New Airstream from NJ to San Diego. Get it shipped or go pick it up?

[ellenpepe14]

Hi, everyone! We are in the process of purchasing a brand new Airstream and the one that I really wanted, we found in NJ. We are a family of 5 living in San Diego with three little kids and we are planning on full time Airstreaming for at least one year.

My dilemma is.... Since the dealer is so far, we were originally going to have it shipped but now am kinda on the fence to go pick it up. It is a far drive, from San Diego to NJ, so we are planning to ship our tow vehicle to the dealer and fly out there, pick it up and start our journey there.

$$ wise, it costs us about the same (5 people flying to NJ and ship our car there) vs. ship the Airstream to San Diego from NJ.

The pros of flying out to pick it up ourselves is all the orientation and get set up, get to learn about our rig more before we hit the road. Also I am a little worried about having it tow shipped to us for such a far distance.

The pros of having it shipped is the convenience and earn the time to prep while waiting for it.

Do you all think it is critical to get the orientation and pick it up from the dealer?

[BigSxyWhtGuy]

Why not just order one from your local dealer? It would take longer to get to you, I believe I heard the wait is into January already (??), but you would save all the journey and time needed, plus get the orientation.

Otherwise, I vote to fly out and do orientation if you have the time and extra cash. Otherwise you will be accepting it at whatever condition it is in vs having the dealer fix stuff in the spot of next morning.

[OTRA15]

Welcome to the forum!

One important factor in making this choice will be your previous experience with towing a large trailer, and with the entire family camping, while doing so IMO.

Maybe you could provide more details, so that folks can chime in a more informed manner? Without more details like this, it is almost impossible to give you good advice IMO.



Happy trails,

[Shiny16]

If you are planning on picking it up in New Jersey soon be aware that California is on the list for quarantine. I don’t believe the campgrounds can allow you to stay unless you have completed quarantine. It might not be in effect if you just pick up the unit and immediately exit the state.

[OTRA15]

Good call.

Looks like anyone arriving from CA, by any mode of transport, will have to quarantine for 14 days IMO:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documen..._6-25-2020.pdf
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"Travelers arriving from areas with increasing COVID-19 cases may wish to postpone their travel to the region if they are unwilling or unable to follow the self-quarantine advisory."
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Not sure if the dealer will even want to see you during that two-week time period.

See also: https://covid19.nj.gov/

Ooops . . .

[azflycaster]

You bought the trailer to full time, why not start now. Drive to NJ pick up the trailer and begin your adventure.

[OTRA15]

Even if she is a total novice, and has to quarantine for 2 weeks?

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

You bought the trailer to full time, why not start now. Drive to NJ pick up the trailer and begin your adventure.

Where should they stay? 14 days in a hotel? They would have to pickup the Airstream after quarantine. A family of 5 going to an RV dealer hardly meets the definition of essential business.

[ellenpepe14]

Originally Posted by BigSxyWhtGuy

Why not just order one from your local dealer? It would take longer to get to you, I believe I heard the wait is into January already (??), but you would save all the journey and time needed, plus get the orientation.

Otherwise, I vote to fly out and do orientation if you have the time and extra cash. Otherwise you will be accepting it at whatever condition it is in vs having the dealer fix stuff in the spot of next morning.

We only have a year to travel full time till August 2021 and you are so right, if I order one from a local dealer or someone even close to me or even in nearby state like AZ or OR or NV, the wait is still 3+ months.

I wish they had what I am looking for somewhere close to me....

[OTRA15]

How about the AS dealer in Seattle? They seem to get good reviews here.

Happy trails,

[ellenpepe14]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Welcome to the forum!

One important factor in making this choice will be your previous experience with towing a large trailer, and with the entire family camping, while doing so IMO.

Maybe you could provide more details, so that folks can chime in a more informed manner? Without more details like this, it is almost impossible to give you good advice IMO.



Happy trails,

Thank you for welcoming me(us)! We have towed trailers before but this is first time owning one. I ended up finding this Airstream in NJ because they wre the only one who had it in the size/model that we wanted. We pulled kids out of school and will be full timing for a year, but still keeping our sticks and bricks back home.

If we fly into NJ, we have to come up with an itinerary to go through the midwest I guess vs if we get it shipped here, I was going to come up with a plan to do the west half first.

Reading other comments though, due to COVID and possible 2 weeks qurantine if we fly into NJ, we may have to just get it shipped to us.....

[ellenpepe14]

Originally Posted by Shiny16

If you are planning on picking it up in New Jersey soon be aware that California is on the list for quarantine. I don’t believe the campgrounds can allow you to stay unless you have completed quarantine. It might not be in effect if you just pick up the unit and immediately exit the state.

Got it. Thank you for the info!

[Wayne&Sam]

I wouldn't put a family of five on an airplane right now. Drive to NJ and quarantine in the new AS on the way home.

[ellenpepe14]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

I wouldn't put a family of five on an airplane right now. Drive to NJ and quarantine in the new AS on the way home.

Thank you and good point! I think I am leaning toward just getting it shipped. I wasn't aware of Californians having to quarantine visiting other states. I should watch the news more often!

[Shiny16]

Originally Posted by Wayne&Sam

I wouldn't put a family of five on an airplane right now. Drive to NJ and quarantine in the new AS on the way home.

I don’t think that is legal. Going to the RV dealer is nonessential and would require quarantine prior to pick up. I was quoted by the OP differently but after a bit of research I changed that post to reflect this.

[ROBERT CROSS]

I would think that if the dealer is open & selling...it's 'legal'.

I'm with Richard...

If your dealer is Colonial, it's well worth driving and picking it up there.
The in person orientation/walk thru and customer service is well worth it.👍

New Airstream, camp & Stream all the way home.:wally
Good Start.


Bob
🇺🇸

[ellenpepe14]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

I would think that if the dealer is open & selling...it's 'legal'.

I'm with Richard...

If your dealer is Colonial, it's well worth driving and picking it up there.
The in person orientation/walk thru and customer service is well worth it.👍

New Airstream, camp & Stream all the way home.:wally
Good Start.


Bob
🇺🇸

Thank you, Bob and it is Colonial Airstreams indeed!

[azflycaster]

I am still trying to figure out this quarantine thing. When you get to a state with a 14 day quarantine, do they pull you into a staging area and provide you with a full hook up site and provide meals? With tens of thousands of RVs currently on the road, the logistics are staggering.

Has anyone know anyone who was quarantined? How did that work?

[OTRA15]

The NJ quarantine linked before is a "self-enforced-quarantine," and it is the non-resident's responsibility to provide 14 days of housing etc. for himself or herself IMO.

If someone does not want to undertake this expensive proposition, they are free to stay at home, fully aware of the "staggering" logistical issues, as you say.

Pretty simple, but not much "fun" for the "I want, I want" crowd IMO.

Welcome to our brave new "World Covidian" . . .

Patience will be a hard lesson for many to learn IMO.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Richard...Let me know when you finger it out.
I've got a JC appointment in a few weeks, hope NY will let me back in. 🥴

Bob
🇺🇸