Looking at a Flying Cloud and have some ?s

[Chad1383]

Is there a year that would be better than others when looking at a flying cloud. Specifically I’m looking for a bunk unit although that may not matter to you folks. I heard they ditched the wood in the floor in these units but not sure what year that took effect. I’m in no hurry for a unit just looking for something by Christmas.

Thanks folks,

CS

[GetawA-S]

We were pleasantly surprised to find our 2020 23FB has the composite floor, as it was not advertised by A-S. They are known for using what is at hand in the parts bin, resulting in variation between trailers of the same model year.
I suggest you make a list of what matters to you:
Round vs. rectangular double sink
Ducted air (You would have to go back about six years to find unducted. Stay away from unducted unless you could sleep through a hurricane!)
Wood vs. composite flooring
Tank vs. continuous water heater
Absorption (propane) vs. compressor fridge
Flooded vs. AGM batteries
These are a few considerations. I’m sure others will chime in.
Then look carefully at the trailer you are considering to verify what it comes with.
Good luck!

[Spaggs]

If you can get a composite floor with a non-tankless water heater, you have hit the sweet spot, IMHO.

[Dennis C]

My 2020 23FB has a plywood floor. It was built in late 2019.

[Rob Cope]

Check for width. Some models vary by as much as 8 inches.

[Wazbro]

Power vs. manual awning.
Solar and how much solar, this matters for boondocking and uncovered storage.
For batteries some may also have been converted to lithium.

[SGandMT]

Originally Posted by Spaggs

If you can get a composite floor with a non-tankless water heater, you have hit the sweet spot, IMHO.

100% agree with this!



We went from a 2016 FC to a 2021. Glad we got the composite floor, but lukewarm (pun intended) on the tankless. We don't boondock much, so it's not a huge issue, but if you do, you will find you will use so much water taking showers with the tankless.

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by Chad1383

Is there a year that would be better than others when looking at a flying cloud. Specifically I’m looking for a bunk unit although that may not matter to you folks. I heard they ditched the wood in the floor in these units but not sure what year that took effect. I’m in no hurry for a unit just looking for something by Christmas.

Thanks folks,

CS

Depends on how you'll use it, what you like or dislike, etc.

2015 was the year that the twin-axle models got the ducted A/C (my single-axle 2015 has the older style of A/C); yeah, it's louder, but, even my wife doesn't complain, she equates it to white noise (she'd pick cheaper every time anyway). The composite floor came in 'approximately' in the changeover from 2020 to 2021... but sometimes, in a factory situation, you might find early one-offs, or perhaps a later 'using up the last of'. I would have liked the composite floor, but, not enough to trade up for a lot more expensive newer model (again, the wife votes to keep the older less-expensive one). Also, we like our older FC interior, the way the wood looks, the cabinet doors, etc.; a brand-new FC has a revised interior look that, while functionally fine, we prefer ours.
We like our propane/electric fridge; newer ones can't run on propane. We like our water heater having a tank instead of a tankless like the latest ones have.
On the older ones: there are many fine ones out there, but when I was still hunting for an Airstream, there were quite a few that I ended up passing over because of soft spots in the wood floor at the back, where the bumper is attached. Water would infiltrate, and there goes the floor. It's fixable, but, needs to be fixed; that would be a reason why composite would be a good thing.

[switz]

Not all 2015 models got the oversized holes in the ceiling for their air registers to fallout out of when moving. Our 2015 23D International Serenity is pre-duct and we searched for that.

We have installed the New Coleman 15K BTU units with MicroAire Softstart kits and they are much quieter than Dometic units. One can actually converse without yelling.

The German brand Truma company that makes tankless instant on propane only water heaters is building a new generation of ceiling A/C unit that is nearly noiseless. Winnebago gets the early ones but should be availble to retrofit in early 2023.

A rule of thumb is that recent Airstreams 25' or longer will be 8' 6" wide and the shorter ones are 8' 0" wide. There were two nominally 23' models until last year so there is just a front bed model now.The 23' size was the entry model to dual axles.

[jimfa440]

Originally Posted by SGandMT

100% agree with this!



We went from a 2016 FC to a 2021. Glad we got the composite floor, but lukewarm (pun intended) on the tankless. We don't boondock much, so it's not a huge issue, but if you do, you will find you will use so much water taking showers with the tankless.

We may have a confusion of terms. Mine is a non tankless water heater, meaning it has a tank.

