Sleeping Four

[grifter]

We are looking to get an Airstream 25ft or smaller. There are four in the family (two adults, two kids, currently 5 & 7) and I am wondering what size we'd need to truly/comfortably sleep four. As I work my way through the forums, I see lots of couples who share that their 25 foot seems small with just two. Can anyone share their experience of Airstreaming with four, and what your thoughts are about truly sleeping four? We can't go bigger than 25 foot, so I am wondering if anyone makes it work in that 19-25 foot range.

Sometimes, I wonder if it would be better to get something small (16 foot) and still use our tent to accommodate the four of us. Not sure.

Thanks in advance.

DB

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, welcome to the forum. There is, or was, a 25'er called the SS or Six Sleeper. [two on the corner bed, two on the guacho, and two on the dinette] This might work for you. My 25' trailer can sleep four, but that will never happen.

[TBRich]

Personally, I would think a newer 25'...(Front Bed or Rear Bed) would be plenty of space for 2 adults and two kids...I believe they technically sleep 6. By the time the kids grow much they will be wanting to stay in a tent outside anyway...that works for a lot of folks... You'd have to convert something to a bed to accommodate the kids even if you had a 27' or 28'...

I'm not sure I see the rationale of getting a 16' and then everybody sleeping in a tent. Why get a trailer at all if you're going to do that....just sayin'...

I'd suggest that you go to a dealer and spend some time inside a 25' and see what you think...if you haven't done that already.

[barts]

We've remodeled our 25 Tradewind; the front gaucho is a dinette that is also the master bed; the rear gaucho also became a dinette with a removable bunk overhead.

We only use the 4 sleeping capacity at Burning Man; otherwise the (college age) kids can sleep in a tent :-). At BM the trailer is just a bunkhouse; we basically live outside.

We find our 25' trailer big enough w/ two (we've spent 50 nights there this year, mostly w/ just the two of us) but it's not big enough for four except as noted above.

- Bart

[zlee]

I think our 19' Bambi is going to be just perfect for us (we actually lived in a smaller space for six months three years back), but other people think it's insane to even consider full timing in a 19' trailer for one person, much less two. I know people who think a 25' trailer is far too small for two people, and I know people who are fulltiming, with not only themselves in their 20' 5th wheel, but three dogs and a cat and feel that they've plenty of room.

People have told me the full size bed in the 19' won't sleep two people even temporarily, but it's only about two inches smaller than our actual bed in our flat in England.

I think it's all just going to depend on what your personal measurements of "too small" and "just right" are going to be. TB is right (he's always right!), try spending a reasonable amount of time in the different sizes with your entire family and see how it feels to you.

[webspinner]

As Bart's wife, I'd like to add on to what he said.

Sleeping four would work just fine if you needed the trailer as a tent/bathroom. Some cooking could happen inside, too. When we sleep four, there is no comfortable place to eat inside.

With the two of us, it is a very workable small house. We stayed in it for three weeks in one place and had enough space to cook, eat, sleep and for Bart to work from his laptop. That sort of living wouldn't be possible with four.

So keep in mind what your own specific needs and uses for the trailer are. Staying small keeps many other options open. As the kids get older, you can make a few tradeoffs such as outdoor tents or outdoor eating until it is just the two of you again. That happens sooner than you think.

[MrUKToad]

Grifter,

We are four and went through the same thoughts as you, looking at 25' to start with. In the end we actually went to a 28' model so that we could have two distinct areas available for "day use"; dinette and seating, but that was a personal choice rather than a necessity. The 25' floorplans will sleep four in reasonable comfort.

[grifter]

Thanks to all for your responses. If it was just the wife and I, a small trailer would be preferred. As the kids grow, I think they'll WANT to be in there own tent. I think we are in an awkward spot. Sleeping for four is preferred, but in a couple of years, a smaller trailer playing role of "bunk house" (as mentioned) would be perfect.

I am off to look at a 25 footer.


Thanks all.

[elfirebob]

Grifter,
Older or newer Airstream?
There are number of options in new as described, consider the newer 23 or 25s. In the older rigs, you can build interiors to suit your needs. Later, adjust the interior layout as the kids grow/go. Just completed our 70s (narrower) unit to accomidate four (five in a pinch) focusing on spending most of the time out doors. Sleeping inside should let you expand your camping options with better comfort and safety. Shop around, the perfect Airstream is out there, get one and make it yours...

[A W Warn]

I have a 25' six sleeper Safari. We usually have just the two of us when we are on the road. The rear double bed is a little small, but the wife and I both fit in together ok. That is where we sleep. I am large 6'-3", DW is petite 5'-1".

I think the goucho is ok for one adult or two kids. I have not slept a whole night on it, though I have taken a nap or two on the goucho. The dinette setup is about the same size as the goucho, but a the original foam cushions are a little thin for a large adult.

[urnmor]

We have a 25 and recently took our grandson and two of his friends. He is 7. We found the 25 FB more than adequate. I am not sure if I would say the same with four adults

[phbarnhart]

We have (essentially) a 25" FB and use it with the two of us plus our two kids. Our kids are 4 and ~2 so it's a little different, but I think that there will be pliantly of sleeping room for them until they get old enough that they want a tent of their own outside.

Heck, we even have the two dogs with us! The windows can get some pretty serious condensation with all those bodies!

[Aviator]

Here's a 25' six sleeper on EBay now.

25' Airstream Safari SS/LS 6 Sleeper, PRISTINE! Loaded! Must See! No Reserve! AZ 25' Airstream Safari SS/LS 6 Sleeper, PRISTINE! Loaded! Must See! No Reserve! AZ | eBay

[EuroAir]

Check out the pictures from my 20 foot Caravel with bunk beds. My kids are roughly the same age as yours and I think it works.

[HiHoAgRV]

Gee...our 34' only sleeps 2...

The original layout on our '63 26' Overlander was twins midship with a full size sleeper sofa up front.

My pal has a '74 25' with the same layout.

The biggest drawback is the daily swap from sleepin area to dining area

[Kosm1o]

The issue for us seems to be getting up in the morning. We go to bed at the same time but awake at different times. When we had an 18' SOB it was an issue even though the trailer was big enough for us. Now we have a 28' which will sleep 4 without having to give up the dinette. And I don't have to worry about every sound I make in the morning disturbing the wife. Don't let the extra length worry you. Its easy to tow and no more work to set up.

[xonvldz]

look at the layout to make sure you have adequate storage.with kids even as they get older they still want to travel with us,and want to sleep in the coach.the 31 layout will accomadate everybody quite comfortably,but you need a larger tow vehicle for the weight.also for two people when the kids dont go with us i and dw think it is the perfect size.we traded up from a 28 safari 5 yrs ago.