Hilldweller
SE Expedition Society
The bed is too tiny for me to even give it a think. It's like the Cricket: for short people.
Airstream is back with the Base Camp trailer
- Thread starter Keyne
- Start date
calicamper
Expedition Leader
410lbs is over twice the 200lb max tongue limit on the Subarus. I have a 2010 OB we tow a 1300lb packed, 900lb empty rig. 410lbs would put the rear suspension on the bump stops sitting in the driveway.
Swap a 5gal propane can up front and maybe your at 320 ish? Anyone know the max tongue rating on the common family taxi, Highlander or Pilot? I cant imagine they are rated higher than 400lbs.
dwh
Tail-End Charlie
Dude...did you see that pic of the lavatory? I once laid down in a coffin on Halloween that had more room. Where in the HELL would I put my knees trying to sit on that crapper?
calicamper
Expedition Leader
I saw this trailer (prototype of the re-release) back in June while at the Airstream Factory in Jackson Center, Ohio.
When I asked what it was as it drove past being pulled by a tow motor, all I got was a "wink" and "say nothing please".
It is a total improvement over the original as the rear doors were problematic (and that's being nice).
For certain, you are not going to pull this the same places you would a Conqueror or a Kimberly Karavan, but for the bulk majority of people wanting to get off the beaten path, this will be a great platform. What's different about the Airstream over almost every other trailer is that they hold their value extremely well. So well in fact, that on the regular airstreams, most lending institutions will do 20 year extremely low interest notes, while on all other trailers they only go 10 years at a moderate interest rate.
The facts are that most people who sell or trade an airstream do so because they want to upsize to a larger model airstream.
Yes, there are always some quality issues with Airstreams, but compared to SOB's (Some Other Brands), the quality issues are minimal.
As you decide whether this would be a trailer for you versus other trailers, what trucks, etc, ... please take a moment and read what I learned from my self assessment over this past year:
http://expeditionportal.com/a-personal-progression-of-overlanding/
Thanks
Dendy
When I asked what it was as it drove past being pulled by a tow motor, all I got was a "wink" and "say nothing please".
It is a total improvement over the original as the rear doors were problematic (and that's being nice).
For certain, you are not going to pull this the same places you would a Conqueror or a Kimberly Karavan, but for the bulk majority of people wanting to get off the beaten path, this will be a great platform. What's different about the Airstream over almost every other trailer is that they hold their value extremely well. So well in fact, that on the regular airstreams, most lending institutions will do 20 year extremely low interest notes, while on all other trailers they only go 10 years at a moderate interest rate.
The facts are that most people who sell or trade an airstream do so because they want to upsize to a larger model airstream.
Yes, there are always some quality issues with Airstreams, but compared to SOB's (Some Other Brands), the quality issues are minimal.
As you decide whether this would be a trailer for you versus other trailers, what trucks, etc, ... please take a moment and read what I learned from my self assessment over this past year:
http://expeditionportal.com/a-personal-progression-of-overlanding/
Thanks
Dendy
No question I'd prefer a Cricket over this. Still good to see more offerings in this segment of the trailer market.
R
jscusmcvet
Explorer
Dendy I so appreciate the article you wrote. As much as I would like ot be that guy who gets lost somewhere across baja or the Australian outback, reality rears it's ugly head. We have moved from tent camping to a pop up and now are in a T@B. Both Ann and I are sure there is an Airstream somewhere, sometime in our future. This new 16 footer might make that happen sooner rather than later... who knows. Anyway, great article and an honest look at how we really spend our time, rather than what we might dream of. Well done, sir.
Incidentally, that opening image is me, my sister, my Dad and his parents about to embark on a trip from South Carolina to Maine in 1973.
Thanks for the nice words.
D
Yup, good read for sure.
Not ever owning an Airstream anything, I can not comment on the ownership of one. What I can say about Airstream is: they are the benchmark that seems to always be referred to. Which is a good thing to be sure. I wish we could afford one, but we can't. We did recently look at a used one, a triple axle one & it was $60,000..........yup, used.
Anyways, i suppose because ours is NOT an Airstream, is the reason I have had to do so many things to a brand new camper, starting the very day we brought it home. Don't get me wrong, I love our camper, but i have had to do a LOT of stuff to it. Relocate gas regulator because it was touching the top of the battery box & you could not open it as a result. Make new plywood cushion supports, to replace the veneer ones that cracked as soon as my B-I-L sat down on them. Add vertical & horizontal supports to support the new plywood. Add plywood to bed platform. Add extra gas struts to bed platform to help lift the added weight of the new plywood. New radio under warranty. New outside stove vent cover under warranty. Still waiting on a new front window-under recall warranty. Also had to add protective wire sleeves over brake wires that were rubbing on leaf springs. Also over gas hose where it was rubbing frame.
Sad that you have to do all these things to a brand spanking new camper. And, sadly, this is the norm, even with much more expensive ones. I have talked to many people, even with $110,000 toyhaulers & they have many of the same issues. Ours has been in 2x already to replace the front window & both times, they sent the wrong size window. So, pretty much, it has been at the dealer all summer. It is still not fixed. I don't blame anyone for making their own. From what I have read over the years, Airstream owners are happy with them & love their campers, many with zero issues. I think if Airstream came out with the Bambi (16"-19'), single axle, with a lift kit & 15" tires, they would not be able to keep them on the lots. We still could not afford one, but many could.
Not ever owning an Airstream anything, I can not comment on the ownership of one. What I can say about Airstream is: they are the benchmark that seems to always be referred to. Which is a good thing to be sure. I wish we could afford one, but we can't. We did recently look at a used one, a triple axle one & it was $60,000..........yup, used.
Anyways, i suppose because ours is NOT an Airstream, is the reason I have had to do so many things to a brand new camper, starting the very day we brought it home. Don't get me wrong, I love our camper, but i have had to do a LOT of stuff to it. Relocate gas regulator because it was touching the top of the battery box & you could not open it as a result. Make new plywood cushion supports, to replace the veneer ones that cracked as soon as my B-I-L sat down on them. Add vertical & horizontal supports to support the new plywood. Add plywood to bed platform. Add extra gas struts to bed platform to help lift the added weight of the new plywood. New radio under warranty. New outside stove vent cover under warranty. Still waiting on a new front window-under recall warranty. Also had to add protective wire sleeves over brake wires that were rubbing on leaf springs. Also over gas hose where it was rubbing frame.
Sad that you have to do all these things to a brand spanking new camper. And, sadly, this is the norm, even with much more expensive ones. I have talked to many people, even with $110,000 toyhaulers & they have many of the same issues. Ours has been in 2x already to replace the front window & both times, they sent the wrong size window. So, pretty much, it has been at the dealer all summer. It is still not fixed. I don't blame anyone for making their own. From what I have read over the years, Airstream owners are happy with them & love their campers, many with zero issues. I think if Airstream came out with the Bambi (16"-19'), single axle, with a lift kit & 15" tires, they would not be able to keep them on the lots. We still could not afford one, but many could.
incidentally, the BaseCamp was designed after the original 1935 first Airstream:
New:
Original:
New:
Original:
