Thanks for this great update video!!!!!! We are Thinking about one these long term for the 4x4 and shortness. We have a 2007 Interstate presently and love it, but would like the 4x4. Ours is 22.1 feet long and I definitely don’t want the added length. Thanks for all the info you provided on the Lithium upgrade you did.
Thanks for the great chat about how you are liking the van. We are considering downsizing from a 25ft travel trailer but, need different jobs first as we current require a 36" U-shaped dinette to work Monday through Friday. Someday we will be more free.
Thanks Javier! I plan on doing another one very soon, if not in the next few days then certainly by the end of the year. I am taking a short trip today and then a longer one in a few weeks. Be sure to subscribe! It will be regarding my latest experiences after nearly 200 nights and a little over two years with the vehicle. I’m not a full timer, because I am still working.
I have a 2013 airstream lounge and my a/c has three soeeds we use low at night when we go to bed and works well for not to loud at just a good white noise.
If I understood your comment on the generator/battery post situation, I offer the following: give them a coating of petroleum jelly and the problem will go away. All the best.
Thank you for your complementary and supportive words Frank! I don’t make many videos but hope to make another one, since I have been in the van a total of nearly 175 nights at this point and it has been two years and two months since we have owned it. Thank you for subscribing!
We’ve ordered a 2021 and are very excited to get it! Your video is very helpful...there is much to learn. Keep the tips and pointers coming! Stay safe. The Valentines
This is a helpful review, and knowing your height is handy. We worried a 19ft van bed would be too short for my tall husband. Glad the Interstate bed has been comfy for you 42 nights straight!
cjmvejby Ah. Well, we don’t put the rear screen down. It’s cooler with all doors closed and just the side windows opened and the fantastic fan on. Therefore, we have 4 more inches of headroom in the back. The Revel is good but we would be sleepy to much shoulder-to-shoulder.
Nice review, John P! My wife and I are gathering info on the Interstate's, and your presentation was very pleasant, and informative. We also use to have a Vanagon Weekender (just a bed in back) and traveled all over the West in that, until the engine leaked too much coolant. We did love that van!
Hi Kevin, sorry for the huge delay but I did not get this message and just happen to notice it. The AC is extremely loud! This is your grandfather‘s air-conditioning and your grandfather‘s GPS. Total disappointment from the Airstream perspective.
Please subscribe. When I take my next trip as a couple, I will do a quick video on the storage of our supplies and clothing inside the vehicle. Just keep in mind that we have the huge battery pack underneath the backseat and if you do not put the lithium batteries in that spot then you will have a lot more storage than I do.
Chris Slocum Hey Chris, Thank you for your kind words! It is a nice van but they are grossly deficient on battery power. Adding lithium batteries on your own or starting from scratch is highly recommended by us if you choose to Boondock. Given how we camp, we would have never made it on the original anemic set up. The van design team at Airstream really needs to have some more excited contributors on the design team in my opinion. I suspect within the next 6-10 months Winnebago will bury them! We have this one set up ideally at this point with the battery pack charging as we drive and also feeding the vehicle battery when Boondocking for several days. The generator is required for operating the air conditioner. We put in a 3000 W inverter compared to the tinker toy one that came with the van. You would never be able to operate that air conditioner under real field circumstances otherwise.
Thank you for your comment and please subscribe for free! It will help make the channel, small as it is, better for everyone who does Boondocking! I will do a 3 year follow up soon!
There's so much you don't know you don't know! I had thought this would be a great duel use product: use it to camp with just DH, then use it to take the last two to school and back....or longer trips to the mountains, etc, with some cush and comfort. I'll need to consider the various elements you've noted such as batteries, etc. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! For more photos, check out my Instagram @jpeg.pix. Camping at Peninsula Point Lighthouse, about 0.50 miles before the lighthouse is fabulous but there are only 3 spots. The opening site in this video was at Fox Park Campground near Stephenson Michigan, and the last site was at Kohler-Andrae State Park Campground south of Cheboygan Wisconsin (not very peaceful).
My husband and I would like to travel in a small van and we want to be able to bring our two grandchildren with us. will this accomodate sleeping for 4? Thank You.
I’d say no way in the 19’. That’s more for a 24’. Check out sizes at a dealer and you’ll see. Thanks for your comment! Please subscribe if you want. I’ll do another video soon.
thanks for the detailed reply..really good information..generator..never thought to ask if could do without..I thought it was standard option.so the generator doesn't recharge low batteries or perform any other benefits besides ac unit and microwave?
Hi Kevin, regarding this question, the generator now does charge the battery and does run the AC and does run the van. It’s just a matter of figuring out how to program the Xantrex system. I could not be happier with the way that I have made the modifications on this at this point. Airstream should hire me as a consultant because their mental approach to this is extremely old-fashioned and dated.
Is there room under the couch to put two sets of golf clubs? Also, I recommend T-9 Boeshield spray for your corrosion on the electric connectors. I was a charter Captain in Costa Rica and T-9 saved me from many problems. The great thing is you can spray it on anything electrical and the rest of the machinery safely and it really stops any further corrosion. Enjoyed your video and its honesty. Thank you
William Jolicoeur No room for clubs other than across the back side to side just inside the door. I’m out now with well over 100 nights after 1.5 years and will do a video again! Thank you for the tip and kind words!
