AIRSTREAMING EUROPE • EDDIE BAUER EDITION • AIRSTREAM SELLING MACHINE
Online Edition
Spring 2011
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Editor’s Page
Airstreaming All Over The World The official Airstream lifestyle magazine Editor and Publisher: Rich Luhr rich@airstreamlife.com Associate Editors: Tom Bentley Becky Blanton Layout and Design: OneTree Marketing lisa@airstreamlife.com Advertising Sales: Brett Greiveldinger brett@airstreamlife.com (802) 877-2900 Ext. 2 Editorial Illustrator: Brad Cornelius Culinary Consultant: Eleanor O’Dea Customer Service: Lisa T. Miller Associate Contributors: Jody Brotherston J. Rick Cipot Fred Coldwell Renee Ettline Bert Gildart John Irwin Roger Johnson Forrest McClure Charles Spiher Contact Airstream Life 411 Walnut St #4468 Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 Telephone: (802) 877-2900 Fax: (802) 610-1013 www.airstreamlife.com Airstream Life Online Edition You can get Airstream Life online, for free! Each issue we select 15-20 pages of the upcoming magazine and make it available on the Internet to readers who sign up at www.airstreamlife.com/online. It's a sneak peek, with no cost, no obligation!
PHOTO: ALISON TURNER
Airstreaming has been an international activity since Wally Byam first started traveling to Europe in the late 1940s with his friend Cornelius Vanderbilt. The 1950s were a “golden era” for international Airstream travel, with caravans covering Europe, Africa, North America and Central America. In the 1960s they even expanded to cover Asia and go “Around The World.” Things have been a little quieter since then. The globe-trotting caravans that made the pages of National Geographic and Life magazine gradually faded away, with most Airstreamers choosing to stick to their home continents. Increasing regulatory barriers, political changes, and rising costs have discouraged the kind of free-wheeling that Wally promoted in the 1950s. But the publicity surrounding Wally’s caravans irreversibly planted a seed of interest in the minds of people all over the world. Those Airstreams that were stripped for parts on torturous roads and abandoned in Central America, or sold in Cape Town, or imported by determined Europeans, have been for the most part remembered and cherished. Some have been kept road-worthy, while others have become backyard offices, hotel rooms, and vacation homes. So it’s no surprise that international travel by Airstream is coming back. Purpose-built European Airstreams have been sold in England, Germany, and Holland for several years, and in Tokyo Japan since 1994. Organized groups of Airstreamers exist in all of those countries, each with their own particular style of Airstreaming that they share and love. It’s now possible to travel large parts of the world by Airstream again, either by importing your own trailer permanently, renting Airstreams in fixed (but exotic) locations, staying in Airstream-themed hotels, or buying an Airstream from a local dealer overseas. In past issues of Airstream Life we’ve discussed many of these options. In this issue, we are going a step further, by recognizing the growing Airstream community in Europe with a special 10-page layout. Even in Australia they’re crazy for Airstreams. In the print edition of Airstream Life, we’ve got a short piece about an Airstream that has become a mobile hamburger restaurant, just like the many mobile Airstream restaurants in the USA. And it turns out that Ukrainians like Airstreams too. You won’t see too many over there, but public relations manager Martin Cranshaw took one across many ferries and borders to the Ukraine and Moscow, Russia. In this Online Edition you’ll see a spread on the new Eddie Bauer edition Airstream, and another great custom trailer makeover by Timeless Travel Trailers. But if you subscribe to the print edition of Airstream Life, you’ll also see an inside look at one of country music star Miranda Lambert’s custom-decorated party trailers, that travels on tour with her. Andy Thomson is back with the fourth article in his series on towing. This time he tackles the question, “Why does a trailer sway?” and provides some excellent insights on how to prevent sway and respond to it (as a driver) if it occurs. As with all Photographer, Alison Turner
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CUSTOMER SERVICE Airstream Life’s world headquarters are the dinette table of a 2005 Airstream Safari 30 We’re always glad to hear from you, but if you have a simple question, please check our website for help first. There you can subscribe, renew your subscription, change your address, get advertising information, download writer’s and photographer’s guidelines, notify us of an address change,and get answers to frequently-asked questions. See www.airstreamlife.com or call (802) 877-2900. Airstream Life (ISSN 1550-5979) is published quarterly by Church Street Publishing, Inc., 411 Walnut St #4468, Green Cove Springs FL 32043. Subscription price is $24 per year. Periodicals postage paid at Ferrisburg VT and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Airstream Life, 411 Walnut St #4468, Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 © Copyright 2011 by Church Street Publishing, Inc. AIRSTREAM ® is the property of Airstream, Inc. Licensed by Global Icons LLC. All rights reserved. Printed in CANADA.
