Thank so much for your reply. That’s great thinking on your part! So many guys on the forums get all bent out of shape as if there is no way to reduce tongue weight. We would do something similar. She still holding up well after a year or two? Appreciate your genuine review and honey. Super helpful to those hoping to share in the fun one day!
At first I didn’t care that much for the basecamp. But after a while the do grow on you. I like the versatility they can be used as a toy hauler, a cargo trailer or a camper. The model you haveI like more storage and the extra holding tank for black water,. But I really like what the the 16 model . With the front kitchen area alittle bit more . What I don’t like at all about all Airstreams is the hefty price tag. All in all you did a great job in your presentation.
Your comment popped up for just a second and then I think YT deleted it because of the link. It will do that sometimes! I recognized your logo/name and it took me a second to place it, but I watched this video a couple weeks ago! Thanks for reaching out and for the kind/thoughtful offer. Hope you guys are enjoying your Basecamp!
I wasn't sure if you said an oven could be installed in that. I'm hoping to go full time when I retire in a couple of years. I have "must haves" on my list for an RV. One of them is an oven. Front panoramic windows just like this, must be a 4 season trailer, high axle for off roading. No bigger than 20ft. Thanks for this video. I love this!
Over the refrigerator? It’s built for a small microwave but I’ve seen some innovative van builds with ovens so it’s possible. With a RV that small I’d recommend a combo microwave/convection oven or a counter top oven. We have a Breville and you can cook a pizza in it. It’s awesome.
@@teachthestory correct on the weights and limitations. I reduced weight forward of the axle to meet the limitations of the 4Runner. By removing one of the propane tanks, swapping to lithium batteries, and being cognizant of load planning. I used a tongue weight scale and it read 430lbs give or take a few pounds. I never experienced diminished braking or trailer sway even in windy conditions.
Hi Ryan. Thanks for the tour. Would love to see future videos on quality control issues you may uncover over time as these seem to be a problem on the forums I follow. Safe travels!
I had decided on the 20X model but waiting to see if we get stiffed with a mileage tax in the coming months. May have to adjust my plans for going nomad full time. Figure it will give me a little more time to sell my home... Beautiful trailer to be sure. Excellent presentation. 👍🏻
@@SlowYourRoll i’m old enough to remember in the 70s when I was driving a 68 Chevelle Malibu super sport and gas was $.24 per gallon. Of course that was not inclusive of JP 4 racing fuel. 😁
Good job with the video! We recently ordered a 20x but delivery won't be until November. You're right, there aren't a lot of videos of the 20x from the user standpoint. I'd like to find out more about the solar system. We want to upgrade to lithium batteries. I'm curious how much electricity you get from solar, and if you have a solar generator and portable panels. Thanks.
Thank you! We predominately rely on solar for electricity. In OK cloudy days are few and far between. The BCX solar package comes with two 90 watt panels on the roof connected to an Victron MPPT charge controller. That maintains efficient battery charging without overcharging. I supplement that with a 100w Renogy suitcase. More than adequate for our power consumption on DC. In addition I have a 2600 (3000 surge) Craftsman generator for emergencies or if we want to run the AC. I’ll do a video on our setup once I get more data from future trips.
I’m here in Tulsa and am picking mine up from Josiah in OKC the 1st week of May. I’d like to know what they try to sell at pick up and any thing I’ll need to look out for. Didn’t know about military pricing, thanks for that.
Congrats! Just like buying a car they’ll try to sell upgraded warranties and polish that withstands nuclear strikes but weren’t pushy. Let me preface my response with I picked mine up on a Saturday and my experience may be a result of that. It was packed! Avoid the weekend at all costs. Go early in the morning mid week. Next I assume you settled for a sales price since it’s on order. Get preapproved financing through an outside bank. CWs (every bank really) goal is to make you pay as much interest over the longest period of time. We went in with a rate they didn’t come close to. When they pull your credit they’ll come back with lowest of the three scores to drive the rate up. Tell them they need to beat (not meet) your rate. Going in with an 800+ credit score helps too. Next call Josiah to verify the VIN against what you ordered. When I showed up they had prepped the wrong BC20X and it took 8 more hours to get the one I did order ready. Be the smartest person on the lot. CW sells but doesn’t special in Airstream. Don’t expect a thorough walk through. Thanks to UA-cam and BC forums I didn’t need one. Finally make sure they prep all the systems and try everything out on the lot on city water and fresh. We went as far as to “camp” at a harvest host 10 minutes away to see if everything worked overnight. Only thing we haven’t gotten to work is the black tank flush and it’s hard to know what valve belongs to that port since it’s behind the heater. Long response to a simple question but you’re going to love it.
