S.O.B. Looking to buy an Airstream--need Advice!

[slkjriechers]

Hi. We are a family of 4. We like what we have seen in the Airstream. We just have a few questions. Where do you experienced Airstreamers store your leveling boards, and jack boards, and all that other "stuff" we SOB's store in our outside storage compartments? Any information on dealers and the Airstream itself would be appreciated. Ideas and comments and general opinions. Thank you so much! Have a wonderful day and God Bless.

[Darol Ingalls]

We Airstreamers are mostly half a bubble off plumb anyway, so we really don't worry too much about level. But, if you must be right with the world - - there is plenty of room to store such stuff. Most Airstreams have exterior storage hatches either in the rear or under the bed areas. Stackable plastic leveling blocks are light weight and compact. Lots of Airstreams have built in stabailizing jacks (or they can be added). There is bumper storage for hoses and cords. But don't even consider rear racks or roof-mounted boxes. If you plan your trips even a little, you can usually leave half the "stuff" home because you won't use it anyway. Helps on the gas mileage, too. Darol

[overlander63]

Hi, and welcome to the forums. I am not sure about the ones without them, but we generally store our "stuff" like leveling blocks, hitch equipment, wheel chocks, etc, in the outside compartments. They are bigger than they look, and as long as they will fit in the door, that's where it all goes.
In one compartment I have the hitch head, WD lever, WD bars, trailer umbilical, levelling blocks, stabilizer lever, and wheel chocks. In another compartment I have spare tambours (roll-up interior compartment doors), spare converter, spare WD lever, sway bar, various tools and supplies, as well as a battery charger for the car and truck, awning equipment, and a mini air compressor for the trailer and truck tires. If I really wanted to cram it in, I could add even more stuff to these two compartments.
Rear upper compartment is where the fresh water hose and spare fresh water hose are stored, along with the water pressure regulator and water filter. Bumper compartment has the slinky, supports for the slinky, spare donut for the sewer, electric cords, and spare termination caps.

[Fyrzowt]

Me too - outside compartments, or if I'm travelling heavy I put it in the truck bed.
FYI, some of the smaller models don't have exterior compartments.
Dave

[soldiermedic]

Hello and welcome to the forums.

Is this by chance the family that I met at Bill Thomas campers today and bought the fire dancer from? If so I am glad to see you joined us here.

Steve

[Mrs_RedSHED]

We have always carried our leveling boards in the back of the truck. Hoses, extension cord and miscellaneous stuff goes in the storage compartments. The only thing that I haven't figured out, with our previous SOB and now with the Airsteam is where to carry a small grill. We don't want it in the back of the truck with the bikes and I haven't found one that will fit in the storage doors. Overlander63 is right, the compartments on an A/S actually hold quite a surprising amound of stuff.

[wheel interested]

Dave's right about less outside storage on some of the newer models. The rear twin traditional configuration gives you a large wide trunk and door as well as side storage. But we have worked with what we have available now to store the lynx levelers and the stabilzer bars in the bumper storage along with the larger sewer connections in a ziplock. Water hoses are stored in the front storage with electrical cords and surge protector. The sewer hose has its own strap on storage under the AS as provided. We have Zip Dee chairs that have their own cabinet but would easily fit in a closet and a folding snack table is easily fit. The grill goes to the inside storage under the bed or dinette and there are plenty of portable solutions available but we have the weber baby Q and carry the small propane bottles in the front battery compartment since our unit has the batteries inside in the Classic model. Compressor and tools are stored inside the AS as they are not often needed in a hurry. Our bikes are folders and go in the Suburban.

Lots of luck with your search. You will be blown away by traveling in an Airstream, it just is a whole 'nother experience.

[moosetags]

We have an '05 Safari 25FB. It has one outside storage area. It's no super big, but it has enough room for all the stuff you mentioned.

[Wayne&Sam]

Originally Posted by slkjriechers

..." we SOB's ....

Your trailer may be an SOB, but you may not be. In fact by virtue of joining these boards there's a very good chance you are not! Welcome!

Oh, and outside accessed storage is adequate in our 20'.

[centennialman]

Airstream's generally have plenty of storage room via outside access doors and under the furniture, in closets etc...

I store all of the things you mentioned via outside access doors and in the back of my TV.

Before each trip, I check and see what I can take out of the coach. It's easy to take along too many things. Less is more these days and the less weight you take along, the less gas you use.

The plastic leveling blocks stow away easily and don't weigh much. My stabilizing jacks stack inside of each other....etc.....there is always a way to make things fit.

Hope this helps!

[slkjriechers]

Thanks to all who have offered advice. It truely IS greatly appreciated. We wanted to tell Mrs.REDshed that we store our grill on a spare tire bracket on the back bumper of the trailer. A homemade bracket will have to be made for your specific grill. I made mine receiver syle so that it can be unhooked quickly --stored outside for no mess in the trailer! Thanks again everybody--& it is happy hunting for us I guess!

[jimmickle]

What size trailer are you looking for? Health problems have made me decide to sell my 1991 34 ft Excella 1000. PM me if interested. Has rear queen, fold out couch and dinett which makes a third bed.

Jim Mickle

[ScottW]

Originally Posted by slkjriechers

Any information on dealers and the Airstream itself would be appreciated.:

Welcome to the forum. If you are looking for a dealer, I'd suggest 'Airstream of Arkansas' located in Searcy, just north of Little Rock. Gene Morris is the Sales Mgr and is a great guy to work with. Good prices also.

[CaddyGrn]

Welcome to the forums!

We have "vintage" and very small... so we store everything in our tow vehicle. Darol's post earlier is right.... you can leave half (or more) of the stuff at home. Become a minimalist! Save fuel. Have fun.

Here is a link to a old, but good thread on things to think about when purchasing an airstream ~ whether you buy new, vintage, or somewhere in between! http://www.airforums.com/forums/f353...eam-22920.html

Mrs. NorCal Bambi traveling in S Tardis ~ from the Great State of Jefferson

[latourelle]

Hello everyone,
I am about to check out a 1961 24foot Tradewind that just might be the answer to my dreams. BUT...I need to know what to look out for. I understand that tail separation is a problem? Or did I just make that up?
Any advice to a newcomer is VERY welcome indeed. If it all works out I hope to join you all more often!
Thanks so much!
Adrian LaTourelle