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Mrjkq · 06-13-2015, 09:40 AM

While waiting for delivery of our 25FC I've read & digested every bit of information that I could about Airstream Trailers. From this forum to youtube videos and the factory website information. Then this morning my wife asked me a very simple question, "does our Airstream have a 12v plug for my hairdryer when we're not hooked up". The self educated expert here was stumped. I don't know was my sorry answer. So I'll put that simple questions to readers of this forum, is their a 12v plug inside the Airstream?

paiceman · 06-13-2015, 09:49 AM

It does have 12v plug, ours has two, but I've not seen a 12v hairdryer. That said when ordering your unit did you order an inverter? If so you can plug into one of the inverter plugs, clearly marked and use things like TV and I suspect a hairdryer, but they pull a lot of juice.

Mrjkq · 06-13-2015, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paiceman

It does have 12v plug, ours has two, but I've not seen a 12v hairdryer. That said when ordering your unit did you order an inverter? If so you can plug into one of the inverter plugs, clearly marked and use things like TV and I suspect a hairdryer, but they pull a lot of juice.

Thanks for that information. Yes, we have a 1000w inverter but most hairdryers pull more than a 1000w's. 12v hairdryers are sold online or at camping world.

Joe

kamadeca · 06-13-2015, 10:02 AM

Hi there,

If you are getting a new Airstream it might not come with a 12V plug. Our 2015 30' Serenity does not have any 12 v plugs. You might want to check with your dealer, and if it doesn't consider having one installed

Mrjkq · 06-13-2015, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamadeca

Hi there,

If you are getting a new Airstream it might not come with a 12V plug. Our 2015 30' Serenity does not have any 12 v plugs. You might want to check with your dealer, and if it doesn't consider having one installed

That's interesting, both reply's from owners of 2015 30 ft Airstreams & one have no 12v plug & the other has two. Thanks for your reply, Joe

paiceman · 06-13-2015, 10:22 AM

We do have 12 v plugs, we ordered our trailer.

Mrjkq · 06-13-2015, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paiceman

We do have 12 v plugs, we ordered our trailer.

Mines not going on the build line until the 24th. Calling my dealer & get a 12v added. Thanks, again, Joe

StillRod · 06-13-2015, 10:27 AM

Our 2015 25 foot rear twin Flying Cloud does NOT have a 12 volt power tap, while our 2012 Bambi did. AS seems to have substituted USB ports for 12 volt power.

greghoro · 06-13-2015, 10:50 AM

I installed 12V receptacle's (aka Cigarette lighter outlets) at each corner of our trailer, right next to the LED spots under the cabinets.

The wiring to the LED lights is quite substantial, so you will have a hard time overloading the circuit and will most likely overload the 12V receptacle before the wires heat up. There are already wire nuts where the LED's tie into the circuit, but you will have to go up one size wire nut when adding the wire for the 12V receptacle. Removing the stereo speakers makes it easy to get to the wiring with the exception of the area under the radio, which is a bit more crowded.

I found high output 12V to 5V dual USB adapters that I plug in to the receptacle for charging phones or powering other 5V devices.

This setup give me more flexibility than if I installed a dedicated USB port, as Airstream is now doing. I found USB powered flexible shaft lights that put out less light than the stock corner LED spots, perfect for reading in bed when you have twins.

Greg

Nomad518 · 06-13-2015, 11:25 AM

To answer your wife's question, I conducted extensive research. I asked my wife. Although our AS has two 12v power outlets, 12v wasn't enough to run the little POS 12v blow dryer she got from Camping World. It ran down our battery quickly and didn't heat or blow enough to dry her hair. To solve her problem, I bought a 1000 watt Honda generator. It did a good job of keeping our battery charged when dry camping and provided the power she needed to run her hair dryer on the cold setting. But, that was still not a good solution for her. So, I upgraded to two 2000 watt Honda generators so that we can run our AC when dry camping. And now, she is able to run her blow dryer on the low heat setting with one of the generators running. She can run it on the high heat setting but the generator is running at full speed. Haven't tried it with both generators running but I suspect that's what it would take to run a blow dryer on high for any length of time. She once tripped a circuit breaker when she ran her blow dryer on high at the same time the AC was running (we were plugged into 110 power at the time). The lesson here is that blow dryers take a lot of power to operate. Installing 12v outlets or using an inverter probably won't deliver for you. You'll need a constant source of 110 power while the blow dryer is in operation. You'll need that from a power hookup or a generator.

rocco52 · 06-13-2015, 11:52 AM

Hello,

I took delivery of a new 25fb about a week ago. There is no DC plug anywhere. They have replaced them with USB charging plugs. In other threads I have found that to get one the best way is to tap into a light fixture and run the wire from there to where you want to install one. Sorry

RosiesGuy · 06-13-2015, 12:56 PM

Having been in same situation and married I've learned a few quick answers:

