interested in the Basecamp

[lloyd cicetti]

I just registered and it is just a matter of time before we buy our first Airstream. We even went to Jackson Center, Ohio to see the factory. We are 57 years of age, ex-hikers., tenters who love the 16ft. Bambi but feel the Basecamp may be more for us since we consider ourselves "rugged". Is there anyone out there who has a BaseCamp? Is it really for those who haul toys?Anyone out there feel that the 16ft. Bambi is a better value for the extra expense. Where can I rent an Airstream like these in the U.S.?

Thanks, Lloyd

[47WeeWind]

Hi Lloyd:

Now that you are registered, you can use the friendly Search function. Click on the word "Search" towards the upper right, type "Basecamp " in the blank, hit "GO", and a list of posts about the Basecamp will appear. Read them at your leisure, and enjoy.

[urbanfood]

hi loyd,

welcome to the forums!

i've also included this link to the basecamp forum on this site (you'll find it eventually but this will take you there with a click) http://www.airforums.com/forums/f404/

i'd be willing to bet you'll be better off with the bambi once you start looking into it because the bambi will serve you much better in the long run, but by all means browse the forums, there's a ton of great info here.

[nilesrob]

First - we do not own a Basecamp. But we saw our first Basecamp only yesterday at a dealership, and I was very impressed! Very cool - would be great for someone who carried camping gear and/or bikes - and there would be room in the Basecamp to carry bikes, which has always been a struggle for anyone pulling a trailer. And you could park that thing just about anywhere - probably tow it with just about anything.

We just came back from boondocking in the White Mountains, NH (granted in the AS mother ship), but I could see how pulling a Basecamp into an undeveloped boondocking area and using that as a base camp (gosh) from which to hike/bike/kayak would be very appealing.

[bobfowler]

Hi Lloyd,

Welcome to the forums! My wife and I bought a Base Camp back in November. We've been tent campers for a long time and wanted to get off the ground. I'm 49 and my better half (three quarters?) is 52, so we're in similar boats, age wise. There were a few bugs we had to work out with the trailer, but all in all we love it. The only toy we're carrying is our canoe, which rides on the ladder racks atop our 2500 series GMC van, but we do pack a lot of camping gear in the trailer.

Whether the Base Camp or Bambi is better for you is something you'll have to work out, nobody here knows how you like/want to camp better than you. We like the Base Camp because it's a lot closer to tenting than RVing, and a heck of a lot better than a pop-up (at least for us).

We'll be out in your neck of the woods in early August when we make our pilgrimage to Jackson Center. Give us a shout if you'd like to get together and see our rig up close.

[Goin camping]

Hi Loyd and welcome in.

You forgot a third option. The new Safari Sport. Not alot more $ than a base camp and alot less than a Bambi. Lighter than a Bambi too.

If you don't need the toy toting aspect of the Base camp run Safari Sport in the search function.

Please be sure and go to a dealer and crawl all over the Units. Make sure you two comfortably fit in the bed and on the "throne". Spend all the time you need. Good luck.

[cosmotini]

Hi Lloyd,

Welcome to the fourms.

Recently another member lost their BaseCamp in a fire at their dealer in Chicago. They still had the Kelty tent and were offering to sell it for a very good price.

It may still be for sale if you do go for a BaseCamp.

[bobkelly]

Lloyd---If you're a visual person like me, spend an afternoon in the basecamp and then the bambi at your local AS dealer. I did this recently. Think about what you want to take with you on your camping trips, what you want the trailer to do well for you (In my mind, the kitchen and bath functions are very different between the two). This sort of evaluation using your criteria will help you come to the right trailer for you. Both have great cool and cute factors in spades.

[mandolindave]

It was most likely the coolest utility trailer ever. I bet I could have some big time fun with a Basecamp. But it weighs almost as my Argosy 20' , and it doesn't have a kitchen or bath. The beds didn't look very comfortable. Do they have furnaces?

[bobfowler]

Originally Posted by mandolindave

It was most likely the coolest utility trailer ever. I bet I could have some big time fun with a Basecamp. But it weighs almost as my Argosy 20' , and it doesn't have a kitchen or bath. The beds didn't look very comfortable. Do they have furnaces?

No furnace, we carry a small electric space heater, not that we'll ever use it. The Basecamp mindset is very different than a traditional Airstream, ya kinda have to lose a lot of the whole creature comforts thing and think more along the lines of tent camping. The bed is actually quite comfortable, even for me and I'm over 6' 2" tall and weigh about 250 pounds. Though we tow with my van, we could probably tow it easily with my wife's Subaru Forester.

[Poprivet]

Originally Posted by lloyd cicett

I just registered and it is just a matter of time before we buy our first Airstream. We even went to Jackson Center, Ohio to see the factory. We are 57 years of age, ex-hikers., tenters who love the 16ft. Bambi but feel the Basecamp may be more for us since we consider ourselves "rugged". Is there anyone out there who has a BaseCamp? Is it really for those who haul toys?Anyone out there feel that the 16ft. Bambi is a better value for the extra expense. Where can I rent an Airstream like these in the U.S.?

Thanks, Lloyd

Try this, before you go out to buy your next rv, sit down individually and makes lists of what you want from your rv, how much you will use it, what kind of T/V will you use, how much will you spend, how much will you haul, etc. etc.

Then get together and compare lists and merge them into one list of objectives. Now match your RV choice to the list. The results might surprise you.