23fb Flying Cloud

[Mhenry2712]

I've been considering getting a 23Fb flying Cloud and just noticed in some pictures, the wheel well under the table... Looks like it's a two person only table. Not sure that's a huge problem for me. Anyone know for sure how much room is left for seating

[Morbo]

I don't own one but that particular model is on our wish list. We have been to the dealer and sat in one. If you want to be comfortable, yes it is a 2-person table. Could you squeeze in 4 if you had too? Yes, but the people on the aisle seats would have to put their legs in the aisle and the people sitting against the wall would be side-saddle (unless they have really short legs that could fit on top of the wheel well).

[scotttho]

We have the 23FB and are starting our 3rd camping season with it. Most of the time it's just two of us but on several weekends we have had a guest or two; it then gets tight but not terrible. When we took my parents for a weekend we gave them the queen bed and my wife and I slept on the dinette; way too small for us for more than a weekend.

So the answer is, all depends on how often you plan to camp with more than two people.

As for that wheel well, we actually use it to store laptop, books, maps, brochures, and other stuff that might end up on the table so it's pretty handy from that perspective.

Let me know if you have other specific questions. Good luck with your decision.

Scott

[THEPILL]

I almost bought the 23'. SOOO glad we didn't. The table is secondary to the "living area",....just not much room to relax. Sitting facing each other after a meal and NO place to live.

The 25' had seating for entertaining,lazing out and watching tv ..as a whole family. Plus u will sleep more. All of this for 2 more feet.

Again, the 23 foot has no elbow or lounging room.

These are just my opinions.

Shane

[Mhenry2712]

I think I know how people end up in 30' AS now, We started out wanting a 19 ft or 20 ft and have inched up to 22 or 23 ft before we've even Camped. Luckily or maybe not so Luckily our tow vehicle is a 2011 toyota tacoma quad cab with a tow rating of 6500 GVWR.

Everyone has given us a lot to think about. Any thoughts on the Corner Bedrooms as apposed to the FB models?

Our thinking was we would be mostly just sleeping in the trailer so more bedroom space would be nice.

[THEPILL]

On the FBmodel...you get a lot more privacy. No bathroom door banging on your bed. Also making up the bed is a lot easier away from the wall. Another thing is someone will inadvertantly wake themselves up in the middle of the night by touching the cold wall right next to the mattress. Also it's uncomfortable without the hand room hanging off the edge while sleeping for one of you.

Again, just my opinons.

Shane

[dkottum]

I would have trouble with the tight and visually confining living space of the 23FB based on traveling many months in our Safari 20. The available seating is quite limited for long stays on the road. The wider and longer 25' and up models would solve the problem, but presents additional challenges of towing, storing, parking, and maneuvering a considerably larger trailer. I think the larger living space and great outward vision of the 23 dinette and sofa models, at the expense of the less-used bath and bed space, makes these models great traveling Airstreams, particularly for two people.

Doug K

[murreywalker]

Originally Posted by Mhenry2712

I've been considering getting a 23Fb flying Cloud and just noticed in some pictures, the wheel well under the table... Looks like it's a two person only table. Not sure that's a huge problem for me. Anyone know for sure how much room is left for seating

We too, have the 23FB, and in addition to reading the previous posts, I would say that the family configuration is the key. It's built for two traveling adults, and really not much more (throw in a grandkid or two occasionally with ease).

There's just the two of us, and our immediate extended family (daughter, SIL and three grandchildren) have their own trailer.

We travel almost exclusively by ourselves and for us (all things considered) the 23 FB is the best of all worlds.

[Sphere Guy]

We've got a 2008 23' Safari and with just the two of us, it's OK. We use the ledge to store shoes and such.

[Aage]

one rarely hears another trailerite complain that their trailer is too large.

[A W Warn]

I have had 30', 31' and 25' at different times. I really liked the larger trailer when the kids used to go along. Since there's just the two of us now, the 25' has plenty of room and is much less weight to tow. We have stayed in the 25' as much as 3 months at a time.

