[A/S] Jilly Billy's Quest

["Viking" <drighten@xxxxxxxxx>]

In answer to 'Intro with questions - long'

The only Airstreams which would meet youre needs would be the biggest.  30 
foot or more is a given, and the 34 foot are probably best for the size of 
your family for full timing, and this may not be large enough.  For free 
space or quiet times away from the others, I would suggest a tent.  Pitch it 
outside, away from the trailer towards the quietest direction, furnish it 
with a card table and a folding lawn chair and voila, you have a quiet 
place.  For excercise when full timing, might I suggest rain gear?  It is 
the only way to stay dry in inclement weather while camping.  Let's face it; 
a trailer is tight for three large dogs and five to seven humans. 
Airstreams can be gotten with ovens.  If you purchase new, the factory can 
quote the additional cost of a propane oven.  Microwave/convections are the 
way everyone seems to be going nowadays, but I have a microwave AND an oven 
in mine, and would like to continue this if I move up to newer.  I presently 
have a 31' 1978 center bath, and it suits us perfectly. (two humans, one 
very small dog)  Hunter, our list owner, has a 25' wide body (mid nineties) 
and it suits her perfectly (one human, two dogs, two cats) (these numbers go 
up or down depending on adoption and bereavement)  Towing with a Suburban 
2500 is not a problem no matter what you get, but if your Burb is a 1500, 
then you cannot tow one of the newer (1985+) Airstreams as they are too 
heavy.  For reasonable dollars, you can find numerous 31' 70's era trailers 
in really good shape, and then if you can do your own work, you can return 
them to close enough to perfect to get many years out of them.  Bearings, 
brakes and tires will get a trailer on the road in good enough condition for 
lots of traveling.  Lights need to be checked and sometimes worked on 
(external)  The rest is pretty much do as needed, but learning about propane 
systems is pretty much necessary.  If you intend to boondock (camp away from 
commercial services such as water and electric) then you need two Honda 
EU2000i generators with the connector kit to turn them into a 4KW to run 
everything including the A/C.  You need a source of water either to fill 
your fresh tank (50 gallons) every two or three days, or a hookup to a water 
source - AND you need a place to dump your black water (sewage).  Grey can 
be dumped almost anyplace, but the environment and the justice departements 
all take umbrage if you dump your black tanks in inappropriate spots.  Good 
luck in your search.

Thom Dickieson
North Bay, ON, Canada

P.S.  You cannot winter in a snow belt in an Airstream.  The outside metal 
skin is attached to metal ribs which are attached to metal inner skin. 
Conducts cold like crazy.