Visit our Popular Forums

z8 hm · 12-19-2011, 02:05 PM

Wanted to say Hi! We've had our Intl for a couple months now, and are loving it! After a terrific time renting a CruiseAmerica RV and taking it up in the Sierra's, we decided that camping with the dogs was the way to go. However, we really wanted to have something to drive around when we got to the campsite, without taking our camper with us. We weren't interested in towing a car, plus, its always good to have a pickup truck around.

Now that we decided on a truck trailer combo, what's it to be? We've loved the classic lines of the A/S for years, so it was an easy choice. I'm a Ford truck guy, so that was easy too. However, getting the "right" truck and trailer... not so easy! Finally found the perfectly optioned F350 in Denver. So... we flew to Denver from San Fran, picked up the truck, and decided to take the southern route home. While driving, Amy was online looking for possible trailers. Only criteria was that they had to be more than 1,000 miles from Denver, because the truck needed to be broken in. After spending the night in Santa Fe, we headed for CA. While driving, we found the perfect trailer (Intl Serenity 27FB) at Southwestern in Irvine. Quick course correction, and we were spending the night at La Quinta, across the street from the dealer. By 5pm the next day, we were hauling our new A/S over the Grapevine in rush hour traffic with the new truck! Made it home by 1am.

Our first camping adventure was to Big Sur over Thanksgiving. Pics below.

I've got a couple questions on broken stuff which I'll post on the related forums, but we have a question I'm not sure where to post. When you're traveling cross country and don't know how much mileage you'll make every day, and need a place to stop just to sleep, how do you figure out where? Can you just stop at truck stops? Any hints on how to find places to park at the last minute?

All excited to add solar, inverters, etc and have been reading all the extremely helpful posts on those forums. What a great gift to the community! Thanks every one!

SilverPal · 12-19-2011, 02:37 PM

Hugh & Amy....welcome to the Forums and to Airstreaming! Right out of the gate you made the perfect choice! We purchased our first AS at Southwest Coaches but have since had several others. You are going to love your adventures traveling in an iconic rig. Wait till you pull into a campground and you have people wanting to see inside!

Forums is a great place to find a campsite. I also use the app, Camp Where, on my iPhone which is great for state parks and national forest campgrounds. Camping World always welcomes you for an overnight, and some WalMarts allow you to stay in their lot. During busy times (summer, school breaks) you may want to be prepared as campgrounds can fill.

I'm sure others will offer suggestions here on Forums, but for me, I'm a planner for the most part and try to have a spot waiting after a long day on the road. Trailer Life & RV Parks and Campgrounds Directory can be purchased at Camping World.

Enjoy your new Serenity (beautiful inside!).

murreywalker · 12-19-2011, 02:46 PM

You're a busy poster Hugh!

We use the Allstays app for the iPad.

It's worth its weight in gold when it comes to situations like yours.

Allstays App | Allstays Camp & RV

Zia · 12-19-2011, 02:58 PM

We stay at Walmart a lot, they have 24 hr security and they do not mind RV'ers as long as you park away from the main enterence for convenience of their customers. Another place we found handy is Casino's if they happen to be on your way. You can buy a casino directory from Camping World. Truck stop are good too, there is an issue with noise and diesel smoke. We avoid parking in remote areas by ourselves, one of the reason being high visibility trailer.
Conagratulations on your new AS, we baught ours from Southwest last month. Fortunately we live 6 miles from them and we did find some issues with ours

Mike91208 · 12-19-2011, 03:42 PM

If you have a GPS (like Garmin) there is a category for RV/Campgrounds. It will list campground names near your current location and how far it is to them. And when you select one, it will direct you to it. I use it whenever I'm off schedule and need a place to stay.

Mexray · 12-19-2011, 05:23 PM

What a great choice for your first AS...

Been lusting over the 27FBs for some time now...

As a new AS owner, just one note of caution - looking at your neat pics - don't leave your awing extended when you leave your camp for any length of time...

Without any tie-downs on the extended part of the awing, it only takes one quick 'gust' of wind from the wrong direction and it will be 'bent' & 'crunch' city as the arms and awing are flung back up toward the roof!!!

It hasn't happened to us, thankfully, but we've been parked near others that have, and it's a costly mess as a result...

We like to camp with our AS up in the Sierras as well, and also enjoy getting 'over the hill' into Nevada for some remote camping too...

Enjoy your new AS...

ASwifey · 12-19-2011, 07:57 PM

Congrats! Beautiful choice of trailer, and truck! We highly approve.

Hope to see you out and about.

Airslide · 12-19-2011, 10:23 PM

Welcome to the Airforums Hugh and Amy!

I love the new truck and airstream. We look forward to your future posts as you settle into your new lifestyle. Take us along with you as we love pictures.

Congrats again...

Vinnie