I just got off the phone with Josiah and he said they don't do a military discount at CW and said that it is done thru AS. He sent me a link to the "military salute" which is a $250 rebate. Just wanted to confirm that you DID get 10% off as a military discount. My date got pushed back a few weeks but really enjoying your videos to help me prep.
Hi, Ryan! My name is Meredith and I'm considering purchasing the Basecamp 20 as well. It appears that you tow your Basecamp with a Toyota 4Runner. I have a 4Runner, too, but I was concerned about the hitch weight on the Basecamp 20. It's 500 pounds which is the maximum for the 4Runner. Have you noticed any issues with this? I know the 4Runner can handle the trailer weight, but the max hitch weight concerns me.
Hi Meredith. Great question and that was my concern as well. The 20X exceeds the 4R hitch weight by 35lbs. I mitigated the extra weight by removing one of the propane tanks (-20lbs) and opted for lithium batteries which are approx 1/2 the weight of AGMs. That should alleviate some weight on the hitch. I saw another owner had the rock guards removed as well. Next you need to understand the rear shocks are relatively soft. With the trailer on it drops the back end one inch. I have a weight/sway hitch on order and will let you know how it performs. I live in OK where it is really windy and didn’t have any issues towing around 65-70 mph without sway control. Other options I have seen are inflatable airbags in the rear shocks and having a transmission cooler since the 4R doesn’t pack that much horse power. Hope this helps.
@@SlowYourRoll Thanks Ryan! I was considering the rear suspension airbags as well. I’m also definitely going lithium. I like the idea of removing the propane tank. I can always add it back if needed. Thanks for your suggestions and happy camping!
Hi. I just started the process to order my 20X as well. I though you could run the A/C off of the propane. Something in your video made me think you can only run it when you are docked/connected to electricity. Can you please confirm your experience. I am also going to be using my 4Runner to pull it and do have concerns as I am adding the AC and solar. I plan on putting the airbags in. Will have to looking mods to cool the Transmission. Have you done any mods since you filmed this and the questions from a couple of months were asked?
Thank you for the video, it's the first one I see from a real owner, not a dealer or the manufacturer. I have 3 questions if you don't mind.. or maybe subjects for future videos :) 1) I would like to get your opinion on the cushions, are they comfortable to sleep on ? They seems not very thick. 2) The rear door screen, is it "snapping" tight enough so bugs don't get in? 3) The only 2 side windows that opens seems to not open very wide, any air coming from there or you must rely on opening the doors to get real fresh air ? thanks!
Hi Philippe! The cushions are firm and not very comfortable to sleep on in my opinion. I recommend getting a mattress topper which will add comfort and provide even dimensions to get a fitted sheet on. In the interim we have been using sleeping bags. The rear door screen is tight but does have some space between snaps. I think it will do a good job and I’m more concerned about bugs coming in when the door opens. You are correct in that the side windows don’t open very much however, combined with the fantastic fan and one or more doors open makes for a good breeze. Please revisit when it gets over 90 degrees I may have a different opinion. Thanks for watching and if you have any more questions or an idea for future videos let me know!
Thank you! There will be a fair amount of condensation. We typically have the bathroom vent open and a dehumidifier to help. If we have 30A we use a space heater instead of propane to cut down.
I failed to cover it more in depth but the BC20 comes with a Suburban propane heater. There are three ducts, one in the front by the door and two in the rear. It will draw from batteries to operate the fan and propane for heat. Three nights of running it at 70 degrees to include sporadic hot water usage drew on approx 10lbs of propane. I’m not impressed with the air flow but it is comfortable. We also have a space heater when plugged into 30amp to save propane and condensation.
@@michelleschweizer9000 electric heaters tend to be power vampires. Technically you could if the capacity of the Bluetti is high enough ie 2000 watts and you had a low draw heater, less than 500 watts but even then you could only have the heater on for 3-4 hours before the battery is dead. I don’t know how efficient the solar is at recharging the battery assuming you were running the heater during the day to keep up with the power draw. Sorry I couldn’t help but I did see some videos of owners testing it out that may.
I wouldn’t recommend anything smaller than 5,000lbs tow capacity to include the weight of the trailer, gear, and vehicle occupants. If you want to max out the trailer weight, I would say 600lb tongue weight to allow for add’l gear and adding an optional sway/weight distribution hitch.
Airstream no longer makes the sun shade for the Basecamp. There are aftermarket awnings you can buy but the one I recommend and works flawlessly is the “Moon Shade” awning. It’s not the cheapest option but they sell brackets specifically designed for the Basecamp rail. It’s durable and versatile. Probably my favorite accessory purchase.
