Attracting Unwanted Attention

[Gringo]

"Caution, contains human waste" might brush a few more of them back from the plate.

[Goal15]

Thank you, thank you verah much!!!! I'll be here throught Thursday . . . :-)

[Norm1234]

We stopped and a fast food place in North Carolina last week on a way home from Virginia. When we stopped we parked in an 18 wheeler parking spot next to the building. After eating we came out to find a couple sitting in the car eating their lunch checking out our AS. They did roll down the window to tell us they liked our “Trailer” as they called it. Made me feel good after all the hours we have put in her over the last couple of years.

[AirHedz]

To add to my original post:

Something most drivers don't realize is that you tend to go where you are looking. I've heard it referred to as "Target Fixation". As a motorcycle rider, if you see an object in the road you don't want to hit don't fix your attention on it. Instead, look to where you want to go. I think that's what happens. They get so locked on to what they are looking at the next thing they know is they hit it.

[az-streamer]

might as well get used to the gawkers and lookers.

pulling an AS does tend to get you attention simply because they stand out from the other rigs.

i have had people look, wave, talk to us at the dump stations; no problem for me - i enjoy it.

we sometimes travel without our AS [ie: recent trip to Alaska] and i will often go over to a parked AS'er to converse and compare notes. sometimes even snap a pic or two.



[at a pull-out on the highway btwn anchorage and seward 6/23/11]

you know how much us AS'ers love to talk!

no harm - no foul. spread the word!

[Phoenix]

On two different occasions, when making shopping runs at grocery stores, we found Japanese and German tourists standing outside our Bambi taking pictures of themselves against the trailer. They said they had heard of Airstreams, but never seen one.

[AirHedz]

Originally Posted by az-streamer

might as well get used to the gawkers and lookers.

pulling an AS does tend to get you attention simply because they stand out from the other rigs.

i have had people look, wave, talk to us at the dump stations; no problem for me - i enjoy it.

People looking and waving is no problem for me either.

Until it gets to the point that they run into me.

Yeah, I have a problem with that. A big one!!!

I wonder if you would have a different opinion if you had experienced what we had.

One of the other drivers was so close. He was 2/3 of the way INTO my lane.
I had to go completely on to the shoulder as I was hard on the brakes!!!

Still no problem?

[Fly at Night]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

On two different occasions, when making shopping runs at grocery stores, we found Japanese and German tourists standing outside our Bambi taking pictures of themselves against the trailer. They said they had heard of Airstreams, but never seen one.

Well, this changes the perspective entirely.

I'm going to have a sign made, "Airstream Photo Backdrop - $5" and plunk it outside the trailer whenever I'm stopped (except at campsites/RV parks 'cause I need my beauty sleep).

Might as well make a few bucks on the road, what?

Heck, Banff is loaded with Japanese/German tourists. Changing my destination NOW!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1yAV...feature=fvwrel

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$$

[Mikethefixit]

AIRHed
Well I guess you just have to get used to it. Ya just dont see that many AIRSTREAMS on the road and people are curious by nature. Keep you eye on the mirror and you will be fine. You can catch them in your mirrow if the drift to close and make the approiate correction. Slow down a little and maybe they will pass.
GOOD LUCK GLAD YA JOINED the GROUP

[Dave Park]

On the trip back, I got asked questions at stops more often than I didn't. I decided that if I ever owned a trailer this attention-getting, I'd just do a pre-printed flyer with a couple of photos and the basic information, and a link to... airforums.com

[345bill]

We see it as fun times also and always wave back or have conversation if stopped.

The times I don't like it is when someone passes then get in front and slow down. Just last night we saw a clip on tv where some lawyers were actually paying people to do that and cause accidents only to scam the insurance companies.