Thank you John. So great seeing one of your reviews again. I would love to see how you set it up inside. Did you keep the soap dispenser? We just got ours and took the soap dispenser out. I put in small basket shelves to hold our small containers. Still trying to figure out what to put in to the other spaces. Have not the packing thing down yet. Would love your suggestions. Thank you again.
Rhonda McCay Hi Rhonda… Yes we did remove the soap dispenser. I also removed the television because it is just in the way and I don’t watch television anyway but rather just use my iPad and so forth. Still working on resolving our table issue however because I don’t like the one that came with it.
@@rvboondocker2559 Hi John. Curious what you did with the table. Did you resolve that? Any more videos coming our way? Would love to see how you set up the inside now that you have used it for so long.
Rhonda Mccay Hi Rhonda, I am still figuring out what I want to do with the table. I will be back in the van on 16 March so feel free to send me a note then and I will do a video if the weather is good. This last trip was a 16 day trip followed by another 10 day trip and I actually wished that I had the original table in the van. Still working out the kinks on all of those things. I did buy a second table mount but have not figured out exactly where I want to place it. I also ended up not needing the supplementary solar panel set up because I have plenty of power with the battery pack. The secret is to keep the inverter turned off other than when you need to use it. I will try to remember all these details for the next video.
Great video. Very informative. Thank you. Question, the front drivers seat. Being 6’5, Do you have enough room to adjust the seat back to drive comfortably?
Hi Chris, and thanks for your comment. Hopefully you did subscribe? Yes, I have no problem being comfortable. The seat also moves up and down and there is the capacity, at least in this model year, to raise the front edge of the seat up and down.
Hello, thank you for your video, is it four season? What happens if you stay at cold or very cold climate as far as tanks and water lines etc. are concerned?
So the whole Fourseasons thing is not realistic but if you are living in it and keeping the heat on then it is something you have to be careful with. I have camped both wet and dry with temperatures that are around 15°F.
great review by the way..nothing like witnesses testimony..how's miles to gallon?..did you order or buy available of lot..hows power and handling based of wieght and weather feel?
Hey can I ask you a question? Does the AC unit have an automatic on/off timer. Say if you set it to turn on at a certain time and run for an hour then turn off automatically?
Hi David. No timer. It’s also very loud. We rigged it to run of the generator, since it’s so loud anyway. Only needed it three times in 20 nights. Maybe the newer one is quieter. Otherwise, I’d order a different ac that runs quiet and is more energy efficient. This is old technology ac.
I enjoy your videos and review. I have a Nineteen 4x4 on order and was wondering, without upgrading the house battery system to lithium, what you were able to get out of them. How long would the lights and refrigerator work before having to use the generator?
DKTest I took them out before I even brought it home so I have no idea but I don’t think they were more than 85 amp hours each and there were two of them.
@@rvboondocker2559 John, did you purchase 2 lithium replacements? How much $$ upgrade. We have a 2018 Interstate EXT with 300 watts solar panels, but difficult to get through the night without running the generator.....AGM batteries just don't handle the load (unless I purchase 2 more)....your thoughts? Thanks for the video....loved it. Jan
Jan Sarver I Purchased a 525 amp hour Never die battery pack from Lithionics in Clearwater Florida. I am waiting for delivery of a couple additional solar panels that I bought separately and then I will do a video. It should be within the next 30 days I would Estimate. The reason why I bought this particular battery pack is because it is essentially bulletproof and will literally function if you put a bullet through it. It has many different functions that you can attached to it. In my opinion, AGM batteries are completely worthless! The van came with 250 W of solar panels and I am adding 230 W of portable panels. I really don’t need a generator except for when it is very hot out and want to run the air conditioning.
Lol. No but it does come with a kitchen so you can also make home food. Sometimes the clearance can be a problem if there is a low overhang at the window. Then I’d just hop out.
You mentioned about your 525 ah lithium battery system, it’s the after market mod or option provided by Airstream? So with the lithium battery, you can just run AC without turning on the generator, coerce? I have no experience with van life and don’t own a van but I started to realize having lithium battery is the way to go for me, what do you think?
Hi Mick. It is not an airstream option. I believe that they are offering something Lithium now. I did my homework and ordered this from Lithionics, a Clearwater Florida company. I would recommend doing the same, if you want an airstream. I would also recommend that you have it installed by a company in Charleston South Carolina, actually in Landon South Carolina, called IVS, innovative vehicle solutions. Jason is a genius and does this kind of thing there. Maybe I will do a video just about the battery. However, I had them do a few different modifications and they were absolutely critical. Yes, the air conditioning can run off of the battery. Once the battery gets low, you do have to turn off the air conditioner and start the generator to charge the battery again. Otherwise, you can drive it and that also charges the battery. The solar panels do also charge it somewhat but that is the slowest option. We only need the air conditioning about two nights annually, when the temperature is in the high 70s or 80s overnight.
Claude Lamoureux Yes. I have used it down to about 10°F but not with water in it. It was winterized. If you are using it below freezing, it is OK as long as you are living in it and have the heater on. Most all of the lines run inside so we have not had a problem. I have used it when the temperature has gone below freezing at night on several occasions and that is not a problem either because it is only for a few hours.Thanks for watching!
