West Ultimate Fundamental OTG Airstream Trailer

[Ray Eklund]

The purchase of an Airstream Trailer does not necessarily begin as either good or bad Off the Grid Boondocking travel and camping trailer experience.

The good or bad depends directly to your survival skills to... survive this new beginning. An extension of your current Life's Ultimate Spirit of Adventure and into the unknown.

Just a quick glance towards the passenger turning pale, hanging onto the seat belt, while at the First Stop Sign from the Dealer's Lot is all you need to know.

There are so many variables and no reason why you want to hear about my steep learning curve. Maybe how about those Forum Members who began their Boondocking Experience... after the sale, license plate and hitch were connected to your tow vehicle. The Salesman or Saleswoman grinning and waving as you left the... property. Yaaa Hooo the adventure begins. Didn't it?

Never towed one day in your life and now the adventure begins. It was a bit of a surprise to me and no doubt to you as well. A "what do I do now?" moment.

I had pulled UHauls packed with stuff... but an Airstream that I now owned... never.

For some trailer owners, there is always a Step One, Step Two, leading to Step Three and so on into Infinity, it may seem.

For others it began with a Tent and pegs. Later for more comfort, a Pop Up Tent Trailer. Then... the towable Trailer, Hitch Options and a larger Tow Vehicle.

The ultimate 'Disposable Money Pit', I say. ...and the story continues over time. Improving over time, for most of us. You budget the beginning costs, only to discover there is no beginning... only an end to the costs once home.

Looking at the rear view mirror and seeing the large letters: A I R T R E A M. Already missing the S. A bad omen to most.

'Goldilocks and the Three Bears' is an example of a story having a Beginning and some time in the future, a Happy Ending. Onlookers love a Horror Story with a happy ending, as well. There is some satisfaction in knowing that everyone has had this moment in their Airstream Living Experience.

What might your experience be?

[kunzman]

This is our first camper and I have pulled boats, and trailers, and U-Hauls but never a house on wheels. As we pulled away from the dealer two weeks ago (St. Paddy’s Day 2023 so maybe that’s good luck?) I couldn’t believe this day had finally come. My wife and I had spent a year researching our options online and going to several RV shows. We first went down the class B rabbit hole and mainly landed on a Travato 59KL, but then a short vacation (staying in an AirBnB) to Acadia had us thinking otherwise. Our mission will mainly be to go somewhere and stay for multiple days and explore, so setting up camp and taking down was not going to be fun each day we wanted to venture out to a trailhead. So then we looked at class Cs with a towed, but only for a short time. I have a nice Jeep I could flat tow, but soon realized I didn’t want to put all the wear and tear on it and the hookup process is a little cumbersome and you cannot backup with them connected.

So finally then it was “truck with trailer option”. I have owned several SUVs, but never a truck. Timing wise was perfect as my current company car (Volvo VC40) lease was coming to an end soon and I was able to pick a truck (Toyota Tundra) for my next one. Luckily they don’t care what we get (car or truck), we just get a set monthly stipend. So now I’m a truck guy!

We had looked at Olivers, Casitas, Embers, inTech, Blackseries, and finally Airstream. I kept going back to Airstream but just couldn’t justify the price per living space. Finally got our choice down to the inTech Terra Oasis or an Airstream (23, 25, 27). We went to look on different dealers lots close by at both brands. I just couldn’t get my mind away from the Airstreams, so here we are with a 2023 International 23FTB. We named her Pearl as it’s our 30th Anniversary gift to ourselves. Amazon Prime has been getting hit pretty hard as we get her outfitted with gear and gadgets, LOL. Our maiden voyage is in two weeks, wish us luck!

P.S. Had to go back and look at our pictures to check for the “S”.

[Ray Eklund]

Someone was considering a 3 inch Lift Kit on this single Axle new Airsteam.

One Airforum Member said it would make the trailer unstable. Not only when towing in adverse cross winds or irregular surfaces would make the trailer... unstable.

The 3 inch Lift and the 16 inch Michelins did not have adverse stability issues for us.

I should know... I tow a lot in Wyoming and Off the Grid often. Cross Winds... not an issue for us and we have had some where 18 wheelers were told to not travel on I-25. We were between Casper and Buffalo, Wyoming at the time heading north, with a cross wind coming from the East... broadside.

How can someone who does NOT HAVE the 3 inch Lift Kit know how an Airstream would react? I did not know until we had it installed by the Airstream Dealer in Las Vegas, Nevada on our new purchase.

