Airstream - Problems Towing Cross Country

[@jfreeham]

You have a beautiful unit. We live full-time in a 19cb Caravel. We're waiting for AS to make a 23cb again. Fingers crossed.

[@kedrevs4037]

We would have purchased a '19

[@mrtopcat2]

We have no trailer yet and so we have recently started looking at trailers and found your channel. Would Airstream be considered the best brand that RV dealers would carry on their lots? Or are there another, perhaps less known competing brands? As a layperson if it comes to RVs, we think for how expensive Airstream is (huh, we were surprised), quality should be top.

[@kedrevs4037]

Airstreams are very good quality. But it depends on what you’re looking for. Others that I consider quality include (no particular order) Bigfoot, Oliver, Outdoors RV/Northwood (arctic fox), and Lance. All of these companies will produce RVs that cost a little more, but you were also likely to get your money back out of them when you sell them. You’ll do especially well if you buy a used one and can put a little elbow grease into addressing some of the maintenance issues. I’ve bought four RVs in the last three years and sold each of them for a little more than I paid and cost of maintenance. For me, I wouldn’t want a newer airstream with the newer battery operated refrigerator. That’s a big thing in the industry right now and it really limits you to RV parks unless you spend upwards of $10,000 more in battery and solar upgrades. Propane refrigerator is very important if you plan to Boondock, hope that helps.

[@mrtopcat2]

@@kedrevs4037 Thank you for taking the time and responding and with such great information. All of this was new to me and it will give me a great starting point. Especially if it comes to which brands to look out for, obviously everyone manufacturer advertises as being the best, I needed some guiding advice from experience, which thankfully, you gave me. Buying used alike you have mentioned sounds very interesting as I am rather handy and with a really nicely equipped garage I am able to take on any challenge. Also good to hear that the market is such that trailers can be fixed up and flipped with little cost or even gain. That makes me even more interested in getting a used one; perhaps for one season and then learn from the experiences of ownership what is important for us and then move on towards our dream trailer. Many thanks again!

[@dougsmith7195]

What MPG are you getting with the 23 Airstream? Is it better than your Lances? I get 12 MPG towing my Escape 19’ @ 3900lbs loaded, behind my 2017 Tundra. Those Airstreams are beautiful trailers.

[@kedrevs4037]

Depends on speed and direction. I am doing better going east to west , at 70 -75 mph getting about 8.8 to 9.3 vs about 7.8 to 8.6 in the Lances. Going west to east, only marginally better, no big sail catching wind behind me - about 9.7 to 10. At 60-65mph, I'll get 11.5.

[@garystritt5750]

Looks great, did you get rid of the Lance?

[@kedrevs4037]

WE did, loved the Lance. We couldn't pass up a great deal on the Airstrem. We wanted something without the slide. We were really close on a couple of Olivers, but ultimately decided we wanted just a little more room.

[@garystritt5750]

Airstreams hold value like crazy, it looks good, congrats

[@denden01161]

Little wear and tear, for 16yrs old. Otherwise your suspension, body frame, plumbing and panels is still running good

[@kedrevs4037]

Love it