Back from Yellowstone

[casarodante]

Just got back from our first major trip with the Airstream since we got it from Mom and Dad a year ago. 7 state, 6 NP's, 1 NM and 4300 miles later. California to Yellowstone and back.

The Airstream pulled like a dream. I normally could just feel the weight. Crosswinds were hard to notice, headwinds kicked it out of overdrive but the A/S does not sit much higher than the Excursion so I don't know if I can attribute it to the trailer.

The only problem we had was just over the Wyoming border near Flaming Gorge. The road had gravel on it due to some repairs and another trailer passed. I looked at the front window and it had shattered. Not fun. We cleaned out as much glass as we could and continued on to Rock Springs. Of course this was Sunday. The only building place open was an Ace hardware. One option was putting plexiglass in but that would require a lot of work in the frame. The decision was to put in a piece of plywood so we could take care of it in Jackson on Monday.

In Jackson, the glass shops said they did not have the facility to cut tempered glass. One shop said that he could not replace it with anything else than tempered, not even plexiglass. I told him that this was a trailer and no one was inside of it when it was being towed. I convinced him to put in the plexiglass and it lasted the remainder of the trip.

I haven't persued it anymore since we just got back yesterday.

[JW84345]

Our Rocky Moutain, Jackson Wo, Yellowstone trip is probably our favorite to date. We really have some wornderul national parks to enjoy!

Sorry to hear about your window. You'll notice few other brands have all that wonderful glass up front. I strongly recommend you get a cover for the front window, especially if you also have the the curved fixed glass windows on either side of the main window. The covers are about $400 from Airstream. They may be available elsewhere, I don't know.

Good luck

[davidz71]

Inland RV sells the solar ray rock guards on their site. Go to www.inlandrv.com.

[OpenHigher]

Hello all: First post here. Sherry and I, Robert, just purchased our first Airstream. On the 2006 Safari SE, are people saying here we should get a solid cover over the front window area? The order is backed up 3 months, so we will not be taking delivery until late December.

Thanks. Robert and Sherry

[85MH325]

Robert, the front window rock shield is a good investment. Many of them in place on trailers, mine included, are starred from hits that would have taken out the window. I had a '70 Safari that lost its original rock shield to a wind storm, and I just never bothered to replace it... until AFTER I lost a "D" window to a rock. Several hundred dollars for a new window later, I recognized it's value.

Roger

[uwe]

Originally Posted by OpenHigher

Hello all: First post here. Sherry and I, Robert, just purchased our first Airstream. On the 2006 Safari SE, are people saying here we should get a solid cover over the front window area? The order is backed up 3 months, so we will not be taking delivery until late December.

Thanks. Robert and Sherry

Hello Robert and Sherri,

Welcome to the forums! And congratulations on your new trailer.
I am 99% sure that the brand new Safaris come with a solar grey Rock guard already attached from the factory. It is the kind that swings up and forms a nice sun shade when it is in it's open position.
About the only thing you can do to protect your new trailer further, is ordering the "segment protectors", basically another layer of aluminum that goes over the front curved segments to protect from rocks and debris that the truck's tires inevitably will kick up. These protectors are mounted on hinges, so they can be unclipped and swung out for cleaning behind. I am uncertain if those are standard on teh Safari SE, bes check with your dealer.

[OpenHigher]

Thank you UWE:

I have a call into the dealer right now, but just a message phone. We purchased the unit at Travel Land. I notice you are close in Orange, California. We are in the Seal Beach area.

Glad to me you.

R and S.

[uwe]

Glad to meet you, too.
Let me know if you need any help once you get the trailer.

[CanoeStream]

Robert & Sherry -- I've had my new trailer just under two weeks now. Whether you are getting the FB or SS, if you have a panoramic front window (an option on the FB) you will have the solar rock guard installed from the factory. (see picture in my section at www.airforums.com/photos)

[Safari-Rick]

Hi Everyone :

Yes, my 2005 Safari has the solar smoked glass that is suppose to protect the front window and yes, the newer models come with rock shield protector panels.

By the way, if you haven't heard the alleged horror stories of Inland RV, you need to go to the airstream.com forum.

I use C&G Trailer Service in Bellflower, CA. Rod is SUPER ! Service is great, he's a wealth of knowledge and has been there for years, and there is no BS. I had some warrenty work done last week and there was NO surprises.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.

R/
Safari-Rick

[scf31]

I have the kind that wrap around the side,and they look cool too !!!!! they look like sunglasses , I guess they do protect the glass also,,,,,

[RivetED]

Originally Posted by Safari-Rick

Hi Everyone :


...By the way, if you haven't heard the alleged horror stories of Inland RV, you need to go to the airstream.com forum.

R/
Safari-Rick

Tried to find the stories, no luck, What's the 'buzz'?

[OpenHigher]

Thank you all for the comments. Dealer in fact did say the rock guard was part of the package, and looks like "sunglasses" over the window itself.

Another OT matter but here goes: Did not order 600 watt inverter and think maybe I should have. A/S wants something like $700.00 in the original order sheet. Is this converter the same? How does it work exactly. Electronic novice, and about all I know is red is positive!

http://www.bestconverter.com/view_category.asp?cat=54

Note the price is under $300.00. Where does it plug into???

Thanks, Robert and Sherry

[OpenHigher]

Safari-Rick:

We live just down the road from Bellflower, in Seal Beach, grew up there on Rose Street, and went to Paramount High. Anyway, wrote down Rod's name and C and G Trailor. Am sure I will get to know him.

Thanks so much.

[Iver]

My dealer, Dave Tidmore at Roger Williams recommended that I not get the A/S 600 watt inverter also. He termed it an unnecessary expense. Don't remember the detailed explaination but I trust his judgement.

Your neighbor
Iver