[pappy19]

As stated above, we get the same "lookie-Lu's" and often get questions at gas stops. At one in Arizona there was a German hitch-hiker tourist and he was fascinated by our AS. He took maybe a dozen pictures of the outside. I know he was dying to ask to look inside but he didn't and I didn't offer. By the way, I was camping in Kemmerer, WY a few years ago and a monster Mercedes bus thingy drove up next to me and about 20 people got out. Next thing I knew they had converted the "bus" into a giant hotel with outside indivdual entrances. Some dude opend up a lower compartment and all of their cooking facilities came out. They fixed a big meal, washed clothes, took showers, lit a fire, visited and all went to bed. These were mixed middle aged men and women from Germany, tourists, and it didn't look like they were necessarily together. I took a bunch of pictures but haven't found them in a while.

Pap

[Skater]

The story of people nearly hitting you is scary - haven't had that happen but I've only towed ours a couple hundred miles so far! I've never had it happen with the B190 - but I think people are more like, "WTF IS THAT!?" instead of, "Look! An Airstream!"

We have gotten the questions, thumbs ups, etc already, though, less than a month into Airstream trailer ownership. It even happened as we were bringing it home the first time. Like I told some friends of mine: One of the requirements for owning an Airstream is that you have to be willing to show it off. Even our neighbors that never had a camper and will never want a camper wanted a tour of it.

[DougZ]

I have unfortunately caused a couple of accidents while driving my 1950 Studebaker. Both times it was senior citizens who were very excited to see the old car. Now when I see somebody pull alongside I just slow down and force them to go ahead.

[pappy19]

That is one Bodatious Studie!! I am really jealous!! Those Studies are the best IMHO.

Pap

[MrUKToad]

Being a novice at towing, I tend to take things easy. I rarely exceed the speed limit but, as I'm finding out, sticking to the speed limit causes other drivers great angst. Every trip out I'm plagued with tailgaters, traveling way too close to my bumper leaving me with just their shadow on the road to indicate their presence, and me with an excellent set of extended mirrors, too. I know Airstreams are great to look at but I don't think people need to look that closely! I noticed one driver have to veer off onto the shoulder when I braked a little harder than usual; who will be the first to run into the back of me I wonder?
I've always wanted to rig a switch so that I can light my brake lights without hitting the brakes; not sure how the cops would look at that modification.....

[wkerfoot]

Sometimes just turning on the parking lights works.

Bill

Originally Posted by MrUKToad

Being a novice at towing, I tend to take things easy. I rarely exceed the speed limit but, as I'm finding out, sticking to the speed limit causes other drivers great angst. Every trip out I'm plagued with tailgaters, traveling way too close to my bumper leaving me with just their shadow on the road to indicate their presence, and me with an excellent set of extended mirrors, too. I know Airstreams are great to look at but I don't think people need to look that closely! I noticed one driver have to veer off onto the shoulder when I braked a little harder than usual; who will be the first to run into the back of me I wonder?
I've always wanted to rig a switch so that I can light my brake lights without hitting the brakes; not sure how the cops would look at that modification.....

[MrUKToad]

Why didn't I think of that? Doh!

TY Bill

[richinny]

mount a rubber pole pointed at the drivers behind you ;-)

[slowmover]

Originally Posted by MrUKToad

Being a novice at towing, I tend to take things easy. I rarely exceed the speed limit but, as I'm finding out, sticking to the speed limit causes other drivers great angst. Every trip out I'm plagued with tailgaters, traveling way too close to my bumper leaving me with just their shadow on the road to indicate their presence, and me with an excellent set of extended mirrors, too. I know Airstreams are great to look at but I don't think people need to look that closely! I noticed one driver have to veer off onto the shoulder when I braked a little harder than usual; who will be the first to run into the back of me I wonder?
I've always wanted to rig a switch so that I can light my brake lights without hitting the brakes; not sure how the cops would look at that modification.....

Stick to the speed you want. The upper speed limit is so rarely appropriate for a combination vehicle that it almost doesn't exist for travel purposes. Braking distance -- for you -- is the decisive factor, IMO. That the others cannot and will not learn their responsibilities versus the privilege they believe it is why we must do our best. It is the only defense. Get your hitch rigging perfected, and, with the best brake controller and some driving practice one learns that passivity in the face of this boorishness is not appropriate. (And record license plates).

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