What Size Airstream?? (First Post)

[Dave1]

I am David Ford, wife is Sally, and we are in Central Florida and about to retire. Our first wish after retirement is to purchase a nice slightly used travel trailer and take an extended vacation around the western half of the country to visit some places we have never seen in person.

Our desire is for an Airstream trailer but I am wondering what size would be best for us. It will be just the two of us and we do have a new 2006 GMC 2500HD 4WD Duramax pick up that will pull and stop about anything. We both like a lot of room and are thinking this may be our home for four months or so of each year.

My thoughts are to try to find/buy a nice 34ft home but I wanted to ask here of your experiences and size reccommendations of owning and traveling with that much home. What should we be aware of or cautious of when deciding on length? Are there any serious disadvantages to traveling with a 34 ft home? Would we be better with a shorter home for traveling, say a 25-30 ft?

Thanks for any feedback.

Dave
Central Fla

[Goin camping]

Hi and welcome in!.

Lots of opinions here so we'll start with mine.

Since you are drawn to a 34 footer here's the pluses:

Lots of room.
Cheaper than the more popular shorter models.
You clearly have all the truck you need.

Now the minuses:

May be too long for some State Parks.

Get what makes you happy and we will want pictures.

[FreshAir]

Lynn and I are retired. We have no extended plans for lengthly travels. So we find our 24' tandem axle Tradewind (vintage '66) just right for up to two week camping trips. It is just the right size for small camp sites such as national forests and state parks. This in most cases means boonedocking so if you are doing so in one place for more than 3 or 5 days you 'may' have to take the trailer to a dump station...not a breeze with a 30 + footer. For on-the-go travel I would definitely consider as large a tow as you are comfortable handling. Oh, if you have grandkids they are gonna want to come too....they will need the room. Ours likes to sleep in a tent with his daddy. The 8 mos. old curls up on the dinette/bed with his mom.

Neil and Lynn

[Foiled Again]

Since you've got a diesel, you're good to go with truck stops rather than gas stations. There is almost never a problem with having enough room to get situated in those. I've got a 25 and still have to watch what gas stations I select. Thank god for Wawa and the other supersized ones.

I think a 34 might limit your options to interstates and bigger highways. We went so Sonoma, Az last year and boy, those switchbacks would be UUUUGGGGLLLEEE with a 34. You'd have to camp then take side trips for out of the way places on narrow twistee roads. Again, if that suits you, go for it.

Space is the big plus - living full time even for 4 months with two people in a small space can be tough, especially if you get 5 days of straight rain. If you're the type that goes out rain or shine, not such a big deal.

I full time (single) in a 25' and it's cozy and homey. I have to ruthlessly thin out possessions all the time though. I believe there must be some law that states "crap will accumulate to fill every available space you have to put it."
I'm a different kind of full timer in that I live in my A/S but I still work full time and then some... so I don't spend 24/7 in it. Often times it just seems to be where I sleep... but I never go to bed without thinking how neat the curved walls of my bedroom are, and I never mind waking up late at night to hear the foxes yipping in the campground, or see the egrets fishing in the canal.

The previous poster is right you can get a 31 or 34' at a much better price than the more popular small ones. Quite a few older people buy those, then age out of traveling, or decide they need to downsize. Before you buy though I'd suggest you find a local rally near you and visit. People love to show off their rigs and you can get a real feel for what's right for you and your wife. Also there are a couple of dealers in Florida. Visit them. Have your wife duct tape your hands behind your back to prevent "instant buy"... but look at the length and floor plans of the ones on the lot. 34's are special order only and most dealers don't carry 31's either. Look at my personal favorite, the 27 front bed (comes in Safari, Safari SE, CCD and Classic trims). Great layout. Great storage and yet much smaller than the 31/34.

Good luck and show us pictures of whatever you get.

