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Old 06-24-2018, 09:44 PM   #1
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2021 30' Flying Cloud
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Lady Lake , Florida
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Question New 23 CB before delivery concerns

Lots of great advise on the forum. And as a retired Automotive Instructor I do understand warranty and parts failures. Also how a service department can make or break a customer’s attitude and the manufacture’s reputation.

This is my first post. We are very new and green and uneducated to traveling in an Airstream. Never had one nor any other RV. Four trips on a Harley coast to coast was our adventures. That said.

I must admit all these problem post’s have my wife and I saying what did we do? As Saturday we just deposited on a new in stock 2018 23 CB. We are almost ready to back-out.

I have three concerns if anyone wishes to help.

1: As we have a new F-150 EcoBoost with tow package the dealer who once raved and wanted us in a Blue Ox Hitch. Now - because of customer with a new 2017 Ford F-150 towing a new 25 that had a nasty "death wobble sway “ over 60.

They only fixed it with a Eqial-i-zer Hitch. The threads on hitchs makes one want to buy a B Van! However I do not want to head out of the lot to find out I bought the wrong hitch or the wrong tow vehicle.

2: Ok we got a good fair price. However I looked at the door grab handle and saw oxidation. Sales said it was a new unit just in, they all do it , Airstream does not care ? Really they corrode that quick?

3: The trailer is hooked up to power for show, While that is nice I’m wondering how much wear and tear on the AC unit as it’s in Florida set a 78 24/7. We have not taken delivery. Should I be concerned on the AC constant use probably for a month or more?

I thought of calling JC with the vin and asking when it was built and delivered. We have visited the factor to watch production. I buy from the service end not sales end. Enjoyed the factory tour,

Comments appreciated-
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Old 06-24-2018, 10:39 PM   #2
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2014 23' International
Dadeville , Alabama
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23 expert “self proclaimed”

Ok so here goes,
1st your Tow vehicle will be just fine plenty of power for that 23. I tow with a Duramax 2500 but I carry ALOT of “crap” with me so I need the capacity. The F150 will pull just fine and the weight distribution hitch should be your choice. All if set up right work. I tow with a basic EZ Lift with 800lbs bars. Blue ox is a great hitch so is Equalizer.

The grab handle will “patina” and it is not a problem. The rest of the trailer is clear coated and will be fine.

I would not worry about them running the AC unit, if nothing else they made sure is had no problems for you. Your warranty will start once you purchase the unit so if you have a problem you will be covered.

LAST and MOST important
Forums are where people (myself included) come to complain. DO NOT expect problems. Things will happen and there is a “break-in period” for a new unit to get the Bugs worked out but once you do you should be good to go.
Take the time to get to know your unit and when problems arise you will be ready.

I LOVE my 2014 23D spend at least 100 nights in it each year over the last 3 years. I have fixed it, broke it, modified it to make it “better”, and know it inside and out.

Enjoy your new unit with little if any fear. Educate yourself on how it all works and enjoy tinkering and you will be livin the dream.
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Old 06-25-2018, 04:40 AM   #3
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Welcome! Congratulations!

Only read the forum to educate yourself, to know what to look for and to be ready for what you yourself find.

Everything has a + or -, the forums are a great place to find out what the -'s are, but if you only go by what you read on them you would never be able to leave your bed as the entire world is broken and about to fall apart.
Get out there, enjoy what you have and figure out it's particular quirks and deal with them...
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Old 06-25-2018, 05:11 AM   #4
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After towing for six years using a Hensley hitch, and now a ProPride hitch, I would not be without the ProPride. You're likely not looking to spend yet more money at this point, but, at least for us, the expenditure makes perfect sense: peace of mind that the sway will be eliminated and the driver is not stressed, and that your significant cash outlay for the new Airstream has an extra layer of "insurance". I try to keep my speed in the low 60 mph range. I expect it will not take you long to get comfortable and start enjoying your Airstream adventures.
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Old 06-25-2018, 06:52 AM   #5
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Be sure to not rush (or be rushed) through the delivery presentation. Here you'll learn how the various features operate, and can be sure that they do indeed operate. If something doesn't seem right this is the time to have it rectified. Have the dealer install whatever hitch you get and show you how it works. The F150 should be fine for the size Airstream you're getting. It would probably work fine for our 28 foot trailer too, but just didn't have enough payload for us, so we got an F250.

