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Foiled Again · 08-09-2015, 01:27 PM

When I had my first Airstream less than two weeks, the manager of my campground wanted to introduce me to a nice gentleman who needed help getting over a tragedy...
His first wife died after a valiant struggle with pancreatic cancer, and he simply could not stay in their house, so he let his grown children rent it for a very reasonable rate, and bought himself a motor home. He stayed at my campground and took short trips to nearby places but still remaine depressed. Then one day he met a widow with a small trailer at the campground and it was instant attraction. Next thing you know they decided to take a nice long trip in his motor home. One day she remarked "would you like some coffee?" and he assented.... So WHILE driving down the interstate she hopped up and brewed a pot, then carried two cups up to the front and just as she was going to sit down he hit a pothole. She lost her balance, fell backwards and hit the entry door on the curb side - and the door gave way. He ran over her with the drive and tag axles before he could stop.

I declined the invite... poor man had a real bad streak going.

helmsman · 08-09-2015, 01:36 PM

I rode in my trailer one time when I was very, very ill. I wasn't even able to stand erect. We were in a primitive campground only a few miles from home. I knew it wasn't legal, but my wife hitched the trailer and drove us home. I laid on the goucho and things jiggled some but she drove very carefully to give me the best ride possible. Fortunately, we made it home without problems. I haven't ridden in the trailer since and that was many years ago.

I would have gladly paid the fine should we have been stopped.

TwoSporks · 08-09-2015, 05:45 PM

I have been in our Airstream while my husband towed our trailer out of the way at a dump station in a campground. It was a very bumpy, uncomfortable ride - going very slowly and for a very short distance (less than 1/2 mile). Based on that experience, I would never want to ride in our trailer for any distance. Considering the things that have come out of our cabinets while driving, I do not think it would be terribly safe inside (not considering the other dangers from other drivers mentioned above).

cegardner · 08-09-2015, 06:48 PM

Have you seen the movie the Long long trailer? You will get the picture

Airjeep · 08-09-2015, 07:22 PM

My wife broke her leg at Joshua Tree NP hiking into Twenty-nine palms. Due to nature of the break, the hospital wasn't able to operate on her leg. It was next to impossible for her to get in or out of our Jeep. As for keeping her leg comfortable without swelling in the Jeep, not possible. The trailer was a little easier to enter or exit. She rode in the trailer to Desert Palms where they declined to operate due to the swelling. Her comment was it was noisy but not too bumpy. Lots of creaks and groans, trailer that is.

For the reasons above, we felt it was okay for her to ride in the trailer. She also had to endure the trailer ride from Desert Palms to Phoenix where a plane flew her back to Ontario.

That, to me, was okay to do under the circumstances, otherwise no!

Cheers, John

Seemore2006 · 08-09-2015, 11:34 PM

Ah, a flashback from the era before seatbelts,doublecabs and SUVs, Dad had three teenagers in folding metal lawnchairs (with webbing), riding in the camper shell from Seattle to Minnesota. Now that was a bumpy trip! Those chairs collapsed so many times! No air, no radio, no walkie talkies, no opening the truck cab window, no complaining - we begged to ride in the trailer but to no avail! He wanted us to 'be safe'!

m.hony · 08-10-2015, 09:16 AM

Please watch Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in "The Long, Long Trailer" AND read the book by Clinton Twiss.
It's good for a laugh or 2.

m.hony · 08-10-2015, 09:17 AM

I couldn't find the book either, so I read it for free from a website.
Impossible on an iPhone and difficult on an iPad- one situation where the iMac was used-

Skater · 08-10-2015, 10:32 AM

Ever see the inside of an Airstream after it has rolled? I wouldn't want anyone to be in there. All that cabinetry up top? It has a tendency to come down.

In the situation with the broken leg, that sounds like the only solution available. But I wouldn't do it except in an emergency like that.

Jerry Ski · 08-10-2015, 10:53 AM

Too Dangerous!

bruharNV · 08-10-2015, 11:11 AM

Well let me tell you a story. Several years ago while heading north from Las Vegas I became ill and I went back to our 30ft Airstream to lay down while my wife drove. Our bed is in the back so it seemed to provide the best carnival ride within the trailer. Could not stay in the bed due to the whip back and forth.
Now my wife had never handled the trailer before but was confident she could.
To my dismay two things occurred? It was 106 degrees outside so it was at least that inside and no AC since we were traveling. The windows just blew in hot air?
I tried to get ahold of my wife via cell phone but there was no service? Our front windows are tinted so you cannot see in from the rear view mirror of the truck.
I started opening and closing a side window trying to get her attention. Furthermore she was driving at 75 MPH on the two lane highway and did not slow down for corners.
I even opened the door which took all I had to hold from flying back to latch and thru charcoal bricks which promptly came back at me due to the wind.
I finally found our high beam flashlight and was able to flash it at her rear view mirror through the tinted windows and caught her attention.
While this was a funny story to tell friends around the camp fire it was very scary and I wondered if I was going to die.
So the answer is "Never ride in the trailer while it is being pulled" and make sure your wife knows to drive a little slower when pulling.

Wisdom Prevails
BruharNV

Bev1940 · 08-11-2015, 11:07 AM

75 mph on a 2 lane road !!!!! trailer whipping back and forth ???? I wouldn't let her pull my AS anywhere this is not a funny story this is a death wish waiting to happen. I am a woman AS owner and run solo and know that you should be checking your mirrors every 5 sec or so and you need to be able to feel if trailer is starting to whip it will wreck you if not brought under control.

bruharNV · 08-12-2015, 09:14 AM

Well Bev I appreciate your comment and like I said it was her first time pulling the trailer without any guidance and it was several years ago.

While you and others may not find humor in the story I and my friends did. Yes it could have been tragic but it wasn't and the lesson learned is to never ride in the trailer for any reason.

My wife is a seasoned driver now pulling the trailer and like you does check the scene behind as needed. And while I may pull the trailer at 70 mph she is a bit more conservative and maintains a 60 to 65 comfort level.

Happy trailing to you and all and for those who wish to express their patriotism I have attached a picture of a window screen I developed and selling to my fellow AirStreamers.

Cottonboll · 08-12-2015, 10:47 PM

Seems to me I read that Lucille Ball actually rode in a trailer going on location for the filming of "The Long Long Trailer". I wish I could remember where I read it . Maybe a memoir from Little Ricky or one of the other kids. Her experience made the movie that much funnier. She thought she would die.

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