Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

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skater
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B190 Year: 1991
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Re: Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

Post by skater »

RCR wrote:We are considering moving purchasing a newer model for the wet bath but have been hesitant because our family of
5 are already packed in pretty good as it is - we don't want to lose precious sleeping area.
You have 5 people staying in a B190?? WOW!
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
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bobbyv
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Re: Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

Post by bobbyv »

http://www.airstream.com/files/library/ ... addd80.pdf RCR, check this out and see if it helps.
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RCR
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Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

Post by RCR »

Yes there's 5 of us. We didn't want a big class C and the B190 really is one of the few rigs that has the ability to accommodate us all.

We are a family of backpackers though so a rig like the B190 is plush in comparison to a tent.

My 3 boys are still small and they don't mind at all - they are constantly asking when we can go in the "happy van". That may change as they get older - but it's what we like now. If it ever gets a little too cramped - we've talked about it and we can always get a small camper to tow.
1995 WHITE B190 7.5L - 108k
Banks PowerPack System installed 4/2012
Helig Swaybars installed 1/2012
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skater
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Re: Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

Post by skater »

Updated to include the sewer connection change from 1990 to 1991.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
AlanW
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Re: Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

Post by AlanW »

sdmike wrote:
skater wrote:
sdmike wrote: Haha! Good point! Has having the longer cab above you ever been an invonvenience for you?
Nope. It's actually kind of nice both for the sun thing and the fact that it keeps some rain off the windshield (you still need windshield wipers, but not as much). One downside: bugs get under the overhang and you just know they're going to splatter instead of going overhead as they sometimes do in cars.

If anything, it's kind of nice to have it there as a reminder that I'm driving a vehicle that's 10' tall.
Good to know. Thanks for the info! Just bought myself a '93!! Now need to get it shipped from Florida to San Diego! :)
Don’t ship it. Pick it up and drive it home. There’s no better way to become familiar with it.



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AlanW
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Re: Differences between the years of campers...and bed sizes

Post by AlanW »

skater wrote:We should document the differences between the years. I'd like to write it up as an article when we get the information compiled, and add pictures. This is a long term project, obviously. :) Corrections, additional information, please post below! Everyone can contribute to this one. :)

1989 - 1999 - What changed?

Exterior, top:
In 1989 the top had two windows that were square.
In 1990 that changed to a single large window with rounded corners

In 1997 they shortened the front of the top.

Connections:
In 1997, they switched from a permanently installed power cord to a detachable one, per Alaskan.

Interior, table:
Alaskan already posted a thread with the different tables used. Update from lowbudget: the 1989-1996 all had the center pole on slides table.

Interior, bathroom:
In 1997 the bathroom went from a separate toilet and shower with no sink to a sink/shower/toilet all-in-one setup.

Interior, kitchen:
Starting in 1996, the stove and fridge/microwave swapped sides. For most (all?) years, the standard was a 3-burner stove/no oven, and optional was a 4-burner stove with an oven, which replaced a cabinet.

The water tank moved at some point. In 1991 it's under the counter by the door, but later it's somewhere else (as evidenced by Alaskan's table pictures).

Starting in 1997, the kitchen sink changed from a single sink to a double sink. (Correction by ChasingRain: 1994.) Actually, the double-sink may have been an option; however if you have it you lose one drawer that would be below the right sink. Also at least some double sinks seem to have a separate spray nozzle - not sure if that's factory or not.

Before 1991, it appears the kitchen sink was closer to the wall where the fridge is, but for 1991 it moved toward the front of the van 18" or so (based on Eagle's pictures of his 1990 and my 1991).

Interior - Lighting
During 1992-1994 (not sure which year), the lighting above the couch changed from brown fixtures with directional lights to white fixtures with non-directional lights (they appear in pictures to be the same lights that are used in the bunk in 1991 models and possibly prior models).

Interior - Headliner
Sometime after 1991, but by 1994, the headliner switched from cloth to vinyl.

Drivetrain:
The 460 was discontinued after 1996 and was replaced with the V10 option. Does anyone know what transmission the V10 used? Was it the same E4OD?

Spare tire:
Per ChasingRain, the spare tire moved from outside to inside starting in 1997. It was mounted on the back door before that.

Gray & Blackwater:
In 1990, the B190 had a combined gray/black tank, with the sewer connection just behind the left-rear tire (I assume this is true for 1989 models as well). Starting in 1991, the tanks were separated, and the outlet faces out the back of the van, on the left side.

(A general note about the chassis: I don't intend to cover the changes to it - the hubcaps, the new grill, new taillights, etc. - outside of the major drivetrain changes. The other changes are already well covered elsewhere.)
I have a 1991 and the black and gray water tank outlets (one for black and one for gray) face the left side behind the rear tire.


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DavidP
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Re:

Post by DavidP »

Alaskan wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:59 pm
Bed differences...

Lower (couch).... up to 1996

Length is 69 inches
Width is 36 inches
Gap at back against wall is 4 1/2 inches
Distance to cabinets when couch folded out is 10 inches

Lower...1997 thru year 2000

Length is 72 inches
Width is 37 inches
Gap at back against wall is 3 inches
Distance to cabinets when couch folded out is 10 inches

Upper....up to 1996

Width is 71 inches
Depth is 58 inches and up to 78 inch when expanded outward

Upper... 1997 thru year 2000

Width is 65 inches
Depth is 38 inches and up to 77 inches when expanded outward
I have a 97 and the bed is much shorter then the 99. Fully extended I only have 55". The wider mattress is 33" and the other one is 21" which only gives me a 54" sleeping area. In pics of the 99 that I have seen the underneath of the two cabinets have space cut out to be able to pull the slider further back by a good 23 0r so inches and I think it has a 3 piece mattress set up. Anyone with a 98 can chime in and I would like to convert my 97 to the 99 setup. Pics and dimensions of everything would be appreciated.
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skater
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Re: Re:

Post by skater »

DavidP wrote:
Sat Nov 23, 2019 8:52 pm
Alaskan wrote:
Wed Jun 01, 2011 12:59 pm
Bed differences...

Lower (couch).... up to 1996

Length is 69 inches
Width is 36 inches
Gap at back against wall is 4 1/2 inches
Distance to cabinets when couch folded out is 10 inches

Lower...1997 thru year 2000

Length is 72 inches
Width is 37 inches
Gap at back against wall is 3 inches
Distance to cabinets when couch folded out is 10 inches

Upper....up to 1996

Width is 71 inches
Depth is 58 inches and up to 78 inch when expanded outward

Upper... 1997 thru year 2000

Width is 65 inches
Depth is 38 inches and up to 77 inches when expanded outward
I have a 97 and the bed is much shorter then the 99. Fully extended I only have 55". The wider mattress is 33" and the other one is 21" which only gives me a 54" sleeping area. In pics of the 99 that I have seen the underneath of the two cabinets have space cut out to be able to pull the slider further back by a good 23 0r so inches and I think it has a 3 piece mattress set up. Anyone with a 98 can chime in and I would like to convert my 97 to the 99 setup. Pics and dimensions of everything would be appreciated.
There's a thread around somewhere from a few months ago where we figured this out. For '97, the first year with the shorter top, the upper bunk was extremely short. Sometime in mid-'98 they fixed it by opening up the cabinets so the bed would slide under them. Basically you'd have to shorten the two small (but long and narrow) cabinets.

See this thread for some info. We discussed it somewhere else, too, but I can't find that thread at the moment.
1991 Airstream B190 - bought, 2005; sold, 2011; bought 2017
1995 Airstream Excella 30' trailer

WBCCI #13270, Washington, DC Unit
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