Happy travels,
Rich Luhr, Publisher and Editor
SPRING 2011
PHOTO: ALISON TURNER
of his prior articles, this piece should be required reading for anyone who plans to tow an Airstream. Bert Gildart has been contributing wonderful articles and photos of America’s national parks to Airstream Life magazine for almost seven years. This time, I asked him to celebrate his upcoming anniversary by writing about his ten favorite national parks, but he couldn’t restrain himself and so we ended up with ten plus four “bonus” parks. If you are planning that ultimate post-retirement or “someday” trip, you should study Bert’s article carefully. We’ve also got wonderful pieces in the print edition about the Airstream Westfalia owner’s community, and an Airstream that is used to sell vintage hairstyles. Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Hut have written in as well with their latest adventures, too. Many readers have asked for more and better photos of Airstreams and people using their Airstreams. I hope you’ll note that in this issue we have continued to expand our photographic coverage. Part of the praise for this must go to photographer Alison Turner, whose work illustrates our cover, and three articles in the print edition. And speaking of Alumapalooza, we are in the final stages of preparation for this year’s event, which will again be held at the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, OH. Two hundred trailers will be attending. As of this writing, about 170 spaces have already been reserved, so if you are interested in coming you should visit www.alumapalooza.com very soon for more information, or call us a 802-877-2900 ext. 4. prevent sway and respond to it (as a driver) if it occurs. As with all of his prior articles, this piece should be required reading for anyone who plans to tow an Airstream. Bert Gildart has been contributing wonderful articles and photos of America’s national parks to Airstream Life magazine for almost seven years. He’s the only person to have been published in every issue (besides me). This time, I asked him to celebrate his upcoming anniversary by writing about his ten favorite national parks, but he couldn’t restrain himself and so we ended up with ten plus four “bonus” parks. If you are planning that ultimate post-retirement or “someday” trip, you should study Bert’s article carefully. We’ve also got wonderful pieces in this issue about the Airstream Westfalia owner’s community, the new Eddie Bauer edition Airstream, another great custom trailer makeover by Timeless Travel Trailers, and an Airstream that is used to sell vintage hairstyles. Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Hut have written in as well with their latest adventures, too. With all of this, we ran out of space for some regular features like “Great Ideas,” but they will return in Summer 2011. Many readers have asked for more and better photos of Airstreams and people using their Airstreams. I hope you’ll note that in this issue we have continued to expand our photographic coverage. Part of the praise for this must go to photographer Alison Turner, whose work illustrates our cover, and three articles in this issue. Alison is relatively new to the photography business but has already brought us a lot of great images, including her coverage of Alumapalooza 2010. And speaking of Alumapalooza, we are in the final stages of preparation for this year’s event, which will again be held at the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, OH. Two hundred trailers will be attending. As of this writing, about 140 spaces have already been reserved, so if you are interested in coming you should visit www.alumapalooza.com very soon for more information, or call us a 802-877-2900 ext. 4.
About our cover... Photographer Alison Turner traveled to the Finger Lakes region of New York to attend WestyFest III for this issue. While she was there, she captured our cover image of Tim and Margaret Frazier of Bel Air, MD, with their dog Lucy and their Airstream Westfalia. The Fraziers have traveled coast-to-coast in this Westy, along with their grown son, his fiancé, and three dogs.
What's Coming: • Airstreams of the future • Capetown Airstream park • Airstreams in the movies • Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
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Whoops! It’s the Dragon’s Tail Again! Hi Rich, Imagine my surprise reading about the Dragon’s Tail when I realized it’s the exact route we accidentally took as we traveled to Enota Mountain Retreat! It was the most terrifying ride of my life. When I read it was just 11 miles long, I could not believe it, as the adventure seemed to take hours. There were times when we were around a bend and our [2009 Classic] Airstream was still fully visible. On the way home a tire blew, apparently from the wear and tear of pivoting on so many tight turns. I’m not sure if I would ever take this again in just our car! KATHY BENKEN CINCINNATI, OH
Another Great Painting from Marina To the Editor: On Labor day, I drove my 2005 Bambi CCDeam to the Strawberry Music Festival, at the entrance of Yosemite. I met mutual festival goers driving a 1970’s airstream in Groveland, Ca. Our trailers together as the sun was setting seemed to be a magical moment fit for a painting which I just finished yesterday. Hope you enjoy it. MARINA GOLDEN
Watching Them Like … My wife and I were recently at Newport Dunes RV Park in Newport, CA. Along with a lot of people who like to check out Airstreams, along came this little Hawk. He landed on our tank cover and stayed about 10 minutes looking inside and all around, even when people walked by. I took several pictures with my iPhone through the front window. We watched him for several days flying around the park. Nice to see nature in the middle of a metropolitan area. MAC & PAT CROCKETT LAS VEGAS NV
Bring Me More Airstreams! Mr. Luhr, I have been a subscriber for two years now. I do enjoy your magazine, however I would really like to see more pictures of Airstream trailers. Maybe some more vintage, or refabs in the works, less parks and the eBay articles. Also I love the stories from the Huts, they can stay. I would like to see the magazine focus more on Airstreams, like the magazines you see about hot rods, or motorcycle magazines. I hope you understand what I mean. I am about to get my last issue for this year (2010), and I am not sure if I will renew or not. However, I might change my mind if you will show more trailers than parks, etc. So let me know what you have planned for next year, us younger folks would really like to see more Airstreams. SINCERELY, STEVEN HORN Steven, we hear you — and others like you who have asked for more Airstreams and more photos. Starting with this issue you’ll start to see more and we have plans to ramp it up, so I think you’ll be happy with our new directions. By the way, eBay Watch is gone, but we do have plans for a replacement column coming soon… Broken Receiver Hitch Report This is just a word of appreciation for what may sometimes seem to be a thankless and endless task. I just found your Online Edition and just read my first copy. Mr. Irwin touched on my only complaint so far about full timing for five years — my hitch receiver failed. By the greatest of good fortune I was only backing into a site very slowly when my trailer suddenly disconnected. It was on my 2005 Chevy Avalanche. The local car dealer replaced the hitch at my cost. I guess I should have screamed at GM. Anyway, thanks and I look forward to future issues. REN GARYPIE CURRENTLY IN SEQUIM, WA
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A Tip For Staying Warm Hi Rich, We LOVE our 2010 23' International, aka the “Beast.” Wanted to send you an idea—I sleep on the outside of the bed and hated my arm/shoulder/back pressing against the cold side, so I made a bed bumper (same idea as a crib bumper) out of Hawaiian bark cloth that goes along with the retro look of our Cilantro interior. It’s padded, attached with Velcro. It keeps the twelve inches above the mattress warm and soft to the touch. Photo quality isn’t great, but you’ll get the idea. Thanks—we enjoy the magazine also. PATTY RUSH
Origin of the Airstream? An Alternate Theory My wife and I are proud owners of a 2007 Safari, the 75th anniversary issue. We always wondered about the original trailer and how the thought came by in designing it. They are truly unique and are obviously desirous by many over the near eighty years of production. Recently we were walking the campus of The University of Washington in Seattle and come across the structure in the attached photos. The obvious question now is was the Airstream actually designed, or did it morph from this structure and continue to grow over the years? Thought you would enjoy seeing this. REGARDS, DICK AND CAROL KOHL SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
Airstream Art Plaque To the Editor: As an anniversary gift for my husband and coincidentally our first year of being Airstreamers, I ordered a custom plaque made by the art studio, Sticks, from Ruth Conklin Gallery in Glen Arbor, Michigan. In our 2010 Flying Cloud there is not much wall space for art, which, along with books, are my favorite material things. And since the plaque is wood (about 5 inches square), it won’t break and was no problem to hang with double-sided tape placed on the corners. Each piece Sticks artists make in the Des Moines, Iowa, studio is handcrafted and one of a kind. So it was easy to have a “personal” plaque made. I sent a photo of our Airstream, and notes to set it on grass, with lake, sand and pine trees. I borrowed a few words from Robert Frost to be wood-burned on the bottom of the art: The Road Less Traveled. The result is a whimsical take on an Airstream.