Hi Denny. It is a Lithionics battery pack and it is 525 amp hours. They are based in Clearwater Florida and highly regarded and UL approved, unlike battle born and so many others. The inverter is a 3000 W inverter. We added that before we even moved in. We have the battery hooked up to the alternator so that it charges when we drive but also uses the 250 W of solar to charge when parked. The generator can also charge it. Very much for BoonDocking!
@@dennyoziel3136 The lithium battery is my house battery. If you’d like to have someone look at it for you, call IVS, Innovative Vehicle Solutions in Charleston SC
Thank you for the update!! This is the kind of feedback I was looking for as we consider if we can go from the EXT to the shorty. On the generator terminals. I sprayed those with CRC Battery Terminal Protector. Works well. A/C should have a low setting... mine does (2018 AI Lounge TB Ext)... but the A/C is still too loud for our taste. So storage has not been an issue? How long have your stays been? How is the flow of moving around with two people? Thanks again for the update!
Jaime O. Diaz Thanks Jamie! Regarding the terminals, someone told me about the spray but I have heard pros and cons in this particular case. Still no luck on the low setting for the air conditioning. The two of us move around just fine and it is exactly what we wanted. We had previously owned a Volkswagen Weekender camping van. This is like the Taj Mahal in comparison! Storage, in terms of things that we bring with us, is plentiful and we go to the grocery store every three or four days anyway. Storage of the vehicle is not an issue because it is 19 feet and a Sprinter Van and I sometimes use it as my daily commuter as well.
@@rvboondocker2559 I would love to downsize (or rightsize :) ). The idea of being able to park in a normal spot is great. We will have to go back again and spend more time inside one to see... First time we went ( a few weeks back) we could not see us making it work. I think the problem is that we started with an Ext (our first ever RV) and got used to the size quickly. But something smaller that even the wife would feel comfortable driving (I do all the driving now), would be welcomed. Funny you mentioned the espresso/coffee comment... I now have a The Flair manual espresso maker because I can't start the day without a double shot of that stuff... we want to do an upgrade to Lithium as well (and a Victron 2000 watts inverter/charger) to be able to run a decent espresso machine without having to fire up the generator... but I digress... On my comment of the A/C control. I forgot that we have different controllers... that might be the reason for lacking the additional speeds. We keep our in low to minimize the noise and avoid the unit turning on and off (wakes me up when it cycles if I leave it in Auto). We will go back again to spend a couple of hours in one and give it another shot... kids no longer travel with us... we should be able to make it work... Thank you!
Hi Kevin. Technically, there are three sources of heat. The engine heater that comes with the vehicle, the true my heater and the air conditioner also produce heat. It depends on how warm you want it. Driving during the day, the heat from the front of the vehicle is plenty. A night square it is around 10°F, I actually set the Truman heater to about 70°. It works very well but you do have to wipe condensation off the windows in the morning. In terms of handling, it drives like a Mercedes! However, I did put larger KO2 tires on it and it handles much better with them. This is a four-wheel-drive version by the way. Also, the fuel economy depends a great deal on how you drive. If you don’t think about it and just drive like you are in a fast vehicle, you will get about 16 miles per gallon. If you drive conservatively, you can get 20 miles per gallon, but I try not to worry about it too much. Hope that helps! Something you did not ask about, is the generator. I would probably not want a generator in my next vehicle. It weighs too much and is pretty worthless. I never really need it, other than to run the air conditioning. I set mine up to only operate the air conditioning, and both the air conditioning and the generator are very, very loud.
In hot, humid (much of) Texas, in summer time, it’s not at all uncommon for nighttime temperatures to remain in the 90 degrees F realm, and relative humidity at 70% or higher, and without ac, you just can’t sleep comfortably… you lie there basting in your own sweat. Until a person has tried to exist in that level of sweltering mugginess, you really can’t describe with words just how incredibly uncomfortable it can be, and communicate that to someone who is unfamiliar with such a climate, AND that runs from mid-May to at least October, then again, that is so “Texas”, in that, as a 62 year old lifetime resident, I can assure you that there have been plenty of Thanksgivings where we ran the ac in the car and house, and felt a little silly even packing winter jackets when going to visit relatives, but just as many, well, just a few years back, I was working on Thanksgiving, and I stepped outside and looked to my right and noticed sleet and freezing rain blowing horizontally up the driveway, and the temperature had dropped to something like 28 degrees. Plus everything in between. It’s not a matter of a ‘50’s mentality’, it’s simply the reality of the climate down here. Consequently, the concept of an ac unit on an rv that could be perceived as over-powered, and lacking a “low” setting - we would more likely see as a selling point. Considering the number of potential customers from Florida and Georgia, all the way West through the Gulf States, the swamps of Louisiana and Southeast Texas (including the Southern tip, which extends halfway into Mexico), all the way across the desert Southwest to Los Angeles and San Diego, that would regard the performance of the ac system to be nothing less than a make-or-break consideration. So, there ARE alternative points of view.
