New 2023 I19 4X4 Owner

[cactusjk]

Picking up our I19 later this month. Due to subtle differences over the years figured I would start a fresh thread.

This is our first Motorhome so please excuse the newbie questions!

What have others done for sheets/ mattress pad etc for the large fold down bed?

Does the 2023 have wireless Apple Car Play or just wired?

Does it come with the bathroom soap dispenser as shown in some of the Airstream videos?

What is the easiest way to rotate the front seats, i.e., move all the way forward before rotating, etc?

How often do you need to replenish the BluDef fluid?

[cactusjk]

Sounds like no wireless Car Play.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by cactusjk

Picking up our I19 later this month. Due to subtle differences over the years figured I would start a fresh thread.

This is our first Motorhome so please excuse the newbie questions!

What have others done for sheets/ mattress pad etc for the large fold down bed?

Does the 2023 have wireless Apple Car Play or just wired?

Does it come with the bathroom soap dispenser as shown in some of the Airstream videos?

What is the easiest way to rotate the front seats, i.e., move all the way forward before rotating, etc?

How often do you need to replenish the BluDef fluid?

Looking forward to hearing more about your I19.

I use a memory foam topper and RV Super Bag on the bed.

I think the soap dispensers remain a standard item.

To rotate front seats they need to be mostly forward.

DEF fluid use is about 2000 miles per gallon.

[cactusjk]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Looking forward to hearing more about your I19.

I use a memory foam topper and RV Super Bag on the bed.

I think the soap dispensers remain a standard item.

To rotate front seats they need to be mostly forward.

DEF fluid use is about 2000 miles per gallon.

Thanks for the info!

That is good news on the DEF.

Never thought of that for the bed! Where do you get the topper and how hard to store?

We are also interested in a phone app for the Firefly system and are trying to figure out where to get the hardware module!

[Boxster1971]

I got the topper on Amazon. Got two twin size toppers and trimmed them a bit as we use our lounge bed as a U-shaped twin. Also got a zippered cover for the toppers. I roll them up with some large straps when not in use. But when traveling I just leave the bed made up in my 24 foot Interstate Lounge, like the current GL model.

[JimMartin]

Originally Posted by cactusjk

Picking up our I19 later this month. Due to subtle differences over the years figured I would start a fresh thread.

This is our first Motorhome so please excuse the newbie questions!

What have others done for sheets/ mattress pad etc for the large fold down bed?

Does the 2023 have wireless Apple Car Play or just wired?

Does it come with the bathroom soap dispenser as shown in some of the Airstream videos?

What is the easiest way to rotate the front seats, i.e., move all the way forward before rotating, etc?

How often do you need to replenish the BluDef fluid?

Ours came with the soap dispenser but it isn't attached (guessing some people prefer a different solution).


For the seats, we moved them all the way forward and then saved the setting in memory location 3. When you want to rotate, just select memory 3 then rotate the seat.


You can set the screen between the speedometer and tachometer to show you your DEF level:

[cactusjk]

Great advice! Will definitely make those adjustments.

Originally Posted by JimMartin

Ours came with the soap dispenser but it isn't attached (guessing some people prefer a different solution).


For the seats, we moved them all the way forward and then saved the setting in memory location 3. When you want to rotate, just select memory 3 then rotate the seat.


You can set the screen between the speedometer and tachometer to show you your DEF level:

[cactusjk]

Thanks. Since we have a 19 it will be nice to not keep the bed down and use the superbag when needed. Much easier than a mattress pad, sheets , etc every time you put the bed down.

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

I got the topper on Amazon. Got two twin size toppers and trimmed them a bit as we use our lounge bed as a U-shaped twin. Also got a zippered cover for the toppers. I roll them up with some large straps when not in use. But when traveling I just leave the bed made up in my 24 foot Interstate Lounge, like the current GL model.

[cactusjk]

Pretty much all questions so far have been answered! Many thanks to all!

Still would like to know if it is worth getting a mobile module for the Firefly control panel so we can use a phone to dim lights, etc?

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by cactusjk

Pretty much all questions so far have been answered! Many thanks to all!

Still would like to know if it is worth getting a mobile module for the Firefly control panel so we can use a phone to dim lights, etc?

Before buying a module, maybe remember the number one rule of RVs: the more complicated it is, the more likely it is to break down and cost you money. [emoji389][emoji389]

[cactusjk]

Great advice! Since the I19 has everything on it I definitely don’t feel compelled to add things like I did on our 2015 FC. Back then LEDs, awning lights, low profile ACs, Wi-Fi/connected all had to be added using aftermarket parts.

