Published on October 31, 2023
Why in the world is AutoCamp selling their custom Airstream?!
We were shocked to get this email from AutoCamp:
Be the First to Own an AutoCamp Airstream
At AutoCamp, we’ve taken the iconic Airstream and added custom features to fit our modern, design-forward approach to getting outdoors.
For the first time ever, we’re selling one of our custom Airstreams so that one of our biggest fans can bring the AutoCamp experience home.
The Email
We are Worried
We are worried. About a year ago, AutoCamp made their big announcement: 4 new AutoCamp locations coming in 2023!
We have written about this in updates and articles repeatedly: they only got 1 open, and it was late.
They have had further and further delays on the other 3 coming soon.
Now, they’re saying their “bread and butter” is corporate retreats.
None of this feels good or healthy for AutoCamp as a business.
What we’ve learned about AutoCamp Selling their Custom Airstream
We have covered how the AutoCamp Airstream is different from commercial Airstreams in great detail.
We’ve learned a bunch more about the AutoCamp Custom Airstream unit(s) for sale.
- They want $105,000
- It has NO! fresh, gray, or water TANKS!!!
- You also have to pay to have it shipped to you
- No propane hookup
- It does not include the microwave
- It does not include furnishings
- It’s a “residential/second use” unit
- No furnishings included
- You can add the exterior “skirt” to hide the bottom
No tanks?! These campers were made to be in a permanent location – as they are at AutoCamp. They are never intended to be towed from location to location. This is huge and critical.
Seriously, Who will buy the AutoCamp Custom Airstream?
AutoCamp concedes the trailer is for “residential/second use” dwelling. What does that mean? Essentially, it’s a “park model.” It’s built to be exactly what it is for AutoCamp – never to be moved, permanently hooked up to electric, sewer, and water.
It would cost far too much to convert these to travel trailers, so we see several potential uses for the custom Airstream that AutoCamp is selling: exactly what they’re using it for: permanent campground units.
Who else would need the enormous tile shower?
Most of the value of the custom AutoCamp Airstream is here in this bathroom. That is a lot of beautiful tile in the shower – on the walls and on the shower floor along with the bathroom floor itself. Notice the beautiful barn door on the view from the living room towards the bathroom. The light fixtures are very nice everywhere. But again, almost all the value is in the bathroom.
Who would buy this to make it anything other than what AutoCamp uses it for – essentially, a tiny house.
However, to make it functional for longer than very short term stays, whoever buys this needs to do major work on both the kitchen and the bedroom. You’re all set with the bathroom!
AutoCamp Airstream Needs Kitchen storage
You see the base counter on the left? No cooktop. No oven.
Whoever buys the AutoCamp Airstream to use for anything other than a few days at a time will have to pull out the kitchen base cabinet to – somehow – fit in a stove top and oven. It would be possible to extend the base cabinet to where the cube is and to also add another cabinet above the window.
You see the cabinet to the right, partly blocked by the door? There is room for a microwave and a dorm fridge.
These are not designed for “residential/second use” units, really. They’re barely practical for more than staying a few days.
This can’t be stressed enough: YOU CANNOT COOK INDOORS except in whatever microwave/convection oven you put in.
AutoCamp Airstream needs Extensive storage – Living Room
There is essentially no storage in the AutoCamp Airstream.
First, you can’t put upper cabinets above the futon because you’ll block the windows that are high up:
To the left of the entry door, there are currently 3 pegs for a coat rack. You might be able to fit a narrow cabinet here, but you might also want to fit a small TV here since there is no TV in the living room!
AutoCamp Airstream needs Extensive storage – BedRoom
No cabinets above…
or storage below.
Only 2 tiny cabinets in the bedroom.
Note the window prevents adding a taller cabinet on the right. The heating duct prevents adding a wider cabinet on the left.
Also – the only TV hookup is in the bedroom.
AutoCamp Selling their Custom Airstream?
To whom?
Who will buy it?
Camper – nope. You need tanks, storage, and a whole lot of electronics.
Residential or secondary use?
How would this be functional with almost no storage?
Gut it and re-do? Too expensive.
The only reasonable use for this custom Airstream is exactly what it’s used for: short term hotel-style room at a campground. So, AutoCamp will be selling to…their competition! It won’t be any of the major glamping companies, but small and local campgrounds could be interested.
We continue to watch and evaluate all news AutoCamp. Asheville bookings are supposed to be opening soon. That is encouraging, but the big picture has us concerned.
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