Re: [A/S] Re:new to trailers and Airstream

["Terry Tyler" <tylerbears@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keith, your may want to keep an open mind on that unit.

There are advantages to a rear bath model. Some folks like having a spacious bathroom. With a rear
bath comes a center bedroom. If there is a center double bed (gaucho) instead of center twins,
there's profoundly more storage space on the other sidewall (two closets with drawers, plus a vanity
with countertop and six drawers beneath it). That was one of the basic reasons for us buying the
1977 31' Excella 500 we're using today. Other reasons included thermopane windows, opera windows
above the regular windows and two full length closets and cupboard in the bathroom. Even with the
pocket door opened, the area is still comfortably large for bathing and dressing. If we were
traveling with kids, that could be a profound bonus.
  
The biggest caveat we adhere to with our back bath model is we avoid leaving campgrounds with full
holding tanks. Towing to a dump station with full tanks is not going to cause a problem. Plus,
there's no problem ever with towing while the fresh water tank is full. We fill the fresh water tank
every time we like the taste of local water. 

We have towed our '77 31' with rear bath all over the continent (including Mexico) for 11 years and
don't have a sag problem. There was no problem when we bought it and there will be no problem when
we sell it. Anyone who stayed awake during their high school physics class knows why never to travel
with full rear holding tanks. As Sherlock Holmes would say, "Elementary, dear Watson."  

If the 1971 Airstream you looked at is great in other respects, why shy away from it? You may want
to look into installing a "frame stiffener" kit or have an Airstream dealer do it - in case YOU
screw up and tow all day with full holding tanks. There is even a service bulletin put out by
Airstream describing how and what to do.

In my opinion, there's no reason to discount a perfectly good Airstream that previous owners haven't
screwed up in 29 years. Keith, I haven't seen this 1971 Airstream. If you sparked on it, it might be
for you, particularly if it's easy for you to remember a basic law of physics.

Terry

mailto:Tylerbears@airstream.net