Hi Kenneth and thanks for your comment. I agree completely and have had those days in the past when the AC was not working properly. All of your points are largely true but it is still a very primitive system and not at all up to the standards of what anyone would expect from airstream. We did some modifications on our own and we are able to run the air conditioner throughout the night starting with generator and then using our 525 amp hour lithium battery pack. The two tiny AGM batteries that originally came with this airstream were a ridiculous joke.
E.C. Corzilius Thanks. I believe everything is Dometic. The refrigerator is sizable enough for nearly one week for 2. The air conditioner is like laying underneath a jet engine and does not have a low speed. It seems to be simply on or off.
RV Boondocker thank u so very much for the info and your time. I am looking for a interstate 19 now, have had other class Bs and always had trouble with the refrigerators and the AC keeping up in the Hot FL temps. Will b watching thanks again
E.C. Corzilius We did a number of modifications and have the AC running off of the generator only, unless on shore power. It was the only way we could get it to work the way we needed it to work. We do have a 3000 W inverter and a 525 amp hour lithium battery pack.
Hey Woody, you’re going to have to assess your fully loaded weight with realistic supplies, fuel, etc and then see how much spare useful load you can take. We don’t have an extra storage pod. For us, absolutely lithium. The included batteries were useless for our needs. Thanks for the Q!
woody bailey Another thought is, what climate do you live in? The lithium battery pack that we have has a “heating element” installed in it. It keeps itself at a happy temperature through any climate.
I am in the Pacific NW, and this coach is for my further-frome-home excursions. It is also an alternative to my travel trailer (which with my truck puts me around 50+' long); I will use the trailer for the longer-but-closer-to-home trips.
franciswang2 I Purchased the battery pack separately but my local Airstream dealership installed it. The warranty was unaffected. They were very good about it. Obviously, if there had been an electrical problem, they would only trace it back to the battery and then it would be up to me but that seems reasonable.
franciswang2 Where do you live? I’d recommend IVS near Charleston SC. Innovative Vehicle Solutions. Ask for Jason. He works there doing all the brilliant sprinter work and one of his colleagues is the man who invented the sprinter van. He is now retired but works at this business for fun. I would not recommend anyone else on the planet to be honest.
Good review. We have the longer 2016. Love our interstate. Also, at my age, awesome to have a bathroom with me 24/7.
Ric Seaberg Thank you Ric!
Thanks for this great update video!!!!!! We are
Thinking about one these long term for the 4x4 and shortness. We have a 2007 Interstate presently and love it, but would like the 4x4. Ours is 22.1 feet long and I definitely don’t want the added length. Thanks for all the info you provided on the Lithium upgrade you did.
Katy in NH Thanks!
Thanks for the great chat about how you are liking the van. We are considering downsizing from a 25ft travel trailer but, need different jobs first as we current require a 36" U-shaped dinette to work Monday through Friday. Someday we will be more free.
Thanks Laurie!
Just started looking at these vehicles and glad your video was the first one I saw. Great tips and review.
Thanks Javier! I plan on doing another one very soon, if not in the next few days then certainly by the end of the year. I am taking a short trip today and then a longer one in a few weeks. Be sure to subscribe! It will be regarding my latest experiences after nearly 200 nights and a little over two years with the vehicle. I’m not a full timer, because I am still working.
You do a great job; commentary is easy to follow and you cover some great insights.
Don Blair Thank you! Very kind.
I have a 2013 airstream lounge and my a/c has three soeeds we use low at night when we go to bed and works well for not to loud at just a good white noise.
If I understood your comment on the generator/battery post situation, I offer the following: give them a coating of petroleum jelly and the problem will go away. All the best.
DieselBoat Man Thanks! That’ll do it!
Thank you for your documentary.
I love this BIG little 19' 6" RV. 🏝
Lovely, practical and unpretentious.
Walmart welcomes polite, temporary, over night RV campers.
I really enjoyed this, thanks! Great delivery, succinct, thorough, insightful, balanced. I loved seeing your real campsite. Subscribed!
Thank you for your complementary and supportive words Frank! I don’t make many videos but hope to make another one, since I have been in the van a total of nearly 175 nights at this point and it has been two years and two months since we have owned it. Thank you for subscribing!
We’ve ordered a 2021 and are very excited to get it! Your video is very helpful...there is much to learn. Keep the tips and pointers coming! Stay safe. The Valentines
Me again....how is this “beast” in the mountains?
This is a helpful review, and knowing your height is handy. We worried a 19ft van bed would be too short for my tall husband. Glad the Interstate bed has been comfy for you 42 nights straight!
You are welcome! Ended up with about 300 nights. Sold it in June and bought a 22’ Sprinter Van, Grech Terreno 4x4.
6’4”! Thank you, you just answered my greatest reservation against getting an airstream. Everything they make seemed to be for 73” people.
cjmvejby Go stand in one first.
John P It’s not the standing that worries me, it’s the laying. The beds seem to have a theme of 73” across most models.
cjmvejby Ah. Well, we don’t put the rear screen down. It’s cooler with all doors closed and just the side windows opened and the fantastic fan on. Therefore, we have 4 more inches of headroom in the back. The Revel is good but we would be sleepy to much shoulder-to-shoulder.
I am listing mine: 2019 Airstream Interstate 19’, 4x4 KO2’s, State-of-The-Art Lithionics 525amp/hr Lithium battery pack, 250W Solar, 3000W inverter/charger, Onan generator, upgraded bed seat cushioning and much more!
