"Market" RV's are disgusting - what to do?

[FMSports]

To try things out, I bought a little vintage 14' RV for surfing stays. It's been cool but I wanted to upgrade to an AS in the 16-22 foot range. Also looking at extended road trips south in the winter

My wife wants slide outs, storage and mucho interior space. ie Grand Designs 22RBE that sort of thing. For some reason I can't stomach the look of them, or anything else in that genre.

What do you do? Buy 2?

[Hans627]

first of all welcome to the forum.

TETO of course but I agree with you. We love our AS.

I would suggest you find an Airstream Club Rally somewhere near you (www.airstreamclub.org). Visit the rally and talk to AS owners and I'm sure they can give you in the pro and cons and also show you various models. I'd be surprised if you wife doesn't see something she likes.

All the best in your search!

[Gibson3798]

I laughed at a comment a fellow camper made to me as we discussed his dream to own an Airstream. He had a nice looking trailer on the order of the one you mentioned in your post.

The gentleman commented that "I can hear it falling apart as we go down the road."

[LNBright]

A year or so back, younger daughter and I were at a festival that had a mini RV display, a dealer had several SOBs on display, so we took the opportunity to peruse them. They had recliners, big-screen TVs, gas fireplaces, big fridges, big beds, washer/dryers, and I think the most expensive one was quite a few thousand less than I’d paid for my 20FB (which, I got used, and got a deal on). She liked the ‘features’. I can see why a newbie might be dazzled by such.

But when in mine, it feels, substantial. It’s smaller, more economical use of space, forgoes things like an island in the kitchen, doesn’t have a party deck off the back, etc…. But, looking at those, I just don’t see them still being completely functional after years on the road. I know I’ll have to keep up with mine, but. It’ll be here in the long run….

[AKNate]

I agree with you. Every year at our state fair they have RV dealers with all the latest trailers on display. I walk through all of them and cringe. I’d take an Airstream of any vintage and any condition over any SOB, even brand new ones.
I probably can’t help you about your wife. You know her psychology best. What would convince her? Glamor? What movie star would camp in a swoosh covered box with slide outs over an Airstream? Dr McDreamy isn’t leaning against a Grand Design.
Maybe she’s more practical. Airstreams are far better quality and long-lasting than all the other junk out there. What other RV won’t be in a dump in 30 years?
Maybe she’s a people person. Airstream people are the best people out there! We’re all intelligent, good looking, and humble too! But seriously, when you have an Airstream, everybody stops by to talk to you. Nobody ever stopped by a campsite to say what a nice box with slide outs you have, whatever brand box that was.
If reasoning and playing to her interests doesn’t work, then there’s always hypnosis.

[SandKSmith]

Welcome!
Has she been in an Airstream? One of the many things we love about the Airstream are the large windows and associated lighting. Some front Bedroom models have an awesome panoramic window in the back at the dining area. When dining inside, the view when backed into a scenic campsite is unbeatable.

Extended trips? You might consider something a bit larger. 25’ is great for two, 27 can be better but we’ve found many campsites that were such that we were glad we didn’t go larger. Water and waste tanks will be larger with a larger model, and the 25’ can still be towed with a properly spec’d 1/2 ton truck.
Good luck
Steve

[Bill M.]

"What do you do?"

Many times you do what the wife wants.

Does she surf also or does she stay in the trailer while you are out?

[DCPAS]

I looked at the Grand Design 22RBE floorplan. It says that the length is 25' 11". So comparing it to a 16 - 22 ft. Airstream isn't an fair comparison. I am not sure the two manufacturers use the same measurements, but 25' 11" is the overall length of our 25 ft. Airstream.

[djb75]

You'll get over her in time.

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by DCPAS

I looked at the Grand Design 22RBE floorplan. It says that the length is 25' 11". So comparing it to a 16 - 22 ft. Airstream isn't an fair comparison. I am not sure the two manufacturers use the same measurements, but 25' 11" is the overall length of our 25 ft. Airstream.

Very true originally all trailer manufacturers measured the overall length and round off to an even number of feet the way Airstream still does. After much customer complaining many other manufacturers started just measuring the box length. Airstream doesn't like responding to customer complaints so they still use the old fashioned overall length.

[hikingcamera]

Originally Posted by Wazbro

Very true originally all trailer manufacturers measured the overall length and round off to an even number of feet the way Airstream still does. After much customer complaining many other manufacturers started just measuring the box length. Airstream doesn't like responding to customer complaints so they still use the old fashioned overall length.

Airstream uses whole numbers for the model number, but are very transparent about the overall length on their website, in their brochures, etc. down to the inch.

And I’d put it the other way around. Many trailer manufacturers use the box length rather than the entire length making their trailers sound smaller, but the trailer manufacturers that I am drawn to, that build to quality, all use the total length (Escape, TAXA, NuCamp, Oliver, Opus, etc.).

[ROBERT CROSS]

I'm odd, SWMBO is odd'r...we don't care to even look at the newer offerings.

Plus we hear all about 'em right here.

"Cloudsplitter" is like your favorite pair of jeans, fit's perfectly, looks great and paid for.

Bob
🇺🇸

[rmkrum]

There’s a lot of good things to be said about “paid for” and being comfortable with what you have.

“The Silver Hamshack” and our vehicles are all paid off, comfortable, and look great. Nice to not be making payments!

