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OTRA15 · 10-16-2016, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wcs

. . .
. . . there was some discussion about items hanging down closer to the ground such as the sewer grey/black water connection.

FYI -- further requests for clarification from the dealers have been made recently on the older Basecamp thread:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f404...ng-156584.html

SilverGate · 10-16-2016, 11:36 AM

Published on YouTube yesterday:

2017 Airstream Basecamp video showing side visor setup and detailed walk-through:

2017 Airstream Basecamp

OTRA15 · 10-16-2016, 03:27 PM

Thanks for the video. The dump valve is shown briefly at 2:48, and it does seem to be tucked in nicely near the tire, about the best possible location to avoid impact from a boulder, curb etc..

At time stamp 4:00 there is a quick glance at what looks like a bent steel anti-tip safety device (IMO) to prevent the trailer from going down when a heavy person steps in through the rear door, and throws things out of balance. [Edit -- at 1:38 there is a better shot of these and a brief description as a skid plate etc. near the full-sized spare tire.]

A great little trailer!

**Rocinante** · 10-16-2016, 04:32 PM

That's a great video, thanks! They're giving Patrick and his excellent videos a run for the money.

SteveSueMac · 10-16-2016, 05:31 PM

What a thoughtful layout! Very cool!

SilverGate · 10-16-2016, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks for the video. The dump valve is shown briefly at 2:48, and it does seem to be tucked in nicely near the tire, about the best possible location to avoid impact from a boulder, curb etc..

At time stamp 4:00 there is a quick glance at what looks like a bent steel anti-tip safety device (IMO) to prevent the trailer from going down when a heavy person steps in through the rear door, and throws things out of balance. [Edit -- at 1:38 there is a better shot of these and a brief description as a skid plate etc. near the full-sized spare tire.]

A great little trailer!

You're welcome, Rocinante and OTRA15!

BTW, regarding the pair of "bent steel devices," Patrick calls these "back approach bumper guards" (seen at 18:58 into the video in post #2, "Walk Through 2017 Airstream Basecamp").

Brent Rudd, Airstream Regional Director of Sales, Central Region, calls these "skid plates," and says, "The floor is angled up in the back... to give it higher clearance in the tail of the unit... when starting up a mountain road, you're not going to drag the tail. It also has some skid plates here underneath [points with his foot], so if you were to drag the bottom, it would hit here before you damage the bottom of the travel trailer" (see at 4:25 into the video, "RV Tour: 2017 Basecamp Trailer," post 28).

Laura of The Airstream Store at Lazydays, also refers to these as "skid plate things" (as seen at 1:40 into their video "2017 Airstream Basecamp," post #62) and reminds us that they will keep the bottom of the trailer from scraping the pavement when going in and out of gas stations!

OTRA15 · 10-17-2016, 05:38 AM

Thank you for the additional time-stamp references to the skid plates. In some of the earliest company videos posted on the other thread, it looked like the skid plates hung down a lot more IMO, which is what prompted my questions to begin with. The newer videos suggest that the plates "fit" well into the design. Better that they hit the pavement etc. first, than the full-sized spare tire mounted under the stern, or the rear bumper. Hopefully the skid plates are mounted in such a way that they will break off or bend if necessary, without doing any damage to the structure of the trailer, as sacrificial low points.

An optional rolling caster assembly at the bottom each each skid plate might be a good idea?

SilverGate · 10-21-2016, 11:50 AM

See Colonial Airstream's Patrick Botticelli give a walk-through of the optional rear and side tents, showing details of the tent structure and how the tents attach to the 2017 Airstream Basecamp.

Patrick enters the rear tent and says, "There is hardware that the dealer will install to get it tight up against the body... you can put your mountain bike or some of your equipment here." (Patrick is an avid mountain biker, as noted in the article Airstream Basecamp Relaunched!)

2017 Airstream Basecamp Tent Option

SilverGate · 10-27-2016, 01:43 PM

New 2017 Airstream Basecamp travel trailers are now arriving!

