The road-tripping season is gearing up; for some, that means polishing their aluminum curved corners. An American icon, the Airstream trailer grabs attention on the highways and byways as it rolls along to destinations unknown. The technology onboard is industry-leading, but its eternal aluminum shell is timeless. For those who want to take the plunge and buy an Airstream, there are several top tips and facts about Airstream trailers.
I've been an ardent Airstream fan for decades. Owning an Airstream would be a dream come true, high on my “one-day” list (after the kids are grown and I can retire). In the meantime, I have attended some Airstream events. At one, I even towed an Airstream trailer—the first step was gaining the confidence to tow on the interstate.
Fact: Your Airstream Trailer Will Grab Attention
Airstream trailers attract attention, so be prepared to “live riveted” and talk about your travel trailer like it was a family member. Seriously, others want to know if it is vintage, hard to tow, and expensive. The list goes on.Airstream owners come to the iconic brand for personal reasons. It might be a lifelong dream to hit the open road. It might be a fascination with living in an efficient space of an Airstream. It could be the desire to reclaim and return one to its former glory.
Some owners love the mid-century space-age design. For me, I love the round design elements, like the round kitchen sinks some feature. Of course, the polished stainless steel exteriors are also a top draw.
Members of the family get a name. The same is true for Airstream trailers. Most owners name their travel trailers, and they get clever with their names. There is an official Airstream Registry for names. Registered Airstreams also get a medallion for their travel trailer.
Fact: Hollywood Stars Are Airstream Fans
Airstream has some serious fans in Hollywood with A-listers proudly talking about their Airstreams. Famous Airstreamers include Tom Hanks, Matthew McConaughey, and Brad Pitt. McConaughey has four and has been to 49 states in an Airstream. Hanks used his while filming on-location for 18 different movies (it recently sold at auction). Pitt used his trailer as a crash pad during a divorce.
Whether it's a home-away-from-home or an escape pod, Airstreams offer everyone, even stars, the comforts of a home with the added convenience of wheels. Some, like McConaughey formerly did, live in theirs permanently on a beach in Malibu. Others like the simplicity of living a simpler life in a finite space.
Several U.S. Presidents and First Ladies have used Airstream Trailers in remote locations. President John F. Kennedy used one in the New Mexico desert. A specially designed Airstream trailer can be strapped into a cargo aircraft for such assignments. First Lady Laura Bush used one when she visited Afghanistan in 2008.
Tip: Keep It Local for Your First Trip
I remember learning how to drive. There was a lot to remember. The same holds for owning an Airstream. For those new to towing, merging onto the interstate or backing into a campsite can be intimidating.
On my first RV trip, I forgot how to turn on the heater. Unfortunately, I was in a remote location without Wifi or cell service, so I couldn’t Google my answer. Most veteran RV owners suggest quick trips close by to test your set-up and work out the kinks. This is also a great time to decide what gear you need for a more extended trip.
Myth: Airstreams Require Hookups
Like all new hobbies, camping has a learning curve. Most new Airstreamers stick to campsites with full hookups, such as water, electricity, and sewer. However, this is not necessary. You can dry camp, aka boondock, with an Airstream traveler trailer or touring coach.
What is dry camping? That is camping without hook-ups. It can be in a developed campground, and I have done this several times. Things to remember are the limitations of your water storage. It can go fast if you don’t conserve. Another thing to remember is generator quiet hours, usually at night.
Boondocking is camping in an undeveloped area away from all services. It can involve sleeping in a Walmart parking lot for a few hours before hitting the road again. Or it can be camping in the wild without level parking pads, dump stations, or bathhouses. The options are endless.
Airstreams can be equipped with solar panels and lithium batteries to power the refrigerator and freezer. Another top tip is to ensure all supply tanks, such as water and gas for cooking, are full. Before boondocking, the storage tanks, such as wastewater and gray water, must also be empty.
Fact: NASA and Airstream Is a Dream Team
NASA has used Airstream Travel trailers for several of its missions. This relationship began in the 1960s, when scientists were concerned about space germs and set out to quarantine the astronauts after splashdown. Acronyms were created, like the Interagency Committee on Back Contamination or ICBC. It determined that the astronauts should transferred to a Lunar Receiving Laboratory in a Mobile Quarantine Facility (or MQF), aka an Airstream.
The Airstreams' aircraft-like construction, the travel trailer's self-contained capabilities, and its durability made it a natural fit. The first units built for NASA were 35 feet long and adapted for travel on a ship or an aircraft. They featured filters and exhaust fans with internal negative pressure for biological isolation. There was even a decontamination transfer lock for passing samples collected by the astronauts.
The Apollo 11 astronauts lived in their Airstream trailer for 21 days with the military recovery person and their flight surgeon, who performed tests on the lunar crew. An MQF was used on Apollo 12 and 14 before it was deemed unnecessary. The Apollo 11 MQF is now displayed at the Smithsonian Institution National Air and Space Museum Stephen F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Virginia. The Apollo 12 MQF is at the U.S. Space and Rocket Park in Huntsville, Alabama. The Apollo 13 airstream trailer is located at the USS Hornet Sea Air and Space Museum in Almeda, California.
In the 1980s, Airstream and NASA partnered again for the Space Shuttle program when it used an Airstream Excella Motorhome. It was used to transport the astronauts from operations to the launchpad. Also known as the Astrovan, it was used until 2011 when the Space Shuttle program shuttered.