Nice review, John P! My wife and I are gathering info on the Interstate's, and your presentation was very pleasant, and informative. We also use to have a Vanagon Weekender (just a bed in back) and traveled all over the West in that, until the engine leaked too much coolant. We did love that van!
Thomas Robison Thank you Thomas. Spending the next two weeks in Florida.
Excellent video. Very thorough - great ideas and honest review. Thx!
Thanks Doc!
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences. I am starting to really do research right now and this was super clear and helpful info!
Brand, you are welcome and thank you for your very kind words!
Great video thank you for the content.
Review Guy Thank you so much for your support!
Thank you for sharing. Great review!
how does the Mercedes stock air conditioning work versus the loud coach unit..factory/manufacturer didnt remove it from engine compartment did they?
Hi Kevin, sorry for the huge delay but I did not get this message and just happen to notice it. The AC is extremely loud! This is your grandfather‘s air-conditioning and your grandfather‘s GPS. Total disappointment from the Airstream perspective.
Please subscribe. When I take my next trip as a couple, I will do a quick video on the storage of our supplies and clothing inside the vehicle. Just keep in mind that we have the huge battery pack underneath the backseat and if you do not put the lithium batteries in that spot then you will have a lot more storage than I do.
This would be great! Thanks
Excellent review and insights - thanks very much! We're thinking of acquiring one.
Chris Slocum Hey Chris, Thank you for your kind words! It is a nice van but they are grossly deficient on battery power. Adding lithium batteries on your own or starting from scratch is highly recommended by us if you choose to Boondock. Given how we camp, we would have never made it on the original anemic set up. The van design team at Airstream really needs to have some more excited contributors on the design team in my opinion. I suspect within the next 6-10 months Winnebago will bury them! We have this one set up ideally at this point with the battery pack charging as we drive and also feeding the vehicle battery when Boondocking for several days. The generator is required for operating the air conditioner. We put in a 3000 W inverter compared to the tinker toy one that came with the van. You would never be able to operate that air conditioner under real field circumstances otherwise.
Great vid! Thanks for all your info.
Enjoy the journey
Thank you for your kind words RF!
Dialetic grease on elec connects for coroding issues
They should have blind spot monitor, best safety feature on vehicles today.
Hi RamsDodger, they do. The next model year of Mercedes implemented them.
Thank you for your comment and please subscribe for free! It will help make the channel, small as it is, better for everyone who does Boondocking! I will do a 3 year follow up soon!
There's so much you don't know you don't know! I had thought this would be a great duel use product: use it to camp with just DH, then use it to take the last two to school and back....or longer trips to the mountains, etc, with some cush and comfort. I'll need to consider the various elements you've noted such as batteries, etc. Thank you.
Thanks for watching! For more photos, check out my Instagram @jpeg.pix. Camping at Peninsula Point Lighthouse, about 0.50 miles before the lighthouse is fabulous but there are only 3 spots. The opening site in this video was at Fox Park Campground near Stephenson Michigan, and the last site was at Kohler-Andrae State Park Campground south of Cheboygan Wisconsin (not very peaceful).
Thx for this review...very, very helpful...
Cool. Glad it helped. I have a lot to add after three years but honestly I’m waiting for 1000 subs. You are very kind.
My husband and I would like to travel in a small van and we want to be able to bring our two grandchildren with us. will this accomodate sleeping for 4? Thank You.
I’d say no way in the 19’. That’s more for a 24’. Check out sizes at a dealer and you’ll see. Thanks for your comment! Please subscribe if you want. I’ll do another video soon.
No, this RV is for 2 people.
Sounds like Airstream has a long way to go
Not lying...they have no clue
thanks for the detailed reply..really good information..generator..never thought to ask if could do without..I thought it was standard option.so the generator doesn't recharge low batteries or perform any other benefits besides ac unit and microwave?
Hi Kevin, regarding this question, the generator now does charge the battery and does run the AC and does run the van. It’s just a matter of figuring out how to program the Xantrex system. I could not be happier with the way that I have made the modifications on this at this point. Airstream should hire me as a consultant because their mental approach to this is extremely old-fashioned and dated.
Is there room under the couch to put two sets of golf clubs? Also, I recommend T-9 Boeshield spray for your corrosion on the electric connectors. I was a charter Captain in Costa Rica and T-9 saved me from many problems. The great thing is you can spray it on anything electrical and the rest of the machinery safely and it really stops any further corrosion. Enjoyed your video and its honesty. Thank you
William Jolicoeur No room for clubs other than across the back side to side just inside the door. I’m out now with well over 100 nights after 1.5 years and will do a video again! Thank you for the tip and kind words!
Great van. Great lifestyle.
Hey thanks! I should really do another video. 40 months 259 nights.
@@rvboondocker2559 Absolutely.
Really pretty place.
nice info thanks to you
Hey Lance, thanks! It’s currently for sale too fyi.
Thank you John. So great seeing one of your reviews again. I would love to see how you set it up inside. Did you keep the soap dispenser? We just got ours and took the soap dispenser out. I put in small basket shelves to hold our small containers. Still trying to figure out what to put in to the other spaces. Have not the packing thing down yet. Would love your suggestions.
