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STGMNOBPF · 01-22-2023, 06:47 PM

Thanks for all the great information you share on this forum.

I've been reading here some for the past few months, learning, trying to figure out what AS I want. I've narrowed it down to a single axle, and probably a 20'er. I like that floor plan, but I might end up with a 16. I'll be towing with a Jeep GC with a V8-hemi.

I re-retired last winter after flying around the country for the past ten years, and I plan to spend a good share of the next few traveling at a slow pace. There are lots of places I need to see on this continent.

John Ware · 01-22-2023, 07:22 PM

Congrats on your retirement again. Ck 'em out in person before you order one. I thought I wanted a 16' before I saw how small they were.

Bubba L · 01-22-2023, 07:27 PM

Welcome. What era Airstream are you interested in? I guess whether it’s retirement or re-retirement, you’ll probably end up busier than before. Good luck on your search.

Hans627 · 01-22-2023, 07:56 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Regarding deciding on which AS to get, I would suggest, since you are in the Roanoke area, you take a trip to Virginia Highland Haven Airstream Park, near Copper Hill. There you will find different types of AS to look at, but more importantly, be able to talk to owners who can tell you the pros and cons of the various models.

http://vahighlandhaven.com/

Enjoy your search!

s1000pre · 01-23-2023, 07:18 AM

Take a day and go sit in the floor plan you are looking at. Think everything through thoroughly. Sleeping, making the bed, storage, stuck inside during poor weather, etc.

STGMNOBPF · 01-23-2023, 07:27 AM

Thank you, John Ware. Yes, the 16' felt pretty small compared to 19s and 20s.

STGMNOBPF · 01-23-2023, 07:30 AM

Thanks, Bubba L. I've been looking at 2010s thru 2020s mostly, but I'm not excluding anything clean with a decent price tag.

ROBERT CROSS · 01-23-2023, 07:36 AM

Consider...Many suspect that AS offers the smaller units only as a hook for the larger ones.

There is no known cure for Aluminits.

Bob
🇺🇸

STGMNOBPF · 01-23-2023, 07:36 AM

Thanks, Hans627. I didn't realize that place was there. I've driven by many times. I used to know a glass blower from near there. ...met him while backpacking on Kauai!

**moosetags** · 01-23-2023, 07:37 AM

Congratulations on your retirement and welcome to AirForums. We have been Airtsreaming for quite a while and the sense of adventure and discovery never wears off.

Choose your Airstream wisely. Take your time and check out all the models available. Think long and hard about what your camping style will be. This will give you some insight into which model Airstream will best suit your needs and wants.

Be sure to consider the capacity of the tanks when choosing and Airstream. This can be instrumental to how you intend to use your Airstream.

If you should have any questions, be sure to come back here and ask. The Airstream knowledge base here is quite significant.

Best wishes in your quest.

Brian

STGMNOBPF · 01-23-2023, 07:38 AM

Thanks, s1000pre. Yes, I need to do that again. I did a quick visit a few months ago, but I need to do a longer visit at a dealership, I think.

STGMNOBPF · 01-23-2023, 07:43 AM

Yes, ROBERT CROSS, I've noticed that. In my case, it might be an in betweener until my wife retires and can travel with me.

STGMNOBPF · 01-23-2023, 08:15 AM

Thank you, Brian. Yes, the separate grey water has my attention.

Waterbeach · 01-23-2023, 03:58 PM

We went through a similar process two years ago in August 2020 which, depending on your plans and situation, may or may not be instructive. Mid covid so we had no ability to sit in trailers as there was no stock. Started off looking at small trailers (16 ft Alto, Basecamp, Caravel 16') that would fit our mid size SUV and were put off by size (or lack of size) of beds and bathroom.

Initially in my ignorance we wanted only single axle, thinking it would be lighter, tow better and safer and actually ordered a Caravel- then I read on this forum about the hazards of tire blowout, better tracking of twin axle and difficulty of tire change compared to twin axle, and, more importantly, had second thoughts about a 4ft+ bed for the two of us on long 2-3 month trips we had planned, so upgraded the order to a 23ft. with a queen bed.