They did a nice job and it made a big difference for our traveling for clearances. Airspace below the trailer does not cause friction with the air flow. Having a taller Airstream does not make it more likely to have higher wind currents to the front of the trailer.

Has ANYONE HAD ADVERSE results? Anyone?

Before the Lift Kit is installed, measure the distance between the tires on the double axles. Then after the installation. They should be the same distance from each other. The axles go down and more tire show on the upside... that is about it.

No, my E Rated Michelins have not caused any more or less Interior Pop Rivets to pop. I did a recent post with 3 pop rivets within the trailer interior and 5 pop rivets replaced in the cabinet over the Sink. Not having anything to do with the Lift Kit, either.

Be weary of what I claim with experience and what someone says with no experience at all.

I was not born a Genius. I was educated by making mistakes and not making them often. Our Airstreams were better after our upgrading them. Our 27FBQ tows on the Ball of the F350 Diesel 4x4, also without any problems.

People are free to offer their opinions, but if they have no experience, their opinion is not worth much to me.

[Waterbeach]

Only towed small boats before when we turned up at the airstream dealer with a mid size SUV, mid Covid. Nervously started looking at the smallest 16 footers and explained never having towed before. So the dealer (Can Am) offered to give me a test drive with their 33 ft Airstream which was attached to a Chrysler 300, with him as co-driver beside me. Somewhat like being thrown in the deep end with a lifeguard alongside. Both wife and I likely did go a whiter shade of pale. Needless to say once I got used to the starting and stopping, wide turns and the reassuring feel of trailer brakes we realized we could do this. Ended up with a 23 ft FC behind a Ford Expedition which is just right for us. After purchase and an overnight stay at the dealer, drove off the lot up the road to a disused fire station and learned with difficulty how to back into a space. Two years later, having crossed the continent coast to coast and on occasions spent 7 days plus off grid I am thankful for our initiation to Airstream towing.

[hikingcamera]

Originally Posted by Waterbeach

Two years later, having crossed the continent coast to coast and on occasions spent 7 days plus off grid I am thankful for our initiation to Airstream towing.

Our first camping trailer was 15 feet long, 6.5 feet wide, just shy of 7 feet tall, and a mere 2300 lbs that we towed with our Subaru Outback. A far cry from the FC 23 CBB that we tow now with an F-150 (I sometimes wonder if the Expedition would have been a better choice, but we were perhaps overly concerned with payload with our family of 4). I'm glad to have started small (there was a 19-foot, slightly wider, slightly taller, 3300-lb trailer in between). I still was a bit weary when driving away with our new Airstream for the first time. The rear camera sure makes backing a lot easier!

[Ray Eklund]

Had there been a 23 or a 25 Airstream on the lot, I would have considered either in 2019. There were none on the lot. Used or new.

They had a few 27 foot and longer trailers of the current model and the next year models were in the fenced back yard and not avaialable until the 2019's were sold off.

We got a good price, whatever it was and added at the Dealership, Solar and the 3" Lift Kit as part of the deal.

Of ALL the trailers we have experience, the 23 foot we used for 8 years. Had it not the 14 inch wheels, we may have still kept it. Bought a 25 foot to get Solar and 15 inch wheels.

Anyone considering Boondocking... a double axle 23 foot or 25 foot should be the point you quit adding length.

The single axles require a bit more skill to avoid Bumper Drag. Adding 16 inch Michelins and a 3 inch Lift would take care of the Bumper Drag issue for 90% of the time. For questionable 'drag situations', have the passenger step out and watch from the driver's side, stand back to see the bumper... using a thumbs up... or yell STOP. Works for me 100% of the time.

If you are new to Off the Grid or any off the paved road Boondocking the 27/28 foot with the lift kit and 16 inch Michelins is a length to stop at. Had there been a 25 foot, added the 3 inch lift and upgraded to 16 inch Michelins, that would have had everything we would have wanted. We did not need more strorge, larger shower or toilet.

Anyone with a perfected 23 foot... keep it. Tweak to 16 inch wheels. Add 3 inches of lift if you like. Easy to tow. Easy to sell. Easy to work upon.

I regret selling the 23 foot, but sold as it had 14 inch C Rated Tires. A constant problem.

Off the Grid is for those with a Free Spirit and wants to avoid congestion and RV Parks. We probably have paid a good bit of cost of our trailers from... OTG at no cost, wonderful views and invite a friend for company. It is AHHHHHfully nice.