Jayco launches cheaper Airstream

Airstream’s new single axle entry model, the 5.0-metre travel length Base 13, has broken cover at the Victorian Caravan, Camping & Touring Supershow – ahead of its official presentation to the five premium Jayco dealers chosen to market the iconic American caravan range in Australia.

Wearing the same shiny aluminium armour as its traditional, larger sausage-shaped brothers, the Base 13 (called BaseCamp in America but that name is already taken in Australia) with its funky retro style and launch price of $83,990 is expected to serve as ‘bait’ to attract well-heeled travellers prepared to pay a premium price for Airstream’s larger models.

Jayco’s National Sales Manager, Shane Holloway, said two larger Airstream models were expected to join the range in Australia later this year, priced in the premium $130-$150,000 range.

All, like the Base 13, will be built to Australian specification at Airstream’s Jackson, Ohio plant in the USA and shipped in largely finished state direct to Jayco’s five dealers in Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia and western Australia.

There, they will be dealer-fitted with their rooftop mounted reverse cycle air conditioners and other ancillary items before customer delivery.

Cult following

Airstream’s Chief Operating Officer Justin Humphreys, who was at the Victorian Show yesterday in advance of today’s Jayco dealer presentation, said that Airstreams had attracted a cult status as ‘the Harley-Davidsons of the RV industry’ with one of the company’s major tasks involving hosting factory tours.

The 2000 or so external body rivets on the Base 13 that hold the shiny aluminium cladding in place – hand-applied by two tradespeople working inside and outside the van  – were a signature feature that customers revered, like the mechanical movement of a Swiss watch.

And while the equally-shiny smooth aluminium internal lining may encourage moisture condensation under some circumstances, Humphreys said that Airstream buyers were prepared to put up with minor inconveniences to be different.

Labour intensive

Each Base 13 takes about 200 'man' hours to produce, compared to around 80 hours for a typical Jayco caravan.

“They are very labour-intensive to build,” he said, “but it’s the human hand that attracts customers, many of whom would not be in the market for white boxes “, (Humphrey’s term for conventional caravans).

The 1300kg tare weight Base 13 with its front side and rear entry doors, features a panoramic-windowed curved front kitchen, a nearside central combined shower and toilet bathroom and a rear tapering lounge, with infill panels and cushions converting its two opposing rear bench seats into a (smallish) double bed or dining room, depending on their arrangement.

While designed specifically for on-road travel with its compact Dexter rubber torque tube single axle suspension, Humphreys said the company is also looking at adding ‘all-road;’ features as options to Airstreams built for Australia, subject to demands.