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Teton Stream · 03-06-2013, 06:37 PM

I have had my 19' Bambi for three years and like everything about it except the location of the bed.. I recently viewed the 20' Bambi and was very impressed with the layout. Has anyone made that move? Any Bambi 20' owners have any comments about their trailer?

Bk Yd Safari · 03-06-2013, 07:17 PM

Our first and only RV is a 20' 2008 Safari(purchased used in 2011)...what sold us was the overall lay-out, especially the rear kitchen and the additional counter space..be aware that with the front bed someone has to sleep in the "back" but thus far this has not been an issue...

srpuywa · 03-06-2013, 07:48 PM

we looked at both and decided on the 19. we wanted more of a sitting area

dkottum · 03-06-2013, 08:00 PM

We had a 2007 20' SE, a great weekend and vacation trailer. The strongest points were the kitchen and ample cabinets, weakest was the bed and central living space. The wonderful pano windows are at the bed, but should be at the living space. If I were younger the bed could be a lounge area. If I wanted a new small trailer I would choose a 19', which is a compact version of our rear bed 25'.

doug k

KJRitchie · 03-06-2013, 08:31 PM

I don't think it would be worth it go from a 19 to a 20. I have a 17 Casita and we want an AS and after looking at the 22 Sport, FC 20, FC 23FB, International 23D we decided to bite the bullet and find a preowned 25. We have to even find a suitable tow vehicle because of this decision. Write a list of all the things you don't like about your 19 by priority and see if the 20 solves the issues. If the bed is you top priority in the 19 how will the 20 bed solve that issue? I think if I was going to choose the 19 vs the 20 I would've chosen the 20 since they have the same size bed, similar size dinette, same size fridge and holding tanks. You are ready for a 25!

Kelvin

Silverbee · 03-06-2013, 09:34 PM

Our first Airstream was a 20' Safari SE 2007 75th Anniversary edition. We looked at both the 19' and the 20' side by side and what sold us was the extra kitchen space, double sink, and layout of the 20'. We kept the trailer for 5 years and were quite happy with it. We traded in 2012 for a 25' Flying Cloud rear bedroom, mainly for the larger bed, and the double axles.

subfan1 · 03-06-2013, 10:09 PM

We went from a 19 to 20 foot. We didn't like the corner bed and even though both trailers beds are the same size, the 20 foot seems to allow us more room maybe due to the tighter right rear corner of the 19. The bed in the front of the 20 foot layed across does seem to have more elbow room. The rest room and kitchen areas completely sold us on the 20 foot. The parking issue limited us to less than 22 feet and our Tahoe has no problems handling the load. For us, we're glad we did it. Good luck

gandttimes · 03-08-2013, 06:26 PM

we started with a 2005 19ft,which we ordered in 2004 before the 20ft came out. We bought a 2008 when we saw it because of the large windows beside the dinette. The places we take it to are easy to position the trailer looking at a view, and the large food prep area makes it great for the cook.
The bed was the other reason, and all the extra storage.
George

**blmitch5** · 03-08-2013, 06:34 PM

We love our little 19'! We like the bed and love the pano windows. Go to a Airstream dealer and spend some time in each unit to see what would work for you. Your opinion is the only only one that counts, what works for us might not work for you.

TBRich · 03-08-2013, 06:37 PM

We do like the layout of the 20' but I think if we were going to move up form 19', we'd go to at least a 23' front bed. Great layout.

**blmitch5** · 03-08-2013, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBRich

We do like the layout of the 20' but I think if we were going to move up form 19', we'd go to at least a 23' front bed. Great layout.

I love the 23' but can't trade the Bambi!

TBRich · 03-08-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blmitch5

I love the 23' but can't trade the Bambi!

I know exactly what you mean... I love our Bambi. So I just have to put such thoughts out of my head.

Bigventure · 03-08-2013, 07:59 PM

We went from a 1965 Caravel to a 2011 20 Safari. We looked at the 19 Bambis and Sports. The 20 just seemed larger, it had a double sink, dry bath, and the plano window. It was just more trailer for the same money. My dealer told me to come and look at them together. He call the 20 Safari the Bambi killer. He couldnt keep a 20 on the lot.

LFM · 03-08-2013, 09:28 PM

When we found our 19 SE, we found what we had been looking for. We had been to a dealer in 2007, but didn't like the 54,000 price. In 2009, we found a 2007 19' SE for 25,000, and could not pass it up. Stickers still on many appliances, the trailer was one we wanted two years before, and everything (karma) working, we love the unit we have. If a 20' is what you want, wait for it, because in the long run, buyers remorse will haunt you. If a 19' is what you want, wait for it, it will come. Buy what you want, not what is available. You will be rewarded in the end.
Also, we love our 19' Bambi SE, as we like to camp. But I think we would love a 16" Bambi, or a 20" Bambi also.
Greg & Leslyn

gandttimes · 03-08-2013, 09:46 PM

Well said.

srpuywa · 03-14-2013, 07:55 AM

To me, the perfect floorplan would be the 20's front bed (longer and wider) in the rear corner of a 19 or 23

J2Becker · 03-31-2013, 02:54 PM

We went w the 20, our first travel trailer and are very happy... Bed wi a mattress topper is fine, and the counter space and double sink is appreciated. Just two of us.

Teton Stream · 04-18-2013, 01:09 PM

Thanks for all the feedback. While having some maintenance work completed at Airstream Adventures NW in Nampa/Boise I was given a deal I could not refuse and pulled the trigger on a 2013 20' FC Bambi. Wow 1.8' and its a different world, still can boondock in the NP's and BLM w/o problem. What's not to like!

ModernVista · 04-18-2013, 11:22 PM

You will love it! The 20' has the best kitchen in my wife's opinion, and tows like a Bambi..which it is! So that makes sense..

I upgraded the batteries and had the dealer put in solar, but other than that...perfect out of the box!

Congrats!

Chris

bovk · 05-01-2013, 07:27 PM

Two of us, have 20' FC for 2.5 years and it has 40k MI on it. Last year we spent over 140 days in it. Still think it is the best Airstream for two.

- we take it for trips when people with larger AS would leave them at home (expense, more to worry about)
- fits in all spots where we used pop-up before
- on 6000 MI trip we averaged 18.5 Mi/gal (mixed towing and driving around without trailer)
- my wife is a great cook and in the 20' fantastic kitchen she can do the same meals as at home

One thing we learned is that it is easier to turn the sitting area into a bed compared to two on the front bed. It takes no time and the comfort is so much better.

Enjoy your AS!

Couple things I did
- at 28 k MI I changed to 16" wheels and truck tires
- recently I switched the noisy heat pump to quiet Polar Cub 9000 BTU AC
- I threw away the back flow preventer on the black tank flush, leaked and it was very cheap made part.
- the rest were just normal repairs of cabinets