20-footers

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Good advice so far from everyone. With your permission, I would like to step back from all the details, and raise a question about your decision-making process and your final choice of the smallest trailer you were considering.

The quote above raises red flags in my mind anyway, and I feel the need to say so.



-- skip the solar upgrade but make sure the trailer is wired for solar -- OEM panel is very small
-- OEM batteries are fine for now -- upgrade as part of a solar upgrade later
-- awning package yes -- automatic awning never -- Keep It Simple, Stu
-- 16" Michelins incl., TPMS, and Centramatics Yes
-- rear view camera -- why? -- seems like a waste for a small trailer unless you solo a lot with nighttime backing into sites.
....Good mirrors on tow vehicle and spotter back there are fine IMO.
-- We have a busy weekend, so no time to fill in details right now. Happy Trails whatever you choose!

Peter, (I cut your entire quote, to save space)..

Thank you for your comments. I can see how it would raise flags, as I described starting with the 28 and ending up with the 20! LOL!

When we started looking at the 27 and 28, we thought we'd live in the trailer for long extended periods of time. However, we've reworked our plan, and our big plan for the next couple years, is looking like just travelling/glamping for a month or two at a time.

Since we did live/travel in our Interstate for 4 months straight, it seems we'll do well in the 20.

We looked at the 23 as well.

23FB...love the bed, but, very narrow aisle, and because the bathroom is in the back, it cuts the space short so that the trailer seems much smaller.

23CB...love the front living/dining area, very spacious, but you still end up with the tiny 48x76 climb-over-each-other bed, there's no counter space at all to cook, and the bathroom is much more cramped.

We were actually amazed at how spacious feeling the 20 is, and how much storage there is.

Anyway...that's how we arrived at the 20!!

Thanks for the other input as well.

[TCwheels]

At the WBCCI International Rally! Only about 4 20s here out of hundreds and hundreds of trailers...

[ahillring]

We love our 2013 20 foot AS and have now taken four extended trips of over 3000-4000 miles each over 5-6 week periods. It fits our travel style perfectly as we move frequently amongst National & state parks...usually 1-3 nights per site. The trailer easily fits into the sometimes limited-sized campsites & is very easy to maneuver. The bed works just fine for us & I like the spacious galley & bathroom. We were hesitant about the single axle & rightfully so as I have attached two photos of our problems with the GYM 15-inch tires last year. This was the second blowout just less than a week after the first blowout on the other side of the trailer. We were in a remote area of Montana on the side of a road. There was some damage to the trailer (about $700 worth) but we were lucky because I've heard about much worse. We have since upgraded to 16-inch Michelins & don't worry so much now (photo also attached). I believe the tires are the most important aspect of a travel trailer & it is well worth the investment. We upgraded the spare tire as well.

[ahillring]

Sorry photos didn't make it...will try to upload individually

[ahillring]

Completely separated

[ahillring]

New Michelins

[centennialman]

I had a single axle 1966 Airstream that I camped in for 10 years. I bought new tires every few years and kept my eye on them to check for wear. I plan on upgrading my tires/rims on the 2016 FC 20 by next season. I looked at the 23 FC and just didn't like that you don't have a view out the front or back of the trailer from the dining area and the kitchen is way too small for my liking. Recently, four of us and two dogs slept in the FC 20 for 5 nights and we did just fine. The tanks are on the small side, but I use a blue boy when needed and refill from tanks I carry in my truck if boondocking for a longer time. The FC20 is a beautiful little Airstream with a wondeful galley, a bathroom you can turn around in, including the shower and lots of windows with views. Great storage too!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by ahillring

. . .
. . . I believe the tires are the most important aspect of a travel trailer & it is well worth the investment.
. . .

Thanks for the report and photos. Were those the original GYM tires, and do you know the date of mfg. that was stamped on the tires? With a 2013 model year AS, the tires could have been made as early as 2011 I would guess.

Glad the damage wasn't worse! BTW did your insurance cover anything?

Thanks,

Petet

[weirdstuff]

We're trying to buy a 2018, however, I just found a really nice 2016 that we're considering.

Are there any differences or issues with the 2016's, that I should know about?

[OTRA15]

I would double check with your sales reps for the most current information, and specifically ask if the 2018 has better:

-- tires and rims
-- batteries
-- battery charger/converter
-- solar panel or pre-wire
-- awnings

For other 2018 models in other AS lengths, I seem to recall mention here and there of random improvements showing up without much notice.

Unfortunately, the sales reps may be the last to know . . .

Good luck.

[subfan1]

I would recommend the unit with ducted AC almost no noise

[CruizinDux]

Originally Posted by TCwheels

At the WBCCI International Rally! Only about 4 20s here out of hundreds and hundreds of trailers...Attachment 290165

Thanks for the pic Darrell. It must be overwhelming with so much shiny alu.

bob

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by subfan1

I would recommend the unit with ducted AC almost no noise

Great point! Our A/C is very very loud. Somewhere in this thread I think there is a post leading to more info on quieter ones -- FWIW.

If you are going to need the A/C much, this factor alone is worth getting the 2018 IMO.

[weirdstuff]

Re: ducted A/C....It looks like the 2016 that we're looking at, does have ducted a/c. I see the vents on the ceiling in the photos.

