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charlieward · 11-10-2014, 03:12 PM

WE are looking at an 1977 31 ft. Over all it is in good condition and price is good. WE are very worried about the size been too big. Towing is not a problem. 2 adults and 2 boxers. We had been looking at a 25-27 ft. Is the 31 too big to actually use? We are in Fl. Would like to go on trip out West ( Montana, Wyoming, Etc.) at some point. We have trailered a 36 ft boat. We see a lot of the large trailers and it has us wondering. Any and all input and opinions will be appreciated. Thank you all.

dznf0g · 11-10-2014, 03:15 PM

I take my 30'er everywhere. I know there are a few places in the country where the entry roads or the site size is a limiting factor, but it is pretty rare in the scheme of things. I've never not been able to find a place to stay. Not an issue for a tower like you who has experience with larger trailering.

kscherzi · 11-10-2014, 03:28 PM

Every foot longer equals fewer campsites that can work as far as state/federal campsites go. Site specific reservations are always advised, especially for weekends.

Aage · 11-10-2014, 03:45 PM

We have a 31-footer, but have never boondocked. However, I couldn't imagine that trailers which can't actually be used because of size would be manufactured and sold in big quantities such as they are.

We have encountered commercial camping sites which had a few sites that were too small, and maybe things are different when you boondock, but it has never an issue for us.

The huge RV coaches never seem to complain of problems finding spaces, and lots of them are the size of city busses!

dznf0g · 11-10-2014, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kscherzi

Every foot longer equals fewer campsites that can work as far as state/federal campsites go. Site specific reservations are always advised, especially for weekends.

I think that's overstated. It is more common out west in the much older NPs, etc. (Teddy's era parks). OP lives in FL. I've never had ANY issue in the east and not much out west.

I usually do reservations though, regardless, when on time constrained vacations between work sentences.

dznf0g · 11-10-2014, 03:49 PM

Also, it seems site lengths are understated very commonly on the websites. My rig is some 55' long and I can fit hitched in most 45' sites. They seem to measure to the end of the gravel or parking block, or whatever. You can hang way over most of those scenarios. I book 45'er all the time, and can only think of a couple where a tree or boulder prevented a "hang over".

Wingeezer · 11-10-2014, 03:52 PM

We moved up from our previous non-Airstream 27' trailer to a 31' Airstream.

I was reluctant to go larger, but we had to do so in order to get the layout we wanted.

Apart from the fact that I was a bit nervous going to the larger unit, I was concerned about no longer being able to get into State / Provincial / National parks.

We have had it about 6 years now and traveled to either Florida or Arizona / California with it each winter as well as shorter summer trips.

I now feel as though it is the perfect size for us and would be a bit reluctant to move to a smaller one even though there are just two of us.

I am sure there are some state parks we could not get into, but so far, although we have stayed at quite a few, we have yet to encounter a problem.

I will admit that more often we stay at large commercial parks mostly with pull throughs, but back in sites are generally no problem either despite the fact that I am not the best backer-upper! Have yet to be assigned a site that I couldn't get into!

I don't feel that you will likely regret it unless your main preference is the more secluded and primitive type of campsite with narrow twisty roads, and lots of trees to make parking more challenging.

PS -our trailer is a "Classic 30" but it is 31' in length, exactly the same as the Classic 31, just has a different interior arrangement.

Brian.

dbj216 · 11-10-2014, 04:00 PM

We enjoy our 34. Most state parks and commerical RV parks require you list the length of your rig so they can fit you into a proper spot. But I have yet been denied because I was too long. I've been in a few where I had to unhitch and park my pick up at the end of the row, but really no big deal. There are some mountain switch backs that required me to venture into the oncoming lane just a bit to clear the rocks on the curb side. I now ask if semi trucks travel the road I am planning to take.

The extra space in a long trailer is a luxury.

David

featherbedder · 11-10-2014, 04:05 PM

I had 1967 30ft. AS now have 1976 31ft. AS also with several other size AS never have had problems with sites or any thing else, even tho some people said won't fit always did, so go with you feel comforable with, & I'm 80 yrs. old still no prob.

charlieward · 11-10-2014, 04:29 PM

Thank you all. THis place is incredible. Wait until we start with the questions. Once again, thanks to all!

dkrug · 11-10-2014, 04:53 PM

I am a bit late, but we had a 31ft and now have a 30ft. We have never had trouble finding a spot in state and national campgrounds. Sometimes we have been limited in our selection, but never unable to find a spot for the night.

