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06-27-2011, 09:05 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Kingston
, Washington
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 692
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1st Time Towing an Airstream
Hi. Well, we purchased an Airstream!! It is a 2005, 30 foot Classic Limited. We saw this trailer on Craigslist in Montana. We live in Washington State. The owner said that they used it three times and stored it in the "hanger."
We travelled to Montana after a tentative agreement on price. The trailer looked as described with a few "issues." In general it looks like new. So we purchased it for the agreed price.
Now we were ready to hook the trailer up to our van (a '99 Chevrolet Express). For our previous trailers, we used an Eaz-Lift hitch. This trailer came with the Reese hitch. After hooking it up, it looked like the bars were a bit close to the ground (see pictures). Nobody had the correct wrenches to adjust the hitch angle, so we left it as is.
The first day, we went from Deer Lodge, MT to Coeur D'Alene, ID, about 250 miles. We stayed at relatives for the night. The trailer towed great with no issues. Even through the mountain passes.
The next day (yesterday) we took a short trip just west of Spokane, WA, about 50 miles. Again, no problems and this time we had a full hookup.
The last day (today) we came home. About 330 miles. Coming up the vantage hill from the Columbia river (a very long hill, about 8 miles). With our other trailer, we were in second gear most of the way up. With the Airstream, we madi it up in third gear all the way(!!). The same was true for the hill to Stevens Pass, third gear all the way.
Our old trailer probably weighed about 1,000 pounds more, and it had the large frontal area pushing air.
So far, we love the trailer. Yea, I know... here are the pictures:
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06-27-2011, 09:10 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Kingston
, Washington
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 692
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More Pictures After We Got Home...
Pictures...
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06-27-2011, 09:11 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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Great looking trailer! Congratulations
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06-27-2011, 09:18 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1991 34' Excella
1963 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Central
, Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,919
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That's a nice trailer!
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06-27-2011, 09:31 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1983 34' Excella
1967 24' Tradewind
Little Rock
, Arkansas
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,825
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It's a real beauty! Welcome to the forums.
One trick for the Sharp microwave/convection. When popping microwave popcorn, put an inverted pie plate on the carousel. That tip is hidden in an obscure place in the manual, it's not in the "Popcorn" section. A friend gave me the head's up. It's on page 5 of the (printed) manual under the "ABOUT UTENSILS AND COVERINGS" section. On row five "Glass, heat-resistant" in the "Microwave Only" column it says "Yes. Excellent. Overturned pie plate necessary for popping popcorn." This is the only place in the manual that this is mentioned. It's on page 7 of 43 of the pdf version I attached.
Enjoy the Airstream.
__________________
Vaughan
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06-27-2011, 09:37 PM
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#6
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Moderator
2015 25' FB Flying Cloud
2012 23' FB Flying Cloud
2005 25' Safari
Santa Rosa Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 13,153
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Greetings from the Florida Panhandle
Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.
You did good! That's a real nice Airstream.
__________________
SuEllyn & Brian McCabe
WBCCI #3628 -- AIR #14872 -- TAC #FL-7
2015 FC 25' FB (Lucy) with ProPride
2020 Silverado 2500 (Vivian)
2023 Rivian R1T (Opal)
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06-27-2011, 10:16 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1978 28' Ambassador
Morada
, California
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,584
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Wow - what a like-new looking rig...Looks like you started your Airstream 'career' at the top!
I'm sure you're on your way to many new AS adventures...
One note, I believe many states require that the safety tow chains be hooked up in a 'Cris-cross' pattern - with the idea there is more chance the trailer coupling (tongue) will be 'captured' on top of the chains if it came off the ball...
Have fun this year with your new 'toy'...
__________________
Ray & Pat; Morada, CA
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06-28-2011, 05:05 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
St. Catharines
, South Western Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,367
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 10Smiles
The last day (today) we came home. About 330 miles. Coming up the vantage hill from the Columbia river (a very long hill, about 8 miles). With our other trailer, we were in second gear most of the way up. With the Airstream, we madi it up in third gear all the way(!!). The same was true for the hill to Stevens Pass, third gear all the way.
Our old trailer probably weighed about 1,000 pounds more, and it had the large frontal area pushing air.
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For sure Smiles. Many of us have had the same experiance/comparision. The aerodynamic advantage is huge with the Airstreams and that factor works when going up hills too.
__________________
Airstreams..... The best towing trailers on the planet!