Still Working But Camping Plenty Too! Rich, I love the magazine and have followed your blog. If you ever need any article submissions about weekend warriors who are new to Airstreaming, then let me know. My wife and I have 3 kids and a dog and a 28' International CCD. We are in our thirties and live in Dayton, Ohio. We were at Alumapalooza last year. We really try to make the most of our vacation time and go on many weekend glamping trips. I’ve enclosed a picture of my wife Melizza reading Airstream Life on Grayton Beach [FL] over Thanksgiving. Best wishes and keep up the good work. REGARDS, DOUGLAS M. TROUT
BEVERLY GILMORE-FOX TRAVERSE CITY MI
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Inbox
Snow in Scotland Hi Rich, Have just returned from North of Scotland where I was photographing my nephew’s wedding. You may have seen in the news we have been hit with Arctic weather for last 10 days. It was quite an adventure in our Airstream. We had one night on the way back in amidst the truckers also stuck on Motorway services south of Glasgow. One of the truckers was an Airstream fan and is looking to buy an imported vintage trailer. Only that morning he had seen and bought a greeting card with two Airstreams in the picture. When we woke up the next morning he had gone, but left the card in a plastic bag on our door for us. Lots of people came up and chatted with us — the truckers were all very friendly. Airstreams really do seem to generate positive interest that I doubt you would get in a “white box.” The field shots are where we were on a little Certified Location near Dornoch for 4 nights. BEST WISHES, DICK MORGAN Dick Morgan is the owner of an EU-spec Airstream and has contributed several of his photos to the article on European Airstreaming in this issue.
Special $75/night rate for Alumapalooza attendees! Mention code “PAL” when making your reservation.
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“On the House” Breakfast Buffet All Rooms with Microfridge High Speed Internet Free Local Calls Group Rates Available
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SPRING 2011
Drop in on the official Airstream factory event! May 31- June 5, 2011 at the Airstream factory in Jackson Center, Ohio
LIVE MUSIC by Antsy McClain and the Trailer Park Troubadours!
Same deal as last year – BUT BETTER! More entertainment, more seminars, more vendors, and more fun! • Over 20 informative seminars • Factory tours twice daily • Daily door prizes • Evening cookouts • Geocaching and bicycling • Swap meet and vendors • Community festival in town • 3-5 night options • 3 amp electric, water, and dump • Catered dinner on Saturday • Generator section and vegetarian meal available • Kids under age 15 free w/paid adult! • $215 for 1 trailer, 1 adult (3 nights), $70 per additional adult, $30 per additional night
Much more information and online booking at alumapalooza.com or call 802-877-2900 ext. 4 Space is limited, so book early to avoid disappointment!
Be a friend of ASL ALUMAPALOOZA on Facebook for regular updates Follow us on Twitter: twitter.com/alumapalooza
Airstreaming Europe in the 21st Century
PHOTO: DICK MORGAN
By Claire Landon, Becky Blanton, Dick Morgan and Rich Luhr
After acquiring a vintage Airstream Caravel in Ohio and touring the United States with it, Claire Landon and Daniel Spring loved the trailer so much that they decided to take it home with them – to England. Despite the fact that they had traveled for six months with two small children and even occasionally with Daniel’s mother Barbara in just 17 feet of space, they felt the trailer would be a perfect fit for further adventures in the United Kingdom. So they sent the Caravel ahead to England. In an email to a friend, Claire wrote, “We are looking forward to many trips around the UK and Europe, and to learning about Airstream culture and life on the other side of the pond. We’re guessing it’s pretty different over there.” She had no idea how right she was. The first hurdle was making the Caravel legal for use on European roads. Unlike Wally Byam’s day when Airstreams were routinely shipped to Europe for tours and used virtually unchanged, today an imported trailer has to be extensively modified in comply with European Community
PHOTO: PETE BULL
TOP LEFT: A European Airstream 684 owned by Bill & Liz Thompson at a UK rally. BOTTOM: Morning mist on the Norfolk Broads, England. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: A vintage trailer owned by Sam and Hazel Harkness passes Big Ben in London. BOTTOM: A convoy of Airstreams on the way to Fourth UK Airstreamers Meet in Shropshire, England, September 2010.