JimGolden · 11-10-2014, 05:59 PM

Couldn't tell you if your 31' Airstream is too long, but my 34' Avion (which is actually 36' long because Avion measures them differently) has never been too long to get into a spot I wanted

The '77 Airstream 31 footer is, in my ever humble opinion, one of the best proportioned and best looking campers ever built. I myself had a '77 Excella 500 that I really really liked. Were it not for the frame having sag, the shell having separation, and titanic amounts of rust, requiring a new frame to do it right, and me building a house at the time, I'd have kept it. I sold it, bought an Avion 34X (pm me if you want more details on the Avion vs. Airstream story....both are good but Avion does have a better frame and suspension...) and have never looked back.

The ONLY time I ever had it tight was last summer. A campground in St. Augustine sold me a spot that would have been tight for a 25' trailer. My Avion is 35'-11" bumper to ball, whereas my Excella was 31' bumper to ball (Avion measures the box, not the total). Just the same, I shoehorned her in and had a great vacation there. In my eight years of towing silver trailers, that is the only time I've been remotely tight.

Truth is, compared to the big 5th wheels, all of our silver rigs are pip squeaks.

Get your 31 and be happy! (of course, check for Sag and Separation...Is it a rear bath? These two issues are the things that kill the old long Airstreams....)

Best of luck,

dbj216 · 11-10-2014, 07:11 PM

I should have added that with that nice extra length, comes extra weight. That means you will need an adequate tow vehicle. Some folks tow their 34s with a minivan, but I ain't one of them. Some people select the trailer based on their tow vehicle. Heaver trailers need bigger tow vehicles.

David

terryV · 11-10-2014, 07:32 PM

The only campsite I refused with my 31' Classic was so narrow with trees on both sides so close I would not have been able to use my awnings.

I passed on some in state campgrounds that would have required unhooking the TV, but there were so many available it didn't matter. I simply chose one of the longer ones. (I didn't want to unhook because we were staying for the night only.)

Narrow twisty little roads can be a problem with any trailer that is 8 1/2 ft. wide, even those only 25' long. So, you just slow down and watch for oncoming traffic. (You do not want to be the one who has to back up.)

m.hony · 11-11-2014, 10:49 AM

There's no such thing as too big. We go everywhere with our Classic 30, actual length close to 32'.

dkottum · 11-11-2014, 12:46 PM

The wheelbase of your tow vehicle will have much more to do with maneuverability than length of your Airstream. Fitting into the site is different and a few feet one way or the other won't matter much.

Bill M. · 11-11-2014, 12:59 PM

Face it. You are not comparing a short trailer to a long trailer. 28 feet versus 31 or 32 is not going to be that big a difference in site size. Once every few years it make make the difference. But there are lots and lots of camp sites that will take it. There will be more tendency to drag the rear with the longer trailer. Particularly if the axles have sagged a little. I find the longer trailer a little easier to back. There will be no difference in fuel consumption. Little difference in power requirements.

I think the bigger issue is how good a condition the trailer is in and will you be happy camping in it? Most likely it will benefit from new axles so I would figure that in the budget for it. That gets you brakes, bearings, etc. too so consider it possibly up front. I have never had a rear bath trailer. I would pass on one. I like the center bath, rear bedroom and I think the trailers hold up better and are easier to keep working in that configuration. And I would pass if it does not have a gray water tank.

KJRitchie · 11-11-2014, 02:40 PM

Too big for me, 25fb just right.

Kelvin

Bev1940 · 11-11-2014, 04:18 PM

I have a 31' AS and it follows my TV like a well trained dog. Also the longer the trailer is the easier it is to back up (all the retired or active transport drivers will attest to that ). It is important to learn how to back up correctly and its not as difficult as some people think, but it takes practice, so before you rely on always getting a pullthru get comfortable with backing.

"Its what you learn after you know it all that counts"

A W Warn · 11-11-2014, 05:25 PM

If I had to choose one trailer to use all the time, my choice would be a 30' rear queen. I had a 1999 Excella 30' that I really liked. I think it is the best all round for my use. I have a 34' and a 25' now. My prior trailers were 30's and a 31'.