I am going to have the Airstream Connected installed.

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Before buying a module, maybe remember the number one rule of RVs: the more complicated it is, the more likely it is to break down and cost you money. [emoji389][emoji389]

[DavePDX]

Originally Posted by cactusjk

Pretty much all questions so far have been answered! Many thanks to all!

Still would like to know if it is worth getting a mobile module for the Firefly control panel so we can use a phone to dim lights, etc?

Our Interstate 19 came with a CZone system instead of Firefly, so I don't have direct experience with your unit. However, I found it quite annoying to have to use the panel for every little thing. There isn't a phone app for the CZone, and I wish there was. There is an iPad app, which I've found to be quite handy, and I really wouldn't want to be without it. I find the panel locations in the I19 to be pretty awkward to use.

Ultimately for me the best solution was to reprogram the CZone so there were Modes (macros) that made more sense. Now, when I leave a campsite for example, I have a Driving mode that raises all the screens and shades and turns everything off with a single button.

I also added dedicated switches for things like the water pump. Hunting through menus in the middle of the night so I can use the restroom wasn't my idea of fun. Likewise, having to exit the vehicle to turn the propane on and off.

While in general I agree that minimizing complexity is a good idea, adding a mobile module should add a layer of redundancy, which could be beneficial. For example, I could see a scenario where the panel fails but the mobile still worked.

[Rocinante]

With our older, less sophisticated, 2016 unit (e.g. no touch panels at all) we had our professional solar / lithium upgrade folks add an internal rocker switch that we use to turn the propane off from inside the van. We love it, because now it's super-easy to turn off the propane anytime we aren't using it. Given we recently had our propane system serviced to resolve a propane leak, we've become bigger believers in turning off that gas anytime we don't actually need it and so this internal switch has thus come in very handy.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by cactusjk

Thanks. Since we have a 19 it will be nice to not keep the bed down and use the superbag when needed. Much easier than a mattress pad, sheets , etc every time you put the bed down.

This YouTube video will give you some other ideas on bedding in an Interstate 19.

https://youtu.be/T3LY5uDYOWM

[Rocinante]

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

This YouTube video will give you some other ideas on bedding in an Interstate 19.

https://youtu.be/T3LY5uDYOWM

Pretty cool ideas, though I can't imagine giving up an entire closet to a comforter.

We're currently using a thicker 3-part foam pad that folds into thirds. It's comfortable, but we should perhaps investigate the possibility of a thinner pad as I like this similar but more effective method of pad storage better than ours. Have to be cautious, though, because without a foam pad the reclined lounge in our 2016 unit becomes a legitimate torture device.

[cactusjk]

For a memory foam topper just go with the size of the bed?

[Rocinante]

Given the shape of our lounge, a queen pad will likely fit with room to spare. You could also go with a king pad, though you'd probably have to cut it down to fit.

[cactusjk]

We are definitely going to ease into this. Thinking of just going with a Superbag for now to minimize storage.

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Given the shape of our lounge, a queen pad will likely fit with room to spare. You could also go with a king pad, though you'd probably have to cut it down to fit.

[Boxster1971]

Originally Posted by Rocinante

Given the shape of our lounge, a queen pad will likely fit with room to spare. You could also go with a king pad, though you'd probably have to cut it down to fit.

Since we use our lounge bed as a U-shaped twin bed, I used two separate twin-sized memory foam pads. They are also easier to store.

Originally Posted by cactusjk

We are definitely going to ease into this. Thinking of just going with a Superbag for now to minimize storage.

The RV Super Bag has worked great for us. They are very easy to fold up and just set on one of the side rear ottomans. I like the super bag for the removable sheets held in by Velcro strips and the two different thicknesses for summer and winter use. In really warm weather we just use a sheet sack for the chill of A/C.

[cactusjk]

Outstanding recommendation. We are really trying to keep it simple and minimal.

Originally Posted by Boxster1971

Since we use our lounge bed as a U-shaped twin bed, I used two separate twin-sized memory foam pads. They are also easier to store.



The RV Super Bag has worked great for us. They are very easy to fold up and just set on one of the side rear ottomans. I like the super bag for the removable sheets held in by Velcro strips and the two different thicknesses for summer and winter use. In really warm weather we just use a sheet sack for the chill of A/C.