Need a Teacher

[Madmikee]

Recently bought a 2012 Flying Cloud from a individual.
My knowledge of Airstreams and travel trailers in general is quite limited.
Are there individual out there that will, for a fee of course, meet with you and give a crash course on some of the finer points of operating these beasts?
Thanks,
Mike
Avondale, Arizona

[wkerfoot]

Mike,


Find a WBCCI region 11 rally near by sign up as a non member, you will find a wealth of information and help.


https://wbcci.org/region-11/regions-a-units/region-11


Bill

Originally Posted by Madmikee

Recently bought a 2012 Flying Cloud from a individual.
My knowledge of Airstreams and travel trailers in general is quite limited.
Are there individual out there that will, for a fee of course, meet with you and give a crash course on some of the finer points of operating these beasts?
Thanks,
Mike
Avondale, Arizona

[Iansk]

Hey Mike,

Most folks who are versed in these things are more than willing to share and impart knowledge. If you were near I’d come by and bring a sixer. Join a group as the above poster said and/or feel free to PM me with any questions. I’d gladly give you my number to chat about things.

Welcome to the asylum...

Ian

[Alumaholic]

Welcome Mike,
Please consider joining the Four Corners Unit Region 11, Wally Byam Caravan Club International. Then attend any upcoming rally. Here's a link:
https://fourcornersunit.com/
Otherwise, please keep us posted. I will be down to check on my place in Mesa during October-November. Would be happy to give a you my "new owner's orientation" if you still need it, free of course.

[PKI]

There are driving schools that will give you a course in travel trailer towing.

There is a lot of information here on the forum. It's bit daunting to the newbie, but spend some time reading about your coach. Patrick at Colonial posts video on You-tube with explanations about new trailers. Just general SOB (Some other brand) video will cover things like tank dumping. The Long Long Honeymoon team posts some nice video on RVing. Spend some time building your background. Then you will have a whole list of questions to ask.

Step 1 - go slow
Step 2 - camp in your driveway
Step 3 - read your manuals - if no hard copy, they are on-line, but may include new model information.

There is a book about Airstreams that may be in your manual kit. The Newbie's Guide to Airstreaming is the title. Some dealers provide them at purchase. There is also a book on Airstream maintenance that is similar in it's approach.

Good luck with your teacher class. Pat

Edit - what size Flying Cloud? That helps folks answer specific questions.

[Alumaholic]

PKI makes an excellent point. I always encourage "Newbies" to camp in their driveway one weekend, and use all your systems (except the dump valves).
Then, go spend a night in a nearby RV park a few miles from home. Use all your systems (including the dump valves).

[PKI]

Oops - yes, no dump valve use in the driveway. Red face lighting up the house for not thinking to mention that guiding principle. Thanks AH-Ken.

Now there is a macerator system on the market that pumps your grey and black tank sewage through a garden hose over to the house sewer cleanout. That's a level 3 RV operation. Start with the level 1 and 2 stuff.

Lots to learn.

Battery bank management -
Tires - do you have the dreaded Goodyear Marathons?
Leaks - inspect the seals on roof and if they are cracked, replacement is advised.
Storage - gear and trailer -
Flags -
Hitches - type, setup, tuning - weight transfer and sway control m-
Generators - solar -
Dry camping - FHU campgrounds - reservations
National Parks - state parks - COE CGs -
Get an America the Beautiful discount pass if you are old enough to qualify -
Discount clubs - Passport America - KOA - Good Sam

Lots to learn And you will keep learning as long as you RV. Pat

[Belbein]

Not to be a smartax, but ... you're going to spend $70,000 on an asset and then want to get the lessons for free?!!!!!!!!!!

In any case, what you need to do "for free" is to spend all your time here, like the rest of us do. There's also a commercial book on Airstreams that many dealers give out. You should contact your local dealer to identify it and see if they'll give it to you for free.

[Alumaholic]

Madmikee very clearly offered to pay a "fee" for instruction in his original post.

[HHPJ]

I found the Airstream Life store's Newbie's Guide to Airstream and Repair books (and Magazine) very helpful to me. They also sell "kits" like tire change and rivet kits with how to instructions included. Start with the two books..

http://airstreamlife.com

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

Madmikee very clearly offered to pay a "fee" for instruction in his original post.

OMG, I read "fee" as "free." Sorry sorry sorry. If I were down in AZ I'd volunteer to show you the ropes, out of guilt and as an apology, for free.

[John&Vicki]

Mike...

Hang out here. This may be a “virtual” community but it’s also a very real one. This group is friendly, knowledgeable, sharing and patient. I enrolled myself in a cram course by starting a few months before I bought my trailer and spending a lot of time here, both with current discussions and digging through past threads. I undoubtedly asked questions that had been asked a thousand times before and folks always cheerfully helped.

When I got my trailer I was really curious about how my “book knowledge” would translate into operational knowledge, and things went very smoothly. The most important thing I learned ahead of time is to be methodical, such using a pre-flight checklist.

Have fun!

Cheers,
John

[Alumaholic]

Originally Posted by Belbein

OMG, I read "fee" as "free." Sorry sorry sorry. If I were down in AZ I'd volunteer to show you the ropes, out of guilt and as an apology, for free.

Now go forth and help every Airstream Newbie you may find.

[Belbein]

I already do.

You should'a said: Now go forth and take time to actually read your e-mails.

Again, my apologies, MadMike.

[Alumaholic]

Just yankin' your chain my friend.

[Iansk]

Originally Posted by Madmikee

Recently bought a 2012 Flying Cloud from a individual.
My knowledge of Airstreams and travel trailers in general is quite limited.
Are there individual out there that will, for a fee of course, meet with you and give a crash course on some of the finer points of operating these beasts?
Thanks,
Mike
Avondale, Arizona

Mike,

I thought I replied when you sent the PM and just checked, it didn’t go through.
Just officially replied again, hopefully this one went through.

Ian

[Alumaholic]

Hey Mike, there will be a Four Corners Unit Thanksgiving Rally at Lake Pleasant. That would be a short tow for you, and it would put you in the company of more, cumulative, Airstream experience than any other place on earth for that brief moment in time.

[azflycaster]

We will be hosting the Turkey day rally this year and registration will begin around the second week in October. We are currently on a caravan in Newfoundland and have several stops on the way home. Keep watching the 4 corners website for more information.

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

Hey Mike, there will be a Four Corners Unit Thanksgiving Rally at Lake Pleasant. That would be a short tow for you, and it would put you in the company of more, cumulative, Airstream experience than any other place on earth for that brief moment in time.

[Belbein]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

Just yankin' your chain my friend.

I deserve it.