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08-28-2019, 05:31 PM
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#1
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2 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Dallas
, tx
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 72
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Caravel 20FB Thread!
The new 20FB Caravels are starting to show up at dealers!
We have just placed our order for the new 2020 Caravel 20FB and can't wait to start adventuring.
Looking forward to hearing from the other new 2020 Caravel owners out there and sharing pics and stories about their new Airstream adventures.
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08-28-2019, 05:46 PM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2016 16' Sport
Miami
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,593
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That’s a great floor plan, especially if you like to cook! I’m sure it’s going amazing in the caravel trim.
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10-15-2019, 03:31 PM
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#3
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2 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Dallas
, tx
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 72
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Just heard from the mothership that they started building our 20FB Caravel yesterday (10/14/2019) and that it should be off the assembly line 10/21/2019 and delivered to our dealer about a week after that.
Can't wait! This has been a long 2 months of waiting! We ordered ours with the awning package, no solar or convection microwave. Our dealer did not have that in stock so we had to wait for the next run of Caravels to be built. Already have a few small modifications that we want to make.
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11-21-2019, 06:52 PM
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#4
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New Member
2002 25' Safari
Greenville
, North Carolina
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 1
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Recall
We picked up our Caravel 20FB last month and have been thrilled with the space and features when compared to our Sport 16. We were extremely disappointed to hear of the recall on the Demco hitch coupler. When we saw the new hitch we thought it seemed odd and probably too good to be true...it seems that it is too good to be true. Apparently a manufacturing flaw leaves it vulnerable to disconnecting from the tow vehicle.
Before our first trip we are faced with a long dangerous drive to a dealer who will most likely procrastinate on this warranty work.
Be sure to have the Demco hitch coupler tested at the dealer before taking ownership.
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11-21-2019, 06:55 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2007 22' International CCD
Corona
, California
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 9,180
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Quote:
Originally Posted by melydiae
We picked up our Caravel 20FB last month and have been thrilled with the space and features when compared to our Sport 16. We were extremely disappointed to hear of the recall on the Demco hitch coupler. When we saw the new hitch we thought it seemed odd and probably too good to be true...it seems that it is too good to be true. Apparently a manufacturing flaw leaves it vulnerable to disconnecting from the tow vehicle.
Before our first trip we are faced with a long dangerous drive to a dealer who will most likely procrastinate on this warranty work.
Be sure to have the Demco hitch coupler tested at the dealer before taking ownership.
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Contact Airstream and get the safety lock kit before you travel to get it inspected.
__________________
Rich, KE4GNK/AE, Overkill Engineering Dept.
'The Silver HamShack' ('07 International 22FB CCD 75th Anniversary)
Multiple Yaesu Ham Radios inside and many antennae sprouting from roof, ProPride hitch, Prodigy P2 controller.
2012 shortbed CrewMax 4x4 Toyota Tacoma TV with more antennae on it.
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04-24-2020, 08:24 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2020 23' Flying Cloud
2019 22' Sport
Sebastian
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2019
Posts: 1,234
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My wife and I are shopping Caravels. The 20FB is high on the list because of the kitchen.
The videos make it appear as if all the under bed storage is through one flip down door. Is that right? Or does the bed platform lift up on a hinge?
Is there a convenient was to set her overnight water cup in the sleeping area? (She sleeps on the insterior side of the bed.)
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05-21-2020, 06:52 AM
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#7
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1 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Denver
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 8
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Picking our 20FB up in a few weeks
@Jason in TX
How's it going with your 20FB? Looks like it has been a few months since you picked it up, have you had any issues with quality, what have you learned? We're picking ours up from Airstream Northwest in a few weeks, can't wait to hit the road!
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05-21-2020, 06:54 AM
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#8
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1 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Denver
, Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 8
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How's it going with your Caravel 20FB>
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason in TX
Just heard from the mothership that they started building our 20FB Caravel yesterday (10/14/2019) and that it should be off the assembly line 10/21/2019 and delivered to our dealer about a week after that.
Can't wait! This has been a long 2 months of waiting! We ordered ours with the awning package, no solar or convection microwave. Our dealer did not have that in stock so we had to wait for the next run of Caravels to be built. Already have a few small modifications that we want to make.
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@Jason in TX
How's it going with your 20FB? Looks like it has been a few months since you picked it up, have you had any issues with quality, what have you learned? Have you had any issues with the Demco hitch coupler mentioned in this thread? We're picking ours up from Airstream Northwest in a few weeks, can't wait to hit the road!
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05-31-2020, 09:02 AM
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#9
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Ottawa
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 23
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Demco hitch coupler
How has that Demco coupler recall worked out? What was the fix for them?