Despite seeing things working well and understanding how they work you'll need to do some break-in camping close to home to get comfortable with it all, and to catch anything you may have missed earlier.

Some dealers have the ability to house you on site the evening after you buy the Airstream. In our case we went to a state park some distance away. That gave us an opportunity to learn about towing, backing up, hitching up, and so on. We found a few things that didn't work properly and made an appointment to have them fixed when we got back home.

We've had our trailer about six months now, and have spent some 25 nights in it. No major problems have cropped up, but we have made a lot of improvements to personalize our Airstream and make it better. We've also found it prudent to be on the lookout for any fasteners working themselves loose over time. This week one of the awning "travel hooks" was loose and one of the fancy aluminum step pivot screws came out. Blue locktite should prevent both from being a problem again.

Again, go into the ownership with a positive attitude, but be aware that no piece of mechanical equipment is perfect. Have fun!
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Old 06-25-2018, 06:57 AM   #6
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First, welcome to the Forum... it's a good place to hang out, a great resource for problem-solving, idea-sharing, and good old fashioned interesting conversation. I hope you come here often.

I suppose you already know that the 23CB used to be called the 23D, so when you see posts about the 23D Airstreams, you may find something interesting there for you.

Also, there is an EXCELLENT thread on this forum [more or less] dedicated to all things 23D (well, OK, 23CB, too!). Here it is: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ad-166085.html

It's probably one of the very best threads on the forum with lots of interaction among its "regulars." I've referred to the 23D thread as "The Clubhouse," but I can see that has a bit of a sniff of exclusivity to it, and, please be assured, there is NOTHING "exclusive" about it... I hope to see you there often.

May I encourage you to read through the entire 23D thread... there are a g'zillion posts and, by reading through the thread, you will get a pretty good feel about the Airstream you have purchased... and probably a few tips to make it work even better for YOU.

As for us, we positively love our 23D! I checks all our boxes and scratches all our itches... I can only hope that you enjoy yours as much as we do ours!

All the best, and I'll see you over on the 23D thread!

Robert
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Old 06-25-2018, 08:10 AM   #7
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First of all, welcome to the Airstream family.

A few things that I recommend to save your batteries. (These are in the order that I think matches their importance.)

One, put a disconnect switch on the hot wire leading to the inverter. The inverter is wired directly to the batteries, so the USE/STORE switch does not disconnect it. The WFCO inverter pulls a lot of power from the batteries, draining the batteries, even when not turned on. If you store your Airstream between camping sessions without it staying plugged in to shore power, it will rapidly drain your batteries, damaging them.

Two, the LP detector is wired directly to the batteries. The USE/STORE switch does not turn it off, making it a parasitic draw. It is not nearly as bad as the inverter, but if you store the Airstream for an extended period, say over the winter, it will also drain the batteries. In my Airstream, the LP detector is right beside the fuse block. My solution was to run a hot wire from a slot on the fuse block to the LP detector, taping off the original hot wire. Since the USE/STORE switch turns off power to the fuse block, the LP detector is now turned off by the USE/STORE switch.

Three, replace the WFCO (I think the 2018 model year went from the Parallax to the WFCO) converter/charger with a Progressive Dynamics PD4655V. The older Parallax boiled batteries dry, killing them. The WFCO is not so bad about that, but it is known to have real problems going into boost mode for quick charging. If you do much off grid camping, the WFCO won't charge your batteries nearly as fast as the PD will.
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Old 06-25-2018, 09:39 AM   #8
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I tow a 30' Classic with an Equalizer hitch. I have driven in mountains, heavy winds, downpours, and yes, next to hundreds of the dreaded semis. Tows like a dream.
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Old 06-25-2018, 10:18 AM   #9
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Don’t worry!

