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Dexterpix · 10-22-2014, 08:43 AM

Hi everyone,
The wife and I are new to the Airstream community and just pick up our new 2014 FC 25 TWIN rear bed. We had checked several floor plans both new and used. We had a couple of, I think unique, features not everyone looks at.

Yes the bathroom in the rear bed is larger and more functional for the area you have to use most toilet and sink.

The kitchen in the rear bedroom is "Left handed". Standing with the sink to the left the cabinetry and stove and fridge layout better if you are left handed.
Seems wierd but if you are left handed you would notice it a little. (I am left handed and do most of the cooking)

The rear bedroom layout puts the door to the front of the camp site when you back in. Anyone coming to knock on the door (and they already have just in the first trip out) only walk to the front of the trailer not all the way along your whole site to reach the door.

With the bed in the back the dog doesn't seem bothered as much by people walking by on the campground road. She barks a lot less.

Also we love, love , love the twins beds. The room is functional for so much more then the queen bed in the same space allows.

Best of luck with any thing you might get

Joe and Stephanie

KJRitchie · 10-22-2014, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

Good Morning George,

I found this hardware on Amazon by querying "Piano Bench Lid Support Hinge". The cost was $5.99 each plus shipping. These items were not on Amazon Prime.

I knew what I wanted as this was the type of prop that came from the factory on my 2005 Safari 25FB. I could not find these at Lowes, Home Depot, or other local hardware stores.

I purchased two of these as I was concerned that one would not be sufficient to support the heavy mirror door in Lucy's bathroom.

After I installed one of these supports on the left side of the door, I decided that it was sufficient to support the weight of the door. I decided to use the second one on the little cabinet over the refrigerator.

Brian

I removed mine from my Classic 25fb because my family was bending the the prop. They are so used to just lifting up and down on all the other cabinets so when it came to the mirror they did the same and bent and tore out the screws. Repaired it once and they bent it up again. Gave up.
I was wondering if two of the other type of supports would work on this heavier mirrored door.

Kelvin

**moosetags** · 10-22-2014, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

I removed mine from my Classic 25fb because my family was bending the the prop. They are so used to just lifting up and down on all the other cabinets so when it came to the mirror they did the same and bent and tore out the screws. Repaired it once and they bent it up again. Gave up.
I was wondering if two of the other type of supports would work on this heavier mirrored door.

Kelvin

I,m hoping that this piano bench lid support works in the long run. The one that came OEM on our 2005 Safari 25FB did the job for eight years and almost 1,400 nights of camping.

Brian

lsbrodsky · 10-22-2014, 09:41 AM

Kelvin,

I looked at some other support types online and most of them require a deeper cabinet and/or some careful measurements for placement in the cabinet. The beauty of the piano bench lid support is that it just has a screw for one side that you can locate after attaching the other end. I ordered a couple for my 25FB. Thanks
Larry

gandttimes · 10-22-2014, 10:06 AM

Thanks moosetags, I found them online and will order.

George

KJRitchie · 10-22-2014, 10:14 AM

Are the ones off Amazon more heavy duty than what came originally. They seem to bend if you apply any force. I may reinstall mine, if I can find it.

Kelvin

**moosetags** · 10-22-2014, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

Are the ones off Amazon more heavy duty than what came originally. They seem to bend if you apply any force. I may reinstall mine, if I can find it.

Kelvin

The ones that I just bought off Amazon appear to be fairly heavy duty. I just don't remember the one on my 2005 25FB well enough to make a comparison.

Brian

HASANCHEZ · 10-22-2014, 04:36 PM

gypsydad: Thank you very much for the great advice. Think that's exactly what I'm (we) are going to do........sit and play at the AS dealership in Fairfield for an hour or so. Guess we'll have to do exactly what you're suggesting ......lay on the bed(s).....shuffle around the kitchen area and see how that pans out.......simulate taking a shower and see how much room is in those things.......and.....I guess.....really take a hard look at cabinet space for "stuff".

Regarding the comment "1000W inverter and awnings on all the windows" ...... I am NOT an electrician by any stretch of the imagination. What the heck is an "Inverter" and how does it contribute to the overall AS life style within the trailer. Can you provide me with some examples?

Really DO appreciate your valuable time you are spending on this AS rookie (meaning ME!)

Henry
Sacramento, CA

gandttimes · 10-22-2014, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

The ones that I just bought off Amazon appear to be fairly heavy duty. I just don't remember the one on my 2005 25FB well enough to make a comparison.

