Published on February 14, 2024
We shared news quite a while ago that the AutoCamp Asheville location, once it opens, will have the first of all the AutoCamp locations to offer Airstream Bambi model. Now, we’ve got lots of details to share about the AutoCamp Asheville Airstream Bambi.
AutoCamp Asheville Airstream Bambi Details
The Asheville Airstream will NOT be customized, as the 31′ Airstream that has become the signature of AutoCamp, but will it have a cooktop and oven for indoor cooking?
As we covered earlier, there are 4 different lengths of Bambi: 16, 19, 20, and 22 feet. AutoCamp Asheville Bambi will be the 20′ model. Here is the layout:
This is 11′ shorter than the typical AutoCamp Airstream, and that is very significant.
Also significant is the fact that there is a booth dinette in this model. There is no place to sit at a table in the 31′ AutoCamp. They have futons for sofas and a tiny table that is more of an “end table” in the big Airstreams.
It will be nice to have an actual table to sit at, especially on cold or bad weather days.
Will there be a cooktop and oven? We’re told the AutoCamp Asheville Bambi will be, “a typical Airstream model,” according to our source. However, given that the 31′ Airstream does not have an oven or cooktop, we specifically asked if there will be a cooktop and oven in the Bambi. There was uncertainty. This could go either way. While the 31′ Airstream doesn’t have a cooktop or oven, a typical Bambi certainly does. The X Suites do have cooktops. So, we’re particularly interested to see how this goes. They open in 3 months, so the answer won’t be too far off.
The bedroom is much tighter than the 31′ AutoCamp Airstream. One person will be pushed up against a wall. AutoCamp will be recommending that the Bambi is for 2 people, but it will be possible to convert the table to another sleeping area for a 3rd person. Really, it would be awfully tight to have more than 2 in a 20′ camper.
There will be 10 Bambi’s at Asheville in total. The Asheville Bambi’s will be exclusive to this AutoCamp location. 6 will standalone and 4 that are a part of the BaseCamp Suites – campers plus tents to accommodate families. This is interesting because, initially, there were not going to be any tents at the Asheville location.
Inaccurate Description of the AutoCamp Asheville Airstream Bambi On the AutoCamp Website
The Bambi on the website is a poor representation of an actual Bambi. The photos are of the 31′ Airstream. The bedroom in the first photo is a walk-around bed, not up against the front wall, like the Bambi. The second photo has far more windows (and length) than the Bambi. The Bambi will not have a walk in very large shower like the 31′ model.
Likewise, the web page for the Bambi Basecamp Suite again shows the wrong photos. Like the 2nd picture, above, this is showing the 31′ Airstream. Just look at all those windows.
This is the large bedroom from the 31′ Airstream. No one is sleeping against a wall.
No dinette with table and bench seats. That’s the 31′ living space.
And again, this is the huge bathroom at the front end of the 31′ Airstream.
Even when you go to book the Basecamp Bambi Suite, it’s showing the 31′ Airstream:
6 people in 2 beds? As we mentioned, you can convert the dinette to accommodate 1 more in the Bambi. There is likely a futon in the tent which can accommodate at least 1 – 2 more in addition to the beds. However, this description of 6 people in 2 beds is confusing.
Bed Size
AutoCamp is a adversiting that the Bambi has a Queen sized bed:
However, Airstream says the bed is 48″ x 74″.
According to this chart, that puts the bed 6″ narrower than a full sized bed.
Asheville Bambi Conclusion
We’re deeply concerned that AutoCamp’s description of the Bambi is very inaccurate in both written and visual descriptions, and those booking it are going to be sorely disappointed. We’ve shared these concerns with AutoCamp. Obviously, we’re fans, but we also call it like we see it, and what we’re seeing is cause for significant concern.
Personally, we likely won’t book the Bambi due to the bed size. No fault of AutoCamp, but even a Queen is small for us, so we will likely be booking an X Suite when we visit in fall 2024. We’re big fans of the X Suite, especially for colder or inclement weather, but we’ll certainly be getting into a Bambi to check it out in person.
