Wanted

Hi Are we talking about 4 adults (comfortably) or 2 adults and some number of small kids (possibly not all comfortably)? Bob

Good question Bob. Airstream literature claims that my 23FB will sleep 4. I’d hate to be one of the two that have to sleep on the converted dinette bed! It’s okay for one typical adult or for two small kids. The 23FB will not comfortably sleep 4 adults, despite what the marketing literature states.

Hi Even on a 30' Classic, you can put two adults in the "bedroom" fine. Past that, you have room for more after you have converted the dinette into a bed. Is that space adequate for two kids? probably. One adult? Maybe ... The 30' FC "bunkhouse" is the only modern model that comes to mind with 4 "always there" beds. Even it is a bit of a challenge for four full size folks. That upper bunk ... yikes .... Fine for two kids in the bunks and two adults in the bedroom. Yes there are a *bunch* of floor plans with a variety of "conversion to bed" options. Some are better for this some for that. It is very much a "that depends" sort of thing. If one or more adults is 4' 11" tall and under 110 LB, they would take a *very* different view of the kid / adult boundary. Thus the question to the OP .... Bob

Really good questions, and good points. We'd ideally like to sleep 2 adults and 2 kids. But you've provided good food for thought, because those kids grow!

rick

my 86 34 limited sleeps 4 with ease.

It kind of depends on the two extra adults if that's what you meant. Almost all RV's, including bigger fifth wheels, are designed with one regular bed with mattress and then also have provisions for two to four more places to sleep. If the extra adults are not overweight and don't have special needs, then the table makes a suitable bed for most for a couple of nights. On my Flying cloud 30 RB, the front seating area converts into a bed suitable for two normal sized adults. I'd be hesitant to sleep anyone on the table or the front area if they weigh more than two hundred pounds each. I've only ever had children and grandchildren up to their late teen years travel with me and they were glad to be along - never a complaint. Four adults in any Airstream is a crowd so be forewarned on that front.

Our 2015 23D can sleep three if the third does not toss and turn on the sofa. Really too tight a space for more than two folks despite the adds. Putting the dinette table down can create more space but the floor is nearly gone. We say the 23D can entertain four, feed four if not huge and sleeps two unless the other(s) are family. Our 2014 Classic has twin beds for us in the back. The dinette has a drop down table. The front sofa can pull out as a hide-a-bed. We say our Classic entertains six, feeds four and sleeps two. :wally::D

Hi There's also limited ways you can fit folks in who are 6' 4" tall ( as some of us are ...)..... So, we have kids and we have adults. For some an AS is a "forever trailer". For others it's a step along the way. If the kids are 6 and 8 years old now *and* the trailer is supposed to be a > 10 year sort of item, they will at / near adult size within the "life" of the RV. One "time honored" solution to this is a bunkhouse. It might be a tent. It could be a teardrop. It might even be another Airstream. Everybody eats and hangs out in the "big trailer" ( yes that very much needs to be thought through ....) and they sleep in the "spare rooms". Another consideration is pets. They take up floor space and need some room for this and that. Along with the eating / hanging out ( = where do people sit?) needs, they would have to be factored in as well. While some 5th wheels have multiple baths and bedrooms, a stock AS is a "single bathroom" sort of setup. Again, maybe an issue / maybe not. Bob

If you can find a 28' Flying Cloud you can get 4 in comfortably. Bedroom with queen or twins, the lounge couch converts for a good adult or 2 cuddling adults while the dinette can be converted to an adult or 2 kids. So there you go six well acquainted folks of varying sizes. The wall behind dinette also is a nice place for a 50" TV, so you can eliminate that postage stamp size TV that goes into all the models. Finding is part of the adventure. Enjoy the search and reward.

Hi There is a basic difference between the foam normally used in a chair and the foam used in a mattress. When you make a "dual use" area, there have to be compromises. Any of these "switch over" areas will have some sort of compromise involved in the foam and in the geometry of the cushions. What to do? Spend some time with any potential candidate RV. Make sure that this or that area works well both as seating and sleeping space. Only you can decide what works and what does not. Bob

We can sleep four "adults" in our 28-foot Classic, but we have to bring along a portable fold-out cot for the fourth adult to put next to the scissor couch which completely fills the living room. Airstreams are just not designed for four full sized adults. We and two grand kids fit just fine.