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06-28-2011, 12:48 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Kingston
, Washington
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 692
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Thanks to you all for the kind words. I do have to say a big THANK YOU to this forum for all the help in making the decision as to which Airstream to purchase. The knowledge here and willingness to help is incredible.
We hope to be hanging around this site quite a bit.
Thanks again!
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06-28-2011, 01:35 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2011 31' Classic
Nellysford
, Virginia
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,067
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Wow, that's a beauty! Interior much like our old '99 Excella 30' Enjoy it as we enjoy ours!
__________________
Greg Heuer, Spirit of Virginia Airstream Club
2011 31' Classic Ltd. - The Silver Otter III
2013 GMC Denali 2500HD 6.6 DuraMax - Sierra Blanca
TAC VA-18 | Life Mbr ACI 1927 - Spirit of Virginia Club | AIR 53869
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06-28-2011, 02:25 PM
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#11
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3 Rivet Member
1972 Argosy 26
1973 Argosy 26
Fairmont
, West Virginia
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 249
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Remember Keep the Aluminum Up and the Rubber down... Welcome aboard...
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06-28-2011, 07:28 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Kingston
, Washington
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 692
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Shiny side up, aye!!
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06-28-2011, 08:15 PM
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#13
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3 Rivet Member
2022 30' Flying Cloud
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 208
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Enjoy. Many trips and more memories.
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06-28-2011, 08:42 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
2005 22' International CCD
Aliso Viejo
, California
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 61
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Congratulations. She is beautiful. You are right, the bars do look too close to the ground. I would check the angle and set up before your next trip. Great looking Classic.
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06-28-2011, 09:46 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master
2008 27' Classic FB
Burkburnett
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 985
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You should get much enjoyment from this trailer. Yes, the hitch needs adjustment. Without going into details as this has been discussed at length in other threads here, when it's right, the trailer will be level fore to aft, the van will be essentially level, and the spring bars will deflect about 1 - 2" and will be more or less parallel to the frame when under tension.
Do you know what the bars are rated for? There has been a lot of discussion here that many hitches are sold with bars that are too stout, particularly for an Airstream.
__________________
AIR 47751
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06-28-2011, 11:46 PM
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#16
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3 Rivet Member
2000 23' Safari
Vero Beach
, Florida
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 180
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Nice unit! Those hardened washers used in the hitch set-up can usually be purchased at Home Depot. Try looking in the big cabinet with metal drawers. (I am assuming your hitch uses standard sized washers like mine).
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06-29-2011, 01:22 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2008 27' Classic FB
Burkburnett
, Texas
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 985
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mhilley
Nice unit! Those hardened washers used in the hitch set-up can usually be purchased at Home Depot. Try looking in the big cabinet with metal drawers. (I am assuming your hitch uses standard sized washers like mine).
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The pictures show the Reese Dual Cam Strait Line hitch. I believe the washers you mentioned are for a different brand, or have I missed something?
__________________
AIR 47751
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06-29-2011, 01:29 PM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2000 25' Safari
Davidson County
, NC Highlands County, FL
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,493
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YankeeDoodle
The pictures show the Reese Dual Cam Strait Line hitch. I believe the washers you mentioned are for a different brand, or have I missed something?
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In both of my hitches there are washers used as shims to adjust the up/down angle of the hitch head.
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06-29-2011, 06:00 PM
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#19
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Rivet Master
2005 30' Classic
Kingston
, Washington
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by YankeeDoodle
The pictures show the Reese Dual Cam Strait Line hitch. I believe the washers you mentioned are for a different brand, or have I missed something?
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Yes, that's right, there are no shims used on this hitch. There are two square washers on the top bolt that have groves for adjusting the angle.
The hitch uses 1,200 pound bars. In reading other threads, it sounds like they may be too stiff. Comments??
Thanks for all the responses.
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06-29-2011, 06:42 PM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
2002 30' Classic
East Central
, Alabama
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 68
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For what it's worth, I have the identical Reese dual cam hitch with 1200# bars. I have the ball height set at approximately 20" (top of ball) unhitched. This settles down to approx. 18 1/2" to 19" after hitched and with bars in the (4th) chain length. Everything balances out with approx same height front and back of trailer - also with tow vehicle.
Reese has a set up instruction PDF file for more detailed information on their website.
Very nice looking Airstream - enjoy!
Curt
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