Front Bed or Rear Bed

[McDave]

I just don't want a lot of windows where I sleep. I don't care if it's front bed or rear bed, so long as the windows follow the living/eating area.


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[Rocinante]

Love the idea of a 2nd entrance door for the front bedroom. Spendy, but really cool. However, I f we went that route we would put it curbside.

[Msmoto]

I suspect one can make an "emergency exit" out of any window by replacing the screen retaining piece with one slightly longer so as to make it easy to remove the screen. This is the only difference i can see between the screen retention methods of the windows..... Sent from my rear bed, parked in a Love's Truck Stop in eastern Indiana....LOL


Ms. Tommie Lauer
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[BillfromWI]

The loaded tongue weight of a FB can be 400# greater than a RF. I have a 2014 FC25FB twin with factory solar, my tongue weight is 1250# on the Airstream scale in Jackson Center. Friends have a 2014 FC25RB twin without solar, their loaded tongue weight is 800#. Neither I nor Airstream have an explanation for this. I think they know but aren't talking.

I like the FB floor plan better and the twins are definitely the way to go in either case.

If you choose an FB you will need a "3/4 ton" TV unless you carry no cargo. I started with a 2013 F-150 3.5 Ecoboost 4x4 144 WB, 3.73 axles, max tow, and max payload(great truck). I now have a 2016 GMC 2500 Duramax, not for the power but avoid overloading the tires and rear axle.

[GettinAway]

This is interesting. On the 23s, it's just the opposite. The FB has a lot less tongue weight than the Rear BR. I think it's the weight of the bathroom, and some of the kitchen, being all in the rear of the trailer. On the 23FB FC the hitch weight, empty is only 470#..

[switz]

With all of our mods to our 23D, the tongue weight is now 968 pounds with the Hensley Arrow attached.

[dkottum]

To get a consistent set of Airstream hitch weights there must be a consistent method of weighing the trailer at the tongue. That is not the case. Some weigh at the hitch ball, some weigh at the tongue jack, some weigh their installed Hensley/Propride at the stinger and some at the tongue jack, some trailers may not be level when weighed, some ground surfaces may not be level, some trailers are empty, some are loaded heavy in front and some are loaded heavy in back, some have bicycles above the propane tanks and see have them on the rear bumper, and some have modified their Airstreams (take us for example).

There is an important parameter we keep in mind. Airstream advises at least 10% of total trailer weight and warns to never exceed 1,000 lbs tongue weight. GVWR for our Airstream is 7300 lbs, so our trailer tongue must weigh 730 to 1,000 lbs. Sounds good, but our ProPride hitch is bolted to the Airstream tongue when we weigh it, but is carried by the truck's receiver when actually using it. So we call it a 50/50 split between the two.

Adding these various weights is a ballpark estimate. What matters to us is when loaded for travel, hitched and weight distribution set, we take it to the truck scale to ensure our truck's axles are loaded evenly and not over GAWR, our tires have enough capacity and air pressure to carry the load, and our Airstream axles are not overloaded. Some guesswork remains here because the Airstream axles are weighed as a pair, so we depend on the Airstream being as close to level as possible and loaded evenly side-to-side.

Weighing the loaded truck before hitching and then truck/trailer after hitching will give us the actual weight the Airstream adds to the truck's load, a curiosity but little else after ensuring the hitched rig is within weight limits.

[rodsterinfl]

When I took my AS to the CAT scales I did a weigh-in where I unhitched and left the tongue jack resting on the one scale while the other scale measured the trailer at the wheels. I also did a measure with the trailer all on one scale and the truck on one scale. THEN I measured the hitched mess all together! I come in at around 990# tongue on a Safari 25 (2006). It would be a bit different now with the new sofa and floor and aluminum LP tanks. My guess is MORE! Don't forget to empty the WH!

I have a 2014 FC25FB twin with factory solar, my tongue weight is 1250# on the Airstream scale in Jackson Center. Friends have a 2014 FC25RB twin without solar, their loaded tongue weight is 800#. Neither I nor Airstream have an explanation for this. I think they know but aren't talking. I like the FB floor plan better and the twins are definitely the way to go in either case.

Wow, they must have put the axles further back or something. I agree with the twin layout on an Airstream as providing the better floorplan. I know many a married couple laugh at the notion but it is comfortable and couples can STILL be together!

[dkottum]

Rod, those twin beds are great but crowded for two. On the other hand we'd have one bed would never got used for sleeping, maybe ditch the mattress and use it for storage.

More seriously, did you put on 30 lb or 40 lb aluminum tanks? If 40# did you use the original tank cover? We're looking at aluminum tanks, any recommendations appreciated.

[switz]

40# Airstream aluminum tanks are taller than the Airstream 30# steel tanks. The tank cover lid on the 23D is about 5 inches below the window frame and nearly level with that frame on the Classic.

[Tomboy]

We did all our homework before buying, looked for years at all sorts of models and landed on the 25FB queen. Then we got a call that the dealer had gotten a new 2015 model in (everything else on the lot was 2016 by then). So we got a great deal on a 25 RB twin. We love it!

Our biggest project so far has been creating a rear lounge. We removed the top drawer from the nightstand. Then made some easily removable wood slats with aluminum support pieces that fill in between the twins. We got three small custom mattresses that fit between the twin mattresses and put down a down comforter, like a bed topper so you don't feel the seams. This created a super comfy king size bed.

Since that is way more space than we need to sleep, we added a bunch of decorative pillows. Open the curtains and it's a great place to read or hang out during the day.

We also have the option of removing only some of the slats and small filler mattresses. This can create a small place to stand at the foot of the bed. Or it can create a U shaped sitting area. Put up a small table and it's a great entertaining space for 5-6 people.

If we ever sell, the twin beds are intact and the only thing missing is the drawer for the nightstand.

The dealer quoted us $1300 to do the work, so we did it ourselves in four hours and less than $100 in material costs. The custom mattresses were the pricey part, foam with latex topper for $600.

We are both very happy with the layout, and glad we were flexible at purchase time.

[moosetags]

That sounds very interesting. Thanks for sharing your renovation. We would love to see some pictures of it.

Brian