1. I didn't know you owned a 12v hairdryer Honey! It'll give u time to check!!

and answer 2, which now that I think of it should be answer 1

2. If it doesn't it will, Honey!!!!!

Ha!!

eheffa · 06-13-2015, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nomad518

To answer your wife's question, I conducted extensive research. I asked my wife. Although our AS has two 12v power outlets, 12v wasn't enough to run the little POS 12v blow dryer she got from Camping World. It ran down our battery quickly and didn't heat or blow enough to dry her hair. To solve her problem, I bought a 1000 watt Honda generator. It did a good job of keeping our battery charged when dry camping and provided the power she needed to run her hair dryer on the cold setting. But, that was still not a good solution for her. So, I upgraded to two 2000 watt Honda generators so that we can run our AC when dry camping. And now, she is able to run her blow dryer on the low heat setting with one of the generators running. She can run it on the high heat setting but the generator is running at full speed. Haven't tried it with both generators running but I suspect that's what it would take to run a blow dryer on high for any length of time. She once tripped a circuit breaker when she ran her blow dryer on high at the same time the AC was running (we were plugged into 110 power at the time). The lesson here is that blow dryers take a lot of power to operate. Installing 12v outlets or using an inverter probably won't deliver for you. You'll need a constant source of 110 power while the blow dryer is in operation. You'll need that from a power hookup or a generator.

I'm sorry but does anyone else see the humor in this where:

In order to boondock you need TWO generators so that you can run a hairdryer?

Maybe it would be easier to change the hair style?

Come to think of it, I recall having an argument with my, at the time, 15 year old daughter. She she was adamantly opposed to staying at a spectacular unserviced waterfront campsite on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland.

"Why don't you want to stay here? It's the best campsite we've seen in 4 weeks!", says I.

"Because it has no power and I need to wash my hair.", says she.

Thankfully, she was out-voted by her slightly grubbier short-haired brothers and we stayed there sans hair wash.

We as a family still laugh about that incident; but it is camping after all...

Now if we could only figure out how to mount and power the hot tub on the roof of the Airstream, we'd have a complete resort on wheels!

-evan

MissingLink5 · 06-13-2015, 01:34 PM

The things we do for our wives!!!

BigButtUgly · 06-13-2015, 01:43 PM

Think twice about taping a light fixture wire. I suspect the wire is way way too small

and ifa fuse does not blow the wire might melt.

Foiled Again · 06-13-2015, 01:45 PM

Better trick - I got a bunch of blue microfiber towels for all sorts of Airstream cleaning, then one day the power went out during a bad storm just as I was getting out of the shower with my hair soaked.

I toweled off but my hair stayed damp, so I grabbed a clean microfiber work towel, and patted my head. The thing just sucked moisture out of my hair - so then I took two and sewed them together so I could wrap my hair as I get out of the shower every day. By the time I dry off and get into clothing my hair is almost totally dry. With a round brush and an endless breeze fan I can style my hair just like it's under a dryer - and I don't heat up the Airstream or fight with the air conditioner for voltage. AND I'm ready to go a lot faster. I do have short hair with fine texture, but I showed this trick to a Cherokee friend of mine who has a horse's mane - long heavy thick hair. She has to comb it out, then wrap it, then remove the damp towels and wrap it again with dry ones - but she used to spend an hour or more with a blow dryer and now it's five minutes to touch up.

Your hair will LOVE not being fried with a dryer, too.

Paula

Mrjkq · 06-13-2015, 02:11 PM

Thanks for all the comments here guys, especially the funny ones. I do intend to purchase a Honda 2000i maybe even two depending on need. I'll definately need at least one to charge my batteries when not in use. Regarding the hairdryer, we don't do a lot of boon docking except that quick overnight stop on the road so the Honda(s) with do the job for all needs.
Joe

Aviator · 06-13-2015, 03:09 PM

My wife has tried several 12v hair dryers. None were adequate. I wouldn't worry about this issue as 12v just doesn't appear up to the task.

xrvr · 06-13-2015, 05:47 PM

Solar hair dryer according to my wife. Comb your hair dry out in the sun. Jim

MaineStreamer · 06-13-2015, 05:49 PM

[QUOTE=Nomad518;1636402]To solve her problem, I bought a 1000 watt Honda generator. It did a good job of keeping our battery charged when dry camping and provided the power she needed to run her hair dryer on the cold setting. But, that was still not a good solution for her. So, I upgraded to two 2000 watt Honda generators so that we can run our AC when dry camping. And now, she is able to run her blow dryer on the low heat setting with one of the generators running.[QUOTE]

A mere $2,000 for two Honda EU2000i generators. Apparently, we all need them anyway for boondocking unless we have lots of solar panels, lots of storage batteries, and lots of sunlight. But, at least they are pretty quiet. I listened today to three of them running together at a food concession truck at the Kennebunkport Festival and was pleased that even three made pretty low noise and no noticeable smell.