Paula Ford

[vswingfield]

Hi Dave,

Welcome to the forums. After full timing in my 24' 67 Trade Wind for a while (stationary for a little bit), I bought a 1983 34' Excella this January. Even though I live alone, I am delighted with the space. I also enjoy having the dinette on the side. It's great to have a place to sit down and eat or work on something. Links to photos below:

http://www.airforums.com/photos/brow...0&userid=17830

34' gets my vote.

Vaughan

[Dave1]

I actually have an older 37' park model Intnl that serves as my hunt camp home now so I am used to that length and space. Living full time in something much smaller may be a challenge.

After reading some of the info on this website I am thinking that maybe a midsize unit may be better, more convenient on the road, and OK for us even though we both prefer the longer. Hard to say. I just wanted to get some opinions from those who have already been thru this and have them point out the things I have not thought of.

Thanks, Dave

[Jaxon]

We originally had a 22' International that was rather cozy with 2 dogs (labs at the time). Problems that proved to be too annoying over time all involved lack of space - especially when folks came over to visit - had to bunch up at the dinette &/or sit on the corner bed. Also, making the corner bed was a pain as well as having to get up in the middle of the night and stumble over my DW... Storage was also an issue.

We don't full time (one day, maybe), but when we do go out, we like to have some room, thus we traded in for a 30' Classic. Have been tempted to check out the 34' but as has been said, those extra 4 feet DO make a difference in state & federal campgrounds and narrow rural roads. Was looking at an '07 on Colonial's website (34' Classic limited slide-out) and man-o-man, I could see myself in that one. Fortunately, my better half could not.

You've got the tow vehicle to do with pretty much what you want to short of a 60' double-wide... the 27-30' are good compromises. Just take your time and sit a spell in each one...

[Midamrail]

I think it comes down to what kind of campgrounds you plan to use. If you're partial to state and federal campgrounds, something up to 25 feet would work best.

However, if you are more likely to use commercial campgrounds, I'd go with a 34-footer. They're incredibly stable while towing - perhaps more so than any other Airstream model, offer the most bang for the buck space wise, and are the most accommodating for full-timing. Other than the aforementioned campground issue, the larger depreciation hit you'll take if you buy a new one (vs. buying a new smaller trailer), and the fact they go through tires more quickly, the 34-footers are hard to beat for full-timers with the appropriate tow vehicle.

Our 31-footer really isn't much if any more difficult to use/tow/park than our 24-footer was, and with a diesel truck, you're going to be using the truck fueling areas at most gas stations anyway. But the 31-footer is so much more comfortable to be in, and we find it smoother and easier to move down the road...

[2airishuman]

hi dave and welcome to the forums...

the key thing is to get INTO a lot of units and try out the space...

also helps to talk with folks who actually have/had a 34.

i've pulled on switch backs so tight i could see me coming AND going!

http://www.airforums.com/forums/356883-post23.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...ize-30863.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f349...sic-18802.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f48/...5-a-19084.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f368...elp-20085.html

while tiny trailers are in vogue now, the rv community is dominated by giant mohos and 5th wheels...

a 34 is svelte in this league...

lastly a 34 WILL fit almost anywhere!

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...fit-17405.html

cheers
2air'

[neptune1939]

We had a 31' limited and it was a great trailer for a family of 4. But when our boy's no longer could join us we thought a 19' Bambi would accomodate our needs; but not so. I'm 6' and weigh 200 Lbs and the Bambi bed proved to be too small and I could not get comfortable with the small size. In addition, the bathroom was not designed for a large person.

We finally settled on a 28' Safari as it is small enough to fit into state campgrounds and roomy enough so you don't get claustrophobia. Hope this helps, Regards, Earl

[halimer]

Dave,

I wife and I recently purchased a new 2006 25' Classic. Our TV is a 2002 Ford 7.3 PS. WE plan on being on the road 4 plus months out of the year. We liked the layout and the location of the TV. Prior to getting it we went to a few AS rallys and folks were more than happy to show off there AS's. Most had 30-31' units. A few were going to remove or modify the dinette.
Having camped out west I agree with the other posters concerning size limits. The Federal and State parks were designed with smaller length RV's in mind.
If we were going to upsize it would be to the 28' Classic. It has a similar layout, but has a little more room overall.
Our dog doesn't care what size camper we have. She'll adapt.
Also, the larger the AS the more fuel you'll have to purchase.

