Airstream < 1500lb exist?

[elementkatonk]

I was wondering how much weight I could lose from an airstream bubble if I removed the bed and stove and ice box, and maybe replaced some of the cabintry or table tops to lighter materials. Better yet, is there any company out there that makes reproduction airstream bubbles or has plans for the shell of an airstream bubble? Maybe I could look for a gutted bubble for restoration....

My element has seats turn into beds; I would like the trailer to serve as an eating/resting place, with a toilet and a shower. I know the original bubble didn't have a shower, but would it be hard to put one in? Would it weight a lot?

Thanks again to everyone...you guys are really helpful. It says alot to me about the airstream community.

[InsideOut]

Maybe I could look for a gutted bubble for restoration....

The "Bubble" happens to be THE most sought after Airstream trailer by vintage collectors. That combined with the fact that they were only made a couple of years, so there were low production numbers to begin with, would make finding one difficult at best. Even then, it'll still be too heavy for your Honda.

Shari

[Rog0525]

But I think the new Airstream BASE CAMP might weigh in at less than 1500# if you're into ugly.

Rog

[85MH325]

Originally posted by elementkatonk
Ah, I guess 9 ft is too small, maybe a 12'? The burro has a nice curvy shape that I'm looking for, now if only they made it in aluminum!

The only trailers I know of that are in your weight range are the fiberglass 13 footers already mentioned. They're out there and have a huge cult following of their own. I recently acquired (in addition to our 34' Behemoth) an '87 13' Uhaul fiberglass trailer that resembles a Burro. Scamp in Minnesota and Casita in Texas are the two big names right now; however, Trillium is back in production in Canada. Boler Canada was the 'original' 13' fiberglass trailer in the '70s. There are a myriad of knock-offs that have been produced over the years. Most of the 13' trailers weigh in between 1,000 and 1,200 lbs depending on equipment.

I just returned yesterday from towing my UHaul with my '92 Toyota standard cab shortbed pickup and the 22RE 4cyl on a 600 mile round trip and got about 18mpg while doing it. It required some judicious downshifting at times, but it pulls it just fine.

I may have been young and foolish, but in '82 I had a '78 Scamp 13' that I pulled with... (you're NOT gonna believe this...) a Dodge Omni! We pulled it over the SoCal mountains dozens of times for weekend trips to Anza Borrego Desert State Park. I expect your Element would handle one OK.

Good luck finding something!

Roger

[47WeeWind]

Airstream's 1948-49 baby model, the 16' Wee Wind, is about 1,200 pounds completely furnished. Hitch weight is just 80 pounds. Overall height is 8 feet, width is 7 feet, and inside headroom is 6 feet 3 inches. But with their first generation pipe frame they are not very robust. Only 6 to 8 of them are presently thought to exist, so finding one would be a challenge.

[Rog0525]

Is the Airstream Base Camp really scheduled for production or was it just a teaser? What's the weight?

Rog

[Moonshot]

Elementkatonk,

You've got it bad, dude! Just like the rest of us!

Can you afford a used pickup truck or other tow vehicle?

Scott

[elementkatonk]

I was just about to ask about the wee wind!

Dang, tho. Just when I find out there is something that looks really great, with the airstream retro and all, it has to be really rare, and so really $$$$$ bling bling. Both the wee wind and the bubble!!! Fudge cakes!

Rog-thanks for the the base camp suggestion. Yea, it does look kinda "ugly", but so did my honda element, at first. I think I'll look into this; it might grow on me as the element did. I am in the targeted age group, and I guess if I do get the base camp and I do like it, then I might just pine away until I have a chance to go after a bubble or a wee wind. I like the smallness factor.

The fiberglass trailers just don't have the same appeal; I really think they look ugly against the airstream aluminum. I'd most definately take a base camp over a fiberglass anyday of the week, and on weekends too. There's just something about the glistening of alum on a trailer.....

I hope the "tent" part of the base camp is waterproof, and not just weatherproof like the attachment to my honda element. I want to get the element's cabana tent attachment to hold me over, but I can't believe it isn't water proof, especially when they want $180-$300 for it (website vs. dealers).

Guess I'll be keeping my eye out for a wee wind; hey, it could happen! Are there any good pics of the known wee winds, floor plans, original copes of the wee wind brochure, specs?

Thanks again everyone.

[wahoonc]

Here is a link to some pictures of a WeeWind for you to pine over

http://www.vintageairstream.com/arch...48WeeWind.html

Aaron

[85MH325]

Originally posted by elementkatonk
The fiberglass trailers just don't have the same appeal; I really think they look ugly against the airstream aluminum. I'd most definately take a base camp over a fiberglass anyday of the week, and on weekends too. There's just something about the glistening of alum on a trailer.....

Ya know... for an Element owner, you're being pretty predictable. You're just not thinking outside the BOX!!!