Thank you again.
Rhonda McCay Hi Rhonda… Yes we did remove the soap dispenser. I also removed the television because it is just in the way and I don’t watch television anyway but rather just use my iPad and so forth. Still working on resolving our table issue however because I don’t like the one that came with it.
@@rvboondocker2559 Hi John. Curious what you did with the table. Did you resolve that? Any more videos coming our way? Would love to see how you set up the inside now that you have used it for so long.
Rhonda Mccay Hi Rhonda, I am still figuring out what I want to do with the table. I will be back in the van on 16 March so feel free to send me a note then and I will do a video if the weather is good. This last trip was a 16 day trip followed by another 10 day trip and I actually wished that I had the original table in the van. Still working out the kinks on all of those things. I did buy a second table mount but have not figured out exactly where I want to place it. I also ended up not needing the supplementary solar panel set up because I have plenty of power with the battery pack. The secret is to keep the inverter turned off other than when you need to use it. I will try to remember all these details for the next video.
A wonder if a 12v AC could be fitted? They’re really quiet and do have three speeds.
That’d be great!
Did add a RV specific GPS like Garmin
Great! I sold mine and bought a Grech. At least it can use CarPlay. That works well.
Great video. Very informative. Thank you. Question, the front drivers seat. Being 6’5, Do you have enough room to adjust the seat back to drive comfortably?
Hi Chris, and thanks for your comment. Hopefully you did subscribe? Yes, I have no problem being comfortable. The seat also moves up and down and there is the capacity, at least in this model year, to raise the front edge of the seat up and down.
Put some silicone dielectric grease on the battery terminals.
Hello, thank you for your video, is it four season? What happens if you stay at cold or very cold climate as far as tanks and water lines etc. are concerned?
So the whole Fourseasons thing is not realistic but if you are living in it and keeping the heat on then it is something you have to be careful with. I have camped both wet and dry with temperatures that are around 15°F.
great review by the way..nothing like witnesses testimony..how's miles to gallon?..did you order or buy available of lot..hows power and handling based of wieght and weather feel?
Hi again Kevin… 16 1/2 to 21 1/2 miles per gallon, depending on your speed and wind direction, no joke!
Hey can I ask you a question? Does the AC unit have an automatic on/off timer. Say if you set it to turn on at a certain time and run for an hour then turn off automatically?
Hi David. No timer. It’s also very loud. We rigged it to run of the generator, since it’s so loud anyway. Only needed it three times in 20 nights. Maybe the newer one is quieter. Otherwise, I’d order a different ac that runs quiet and is more energy efficient. This is old technology ac.
have you changed the generator oil yet? Looks like you need to remove the darn thing.
Yes. Easy to change the oil. The generator comes in handy for all night ac. Thanks
I enjoy your videos and review. I have a Nineteen 4x4 on order and was wondering, without upgrading the house battery system to lithium, what you were able to get out of them. How long would the lights and refrigerator work before having to use the generator?
DKTest I took them out before I even brought it home so I have no idea but I don’t think they were more than 85 amp hours each and there were two of them.
@@rvboondocker2559 John, did you purchase 2 lithium replacements? How much $$ upgrade. We have a 2018 Interstate EXT with 300 watts solar panels, but difficult to get through the night without running the generator.....AGM batteries just don't handle the load (unless I purchase 2 more)....your thoughts? Thanks for the video....loved it.
Jan
Jan Sarver I Purchased a 525 amp hour Never die battery pack from Lithionics in Clearwater Florida. I am waiting for delivery of a couple additional solar panels that I bought separately and then I will do a video. It should be within the next 30 days I would Estimate. The reason why I bought this particular battery pack is because it is essentially bulletproof and will literally function if you put a bullet through it. It has many different functions that you can attached to it. In my opinion, AGM batteries are completely worthless! The van came with 250 W of solar panels and I am adding 230 W of portable panels. I really don’t need a generator except for when it is very hot out and want to run the air conditioning.
No problem with drive through for fast food?
Lol. No but it does come with a kitchen so you can also make home food. Sometimes the clearance can be a problem if there is a low overhang at the window. Then I’d just hop out.
You mentioned about your 525 ah lithium battery system, it’s the after market mod or option provided by Airstream? So with the lithium battery, you can just run AC without turning on the generator, coerce? I have no experience with van life and don’t own a van but I started to realize having lithium battery is the way to go for me, what do you think?
Hi Mick. It is not an airstream option. I believe that they are offering something Lithium now. I did my homework and ordered this from Lithionics, a Clearwater Florida company. I would recommend doing the same, if you want an airstream. I would also recommend that you have it installed by a company in Charleston South Carolina, actually in Landon South Carolina, called IVS, innovative vehicle solutions. Jason is a genius and does this kind of thing there. Maybe I will do a video just about the battery. However, I had them do a few different modifications and they were absolutely critical. Yes, the air conditioning can run off of the battery. Once the battery gets low, you do have to turn off the air conditioner and start the generator to charge the battery again. Otherwise, you can drive it and that also charges the battery. The solar panels do also charge it somewhat but that is the slowest option. We only need the air conditioning about two nights annually, when the temperature is in the high 70s or 80s overnight.