Mark, Debbie and Belle

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by halimer

Our dog doesn't care what size camper we have. She'll adapt.
Also, the larger the AS the more fuel you'll have to purchase.
Mark, Debbie and Belle

With our 22', our dogs didn't care one way or another about the size just as long as they were with us... trouble is, with 2 labs and 2 adults, WE cared... when one of us got up, both of them did and were ready to go, ball in mouth.

As to fuel, we get exactly the same mileage towing the 30' as we did on the 22' with a diesel. Can't vouch for gasoline, tho'. With the equilizer hitch, the 30' tows like a dream - very stable. Prior to getting our 30', we had borrowed a friends 34' and camped a couple of weeks in it. Really nice space-wise & dog wise but just too long for us. They also ended up trading in on a 30'.

[apolaroid]

Having two different size and style of AS, I figured I would chime in. Where I love my 22 foot Flying Cloud, I think of it as a weekend warrior. Even using it on my own, it has limits for any extended use. With it being smaller, it tows anywhere, and the layout is great. It is suited for 1 - 2 people for short runs. I have learned different floor plans do make a difference, I know for mine there is a lot of storage. The cooking and bath work about the same for both styles. For short trips, this would be my AS of choice. Our Tradewind is 25 feet and more sleeper friendly. It has 2 double beds, and is divided by the compartment doors. Heavier tow, but better suited for spending time in if you are away for a longer period of time. We bought both to use after hurricaine Ivan as we rebuilt our home. The smaller one was not big enough for living in. The bigger one would have worked out but why not use both once we had them. Having done more homework since I started on this we are looking to add a 3rd AS to the family use. I am looking at 26 to 29 feet, older vintage. The towing weight is a factor to me, but also want something just a bit bigger. Keep in mind that comes from soneone using a 3400 square foot house for 2 people. Being a pack rat is a part who I am so having space to bring things with and get more stuff plays a role. For use on state parks, and ease of towing lenght I would stay between 25-31 feet, but go bigger if you are comfortable. Think about those 4 months a year what you will really need and do you have room for all of it. Also depending on the floorplan, some have more living space then you might think. Also although I prefer vinatge, there is more work to them, as oppsed to buying something newer. One common thing I have read on here is the need to upgrade on space. Cute is one thing, but practical means looking at real space for your living needs. If I go full time I will be looking at something 29 - 31 feet.

[FordTruck]

DW and I have a 2003 22'AS International. We'll be selling it at the end of this season and going up to a new 28' Safari SE. It's all the trailer we'll need (Unless we win the lottery) and has a great floor plan that doesn't leave you feeling cramped. With your tow vehicle, you won't even know it's back there.

[overlander63]

I'll echo what has already been said, anywhere from 25' to 30' should be a good size. A couple of times we parked our 26' trailer where a 25' was supposed to go, wound up remodeling a tree at one place. But in the end, it's what you are comfortable with. We like our current 31' trailer, and the newer trailers 25' and longer are also wide body trailers, an extra 6" or so of width.

[razorback]

Echoing what has been said, if you're full timing, the more room the better. We started out with a 26' AS and after a few months, it started closing in on us. The 30 footer we travel in now is just perfect for us. Pulls nearly like the 26 and has the dinette, a big plus. I'd vote for the 28-30 because of the campground issues. It always seems they tend to squeeze as many spaces into a park as possible, even if nobody can open their awnings. We've sardined into some spaces with the 30 that with a 34 we would have needed a shoehorn.