I have a 2017 Ford F-150 with MaxTow, 36 gallon fuel tank and Equalizer hitch pulling our 19’ Bambi.....we have had zero problems with the two units working together....truck has every other tow option available.

Initially we suffered with a Hensley getting that fearful wobble....after 120 Miles we turned back to our dealer, installed the Equalizer and now can take any highway, any hill and any wind condition flawlessly....my speed limit is 65 mph with the trailer and theoretically could take my hands off the wheel and let the truck drive itself.....truck converted to 16 inch L rated 10 ply Michelins and the AS got the same first class treatment. Keep the F150 Eco Boost’s tires at 60 psi And the AS at 70 psi. Change the wheel bearing grease every 3000 miles or so....easy to do and sail along care-free.
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Old 06-25-2018, 10:44 AM   #10
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I tow 2015 27 ft FC FB with a 2009 Silverado 1500 crew cab short bed and the Blue Ox. No issues.

Your newer ford should tow even better.

Mike
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Old 06-25-2018, 10:59 AM   #11
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2016 23' Flying Cloud
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Congrats!

I am sure that all will be well. Pre-delivery jitters are understandable, but in the end I am sure you will leave with a feeling of excitement and relief.

As for the hitch, I know of an issue with a new 30 Classic being towed by a new Ford F-150 eco-boost with a Blue Ox Sway Pro that had sway issues. The fellow changed to an Equal-i-zer, and had no further issues at all. He said it towed like it was on rails! That being said, the Blue Ox and Equal-i-zer are both great products, and either one would be a good set-up with your tow vehicle and trailer combination. In the interest of full disclosure, I tow my 30 with an Equal-i-zer.

I hope this helps, and that you enjoy your new Airstream for many years to come!
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Old 06-25-2018, 11:52 AM   #12
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As long as we are trading "towing experiences," here's ours:

We tow a 2014 Airstream 23D
With a 2015 Ford F150 XLT, 3.5 EcoBoost, MaxTow Package, large fuel tank.
Reese hitch (the number on the shank is 54970, but I'm not sure that's very helpful).
Reese 800-pound tapered trunion bars

The whole shebang tows like it's on rails... couldn't be happier!
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Old 06-25-2018, 12:09 PM   #13
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Hi hforward,

Congratulations on your new 2018 Flying Cloud! Please feel free to reach out to our Customer Service and Technical Support team at customer_support@airstream.com with any questions.

Thank You!
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Old 06-25-2018, 12:15 PM   #14
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Spokane , Washington
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Practice hitching and un hitching several
Times before leaving on a trip
There is a learning curve
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Old 06-25-2018, 01:50 PM   #15
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I tow my 23D with a 2000 Tundra 4.7L lol. And a basic Curt WD hitch with 800 lb bars i got from eTrailer.com for about 200 bucks. Tows fine! I'd kill to tow with your F150. Just can't justify it as my daily driver, I have a VW Golf Alltrack for that, so I stick with the good old Tundra I bought for $9,000.00. What can I say, I'm frugal! Or I'll go ahead and say it...CHEAP! (Except when it comes to upgrading/modifying my Flying Cloud...no expense is spared then, lol).

As for the other stuff you're worried about...you may have zero issues, you may have a few, you may have more than a few. You'll have 2 years to get them all addressed to your satisfaction.

Jump in! And join us on the 23D thread previously mentioned...lots of good info there.
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Old 06-25-2018, 05:55 PM   #16
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Welcome! We tow our 2012 25' Flying Cloud RB with our 2015 Ford F-150 with EcoBoost and Max Tow Package. Prior to buying the F-150, we towed Clyde with a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a V-8 Hemi. The F-150 is a DREAM, it tows the AS like it isn't even there. We love both the Flying Cloud and the F-150. Our WD set up is great, I don't know the brand but it does what it is intended to do. I hope you will enjoy your Airstream and use it often!
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Old 06-25-2018, 06:21 PM   #17
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Welcome to the fun.

