Visit our Popular Forums

**moosetags** · 12-20-2014, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

Brian, do you have 3 dry storage compartments because you have twin beds, or have more been added, or what? Our '08 has one under the queen bed and that's it.

Gene

Old Lucy was just like yours. It had one dry storage compartment on the curb side front. New Lucy has three. A big one in the front behind the LP tanks and two more at the end of each side. This is a feature of the twin bed arrangement.

Brian

dbj216 · 12-21-2014, 06:53 AM

Hi Moosetags, your photo of New Lucy at Hobe shows the tow vehicle on a downhill slope. You are very experienced with your no sway hitch. Can you give me some tips on the best way to connect to the hitch when the tow vehicle and Airstream are not on the same plane? I have found different levels of vehicle to trailer rather challenging to get everything lined up.

I'm very glad New Lucy is working out so well for you folks. You have made some clever adjustments to make her even more comfortable.

David

**moosetags** · 12-21-2014, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbj216

Hi Moosetags, your photo of New Lucy at Hobe shows the tow vehicle on a downhill slope. You are very experienced with your no sway hitch. Can you give me some tips on the best way to connect to the hitch when the tow vehicle and Airstream are not on the same plane? I have found different levels of vehicle to trailer rather challenging to get everything lined up.

I'm very glad New Lucy is working out so well for you folks. You have made some clever adjustments to make her even more comfortable.

David

Hi David. Your are correct about the hitch situation. With the Hensley, if the trailer is level and the tow vehicle is not, it makes hooking up difficult. I have found that I can get hooked up by raising the Hensley with the tongue jack and down angling the hitch head with the WD adjustment rods. If I can get the head parallel to the hitch bar, it will work.

If at all possible, I try to avoid this situation as it is difficult at best. I have even declined to occupy a campsite because of this situation. If I plan to remain hooked-up, it doesn't matter.

As to Lucy's current campsite in Hobe Sound, I was able to back her up far enough to get the tow vehicle level with the Airstream at the point of hook-up.

Brian

switz · 12-21-2014, 08:43 AM

One must ensure that the front hatch (behind the propane tanks) gasket remains supple and seals well. When towing in the rain, the water pressure against the seal has been known to create leaks (from other posters on the forum).

We use a pure silicone spray to help with the supple gasket issue on the hatches, windows and door.

**moosetags** · 12-21-2014, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by switz

One must ensure that the front hatch (behind the propane tanks) gasket remains supple and seals well. When towing in the rain, the water pressure against the seal has been known to create leaks (from other posters on the forum).

We use a pure silicone spray to help with the supple gasket issue on the hatches, windows and door.

Thanks for that tip. I will do the same to Lucy's gaskets.

Brian

dbj216 · 12-21-2014, 04:05 PM

Thankya moosetags. I had not thought of raising the hitch head first. I had been keeping my bars as loose as they would go and then "forcing" the stinger into the hitch. I have tried adjusting the hitch head angle with the bars. Raising the hitch head would help the thing swallow the stinger. I'll try it next time I'm in this situation. I still struggle at times getting hitched up on uneven surfaces.

Yep, Lucy will like supple gaskets to keep her dry in a driving rain.

David

Wayne&Sam · 12-21-2014, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

New Lucy has three. A big one in the front behind the LP tanks and two more at the end of each side. This is a feature of the twin bed arrangement.

Brian

My rear twin has four: two on the street side, one curb side and the big one in the rear.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

Gene · 12-21-2014, 06:02 PM

I've used silicone spray on our one storage compartment door and it hasn't leaked. I haven't remember in recent years and I'll try to remember next spring. I also put visqueen down on the floor—actually the carpeting there (there's more carpeting under the bed than around it)—to keep the carpeting from getting wet if the door leaked. Some day I may remove the carpet under the bed, seal the floor and look for soft spots.

Gene

**moosetags** · 12-21-2014, 08:17 PM

In the eight years that we traveled in Old Lucy, her single outside dry storage compartment never did leak. I don't recall ever treating the gasket.

Brian

**moosetags** · 12-23-2014, 12:11 PM

The test drive continues. We left Hobe Sound yesterday and came back up to Zypherhills. The number three son just returned from a year in Afghanistan. We are doing Christmas here today with our son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren.

We have now towed New Lucy over 2,000 miles and have spent 34 nights in her. She continues to perform well, and all of her systems are operational. We are very happy to be back into a 25FB. It is a very livable floor plan, even after spending an entire month straight in her. She was last at home on November 22nd.

Lucy will head up to Jacksonville tomorrow to spend Christmas there.

Brian

dbj216 · 12-23-2014, 03:07 PM

moosetags, Very valuable to have your insights using this new Airstream Flying Cloud. I'm happy it's working well with no major defects. You can bet others will find this thread and gain valuable information.

I'm not doing a thread, but it reminds me of my new Super Duty. 27,000 miles and no defects to report so far. It is very nice new and complicated products like an Airstream or Super Duty are built so well.

