Finally joined the ranks!!!

[ASFC25_2019]

Welcome to the Airstreams. They are amazing trailers you are going to love it. We purchased a new 2019 Flying Cloud 25 RB.

[hmhRV]

YOU DID IT!! You accomplished your dream!!
Please be sure to read and re-read your owner's manual.
You might try viewing Long Long Honeymoon website if you are new to RVing.
Wish you the best memories.

[ASFC25_2019]

Welcome to the AS family. You are going to love it! safe travels...

[JohnandDonna]

As a follow up, we had our first camping trip of the season over the weekend. For a shakedown trip it went really great. Only real problem was that our door would not latch. Really had to slam it to get it to stay shut. Took it back to the dealer on Monday and they are working on it. Other than that it met every expectation and more!!! Cant wait for our next trip in a few weeks.

[Angeltu]

Congratulations I’m so jealous. Our first was in Sept ‘19 we got a 2020 22’ Caravel . I wish we had gone bigger but it would have had to be used. Love to see the inside; there’s always a trade up in my mind.

[IrkdScientst]

Originally Posted by JohnandDonna

As a follow up, we had our first camping trip of the season over the weekend. For a shakedown trip it went really great. Only real problem was that our door would not latch. Really had to slam it to get it to stay shut. Took it back to the dealer on Monday and they are working on it. Other than that it met every expectation and more!!! Cant wait for our next trip in a few weeks.

Congrats! I remember that warm fuzzy feeling - still get it whenever we take the rig out.


Our door had the same problem. The dealer tried to fix it and the closing improved a bit. It took a few years for the door to close properly.

[mythbuster88]

Wow! Nice rig.
When outside we just close the door and push on it to get it to latch.
When inside I pull on the handle to get it to latch. No slamming.

[Gigler]

The door failing to latch is caused by the stabilizing jacks placing to much downward pressure resulting in the entire trailer being torqued.

[jamieb1086]

Congratulations on your new rig! Beautiful! I remember what a great feeling it was picking up my new rig! Now on our first cross country trip! Man it’s great! Enjoy!

[kpetchulat]

Glad you documented your first travel day. It is So exciting to pull your beauty home. The first camping trip will be fun as you pack and get started on your adventures. Enjoy!

[Ella]

Originally Posted by Gigler

The door failing to latch is caused by the stabilizing jacks placing to much downward pressure resulting in the entire trailer being torqued.

We have had some intermittent trouble with our door not latching properly. Would you mind expanding on your comment a bit? What should we do differently with the stabilizer jacks so this doesn’t happen? Thanks in advance!

[mythbuster88]

Originally Posted by Ella

We have had some intermittent trouble with our door not latching properly. Would you mind expanding on your comment a bit? What should we do differently with the stabilizer jacks so this doesn’t happen? Thanks in advance!

Sometimes with the stabilizers, if there is a lot of pressure on them, and if the pressure is unequal, the trailer can actually twist a little bit. And that changes the shape of the door opening just enough to make the door difficult to close.

Does that make sense?

[n2916s]

To expand a bit —

Back into site
Level left to right using “lego” blocks or wood blocks.
Chock wheels, disconnect tow vehicle.
Level front to back using the power jack.
Then put the stabilizers down to “firmly down but not lifting the frame at all” They are just there so the trailer doesn’t bounce on the suspension as you walk around (or if the wind blows hard enough).

If you “wank down” (technical term) on the stabilizers you can actually torque the shell/frame enough to make the door misbehave.

[JonDNC]

Originally Posted by n2916s

To expand a bit —

Back into site
Level left to right using “lego” blocks or wood blocks.
Chock wheels, disconnect tow vehicle.
Level front to back using the power jack.
Then put the stabilizers down to “firmly down but not lifting the frame at all” They are just there so the trailer doesn’t bounce on the suspension as you walk around (or if the wind blows hard enough).

If you “wank down” (technical term) on the stabilizers you can actually torque the shell/frame enough to make the door misbehave.

What I was told is the above and then using the hand tool once stabilizer on ground give it 1 turn. I did this and then set the torque on my drill to match that. Now it just screws down to the correct torque. Also it seems to work better with a couple of stabilizer pads to spread the load a little bit more.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by JonDNC

. . .
Also it seems to work better with a couple of stabilizer pads to spread the load a little bit more.

Good call on soil/grass, because the 4 small OEM metal pads can depress the soft malleable ground unequally [over time], imparting a possible twist to the frame. [Like the site shown in Post #24 -- no issue on a concrete pad]

Using the AS tool on the stabilizers manually, for the final adjustment, helps give an idea of the forces need to stabilize without twisting IMO. [good eye/hand/brain learning]

On soil/grass you may have to go back and adjust the leveling jacks every 4-6 hours if the ground is very soft, after you walk around inside the trailer, and increase the point loads directly over each stabilizer jack.

Congratulations, John and Donna . . . Happy Trails!

[JohnandDonna]

Well the dealer fixed our door issue. We brought Ahyoka back home today (Cherokee for "She brought happiness"). Here she is hitched up to Nunnehi (Cherokee for "One who goes about"). My wife is part Cherokee and we decided to honor that part of her heritage. Cant wait for our next trip in a couple of weeks!!!

[n2916s]

Well, glad you got it squared away. My only advice going forward would be:

If you have any doubts as to:

Can I fit through there?
Is the GPS sending us off to our doom?
Does this BBQ joint have running water?

Move on down the road...

Many happy sunsets!

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by JohnandDonna

Well the dealer fixed our door issue. . . .

Thanks for the update, could you tell us what the dealer did to fix the door?

Happy trails,

[JohnandDonna]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Thanks for the update, could you tell us what the dealer did to fix the door?

Happy trails,

They said they had to shim up the lock. Seems to work fine now.

[OTRA15]

Thanks.