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PHOTO: HAZEL HARKNESS PHOTO: DICK MORGAN
rules. The conversion was expensive and complex (see sidebar), leading Claire to comment, “We love our Caravel, but suspect that getting a new, European Airstream would make our lives much easier.” The second hurdle was adjusting to the environment. After months of roaming the open spaces of America’s west, Claire and Daniel had to reconcile themselves with the narrow hedgerows of England’s West Country. But they discovered one factor that is always the same around the world: the happy attitude of campers. “Camping seems to bring out the best in people,” noted Claire, “and Airstreams make the general public go gaga. When these trailers are around, even the most reserved of people are happy to talk to strangers.” “The English were very, very interested in the Airstream. Our kids soon found little friends, and we struck up easy conversation with our immediate neighbors – a good thing, since they were a foot away.” For Claire and Daniel, the first camping weekend in England marked more than just a crowded, but fun music festival in Suffolk. It kicked off the beginning of their summer-abroad-experiment – a test to determine whether their shiny Airstream home made any sense in Europe. Their experiences kept getting better, leading Claire to suggest anyone dreaming about a similar experience to go for it. The realty is, Airstreaming in Europe is a journey more and more Airstream owners are taking, and one that is exciting, doable and fun – even if you’ve never been abroad, or never camped abroad before.
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Wally Byam’s Legacy If aluminum has a DNA, then Wally Byam’s passion for travel and adventure is part of every Airstream that rolls out the doors of Jackson Center. Byam loved to travel with his Airstream and a caravan of Airstreamers rolling along with him. Regulations, security concerns and a thousand other things have forever altered the freedom to travel that Byam experienced, but Airstreaming in Europe is not impossible or even that difficult. A UK Airstreamers group has been up for two years now and is steadily growing. There are more than 300 Airstream owners in the UK, including a half-dozen full-timers. Almost a dozen independent operators rent Airstreams for stationary visits (see Airstream Life, Winter 2009), and new Airstreams are sold in England, Germany, and Holland. The bottom line is, if you want to Airstream in Europe, you can. Most of the differences in camping overseas come down to language and culture. For instance, although an Airstream is an Airstream no matter where you go, an “RV” or “trailer” in America is called a “caravan” overseas. You don’t go “RVing” in Europe. You “caravan” or “go caravanning.” UK resident and long-time Airstream full-timer Pete Bull says there are two main types of camping sites. The first, licensed by the country’s two trailer clubs, the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravanning Club, are typically small sites on private land with room for five trailers. There are around 4,000 such CL (Certified Location) or CS (Certificated Site) grounds in the UK. The two clubs own a further couple hundred sites. Apart from those, there are hundreds of privately owned commercial sites. Most campgrounds offer electric hookups. However, fresh and grey water hook-ups are rare and are usually only found on the expensive, private sites. Generally, Airstream rental companies won’t let you tow a rental. They tow it for you. You designate the campground and they tow it and set it up for you. You’re left with the challenge of getting to the camp“We were both fed up site. Fortunately most campgrounds with our jobs and didn't are located within walking, biking really like where we lived, or taxi distance from town. You can arrive by rail and walk, or rent a car so we thought we'd quit to drive to your campground. work, sell our home, buy a “I quite like it,” Chris Haddon, a caravan or motor home British Airstream owner and camper, and hit the road” said of the practice of camping in a permanently placed caravan. Haddon, a graphic designer, works out of an Airstream trailer in his garden. It’s nestled among plants and winding boardwalk. But Haddon also camps regularly, both in his vintage Shasta and his vintage Airstream Safari. “You just drive out to the caravan and get yourself settled in,” he explained. Again, weight, narrow roads and the cost of fuel are all reasons not everyone pulls an Airstream around the country – it's each to their own. “Some of the country roads are quite narrow, hard to get a car down, let alone a large Airstream,” Haddon said. He should know. Haddon recently published a book, “My Cool Caravan,” (Pavilion, 160 pages) featuring cool trailers from around the world. He features a variety of new and vintage caravans, including including a smaller scale trailer the the Royal family used when Prince Charles and Princess Anne were children.
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BOTTOM: Eddie and Miranda Cross' 1966 Caravel (imported to UK in 2009 from North Carolina), pulled by their '57 Chevy Stepside pick-up, at the Fourth UK Airstreamers Meet in Shropshire.
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or motor home and hit the road, searching for the right place to stop. The plan was to spend a year looking, buy a house and maybe a business in our new hometown and put down new roots. Quite soon into the year, we decided not to put a time limit in the trip. That was three years ago,” they said. Ending up with an Airstream was a happy accident. “We lived about 40 minutes drive from Airstream Europe in Tebay, Cumbria. We went over for a look one afternoon and that was it. We went back three more times – and had a look at a local [white box] dealer, just to make sure – before putting down a deposit. Then we had to sell the house. We'd never had a [trailer] before, just an old VW camper van,” Pete said. The Bulls are not just Airstream owners. They’re Airstream evangelists. Two years ago the couple started organizing annual rallies – or Gatherings, as they are known – one in the autumn and one in the spring. Gatherings are pretty much the same as rallies in the US. Everyone sets up their trailers in a circle, grabs a drink, does a meet-and-greet, and then contributes to a collective barbecue. It’s all very friendly and relaxed.
