Airstream: America’s RV Icon

There are few American brands that achieve the distinction of being long-lasting, instantly recognizable and associated with being the pinnacle of their industry. These select few companies have becomes synonymous with quality, craftsmanship, premium design, leading-edge technology and a refusal to compromise. When people look for a product, they aspire to owning one of these because they represent what has become publicly known as the best. In short, they are iconic. Apple is a more recent example. In the auto market, Cadillac is known as having been America’s premium luxury car maker for the past 110 years. When it comes to recreational vehicles, there is one brand that is instantly recognizable, always in demand and with an unrivaled reputation for combining quality, comfort, fuel efficiency and futuristic design: Airstream. Silver, aluminum-skinned Airstream trailers cannot be mistaken for anything else. They’ve been a fixture on American roads for decades and the modernistic, aircraft-inspired, rounded design (which cuts down on wind resistance when being towed) remains true to its roots even today. When the Apollo 11 astronauts returned from their historic Moon landing in 1969, it was an Airstream trailer that housed them on their return. NASA continues to use Airstream motorhomes as shuttles to transport its astronauts to vehicle launchpads in style and comfort. Airstream travel trailers hold their value more than any other brand. Airstream’s history dates back to the 1920s when the lead designer of Charles Lindbergh’s record-breaking airplane —the Spirit of St. Louis— began building aluminum travel trailers using many of the same principles. Wally Byam, a lawyer who had been designing and selling trailer kits, acquired the company and Airstream was born. Travel trailers were extremely popular as Americans took to the highways to explore the country, but by the time the Great Depression had taken its toll on the industry, manufacturing had been decimated. While there were over 400 US travel trailer manufacturers in 1936, only one ultimately survived the depression: Airstream. Now manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio, Airstream is not only a survivor; it continues to innovate and remains the travel trailer that RV enthusiasts aspire to own. Airstream currently offers six different travel trailer models, each designed to meet specific needs while retaining the company’s signature look, uncompromising design and use of premium quality materials. As a luxury home away from home, nothing beats Airstream’s classic design and the trailers make a visual statement as well. Functional, stylish, with every square inch of space maximized. These travel trailers range in size from 16 to 31 feet in length, are highly customizable (not just the decor, but also the floor plan) and they’re built to last for decades. They offer galley kitchens, comfortable seating arrangements, inviting beds, expansive windows, dinettes, bathrooms and the entire luxury conveniences one would expect. There’s even an Eddie Bauer edition that offers all the amenities of a luxury home on wheels along with the storage space to accommodate an adventurous lifestyle —fishing gear, outdoor chairs and even a motorcycle. Airstream’s product line has expanded beyond travel trailers to include motorhomes. Among the lineup are the Interstate Class B motorhome and the Avenue Class B Van. Although based on production vehicles (the Mercedes Benz Sprinter and Chevrolet 3500 Express, respectively), these motorized RVs retain the rounded edges and silver visual cues that make them instantly recognizable as Airstreams. Fuel efficient (the Interstate is comparable to an SUV with 18 mpg or better in highway driving), and compact, these RVs are every inch an Airstream inside as well, designed for efficiency, style and luxury. The Avenue, for example, includes a kitchen, bathroom and lounge that converts into two-person sleeping quarters. Luxury touches include ultraleather seats, swiveling captain’s chairs and stainless steel appliances. The ideal way to buy an Airstream Travel Trailer or motorhome is to visit a dealership that stocks multiple models (new and used) for comparison. This gives you a variety of configurations, sizes, decors and price ranges to choose from. The absolute dream situation for someone considering one of these iconic RVs? A dealership that’s located a short drive from the factory, with an inside track that offer customers the opportunity to take a guided tour of the facility and watch as Airstreams are built. Combine choice with the ability to witness a historic product being assembled firsthand and it’s hard to image going home without one of these silver beauties being towed behind you.