Jayco releases new Aussie Airstream

Australian Airstream distributor Jayco has released a new 18ft International single axle caravan for cashed-up fans of the polished aluminium American travel trailers.

Available at five Jayco Airstream dealers around the country, the new Airstream 18ft will be joined by a larger Airstream 22ft tandem axle model in late-2019. Pricing for the Airstream 18ft is $139,990, with the 22ft Airstream expected to start from around $170,000.

Both Airstream vans are aimed at couples and have full rear ensuites with separate shower and toilet, plus a well-equipped kitchen and dinette/lounge. However, the smaller 18ft displayed at the 2019 Victorian Caravan Supershow by Page Bros RV features a cosy front bedroom with transverse queen bed, while the 22ft will have an island east-west queen bed towards the rear.

Unlike previous Airstreams available in Australia, the new models are specifically designed and built for the Australian market, with fittings and appliances familiar to Australian caravanners, including Thetford or Dometic cooktops, fridges, air-conditioners and cassette toilets, AL-KO ball couplings, and desirable extras like gas bayonets and external showers.

They also get other items that Australian caravan buyers expect, including an 80W roof-top solar panel, two 9kg gas bottles and both fresh and grey water tanks.

However, the trademark Airstream features remain, including the curved, riveted polished aluminium bodywork, porthole windows, and other aviation-inspired, retro styling and funky interior touches.

The Airstream 18ft on sale now features a 1805kg Tare weight and 2292kg ATM, while the 22ft Airstream will have a Tare of around 2300kg and 3000kg ATM.

Standard features on the 18ft Airstream (which is based on the Airstream Sport 22FB sold in the US) include a 141 litre fridge, roll-out awning, microwave, 22L hot water unit, central heating, 120Ah battery system, audio and TV entertainment. The 22ft Airstream will get a few upgrades like a better awning, washing machine and instant hot water.

Airstream General Manager – Travel Trailers, Bryan Melton, who was at the Supershow for the launch of the Airstream 18ft, said the 13ft Basecamp displayed at last year's Supershow was never sold down under.

“The Basecamp didn’t meet regulations,” explained Melton. “The rear cargo door (in Australia) needed to be an exit, but the exit was too high off the ground. We needed to create a step system, and with the spare tyre there wasn’t an easy way to modify it.”

Melton said both the Airstream 18ft and 22ft will be fully built at Airstream’s Ohio factory to comply with Australian regulations.

“Jayco Australia supply us with many of the different items that are required to meet compliance regulations in Australia. They ship some of the products direct to Airstream to do the install,” he said.

Production of ‘International’ models is currently limited to around five a month, but that will be ramped up with the move to a new purpose-built Airstream factory later this year.

“It will be the world’s largest, single build-up RV plant ever,” Melton said.

Like American Airstream buyers, he doesn’t expect the iconic ‘silver bullets’ to appeal to your average Australian caravanner.

“About 50 per cent of our customers (in the US) are new to the whole caravanning concept, and the other 50 per cent don’t want to buy yet another caravan; they want something they really can enjoy without having all the hassles.

"We like to say we are the most expensive, but we’re the least expensive to operate and maintain.”