PHOTO: DICK MORGAN
PHOTO: ARMIN HEUN
Haddon had to get special permission from Princess Anne to take the trailer out of the private museum where it currently resides in order to photograph it. Her willingness to share pictures of the royal caravan is proof that everyone – even royalty – appreciates camping. “Airstreams are quite popular and they always get comments,” he said. “They stand out.” Haddon said Europeans have the same sense of wonder and the same iconic image of adventure and mystery that Americans experience with the trailers. Cost, and a fascination with all things vintage, helps drive sales of used Airstreams abroad, just as it does in America. It’s hard to escape the allure of an Airstream. Jane Field-Lewis, Haddon’s co-author, believes people are inspired by the vintage trailers they see – including Airstreams. “You can be creative, indulge your sense of nostalgia, restore something to its former glory, or design a modern version of the original style.” Haddon and Field-Lewis aren’t alone in their fascination with Airstreams. UK citizens Pete and Tracey Bull fell prey to the Airstream’s siren song years ago. “We were both fed up with our jobs and didn't really like where we lived, so we thought we'd quit work, sell our home, buy a caravan
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“People want something that will last, and Airstreams attract customers who are interested in style and image. It is the perfect solution for people who are fed up with flying.” But it’s not just fashion-conscious people who are signing up, she adds. “We don’t really have a typical client – we have a millionaire, an energy company, a professor, a tattoo artist, cafe owners, a psychologist and families.” Airstreamer Pete Bull agrees, saying, “The owners I know range from farmers to fashion photographers, shopkeepers to sewage system specialists, car salesmen, phone salesmen, insurance salesmen, a journalist, a doctor and even a bespoke croquet mallet maker. There are also several families.”
Silver Swingers Don’t worry, in spite of the connotation, “Silver swinging” is not as racy as it sounds. The name refers to a practice Michael Hold, the sales director at Airstream Europe hopes will catch on between North American Airstream owners and their UK counterparts. For most Americans, shipping an Airstream to Europe and then converting it to European standards is expensive and time prohibitive. But that shouldn’t stop Airstream aficionados from enjoying Europe in an Airstream. Hold has been working on a solution. “We hope to facilitate ‘Airstream Swaps’ between UK owners and American/Canadian ‘streamers who would simply fly out and exchange their whole outfits or rigs for a number of weeks, just like Home Exchange programs,” he said.
PHOTO: ARMIN HEUN
PHOTO: DICK MORGAN
Gaining Popularity in England Another thing Airstreams have going for them is that fact that England is going through two big trends right now: all things retro, and camping. Both of these stem from the same factors, the first being the recession, which has triggered a backlash against consumerism and therefore encouraged a renewed interest in craft, DIY and “staycations.” The second is the environmental movement, which promotes recycling and simpler holidays closer to home. In fact, the increase in camping and caravanning is good for the economy. “If you talk to farmers and small campsite owners, they’ll tell you how an increase in camping visitors has helped not only their business, but also local food producers, specialty shops and other rural industries,” Jonathan Knight, author of “Cool Camping” said. Kathy Morrison, co-owner of Airstream importing and refurbishment company American Retro Caravans, believes the growing popularity of vintage Airstreams stems from something deeper.
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Hold said the only thing standing in the way of the plan is insurance. He’s been in talks with brokers on both sides of the ocean and is hopeful about the results of the meetings. “If an arrangement can be found, the dream could become a reality by next year.” If you rent or swap for an Airstream that you’re allowed to tow, you might be surprised by the differences. Airstreams assembled in Europe are six inches narrower, feature European designed interiors, and are much lighter than their US counterparts. Because average tow vehicle sizes and weights in Europe are lower than in the US, Airstreams are constructed to meet those limits. Europe places restrictions on the weight of vehicle and trailer that an ordinary car license holder can use. This restriction affects mainly younger drivers. Contact AAA (American Automobile Association) for an international driver’s license as soon as you start making plans to travel. Make sure your license designates the amount you can tow. AAA may not ask if you’ll be towing a trailer.
Tips For Traveling Many English campgrounds don’t provide picnic tables or allow fires. If they do, the firebox is most likely to be in a barbecue-type ring. Campfires are rarely allowed at campgrounds. Most campgrounds don’t provide picnic tables or benches either, so don’t forget to bring your own comfortable chairs and a fold up or roll-up table. But in general, it’s important to pack lightly. Everything is smaller in Europe, including the cars, the Airstreams and the roads. European trailers have smaller holding tanks (or none, in some cases). This makes them much lighter and therefore towable by smaller vehicles. This means that fresh and used water must be transported by hand, usually in wheeled plastic containers.
Few campgrounds have full hook-ups. There are dump stations, but no universal system to connect a 4-inch hose. Many use a portable cassette toilet, which has a removable sealed tank for black water that must be manually emptied. All of this means you may want to take your bathrobe and a pair of shower shoes. Campers rely more on campground facilities in the shower house so they don’t have to haul shower water to the caravan. For more advice on camping in Europe, check Mike and Terry Church’s book, “Traveler's Guide to European Camping.” While currently out of print, used copies can be found through online book stores. Airstreaming in Europe does make sense. It requires some planning, a willingness to try something different and, in Wally Byam’s words, a desire to “to play some part in promoting international goodwill and understanding among the peoples of the world through person-to-person contact.” Opportunities remain for those who care to make the effort and risk of having the adventure of a lifetime. BOTTOM: An Airstream 684 at Walchsee in Austria. TOP: On the way to the Gotthard Pass (2,106 meters elevation) in Switzerland. OPPOSITE PAGE: Airstreamers launching paper hot air ballons at the Fourth UK Airstreamers Meet.
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Take Your Own Trailer?
