Should You Use An Airstream Travel Trailer For Fulltime RV Travel?

[@jfreeham]

I enjoy talking with people about their rigs; in doin so I continue to learn about RV's, camping, camping styles, and people. I've learned that there's a travel trailer for everyone, and that no matter which travel trailer one has, one learns to live and work with the plusses and minuses. The travel trailer for us, plusses and minuses, is an Airstream. Today is the 983th day of full-time travel in our Airstream. It's be a great journey and, barring circumstances to the contrary, we can't imagine stopping our travels. Thanks for your videos. Always fair and well-though out.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

That's awesome! So glad that you're enjoying your Airstream. 8 years of RVing behind you and who knows how long ahead of you? Safe and happy RV travels!

[@sandienochs6132]

Wife and I lived in a 34 foot Excella for ten years, full time. It was great, we went coast to coast, never had any big problems. That was twenty years ago and we are planning on doing it again. We tended to stay in one place for six months and then move on. In our situation, it was cheaper to have someone move our unit from place to place than to run a big truck all the time. If you can get away with not having a big truck I believe you can save money and who really likes towing anyway? Gas, insurance, wear and tear. I will never forget standing in a pine forest and watching our airstream being towed to our site. We always checked to see if the soap was still in the soap dish in the shower. It always was.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

That sounds great! I hope you have the same great experiences in your new Airstream. Safe and happy travels to you!

[@timfrench5719]

For what it's worth: Storage - true AS do not have a lot of exterior storage but what they offer inside is very thought out. It's small and you may need to get created realizing that many of the cabinets will have a curved back to them - use baskets that can "mold" or fit shapes. Space - I think where things get cloystiphobic or become an issue is when you don't have dedicated areas in the unit. Meaning you can't use a dinning table because it's turned down into a bed or something like that. Having a dedicated sleeping, eating, working areas is where you won't feel so tight.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Thanks for sharing your Airstream experience here.

[@rb552]

We have had our 25 foot Fly Cloud for 6 years now and it has been trouble free and a great pulling rig. We usually don't go out for more than a couple weeks at a time and have enjoyed the trailer immensely. We have been very happy with our purchase and it appears to be worth more now than when we purchased it new, as a 2018, in 2017. With all that said I am soon to retire and we are likely to start taking longer duration trips. Our Airstream has limitations on space, and overall comfort. We are planning to transition to a Newmar Bay Star, hopefully a good used one.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Hi Randy. That's really why I made this video. There is no real question that Airstream is built well enough for fulltime RVing. But there are other practical and comfort considerations that are important to think about before making it a fulltime rig. it will still work for a lot of people anyway though. And boy, don't you love the resale value? :-)

[@paulcorley6097]

That was good info you gave. Me and my wife been full timers for 9 years now, the last 4 in our Airstream.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

That's awesome. I hope you have many more happy fulltiming years in your Airstream!

[@randyw7185]

Thanks. I enjoyed the video. Airstreams have been a staple in Rv'ing for a long time.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

They sure have. They will be coming up on 100 years of production very soon in the 2030's. And they have been iconic for most of that time. Thanks for watching!

[@5stardave]

Having lived in a Plymouth Voyager behind my shop from 2010 to 2017, a trailer I can stand in with a bed, fridge/freezer, wardrobe, toilet & a microwave mounted chest high is all I need for full time living.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Yes, with that background, I think you'll do just fine in an Airstream. Living space often comes down to what you are already used to and how well you adjust to change. Thanks for watching!

[@GiantsNinerFan56]

Duane…you have the best intro. It sets a happy mood. 😊

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

LOL ... it is kinda catchy, isn't it?

[@skyking4501]

Excellent video. I’ve owned one airstream but strangely enough, it was a class a land yatch. No slides in it either.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Airstream is not too high on slides no matter what kind of RV it is. I certainly understand that from a repair and maintenance point of view. But I do enjoy the space that the slides in my Class A provides.

[@skyking4501]

@@RVInspectionAndCare absolutely!! We had slides in our first pull behind and all since.

[@chrisbarclay6127]

He's missing one other good point about the Airstream ...... It's the best looking RV both inside and outside in the entire RV industry. Most of what's out there caters to people with really bad taste. That's not me.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Appearance and what looks good is a subjective opinion. And apparently you're strongly in favor of Airstream interiors.

[@mikemills5144]

Would you say that a SnowBird would qualify as Full Time living? It would typically be from Jan to April so not truely full time but much more that a true part time.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

I would say so since it will be lived in continuously for several months. Not many travel trailers are made to stand up to that stress on a regular basis. Thanks for watching Mike!

[@rodrigococito]

Spot on!!!!

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Thanks for the positive feedback!

[@keithelder]

Just watched a video prior to this one and theirs was fairly new and falling apart from full-time travel.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

Yes, I guess all those thousands of full time Airstream RVers who have been traveling all across the country for years just don’t realize that their rig is going to fall apart any time now.

[@keithelder]

@@RVInspectionAndCare Screws backing out, seals moving, electrical problems. It just wasn't one thing with this couple, it was probably 20 things that needed addressed and they were not getting helped by the company. Maybe it was built on a friday, I don't know. But it was evident it was not going to hold up for the long term the way it was put together inside. The outside and all of that was fine.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

@@keithelder Most of the issues you mentioned could have been resolved before taking delivery of the RV if they had just used a certified RV inspector and made sure that the problems found in the inspection were fixed before they took delivery. Waiting until after delivery to start fixing issues makes the whole process so much more difficult, especially if they are living and traveling it. And if it was a Covid-built RV, it is not typical of the kind of product that Airstream produces. But I take exception with anyone who disparages Airstreams since they are typically so well built. In fact, it takes Airstream about 350 hours to build the average trailer whereas most manufacturers only spend about 50 hours to complete their construction process. And the fact that nearly 70% of Airstream trailers ever made since the 1930s are still in use today is an overwhelming testament to the quality build and construction methods they use. But spreaders of drama and negativity must have something to talk about to get attention.

[@happycampers.1837]

No slides is a pro for me. All slides will fail.

[@RVInspectionAndCare]

I understand that. It comes down to whether having the extra room is worth the extra maintenance and repair.