My husband and I (mid 50's) are committed to giving the nomad lifestyle a go starting in July 2025. We are set on an Airstream. We are struggling to decide if the flooring issue is a big deal and should we do only look at 2021 and newer models. We have decided 27-30 ft is our sweet spot. We have a fixed budget so new is not an option. Also, should we consider private sellers or stick w a dealership?
Help us decide!

We were offered $36,000 to trade our 2020 19cb Caravel in for a Flying Cloud 23fb. Is this a reasonable offer?

https://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/1979-airstream-tradewind-wyoming-371988

More photos on the fb marketplace listing: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/944856480818705

We are selling our beloved Airstream. We bought it from a couple in Montana in 2017 and lived in it full-time for a while. We took it on many months-long trips, usually to Texas to escape the brutal Wyoming winters. It has served us very well and has been our home-away-from-home. Much of this airstream is all original, though we have made some upgrades to use it off-grid and brighten the space.

See either listing for more details.

Hello all! Me and the wife are looking to not go full time but to have the ability to travel for a few months at a time every year (anywhere between 3-9). We were going to go true full-time and were looking at buying a Showhauler Super C any possibly sell out house but instead we compromised on buying a new house and getting a nice travel trailer to live in part time. I am very against slides because of leaks and rodents (for anyone who doesn't know, generally rodent problems in trailers are because theyre getting in through your slides). We really like the new 33ft long Classic Airstreams with the big bath in the back. In fact, its pretty much perfect, aside from that horrifically uncomfortable couch in the "living room", which we will be getting rid of immediately and replacing with Stressless Norwegian chairs. Anyway, I've seen the price tag which didn't shock me because its a fraction of what a Showhauler would cost BUT I do like to get the best bang for my buck. As I said, the layout is nearly perfect, I love almost everything about it but i've been doing my research and i've read that Airstreams built in the last 10 years really do not have the same quality as pre 2015 models. I've read that you can buy an older one and take it to a reputable remodeler that specializes in Airstream and you're going to (most likely) wind up with a better product in the end and you'll spend about the same or less. The main things i've read that they skimp on is the insulation (that it could be significantly more and better) and just overall finish craftsmanship (which i've been in multiple airstreams at several dealers and there is a lot to be desired in the finish work with some of them) but I do worry that can be the case with a remodeler as well, anyone can half-ass a job, especially things you cant see. So, what do you guys think? I would be having all of the work done be a reputable professional remodeler if I did go the remodel route and I'd honestly just build the exact same floorplan as the new 33ft Classic but i'd have as much insulation as possible put in it and maybe a few minor changes here and there. It seems like i should really just buy a new one but I dont know, lol.

edit- while i'm thinking about it I think there's also a lot to be said about you being the only person to own that camper and to know everything that has been done to it since day 1.

Hi all,

Sub-freezing temps are coming and mine is from the 70's.

Have read a lot of conflicting information about dripping faucets, and am wondering what the best practice might be when temps drop to around 20 or below.

One area of consideration, in particular, are the copper pipes behind the shower wall at the rear of the trailer. While the bathroom will be heated (and the cabinets / access panels open), I'm not sure if I should drip all faucets on both hot and cold or just the farthest (galley / kitchen) on cold.

I know there are both hot and cold water copper pipes for the shower valve and want to make sure neither pipe freezes. Wouldn't that mean I'd have to drip both (by just leaving the shower valve knob at the center position?) at the shower as well as perhaps the sink in the bathroom?

Any thoughts appreciated as I'm still learning about the plumbing and don't want pipes to freeze this winter. I was surprised to find that it was / is residentially plumbed.

Thanks!

2022 Bambi 16ft Appears to still be charging the batteries, but the control panel is stuck. How do I reset?

PS: I am looking through the owner’s manual now. If you had this happen and have a pro tip- please share.

I'm looking at a 2010 19 Flying Cloud with owner installed solar to purchase. 600W panels, 3000W inverter. What do you think is a fair price to offer? I can't find someone to inspect it in a reasonable time frame. What advice do you have for me?

One year ago today I promised to never again provide that noble wick another press, while secretly praying it would die quietly. But alas. The most useless bulb will continue to suck. Will check back next year

I’m curious to know if anyone has installed 3/4 inch plywood as a subfloor, I’m new to restoration so any tips help!

I hear the trip through Canada up to Alaska can be rough and riddle with frost heaves to the point where significant damage can occur to RVs. Would you brave the Alaska Highway in your AS? Asking for a friend.

We are getting our first air stream this weekend and would like to be able to go places we may not have shore power. We are going to do a solar solution but my partner was thinking about doing the Anker battery and panels and just plug in as needed rather than installing a system. I’m curious as to what others experiences with either system are and if anyone can recommend one over the other.

Thanks y’all!

I’m searching for a new shop for my airstream repairs. Does anyone have experience using The RV Shop in Baton Rouge La. It looks like they are a 5 rivet shop. What has been your experience with this shop and what does it mean to have a 5 rivet repair designation?

Looking at a 1970 Ambassador locally for sale for $8500. Very new to airstreams and am not sure what to look for.

From what I saw, it looks in decent shape. I didn’t see any water leaks but it did have carpet so it may have been hiding something.

Is this a good price? My wife and I are looking at it to place on some land we own for a camp.

Full details available here: https://woodmadeillinois.com/product/1961-airstream-15500/

Asking $15500 firm. Was slated to be an AIR bnb, land deal fell through.