PHOTO: PETE BULL
For a short-term trip, Michael Hold of Airstream Europe advises against exporting Airstreams from the US. “It is fraught with danger, problems, and costs,” he said. “The shipping alone costs £3975.00, which is about $5,000 USD.” “We actually worked out the difference recently between a new EU Airstream and a new US Airstream imported into the UK,” he said. “The EU model was ten percent less in real terms than the US version, which would not operate over here if not converted to compatible electrics, gas, brakes, road lights, heating, water systems and so on.” An imported vintage Airstream or new US model can be seen occasionally in Europe, but those owners are on their own for everything and the weight of a larger American Airstream can be crippling for small EU tow cars. But if you are planning to take your own Airstream abroad permanently, or want to import a vintage trailer, there are several organizations on both the US and UK sides who can help. The job involves considerable modification to the trailer, so look for companies that have experience converting to EU specifications and can point to conversions they’ve already done. For nearly all trailers, the trip to Europe is a one-way, since re-converting the trailer to North American specifications and shipping it back is prohibitively expensive. Pete and Tracey Bull camped at an Alpaca farm near Mevagissey, Cornwall. RIGHT: On the ferry from Eriskay to Barra in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. ABOVE RIGHT: EU-spec Airstreams are designed to be towed by smaller European vehicles.
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AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION • www.airstreamlife.com
SPRING 2011
PHOTO: AIRSTREAM EUROPE
Buy A European-Spec Airstream
SPRING 2011
Michael Hold of Airstream Europe is the Old World’s top cheerleader for new Airstreams. That’s not unusual for a sales director, but in Michael’s case, the love is genuine. Hold sold white-box trailers before he discovered Airstreams at a trade fair. Once bitten by the Airstream bug, Hold convinced the management in Jackson Center, OH to let him set up an exclusive dealership in the north of England near the Lake District. From there, a trio comprising Hold, technical director Anthony Slocock and finance director David Rowell developed a line of European spec Airstreams. “New European Airstreams have been designed by Europeans, and are built to suit European cars, roads, campgrounds and aesthetic taste,” says Hold. They are now available at dealerships in the UK (Airstream Europe), Holland (Airstream Professionals), and Germany (Roka Werk GmbH). Buying a European-spec Airstream means fewer headaches, since no conversion is needed. European Airstreams are built along the lines of their American counterparts, only slightly smaller. The brakes are mechanical and the axle is further forward, giving a lighter noseweight. The lack of holding tanks also makes the European models lighter, meaning that a Bambi can be towed by a small sedan. A galvanized steel chassis to protect against corrosion – a major risk in a damp climate like the United Kingdom’s – is a difference the average consumer doesn’t see, but it’s there. European hitches are different too, with a slightly smaller ball. They do not incorporate weight distribution or safety chains (which are replaced by a wire loop that encircles the ball on the car). Hold’s company designs and buys the EU components needed to make a truly new compliant EU Airstream. They buy the chassis from BPW in Germany, the wheels and tires from Tyreline in England, the 220/240v wiring harness from Sargeant Electricals in England, and the end furniture lockers from Germany. Heating and plumbing components come from ALDE in Sweden. All these components are compartmentalized and sent to Jackson Center, Ohio where the factory builds specially designed shells onto the European chassis and running gear. That takes about two weeks. The finished shell is towed to Baltimore and put on a “RoRo” (Roll On, Roll Off) ship to Liverpool, England. From there the shell is taken to the plant in Cumbria where the EU-spec furniture and appliances are installed. From start to finish, a new EU Airstream takes six months to create. New UK Airstreamers are growing at the rate of around 50 per annum, and Hold says he expects that to increase to a maximum of 200 a year over the next five years. “What is nice is that nine out of ten of our owners are brand new to the whole touring world, so they really are experiencing an adventure with their new silver dream machines,” Hold said. Rowell is optimistic as well, saying there are around 150 European Airstreams on the road, with sales up some 10% this year. The company plans to introduce a new family-sized model with five or six beds in 2011 and to open a dealership in Gloucestershire, in the south of England.
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Where To Camp In The UK Whether you’re visiting a new campground or a new country, the best advice is always to talk to someone who has been there. Don’t be shy about hitting the message boards or Airstream forums in both the UK or America to find out what you want to know. AAA and other travel agencies provide detailed information about almost anywhere you want to go. Explore the well-known tourist destinations, like Oxford, Bath and Stonehenge, or wander down the road less traveled. Either way if you’re open to the experience, you’ll probably have a good time. If you’re looking for suggestions from an American Airstreamer whose “been there,” Claire Landon suggests Cornwall, one of the most popular summer destinations for the English. Famous for its jutting headlands interspersed with low cliffs and sandy coves, the county’s big waves and aquatic-hued light make it a magnet for surfers and artists. Or, consider exploring Cotehele, a 14th century aristocratic estate nestled into a curve in the Tamar River that was owned by the Edgcumbe family until 1947. On view are the house, plus its mill, riverside quay, dovecote and multi-leveled gardens, giving the visitor a sense of what genteel, self-sufficient living must have been like 600 years ago. Treen Farm Campsite sits atop a cliff in St Levan, at the most southwesterly tip of England. A short walk from the bijou Pedn Vounder beach, it is a slightly longer distance to the more populated Porthcuthno beach. No hook-up, no pre-booking, but prices are cheap at £15 per night for a family of four. For those seeking a truly remote destination on an otherwise densely populated island, the Scottish Highlands could be the answer. Making the 450-mile drive to the top of Scotland is the best bet for solitude. With one of the lowest population densities on earth, the still Gaelic-speaking Highlands enjoy rugged mountain ranges, implausibly clear water and many pristine beaches. But one has to be a hardy soul; at the summer solstice in Inverness, which is at 57.45 degrees north, the sun doesn’t set until 10:30.
Applecross Campsite sits above the village of Applecross (population 238) in Ross-Shire. Visitors get views across the water of the Isle of Skye, plus easy access to the award winning seafood restaurant Applecross Inn. A family of four pays £54 for a three-day weekend with electric. Boondocking is also a possibility in many parts of the Highlands. But choose your route carefully – one route to Applecross is over a steep, single-track, hairpin-bend-ridden nightmare of a road, which is no place for an Airstream! Off the beaten track is Norfolk, which covering a sea-surrounded bulge not on the way to anywhere, is a rural county sometimes described as a time warp. It is a flat, arable land stretching out to the North Sea, which eventually laps up against Holland. On the seaside, old-fashioned fish and chip shops jostle with crab shacks and ice cream parlors, while inland, ancient market towns still house curious auctions of everything from furniture to vegetables. Notable water features are the famous fens, fertile land reclaimed from the sea long ago, and the Norfolk Broads, navigable wetlands created in medieval times by the unearthing of peat and subsequent flooding. If you get the chance, stay at the Pinewoods Holiday Park, at Wells-next-the-Sea. A short walk through an invigoratingly scented pine forest and down a steep set of steps takes visitors onto a wide, sandy beach lined with beach hut, tiny, brightly colored raised structures for changing, storing belongings and making cups of tea. Full hook-up £34 per night in high season, one of the highest in the UK. It’s well worth joining the two UK camping clubs (the Caravan Club and the Camping & Caravanning Club) at a cost of around £40 each for a year. This is the only way to access the CL/CS network. As a member, small site fees can be as low as £3 per night.
PHOTO: PETE BULL.
Taking a break beneath Sgurr Thuilm, Isle of Skye, Scotland.
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AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION • www.airstreamlife.com
SPRING 2011
UK Airstream Gatherings
PHOTO: ARMIN HEUN
Airstreaming in Britain is alive and well, thanks in no small measure to the dedicated efforts of Pete and Tracey Bull, founders of UKAirstreamers.org. Two years ago, Pete & Tracey (who had already been living for a year full-time in their Airstream International 684) thought, “Wouldn’t it be great to meet up with some other Airstream owners?” After posting on Airforums and on their blog, they managed to get eleven Airstreams together for a spring weekend. From that humble beginning, the group has grown to bring together thirty Airstreams by the fourth Gathering in September 2010. The group encompassed both trailers and motorhomes, vintage and new, European and imported. For many owners it was the first time they had ever attended such an event. The weekend can perhaps be summed up by 68 year-old Eric Farrelly who came in his 1982 Airstream motorhome: “I was a little apprehensive about coming, but ended up having a really great weekend – one of the best organized and most enjoyable in 25 years!” The event was hosted by Carl and Gaynor Huntbach on their family farm near Ludlow in Shropshire. Having seen the cover of a J.J. Cale CD featuring an Airstream trailer, they Googled “American Metal Caravan” and up came a 1959 Tradewind for sale in southern France. Carl drove down to inspect it and three days later brought it home. They have subsequently restored it, keeping as original as possible. Europe does not have the same heritage of living full time in RVs such as exists in North America. Nevertheless, at least five of the attending trailers are lived in year-round. Some of the UK Airstreamers have already taken their trailers for extended visits to Morocco, and others have traveled much of Europe. Sitting by the campfire on Saturday night, the group discovered what American owners have known for years: wonderful tales of adventure will emerge while talking to other owners, and the seeds of future trips will be sown. The group plans additional Gatherings in May and September of 2011, and members will be traveling in convoy to meet up with other Airstream owners in Holland in June – the largest Airstream caravan in Europe since the great Wally Byam caravans of the 1950’s and 1960’s. •••
SPRING 2011
AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION • www.airstreamlife.com
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• • • • • •
Interiors
An Airstream Becomes a Perfect Selling Machine for Golfers BY JODY
BROTHERSTON, ASID
ABOVE: The Straight Down Clothing Company Airstream sits with gull wing door open at Lakeside Amusement Park in Denver, CO. OPPOSITE PAGE: Maple and walnut woods provide rich accents for the interior, pictured here at an California golf course.
W
hen Straight Down Clothing Company of San Luis Obispo, CA wanted to draw attention to their golf apparel line they turned to Timeless Travel Trailers to create a one-of-a-kind-mobile showroom with a comfortable guest lounge. Timeless started with a 1946 Spartan Manor travel trailer and completely remanufactured it to create “the perfect selling machine.” According to Straight Down CEO, Mike Rowley, the Spartan, nicknamed “Big Red” was such a success for the company they returned to Timeless in less than a year to design another eye popping sales room trailer. This time around Timeless started with a new Airstream 23' International shell fresh from the factory. To come up with something completely different, Timeless designers and engineers decided to create a large opening on the street side of the trailer which would invite people into the mobile showroom, as well as suggesting a feeling of more interior space from the inside. What evolved was a very large door stretching over 13 feet from the front rib to the rear rib on the Airstream.
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A gull wing door structure was designed to open up to 90 degrees, creating a hard surface awning with overhead lights. Proprietary design changes were made to the body shell as well as the chassis to maintain the strength of the trailer after the door opening was created. Timeless’ metal workers utilized aviation grade aluminum honeycomb material to create the large yet lightweight door, which exactly fits the contour of the trailer body. A custom door frame and sealing system were created from standard Airstream components as well as heavy aluminum stock. A six-point latching system ensures that the door seals tight to keep out water and dust, and adds rigidity to the body while on the road. Detachable lightweight aluminum steps were built for safe access to the trailer through the large door. The interior of the trailer is designed to showcase Straight Down’s broad range of custom embroidered clothing as well as entertain their clients. The walls, ceiling and end caps are made of the same clear coated aluminum that is standard on some Airstream models.