For those that have a 2020 Airstream with the Demco coupler what are you using to lock the coupler latch and how long and what diameter of a shank/pin do you need? I thought I read somewhere that you need a 3” shank/pin and looking online I see 2-2.5”, 2 3/4”, 2 and 7/8”, 3.5” (however that one said for surge brakes).
Has anyone seen a coupler / receiver lock combo keyed alike that will work?
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05-31-2020, 04:12 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jason in TX
Just heard from the mothership that they started building our 20FB Caravel yesterday (10/14/2019) and that it should be off the assembly line 10/21/2019 and delivered to our dealer about a week after that.
Can't wait! This has been a long 2 months of waiting! We ordered ours with the awning package, no solar or convection microwave. Our dealer did not have that in stock so we had to wait for the next run of Caravels to be built. Already have a few small modifications that we want to make.
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I see from other threads that you [edit -- the OP here] have been on the road and camping with your new 20' -- great!
Is the coupler working OK?
Thanks,
Peter
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05-31-2020, 05:01 PM
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#12
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2 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Pinehurst
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 34
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Not really a place for a cup. My wife just hooked a hanging pouch to the small holder installed there and she put her bottle of water there
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05-31-2020, 05:18 PM
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#13
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2 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Pinehurst
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 34
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New Caravel now in use!
We are proud owners of a 2020 Caravel 20fb which we picked up in mid-February and promptly parked due to the Covid19 crisis. As things are gradually opening up here in North/South Carolina, we are only now making our first camping trip.
We are had a small motor home for 5 years but decided to give it up after putting 80,000 miles on it making long trips in the US and Canada. We bought the AS to give us more freedom to explore a given area.
I’m happy to report that everything worked perfectly in the trailer. We couldn’t be happier with the design and the build quality. The only problem encountered was a stripped door latch which is a common problem in all RVs using composite wood panels. A toothpick and a dab of wood glue was the fix.
I feel a little guilty, not complaining about the quality, but there has no real issue yet. We hope everyone is enjoying their AS as much as we are.
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05-31-2020, 05:23 PM
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#14
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2 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Pinehurst
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 34
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Have not had any problem with the coupler so far, but we are new to towing and might not notice. I lift the rear of the Jeep quite a bit (12 in or so) to check before installing the hitch bars.
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05-31-2020, 10:08 PM
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#15
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Ottawa
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 23
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Hitch jack base diameter
Hi owners of the 2020 Caravel,
Can you tell me what the diameter is of the hitch jack base plate? Do you use a support under it?
Do you use supports under your stabilizer jacks?
Thank you.
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06-01-2020, 12:50 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
2014 20' Flying Cloud
Sag Harbor
, New York
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 17,523
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We always put wood under the jack base plate, to distribute the weight better, and to keep moisture away from the steel. Ditto for the stabilizer jack pads especially if your campsite is not paved or a concrete pad.
We carry lots of misc. 2x6, 5/4x6 etc. wood scraps for this, and for dealing with out-of-level campsites, using a bottle jack to lift the trailer to fix a flat, etc.. If the pieces are roughly 6" x 12", you can cross-stack them, two at a time, to create a stable 12" x 12" platform. Some of the wood scraps are construction cedar, which can be split for kindling for a fire, as needed.
Happy trails,
Peter
PS -- Older model 20-footer thread FYI: https://www.airforums.com/forums/f54...rs-127845.html
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06-01-2020, 06:03 AM
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#17
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2 Rivet Member
2020 20' Caravel
Pinehurst
, North Carolina
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 34
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Hitch Jack plate
The diameter of the foot is 6 inches. We use the plastic ‘LEGO’ blocks under the plate and the jacks. They are water proof and light weight.
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06-01-2020, 11:30 AM
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#18
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Ottawa
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 23
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Spare Tire Lock
Does anyone lock their spare tire?
I wonder if you can use a coupler lock (shank/pin) to lock your spare tire.
Is there anyone out there with a 1/4” coupler shank/pin lock that can tell me if it can replace the shank/pin that the cotter pin holds in place to support the spare tire support bracket?
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06-01-2020, 01:27 PM
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#19
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Ottawa
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 23
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Under Bed Opening in Caravel 20FB
Do any of the Caravel 20FB owners know how wide the opening is under the bed?
I’m wondering if a Zamp portable solar panel can fit in there.
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06-01-2020, 03:01 PM
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#20
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2 Rivet Member
Currently Looking...
Ottawa
, Ontario
Join Date: Oct 2019
Posts: 23
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Hitch Jack Plate Removable
Is the hitch jack plate removable on the 2020 Caravel 20FB?
Thank you.
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