I’m stationed at Sill and looking at 20x as well. What bank did you end up going with to finance? Also how much of a savings was the CW AC unit Versus the airstream one. What’s the rating on the lithium batteries in terms of KWs. Great video!
I financed through Airstream and they use M&T Bank. Bank of the West has good rates as well. The AC from what I can see was thrown in for free (not listed on the sales sheet). If my math is right 200 amps at 120V is 24kw.
What air conditioner did CW sell you? Any installation challenges? I'm dropping a deposit to take my place in line for a BC20 in a few days and I like the idea of another unit vice the factory offering.
I don’t think I was charged for it. Maybe it was rolled into the price somewhere but it was not listed on the Airstream sale sheet. It’s a generic brand but works well so far.
Hi, thanks for the great video. I have not been able to get into a 20x, however I was able to get into a 16x but it was in a somewhat dark showroom and the Basecamp seemed very dark inside. I was wondering if you had this problem? Your video makes it seem very light inside.
Hi Michelle! I didn’t get a chance to view it inside versus outside but the contrast is most likely due to the window tinting. The front windows essentially have two layers of tinting with the addition of the rock guards. That may explain why it is significantly darker inside the showroom. I think the lighting conditions are great especially with the back hatch open.
Congratulations on your beautiful new camper.!
Thank so much for your reply. That’s great thinking on your part! So many guys on the forums get all bent out of shape as if there is no way to reduce tongue weight. We would do something similar.
She still holding up well after a year or two?
Appreciate your genuine review and honey. Super helpful to those hoping to share in the fun one day!
Probably the most comprehensive video on UA-cam concerning the BC20X. Well done!
Next time, please film in landscape mode to fully take advantage of the screen display playback on You Tube and elsewhere.
At first I didn’t care that much for the basecamp. But after a while the do grow on you. I like the versatility they can be used as a toy hauler, a cargo trailer or a camper. The model you haveI like more storage and the extra holding tank for black water,. But I really like what the the 16 model . With the front kitchen area alittle bit more . What I don’t like at all about all Airstreams is the hefty price tag. All in all you did a great job in your presentation.
Thank you for your service 🇺🇸
Your comment popped up for just a second and then I think YT deleted it because of the link. It will do that sometimes! I recognized your logo/name and it took me a second to place it, but I watched this video a couple weeks ago! Thanks for reaching out and for the kind/thoughtful offer. Hope you guys are enjoying your Basecamp!
I wasn't sure if you said an oven could be installed in that. I'm hoping to go full time when I retire in a couple of years. I have "must haves" on my list for an RV. One of them is an oven. Front panoramic windows just like this, must be a 4 season trailer, high axle for off roading. No bigger than 20ft.
Thanks for this video. I love this!
Over the refrigerator? It’s built for a small microwave but I’ve seen some innovative van builds with ovens so it’s possible. With a RV that small I’d recommend a combo microwave/convection oven or a counter top oven. We have a Breville and you can cook a pizza in it. It’s awesome.
How’s the tongue weight on that? Saw it’s 525 and 4Runner is max 500. Any ideas?
@@teachthestory correct on the weights and limitations. I reduced weight forward of the axle to meet the limitations of the 4Runner. By removing one of the propane tanks, swapping to lithium batteries, and being cognizant of load planning. I used a tongue weight scale and it read 430lbs give or take a few pounds. I never experienced diminished braking or trailer sway even in windy conditions.
Hi Ryan. Thanks for the tour. Would love to see future videos on quality control issues you may uncover over time as these seem to be a problem on the forums I follow. Safe travels!
Absolutely! I’ll add that to the queue.
I like how that yeti matches the interior.
I had decided on the 20X model but waiting to see if we get stiffed with a mileage tax in the coming months. May have to adjust my plans for going nomad full time. Figure it will give me a little more time to sell my home...
Beautiful trailer to be sure. Excellent presentation. 👍🏻
I'm longing for the days of $1.50 gasoline for sure. The 4Runner is thirsty.
@@SlowYourRoll i’m old enough to remember in the 70s when I was driving a 68 Chevelle Malibu super sport and gas was $.24 per gallon. Of course that was not inclusive of JP 4 racing fuel. 😁
Good job with the video! We recently ordered a 20x but delivery won't be until November. You're right, there aren't a lot of videos of the 20x from the user standpoint. I'd like to find out more about the solar system. We want to upgrade to lithium batteries. I'm curious how much electricity you get from solar, and if you have a solar generator and portable panels. Thanks.