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SPRING 2011
its time. A Cummins/Onan 6.5kW generator was installed to power the trailer wherever it travels. Straight Down was so impressed with the gull wing door in their new Airstream that the company sent their 1946 Spartan trailer back to Timeless for a similar modification. Both trailers will be touring the golf tournaments and trade shows throughout North America. A portion of the proceeds from the tour will go to ALS (Lou Gehrig Disease) research. Design is about choices, and the choices made to make the “Airstream Selling Machine” so popular with clients attest to the quality of a good design, and the effect it has on people. •••
Timeless Interior Designer, Danielle Garrison, selected natural maple solids and veneers for most of the cabinetry and display casework, finished with several coats of durable catalyzed lacquer. To compliment the light tones of the maple, the street side countertop is made of solid American dark walnut. The countertop turns in toward the center of the trailer to create a small bar with a built-in ice bin for holding cold beverages. A booth seat at the aft end is a comfortable spot to view sales presentations. An overhead clothing rack using maple, walnut and chrome plated brass tubing was added for the sales personnel to use during demonstrations. The Straight Down logo is inlaid into the maple wood on the exterior of the street side cabinetry. Black and charcoal
sculptured loop pile Karastan carpet completes the handsome and functional interior. The technology includes a KVH brand satellite-in-motion TV antenna, delivering signals to a 42" Sony HDTV on the curb side interior wall, and a 22" HDTV on the exterior of the street side cabinets for visitors to watch golf tournaments or other sports programming. Surround sound is provided through an Alpine CDA-105 automotive head unit and speakers. An undercounter GE refrigerator for additional beverage storage is located in the forward end next to the built-in embroidery demonstration machine. The vehicle can be used while the gull wing door is closed, with a Dometic 13,500 Btu air conditioner keeping the space cool in the Arizona heat where it spends most of
SPRING 2011
AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION • www.airstreamlife.com
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• • • • • •
Floorplan Review
Airstream with a
SURPRISE rom thirty feet away this 2011 “Eddie Bauer” edition Airstream looks much like the 25-foot Front Bedroom models that have been popular for several years, except for the green awning. But take a step to the back to the rear sport hatch and you’ll quickly see that there’s much more to this new model than just some decor updates. The 57” x 48” hatch swings up on hydraulic struts to provide wide-open access to the interior of the trailer, for quick loading of bulky gear or just unfettered access to the great outdoors. The dinette table and side couch come out of the way if needed, and a smooth sliding screen lets the fresh air in while keeping the bugs out. It’s not a classic “toy hauler,” but with 1,571 pounds of Net Carrying Capacity and the four-foot wide hatch, you should be able to take plenty of toys along on the next expedition, even bicycles or kayaks.
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Just when you’ve gotten over that concept (and, like us, ceased smacking yourself on the forehead and saying, “why didn’t I think of that?”) you’ll start to see more welcome tweaks inspired by the new Airstream-Eddie Bauer partnership. The rear bumper doubles as an entry step covered with no-skid material. An outdoor shower has been added for quick clean-ups. D-rings on either side of the bumper provide a handy place to leash the dog, or secure some gear. Inside, the queen-size bed comes with an Eddie Bauer Goose Down duvet, pillows, and throw. Roof lockers have fossilized leaf patterns to evoke the outdoors. Extra clotheslines and racks are provided to hang wet clothing from outdoor adventures, as well as an Eddie Bauer duffle bag and a pair of daypacks. And finally, premium 16-inch Michelin tires are fitted to carry it all, with greater ground clearance. Unlike the Quiksilver, Design Within Reach, and Victorinox trailers released by Airstream in recent years, the Eddie Bauer is not a limited edition. Airstream is mum right now on whether lengths other than 25 feet will be produced, but if the trailer proves popular, it wouldn’t be a stretch to assume more variations – and other co-branded products – will be produced during “long term” partnership announced by Airstream and Eddie Bauer. •••
AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION • www.airstreamlife.com
SPRING 2011
By The Numbers Preliminary specs provided at press time suggest the Eddie Bauer Airstream will have a GVWR of 7,300 pounds. The trailer will carry 39 gallons of fresh water, 39 black, and 37 gray. All other specs are similar to 25FBs currently sold by Airstream, but are subject to change. Dealer MSRP is $73,702. Look for it at Airstream dealers now.
SPRING 2011
AIRSTREAM LIFE ONLINE EDITION • www.airstreamlife.com
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Here’s what’s in the Spring 2011 print edition of Airstream Life! Subscribe today to get this issue!
Spring 2011 6
Inbox
10 Airstreaming Europe in the 21st Century
The official Airstream lifestyle magazine
20 Miranda Lambert’s Airstreams 26 Aussie Hamburgers with Everything 28 From the Archives: A Vintage Brickstream 31 Book Reviews: Airstreams Between the Pages 33 Big Fans of the Small (Airstream) Westfalia
PHOTO: MARTIN CRANSHAW
36 Interiors: Selling Machine for Golfers 38 Pin-Up Airstream 40 To Russia, with Love 44 Bert & Janie Gildart's Favorite National Parks 50 Towing: Why Does a Trailer Sway? Airstreaming Russia, page 40
55 Fun Page 56 Eddie Bauer edition: Airstream with a Surprise
Fans gather for WestyFest III, page 33
PHOTO: ALISON TURNER
Miranda Lambert's Airstreams, page 20
PHOTO: RANDEE ST. NICHOLAS
64 Last Mile: Wired Up and Fired Up
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