Looking at FC 25FB - Thoughts?

[nwacamper]

So this could be crazy and if so I would love your input from those who have been in similar situations.

Currently we have a honking 40ft 5th wheel which is fantastic at camp but its really just too big. No issues towing it or anything and its about 11k dry with 4 slides.

When we camp its normally my wife, 3 yr old and 9 yr old, and about 3 times a year we will have my Mom or In Laws with us.

All that said we are mainly outside when we are camping, either kayaking, boating, hiking, etc... . The only time we are inside is for sleeping or when it rains.

Now here is the question. Have I lost it wanting to switch to a 25ft airstream? Personally I think its much less overkill and would be far better for long pulls out to some of the state parks we have wanted to go see. My concern really is the sleeping comfort of the dinette when converted and how well does it really sleep?

My other question is how will the tow be behind my F250? Its a 2016 and handles the 5th wheel with ease. Lastly I really don't want to deal with sway bars again as our old set up was a 9k lb 30ft Flagstaff pulled behind a gas burner 3/4 suburban.

Thanks for any insights you might have about the tow, sway bars, and on occasion how it would work out sleeping 4 adults and two kids in something like the 25FB.

Sincerely,

NWACamper

[gregwall]

That's a big change from 40' to 25', but there is certainly enough sleeping room for your family. After having a 30', we just bought a 25' FC. Storage is what you get with larger units, but if you use your truck bed well, it can be done. When you have company, it will get tight. Some people take a tent in those situations and camp out with the kids. I pulled the 30' with a Nissan Titan 25,000 miles across Canada on a fishing trip (www.fishacrosscanada.com) and did fine, so you will do fine with the F250. We just go slower and gear lower up and down mountains.

[FCStreamer]

That is a pretty large drop from a 40ft to a 25ft. My wife and I opted for a 30ft and we don't plan on entertaining guests - the dinette bed does not look very comfortable. It all depends on your needs for privacy and expectations. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[moosetags]

First off, welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us.

As to your question, that's a very tall order for a 25 foot Airstream. We Are very familiar with the 25FB. Over the last ten years, we have camped in our Airstream for 1,700 nights, and have towed it 150,000 miles. We camped most often with just the two of us. Even adding just two small grandsons make it noticeable tight. Adding two children and a couple of additional adults would make it a place that I would not want to be. To each their own, of course.

In my opinion, you might have a shot in a 30 foot bunk model.

Good luck in your endeavor.

Brian

[OTRA15]

Welcome to the forum!

Having owned a 25' and now a 20' I agree with Brian that the 25' is probably smaller than you would be happy with.

Downsize? Yes. Length TBD.

Are you near an AS dealer? Seeing the actual models under consideration is worth a drive or air flight of a few hours if you are serious. Tie the trip in with a vacation maybe?

You can spend many many hours here getting opinions, but analysis paralysis can set in rapidly.

Go visit your dream in person IMO.

Good luck!

Peter

[dkottum]

Funny OTRA15, we had a 20 and now a 25.

I think the 25 setup is pretty clumsy for seating and sleeping six. They actually made a model called the 25 SS (Six Sleeper) a few years ago with a corner double bed in back, a convertible dinette on the side, and a convertible couch in front, nifty.

I think the 25 and 27 are a poor arrangement for a family of four because the side lounge sits sideways in front of the tv. The 26U is a vast improvement for small family use because the dinette seating wraps around the front of the Airstream, check this one as it may be closest to getting into a midsize Airstream with some degree of comfort for four; all of them are making-do for six.

For safety, don't pull the Airstream without a weight distribution/sway control hitch. It may seem fine until very suddenly a few sway inducing conditions happen at once and the trailer is swinging wildly taking you off the road. The hitch and proper hitch setup are fully one-third of a great bumper-pull towing combination.

[KJRitchie]

I think you will miss all the space. If you are comfortable with what you have then stick with it.

Kelvin

[gypsydad]

Agree with Brian and others; we are on our 3rd 25' currently. It is a 2014 FC twin FB model. We have had 2 adults stay with us on 3 occasions for a couple nights each. The pull out bed is tight but doable for 2 adults. We have used the fold down table for 2-grandkids (3 yrs old) for couple nights last summer with my son and daughter in law on the pull out; worked ok for couple nights, but not sure I would want to go a week. We also for the most part, live "outdoors" most of the time when weather allows for meals, etc. For an AS with more than 2 adults, I would also consider the 30' bunk. I also agree with Doug on towing...you want a WD/SC hitch for sure.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by KJRitchie

I think you will miss all the space. If you are comfortable with what you have then stick with it.

Kelvin

A 40' 5th wheel with four slide-outs?

The Titanic !

[moosetags]

A 40 foot fifth wheel with four slide outs is larger than many New York City apartments.

Brian

[m.hony]

Don't get me wrong.
I love Airstream trailers and that's all I will have, but...
You will find the lack of storage and lack of 4 slide-outs and lack of living space/walk around space claustrophobic.
It may be best to hang on to that 40' fifth wheel with 4 slides and lots of storage.

[doctorlewis]

The 25 footer is a great size Airstream. I have had two this size. However, going from 40 foot to 25 foot is quite a change. You will probably be upset at first. Also, sleeping six will be a problem -- unless you like being up close and personal. Also, I would greatly suggest that you use a sway bar on any length trailer that uses a bumper type hitch -- better to be safe than sorry.

