The 23FB forum

[eagletoo]

Missaviatrix,
A few years ago, a young couple with a 23d converted their lounge into a work station. Beautiful results. Search their name, The More We Explore, to (hopefully) see their work.
Hope this helps.

[Jdubya]

Originally Posted by missaviatrix

Has anybody seen a 23FB conversion from the Queen bed to ONE twin bed and a desk (instead of the second twin bed)? I work remotely from my trailer and the dinette table and those seriously uncomfortable seat cushions are just not working.

A few years back someone posted pictures of exactly that. Looked real nice. I have no clue where I saw it. Bed was on fridge side of trailer. Don’t recall how the outside storage area was handled. I have considered it myself. Maybe Ultimate Airstreams did it ?!?

[GettinAway]

Also, I haven’t done it, but lots of AS owners have, that’s to swap out the foam in the cushions. The results are really positive, and I don’t think it’s really expensive or difficult.
Just an FYI.

[missaviatrix]

Has anyone found/installed a permanent ladder to the roof on the back of your Airstream? I see them on other brands of travel travel trailers but can’t find one made specifically for attaching to an Airstream.

[RFP]

Originally Posted by missaviatrix

Has anyone found/installed a permanent ladder to the roof on the back of your Airstream? I see them on other brands of travel travel trailers but can’t find one made specifically for attaching to an Airstream.

Do you really want to do that? The end caps are the most "fragile" of all the aluminum sections of the Airstream. Getting onto the roof from the rear of the trailer is a sure path do dents... big dents.

[DugsLife]

I am thinking about ordering a new 23 FBT Globetrotter or customizing an older Flying Cloud.

Is it possible to order a new Globetrotter without dinette, upper cabinets over dinette and one of the twin beds?

Might AS offer a discount on orders without large items such as the dinette?

Thanks for any insights or suggestions.

[viking1]

Originally Posted by DugsLife

I am thinking about ordering a new 23 FBT Globetrotter or customizing an older Flying Cloud.

Is it possible to order a new Globetrotter without dinette, upper cabinets over dinette and one of the twin beds?

Might AS offer a discount on orders without large items such as the dinette?

Thanks for any insights or suggestions.

You can order a trailer but the waiting list is long and growing longer. Thor Industries has eight billion in back orders.

[SSquared]

Last I knew, Airstream quit taking custom orders several years ago. Of course, it never hurts to ask your dealer.

[Guy Looking]

Really, no bathroom exhaust fan?? I spent how much, and have to cut a 6" hole in the roof myself and install my own bathroom fan?! Just a heads up to those of you looking at the 23 foot FB model, I hope you enjoy shower steam and bathroom smells throughout your camper. Unimpressed.

[Jdubya]

Originally Posted by Guy Looking

Really, no bathroom exhaust fan?? I spent how much, and have to cut a 6" hole in the roof myself and install my own bathroom fan?! Just a heads up to those of you looking at the 23 foot FB model, I hope you enjoy shower steam and bathroom smells throughout your camper. Unimpressed.

The fan near the door pulls the moisture from the top of the door. Plus you have a huge window where the other trailers don’t have that. I love my bathroom.

[Dennis C]

Originally Posted by Guy Looking

Really, no bathroom exhaust fan?? I spent how much, and have to cut a 6" hole in the roof myself and install my own bathroom fan?! Just a heads up to those of you looking at the 23 foot FB model, I hope you enjoy shower steam and bathroom smells throughout your camper. Unimpressed.

There really is a bathroom exhaust fan. If you look above the bathroom door, you'll see a vent slot. This is specifically designed to allow the Fantastic Fan to vent the bathroom. It works very well for steam and bathroom smells. As Jdubya mentioned above, there is also a very nice window in the bathroom if you need additional ventilation. It wasn't possible for Airstream to put another exhaust fan in the bathroom because of the curvature in the ceiling of the end cap. This wasn't an oversight, and again, it works very well if you understand how to use it.

[viking1]

And that awkward combo kind of works unless it's cold outside -- opening the rear window is just not a good idea for my spouse when showering unless you want to freeze. Or that means drawing out the warm air in the rest of the trailer through the Fantastic Fan that's in the kitchen ceiling.

