Pros & Cons of Owning A Airstream

[switz]

We call it "two foot itis". Each model is about two foot longer as one goes up the $$$ tree.

Our first was a 2013 25FB International Serenity. We towed it with our 2012 Fram 26500HD Cummins which we still have.

Hated the cross bed we so ordered a 2014 27' Classic. A week later we changed the order to our 2014 31' Classic just for the difference in list price which was just over $2000. That was far cheaper than the blood bath if we kept the 27' Classic and then went to the 31' Classic. No regrets on the 31' Classic.

We acquired a 2015 23D International Serenity for going to older parks where length is an issue or short trips when the Classic is on site at our summer retreat in the mountains. We can tow 23D with our 2021 Land Cruiser as well as the Ram.

[1995]

I ordered one of the last (May 1995 build) 8 foot wide 21’ Sovereigns and have been happy with it since. Here was/is my thinking on choosing it:
I was partly interested in a “hard shell tent” more than a second house. Ease of traveling was more important than home-like conditions and size.
I wanted to go on hunting trips and remote sites such as forest service campgrounds where bigger than 22 feet long would not fit or be permitted.
I wanted to enjoy the place I was going to, meaning I would prefer to be outside, not in the trailer 24/7.
I prefer a double axle trailer for stability and in case a tire fails.
I ordered it with two batteries, two 10-gallon aluminum propane tanks (to keep the weight down to what two 7.5 gallon steel tanks would be), and two spare tires, all with the idea of traveling, and going to places with little to no infrastructure.
I found the furnace (31k btu) to be plenty for zero degree weather during a hunt in Colorado, and the dual batteries kept it gong all night easily. I ran a portable generator for a couple hours each evening to recharge the batteries.. It helped to put pieces of carpet or Styrofoam insulating panels over the bedroom windows in very cold weather.
The air conditioner was sufficient although marginally so in 115 degree desert heat.
Recently I performed a number of much needed “maintenance” or “repair” procedures, including new Dexter self-adjusting brakes, repacked wheel bearings with Dexter approved lithium complex Valvoline grease, propane hoses and regulator, recertifying the tanks (yes, they were still in excellent shape after 28.5 years), new drapes, foam mattress, couch cover, Odyssey Extreme batteries. Two of the manual adjuster/brake shoe springs had broken but fortunately had not seriously scored the drums. I replaced the fresh water inlet to tank hose, and the fresh water tank to drain valve hose and valve. The original Sony radio/cassette player had a removable front control panel which quit working, so I installed a Pioneer radio/CD player with an on-off switch since it was intended for a car. At the same time, I soldered multiple wires together behind the radio which the factory had simply twisted and taped together.
Over the first 5 years or so I had several issues/repairs/upgrades to perform: Split the duct to the bathroom to send about half or more of the heat to the bedroom which did not get heat from the factory ductwork; replaced the furnace blower fan and Shur-Flo water pump; glued and screwed the bathroom door outer panels and wood framing, which the factory had held together with a spray-on adhesive.
Hopefully, these experiences will help you in considering what might be needed for an older Airstream, or to ensure that any age unit will match your needs.

[dan20]

I love my 19 ft Bambi, 3 solar panels, 3 inch lift kit and 2 lithium ion batteries.
Well built except for 1 major flaw, the insulation is terrible. Hot in the summer and cold in the Fall/early spring. Why can't Airstream solve this problem????

I mostly boondock and have no regrets...

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by dan20

I love my 19 ft Bambi, 3 solar panels, 3 inch lift kit and 2 lithium ion batteries.
Well built except for 1 major flaw, the insulation is terrible. Hot in the summer and cold in the Fall/early spring. Why can't Airstream solve this problem????

I mostly boondock and have no regrets...

There really, isn't a great solution for a travel trailer out there for real cold weather, IMHO. The windows are just not thick enough, even with "dual pain" construction, to provide enough of a barrier like in a home, which can have 1/2" space between pains. Comment in the currant RV Magazine article suggests if the sales guy is telling you otherwise, ask him to show you the stats backing his claim on R ratings. AS is not much different in that regard, and has never been advertised as a 4 season trailer. Others SOB's do, however, say they are 4 season trailers. Haven't yet seen a 6" thick wall on any of these, however! Had my share of -20 to -40 at our cabin in MT; don't miss shoveling show in that weather and my respect to those here who still have to face those conditions each year, let alone camping in an AS!

Many folks here have/do travel in winter/snow with their AS's, and will add insulation covers on the windows, the roof vents, and add one of the many options for insulating around the outside of your AS, including inflatable barriers; some even putting a heater down there! We have camped in the low 20s, and survived fine, even without Li batteries! But, not something I seek out these days when towing the AS!

[G8trwood]

Pros
Iconic styling
Beautiful premium inner and outer skins
Cabinet and component parts available at Jayco

Cons
Other airstream owners knock on your door at 6am to chat
Man that trail is narrow, will I scratch her
Not all components match premium feel of skin
Included options

[Jeff_Cheryl]

We sold a truck camper in 2022 and started looking for our next camper this past spring/summer/fall. One of the deciding factors for us in choosing an Airstream was the Green Certification. We try to avoid toxins in our food, water, air, and lives in general, and want no less in a potential home-away-from-home. We don't want to breathe formaldehyde off-gassing from particle board. This is where Airstream seems to be an industry leader with an Emerald rating for Resource Efficiency, Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, and Indoor Air Quality: (https://www.certifiedgreenrvs.com/_f...ef0764400f.pdf)

We never could track down a whole lot of info about the group that does the ratings (TRA CERTIFICATION, INC.) other than the fact that it is an industry-based "thing" in Elkhart, IN. We figured that even if it was biased somehow, Airstream is still at the top of the ratings.

We placed our order recently for a Flying Cloud 27FBQ last month and have a build date scheduled for December. We're looking forward to ownership very soon.

Good luck with your decision!

[BML]

Just picked up a 2024 Pottery Barn Edition, never owned an RV before , just knew we wanted the best. Had ti 3 weeks, taking out first trip in a week. It's stocked and ready, going to give it a good wash this weekend. I've spent a lot of time going thru it, learning etc.. I have zero regrets on spending the money. I know we'll have it for a long long time. Good luck on your decision, hope you join us in the aluminum world .

[RickBullotta]

The only real negatives we've encountered thus far are:

- It's not truly a four season trailer
- Some aspects of the design make servicing and repairs overly complex
- Some of the OEM subsystems chosen aren't up to the same quality level as the trailer itself (door latch/lock, thermostat, on-demand heater, shower head, etc)