[dkottum]

I only feel the trailer is too large when pulling up a steep grade, paying for too-frequent fuel stops, trying to get into the last spot at the state park, buying tires, waxing it, heating and cooling it, buying a tow vehicle, storing it, and looking at depreciation.

I only feel the trailer is too small when it's too cold or wet to be outside, the 5 minutes in the shower, the 2 minutes making the bed, or when I am missing my favorite recliner left at home.

Why don't they make these things split around the middle so they can slide longer after we get there?

Doug K

[golfgal]

We seriously considered the 23-footer with the lounge or sofa at the front, but were really worried about the double corner "crawl-over-me" bed and the very small bathroom, so we opted for the 25 FB. We are so glad we did! In fact, if we ever decided to go bigger, we'd opt either for the 27FB or the 30-footer.

[JamuJoe]

Originally Posted by Mhenry2712

I've been considering getting a 23Fb flying Cloud and just noticed in some pictures, the wheel well under the table... Looks like it's a two person only table. Not sure that's a huge problem for me. Anyone know for sure how much room is left for seating

We have the 2011 23FB and the under-table wheel well box isn't a problem. With the two of us dining, it is not in the way or can be used as a foot stool/leg rest. With two young grandkids aboard, their legs fit just fine. Every unit has some compromises, and we found this one very minor compared to the things that we really like about the 23FB.

[Mhenry2712]

Originally Posted by dkottum

I would have trouble with the tight and visually confining living space of the 23FB based on traveling many months in our Safari 20. The available seating is quite limited for long stays on the road. The wider and longer 25' and up models would solve the problem, but presents additional challenges of towing, storing, parking, and maneuvering a considerably larger trailer. I think the larger living space and great outward vision of the 23 dinette and sofa models, at the expense of the less-used bath and bed space, makes these models great traveling Airstreams, particularly for two people.

Doug K

I'd also like to host adult size guest occasionally and the 23fb dinette seems to be a bit small for normal sized adults. I like the 23 D , 23 C and 23 L ... I wonder why there are not more L with the free standing table. Any Ideas?

[field & stream]

Hi -- After much research and thinking, with great thanks to the Forums, we recently purchased a 23-foot 2008 Safari SE with the front lounge, and find the excellent living space combined with the table when you need it to be a perfect combination for us. True, the bed and bath are tight, but that is the tradeoff for the overall size consideration.

[JFScheck]

Remember - the 25 is wider than the 23 so there is more room there as well!

[dkottum]

The 25 is 6" wider than the 23, but if you compare how space is used, the Int'l 23D is more efficient. Same size dinette and lounge, 25 kitchen is a tad larger, 23 wardrobe is larger. The 25 expends a lot of space on the bedroom, which works well for some. The 25 has larger tank capacities for those who need it.

A great difference is also the tow vehicle. The 23, lighter and with less wind resistance, is an easy tow for any half ton, the 25 not so much. Fuel efficiency comes strongly into play with $4 gas for most. We spend up to 6 months a year traveling with our Airstream. Even though I want a 27 or 28, I believe the 23 is a better traveler and much easier on the budget.

Doug

[mutcth]

Oh, I dunno. A 25FB (actually a 26) gains the advantage of having a pair of twins rather than the corner bed. It also appears to have a bit more countertop area plus the more spacious split bathroom. I think it's the best all-arounder floorplan AS offers. And I'd have no qualms towing it with a modern 1/2 ton truck.

That said, I still would rather tow something that's the length and width of the 23' and I worry about a 25' shoehorning into some of the older state campgrounds here. Can't help but think that a 2011 Grand Cherokee towing a 23' is the same overall length as our Odyssey towing our current 21'...

While throwing out ideas (and looking at Colonial's website - again and often), I wonder if a 23FB Serenity would feel more open inside than the other 23FBs thanks to the off-white cabinetry. I also like that model's single basin sink - opens up more counter top.

Tom

[golfgal]

We have the 25' Serenity, and I can tell you that the feel of it on the inside is very light, bright, open, and airy. It's really quite wonderful and pleasant!