[Plasma800]

oh my goodness dude,,, that F250 won't even know it's there.

I dropped from a 40' bus to a 27 foot airstream. We highly considered the 25, but found the bed setup in the 27 just more to our liking. Part of me kinda wishes we had gotten the twin bed setup... but oh well.

Ya know, not gonna lie, it's tight. You do a lot of dancing around each other to get places. I find the bathroom to be aggravatingly small, but not unusable, and the shower is tiny.

I find pulling it and parking it MUCH easier. That big dp was a navigation nightmare.

You're not crazy though. I personally would think your fifth too large for me to want to deal with. We also pack very light, and always have... maybe cause we're just a little lazy, but we've had "enough" room to do anything we've wanted.

The snazzy interior is a plus! All systems function well. It's a good unit.

[paiceman]

We went from a 30' AS to a 38' Motorhome and then back to another 30' AS. As Brian and others said, I think you should look at the 30' bunk. The F250 will do fine, but I never tow without bars - after 40 years with Reese I am now using an Equalizer and like it a little better. We do miss the room and comfort the motorhome provided when stopped, just the two of us and tow large Labrador Retrievers.

[rocco52]

I have to agree with the others. The 25FB is our first trailer. I would not want to try and stay in it with another couple. We have had a grandchild once. She is little and slept with "Nana" in the main bed. I slept on the lounge bed. There is no way another couple could sleep comfortably on either the dinette bed or the lounge bed. Outside storage is also a real problem for me. I solved that by buying a pickup to tow with. That said I will say that for my wife and I the 25FB works great.

[Anders79]

we have a FC 25FB and I am of the opinion (like others) - that this is a great 2 person trailer --- but think littler undersized for a family of 4 (unless all camping is in good weather --- where you truly are outdoors all the time).

[Antique Pedaler]

Agree with Brian. Our son had an '05 30' bunkhouse when his boys (our grandsons) were growing up and it was very comfortable for all.

As far as our '25 FB is concerned, it's comfortable with 6 for cocktails, 4 for dinner and just the 2 of us for sleeping.

[Rgentum]

Welcome, NWACamper ---

Two years ago, my sweetie & I bought a 2015 32 ft Forest River 5th wheel, approx. 9K lbs dry w/2 slide-outs. One trip with which left us believing we had made a BIG mistake. Fortunately, we bought it new at substantially off MSRP & found an AS dealer (in CA) who was willing to take it on a trade-in against our eventual AS at only $5K less than we paid for it. My $5K mistake. Ouch!

We spent two mornings on successive weekends going to our local AS dealer (in WA) & spending time in AS trailers from 23 to 30 feet. On our first visit, we came back thinking 23 or possibly 25. On our second visit, we ruled out the 23 as too small & 28 & the 30, because we didn't like the dinette's location across from the kitchen --- although I've read lots of posts on this Forum from others who find it ideal for them. That left us with the 25 vs the 27.

I should say that I was shopping on the Internet pretty much throughout the US for deals on a new 25 or a 27, and many, many AS dealers with whom I spoke recommended the 27 over the 25, at an increase in price of approx. $5K & an increase in weight of (only) approx. 600 lbs. The main advantages were a north/south, walk-around bed vs an east/west bed (guaranteed to making you hit your head on the overhead storage bin when getting out in the middle of the night & having your partner having to crawl over you when getting out of bed --- plus, according to my sweetie, the walk-around bed's being a lot easy to make --- and if my sweetie finds some feature advantageous, it behooves me to attend to it) and the increased foot or so in the kitchen & its opposite hanging locker). Needless to say, we got the 27 and have not regretted it for a moment.

Caution: I've also read lot of posts on this Forum from other who find the 25 ideal.

I might add that both my sweetie (in her prior marriage) and I (in my prior marriage) had RVs, and particularly after my 5th wheel fiasco, I wanted to buy "my last RV" & not find myself a year or two later wanting to trade my "current" RV in for something else. I can't tell you how many RV dealers told us about the usual RV buyer, whom they see a year later wanting "something larger, better, etc." So far, our FC 27 FB appears (thankfully) to be "our last RV."

Perhaps I should also add that while we don't travel with children or (human) friends, we have two dogs, one of whom is a 150+ lb Great Dane (bless his waggy-tail soul, cold, wet nose, & floppy ears & jowls), & he occupies the bench seat directly under the TV in the living area, while we share the opposite sides of the dinette.

We bought a 2015 Ram 2500 diesel for the 5th wheel, which worked OK with it, but pulls the AS 27 as if it were not there. At the recommendation of our local AS dealer, we bought (on the Internet) a Blue Ox Sway Pro, which I found remarkably simple to install and use.

My best to you in however you proceed.

[Caffeinated]

Gotta agree with most everyone here. Your F250 will pull any Airstream easily. You NEED a good weight distrust ion anti sway hitch. I use a Blue OX and it's great and relatively easy to use. We have a 27 ft FC and it's perfect for my wife and me, slightly less perfect on occasions when our 21 yr old daughter comes with us. Our dachshunds abslutely love it.

Mike

[D2LLIO]

We pull our FC 25 FB Twin with a 2016 F150 3.5L V6 Ecoboost with Max Tow Package just fine. I agree with all above about the sway bars.....use them!