2nd smaller Airstream trailer craziness

[ashe]

I have a 25 foot flying cloud with twins that I/we enjoy. Most of our travel is on caravans. Lately I have been thinking about buying a 20ft Bambi thinking we might be motivated to do more airstreaming camping and of a different nature. I wonder if others have done something similar and what you have experienced in their travel habits?

Crazy but curious?

Nick

[AlinCal]

We did just that. We added a nice used 19' Bambi thinking we would take advantage of more spontanious weekend trips around home with the more nimble trailer, while it is easier to tow, find a site, turn around in our driveway space, less to clean, etc. etc. We have decided to let it go since we prefer having he larger space of the 25, and not having to maintain 2 trailers, insurance costs, money invested that sits, and the fact that where we live the camping availability is hardly spontanious requiring reservations months in advance to get a weekend site.
It was fun though.

[A W Warn]

We call the 25' the small trailer.

ps:
I got a 30' Airstream first but wanted lesser size trailer for traveling, thus the 25'.
Then we wanted more space on longer stays during retirement, thus the 34'.

[kenfconnor]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

We call the 25' the small trailer.

ps:
I got a 30' Airstream first but wanted lesser size trailer for traveling, thus the 25'.
Then we wanted more space on longer stays during retirement, thus the 34'.

We have a 1966 26 and a 1981 31. Love the true vintage charm of the 66 but ready to pass it on to simplify our lives. We are expecting to do more long trips in the future and love the space and layout of the 31. Not really too many camping spots where we cannot fit it in. Beyond about 1 week the 26 just gets too small. We got spoiled with the larger trailer!

[Linda71air]

I have a 71 19' I'm still renovating, but it is where I can use her now. I love it for ease of towing and choice of camp spots. In Texas, there are plenty of places to camp on the spare of the moment (and Oklahoma as well, unless it is a holiday and those book fast). But , I'm single. It might be a different story for 2 people.

[switz]

We have a 2014 31' Classic and a 2015 23D International Serenity as our small trailer. We use a 2012 Ram 2500HDCummins to tow the Classic and my 2007 Mercedes ML320 CDI v6 diesel to tow the 23D.

[Stevelandco]

Have a Bambi FC20c and love it. It’s easy to tow and set up at campgrounds. Just make sure you like the size of the bed. Some people feel it’s too small.

[eggman]

Absolutely understand. 25 years ago my parents bought 32 foot travel trailer to retire and travel in , but before they could finish their first snowbird trip to south Texas, my dad had purcased a smaller trailer to go camping in!
I have a 25 foot CCD International and have been looking at Basecamps, or those tiny SOBs , or those small Interstates for the same reason!

[Gsnedike]

Our first trailer was a 25’ because we were told we would be sorry if we went any smaller. After 3 years we had enough and traded down to a 19’ Bambi. We purchased the Used 2 year old Bambi and loved it. My wife’s only complaints were the lack of counter space and not having the bathroom sink actually located in the bathroom where it belongs. After 9 years we sold our 19’ Bambi for the exact price we paid for it and purchased a 2018 20’ Flying Cloud with a ton of counter space and a fully equipped bathroom. It’s a dream to tow behind our new 2018 F150 diesel with the new 10 speed transmission. It has all the room we need, has incredible torque and gets between 18 and 22 mpg towing and 28 mpg highway. If you think you would like to go with a smaller rig look into the Airstream Flying Cloud 20’FB; I think you’ll be well pleased!

[overlander64]

I started out with my 1964 Overlander in 1995, and thoroughly enjoyed traveling in it -- but found myself wishing for a more maneuverable trailer for weekend and shorter trips. Purchased my 1978 Argosy Minuet in 2009 and have enjoyed many weekend and longer trips that I would have been less likely to take had it meant taking the Overlander. For two, three, four week and longer excursions, it is definitely the Overlander.

While my Cadillac Eldorado is capable of towing either trailer, the Minuet is a much better match and it was with this combination that I traveled to the 2008 WBCCI International Rally in Wyoming. Traveling alone means that I rarely feel cramped in either trailer, but the Overlander certainly has more comfortable sleeping accommodations.

Kevin

[NTSJet]

Our retirement plan, we trade our 30' motorhome in on our "winter home", a 40' diesel pusher. But we still like camping, so we got a Nest. Just the right size so we're covered wherever we want to go. Our new Ranger will tow the Nest, and be our Toad behind the Winnebago.