[Chad1383]

Thanks everyone for the comments. Im in the market for a 30 bunk. I have been looking at 2019 units. Do we think pre pandemic units may be built better?

[mefly2]

Be SURE to get ducted air: 2015 and newer ...

[jaybauman]

Originally Posted by Chad1383

Thanks everyone for the comments. Im in the market for a 30 bunk. I have been looking at 2019 units. Do we think pre pandemic units may be built better?

I had a 2019 FC30Bunk built in late 2018. We spent 1.5 years getting all the bugs worked out. Once we did, it was great.

I now have a 2021 Classic 33 built in late 2020. We have spent 1.5 years getting all the bugs worked out. Our last few trips have been great!

People can speculate, but I have 1 data point that says pre/post pandemic doesn't seem to matter.

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by jaybauman

I had a 2019 FC30Bunk built in late 2018. We spent 1.5 years getting all the bugs worked out. Once we did, it was great.

I now have a 2021 Classic 33 built in late 2020. We have spent 1.5 years getting all the bugs worked out. Our last few trips have been great!

People can speculate, but I have 1 data point that says pre/post pandemic doesn't seem to matter.

Well, sounds like there's exactly the right person to respond.

Get one, whichever you get, then work the bugs out of it, whichever it is.

[jamieb1086]

I have a 2016 Flying Cloud and the only thing I would want that the newer models have is the composite floor. And LOVE the manual awnings!

[jlydell]

I just took delivery on a 2022 Flying Cloud 30 Bunk. Well, almost. The dealership is correcting some issues we turned up on the walkaround, and ran out of time to finish the work on our initial delivery day. Hopefully we drive off with it tomorrow.

If you want something by Christmas your options are be very fortunate or purchase a used model you find, we waited 11.5 months for our order from the factory.

Older models have some notable differences:

- Rounded cabinets with a wood laminate, I think 2021 forward they are now flat grey with a gloss finish, and next year they will be matte white.
- 2021 or 2020 has the composite floor
- 2021 onward converts to a single rectangular sink, from a single round sink.
- 2021 (I think) the shower shape changed from a molded seat to a removable seat
- 2017's had a stainless steel stove cover that wasn't flush to the counters, at some point they switched to flush glass covers.
- By 2021 they switch from an accordion door over the master bedroom to a curtain. Not sure what year this changed
- In 2016 the 2nd Air Conditioner (and I assume 50amp) was an option, it became standard some time after that
- 2021 on upgrades the solar charge controller to a Victron model
- 2019 on seems to be when they added the solar rock guards to the sides of the front cap. Prior to that it was a single lexan window as standard
- 2022 switches from an 8 cu. ft. propane fridge to a 10 cu. ft. compressor fridge. As a result the access panel on the side and the exhaust hood on the roof disappear as well.
- Some where between 2017 and 2021 they changed the logo from the blimp style design to the cursive writing
- 2021 or so is when they flip from a hot water tank to tankless, I think.
- 2022 ditches the exterior scare light.

There are other differences in switch gear, LED light white color, and other minor things along the way.

Good luck in your search!

[waninae39]

the AS site now shows 2023 model
but, the d/l brochure still only shows it as 2022

when do they start making the 2023?

are new FC 25Fb is being made the 2nd week of aug/22 will it be the old 22 or the new 23

[Wazbro]

Originally Posted by waninae39

the AS site now shows 2023 model
but, the d/l brochure still only shows it as 2022

when do they start making the 2023?

are new FC 25Fb is being made the 2nd week of aug/22 will it be the old 22 or the new 23

Most vehicle manufacturers, cars, trucks and RVs (including trailers) seem to average starting to get the new model year to dealers in August. That doesn't mean all models or every year though just the average or the norm. One example I saw a 1998 Ford F-150 on the road in December 1996, rushed into production to early to use in Nascar truck series in 1997.

This means any answer you get is just a guess.

So my GUESS is it would be a 2023.

[jeffb831]

Originally Posted by waninae39

the AS site now shows 2023 model
but, the d/l brochure still only shows it as 2022

when do they start making the 2023?

are new FC 25Fb is being made the 2nd week of aug/22 will it be the old 22 or the new 23

As others have said, it's a "depends" kind of issue but Airstream usually completes the cutover by the end of July. That said, there are frequently stragglers for some models/trims that may lag behind.

I'd suggest you call Airstream and they'll be able to tell you exactly what you are getting.

Also, if you have the VIN, it should have the year included as part of it.

[switz]

The annual model cut over date historically was 1 July