International Serenity 28’ vs 30’?

[rickmc]

After selling our 40’ Pusher, we purchased our TV (2020 Chevy 2500 HD High Country) and are now ready to get our dream Airstream.
We both like the International Serenity with a salsa interior and queen bed. The main question we have is other than the obvious difference between the 28 and 30 foot models, is there any difference towing a 28’ vs a 30’? Sounds dumb but not sure why they would make two models so close in size.
We’ll be traveling 3-4 months a year discovering federal, COE, and state parks.

Thanks in advance for your insights!

rickmc

[forestgirl]

Hi Rick,
My husband and I purchased a 2019 30’ International Signature, a huge upgrade from our 22’ Sport. We really wanted a Pendleton but they are hard to find so we opted for the new IS. The 30’ had it over the 28’ models (the Pendleton is a 28’) as it has a separate lounge and dinette area, a lot more storage and that is important to us as we plan on full-timing in a year, had closets for clothes and shoes in the BR, and the toilet wasn’t at a tilt like the 28’ and provided a bit more leg room. There is more counter space in the kitchen as well as a pop-up counter (the 28’ has it too I believe). My husband had no problem with towing or backing up the 30’ with our Toyota Tundra. We just bought a Ford 250 Super Duty King Ranch to make it easier to tow up mountains in the West. The Ford pulls it like a dream. I also really liked the dark interior of the IS and the Signature line has been discontinued after 2019. The 30’ has such a nice space set up, it seems more homey and you’re not tripping over each other. The lounge has a slide out to make it into a bed but we put pillows on the slide out when we watch a movie to make a makeshift recliner. Lots of options, good luck with your decision!

[CBWELL]

If you are going to be using it 3-4 months a year, go for the 30', as you will appreciate the extra room and storage space. Both pull equally well and you will have no lack of power with the 2500HD.

[VaTravelers]

I realize this is an old post however I think I need to offer one correction. Forestgirl implies the 30' has a separate dinette and lounge but the 28' does not. Not true - the 29' International has a separate dinette and lounge just as the 30' does. All else is true - the 30' is a roomier trailer and for many that is a good thing. We thought long and hard about it and decided on the 28' Serenity and have been very pleased with the decision. So far we have no reason to move to a 30' trailer.

[Short563]

I thought I would add some pictures to clarify Airstream’s ambiguous naming conventions. First however, Forestgirl incorrectly compares a Pendleton 27 FB which is actually 28’ in length to 30’ RB. I believe the original poster was comparing a 28’ RB with a length of 27’ 11” to a 30 RB with a length of 30’ 11”. Yes I believe an 3’ extra feet would make a huge difference in livability- especially when spending 3-4 months a year. Does extra length matter for towing? I went from a 25 to a 30 and found no difference on the highway. However I do notice the extra length in town and especially at gas stations.

[Short563]

Sorry about the duplicate picture above. Not sure why the app die that. It also did not let me attach two at the same time.

[forestgirl]

I was incorrect in saying the 28’ did not have a lounge, it does. It doesn’t have the counter flip-up which I needed for cooking and my husband didn’t want the 28’ because it had no window in the bathroom. Sorry about that. Not sure how I’m wrong about the 28’ Pendleton though. We looked at several and decided although we loved the decor and the hatch, it didn’t have the storage space nor the L-shaped lounge of the 30’. We bought the 30’ over the Pendleton that came up on a classified and spent 3 full days at our AS sitting in every model they had. It was a long thoughtful decision and although we loved the 30’ Classic recliners, bed, windows, and dinette, it just didn’t have the storage we need. The power recliner and bed doesn’t allow for storage. We have not once regretted our decision to buy the 30’ Signature. We installed a wood table for the dinette and this weekend are installing a loveseat recliner to replace part of the lounge. I have more storage in the 30’ and towing it with the King Ranch 250 super duty is a dream. You forget the AS is in back of you. There is a part of me that will long for the Pendleton’s cabinets, dark floor, and all of the Pendleton company’s swag and design touches. But we’ve made our Signature into a PNW lodge and we are quite happy. Everyone has to decide on their own what floor plan best works for their lifestyle. I strongly urge you to spend some time imagining your life on the road and what you need while at your dealer’s. Sitting in each model is beyond helpful. Although, after a while, it’s hard to differentiate between a 28 and a 30’! Good luck and have fun.

[brick1]

There is no right or wrong choice. After much deliberation we picked a Serenity 28. No regrets, and there are times when a bigger AS would be nice and other times when a shorter version would be good. But all-in-all we love our AS.