Brian

Brian, how long are they. I just found some at a Canadian piano parts supply and they measure 51/2 inches long. They look the same as yours ( brass coated steel) but I can't tell from your pictures if they are long enough.

George

**moosetags** · 10-22-2014, 07:35 PM

The Inverter takes 12 volt direct current and turns it into 120 volt alternating current. With this you can run low amperage electronics like the television and DVD player You can also charge your cell phone and you tablet with the inverter power.

Brian

**moosetags** · 10-22-2014, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmeikle

Brian, how long are they. I just found some at a Canadian piano parts supply and they measure 51/2 inches long. They look the same as yours ( brass coated steel) but I can't tell from your pictures if they are long enough.

George

I just went out to Lucy in the alley and measured the ones in Lucy. They are 6" long.

Brian

gandttimes · 10-22-2014, 08:25 PM

Close enough. Thanks Brian.

George

**moosetags** · 10-23-2014, 07:31 AM

OK. I have now completed my fix for Lucy's twin beds that lean toward the center aisle.

I removed the screws that hold down the aisle edge of the bed board and the center screw at the foot of the bed. I raised the edge 1/2" by shimming it with a 3" wide strip of foam rubber flooring material the entire length of the bed board. I then reattached the board with slightly long screws going right through the rubber shim and into the top frame of the under bed cabinet.

This has leveled the bed board and, in turn, the mattress. I have tried out the bed and I no longer have the feeling that I am rolling into the aisle.

Brian

dbj216 · 10-23-2014, 12:03 PM

Well, you have 12v fan plug, a vanity cabinet that now stays open all by itself, and twin beds that are parallel with the floor. You're getting New Lucy trained to treat you well!

Your experiences with your new Airstream are interesting as you delight in the new features and adjust the ones that need it.

David

Gene · 10-23-2014, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dexterpix

The kitchen in the rear bedroom is "Left handed".

Ours only came a kitchen in the main cabin, but I'd like a fridge in the bedroom. The rest of the kitchen, no.

I'm glad I didn't get a left handed kitchen—I'd have to cook and my (unfortunately) right handed wife is a much better cook than me and she enjoys cooking. I enjoy eating, so we are perfect together.

Gene

**moosetags** · 10-23-2014, 07:16 PM

I got a quote back from the Airstream Service Center in Jackson Center. The cost to go 16" wheels and Michelin LT tires is now $425 per tire mounted on the Airstream.

I went through my internet research and found that performanceplustire.com had the Sendel T03 wheel (T03-66655T) with a Michelin LTX M/S 2 (LT225/75R16) mounted, balanced, and shipped for $330 per tire.

I placed an order for 5 of these tires and wheels this afternoon.

I will mount the wheels/tires myself when they arrive. I also plan to order a set of Centramatic Balancers. Does anyone have a suggestion where to order these?

Brian

switz · 10-24-2014, 05:29 AM

The direct link is:
Centramatic Wheel Balancer, Tire Balancers for DFW Trucks

Order the Centramatic 300-356 all A plates for 16" rims like I used on the Classic.

The smaller diameter 200-221 Special for 15” rims I used on the factory 15" wheels on the 25FB.

Both sizes were $199 for the set of 4.

dbj216 · 10-24-2014, 05:49 AM

I don't carry a spare tire and wheel. I wonder what the frequency of flat tires is on trailers? And I understand I could remove the flat tire / wheel and run slowly to the next town for a repair or replace. Maybe an advantage of a multi axle trailer.

When I upgraded to 16", I opted out of the spare tire.

David

StreamNTyme · 10-24-2014, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

I,m hoping that this piano bench lid support works in the long run. The one that came OEM on our 2005 Safari 25FB did the job for eight years and almost 1,400 nights of camping.

Brian

My husband also had installed this hinge in our BA cabinet quite a while ago and have had no problems. Works fine.

**moosetags** · 10-24-2014, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbj216

I don't carry a spare tire and wheel. I wonder what the frequency of flat tires is on trailers? And I understand I could remove the flat tire / wheel and run slowly to the next town for a repair or replace. Maybe an advantage of a multi axle trailer.

When I upgraded to 16", I opted out of the spare tire.

David

Our experience has been such that I would not travel without a spare tire. We had a total of three blowouts and one flat on our 2005 Safari 25FB. Three of these occurred in very rural areas in Texas, Wyoming, and Idaho. In each of these incidents, it would have been a very long slow drive on three tires.

Granted, all of these incidents occurred before we dumped the ST tires. In 60,000 miles on the LT's, we never had a tire failure.

We travel extensively in remote areas, and don't want to take a chance that we would not be able to get a new tire.

Brian