[Gibson3798]

I'll wager that my AS will hold its value 15 years from now, far better than SOB's. A primary reason we own one.

I will admit though, that if I were spending 3-4 months in a rig, as some do that live in the North, I'd seriously consider one with more sq. ft. and amenities, knowing it wouldn't be of the same quality and would depreciate faster and more steeply than an AS.

[n2916s]

I can’t speak for the new trailers with all the “gadgets” but my 2008 Safari is simple, rugged and easy to maintain. Short of a meteor strike, It will last longer than I will.

The SOB’s I crawled over back when I was first looking circa 2004, were largely built with 1x2’s, pressboard and staples. I suspect that they are all in a landfill somewhere by now.

Then again, I suffer from “aluminitus” which definitely clouds my judgement…

[SeeMore]

...Many times you do what the wife wants...

Choose which ever "little" unit matches your beachside needs and stash her at a nearby luxury B&B for the duration. Then... enjoy your vacation at joint meals cruising the local bars and eateries!

[field & stream]

Originally Posted by FMSports

To try things out, I bought a little vintage 14' RV for surfing stays. It's been cool but I wanted to upgrade to an AS in the 16-22 foot range. Also looking at extended road trips south in the winter

My wife wants slide outs, storage and mucho interior space. ie Grand Designs 22RBE that sort of thing. For some reason I can't stomach the look of them, or anything else in that genre.

What do you do? Buy 2?

By way of introduction, we currently own a 15’ vintage trailer and a more modern 16’ Airstream. Our first Airstream was 23’, so we are pretty familiar with your range of thoughts. If you have a place to keep them, the two trailers idea does have merit.

With regards to Airstream vs. SOB, you have good advice above — particularly the idea of you two spending time in a variety of sizes and brands. Question: Why are the lyrics “if Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy” stuck in my head?

[PeterDB]

Originally Posted by FMSports

To try things out, I bought a little vintage 14' RV for surfing stays. It's been cool but I wanted to upgrade to an AS in the 16-22 foot range. Also looking at extended road trips south in the winter



My wife wants slide outs, storage and mucho interior space. ie Grand Designs 22RBE that sort of thing. For some reason I can't stomach the look of them, or anything else in that genre.



What do you do? Buy 2?

Slide-outs can become slide-offs. This picture is of an inaugural trip for a brand new SOB. The slide-out kept going and landed on the utility post.

[hikingcamera]

Originally Posted by PeterDB

Slide-outs can become slide-offs. This picture is of an inaugural trip for a brand new SOB. The slide-out kept going and landed on the utility post.

Ooh snap! I was thinking, as my in-laws can attest, slide outs offer a lot more mechanical and electrical components that can go wrong and new ingress points for water, insects, and small rodents. But that is a new one!


We looked at a ton of trailers, and there are definitely other trailer manufacturers that I would consider high quality, but none of the ones we looked at had slide outs, and all the trailers we considered had better aerodynamics than your typical big box trailer. We love our Airstream, though not to the exclusion of considering other options. But Airstream ended up being the only one, at the time, that checked all our boxes. And honestly, it barely did. They no longer make the layout we have.

[Piggy Bank]

So you both like travel, camping, the outdoors, and your wife likes a little bit more of the glam and self care and serenity , and less of the roughing rustic. You can both be happy! I swear.

Let me translate. Here is what she says:
She: "this looks like a lot of chaos and not much pampering. What about one of those xxx that are bigger and have more room?"

=
"I need to not look at all this crap-ola all over the place. It is so cluttered and drives me bonkers. I need more storage for clothes and food. Otherwise I will spend every vacation in a messy dorm room-no thanks. And if you and I can't be alone together in the camper we will get on each other's nerves. Well, you will get on mine for sure. This is too small to really work."

OK here is the way to respond.

You-sweetie, just look at this lovely 22 foot caravel trailer by airstream. We could go this way. Look at the storage over the bed-that large full size width bed with all those windows. Since the bed is up agains the windows we will have such a great breeze. And under the bed. Wow you can fit a lot in there. And there is a huge closet with a shelf. And under the dinette seating there is storage for all kinds of things, like your wine and wine glasses and your yoga mat and I think the aisle is big enough for some indoor yoga if it is raining. And did you see the great bathroom? It has a really nice shower and a window that opens so you get a great cross breeze and fresh air. And it's large enough to get dressed in so if our friends come and bring their tent and want to use our shower we can have some privacy.

And since it's simple with no slide outs when we stop for lunch or get gas you can use our lovely, clean bathroom, or change into shorts if you're hot, or make a stovetop cup of coffee and an omelette for a breakfast at 9:30 at the rest stop. If we had slide outs we probably couldn't reach the bathroom or refrigerator or stove or closet.

The 22 is a smaller rig, a lot of folks really like the 25 or 27 for a bit more room. Something like that would let you sleep in and I could get up and make my coffee and sneak out for a morning walk with the dog. And look at all the extra storage it has. I could bring a second monitor and work from the road, and we could have friends come and pull out the dinette and sleep 4 for a few nights. And there is a ton of storage for food. Wouldn't this be great for that trip to Alaska? But we would maybe need to get a truck for this. Oh, yea we probably are getting a truck anyway for the bikes and surfboards. Let's think about the 25, or do you like the 27? It sure has a nice kitchen.

...Did you see the Pottery Barn with the hatch?"