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**moosetags** · 03-22-2015, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zigzagguzzi

Should batterys be replaced in pairs? Can't remember. Jim

I think it is always best to replace both batteries at the same time.

The service manager at the Chevrolet dealer that I should always replace both batteries in my Silverado at the same time as replacing only one will cause the weaker battery to draw down the new one.

I would think that the same would apply to the two battery system in the Airstream.

Brian

xrvr · 03-22-2015, 03:55 PM

Thaks, I knew that but if I had stated it as fact someone would have wanted proof! Thanks again. Jim

Antique Pedaler · 03-22-2015, 05:23 PM

Shoot! When an Interstate battery went south on me on the road, I bought a pair of OReily's house brand. There was not other choice in stock in a very small town. That was 3 years ago.

**moosetags** · 03-22-2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antique Pedaler

Shoot! When an Interstate battery went south on me on the road, I bought a pair of OReily's house brand. There was not other choice in stock in a very small town. That was 3 years ago.

We went in a similar direction with Old Lucy. Her OEM Interstates lasted about five years. When they started not holding a charge, we replaced them with a pair from right off the shelf at Wal-Mart. We used Lucy with those batteries for three years, and they were still working well.

Brian

**moosetags** · 03-24-2015, 08:56 PM

Lucy is back home with another 320 miles under her belt. We will now prepare her for her Northeast Excursion. Our first road trip stop will be Jackson Center.

Brian

xrvr · 03-25-2015, 06:22 AM

Have a good trip. Enjoy Ohio. Peace,jim

Shastalorie · 03-26-2015, 08:48 AM

I will be eager to hear about the Jackson Center. We recently visited the Airstream Dealership in Fairfield California to handle a recall. This site is huge and beautiful and never have I seen so many Airstreams. Crawled through several while our rig was serviced. They had the latest bells and whistles and some tricked out custom models. The staff was great. Please give us a full report on Jackson.

**moosetags** · 03-26-2015, 09:48 AM

We will do that. I will post a full report of New Lucy's repairs and upgrades at Jackson Center. We have been there three times before with Old Lucy, and were always very pleased with the results. I hope that nothing has changed.

Brian

KJRitchie · 03-26-2015, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ed Brownfield

I bought a new 28 ft. rear twin bed AS. I picked the AS up in August so it is only 8 months old. I took the two Interstate batteries that came with AS into O'Reily's today to be charged after storing the AS for the past four months. i was told that one of them needed to be replaced. I'm not sure that I trust the guy who told me is there a way to check this out? If the battery does need to be replaced can you suggest what brand I should look for to replace the Interstate Battery?

I pulled my Interstates out of the AS in storage and took them home. I purchased a hydrometer and found a couple of cells low on one of my Interstates. I put that battery on a smart charger and let it charge completely then retested the specific gravity. The twp cells were still down. So I put it on a an old Sears dumb charger at 6amps and let the charger run the volts up to 15v - 16v for a few hours. The two bad cells recovered. Then charged the second battery. All cells were good on that Interstate testing them with the hydrometer. I then put the parallel wires on and left my smart charge connected to maintain the batteries over the last couple of months in my garage. I'm hoping the batteries will be good this season.

Kelvin

**moosetags** · 03-26-2015, 07:32 PM

On Old Lucy (2005 Safari 25FB), the OEM interstates made it for almost six years under heavy and regular use. We replaced them with two Wal-Mart 12 volts, and when we traded her three tears later, they were still going strong.

Brian

chaseav · 03-26-2015, 09:03 PM

Battery question: Can they be removed entirely for purely 30 amp operation? Or does the system require they be part of the loop?

Landrum · 03-26-2015, 09:58 PM

It wouldn't be safe to tow without a battery because the breakaway switch would not work (that is the brakes wouldn't work if the AS disconnected from the TV). You can go to one battery which is what we did to save weight/money since we never boondock.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

xrvr · 03-27-2015, 05:23 AM

Or you can buy a breakaway switch with a self contained battery. Not my choice but it can work. Jim

dbj216 · 03-27-2015, 05:30 PM

You can remove your battery and power your trailer with the converter and 30 amp service. You need to isolate the positive lead of the battery so it won't short to ground as it will be hot with 12v power at maybe 5 amps. Some Airstreamers have installed battery disconnect switches on their vintage Airstreams as the old style converter can overcharge the battery and "cook" it. This saves disconnecting the battery leads. New style converters don't overcharge batteries.

However you won't have emergency brakes if you tow without a battery as others have said.