We had a 22 sport and now a 25 flying cloud. We tow with a Tundra and equalizer hitch. Works great. You need SOME type of WD/Sway control hitch, but you should get what will be easy to use. We like the Equalizer because it is light weight to connect and disconnect and fairly simple.

You didn't mention tow mirrors. These are quite important and not discussed enough.

I am not sure how wide your vehicle mirrors extend (are they the pull-out extending type), and if they have a convex feature.
The Tundra does not offer these OEM. We tried several snap on types. Hated how they vibrated. We went with McKesh tow mirrors with the convex spots on both sides. These are really great to see merging traffic coming from an on-ramp, and also vehicles in the adjoining lanes. Kinda of a PITA at first to get adjusted, but now it takes 2 minutes. These probably made the biggest difference for my husband feeling like the bigger trailer is no problem. They are sold on the Hensley hitch website.

Yes we had a few minor issues that the dealer took care of at the end of the summer last year. Aside from that no major issues. It IS to your benefit to learn as much as you can about how things work, how they are best maintained, what tools are needed to do this, and read about things that MIGHT go wrong so you have an answer prepared.

The other advice I have is that anytime something happens that you go-wow that was lucky-to stop and talk about it with your spouse so you can both think about what happens when you do X and why Y might happen if aren't careful. Example, last week we were hitching up and needed to back off the Anderson levelers. I got lazy and didn't raise up the jack at the front all the way since we still needed to put the sway bars on. Luckily it didn't drag once the trailer tires backed off the levelers and back to the ground. But -lesson learned-don't do that next time!

Keep some tools on board, and read read read on how to do things. Watch youtube videos any time you are going to do something. They are there for just about everything. Winterize-torque tires-clean the hot water heater-check water in the battery-use levelers-hitch up, unhitch, lubricate the door, take down the awning. Just look it up.

And keep your keys on you!
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Old 06-25-2018, 06:44 PM   #18
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I have a 2017 23D. This is our second camping season and our first camper. It’s been great. Have had a few warranty issues and have done some major upgrades/mods to make it ours.

I now tie with a 2018 F150 and the equalizer hitch. It’s a great setup, no issues. Pulls great. Good payload. You will love it and equalizer hitch is good. I wouldn’t spend the $$ on a Hensley. I don’t want to start a debate, plenty of other threads that do this. The Equalizer is proven and works well.

Enjoy the new rig, have fun, and definitely come to the 23D thread as Rob recommends.
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Old 06-25-2018, 07:35 PM   #19
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Don't worry, be happy.

You'll be fine. The forums are not representative of reality. People come here with problems. Rarely do people visit the forum to post their trouble-free hours of enjoyment stories.

I have a 2015 27FB International Serenity and I haven't had a bit of trouble with it. What minor problems cropped up, I fixed and had fun doing it.

All RVs will have some issues. You can't bang these traveling homes around on today's degrading infrastructure of hi-ways and bi-ways without issues.

The whole point is to enjoy yourself. Don't rush. Savor the adventure.

Also as a newbie tip, use your phone to record a video of your Airstream walk thru with the dealer. Ask lots of questions, have them demonstrate everything and get it on video so that you can watch it later. You can never take it all in, in one setting and remember everything.

It is your dealer's job to make sure that your Airstream is setup and working properly. Try to spend a full night or two in your Airstream at the dealer's if it is possible. That way you can iron out your problems right there before you take it off the lot.
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Old 06-25-2018, 09:16 PM   #20
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2001 25' Safari
Chagrin falls , Ohio
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I have towed my 25 SS for 17 years and spent 300 plus nights in the Airstream. Have towed it for hunting all over the west, through the Rockies, Smokies, etc.

The reason we all have TT is because we tow. The essential element of this practice dictates that all the focus is on that little relationship between the tongue of the Airstream and rear of the vehicle....I have towed with all kinds of set ups and decided to buy the Pro Pride for my new 30 Classic (delivery in a few months).....its the best hitch to eliminate sway and for true tracking says many old timers who I spoke to...we will see. My point is you bought the most expensive rig there is...spend some more on the key component.
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