealer in Palo Alto in '77, and used to love flights and demo's in Cardinals.. Great airplane, and glad you were able to bring that one back to airworthiness. Sounds like you have terrific life plan, and are enjoying yourselves perhaps a bit too much...

[Will_Brule]

Welcome to AS from an old sailor. Island Packet 31, Fuji 37, Tayana 37 and now the Flying Cloud 25. I'm sure you will find great cruising grounds.

[Bruce B]

I love the spillover between sailing and Airstreams! When people ask us how we live with such a small "wet bath" I just tell them that this is bigger than a couple of the boats we have owned....! That is slightly exaggerated but not by much. Bianca 27, Able Whistler 32 and a Sabre 386. Only the Sabre has a much larger head and anyone who has braced themselves to prevent being thrown off a toilet at sea will understand the fondness for a tight space in a boat bathroom/head.
Bruce

[wrochdvm]

As a sailor, one of the things I like about the Airstream is that it doesn't try to be something it is not. Just like a well designed boat that instantly turns heads and nods of appreciation, so does an Airstream. Because of its sleek aeronautic design, even the untrained eye senses that it is meant to travel over the road in a efficient manner. The interior design is both functional and comfortable.

Unlike many mega-5th wheels and motor-homes, the interior design does not try to deceive the occupants that they are in an opulent mansion complete with fireplace and even chandelier. When I am on a boat or in my trailer, I want to experience and enjoy if for what it is.

I enjoy being required to think about how much stuff I can take along or how much energy and water I consume, and how much trash I produce. This exercise helps me carry that thinking with me when I return "home".