Newbie

[Airhead2018]

Hello Everyone,
We have just purchased a new 2018 Classic 30' and are excited to learn the Airstreams ways. This is our first Airstream and/or trailer for that matter so please give use any advice you deem necessary. We are not new to RVing, we had two previous motor homes so are familiar with the lifestyle. Go ahead, let us have it!
Mike & Suzanne

[kendrick.l.j]

Mike and Suzanne, welcome and congratulations on your new purchase. I have a 2017 and I love it. I think you will find a close, very supportive group with lots of very well informed people here. The forum has a wealth of information. Enjoy.

[paiceman]

Airhead2018. Welcome and congratulations. If you have not done so I would go thru the threads covering the Alde system, most of which pertain to the 2017 model but may give you insight on some quirks in this system which are fairly easy to work with once one knows what is going on.

The forums are a great asset and since February of this year monitored and participated in by the Factory, which is an added plus if one has an issue or questions that are new or tough.

Bud

[Woosch]

Congratulations! You might want to get a copy of "The Newbies Guide to Airstreaming." Lots of good information.
Good luck!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Welcome !!!

Quick shortcut on the Alde stuff .... next time you are at a dealer, pick up a bottle of the "magic" fluid they use in the heater. It's a custom anti-freeze. It is needed from time to time to top up the system.

Bob

[paiceman]

Originally Posted by uncle_bob

Hi

Welcome !!!

Quick shortcut on the Alde stuff .... next time you are at a dealer, pick up a bottle of the "magic" fluid they use in the heater. It's a custom anti-freeze. It is needed from time to time to top up the system.

Bob

As Uncle Bob said, but I'd pick up more than one and make sure i'ts the Alde fluid, not an off brand as according to Alde and AS two different fluids should not be mixed.

Bud

[Airhead2018]

Thank everyone, we are making a list!!

[james.mileur]

Does it really have continuous hot water? 😊

[ajwbarnard]

Right now, I have "hot" water in increments of seconds. I would say no, but I might be doing something wrong. I don't seem to have an Alde manual to troubleshoot with and no wifi to download the manual.

[kendrick.l.j]

Mine did not come with an Alde Manual, all that I learned came from the forum or trail and error. Please check out the Much Ado about Alde Thread and the mixing valve thread. It might be helpful if you could post photos of your Alde Control that is hidden in The firefly. Those of us with the '17 are curious about the increased Hot Water so we will be following closely and would be happy to help in any way possible.

[madogkenno]

Just purchased a 2018 Classic rear queen. Do I need an extra clear coat from the dealer and is a solar the best way to trickle charge in storage?

[SeaMover]

I would and did say no to clear coat.
Solar if you are storing outside. Plugged in still better source IMHO.

[ajwbarnard]

Originally Posted by kendrick.l.j

Mine did not come with an Alde Manual, all that I learned came from the forum or trail and error. Please check out the Much Ado about Alde Thread and the mixing valve thread. It might be helpful if you could post photos of your Alde Control that is hidden in The firefly. Those of us with the '17 are curious about the increased Hot Water so we will be following closely and would be happy to help in any way possible.

We are talking about the Alde panel under the sink, right?

[kendrick.l.j]

AJW..., I have the 2017 Classic and my Alde panel is right next to the main Firefly panel above the TV over the dinette. I don't know where the 2018 Alde panel panel is located but I am happy to hear that the 18 do indeed have a panel at all, when we started hearing about the 2018s the news was that the Alde would be inter grated into Firefly. I am glad there is a separate panel.

[james.mileur]

Can post a picture?

[james.mileur]

Open your hot water valve at the sink and cycle the mixing valve full open to full shut, with flow. And when you read in Ado about adjusting the mixing valve, just know, you can adjust the stem right out of the valve body, onto the deck, and guess what follows?

[kendrick.l.j]

James...yes, you can adjust right out of the valve onto the deck which I did twice. What a mess to clean up. : )

[james.mileur]

BTW, ajw, cycling the mixing valve to the stops with flow is not the same as the risk while resetting the mixing valve.

[ajwbarnard]

Originally Posted by kendrick.l.j

AJW..., I have the 2017 Classic and my Alde panel is right next to the main Firefly panel above the TV over the dinette. I don't know where the 2018 Alde panel panel is located but I am happy to hear that the 18 do indeed have a panel at all, when we started hearing about the 2018s the news was that the Alde would be inter grated into Firefly. I am glad there is a separate panel.

It is integrated into Firefly, but I found a panel under the sink while looking for bleed spots.

[madogkenno]

Originally Posted by madogkenno

Just purchased a 2018 Classic rear queen. Do I need an extra clear coat from the dealer and is a solar the best way to trickle charge in storage?

Silver is the new black