There is some miracle stuff out there called PAINT!!! You can do just about anything with it nowadays. I've considered a dozen different ways to paint my 13' fiberglass UHaul camper, but the options are so many that I just can't make up my mind! Immediately I thought that Airstream Aluminum would make it look like a tiny Airstream. I figured that if there are those of us who paint our Argosys and Airstreams to look like aluminum, why not paint the fiberglass? Then all I needed to do was add Airstream 'Labels' and see how many questions and comments I got. Then I thought about painting it Farrari red with wide white racing stripes. Now THAT'd catch some eyes. Or I could do a 'cracked egg' vinyl job, complete with yolk running out. It'd look cute as an "8 ball" or a volleyball, or any one of hundreds of other things. All it takes is a little imagination and finding someone with the talent to carry it out as planned!

I may leave it stock for now... but one of these days...!!!

Roger

[elementkatonk]

Yeah, I guess I wasn't thinking out side the box....

But seriously, the more I think about it, I guess something like the base camp would be nice. I'm the type that I know the fact that my trailer wasn't really alum or and airstream would get to me, eat at me during those camping nites. I could have fun with the base camp and not worry about damaging a "collectible". When I got alittle older, and hopefully wiser (i.e. slower, more careful, less need to push my car, more introspective), then I could look for some rare, really beat up bubble, wee wind, or Cruisette to restore. Hopefully the person I'm buying it from just wants to get rid of "that old piece of junk in the backyard"! It would be a good "investment" (i.e. something for me to spend insane amts of $ on, never sell in my life, and have my future kids to sell on a whim when I died and then regret in their old age ).

I used to collect ww2 uniforms in college and little bit after, but now I have to spend and save my money on more "practical" stuff like my car, a house, future plans, etc. I'll keep my eyes open for the release of the base camp, and maybe start a little slush fund for a real vintage airstream.

I guess I'm relegated to oogling over airstreams I see on the roads, and at camp grounds. *sigh*

[Rog0525]

Originally posted by elementkatonk

Rog-thanks for the the base camp suggestion. Yea, it does look kinda "ugly", but so did my honda element, at first. I think I'll look into this;

If ugly is to be used as a standard for judging people or RV's, my wife would have left me years ago. Oops, hold on a minute, she did. Must have been that ugly Avion I bought.

Rog

[59toaster]

Just because a Wee wind is ultra rare doesn't mean you can't have something like it.
The one great thing about Airstreams is they are all basicly the same. Find a old beater, Take out a few feet here...few feet there and tada! you have a 12ft coach.


How much is it worth to ya?

[Janet H]

Umm....hello....... another suggestion.... GET RID OF THE ELEMENT! This is the obvious choice - give it to your wife, will it to your kids, push it off a cliff, sell it...... you can always get a different tow vehicle - but an airstream is forever!

[59toaster]

Originally posted by Janet
Umm....hello....... another suggestion.... GET RID OF THE ELEMENT! This is the obvious choice - give it to your wife, will it to your kids, push it off a cliff, sell it...... you can always get a different tow vehicle - but an airstream is forever!

Have you seen the inside of a Element? They are cool! Becideds doing something with so much common sense doesn't make any sense. hehehehe.

[53flyingcloud]

RoadKingMoe

The T@B is Thor Dutchman, not Airstream, right?

No, you're 100% correct in what you say~!! It is not an Airstream, in that... it doesn't have the A/S logo name. But, like you, I wanted to at least give em a choice..
The unit is, surprising, well made..A step up from a "teardrop" and, IMHO..A lot better than a popup..
Of course, then there the other little cutie made by Airstream, as noted by others..Now that one I haven't seen in person but..I do like it~!
It's refreshing to see people thinking "outside the box" on here..

ciao

[RoadKingMoe]

I'm really impressed with the T@B, but even that's too heavy for the Element.

Janet has the right idea. Either trade the Element now, or wait to RV until you replace it.

Those who've tried to fudge the towing capability of a too small tow vehicle by buying a trailer slightly too large for the tow vehicle but significantly too small for their practical use take the biggest hit when they realize they have to replace both, and the depreciation of the trailer was much greater than that of the tow vehicle. Many, due to finances, wind up having to keep the inadequate tow vehicle and sell the inadequate trailer either because the trailer isn't enjoyable, or the rig wound up unsafe on the road.

Those who bite the bullet and take the depreciation of trading the inadequate tow vehicle soon forget the pain because of the enjoyment of having the right tow vehicle and trailer.

You already made one mistake. Don't compound it with another.

[Silvertwinkie]

Ok, I was kind of being nice, but now that the flood gates have opened.......if you want an Airstream, the Honda (as cool as it is--and I do like the Honda brand and respect it very much)...it will have to be either pawned off or it will have to go.

It just doesn't have what it takes IMHO.

Eric

[Rog0525]

I can still tow my AS with a bicycle just like in the commercial, right?

Rog

[john hd]

shaped like a backpack for a reason, i believe is the ad line honda uses.

must be because that is all it can carry!

moe is correct, bite the bullet and get a bigger tow vehicle if ya wanna go airstreaming.

in addition, a larger tow vehicle within reason will just plain last longer.

john