Thank you! We predominately rely on solar for electricity. In OK cloudy days are few and far between. The BCX solar package comes with two 90 watt panels on the roof connected to an Victron MPPT charge controller. That maintains efficient battery charging without overcharging. I supplement that with a 100w Renogy suitcase. More than adequate for our power consumption on DC. In addition I have a 2600 (3000 surge) Craftsman generator for emergencies or if we want to run the AC. I’ll do a video on our setup once I get more data from future trips.
I’m here in Tulsa and am picking mine up from Josiah in OKC the 1st week of May. I’d like to know what they try to sell at pick up and any thing I’ll need to look out for. Didn’t know about military pricing, thanks for that.
Congrats! Just like buying a car they’ll try to sell upgraded warranties and polish that withstands nuclear strikes but weren’t pushy. Let me preface my response with I picked mine up on a Saturday and my experience may be a result of that. It was packed! Avoid the weekend at all costs. Go early in the morning mid week. Next I assume you settled for a sales price since it’s on order. Get preapproved financing through an outside bank. CWs (every bank really) goal is to make you pay as much interest over the longest period of time. We went in with a rate they didn’t come close to. When they pull your credit they’ll come back with lowest of the three scores to drive the rate up. Tell them they need to beat (not meet) your rate. Going in with an 800+ credit score helps too. Next call Josiah to verify the VIN against what you ordered. When I showed up they had prepped the wrong BC20X and it took 8 more hours to get the one I did order ready. Be the smartest person on the lot. CW sells but doesn’t special in Airstream. Don’t expect a thorough walk through. Thanks to UA-cam and BC forums I didn’t need one. Finally make sure they prep all the systems and try everything out on the lot on city water and fresh. We went as far as to “camp” at a harvest host 10 minutes away to see if everything worked overnight. Only thing we haven’t gotten to work is the black tank flush and it’s hard to know what valve belongs to that port since it’s behind the heater. Long response to a simple question but you’re going to love it.
I just got off the phone with Josiah and he said they don't do a military discount at CW and said that it is done thru AS. He sent me a link to the "military salute" which is a $250 rebate. Just wanted to confirm that you DID get 10% off as a military discount. My date got pushed back a few weeks but really enjoying your videos to help me prep.
Hi, Ryan! My name is Meredith and I'm considering purchasing the Basecamp 20 as well. It appears that you tow your Basecamp with a Toyota 4Runner. I have a 4Runner, too, but I was concerned about the hitch weight on the Basecamp 20. It's 500 pounds which is the maximum for the 4Runner. Have you noticed any issues with this? I know the 4Runner can handle the trailer weight, but the max hitch weight concerns me.
Hi Meredith. Great question and that was my concern as well. The 20X exceeds the 4R hitch weight by 35lbs. I mitigated the extra weight by removing one of the propane tanks (-20lbs) and opted for lithium batteries which are approx 1/2 the weight of AGMs. That should alleviate some weight on the hitch. I saw another owner had the rock guards removed as well. Next you need to understand the rear shocks are relatively soft. With the trailer on it drops the back end one inch. I have a weight/sway hitch on order and will let you know how it performs. I live in OK where it is really windy and didn’t have any issues towing around 65-70 mph without sway control. Other options I have seen are inflatable airbags in the rear shocks and having a transmission cooler since the 4R doesn’t pack that much horse power. Hope this helps.
@@SlowYourRoll Thanks Ryan! I was considering the rear suspension airbags as well. I’m also definitely going lithium. I like the idea of removing the propane tank. I can always add it back if needed. Thanks for your suggestions and happy camping!
@Jourdan Mount Thanks for the tips! Super helpful!!
Hi. I just started the process to order my 20X as well. I though you could run the A/C off of the propane. Something in your video made me think you can only run it when you are docked/connected to electricity. Can you please confirm your experience.
I am also going to be using my 4Runner to pull it and do have concerns as I am adding the AC and solar. I plan on putting the airbags in. Will have to looking mods to cool the Transmission. Have you done any mods since you filmed this and the questions from a couple of months were asked?
@@aliciasandoval1449 I believe you have to be hooked up to power for A/C and microwave but I’ll defer to others for confirmation.
Thank you for the video, it's the first one I see from a real owner, not a dealer or the manufacturer. I have 3 questions if you don't mind.. or maybe subjects for future videos :) 1) I would like to get your opinion on the cushions, are they comfortable to sleep on ? They seems not very thick. 2) The rear door screen, is it "snapping" tight enough so bugs don't get in? 3) The only 2 side windows that opens seems to not open very wide, any air coming from there or you must rely on opening the doors to get real fresh air ? thanks!
