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Rosco · 10-13-2009, 03:33 AM

WOW! What a great forum.
We are planning to visit the US for an extended trip and thought the Airstream would be the way to go.
We will probably pound this forum with a barrage of questions in the future.
I hope we will not be too much of a burden and will be pleased to accept any information the group can offer.

Regards,
Rosco

Wayne&Sam · 10-13-2009, 04:11 AM

Welome! I've seen thread or two asking about renting an AS and s I recall, rentals are hard to find. Except the KOA ones that you rent at a campground. But others will chime in with better answers I'm sure.

Rosco · 10-13-2009, 06:45 AM

We were thinking of buying.
My theory is that the Airstream is popular, holds its price and is relatively easy to resell.
Would that be correct?

Ag&Au · 10-13-2009, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosco

We were thinking of buying.
My theory is that the Airstream is popular, holds its price and is relatively easy to resell.
Would that be correct?

Hi Rosco,
As long as you buy used, that is probably a fair statement. However, just like an automobile (at least in the US) a new one will take a big drop in resale price as soon as you drive it of the lot.
Regards,
Ken

Rosco · 10-13-2009, 10:29 PM

Thanks Ken.
We own a 21'6" trailer (we call them caravans) in Australia and find that size to be a little small for full Time living. I am probably thinking a 25' trailer.
How is this size for availability and re-sale?

Rosco

Mackhopp · 10-14-2009, 06:39 AM

Hi Rosco - welcome to the forums!

I'm assuming you'll want to be buying a used Airstream? New ones of course don't hold their value as well as used units.

Silly question, but have you checked the forums Classifieds section? There are several interesting units for sale in there.

As for size, depends on how many people you'll be in your trailer. A 25' is a great size for many people - it's considered the largest of the small trailers, and the smallest of the big ones.

And don't forget to pop over and pay a quick visit to Canada while you're here - lots to see!

Cheers

Ag&Au · 10-14-2009, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rosco

Thanks Ken.
We own a 21'6" trailer (we call them caravans) in Australia and find that size to be a little small for full Time living. I am probably thinking a 25' trailer.
How is this size for availability and re-sale?

Rosco

There seems to be lot of 23-27 foot trailers around. It is a popular size range. So availability and resale should be good. There are so many variables involved in what size trailer is good for full timing. There are people on this forum that live in 19 foot trailers. I could not do that. I think I need too many toys with me. Of course a smaller trailer means less carrying capacity. For instance less clothes means more frequent laundromat stops. My suggestion would be to look at caravans down there and figure that although they maybe different brands, the space for a given length will be similar. Keep in mind that, in the US a trailer length is generally from bumper to hitch. Depending on the length of the tongue, two 23 foot trailers may be quite different in interior space.
My last trailer was 21 feet. My brother-in-law had a different brand 19 foot trailer. However the actual boxes to live in were the exact same side.
I think that a little looking on the Internet (Airstream dealers, this forum's classifieds, and EBay) would give you a good idea of what is available. There is another possibility. I know people world wide do this with houses. Maybe you could find someone in the US who would want to spend the same time in Australia touring in a trailer. You could swap trailers and tow vehicles for that time period.
Good luck,
Ken

Rosco · 10-14-2009, 05:54 PM

Our 21'6" trailer is the external body dimension. I guess it would be equivalent to a 29' trailer.
A holiday swap would be a good idea. I dont know how insurance would work though.
There will only be the 2 of us travelling so the 25' seems a good size. By the pictures I have seen it looks like the "A" frame is not too long so a 25' trailer could have a body length of say 21'. Would that be close?

Rosco

summerkid · 10-14-2009, 06:16 PM

Hi there, R! Might I offer Oregon as a beautiful state to visit on yer tour? I am one who offers "courtesy parking" to fellow Airstreamers.

We usually measure trailers hitch-to-bumper, so yes, you subtract roughly 3' from that for your body length (at least with the smaller trailers that I've owned).

I just sold a Globetrotter to a couple who will first use it as housing while rebuilding their Baja casa post-Hurricane Jimena, and then to full time during subsequent hurricane seasons. The '64 GT is a 22-footer, I believe, and it seemed spacious enough to them. Don't forget that a 27' trailer is a lot to maneuver & can limit your travel options.

snake · 10-14-2009, 08:38 PM

First question, what do you consider to be an "extended vacation"? Some of us might consider that to be a month or two, but in my travels I've met a few "Ozzies" (is it okay to call you that?) on the road for a year or more.