How many days using the AS...... really?

[weber.roger]

Just rent a unit. Its cheaper

[SusanFleck]

We both still work and this is our first year of having an Airstream. In addition to a two week vacation, we have 16 other nights either already taken or scheduled. And I suspect we will work in another weekend or two before the end of the year.

We do plan to retire in a year or two and then use it extensively.

We rent space at a former lumber warehouse about 20 miles from where we live. Not convenient, but it is well guarded and there are lots of big buses in there and the owners have been very accommodating.

As someone already said, don't do the math. But if you do, just realize that buying the Airstream is only the beginning. You will be spending money for lots of other things.

Still, we wouldn't trade it for the world and are giddy each time we get to spend a night in the Airstream.

Do it!!!

[m.hony]

We are both weekend campers and travelers.
We enjoy local state parks, Corps of Engineers parks, and Forest Service parks nearly every weekend and 3 or 4 trips per year to rallies.
There is another thread about "How many nights you spend in your Airstream".
Back in 2014 I tallied the trips and nights- 26 trips- 88 nights-
Every year is about the same- so approximately the same number of trips and nights spent in the trailer.
This is based on 3 weeks vacation per year. In 3 more years I will get 4 weeks vacation so the number of trips and nights spent in the trailer will increase.
The number of trips and nights spent in the trailer will certainly increase when we retire.

[Bev1940]

Originally Posted by FCStreamer

Also consider that if you "store" it in an RV park, you can "use" it every weekend without going out. My wife and I both work and won't retire for another 10 years. But the plan is to "use" it 45-47 weekends a year, including two full weeks (vacation). If I had to store it somewhere and only use it when I pulled it, I would not have bought it.

First of all I would never buy a new AS I would look for one built in the late 1970's or 1980's that has been refurbished . I have a 1978 and it has only had one small leak at a roof vent still pulls great, I need to replace a few things still but all in all it is a much better trailer than the new ones.
I paid $6500 for it over 12 years ago and have had about $6000.00 worth of upgrades done. I have put many thousand miles on it and no problems .

[m.hony]

I have a new one...
Maybe I should have purchased a used one, but I didn't.

[JStanley]

Bought it after retirement as another thing to keep active and for something to fix.
After 10 seasons I averaged 42 nights per year. No, I’m not heavy user. I just have so many other things to do, project to start and finish, and far away places to visit. Seem like I relax more in the Airstream than in my house, or tending the garden or playing with wood in my workshop.
And I really enjoy the people and social aspects at the WBCCI rallies.

[GettinAway]

Well, we probably didn't do everything in the right order. We bought at used 19' Bambi several years ago. I couldn't adjust to a corner bed (too tall) so we moved up to a 23' FB. have had it for four years. I do not retire for three more years. We've always camped, and I know we will spend a lot more time in it after retirement. If I wasn't sure we were going to use it a lot, I might have rented, as mentioned above. We have a small farm, with a small farmhouse 90 miles from home. That's where we keep the AS, it's our 3rd bedroom and 2nd bath when we need it.
We will be outside as much as possible when camping, and try to get into as isolated a camping spot as possible, when we go. So the 23FB works perfect for us.
I do look forward to racking up a lot more miles once we are retired..
If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably have the same AS.. And would have bought it at about the same time.


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[3wd67rg]

We are young, 56 and 57, retired, all our kids grown and moved out, and we live in our Airstream about half the year.

[jbs411]

I retired last year and purchased an airstream at the first of the year..(Used). After initial repairs, short trip tests, and a lot of learning I have been out about 90 days so far and am heading back out right after Labor day and plan to be out anywhere from 20-30 days...Plans will be to get one more trip in before the holidays...So, 130-150 days per year...
Everyone is different and has different time restrictions...

[NorCal Matt]

I'm 37, wife is a little younger, no kids. We both work full time, but tried to get out at least once a month in our 16' sport. We sold that a couple of months ago and can't wait to take delivery of a 25'FB.

None of our friends can believe the money we spend to go camping. I can't either. But it has been such a blessing to our marriage to have that time together, away and unwinding. It also benefits us professionally as we come back recharged and ready to dive in again.

We spend a lot of money for 3-4 nights a month. A really nice hotel would be cheaper, but we wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much.

[Thiss]

Originally Posted by NorCal Matt

We spend a lot of money for 3-4 nights a month. A really nice hotel would be cheaper, but we wouldn't enjoy it nearly as much.