[RobH41]

Currently re-building and doing some mods to an older '77 Argosy Minute 6 meter that we will use for some shorter trips rather than taking our 2016 25' FC. I'm slanting this resto toward more short-term boon-docker use as a support base for our photography excursions. So, yes, a second smaller one slanted to a special purpose use makes great sense for us.

[wsrb]

We have an Airstream 25FB and a Nu-Camp T@B for the same reasons you've noted. Haven't made the final decision yet on keeping both.

[Oregonboy]

Prefer our 27-foot International. Like a bit of room and dog approves as well. We don't let our dog sleep on our bed (gross), so room for the wolf pup is key.

[TXGal]

We first bought a 19’ Bambi , International. We wanted to try and make due with the smallest we thought we could still find comfortable. We are two small adults and really thought we could live with a full size bed. Not so much. I also thought the the bathroom sink on the outside would not be a big deal, but did not really dig hair flying all over instead of it being contained to the bathroom area. And let’s talk about the toilet. Your knees basically hit the door when closed. And we are short adults. Very tight quarters! A year later, we traded it in for the 23’ International FB (still wanting to stay relatively small). The things that make a big difference to us are.....the queen bed, the sink in bathroom, the toilet placement, more storage space, a little more counter space, oven & micro, and tandem axles. The single axle makes for a very bumpy ride, which is more wear and tear on trailer.

[AlinCal]

Glad you added FB to that 23, the bath/bedroom in our 19cb is the tough part for us and with the 23d the same I have trouble concidering that trailer an option that might span our two trailers. People seem to like that trailer but being athletic and nimble are requirements.

[TXGal]

Originally Posted by AlinCal

Glad you added FB to that 23, the bath/bedroom in our 19cb is the tough part for us and with the 23d the same I have trouble concidering that trailer an option that might span our two trailers. People seem to like that trailer but being athletic and nimble are requirements.

We would not have bought a 23 without the FB option. At the moment, we mostly go on camping trips with our AS for long weekends about once a month. We have a pretty long camping season where we live. We can usually go March-Nov. We will take an extended amount of time/vacation once a year. If we were traveling more, we would have probably jumped up to the 25’. We def want to keep our options open to be able to camp in areas where they don’t allow anything too big.

[TouringDan]

We started with a 31’ and wanted something smaller to get into National Park and National Forest campgrounds. We bought a 66 Tradewind and love it. We have had it for 8 years and have done extensive renovations and made many improvements- axles, disc brakes, lithium batteries, 2,000 watt inverter, solar, etc. I will never sell this trailer.

I have always wanted a 34’. 10% longer and heavier than a 31’ but 50% more tires and braking. We bought one 5 years ago and it is on the back burner. Extensive interior redesign is my plan along with disc brakes and other improvements. It will make a great trailer to wonder around Florida in the winter time after my wife retires. My wife thinks I am nuts. That’s ok, she is probably correct.

Dan

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by ashe

I have a 25 foot flying cloud with twins that I/we enjoy. Most of our travel is on caravans. Lately I have been thinking about buying a 20ft Bambi thinking we might be motivated to do more airstreaming camping and of a different nature. I wonder if others have done something similar and what you have experienced in their travel habits?

Crazy but curious?

Nick

Going from 25' to 20' will involve a considerable shift in almost all parameters.

If, by using the pronoun "we," you mean that there are two of you, I would suggest that you spend some time [hours] in a 20' and "act out" the following issues:
-- sleeping [both hot and cold weather]
-- "safe space" for personal use away from the other person
-- cooking
-- storage
-- entertaining at rallies
-- pets, children, grandchildren etc.
-- lounging on the couch [as in "none"]
-- doing all of the above at the same time in rainy dreary weather

In the 20' there are serious compromises in every category above. We went from a 25' to a 20' but our lifestyle shifted first, and the shorter unit works well.

Eyes wide open . . . that's all.

Good luck,

Peter

PS -- Practical considerations:
-- one axle risk of damage with blowout
-- much smaller tanks
-- etc

PS2 -- Per other comments, consider the 23FB model as a better compromise? We went down to 20' mainly for the corner kitchen with twin sinks and a gas stove. Nice!

[Deltaboy59]

We love our Bambi Sport 16...
Only takes up two diagonal parking spaces...
such as Wal Mart...Can maneuver in fast food parking lots...
Parking on most city streets...we moved up to a Bambi from a t@b ,and feel we made a wise decision by starting small and moving up instead of the typical trend of buying too much at the beginning ...
We have a 2016 F150 Supercrew with tonneau cover .
We love the ability to detach for day trips and dinner dates...
Everything we want in a RV...