New Arrival - 2017 Airstream Basecamp

Bborzell · 10-29-2016, 12:26 PM

We looked at a Basecamp yesterday. Given the emphasis on remote camping, I am surprised that is does not come with an inverter. The brochure lists a "dash" next to inverter as well as TV or Sat wiring as opposed to STD or OPT.

Dealers says no inverter. Anyone have additional info on this?

OTRA15 · 10-30-2016, 07:17 AM

Welcome to the forum! FYI the other thread has some recent posts on the USB etc. issues:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f404...ng-156584.html

wcs · 10-30-2016, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bborzell

We looked at a Basecamp yesterday. Given the emphasis on remote camping, I am surprised that is does not come with an inverter. The brochure lists a "dash" next to inverter as well as TV or Sat wiring as opposed to STD or OPT.

Dealers says no inverter. Anyone have additional info on this?

Airstream does have an inverter for 2014 to Present Airstream International, Classic, Land Yacht, etc.

The dealer should be able to order and install an inverter. Any optional items from the brochure probably are installed at the factory or the dealership.

http://airstreamsupply.com/airstream...earch=inverter

**Rocinante** · 10-30-2016, 12:41 PM

Just remember, every inverter is generally a battery hog - at least when it's on (even if you're not drawing AC power). If there is any way to power your stuff via 12 volts DC, without using an inverter, you will be happier with your battery life.

This includes finding 12-volt alternatives to devices you have now, or perhaps heating things on the propane stove vs. plugging in the equivalent of a Keurig or other water-heating device. If you need to power a microwave or an air conditioner, you're going to need shore power (or a generator) anyway (e.g. the inverter is irrelevant).

So, you may wish to carefully analyze your needs and potential power uses while boondocking to see whether an inverter is really necessary. If it is, then it is, but don't just assume you have to have one.

OTRA15 · 10-30-2016, 02:03 PM

The online specs for the new BC say that it includes an inverter IMO. See new post on the other thread, as linked recently.

**Rocinante** · 10-30-2016, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTRA15

The online specs for the new BC say that it includes an inverter IMO. See new post on the other thread, as linked recently.

Honestly, and with the greatest respect, I have to say the only thing that really matters is what a little research discovers.

Perhaps their literature doesn't accurately reflect what they built and they should clarify those materials, but no matter what it appears to say, facts on the ground, as it were, trump opinions about what their literature appears to say.

If clarity on this issue is as critical to you as it appears to be, I strongly recommend you call Airstream directly, tell them your concerns, ask your questions, and let us know what you hear from them.

Bborzell · 10-30-2016, 11:46 PM

My original question was grounded in what the dealer told us about the electrical wiring. That was that the 110 stalks in the front counter and the usb ports contained in the stalks were wired for shore power only. They said that all of the other usp ports were similarly dedicated for shore power only.

My interest is in being able to charge phones and iPads while dry camping. It doesn't make much sense, in my opinion, to advertise a trailer as designed for dry camping while restricting 12V charge ports to shore power.

I will call Airstream on Monday.

**Rocinante** · 11-05-2016, 03:16 PM

Nice little BaseCamp article here: https://www.airstream.com/kid-free-w...-at-the-wedge/

Bborzell · 11-05-2016, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Nice little BaseCamp article here: https://www.airstream.com/kid-free-w...-at-the-wedge/

I read it earlier today; nice writeup. One thing I wondered about was whether the campsite they used had power to it. I started out thinking that it didn't but she mentioned turning on her Blendtec blender when they got back from their bike ride. My Blendtec is an amp hog.

**Rocinante** · 11-06-2016, 04:33 PM

If they had shore power, it's highly likely they had a generator. They were seriously boondocking.

OTRA15 · 11-06-2016, 04:54 PM

Agree they were probably using a generator, or the TV inverter? I believe, however, that the term "shore power" usually refers to a direct corded connection to the CG's electrical system, and does not include the use of a generator.

http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/electrical/shorepower.php

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/rv-terms.html

Thanks for the article.

PS Blendtec off grid using inverter:

https://www.reddit.com/r/vandwellers...lender_off_my/

Waring 12 volt blender: https://www.amazon.com/Waring-TG15-T...ews/B00004UE1G