Then changed the SUV...., which was annoying but in retrospect a good decision as a larger truck allowed us to carry bikes, kayak etc which SUV would not.

Happy with the choice we ended up with.

Gene · 01-23-2023, 08:01 PM

There should be quite a few used small Airstreams because many who buy them soon want to move up. For some a small one is fine, but Americans usually like big and bigger. You might try to rent a small trailer and see how you like it.

Will you have a dog? Dogs can take a lot of space. Do you want to make fancy meals?—then you will need more kitchen items and more storage. Do you have special food needs where you have to bring special stuff with you? Airstreams do not have much storage, so take that into consideration. If you are tall, beds can be small and smaller. Do you want to make and unmake the bed every day in the smallest ones? And two people in a small trailer may mean romance or divorce—some years ago there was a couple with a Bambi and a baby who posted on the Forum. I met them somewhere in our travels, maybe Santa Fe. They were fine with the size, but I expect not too many people could be that close and not need a little more space. Your wife may decide once she sees an Airstream she wants to go with you for short trips or vacations.

WhatNext · 01-24-2023, 06:53 AM

I must point out the 16 footers have a wet bath and a single sink. Our previous RV (which we used for many yrs) had that and was an automatic No/No for our replacement RV.

STGMNOBPF · 01-24-2023, 08:00 AM

Thanks. Yeah, no dog.

STGMNOBPF · 01-24-2023, 08:01 AM

Thanks. Yes, the shower in the 16s is tiny.....but way better than a shower in a tent!

Gene · 01-24-2023, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STGMNOBPF

Thanks. Yes, the shower in the 16s is tiny.....but way better than a shower in a tent!

But with a shower in a tent, you can wash your clothes and sleeping bags at the same time. We have several tents over the years, but never saw one with a shower though.

About 20 years ago we tried a truck camper, sort of like the smallest Bambi. The wet shower was tight, just tying my shoes was interesting because tight quarters, if someone was cooking you either had to stay in the small dinette or in bed. If anything broke, it was even harder to get to than the usually difficult to fix larger ones. It was made for miniature people. They look efficient and even cute, but living in one is a challenge.

Dennis C · 01-24-2023, 10:56 AM

I think the comments in this thread are good. The right sized Airstream is a personal decision and everyone is different. Many things factor into the decision. A few questions come to mind: How tall are you? Do you like to spend time relaxing inside the trailer, or do you spend most of your time outside? How much stuff do you want to bring along? What is the capability of your tow vehicle? Do you like to boondock? Do you want to get your trailer into tight locations, small campgrounds, or rugged off-road locations?

My wife and I went through this decision making process when we purchased our 23FB. At the time, I was still working full time, and we used the trailer for recreational camping trips, long weekends, etc. It was great for us, although it required a few compromises. I’m 6’4”, so the shower was very tight. I had to shower sitting down. The bed was small but manageable, and there wasn’t much interior seating or storage. All these things were really minor inconveniences given the way we used the trailer. It was worth the compromises at the time.

A few years later, I retired. We are now planning to take extended trips, some 2 - 3 months at a time. Our beloved little 23FB simply wasn’t big enough for this type of usage, at least not for us. We sold it and bought a bigger rig. Preferences change as time passes.

Many people say things like “buy your second Airstream first” or “buy the biggest Airstream you can afford”. My thought is that you should really think about how you’re going to use your Airstream and buy the one that’s right for you. It may be a 16. It may be a 25. Only you know what’s really right. I think many people buy an Airstream because it’s the biggest one that their current tow vehicle can pull, or it’s the biggest one they can afford right now. I totally understand this, but these people often end up buying another one later that fits their needs better. They end up buying the one that they should have bought the first time.

Good luck with your decision!