Airstream is parked for the winter, concluding 5 seasons of ownership.
I was new to RVs when I got it in 2010. I present herewith in Q&A form with my former self the answers to those questions that were (or should have been) on my mind 5 years ago.
Q. What are the maintenance costs like, really, over time.
A. A newer Airstream, stored indoors, will require little in the way of maintenance and repair once manufacturing problems are shaken out during the warranty period. In 5 years I paid for one air conditioning repair, $388. That's it.
Q. What kind of MPG when towing?
A. With a larger trailer and gasoline engine we typically get 8 MPG although it has varied from 7-11 MPG among trips depending on speed, traffic, and prevailing wind. This is fairly typical, though people with smaller trailers and more efficient tow vehicles will boast better figures.
Q. I mostly plan on boondocking for free on public land. How's that going to work out for me?
A. In Minnesota and most other states outside the mountain west, it isn't, though there are exceptions. We've sometimes stayed at small county parks that have free RV parking. There is some national/state forest land that is open to RVs however a great deal of advance scouting is necessary to make it work, and there's no guarantee that space will be available.
Q. So what are campsites going to cost me, then?
A. Considering all charges, typically $40-$50 a night, at least in Minnesota (there is wide variation nationwide). State parks now charge a reservation fee, plus a vehicle permit fee, plus the campsite fee, plus $5 a bundle for firewood -- which you're stuck paying if you want a fire since they don't allow you to gather your own or bring it in from outside sources.
Q. What am I going to have to buy, besides the trailer?
A. In nearly all cases, some sort of weight-distributing hitch and some sort of brake controller. You will need whatever linens, housewares, clothes, tools, and personal effects you plan to travel with unless you plan to pack them up from your house before every trip (which defeats much of the purpose of having an RV). You will want camp chairs and, probably, some sort of barbeque grill. There are a handful of electrical and plumbing adapters and hoses that are helpful to have, but the important ones probably came with your trailer.
Q. How much propane will I use?
A. Not much, except in really cold weather, or if you leave appliances on while your trailer is parked between trips. A rough average for me is 1 gallon per night away from home for typical trips. Theoretically for winter trips you can go through 8 gallons in 24 hours but I've never traveled in those conditions.
Q. How long will electricity and water hold out if I'm at a site without hookups?
A. It varies widely depending on your camping style. My rule of thumb is 5 gallons of water per person per day with reasonable conservation measures but where most of the meals are prepared in the trailer. It's easy to exceed this with long showers. For electricity we have found that we can go 2 nights with the stock batteries in warm weather and 1 night in cold weather. Some added battery capacity and a vehicle charge line has, for me, extended that to almost double that time as a practical matter.
Q. What are the other costs to watch out for?
A. Tow vehicle depreciation and maintenance are a major cost. Storage can also be a major cost, depending on your situation.
Q. Will I need a reservation to get a campsite?
A. It varies regionally, seasonally, and from one campground to the next. In Minnesota, popular campgrounds book up almost a year in advance for the major holiday weekends and several weeks in advance for most Friday nights during the summer. That said we have always been able to plan a trip if we are flexible about where we stay and call ahead before traveling.
Q. Any other gotchas?
A. Some people don't like RVs. Be prepared for the possibility of neighbors complaining to you or to police when you park at home. Check your local ordinances, lease, condo agreement, covenants, etc., as the case may be, but realize that even if you do your homework the rules can change over time and the trend is not in your favor.
I was new to RVs when I got it in 2010. I present herewith in Q&A form with my former self the answers to those questions that were (or should have been) on my mind 5 years ago.
Q. What are the maintenance costs like, really, over time.
A. A newer Airstream, stored indoors, will require little in the way of maintenance and repair once manufacturing problems are shaken out during the warranty period. In 5 years I paid for one air conditioning repair, $388. That's it.
Q. What kind of MPG when towing?
A. With a larger trailer and gasoline engine we typically get 8 MPG although it has varied from 7-11 MPG among trips depending on speed, traffic, and prevailing wind. This is fairly typical, though people with smaller trailers and more efficient tow vehicles will boast better figures.
Q. I mostly plan on boondocking for free on public land. How's that going to work out for me?
A. In Minnesota and most other states outside the mountain west, it isn't, though there are exceptions. We've sometimes stayed at small county parks that have free RV parking. There is some national/state forest land that is open to RVs however a great deal of advance scouting is necessary to make it work, and there's no guarantee that space will be available.
Q. So what are campsites going to cost me, then?
A. Considering all charges, typically $40-$50 a night, at least in Minnesota (there is wide variation nationwide). State parks now charge a reservation fee, plus a vehicle permit fee, plus the campsite fee, plus $5 a bundle for firewood -- which you're stuck paying if you want a fire since they don't allow you to gather your own or bring it in from outside sources.
Q. What am I going to have to buy, besides the trailer?
A. In nearly all cases, some sort of weight-distributing hitch and some sort of brake controller. You will need whatever linens, housewares, clothes, tools, and personal effects you plan to travel with unless you plan to pack them up from your house before every trip (which defeats much of the purpose of having an RV). You will want camp chairs and, probably, some sort of barbeque grill. There are a handful of electrical and plumbing adapters and hoses that are helpful to have, but the important ones probably came with your trailer.
Q. How much propane will I use?
A. Not much, except in really cold weather, or if you leave appliances on while your trailer is parked between trips. A rough average for me is 1 gallon per night away from home for typical trips. Theoretically for winter trips you can go through 8 gallons in 24 hours but I've never traveled in those conditions.
Q. How long will electricity and water hold out if I'm at a site without hookups?
A. It varies widely depending on your camping style. My rule of thumb is 5 gallons of water per person per day with reasonable conservation measures but where most of the meals are prepared in the trailer. It's easy to exceed this with long showers. For electricity we have found that we can go 2 nights with the stock batteries in warm weather and 1 night in cold weather. Some added battery capacity and a vehicle charge line has, for me, extended that to almost double that time as a practical matter.
Q. What are the other costs to watch out for?
A. Tow vehicle depreciation and maintenance are a major cost. Storage can also be a major cost, depending on your situation.
Q. Will I need a reservation to get a campsite?
A. It varies regionally, seasonally, and from one campground to the next. In Minnesota, popular campgrounds book up almost a year in advance for the major holiday weekends and several weeks in advance for most Friday nights during the summer. That said we have always been able to plan a trip if we are flexible about where we stay and call ahead before traveling.
Q. Any other gotchas?
A. Some people don't like RVs. Be prepared for the possibility of neighbors complaining to you or to police when you park at home. Check your local ordinances, lease, condo agreement, covenants, etc., as the case may be, but realize that even if you do your homework the rules can change over time and the trend is not in your favor.
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