Myth: Airstreams Are Old Fashioned
Airstream has continually advanced the technology of its travel trailers. In 1958, it created its first self-contained trailer with a hot water heater. By creating the necessary technology and using durable products, vintage Airstreams are still on the road.
Today’s travelers seek efficiency, connectivity, and comfort, even in North America’s most remote locations. With the addition of off-road tires, a solar charging system with lithium batteries, and Starlink for satellite Wifi, unplugging today is more comfortable than ever.
From the iconic travel trailers everyone recognizes to the touring coaches you can drive, Airstreams are always outfitted with today’s technology. Those new to the Airstream brand don’t have to go far to find tips. Several groups, like Airstream Addicts on Facebook, offer endless tips and inspiration for Airstream owners.
Where Are Airstreams Manufactured?
These days, all Airstreams are manufactured in Jackson Center, Ohio. However, that was not always the case. Wally Byram, the creator of the Airstream, started developing the iconic shape in Southern California in the 1920s. World wars and the Great Depression dampened the growth, and many travel trailer manufacturers folded.
In 1947, Byam used his experience in the aviation industry to his advantage. Soon after, he launched the Airstream Liner with a plant in the Los Angeles area. In 1952, Byam was looking to expand his manufacturing plant. He focused on the Midwest and eventually settled in Jackson Center, Ohio. Now affectionately known as the Mothership, this area opened a new manufacturing facility in 2018.
If you are interested in factory tours, I recommend the free tour in Jackson Center. It offers several options, like the travel trailer tour (the iconic Airstream trailer) or the Basecamp tour (a small, more modern travel trailer). You'll need reservations, and both tours are about an hour long.
Fact: Airstream Caravans Make Travel Fun and Easy
Since the beginning, Airstream’s creator has taken his personal travel trailer on the road. After WWII, Byam took his Airstream Liner to Europe. This trip spawned the idea of Airstream caravans. Groups of Airstream owners still join caravans to travel with fellow Airstream owners.
The first caravan, which went from Texas to Nicaragua in 1951, was not easy. Out of the 63 Airstream trailers that started, only 14 finished. This was the first, not the last, Airstream caravan. The official Airstream club, the Airstream Club International, was created in 1955. The group would organize many trips over the years across the world.
Today’s travelers can road tripacross North America with a caravan to Alaska, Newfoundland, or the Southwest. Some trips are sponsored by local clubs, and the trips stay local. Others are regional itineraries or longer, national itineraries.
Fact: Affinity Airstream Groups and Airstream Rallies Are for Everyone
Birds like to flock together, and the same goes for Airstreamers. It’s part of the Airstream culture. Now, there are groups for all types, like solo travelers, family travelers, and vintage Airstream owners. Some clubs are organized by location, and some are intra-clubs for those with a shared hobby or lifestyle.
In the late 1980s, a wave of Airstream trailer restorations drove the creation of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International. Members must own an Airstream Trailer that is over 25 years old. There is a club just for women Airstreamers called Stella’s Sisters, named after Wally Byam’s wife, Stella. Stella’s Sisters helps its members with travel tips, new skills, and camaraderie. Other clubs include Grapes and Grains for those interested in wine and grain beverages from beer to distilled liquors, radio operators, and Pride Streamers.
Airstream Club groups host rallies for their members. These are usually shorter trips, and a rally only visits one location, usually a park. They typically combine an educational element, like Dutch oven demonstrations and tips about boondocking. However, there is also a lot of downtime and enjoying the outdoors.
Myth? Flamingo Love: A Compliment or an Invitation
Like the Jeeps and their ducks they leave, other Airstream owners might leave you some Flamingo love. This is a compliment. It is a way of saying, “I like your set-up.” First, the flamingo is the unofficial mascot of Airstream. In 1957, Don Featherstone created the pink yard ornament, which became an MCM yard art icon. The official pink flamingo even bears Featherstone’s signature.
For Airstreamers, they decorate with flamingos inside and out of their rigs. Today, it's common to see flamingo curtains, flamingos on insulated cups, and even flamingo jewelry. However, there are some rumors out there for displaying a pair of flamingos.
Depending on who you ask, it could be an innocent display. To others, it is an invitation to get to know another couple better, much better. Confused? Google it; you'll get all the details. There’s also an upside-down pineapple to look out for.
Tip: Don’t Talk About Towing Vehicles
Seriously, it's like talking about religion at a family reunion among Airstreamers. A newbie asks an innocent question in a forum or Facebook group, and suddenly, their inbox is on fire. Like many arguments on the internet, please do your research on towing vehicles and their capabilities.
People with all the opinions rarely have all the facts. They don’t know your circ*mstances, such as budget, brand loyalty, and preferred fuel. Towing capabilities change among manufacturers and even models. Yes, for example, with a pickup truck, a model’s cab size, bed length, engine, transmission, and two-wheel or four-wheel drive can all change the pickup’s towing capabilities. Those considering a travel trailer need to research their tow vehicle before falling in love with an Airstream trailer.
Then there’s the debate on whether electric vehicles (EVs) can or should be used. Technology and infrastructure improve constantly, so what was impossible a few years ago is now possible. Towing an Airstream with an EV definitely has some limitations, like the distance you can travel before recharging and the modifications that need to be made for EV towing, though it is doable.
For some, it is a no-go. For others, they are testing and tweaking, then sharing their results to encourage others to use EVs. So, bottom line: Stay tuned. Airstream, as a manufacturer, is working through it, as are EV enthusiasts.
