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Jammer · 07-19-2010, 11:18 PM

Offroad? Wrong rig for the job mainly because 'streams have so little ground clearance. Truck campers are the rig to take on these sorts of trips.

48Bob · 07-23-2010, 10:52 AM

Off road? Not really what we are talking about here. We are talking about pulling the AS on gravel and graded dirt (and occasionally two track) Forest Service type roads to remote camping areas where there are no services. We bought our 20' Safari just for that reason. It is short and very manageable in these type of situations. Have we gotten into tight spots? Yes. Will we do it again? Yes. We love our AS, but we plan on wearing it out with use, providing us with many fond memories along the way. Ray Eklund has explained this philosophy very well in his rockdocking thread. To make our AS a little bit more capable off of the paved road, we have stepped up to 16" LT tires whiach provides for a stronger sidewall and a bit more clearance. Future modifications as time permits will be a skid plate under the tank drains (currently the lowest spot) and a 1 1/2"-2" lift block between the axle and frame.

Ray Eklund · 08-16-2010, 02:02 PM

48 Bob- I am with you with the wheel and tire change. The last two years we have had fewer problems by getting away from the Goodyear 14 inch tires. If we suffer punctures through the tires off road by gravel... I am looking at 15 inch wheels and might even consider 16 inch and see what clearances I have to work with in the fender wells.

The 23 foot and smaller AS's should travel in the back country very well. Sometimes a dry creek bed requires some planning to cross without dragging the skids under the rear bumper. Our fresh water valve was broken off by gravel the first trip with the new AS. Jackson Center replaced the plastic valve and installed galvanized sheet metal to prevent future encounters on a gravel road and the plastic valve... and it WORKED! I always carry several small corks from Ace Hardware... just in case. The plumbing seems to move around, year after year, so it is tough to know where a newer or older model needs some protection. Sometimes leaving a gasoline station is as close to dragging your plumbing you will get. In tight situations off the grid, it helps to have a spotter watching the plumbing. I understand the plumbing needs to be in the low spot, but some day a solution should be found to resolve this common complaint.

As far as living space. I have seen people living in remote locations with less space than a 23 foot AS. If you do not have a lot of... stuff to be polite, the shelter is the important aspect. After a few days in our 23 footer, I can live without most of the modern conveniences that stuff our home. What a relief not to have to haul all this stuff around in the back country!

flyguy · 08-26-2010, 12:12 AM

One thing that I've experienced is that the trailer may be wider that the mirrors on the TV. I once went through an are where the mirrors on my TV, 2006 F250 PSD 4x4, fit fine but my 19' Bambi didn't. The trees won the encounter and ripped one of the awning attachments of the trailer. To think about it still makes me sick. Thank God for insurance.

draigue · 11-08-2010, 12:51 PM

I've pulled my 17 Safari with my FJ into the Chattahoochie and Nantahala National forests many times this year. Most of the roads are excellent. A farm jack can be handy.

Ray Eklund · 11-21-2010, 07:39 PM

As an update for the appropriate use of an Airstream, I had a few thoughts.

After a few mistakes in judgment, your clearance will improve with the plumbing removed. The interior will get improved with your visits to Home Depot for hardware upgrades...

For rough off the road travel, keep the AS under 25 feet. Your bumper does not drag as often upon its skids and it is narrower. A double axle is better than a single. For real back country camping, keep it under 25 feet and get a model where the trailer sits on top of the axles and springs...

The other trailers have better clearance, but you will need to fix everything above the axle after rattling through those Forest Service roads!

blt4spd · 11-22-2010, 05:48 PM

Every Sept. we take the 31 ft. A/S into the mountains of southern Montana in search of Sage Grouse. The dirt road in has a couple low spots, through creek beds, that play havoc with the rear bumper. To keep from dragging I carry two sets of heavy duty, plastic ramps (Auto Zone) and going very slowley, set these back to back, front to front, back to back, on both sides, raising the clearance intill we are out of the dip. Kind of a pain but it works. Blows peoples minds when they see that big, old A/S way up in there. The things we do for comfort.

JFScheck · 01-05-2011, 12:05 AM

Would love to see some remote Airstream pics...

tkasten · 01-05-2011, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JFScheck

Would love to see some remote Airstream pics...

This one is in the Huron National Forest about 10 miles in on dirt roads and 2 tracks East of Mio, Michigan. We go slow and have a rock tamer on back of truck. No one around and no light pollution so night sky is great.

barts · 01-05-2011, 08:42 AM

Camping on a friend's place - several miles of steep dirt road (4 low territory)... took a bit of work to level her too.... this was our first camping trip:

Ahab · 01-05-2011, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Eklund

As an update for the appropriate use of an Airstream, I had a few thoughts.
..

For rough off the road travel, keep the AS under 25 feet. Your bumper does not drag as often upon its skids and it is narrower. A double axle is better than a single. For real back country camping, keep it under 25 feet and get a model where the trailer sits on top of the axles and springs...

The other trailers have better clearance, but you will need to fix everything above the axle after rattling through those Forest Service roads!

Have to disagree that a double axle is better than a single. Been rattling FS roads for three years now with no interior problems while friends with double axles need rehab.

JFScheck · 01-10-2011, 07:41 PM

Damn - I can not wait to get out and totally be "isolated".... Great Pics! Is it spring yet?

newroswell · 01-10-2011, 08:01 PM

YouTube - "getcha airstream Un-Stuck"

J5MM · 03-02-2011, 01:30 PM

We took our 25' Airstream about 2 miles down steep, gravely, potholed, unpaved dirt road to get to this meadow.

We were even towing her with a Ford Explorer -- I think that as long as you check out the terrain before hand (we parked and hiked in) and use your best judgement, you will be ok.

tvoneicken · 04-06-2011, 01:05 AM

We just traveled ~20 miles on a desert dust dirt road in our new 23FB and had to wipe dust off all surfaces. It looks to me like it comes up through the floor penetrations for the utilities and/or the wheel wells. Have any of you tried to seal all these penetrations? Having to spend an hour cleaning everything kind'of spoils the idyllic camping spot in the middle of nowhere..

Ahab · 04-06-2011, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvoneicken

We just traveled ~20 miles on a desert dust dirt road in our new 23FB and had to wipe dust off all surfaces. It looks to me like it comes up through the floor penetrations for the utilities and/or the wheel wells. Have any of you tried to seal all these penetrations? Having to spend an hour cleaning everything kind'of spoils the idyllic camping spot in the middle of nowhere..

Our 22' Safari came from the factory with all belly penetrations sealed with what appears to be an expanded foam sealant. We routinely do dirt roads with very little interior dust penetration. The most was around the door channel which must flex. I added thicker weather stripping which seems to alleviate the intrusion.

tvoneicken · 04-06-2011, 10:08 AM

Ahab, thanks for the reply! Was the sealing a special option? We bought ours from the dealer lot, so we didn't get to pick the options. I just wonder what one does for repairs with all that foam. I know it can be cut, but it seems like quite a mess still. But I'm glad to hear the sealing is not mission impossible or futile!

Felix'64 · 04-06-2011, 12:05 PM

View from our Airstream at our favorite location in the middle of the woods.........

Ahab · 04-06-2011, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tvoneicken

Ahab, thanks for the reply! Was the sealing a special option? We bought ours from the dealer lot, so we didn't get to pick the options. I just wonder what one does for repairs with all that foam. I know it can be cut, but it seems like quite a mess still. But I'm glad to hear the sealing is not mission impossible or futile!

No, not that I know of. We bought ours off the lot too. After bringing it home I checked underneath for openings as we have lots of critters that like to find new homes. I was surprised to see there were none and you could see where some of the foam dripped out so I assumed the factory did the sealing. The stuff is easily cut or scrapped off so I wouldn't worry about applying it yourself. Our previous TT had dust intrusion and I used a flexible boat caulk to seal floor holes and between cabinet bottoms and side walls. It helped but didn't stop it completely.

48Bob · 04-07-2011, 01:05 PM

If you do use the spray foam sealer, be aware that there are two kinds. One of them expands quite a bit and can exert pressure on things. The other one is for use around windows and doors where it won't expand as much and exert enough presssure to push things out of whack. You will probably want to use the door and window foam sealant.