Reader Cheryl V. has an interesting question: “Have you heard of a device that helps start your AC slowly so that a 13500 [BTU] can run on a Honda 2000 generator?” she asks. “I forgot to ask about it at Alumapalooza.” Now that summer is in full swing, temperatures are high both inside and outside … Continue reading Ask Outside Interests
Your Airstream is made of aluminum, but rivets are what make it strong. Take those 5,000 rivets away and you’ve got a floppy pile of soft metal. In this age of robotic vehicle assembly you might be surprised to learn that each one of those rivets was placed on your Airstream by hand by a … Continue reading Rivets!
In part one of Rich Luhr’s boondocking tips he shared the best ways to ease “range anxiety” by increasing your Airstream battery life. “Another major way to extend your power supply is to understand where the power goes,” said Luhr. The built-in battery monitor won’t help with that. You will need to install an accurate … Continue reading Conserving Power While Boondocking, Part 2
One of the most concerns of RV travelers who have begun to stray from established campsites has to do with energy usage. They’re always worried about running out of battery power, a version of the “range anxiety” that owners of electric cars often have. That’s a legitimate concern, because once the batteries run out of … Continue reading Conserving Power While Boondocking
When you embark on an Airstream adventure, “don’t leave common sense behind,” said John Gold, RV expert and presenter at a recent Alumaevent. “How many of you have an emergency escape hatch in your Airstream?” he asked the crowd, and all hands waved. “Good!” he said. “Now, how many of you have climbed through it?” … Continue reading Airstream Fire Safety Part Two: 9-1-1, and How to Evacuate
Quick—how old are the tires on your Airstream? If you’re like most people, you haven’t thought about that in a while, and you might even be wondering why you should be thinking about it now. The short answer is that tires eventually get too old for safe use, even when the tread still looks good. … Continue reading My Tires Are How Old?
Roslyn B. says, “I have a question about trailer tires. This past weekend I had a blowout on a busy interstate. We spent two hours in 102 degrees in a precarious position waiting for the emergency assistance from Good Sam to get to us. Thankfully a FHP trooper waited with us hoping to slow the … Continue reading Ask Outside Interests
Outside Interests reader Jim L. wants to know: “How is it best to handle batteries on the winter? Do I take them out? Store in my cold garage? Do I put a charge on them all winter to keep from freezing? Do I add water in the winter when they are not used? Do I … Continue reading Battery Storage
With an Airstream hooked to the back of your car you’ll find that long trips are much nicer. One perk is having your own bathroom wherever you go. There’s only one small price to be paid for this convenience: dumping the waste tanks. Black vs gray: Blackwater is sewer water from the toilet, which in … Continue reading Black Water: a Newbies Guide
These days about half of new Airstreams are sold to people who have never owned any type of travel trailer or motorhome before. That means there are a lot of people who are just now trying to learn all the tricks and skills needed to optimize their travel experience. Boondocking Camping away from hookups in … Continue reading Conserving Water when Boondocking