This pic is from the International owners manual provided with my trailer. There's plenty of room in the bathroom ceiling.
It took several messages to Customer Service to even find out IF a bathroom ceiling fan was supposed to be there.
95K and no way to figure out how to vent a bathroom?
But if you "Drink the coolade" there are no faults in a Airstream...

[Dennis C]

Oh, I wouldn't say there are no faults! I just don't have any issues with the bathroom fan issue. It works fine for me.

[Dennis C]

Originally Posted by viking1

And that awkward combo kind of works unless it's cold outside -- opening the rear window is just not a good idea for my spouse when showering unless you want to freeze. Or that means drawing out the warm air in the rest of the trailer through the Fantastic Fan that's in the kitchen ceiling.

I'm not being critical here; maybe we don't know what we don't know... but my wife and I haven't found it to be too awkward to use the Fantastic Fan to vent the bathroom. You push the button when you're going into the bathroom, do what you need to do, then come out and push the button again. I agree with you on the window; it's not a good option when showering.

[DugsLife]

Originally Posted by missaviatrix

Has anybody seen a 23FB conversion from the Queen bed to ONE twin bed and a desk (instead of the second twin bed)? I work remotely from my trailer and the dinette table and those seriously uncomfortable seat cushions are just not working.

I did a very rough drawing of that combination awhile back that might be of interest. I am now back in the market for a 23 FB but I think I will put the bed on the dinette side, place a small desk and monitor on the TV wall leaving room for a stressless lounge chair for reading.

Good luck!

[missaviatrix]

Nice! However, trying to find a vendor that does these conversions is the problem. There are lots of DIYers on these forums, but no mention of reputable facilities set-up for this type of custom work.

[RollingCloud]

Ultimate Airstreams quoted me in the neighborhood of $11K to do such a conversion. I am in the process of doing it myself and will post a report when I am finished.

[goransons]

Originally Posted by DugsLife

I am thinking about ordering a new 23 FBT Globetrotter or customizing an older Flying Cloud.

Is it possible to order a new Globetrotter without dinette, upper cabinets over dinette and one of the twin beds?

Might AS offer a discount on orders without large items such as the dinette?

Thanks for any insights or suggestions.

You’d probably have to work with a company like Ultimate Airstream in Oregon (I’m sure there are others). I’m not aware of custom order abilities minus the options list of course. The upper cabinet delete would actually be a lot more work. The factory interior end caps don’t go behind the upper cabinets like they once did.

[Guy Looking]

Following up on the "missing" bathroom fan feature in the 23FB: The bathroom is very nice, spacious, and has a large window, which is an excellent natural light feature. And the exhaust fan located outside of the bathroom; I need to say that again, the exhaust fan located "outside of the bathroom" does work, so long as the bathroom window is open, and all other exterior openings in the trailer are closed. If another window, door or vent in the trailer is open, the fan is just as likely to draw air from that source as from the bathroom. My airstream trailer is very nice and finely made. That does not change the fact that this "missing" bath fan is a serious oversight on the part of airstream, which is the purpose of this discussion. Airstream, are you listening? There is plenty of room for install of a conventional 6" round exhaust fan in this ceiling, the "excuse" of the rounded end cap is just that, an excuse, that has no bearing in fact. They could have and should have installed a bath fan, they cheaped out and cut a corner. FYI, you can also install one of these 6" round fans in a horizontal application thru the side wall, such as behind the toilet. You can say all you want about your bathroom, but the fact is airstream cheaped out, and, they know it, and, they didn't tell us. Am I writing off airstream and airstream trailers? No! I'm hoping airstream is listening, and will at least in future do the right thing and correct this foolish error.

[Rntennis]

Originally Posted by Guy Looking

Really, no bathroom exhaust fan?? I spent how much, and have to cut a 6" hole in the roof myself and install my own bathroom fan?! Just a heads up to those of you looking at the 23 foot FB model, I hope you enjoy shower steam and bathroom smells throughout your camper. Unimpressed.

I was fortunate enough to actually look at my airstream prior to buying it, so I knew there was no bath fan. I did not make the assumption that, because it was expensive, my desired features would be there. Hope you figure out something that will work for you. Poopouri toilet spray works great for bathroom smells, if you have not tried it, it may increase your comfort level with the bathroom.

Holly