We bought our Airstream Flying Cloud 30RB to tour the country interviewing veterans of sister “tin cans” USS Nicholas (DD-449) and USS O’Bannon (DD-450), the Navy’s two most decorated surface warships, this for a book project.

Original Airstream purchase included awnings all around (ZipDee package on door side), Blue Ox weight-distribution hitch and reverse camera. The 30RB floor plan gave us the clothes hanging space we needed, the 8 cubic foot refer (can’t imagine doing with less) and the social end of the trailer at the social end of most park sites.

Following advice from our regional Airstream dealer, we upgraded stock batteries to lithium and installed Micro-Air Easy Starts in rooftop AC units. After a visit to Micro-Air’s New Jersey headquarters we also upgraded our two-zone thermostat to Micro-Air’s Easy Touch 350. Back on the West Coast, we replaced our Airstream’s tires with TOWMAX Radials, barely broken in.

Important additions that go with the rig are a collection of maintenance and repair tools recommended in Rich Luhr’s “The Complete Guide to Airstream Maintenance.” Red-When-On alert switches govern the two outside lights (awning and sidewall). WindowPoppers live up to their reputation as must-haves. What else? . . . Timber Ridge folding lounge chairs (2) . . . Henckels Zwilling cutlery (see interior shot, cutlery in grip of wall magnet) . . . oh, and a binder with laminated Take Off and Landing checklists and other handy How-Tos.

The “Much More” column includes hitch and tire locks, a 10×12 outdoor carpet, Airstream-style wall-mounted clock and salt and pepper shakers . . . you see where this is going, it’s Airstream all the way. All Airstream-related books we could round up on the internet are tucked in a bedside locker back aft together with a collection of regional and parks travel books.

That brings us to the custom 3-hole flagpole holder (see introductory image). Holder and poles go with trailer, flags go to the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis, WA, where the salvaged Nicholas main mast will be mounted this summer.

AND, very important for we West Coasters, service access to—
Vinnies Northbay Airstream Repair, 11992 Blake Road, Wilton, CA 95693.