A toast to you new trailer and a wish that you enjoy decades of camping, which will eventually be way less than hotels.

I am 32 and my wife just turned 33. Our kids are 5 and 6. We have spent 27 nights in our trailer since April. We have done pretty good to get out deposits my wife going back to work. I am a teacher, me in years past we have spent a solid half of the summer camping on my cousin's river bank.

This July I got a new TV. With the more comfortable ride and AC we have ventured quite a bit further.

I am hopeful that we will bump into a late model within 5 years, nevertheless we might decide that reminding our vintage model is more favorable. Our constraint is two boys who will eventually not be will willing or able to share the goucho bed, which my wife and I are willing but unable to do.

When I sold out SOB for the hope of finding an Airstream my wife was highly scepticle. We were living on one teacher income and the SOB was paid off. Last week, after we returned from a 9 day trip to BC, she said it was the only good thing I had ever done that she wasn't in full support of to begin with.

To the OP, go buy one! If you are undecided that it will be a long term commitment, buy a used one in whatever condition your budget or DIY ability will afford. As long as you don't buy a "project" you will be able to get out of the investment with little loss.

[Bev1940]

I spent 7 days at a rally last summer and from Dec 28/15 to April 4/16 in my AS last winter and plan on about the same this winter so being able to sleep in my own bed every night and cook what I want is great, plus I carry my cat so no worries about that. Also as I will be spending most of my time helping out at Habitat for Humanity the campgrounds are very inexpensive. Also there is a AS only park near Pensacola FL called Mystic Springs Campground that is $11 per day nice quiet place right beside a river, big sandy lots and pet friendly, will be stopping there for a few days omw to Louisiana .

[m.hony]

Because we financed the trailer and make a payment every month I try to use it as often as possible- 3-4 weekends per month.
Even with a paid for trailer I would want to use it often.
If your trailer is paid for, a weekend at a state park is less than going to the movies.

[Glenritas]

Retired and love to travel.
Last year we used it 58 nights.
This year we've been out 72 nights so far. A lot of out and back trips some as little as 2 nights others as long as 2 1/2 weeks.

As for justifying the cost of the trailer, I use fuzzy math.
Example cost of trailer for the first night , say $ 68,000 is $68,000 the next night is only $ 39,435 the third night is only $ 19,717.50 etc. So the more nights you use the trailer the cheeper it gets ��
Look at it this way you get to enjoy it for a bunch of nights and still have a resale value when you sell it.

All you have after moteling is a stack of receipts and maybe an itch or two.

Of course this doesn't include the RV park or gas or all the other stuff you had to outfit your rig.

Don't get hung up on the cost of ownership it's still cheeper the moteling and having your own bed and shower you know what to expect. Besides no bed bugs unless you bring them yourself ��

[Echelon73]

My wife and I are not retired. I get 5 weeks of vacation every year and we use most of it camping. We also sneak in some weekend trips that do not require vacation time. I really wish we could use it more, but it is difficult when working unless you have a place close by that you like to visit.

[J. Morgan]

About 180 days this year so far....

Non typical use though. It serves as our second home in NM and AZ where I work for part of the year.


Gradiens super tenui glacie.

[SeaLevel]

Originally Posted by Echelon73

I get 5 weeks of vacation every year and we use most of it camping.

I used to get 5 weeks, but the company I work for changed the vacation policy recently, and now we are allowed to take the vacation, sick, and personal days that we need.

We have nights scheduled throughout the coming fall, winter and spring, and then if things go as planned, we can retire next summer and start taking longer trips.

[m.hony]

3 weeks vacation now-
4 weeks vacation in 3 more years-
4 weeks is all we get.
I worked for a company in the past with 6 weeks vacation.

[mandolindave]

It's how much you will use it

It's how much it will cost you per night camping.

It's whether you like staying in a campground

It's how you will use it or need it.

It depends if you can afford to lose money due to depreciation.

I use mine for festivals, and get togethers. Motels don't really work for me.

I have had my used trailer, that I put a lot of money into, for about eleven years…It's costed me about 30 to 40 dollars a night.

BUT…say money was tight, AND I was paying $40 to $100 dollars for a campground, plus the cost of the trailer. Motels might be a better option.

[m.hony]

Motels is never a better option...
Camping:
Spending a fortune to live like a homeless person...


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