One or more of our young ones used a sleeping bag on the floor�we all survived just fine�.:D

Hi I have friends who are very much into 5th wheels. We have a lot of interesting conversations about the "relative merits" of them vs an AS. Their idea of what is a normal thing to put up with is very different than mine. That's fine. It makes for fun chatting around the table or campfire. What it does bring to light is that this stuff is *very* dependent on the individuals involved. Understanding the tradeoffs is important. Three > 100 pound dogs in an AS along with two adults involves tradeoffs. I have data on that. Works fine for us, seems crazy to others .... Bob

One of the things that separates Airstream from all the others 5th wheel or not is not only the classic (valuable resale) style but the windows. Airstream construction provides for much better panoramic views. As a family we decided that we wanted to go with Airstream because after looking at the others the benefits outweighed the drawbacks. As for the seat cushions, true, they are not great mattresses that's why we got a fabric covered memory foam mattress that could be rolled up and stored in the under lounge couch. Works great. If you want the Airstream experience there are many creative ways to get a good nights sleep for everyone. I believe if you do a lot of highway travel you find that Airstream hold up better in the sense of cabinet fits, hinges latches etc. There is simply less structural flexing resulting in beater structural integrity.

Hi Once you have your trailer ( of any sort ) and four folks ready to go camping, you hit the next layer of the onion. There are a lot of ads on TV suggesting that this or that small SUV will tow some giant trailer just fine. While they may be technically correct ( empty vehicle / empty trailer / 20 mph ...) they are not the real world. It is difficult to find a modern SUV that will handle the payload of four, their gear, and a big trailer. For many the answer is to go shopping for a fairly big truck. No, this is not to say a truck is the *only* answer. There are way to many variables here to have one answer. It's only to suggest that one might want to look into that end of it as one shops for a trailer. We set out with an SUV and the thought of towing with it. That didn't work out at all .... As you move into the 28' and over range, the truck becomes a very likely answer. Even at 25' many SUV's come up a bit short one way or another. There are an unfortunately large number of ratings you need to dig into. Which one this or that vehicle / trailer combo maxes out on .... who knows. The "tow rating" number is rarely what stops the parade. Fun Bob

This is extremely personal/individual decision. I met one family of 4 with a large dog traveling in a 16' older Bambi and they said they couldn't imagine ever needing or even wanting a larger trailer. Also met an older man staying by himself in a 34' Airstream 6 months of the year and he said by the end of the 6 months he couldn't wait to get out of that tiny cramped 34' Airstream and get back to his house in Florida and stretch out.

Hi It's also true from talking to dealers that a *lot* of folks buy something quite small as their "forever RV" and are back a year later to trade it in on something significantly larger. They don't quite work this all out the first time. ( Yes, there are a few that go big and then step back, but that's pretty rare). In normal times ( will a year or two from now be normal? ) trading in a new RV is an expensive process. Buying an RV today at "market price" and trading it in a year or two could be *very* expensive. The normal advice is to go sit in a range of models and see how they do for you. Your local AS dealer is a good way to do this in normal times. Right now there isn't a lot of inventory out there. That's why the "drag all this" into a "we're looking" thread. There really isn't as much opportunity to do a look see. Bob

Airstream for 4

Our 30� Flying Cloud rear twins, pull out couch and dinette conversion sleeps 4 comfortably.

Great advice on here. Glad I joined this forum! Thanks to all.

@GWThames please share link—would be great to check it out.

Would you like to see our 27’ International Signature? It will sleep 4.

Our 23' International has slept 4 people easily. Please see the ad I posted yesterday.

I’ve a 25’ FLying Cloud Rear BR queen listed for sale on this site. Located in Charlottesville VA. I am the original owner. Clear title.

Thanks for the outreach. Loving this community even before we’ve gotten our airstream. With Groups input we will look for an Rv That can sleep 5-6.

34 foot is the answer

I have a 34 with twin beds, the dinette makes a bed, the sofa makes a bed. Plus we have a pantry that makes cooking for extra folks super easy along with tons of closet area for storage.

I have a 35 foot 1991 60th anniversary model in Myrtle Beach that is for sale. Just the wife and I no pets currently in storage in Myrtle Beach