[A/S] Re: The new addition is home!

[appdsgn@xxxxxxx]

Leslie,

Congratulations.  We have a 1969 Overlander and just completed the 
purchased of a 1984 345 classic motorhome this past weekend.  

Our coach did not come with a dolly wheel either.  I agree with the 
other post that recommends against using it.  We purchased one of 
those plastic cones (lovingly referred to as the "cone of silence") 
that we use to support the tongue jack. 

Our Overlander never had an awning installed either.  We investigated 
the ZipDee awnings, but found the $1400 for a 17 foot awning a little 
too steep.  We had an A&E Elite 9000 cloth patio Awning with aluminum 
weathershield installed for a little over $750.  This was in 1997. 
That awning can be purchased with the curved arms to fit the 
airstream.  Camping world currently has that awning in their 
catalogue at $939, with a sale price to members of $800.  I purchased 
mine in '97 and had it installed at an airstream dealer in Michigan. 
They were doing some other work on my coach and meet camping world's 
price. The A&E is not quite as elegant looking, but is very nice.  It 
is an aesthetic choice you need to make.  

As far as the univolt, as long as it is working, it is fine (at least 
the 1969 version).  We camp in national parks without hookups on 
occasion and have gone four nights without power without problems. We 
use the lights sparingly, but otherwise all is normal.  I do not have 
solar.  I'm sure you could stay much longer with it.  I saw a setup 
another camper had where he made a special trailer hook up that 
attached to the battery which he put in the back of his truck.  As he 
drove around site seeing, he charged his battery, which he put back 
on his rig at night.  

Good luck and have fun!  There is no cooler trailer out there than 
the Airstreams. The older ones are extra cool.

Jim