Re: Upgrading wheels and tires to 16"...this is the (edited) response we got from our Airstream regional supervisor. Bottom line, he says it can't be done!! Can someone please address this, since many of you said you have done it!!

"......The 16” tires and wheels can be added (swapped) to any of the wide body Airstream Travel Trailers (25’ and larger).


The change entails expanding the wheel wells in Airstream factory service or dealer service post-production and replacing the standard wheels with the 16” wheels and tires used on the classic.

It isn’t possible to do this on the narrow body trailers (16-23ft models) for clearance reasons.

So, on a 20FB. No.

[OTRA15]

If you go up and "Search this thread" just above for "16" Michelin" you should find the posts here about the 16" upgrade. AS corporate typically will not dig very deep into stuff like this.

From the search results, these posts may help:

[click on arrow in each quote to go there]

Originally Posted by TCwheels

Jerry and Kathyrn -

I JUST put the 16" Sendel T03 wheels with Michelin 225/75 LTX 'E' rated tires on my FC20 and they fit fine. Even the center caps fit perfectly. Clearance is a tad tighter, but they'll travel with no problem. Lots of other folks have done this on their 20s. You'll have no problems.

Originally Posted by waldosgone

Just ordered 3x 16'' Sendel Rims and Michelin LTX M/S 2... we'd rather mitigate any issues on our move to Alaska this summer and beyond! We can't wait to get out on the road!!

Originally Posted by jpons

Ok, I was able to swing by my airstreams storage place and took a picture of the numbers on the tire. See below.

Looks like a Michelin LTX M/S2 in size LT225/75 R16

Hope that helps.

-J

Attachment 256961

The posts above are not an exhaustive list of the 16" upgrade on this thread BTW.

Good luck!

Peter

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

If you go up and "Search this thread" just above for "16" Michelin" you should find the posts here about the 16" upgrade. AS corporate typically will not dig very deep into stuff like this.

From the search results, these posts may help:

[click on arrow in each quote to go there]


quotes coming

Thank you. Yes, I've read those , and lots of posts from people here who have done it on their 20's. I don't recall anyone mentioning anything about having to expand the wheel wells!!!

Could corporate be that misinformed? Read his response...he positively tells us , NO. Obviously people here have done it though!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by weirdstuff

. . .
Could corporate be that misinformed?
. . .

Yes get used to it, it happens all the time. [IMO]

Go up to the blue search box above and enter "quality control" then get ready for tons of depressing reading.

Think of this as buying a full-scale model of a work in progress, which may require lots of fine-tuning under warranty, as well as not under warranty. [IMO]

Might as well go in with eyes wide open . . .



Still a good investment IMO . . .

[weirdstuff]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Yes get used to it, it happens all the time. [IMO]

Go up to the blue search box above and enter "quality control" then get ready for tons of depressing reading.

Think of this as buying a full-scale model of a work in progress, which may require lots of fine-tuning under warranty, as well as not under warranty. [IMO]

Might as well go in with eyes wide open . . .



Still a good investment IMO . . .

LOL! Thanks for the "warning!" Having owned an Interstate, and having spent a few years on this forum...I will have to agree with you.

With our Interstate we didn't have any major problems, so considered ourselves lucky. Things breaking and falling off...yep. But no leaky roof

It does worry me that we could end up with a "bad" trailer, but, crossing our fingers that our new trailer will need only minor repairs and tweaks.

Still, hoping those of you who have upgraded to 16" can shed some light on comments by Airstream that I posted a couple posts ago. Any issues regarding clearance? Want to be as educated as possible before we pull the trigger on a trailer!

[KellyAndersson]

Originally Posted by CruizinDux

...

happy trails everyone
Bob

Yo Bob, have you seen Fogerty at the Cuthbert?
(Kelly in Roseburg, formerly of Eugene)

[switz]

We upgraded our 2015 23D International Serenity on the selling dealership lot at time of pickup from the stock 14" wheels and 14" GYM ST215/75R14C tires to 15" SenDel T03-56545T wheels (match the design on our 16" SenDel T03-66655T wheels on our 2014 Classic) and 15" Michelin LTX (P) 235/75R15 XL tires.

The street side front edge of the wheel well opening was about ¾" back from the plastic wheel well. The curb side front edge of the wheel well opening was about 2.5" back from the plastic wheel well. Some careful work with tin snips made the two wheel well openings symmetrical and we could then install the curbside front tire.

There is no way we could have installed 16" wheels as the stock 10" brake drums are five lugs whereas the 12" brake drums used on all units 25' and longer have six lugs. The 16" SenDel wheels can be ordered in either six or eight lug wheels while the 15" models can be ordered in five or six lug pattern. Also there would not have been the necessary clearance for the outside edge of the 16" tire on our 23D.

There is no change to the wheel wells for the 16" Michelin LT225/75R16/E LTX M/S2 tires and SenDel T03-66655T wheels used by Airstream in the 25' and up tandem trailers. It is a simple dismount the 15" equipment and mount the 16" equipment.

We did add the Dill 1506-453 TPMS sender inside the wheels as they the valve stem for both the Classic and the 23D along with the appropriate model of Centramatic wheel balancers.

Many folks have installed the 16" tire and wheel combination mentioned above on the single axle trailers with no issues.