Finally A Newbie

[Sbb]

Hi, after a couple mis-steps getting myself slotted where I needed to be, with size and use need..I have purchased a used Bambi, 2006 Anniversary, 19". My pickup is set for Tuesday, I have my checklist ready, but I hear a lot about soft floors and leaky windows..where do I find out if this model is subject to big problems, are any Airstreams pretty ok and somewhat trouble free? Is there a forum for Newbies?

I am not new to trailers, but totally new to AS and I want to make sure I do any special care that may be needed. I will be towing with a 2008 Chevy Suburban. I am hoping the design of the 19' Bambi will ride smooth and straight, I am exhausted from gripping the wheel while towing my old trailer, every time a truck goes by I feel myself sucked in. Last Summer I crossed the hills of PA eight times. I will be using the AS as my traveling cottage about 130 nights a Summer for my job as I travel city to city. I will be
boon docking more than campgrounds. How many nights, could I expect to be out, with just use of couple of lights, fridge, and a shoer a day? I realize no a/c or heat. I know this is a lot for first post as a new owner, but I really appreciate any and all help. Thank you in advance and I look forward to hearing back. sbb

[TBRich]

Congrats on your 19' Bambi! We have a 2006 19' Safari SE SL Bambi...and love it. We have had no problems (knock on aluminum) with leaks beyond one we discovered early on which turned out to be from an uncaulked screw under the solar panel. No problems since. We store ours at home under a "Bambi-Port" ...so it's protected from the elements ...and that helps a lot, especially the longevity of seals and caulking. We do annual maintenance, including checking seals, etc. I am not aware of any particular problems associated with this model and year.

You should have no trouble towing it with your TV. That having been said, I'm a proponent of sway control hitches to add to your towing safety. It should tow like a dream.

With conservative use of power and good, strong batteries, you should be able go about 4 nights without having to hook up to electricity or use a generator...it varies widely, though, depending on your batteries' health and your power usage habits. Converting your interior lights to LEDs will make a HUGE difference in power consumption. That's what we did and it really makes a remarkable difference. We have solar which extends our off-grid time significantly. We also have two 2000w Honda generators for those times we need to use AC...and use one for other times to run everything BUT the AC and heat pump. We can go about a week on the black tank..a little less on the gray tank, but that can be offset by using campground showers when available. The thing we run out of first is fresh water. The fresh water tank is 23 or 24 gals. When we know there will not be a source for filling up the fresh water again, we take a couple of 7-gal containers full and that buys us more time. When we know there is water available, we carry one container empty to transport water to the AS.

You'll just have to experiment and see how the variable work for you. Have fun and enjoy your rig! They are special.

[Sbb]

I haveall led lights, my previous rv had solar which was great, I am deciding between generator or solar for this one, leaning maybe one generator. I am not quite sure how they work to charge batteies...do I plug it in away from AS and run it for x amtount of time? Can a generator be stowed in the AS while traveling? My car is packed with two, sometimes three tulles on top, and space is an issue. I have camped in 99* with 99% humitity without A/C. I am alone for most of boondocking, and use bottle water for cooking and drinking.

I am excited, just need to sell my other trailer. My goal of course is to cross country at some point. I did it in 1969, with my family. My job has me on road 20k a Summer and so a better ride is going to be wonderful. I have a weight distribution hitch with sway bar. I stayed lower on my weight of AS because of what I pack. Very happy to hear there are AS that with proper care are pretty ok. I plan to keep it garaged in the Winter. Dumb question, is a 2006 Bambi 75th Anniversary the same as a 2006 bambi SE? The plate does not say SE, just 75th and the years. I am not kidding when I say newbie. Thanks. Sbb

[pappy19]

I would think tires are very important at 6-7 years old even if they look new. Have the dates checked and if over 5 years old, I recommend new ones. Then keep them covered while parked. I use a tire monitor on my AS tires just in case. I've had flats and blowouts in the past thinking I could go just another hundred miles. Not fun on the side of the road facing the highway with big semi's going by at 80+ mph. I believe in new tires.

Pap

[Travel Bird]

Hi and congrats!! We just picked up our new AS and drove 1830 miles on our maiden voyage. You can read about it on my recent blog posts. Just make sure you have a great hitch and it will be smooth sailing!!! Lots of luck!!

[TBRich]

Ditto the tires recommendation from Pappy19. Trust me, you want to avoid a blow-out at all cost. (Ask me how I know.)

When using a generator, you just plug your shore power cord into the genny. Depending on what kind of genny you have, you'll need an adapter to receive the 30-amp male end of the Bambi's power cord. If you have a standard Honda eu2000i you will need a 15-amp-to-30-amp adapter (top image of the adapters below). If you have a Honda eu20001 Companion you will need an adapter to convert the female 30-amp twist-n-turn plug-in on the genny to a regular 30-amp female to accept the shore power cord. (See below lower image of adapters.) The generator will charge the battery through the converter. This is more efficient than using a 12v cable directly to the batteries ... plus, going through the converter it provides 110 power to the rig. How long you need to run the genny depends on how depleted the battery was and what its general health is. Try not to let the battery run down less that 50% of it's capacity.

If you have a Honda 2000w it fits nicely into a Rubbermaid ActionPacler 24Gal tote with room for extra oil, cables, etc. (See below.) You can add a bit of extra foam sealing around the lid and it will keep odors to a minimum if you need to carry it inside the Bambi. We carry ours in this tote in the bed of the truck under a tonneau cover and I never smell anything from the genny.)

All 2006 and 2007s are badged as 75th Anniversary Edition. There is also a 75th Limited Edition but it doesn't sound like that's what you have. "SE" is a package that has an aluminum interior walls, pop-out windows (like in an International), and a panoramic wrap-around front window. "SL" is a additional upgrade package that adds a few perks (larger AC capacity, upgraded kitchen faucet, etc).

[Sbb]

I follow your blog, love it, also a SOTF.sbb