@@rvboondocker2559 thank you for sharing the info. I will definitely look into the lithium battery solution you provided here.
How noisy is the A/C & generator?
EXTREMELY
Hi very nice rig, Is it possible to us it in winter , i mean when outside temp is below 32F ? Did you ever experence it?
I am from Canada ...
Claude Lamoureux Yes. I have used it down to about 10°F but not with water in it. It was winterized. If you are using it below freezing, it is OK as long as you are living in it and have the heater on. Most all of the lines run inside so we have not had a problem. I have used it when the temperature has gone below freezing at night on several occasions and that is not a problem either because it is only for a few hours.Thanks for watching!
Great video! Very informative. Can you tell me more about your batter upgrade? Did you also change your 1000w inverter?
Hi Denny. It is a Lithionics battery pack and it is 525 amp hours. They are based in Clearwater Florida and highly regarded and UL approved, unlike battle born and so many others. The inverter is a 3000 W inverter. We added that before we even moved in. We have the battery hooked up to the alternator so that it charges when we drive but also uses the 250 W of solar to charge when parked. The generator can also charge it. Very much for BoonDocking!
@@rvboondocker2559 how is it connected to your house batteries?
@@dennyoziel3136 The lithium battery is my house battery. If you’d like to have someone look at it for you, call IVS, Innovative Vehicle Solutions in Charleston SC
@@rvboondocker2559 thanks but I’m in Southern California. I have a guy here that does conversions. I’ll give him call. Thanks again.
@@dennyoziel3136 Call them anyway. I think they have a California branch. They are geniuses. I drive 14 hours to them for anything electrical.
Thank you for the update!! This is the kind of feedback I was looking for as we consider if we can go from the EXT to the shorty.
On the generator terminals. I sprayed those with CRC Battery Terminal Protector. Works well.
A/C should have a low setting... mine does (2018 AI Lounge TB Ext)... but the A/C is still too loud for our taste.
So storage has not been an issue? How long have your stays been?
How is the flow of moving around with two people?
Thanks again for the update!
Jaime O. Diaz Thanks Jamie! Regarding the terminals, someone told me about the spray but I have heard pros and cons in this particular case. Still no luck on the low setting for the air conditioning. The two of us move around just fine and it is exactly what we wanted. We had previously owned a Volkswagen Weekender camping van. This is like the Taj Mahal in comparison! Storage, in terms of things that we bring with us, is plentiful and we go to the grocery store every three or four days anyway. Storage of the vehicle is not an issue because it is 19 feet and a Sprinter Van and I sometimes use it as my daily commuter as well.
@@rvboondocker2559 I would love to downsize (or rightsize :) ). The idea of being able to park in a normal spot is great.
We will have to go back again and spend more time inside one to see... First time we went ( a few weeks back) we could not see us making it work. I think the problem is that we started with an Ext (our first ever RV) and got used to the size quickly. But something smaller that even the wife would feel comfortable driving (I do all the driving now), would be welcomed.
Funny you mentioned the espresso/coffee comment... I now have a The Flair manual espresso maker because I can't start the day without a double shot of that stuff... we want to do an upgrade to Lithium as well (and a Victron 2000 watts inverter/charger) to be able to run a decent espresso machine without having to fire up the generator... but I digress...
On my comment of the A/C control. I forgot that we have different controllers... that might be the reason for lacking the additional speeds. We keep our in low to minimize the noise and avoid the unit turning on and off (wakes me up when it cycles if I leave it in Auto).
We will go back again to spend a couple of hours in one and give it another shot... kids no longer travel with us... we should be able to make it work... Thank you!
the stock Mercedes air conditioning and heater from engine...does it put out enough to not need duplicate coach equipment?
Hi Kevin. Technically, there are three sources of heat. The engine heater that comes with the vehicle, the true my heater and the air conditioner also produce heat. It depends on how warm you want it. Driving during the day, the heat from the front of the vehicle is plenty. A night square it is around 10°F, I actually set the Truman heater to about 70°. It works very well but you do have to wipe condensation off the windows in the morning. In terms of handling, it drives like a Mercedes! However, I did put larger KO2 tires on it and it handles much better with them. This is a four-wheel-drive version by the way. Also, the fuel economy depends a great deal on how you drive. If you don’t think about it and just drive like you are in a fast vehicle, you will get about 16 miles per gallon. If you drive conservatively, you can get 20 miles per gallon, but I try not to worry about it too much. Hope that helps! Something you did not ask about, is the generator. I would probably not want a generator in my next vehicle. It weighs too much and is pretty worthless. I never really need it, other than to run the air conditioning. I set mine up to only operate the air conditioning, and both the air conditioning and the generator are very, very loud.
Enjoyed your review. I am considering one of these. So why do you prefer to shower outside?
novaman It’s beautiful, more spacious, and don’t have to carry the gray water on board.
Did you have to add/alter anything else to add the lithium battery or just a straight replacement?
Fenix Firearms At that point, just the battery pack and a 3000w inverter and the displays.
@@rvboondocker2559 Where did you buy the battery pack, inverter and displays?
Steve Cabacungan Lithionics in Clearwater Florida. Tell Stephen John sent you!
@@rvboondocker2559 Thanks
Are you able to stand up in it?
Christian Onassis The clearance inside is about 6’3”. Hope that helps.