Did you decorate your Christmas Tree with moose tags? Might be yet another good use for them. I think they would look good.

Merry Christmas!

David

**moosetags** · 12-23-2014, 08:45 PM

Thank you for your kind words. I hope that others may find this thread informational.

We don't have a Christmas Tree this year as we have spent the last month traveling in Lucy. Moose Tags would make an interesting Christmas Tree decoration.

Brian

fpbender · 12-24-2014, 04:21 AM

Brian,
Hope you two have a wonderful christmas.
Suzanne Bailey our dog and I are driving to Collinsville Il christmas day to pick up our new TV. 2015 2500HD GMC Duramax allison transmission Denali can't wait.
All of the items we have discussed are heading towards our dealer. Hope to pick up 25 FC around the 6th of January. What a great way to start a New Year and New Adventure.
Our first trailer.
HO HO HO Happy we will GO
Fred

**moosetags** · 12-24-2014, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpbender

Brian,
Hope you two have a wonderful christmas.
Suzanne Bailey our dog and I are driving to Collinsville Il christmas day to pick up our new TV. 2015 2500HD GMC Duramax allison transmission Denali can't wait.
All of the items we have discussed are heading towards our dealer. Hope to pick up 25 FC around the 6th of January. What a great way to start a New Year and New Adventure.
Our first trailer.
HO HO HO Happy we will GO
Fred

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Have a great and safe trip to get your new Duramax. We would love to see pictures. It looks like you will be all set to pick up the Airstream next week. Keep us posted on your progress.

Brian

**moosetags** · 12-24-2014, 02:23 PM

We towed Lucy back to Jacksonville today. We arrived just in time to avoid making camp in the rain. It is pouring here now. It's supposed to clear up for Christmas Day.

Brian

Gene · 12-24-2014, 03:09 PM

It is interesting how a few more feet can make a big difference in trailer happiness. If the 23' is actually 23', then you have 3 more feet in the 26' long 25'.

We've spent as long as 8 weeks in ours and we did fine. Of course, getting home and having a long shower without having to stay small plus having a king sized bed were great too.

I will probably always have interest in a 27', but 2 feet isn't worth all the money that would cost us. I hope you got a good price for older Lucy's.

A little snow on the ground here and maybe more tonight and tomorrow.

Gene

**moosetags** · 12-24-2014, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gene

It is interesting how a few more feet can make a big difference in trailer happiness. If the 23' is actually 23', then you have 3 more feet in the 26' long 25'.

We've spent as long as 8 weeks in ours and we did fine. Of course, getting home and having a long shower without having to stay small plus having a king sized bed were great too.

I will probably always have interest in a 27', but 2 feet isn't worth all the money that would cost us. I hope you got a good price for older Lucy's.

A little snow on the ground here and maybe more tonight and tomorrow.

Gene

Hi Gene,

The 23FB is 23' 9", and the 25FB is 25' 11". That's only a 2' 2" difference, but the 23FB is not a wide body, shaving another 5.5" off of the width. I think that it was more the floor plan than the size that made the 23 difficult for us. We are so happy to be back in a 25FB. Both old Lucys traded very well.

It's raining here and 78 degrees. We've got Lucy's air conditioner going.

Brian

mefly2 · 12-24-2014, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpbender

Moosetags
We are getting our 2015 FC FB the first week in January.
And your posts on New Lucy have helped us prepare for the delivery.
The jackpot I'm referring too is the Sendel wheel and Michelin
tire site. I had two previous quotes one eddie bauer rims and LTX for $3500 and one for Sendel and tires for $2100.
I ordered from your posted site $1330 mounted balanced nitrogen and free shipping.

That sure will pay for lots of new stuff for our new adventure.
This is our first trailer moving from Ocean Sailboat to land yacht can't wait!!
Happy Holidays,
Fred and Suzanne Bender and Bailey our 6 month old lab mix.

Welcome!
You made the right choice ... but now you will have to buy some scrap teak just to sand and oil every season ...

...we do NOT miss that part of sailing ... now we make do with an inflatable Zodiac that goes where we go!

The 2500 HD Duramax with Allison is also a great choice; we are very happy with that combo, but since winter has hit, we don't have but just a few weekend trips on the Duramax.

**moosetags** · 12-28-2014, 04:52 PM

Lucy is still camped in Jacksonville. We have noticed a clanging of her belly pan when we walk in the living area. It only does this when the stabilizers are down. If Lucy is still doing this when we get her to Jackson Center, we will have them look at it.

Brian

Mike S. · 12-28-2014, 05:14 PM

I am interested in putting these wheels and tires on my new 27fb. I am sure it has been discussed before, but I am going to be lazy and ask again. How much does this setup raise the trailer? I have to fit the trailer in a 10ft high door and only have a couple of inches to spare with the 15 inch wheels. Thanks in advance, Mike