[Dave1]

Thanks again for the warm welcome and the info. We have some time to think about this and make a decision then have to find what ever it is that we want. That may be a challenge also.

Regarding the state/fed parks campground issues that have been mentioned, do they restrict campers to a maximum length or is the issue that has been mentioned just a concern of being able to park a longer home in a small campground spot?

While the extra length and additional space of a 34' would definitely be good, I think a compromise on length may be in order. We intend to do some looking around and walk thru as many as we can to get the feel for space and such.

Dave

[Jaxon]

Originally Posted by Dave1

Regarding the state/fed parks campground issues that have been mentioned, do they restrict campers to a maximum length or is the issue that has been mentioned just a concern of being able to park a longer home in a small campground spot? Dave

I've found both statements to be true. Some state campgrounds just had small pads for campers (like pop-up size!) and maybe a drive-thru or two. Sometimes, it depended upon who was at the gate at the time and whether or not the boss just chewed 'em out as to their mood... The problem with the 34' was simply the whole length of the operation and maneuvering within some of the campgrounds. Have had that problem to a much lesser degree on occasion with my 30' (& even in some private campgrounds!).

At this end of your journey, you've got plenty of time to check them all out - spend time in each of the ones you're interested in, moving from dinnette, living room to bedroom. Since one of them will be yours one day, make sure you're both comfortable in it and have room to entertain if so inclined. You may decide a 34' is best and will have to be a bit more careful where you go with more planning on trips up front. Make sure you've got plenty of headroom with your tow vehicle in terms of power to pull.

Gee... brings back memories of the hunt for the 'right' Airstream for us and the anticipation... enjoy the process!

[JimGolden]

Howdy!

I recently purchased a 34' Avion. It is similar to the Airstream, only a bit boxier. Well, it's actually about the same as the new Airstreams, but it's not as round as my old Excella. The Avion, like the 34' Airstream, is a triple axle trailer (although the Avion uses swing arms instead of torsion axles, you still get six wheel independant suspension.) This is my first triple axle trailer, and I'm here to tell you, it pulls like a dream. They are inherrantly stable and resist sway. You have to scrub two axles to make one sway. I pull it with a Ram diesel 4-door long bed so that's similar to your truck, and it does great. I get 13.5mpg on the highway if I keep it under 70mph. The triple axles will scrub ever so slightly when you make sharp turns, like when backing into a camp spot. But to me,that's a small price to pay for the stability you get out on the road.

Further, you have 50% more braking power available. This is a HUGE deal. I'm the biggest proponent of disk brakes you'll find. But, with six well adjusted drums, I can stop the trailer and truck by just using the trailer brakes. You can never have too much break. Six drums aren't as good as four disks, but they're pretty doggone good!

You also have 50% more rubber capacity. As in, you have six tires carrying the load instead of just four. So the tires aren't worked as hard. That goes a long way toward avoiding blowouts, which are bad on a white box but horrendous on a silver tube.

The only downside is you have 50% more tires and brakes to buy when the time comes, but you will only do that every five years or so. Big deal.

As for room, the 34 has SO much more room than my 31'. I don't find it to be any harder to pull or maneuver with either. Had to watch the tail swing on the 31' just as much.

My advice: Get a 34 footer with a rear bedroom and never look back. You'll be super happy with it!

Cheers,

[alvinator]

Without a doubt, the 34 is easier to back and like other posters have said, it is extremely stable when towing while the 6 disc brakes make it an awesome stopping machine. I would not let campsite size affect my purchasing decision; look at the monster 5ers, toy haulers, Class A and C's that hit the state parks on a regular basis.

The 34 is very roomy but for the bathroom which is very small though one doesn't live in the bathroom unless you drink the local water in Mexico.

Storage space is abundant with a large wardrobe and countless other cabinets.

That said, four adults can do a week in a 34, but bottom line, in my opinion, any size Airstream is a trailer built for 2 plus the ubiquitous pet(s). And the 34 is the way to go.