Sport for Caravelle

[Shiny16]

I’m thinking of trading my sport 16 for a Caravelle 16. Mostly for the increased cargo capacity and ducted air.
Any thoughts on the pros and cons? Compressor fridge etc..

[OTRA15]

FEI:

https://www.airstream.com/travel-tra...oorplans/16rb/
Specs: https://www.airstream.com/travel-tra...pecifications/

Have you been inside the "Caravel" 16' ? I don't see ducted air in the 16' specs. Without the propane-fired option, the fridge is going to require considerable 12-volt battery power, if there is no shore power. Batteries are 2 Group 24, with optional 90w solar power, which option includes an "AGM battery" [singular] of unspecified capacity. Limited boondocking time, without a generator or portable solar panels IMO.

In such a small trailer, how much "increased storage capacity" are we talking about?

Any chance of moving up to a 19' for the full shower?

https://www.airstream.com/travel-tra...oorplans/19cb/

Or 20' for the great corner galley like our FC20?

https://www.airstream.com/travel-tra...oorplans/20fb/

What does the cook say?

Good luck,

Peter

[smithcreek]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Without the propane-fired option, the fridge is going to require considerable 12-volt battery power, if there is no shore power.

From my (admittedly minimal amount of) internet research on the new AC/DC fridge they are putting in the Bambi and Caravelle it was a no go for the type of camping we do. Best estimate by several people who had them was 60 amp hours a day to run. We just camped four days in the White Mountains in NH, got less than 3 amp hours of solar a day in our very shady campsite, and still left with our 2 AGMs at 12.5 v. A fridge running on DC would have wiped us out by the second day.

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

First year they are out, I would wait a year or two for the bugs to be worked out and new upgrades coming in.

Seems like airstream does a lot of technology and build testing within the classic, you can also look at some of the specs of the classics to see if any of that stuff is important and then wait for it to be added into the smaller units. This will be much longer than a couple years but it’s a thought.

I suppose it also depends on what you can get out of your current airstream vs the cost of a new one.

I was considering a new classic myself. There is a 30k difference between what I can get from mine and what the new ones MSRP is. To me, what the new ones offer isn’t yet worth $30k to upgrade.

Best of luck

[OTRA15]

Great feedback, smithcreek, thanks.

Peter

[Shiny16]

Thanks guys!

[Shiny16]

New Caravelle coming home tomorrow.

[OTRA15]

Great! Please continue with feedback and photos. Any solar and AGM battery(ies)?

Peter

[Shiny16]

It has the awning package and factory solar. I would have preferred to add my own solar but all the units in stock had it. With the AGM batteries the one panel should meet my needs.
It definitely has a bunch of great upgrades. The ducted air is amazing. The weight capacity is about 400 lbs more. The additional 5 gallons in the combined tank is 2 navy showers. It has about 6 inches more ground clearance so it should be easier on the sewer connection and now I don’t scrape my driveway.
Hopefully the fridge doesn’t kill the battery.
We will see.

[OTRA15]

Thanks for the update.

Happy Trails!

Peter

[Jason in TX]

Originally Posted by Shiny16

New Caravelle coming home tomorrow.

Congrats! We just ordered a Caravel 20FB. The 16 is also amazing with the double ended panoramic windows that the Bambi didn't have. We however liked the big kitchen.

There is a new Caravel section just added! Go post pictures over there of your new Airstream! Congrats!! Happy to see more people getting the new Caravel!

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f548/

[Shiny16]

Thanks! It’s a 16.
I’ll try to post after it’s first trip this weekend.