In hot, humid (much of) Texas, in summer time, it’s not at all uncommon for nighttime temperatures to remain in the 90 degrees F realm, and relative humidity at 70% or higher, and without ac, you just can’t sleep comfortably… you lie there basting in your own sweat. Until a person has tried to exist in that level of sweltering mugginess, you really can’t describe with words just how incredibly uncomfortable it can be, and communicate that to someone who is unfamiliar with such a climate, AND that runs from mid-May to at least October, then again, that is so “Texas”, in that, as a 62 year old lifetime resident, I can assure you that there have been plenty of Thanksgivings where we ran the ac in the car and house, and felt a little silly even packing winter jackets when going to visit relatives, but just as many, well, just a few years back, I was working on Thanksgiving, and I stepped outside and looked to my right and noticed sleet and freezing rain blowing horizontally up the driveway, and the temperature had dropped to something like 28 degrees. Plus everything in between. It’s not a matter of a ‘50’s mentality’, it’s simply the reality of the climate down here. Consequently, the concept of an ac unit on an rv that could be perceived as over-powered, and lacking a “low” setting - we would more likely see as a selling point. Considering the number of potential customers from Florida and Georgia, all the way West through the Gulf States, the swamps of Louisiana and Southeast Texas (including the Southern tip, which extends halfway into Mexico), all the way across the desert Southwest to Los Angeles and San Diego, that would regard the performance of the ac system to be nothing less than a make-or-break consideration. So, there ARE alternative points of view.
Hi Kenneth and thanks for your comment. I agree completely and have had those days in the past when the AC was not working properly. All of your points are largely true but it is still a very primitive system and not at all up to the standards of what anyone would expect from airstream. We did some modifications on our own and we are able to run the air conditioner throughout the night starting with generator and then using our 525 amp hour lithium battery pack. The two tiny AGM batteries that originally came with this airstream were a ridiculous joke.
Great video. Is there a spare tire onboard?
No
Hi love your video thanks what kind of refrigerator is in the 19? And what’s the brand of AC? Enjoy
E.C. Corzilius Thanks. I believe everything is Dometic. The refrigerator is sizable enough for nearly one week for 2. The air conditioner is like laying underneath a jet engine and does not have a low speed. It seems to be simply on or off.
RV Boondocker thank u so very much for the info and your time. I am looking for a interstate 19 now, have had other class Bs and always had trouble with the refrigerators and the AC keeping up in the Hot FL temps. Will b watching thanks again
E.C. Corzilius We did a number of modifications and have the AC running off of the generator only, unless on shore power. It was the only way we could get it to work the way we needed it to work. We do have a 3000 W inverter and a 525 amp hour lithium battery pack.
RV Boondocker ok this is great to know thank u so much
By chance do u know if the new 19s still have the ac switch still the same as high or nothing or do u think they changed that in newer models?
I just bought a 2020; would you recommend getting a storage pod for the back? And do you recommend the lithium battery vs the 2 deep cycles?
Hey Woody, you’re going to have to assess your fully loaded weight with realistic supplies, fuel, etc and then see how much spare useful load you can take. We don’t have an extra storage pod. For us, absolutely lithium. The included batteries were useless for our needs. Thanks for the Q!
Thank you!
woody bailey Another thought is, what climate do you live in? The lithium battery pack that we have has a “heating element” installed in it. It keeps itself at a happy temperature through any climate.
I am in the Pacific NW, and this coach is for my further-frome-home excursions. It is also an alternative to my travel trailer (which with my truck puts me around 50+' long); I will use the trailer for the longer-but-closer-to-home trips.
Hi Woody did by chance on the 2020 did they change the switch and put a low setting on ac?
how much does it cost monthly to live in?
What campground is that?
Sorry, I didn’t see your question. Kohler-Andrae State Park Campground, near Sheboygan WI
i am looking at the 2023 airstream atlas
Look at Grech. Call Amber at Campers Inn near Savanna and tell her I sent you. Thank me later. ~John
Airstream change your battery or someone else. how about warranty stand after change.
franciswang2 I Purchased the battery pack separately but my local Airstream dealership installed it. The warranty was unaffected. They were very good about it. Obviously, if there had been an electrical problem, they would only trace it back to the battery and then it would be up to me but that seems reasonable.
@@rvboondocker2559 Thanks John, do you mind which dealer installed it? I try to get done with mine.
franciswang2 Where do you live? I’d recommend IVS near Charleston SC. Innovative Vehicle Solutions. Ask for Jason. He works there doing all the brilliant sprinter work and one of his colleagues is the man who invented the sprinter van. He is now retired but works at this business for fun. I would not recommend anyone else on the planet to be honest.
@@rvboondocker2559 Thanks
Enjoyed your review. Thanks. What is your real world mpg reading?
MPG is 16.8-22.8 depending on speed, weight, and wind. Mostly speed.
S R Certainly! Air temperature seems to be a big factor too. In Florida now and it’s way better than Chicago
Nearly 5 minutes in, still talking about yourself and photography. Hoped to learn something about the van.
Thanks Robert. Some people know so much there’s nothing left to learn. Love your channel.
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Subscribe to what? U don't have any content...
Lol! Thanks for your kind words.