Hi Philippe! The cushions are firm and not very comfortable to sleep on in my opinion. I recommend getting a mattress topper which will add comfort and provide even dimensions to get a fitted sheet on. In the interim we have been using sleeping bags. The rear door screen is tight but does have some space between snaps. I think it will do a good job and I’m more concerned about bugs coming in when the door opens. You are correct in that the side windows don’t open very much however, combined with the fantastic fan and one or more doors open makes for a good breeze. Please revisit when it gets over 90 degrees I may have a different opinion. Thanks for watching and if you have any more questions or an idea for future videos let me know!
Ryan. Have you noticed much interior condensation from cold weather camping? Great video.
Thank you! There will be a fair amount of condensation. We typically have the bathroom vent open and a dehumidifier to help. If we have 30A we use a space heater instead of propane to cut down.
Dude I just ordered the same model, same color-scheme - my ‘22 BC20X arrives in November.
Nice review...very thorough. Since you don't have the heat strip, what are your plans for heating the trailer in cold weather camping?
I failed to cover it more in depth but the BC20 comes with a Suburban propane heater. There are three ducts, one in the front by the door and two in the rear. It will draw from batteries to operate the fan and propane for heat. Three nights of running it at 70 degrees to include sporadic hot water usage drew on approx 10lbs of propane. I’m not impressed with the air flow but it is comfortable. We also have a space heater when plugged into 30amp to save propane and condensation.
@@SlowYourRoll Hi! If your were boondocking, could you plug an electric heater into a Blue etti power station?
@@michelleschweizer9000 electric heaters tend to be power vampires. Technically you could if the capacity of the Bluetti is high enough ie 2000 watts and you had a low draw heater, less than 500 watts but even then you could only have the heater on for 3-4 hours before the battery is dead. I don’t know how efficient the solar is at recharging the battery assuming you were running the heater during the day to keep up with the power draw. Sorry I couldn’t help but I did see some videos of owners testing it out that may.
Thank you from Norman, Oklahoma.
Hi, great review. What’s the smallest suv recommended for towing this 20x??
I wouldn’t recommend anything smaller than 5,000lbs tow capacity to include the weight of the trailer, gear, and vehicle occupants. If you want to max out the trailer weight, I would say 600lb tongue weight to allow for add’l gear and adding an optional sway/weight distribution hitch.
@@ryanhogan5958 thank you!!
Is there an available awning for this unit? Saw the tent, but not interested in that. Trailer needs that awning here in Texas.
Airstream no longer makes the sun shade for the Basecamp. There are aftermarket awnings you can buy but the one I recommend and works flawlessly is the “Moon Shade” awning. It’s not the cheapest option but they sell brackets specifically designed for the Basecamp rail. It’s durable and versatile. Probably my favorite accessory purchase.
I’m stationed at Sill and looking at 20x as well. What bank did you end up going with to finance? Also how much of a savings was the CW AC unit Versus the airstream one. What’s the rating on the lithium batteries in terms of KWs. Great video!
I financed through Airstream and they use M&T Bank. Bank of the West has good rates as well. The AC from what I can see was thrown in for free (not listed on the sales sheet). If my math is right 200 amps at 120V is 24kw.
One or two people could live in this 24/7.
What air conditioner did CW sell you? Any installation challenges? I'm dropping a deposit to take my place in line for a BC20 in a few days and I like the idea of another unit vice the factory offering.
I don’t think I was charged for it. Maybe it was rolled into the price somewhere but it was not listed on the Airstream sale sheet. It’s a generic brand but works well so far.
Is the front seating / bed able to sleep 2 adults ?
No. It can likely fit a small child or in our case an 80lb dog.
How does the 4Runner perform towing the Basecamp 20?
It pulls fine on low and medium grade roads. Took it to CO last month and struggled up the 6% grades. Otherwise no issues.
Hi, thanks for the great video. I have not been able to get into a 20x, however I was able to get into a 16x but it was in a somewhat dark showroom and the Basecamp seemed very dark inside. I was wondering if you had this problem? Your video makes it seem very light inside.
Hi Michelle! I didn’t get a chance to view it inside versus outside but the contrast is most likely due to the window tinting. The front windows essentially have two layers of tinting with the addition of the rock guards. That may explain why it is significantly darker inside the showroom. I think the lighting conditions are great especially with the back hatch open.
Why don’t they just put drawers in the kitchen. I can tell you why because it’s cheaper just to put the little glass covers on.
True. That was one of the first casualties we experienced. The push lock on the glass cubby broke. $2 part so we ordered a few extras.
Audio needs some improvements devil.
"Aft". Squid.