• Axel & Tires Great Shape
• Gas & Electric fully operational. AC and some plumbing components need replaced.
• Overall length – 24 ft.
• Body Length – 21 ft.
• Outside width at floor- 7′-4″ in.
• Overall weight – 3130 lbs.
• Hitch weight – 340 lbs

https://preview.redd.it/c4rcdsmy6bwd1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4dea06bc6ea1002a6c58bc3f05f1d1d691eca818

https://preview.redd.it/ufg99msz6bwd1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8fda1d950c77ae52dc1c60308f63145f1ec43956

https://preview.redd.it/ontwgyt07bwd1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e117cfbaabdc18512d2b05b88d9f426f95f86d54

https://preview.redd.it/jjytpyt17bwd1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=01ce54b1a6dc61510a2003faba0600472b46cc2d

https://preview.redd.it/xf5sj7w37bwd1.jpg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f5f7617d83784846d24cbaaecddabaf1822edd73

https://preview.redd.it/o9olpnh47bwd1.png?width=612&format=png&auto=webp&s=2d17f5cf81b36960dadd1ff0a530cfb8d53807fa

Has anyone rented an AS from Woodland in Grand Rapids? Any things to be aware of with them?

Has anyone successfully gotten 30% off MSRP for a brand new unit? Recently or in the past. I’m hoping to negotiate but I’m not sure if that’s being unreasonable or not. It would be ordered new from the factory.

I have the basics like heated water hose, generator, and so on but wondering if there’s any small things people typically forget about. (Pro tips) I live in Ohio so it can get pretty cold!

Just placed an order for 2025 platinum sport, also waiting for 2025 tradewind to be built. Just like everyone else here ,I did some research and 2025 escalade now has HDtowing package as a standard with payload of approx 1550lb ish. I think towing capacity is not an issue (8,000 vs 7,600) but 25ft tradewind has 800 tongue weight and it will go up as I put stuff in the trailer I guess. We are family of 4 with total weight of 450-500lb ish. Considering full tank of gas, is this considered too close to call situation? Or is this something I can overcome with WD?

I have never seen people talking about towing trailers with escalade and wondering if anyone has experience.

(I have seen a YouTube review of escalade saying you don't really buy this vehicle to tow stuff...)

Thanks

Be kind to me… I’m sharing this so somebody else doesn’t make the same stupid mistake I did. We went camping this weekend and when I was setting up the camper, I must’ve accidentally pulled the cord out of the breakaway switch. That’s the thing that turns on the brakes if the camper becomes disconnected. Anyway, we had a lovely night last night Maybe 45 or 50° out. Camper was warm with the furnace, got up this morning, lovely breakfast at the table with nice music, went for a hike came back. The batteries were completely dead. That’s because they’ve been sending voltage to the brakes on the camper for the last 24 hours. Now it is on our list of things that we check off when we set up the camper to make sure that it didn’t get pulled out. I’m sharing it with you all so you can add it to your list as well. Happy camping!

I just got my mother a 71 International for her to stay in while she visits and the bathroom in it is basically a tear out. Floor is a bit mushy in one spot so i want to tear out the toilet and tub and start new.

Any tips i should know? my biggest question is how to vent a normal house hold toilet in this trailer. End result will be going into my septic tank so i assume i want to completely bypass the black tank. I dont forsee ever using this as a pull behind rv trailer, just a mother in law unit.

Thanks for any tips

Does anyone know what size snap pads I would need for a 2025 27 ft international FB. Hope someone can help.

Hi all,

Living full-time in my 76 Argosy in New Mexico. This is my first winter, and am addressing any winterization steps I may need to take. Frankly, am concerned about something be damaged or any functionality issues.

Have been told that here, where it gets below freezing only overnight and often not by much, the only thing some do is get a heated water hose (which I have), and make sure the interior of the rig stays warm (I have a heat pump on my AC and a small 1500W ceramic heater at the moment).

Firstly, am considering an oil-filled electric radiator for the small (rear) bathroom. If it does sit in the bathroom, will this be enough to stop the tanks from freezing? Was advised to leave the grey tank open to avoid this, but I would have to put a P-trap in the sewer hose to avoid sewer flies to do this. The problem there would be that the water in the hose would freeze. Seems like a catch-22, but if the radiator might keep the tanks from freezing (I don't use the freshwater tank at this time), then I can just go back to keeping the grey tank closed (and only open when using water). Then I don't have to worry about the water in the sewer hose freezing (and can undo the P-trap).

Does this make sense, or might I have to do more to keep the tanks (and water pipes) from freezing? Obviously, they sit in the underbelly so I'm not sure if this will work.

The other potential catch-22 I'm looking at is the watet heater. It's been written that it should be left on when temps get to freezing or below, but the amp draw (along with the heater) would likely be too much (on 30 amp) to do so. Am I missing something here?

Is there anything else I should be looking at to winterize here in NM being that I'm full-time?

Right now, these are my two biggest concerns, but any other thoughts would be welcome.

Thanks in advance for any insight as I really want to address this as freezing temps are coming soon!

P.S. It's important to note that I don't have furnace (I know they help to keep the underbelly components warm).

I am about to take delivery of a 2022 Caravel 16rb. I will be towing with a Ford Expedition. I need to add a bike rack to carry two ebikes. One is 63 lbs and the other is only 33 lbs. I was considering the newly beefed up Fiamma rack, but I have two concerns: 1) decreasing the hitch weight by adding these bikes to the back of the trailer, and; 2) putting undue stress on the back wall of the Airstream where the Fiamma is attached. My other option is an A-frame mounted rack https://arvikabikerack.com/en-us/products/airstream-bike-rack. I really like this option because it puts the weight in a better spot, allows for direct view of the bikes while travelling. The downsides, unfortunately, are also significant: 1) Limited ability to open the front pano window, not to mention ruining the view from this window, and; 2) Inability to use covers on the bikes while in transit. Ebikes shouldn't get wet/dirty, if possible. Does anyone have experience using the Fiamma with one or two heavy bikes?