Step one, become AIRforums member...

[magnusdog]

Step one, complete!

Now on to step two- finding the perfect Airstream for my wife, two boys, and two Aussies. A friend that has had several TTs over the years gave me the sage advice to "buy your second trailer first, because you won't be happy with your first one and will want to upgrade right away." Using that advice, we decided to skip the first TT and go for the Airstream! When I told my friend this, his reply was something along the lines of "geez, those things are really nice, but expensive. I guess you went all-in on my advice!" Of course, he just bought a brand new 36' toy hauler last year, and then ordered a new diesel TV for it this spring, so I'm not sure he's one to listen to about things being expensive.

Our search is for a gently used International Serenity, in either a 25RB, 25FB, or 27FB configuration, and either espresso or salsa interior. I'm not afraid to drive and get the right one for us- heck, I bought my Suburban from New York state and flew from Wisconsin to go get it!

I've been lurking for a while, but decided to finally come out of the shadows and participate. It's an amazing group you have here!

Brad

[Piggy Bank]

Next step.

Next step is math (sorry). If you plan to tow with your Suburban, you need to know what the vehicle payload is, what that means, how much your people /pet/gear/weigh, how much various Airstreams PLUS hitch weigh, and are you good to go.

For any vehicle the only Real Payload number that maters is the yellow sticker on the drivers door frame That payload is your vehicle as bought from the dealer lot with what was specifically on it.

4 people and some pets and all that stuff add up pretty quick. If you are not sure how much your loaded vehicle weighs, you can actually load up and go weigh at a scale. Better to have real data and know you are towing safely.

I do agree that you are targeting a good size rig for your family. We have had a 22, 25 RB and a 27. The 22 is 100% field-tested too small for 4 people. If you can find a 27 I think you will prefer it for both the lager closet, and the better pantry.

[Hans627]

Welcome to the forum. It’s great to have you with us!

Your friend gave you some great advice. We didn’t buy our second one first. We went from a 25’ to a 27’. Those two feet make a big difference. But of course you need to decide what is best for your family.

I would suggest visiting a dealer and spending a lot of time in different models/lengths. Try going thru the motions of a typical day. You will find that exercise to be helpful in determining your likes/needs.

All the best in your search. And post pictures when you get yours!

[magnusdog]

Piggybank,

I knew somebody would bring all that up, I just didn't realize it would be so quickly!

"tow rating" is 8000lbs, cargo load is 1509 per the yellow sticker, GVWR is 7500, FGAWR is 3600, RGAWR is 4300.

Like I said, I've been lurking for a while and reading up, so I would be informed before I ever got the Airstream. CAT scale is 11 miles away, and will be one of my first stops. We'll go with the Suburban for now, and plan that our first few trips will be fairly local to shake things out. Heck, Devil's Lake State Park is practically my backyard! If it doesn't work, I'll upgrade to a 3/4T GMC with a diesel and have no worries.

Right now the Suburban is my wife's daily driver, I drive a '05 VW Jetta TDI with 311K on it. I guarantee if I get a 3/4T now, she will not want to switch vehicles with me!

Brad

[Piggy Bank]

Well gee, glad we got that out of the way then.

Onto the rigs themselves, I mentioned that we have owned both a 25 RB and now have a 27 FB. Both Flying cloud models, and both twin bed models.

(we're not crazy or made of money, our first 2 rigs were traded when they were in accidents).

We are pleasantly surprised how much roomier the 27 is as compared to the 25. Especially with 2 dogs along occasionally. Our kids are adults now, and there is enough room for them, and also for their stuff, in the 27. One of the reasons is that we (mom and dad) don't really need to keep any of our things in the closet of the 27. Having both the dual short closets, and the AMAZING foot of floorspace at the end of the beds in the 27 lets us keep all our things in the bedroom area.

The pantry is so much bigger that we can keep all of our food in the pantry in the 27, leaving the closet pretty much empty when it's only the 2 of us. This allows for plenty of room for the kids things to store in the closet and for their bedding as well during the table up/down process when they come along.

We tow with a Tundra which has not great payload. When our kids come along they drive their own vehicle.

[magnusdog]

That's very helpful to hear from someone that has had both of the rigs we're looking at. Kinda makes me lean towards the 27. We are looking for one with a queen bed (the wife still likes sleeping with me- for now ;-), and the fact that the bed in the 27 is longitudinally placed rather that transversely makes it that much more appealing- it would be much easier to get around in.

It also seems like I can find more 27s listed than 25s. While it is about 300lbs heavier, the tongue weight is less due to the longer length. That whole school physics lesson about fulcrums still sticks in my head. ;-) Both are still short enough to get into pretty much any campground and not be a pain to drive with in tow.

I would be happy with a FC, my better half prefers the decor of the Serenity, so the Serenity it is!

My kids are still young- 14 and 12, so having them drive themselves is currently not an option, so I will reluctantly let them in the Suburban. We had originally looked at other TTs with bunkbeds for the boys, but then came to the realization that they may not want to go camping with us as they get older, let alone climb into bunk beds. So we decided on an Airstream for us (mom and dad). If as they get older they want to come along but not sleep in the trailer with us, they can always use my tent and air mattress. After doing 20 years in the Army, I'm done sleeping on the ground.

Brad

[Spartanguy]

Given your family, I would certainly be taking a look at the Flying Cloud 30 bunk. When I bought my 25RBQ I was deciding on it vs a 30bunk and they were exactly the same price. Personally, I’d tow a 30 bunk with a Suburban.

[Spartanguy]

One more thought, I woke up this morning in my 25 east-west (sideways) bed looking out panoramic windows into the forest, you’re not doing that in just about any model but the 25. That is just something I love about the 25RBQ...but maybe I spend more time in bed than most [emoji23]

With that said, I’m a single guy, it seems most couples prefer a “their side of the bed” and 27 up gets you two nightstands.

[magnusdog]

Thanks for the feedback! We had originally looked at getting SOB with bunk beds, but then realized that the boys would quickly outgrow them, and possibly camping with us, and then we'd have bunk beds that wouldn't be used. We would like this to be a "one and done" process, if that's actually possible. So that led us to either a 25 or 27. We were in a 23 at the RV show, and quickly realized that would be too small. They also had a 25FB Serenity, which led my wife to want that decor vs. the FC. Also, the 30 is, well, that much longer than what we are looking for, as well as the weight. We seem to keep creeping up in size, and we need to put the brakes on that at some point.

I have to say, I didn't think of the advantage of the bed orientation in the 25 in those terms! That does sound like an awesome view to wake up to! Decisions, decisions, decisions...

Brad