Has anyone moved froma 5th wheel to an airstream trailer?

Airstreams are built to be towed.

5ers are great when they are parked.

In most cases, in the long run the 5ers will cost more to own and operate. They need an HD pickup in front. In most cases high fuel costs. With an Airstream you can tow them with smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.

We paid $5,800 for a 30 year old Airstream. It is now 40 years old and has increased in value. We use the family sedan to tow with. It gets 25MPG+ when not towing which is most of the time.

I would in a heartbeat. Wife on the other hand wants to bring everything and have room for ballroom dancing in the living area.

3_for_the_road wrote:
We moved from a fifth wheel to an Airstream about a year and a half ago. Good move for us. We had the 5er for about nine years, an Everest, and it was showing its mileage plus we wanted smaller and with less moving parts to maintain, eg, slides. The Airstream towes and backs easier IMHO. Very stable on the road. True there's less storage space in the Airstream, but with the 5er hitch removed from the truck bed and purging of the "stuff" we had in the belly, we found we had plenty of room in the truck. Our 30' Airstream vs the 37' 5er gives us more flexibility in where we stop and, for me, an easier time parking in smaller CG's. For us it was a good change, might not be for everyone. You should travel/camp in what works best for you.

It's all about trade-offs and what you value. We've done both, and while each has it's advantages, we ended up favoring our fiver for what we do. Advantages for an Airstream...
* Better quality in the fit and finish, and generally more durable.
* Able to get into smaller campsites (if shorter, and comparing to slides).
* Better gas mileage.
* Can get by with a less expensive TV.
Advantages for our fiver...
* More room inside with slides, with bigger kitchen, bathroom, closet space, etc.
* Pulls much easier, especially in cross winds and when encountering 'truck wash'.
* No WDH to mess around with.
* Less time to pack, hook up, and unhook and set up.
* Lower cost of purchase in most cases, although this is arguable if you consider 'total cost of ownership'.

At the end of the day, it's all about the best match for the type of camping you prefer. There is no hard-and-fast answer.

Hope this helps...

Over priced and round. Hard to keep the outside polished and rugs on the walls and ceiling get dirty. Pulled one years ago and it was easy to pull. Not for me.

We moved from a fifth wheel to an Airstream about a year and a half ago. Good move for us. We had the 5er for about nine years, an Everest, and it was showing its mileage plus we wanted smaller and with less moving parts to maintain, eg, slides. The Airstream towes and backs easier IMHO. Very stable on the road. True there's less storage space in the Airstream, but with the 5er hitch removed from the truck bed and purging of the "stuff" we had in the belly, we found we had plenty of room in the truck. Our 30' Airstream vs the 37' 5er gives us more flexibility in where we stop and, for me, an easier time parking in smaller CG's. For us it was a good change, might not be for everyone. You should travel/camp in what works best for you.

The "haven't and wouldn't" apply to the OP's question: "Has anyone moved from a 5th wheel to an airstream trailer?", as in "I haven't and I wouldn't".

Airstreams are not my cup o'tea.

OP, one of the reasons I own a Airstream is so my kids can do a two month 12000 mile western trip with their kids instead of using my 5er. A Airstream is great for pulling while a 5er is great for living in. Not sure what storage, slide outs, rain, or "Haven't and wouldn't" have to do with stability much less having ever pulled one. OP, this is the third Airstream I've owned and stability is not an issue
PS: I got more for them than I had in them when I sold.

Thanks everyone for your replies. It sounds like the airstream tow really well.

We might end up keeping our 5th wheel and using it spring & fall (it's nice to have room in the rainy NW), and perhaps an airstream for summer (given we tend to be outside when the suns shines).

We're looking at the 30' Classic with a slide-out. I realize a slide out in an Airstream isn't anywhere near as roomy as in our 5th wheel.

And nowhere near as roomy as the 5er, unless slides and "roomy" don't mean much to you. As far as mpg, I'll sacrifice a little mpg for 4 slides and 37' of room any day for mpg. Especially if weather has one confined to their RV for days on end.

If fuel economy is important, the Airstream easily wins in this category. It is lighter, lower and as aerodynamic as it gets. This is usually good for possibly 50% or maybe even more in additional fuel mileage, depending on all the variables.