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07-31-2014, 04:41 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
Currently Looking...
San Antonio
, Texas
Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 689
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Another Two Feet, Please!
New Coach Happiness, Part II. After several wonderful years, and our first long multi-week roadtrips in years, we decided to relook at our Airstream situation. Oh, what another 2'1" can do!
The same 2008 (Safari) Sport 22 that took us all over the west was beginning to feel a bit limiting. The super-sized front dinette was always deployed as a queen-sized bed, leaving us one side gaucho with lap trays for living/dining space. The Sport's lighter, less extensive features made for a great towing, simple design. Yet a look at the current Flying Cloud line made us long for a bit more luxury. The Flying Cloud FB 23 is essentially the 2010 and newer Sport 22 FB plan, but with an extra closet and a walk around bed. So it fixed the two major livability issues. Well, and the higher end series had a lot more nice features like bigger tanks, LED lights, an inverter, full entertainment system and the like.
We wanted to stay in the same size class, and the medium sized diesel SUV remains our tow vehicle (600 lb hitch/6000 tow rating). Our first few highway hours show comparable mileage (16 MPG), and seat-of-pants tow feel, despite greater frontal area and 1100 more dry weight pounds. Well, the more leisurely turning of a two axle trailer did force me to take two extra attempts to back it into the shed!
And, our first trip in our SECOND Airstream will be the Texas Gulf Coast!
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07-31-2014, 05:23 PM
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#2
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4 Rivet Member
2004 34' Classic S/O
Stafford
, Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
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Sure looks nice!
__________________
Mike, Miho &
S/OS#069
TAC # TX-33
WBCCI #5702
"Eva" 2004 Classic Limited 34' S/O
"Wall-E" 2012 Ford F250 King Ranch
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07-31-2014, 05:39 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2014 31' Classic
2015 23' International
2013 25' FB International
Apache Junction
, Arizona
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 6,223
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Airstream model sizes makes the "two foot more creep" very possible and very expensive. Glad you are pleased with your new selection.
We were unhappy with our starter and did the big jump (5 feet more) and skipped an intermediate model to the 31' Classic.
If my wife is happy, I am happy, Probably the same scenario in your household.
__________________
WBCCI Life Member 5123, AIR 70341, 4CU, WD9EMC
TV - 2012 Dodge 2500 4x4 Cummins HO, automatic, Centramatics, Kelderman level ride airbag suspension, bed shell
2014 31' Classic w/ twin beds, 50 amp service, 1000 watt solar system, Centramatics, Tuson TPMS, 12" disc brakes, 16" tires & wheels
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07-31-2014, 07:57 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1972 25' Tradewind
Currently Looking...
McHenry County
, Illinois
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,171
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Two-Foot-Itis.
A common affliction affecting Airstreamers and their nautical counterparts.
Appears you have prescribed yourself appropriate self medication.
Tom
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07-31-2014, 08:14 PM
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#5
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4 Rivet Member
2011 30' Flying Cloud
Arvada
, Colorado
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 411
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Now you know why we moved to a 30' from a 28'. The extra length has made all the difference! Good luck. It sure looks like a great setup.
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07-31-2014, 10:04 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,408
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Very nice! Congrats on the "new 2"!
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Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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08-13-2014, 05:37 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2002 31' Classic
Currently Looking...
Monroe
, Iowa
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 649
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When I had the boat store I told customers that there was no such thing as a "too large" boat, only "too small" boats. Everyone who bought a 17' runabout, bought a 19' the next year, and a 20' or 21' the year after that.
When we bought our first camping trailer, back in '68, we thought 12' would work just fine for us. (A cute little Scotty)
The next year we bought a 19' Bambi, and the third year a 23' Caravaner.
We enjoyed the 23' AS for more than a decade.
30 years later we decided to get back into "camping" and buy another Airstream. We looked at the small ones and quickly decided we were not as "small" as we used to be, so we ended up with a 31' Classic. PERFECT!
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08-13-2014, 07:26 PM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2015 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2013 25' FB Eddie Bauer
2012 20' Flying Cloud
Small Town
, *** Big Sky Country ***Western Montana
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 2,860
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So, just when/ where does the next two end ... LOL
__________________
2015 25' Eddie Bauer Int'l FBQ / 2023 Ford Lightning ER
2022 Ford F350 6.2 V-8; equalizer hitch + Shocker air hitch
Honda Eu3200; AIR# 44105; formerly WBCCI 2015.1
Terminal Aluminitis; 2-people w/ 3+ dogs
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08-13-2014, 07:43 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mefly2
So, just when/ where does the next two end ... LOL
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It doesn't. We toured the country since 1972 in a series of VW Campers until a few years into retirement we decided to spend half of the year on the road. First a spacious 2007 airstream 20' with no living room. Ooops, lets start over.
Looked at everything, motorhomes big and small, fivers yuk, park model in a southern resort no not yet. We're Airstreamers.
The 25' is smallest of the big, easy 1/2 ton tow, maneuverable. Modified the front seating and looking forward to our fourth 1/2 year trip this fall in great comfort.
It ends at 25' for us, but not everybody.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles
The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
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