Moosetags is heading north to Jackson Center. Safe travels.

David

chaseav · 03-27-2015, 08:36 PM

Interesting. The breakaway switch is a good point. Is one required by law? I suppose the ball could unscrew but otherwise if that breakaway switch deploys, I've probably got bigger problems going on as well. 80lbs up on the tongue might be worth shedding. I have a new AS with a battery disconnect switch, so I'd probably just need to find a way to secure the leads. Thanks for everyone's input.

SCOTTinNJ · 03-27-2015, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moosetags

Lucy is back home with another 320 miles under her belt. We will now prepare her for her Northeast Excursion. Our first road trip stop will be Jackson Center.

Brian

Where else in northeast?

**moosetags** · 03-27-2015, 09:44 PM

Hi Scott. The plan after we leave Jackson Center is to head east through New York or Pennsylvania (we haven't decided which yet) over through Vermont and New Hampshire, and into Maine. We'll do around Maine for a few weeks. Then we will make our way south along the east coast, exploring as the mood strikes us.

Brian

rickyandcook · 03-27-2015, 10:32 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

We started out in a 2005 25 Safari and then "moved up" to a 2010 27FB International. Yes we did enjoy the extra storage space and the Queen walk around bed on the 27FB vs the 48" bed and corner bath on the 25. However, we missed the towing, and easy maneuverability of the 25.

When AS came out with the ducted a/c in 2015 we decided to down-size to the 2015 25FB International. I cannot stress how much we love the new trailer. The only thing I feel we are giving up is closet storage space. The bed orientation and less counter space are non-issues for us.

There are tradeoffs and pros and cons to all the different length Airstreams. We just feel that the 25 is a perfect balance for us.

We are retired half-timers who over-winter in Fl and try to spend at least 1 week per month in our AS the other time of the year.

Ricky

bugsbunny · 03-28-2015, 05:37 AM

Hi Moosetags,

Lehmans in Kidron Ohio is a cool place to visit and maybe on your route. They have RV parking. They are a one-of-a kind HUGE Amish store with all sorts of non-electric stuff.

Corning Museum of Glass in Corning NY is an outstanding museum with RV parking also.

Steamtown in Scranton PA is neat if you like old trains. It is pretty tight thru there so would only take in the truck.

Bugs

gnijman · 03-28-2015, 12:16 PM

I have read the 56 pages (!) of this thread with interest as we have narrowed our first AS purchase to a Flying Cloud 27 FB twin or a 25 FB twin (or as I call it based upon very similar layout - the "Mini-27"). If the $9-10K price diff were not a major concern (it is a concern but it's going to spread over a good 10 years I'm guessing) what would you buy if you were us?
It's myself, my wife and a black lab. Age 58-60 very fit active and about to retire. We've only been RVing for one year in a 24ft Jayco bumper to hitch but love it hence the move up so fast.
The 25 is 2 ft longer and the 27 is 4ft longer than our stapled together press board Jayco. We've towed horse trailers for years and will have a new GMC3500HD Duramax (up from our 2004 2500).
We've spent hours inside the two units at NW Airstream in Seattle, watched many walk thru videos and have pored over floor plans. I think I've identified every conceivable physical difference between the two units. It's the effect of the differences that I cannot gauge because I lack the live aboard experience of those using this thread.
It seems to me that it comes down to:
- storage - would the 25 be tight and the 27 that much better? The 25 lacks one hanging bed end closet but it has a long roof line cupboard over one bed to offset? Does it off set? Are the narrower drawers between oven and sink wide enough to store stacked dinner plates? Is the foot of the bed space on the 27 useful to have? The pantry and wardrobe mid cabin in the 27 are twice the size as the 25 - is that needed? The counter between sink and stove top is wider - is that needed? Does the end of counter flip up table on the 25 compensate?
- cooking: the 25FB requires a propane oven swap out for a convection microwave to get a microwave (for $900 ish). Never used convection mic - is it useful? If it's useful would a 27 owner do the conversion too and drop the 0.8 cu ft microwave from the slide out pantry? We don't dry camp (yet, I guess).
- towing and parking: does the 27's 2-ft difference (350 lb unloaded weight diff) make a real difference?
Final non-comparison questions:
- is the front outside storage facing the highway speed water spray watertight. The dealer says AS increased the latches from 1 to 2 and uses a thicker rubber seal to reasons to earlier issues.
- the front outside storage is behind the propane tanks. Can you fit a carry golf bag in the door?
All help is much appreciated.