This article is about Airstream travel trailers. And whether you should choose one for full-time RV travel and camping, or not.

Of course, just say the word Airstream and pretty much everybody knows what you’re talking about.

They get this picture in their mind of a shiny aluminum rounded travel trailer. Because you see pretty much see them everywhere.

So there’s no question that Airstream travel trailers are very popular. But are they a really good choice for full-time RVing though?

Table of Contents

• Are Travel Trailers A Good Choice For Full-Time RVing?
• Are Airstream Travel Trailers Built With Quality?
• Is Quality Construction All You Need To Consider?
• Airstream Travel Trailers – Pro #1
• Pro #2 of Airstream Travel Trailers
• Pro #3 That Makes An Airstream Very Livable
• Pro #4 Is A Big Advantage Over Motorhomes
• The #1 Con For Airstream Travel Trailers
• What About Living Space? – Con #2
• Con #3 For Full-time RVers
• Con #4 For Airstream Owners
• Con #5 For Airstream Travel Trailers
• What You Should Do Before You Buy An Airstream
• A Word Of Caution About Buying RVs
• Conclusion

Are Travel Trailers A Good Choice For Full-Time RVing?

Well, the vast majority of travel trailers that are sold today are actually only made and designed to be used occasionally.

Mainly just for a few weekends each year and vacations spent in good weather.

And as long as you use them that way, they’re going to be just fine.

But full-time RV living puts lots of extra stress on RVs. Stress that can wear them out very quickly if they aren’t designed for it.

So the number one requirement for full-time RVs is being built well. Built with quality.

Are Airstream Travel Trailers Built With Quality?

So then are Airstream travel trailers built well enough for full-time travel and camping?

Well, I made a video just a little while back about Airstream travel trailers. And about how well they are actually made.

Just click on the image below to watch that video.

In that video I said that both high quality building materials and construction methods are being used by Airstream.

For instance, Airstream says that they put in 350 hours for the average travel trailer to be produced.

And you can compare that with only 50 hours of construction time for most other brands of travel trailers.

So clearly, a lot of extra time and effort is being put into Airstream travel trailers when they are made.

And that’s why roughly 70 percent of all Airstreams ever made are still being used today. At least that’s according to Airstream’s website.

And that’s really an impressive figure! In fact, what other travel trailer manufacturer can make anything close to that claim?

So then Airstream travel trailers are built well enough to withstand full-time use.

Is Quality Construction All You Need To Consider?

But just because you have a well-built RV that doesn’t mean that it’s going to fit you personally for full-time travel.

Because there are very practical day-to-day considerations that also apply that you need to consider as well.

So let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about the pros and cons of Airstream travel trailers.

Airstream Travel Trailers – Pro #1

And on a day-to-day basis for practicality, number one on the pro list is that they’re built light.

In fact, that’s one of the main reasons for that aluminum shell that everyone knows about.

It helps to keep the total weight of the RV down because the shell doesn’t weigh much.

And that means that if you have to buy a tow vehicle, it often will not have to be a diesel powered one.

The chances are that it can probably have a gasoline engine in it instead. And that’s a big plus for many people.

Take for instance, the middle range Airstreams like the Flying Cloud. Or the International or Globetrotter.

All of those models top out under 9,000 pounds! And even if you go to the Classic, the biggest model Airstream makes, it tops out at 10,000 pounds.

So that’s well within the capability of some modern gas powered trucks that are on the market today.

And if a diesel powered truck is needed, often a 3/4 ton unit will do the job nicely.

And that’s a big savings for folks that are trying to get into full-time RV living and travel.

Pro #2 of Airstream Travel Trailers

Now let’s move on to number two on the pro list. And the second pro is that Airstreams fit in campsites very easily.

The reason for this is that there are several models they make that are under 30 feet in length. And under that’s an important advantage.

Because 30 feet or less gets you in almost any state park or national park in the country. As well as the vast majority of RV parks as well.

So that’s really good for full-timers who want to travel and go pretty much anywhere!

Pro #3 That Makes An Airstream Very Livable

Now the next pro to consider is that there’s lots of floor plans to choose from in Airstream travel trailers.

But they’re also well thought out for livability too. In fact, it’s clear that Airstream has put a lot of effort into this.

They try and make sure that their layouts make sense. That they’re reasonable. And that everything is where it really should be.

And that can make a big difference in day-to-day livability for most people. Especially when you’re living in the RV on a full-time basis.

Pro #4 Is A Big Advantage Over Motorhomes

OK, the next pro is that there is no drivetrain to have to deal with in travel trailers.

Of course, this is one of the big problems with motorhome RVs. And that is that the drivetrain and the RV itself is all in one unit.

So when you have a problem with either one of them, they very well could go in the shop together. And that can be a big headache for RV owners!

Especially if the repairs are going to take a while and require a repair facility to handle it.

But because an Airstream is a travel trailer, there’s no drivetrain built into it. Instead, the drivetrain is your tow vehicle.

So that means that the RV itself has very little that can go majorly wrong with it and strand you. And that’s a big pro for full-time RVers!

The #1 Con For Airstream Travel Trailers

OK, let’s move along to the cons of Airstream travel trailers too. And the number one con for Airstreams is that they are expensive!

Yes, there’s no doubt about it. Airstream travel trailers are not cheap!

Take for instance those mid-size models that I talked about earlier. Either the Flying Cloud, the International, or the Globetrotter.

They’re going to start at $90,000+ and go up from there. And the Airstream Classic can be close to $190,000.

So clearly, that’s a lot to swallow for many RVers out there who want to travel full-time.

And as a result, it’s going to eliminate many of them from being able to even afford an Airstream. So that can be a disadvantage for sure!

What About Living Space? – Con #2

Now the second con about Airstreams is there are no slide rooms in them.

Of course, there was a time when Airstream tried to build slides into their RVs.

But they stopped it several years back, and they don’t do it anymore.

So how much room do you have if you get a 25 foot Airstream? With about eight feet or so of interior space from side to side?

Well, you only have about 200 square feet of total living area in that size RV.

In a 30-foot Airstream, you get about 250 square feet of living area. And that’s not very much!

So that kind of living area can get very tight for some. It can even feel claustrophobic for many.

So it’s something you need to consider before you think about buying an Airstream.

Con #3 For Full-time RVers

Now moving on, the third con is they’re not really made for extreme temperatures.

Of course, they’re just fine really for four seasons weather in many parts of the country.

But when you get to extreme temperatures, you’re going to have some issues.

And one of the reasons for that is the aluminum shell that Airstream is so well known for.

Unfortunately, it transfers temperatures from the outside to the inside easily.

In fact, much easier than the materials that most travel trailers are made out of.

So it means that if you have an Airstream, you really should try to stay in temperate areas.

And follow good weather as much as possible to stay comfortable in your travels.

Con #4 For Airstream Owners

Now the next con is that generally you’re going to find pretty small kitchens and refrigerators in Airstream travel trailers.

So if you are a cook, and you like to make big meals, you’re going to have a real challenge on your hands with an Airstream.

So be sure to look over the kitchen area carefully before you buy. And try to decide whether you can adjust to the small size or not.

Con #5 For Airstream Travel Trailers

OK, it’s time for the last con I want to talk about in this article. That there’s really not very much storage in the travel trailer itself.

So that means that when you buy a tow vehicle, you need to be sure it has plenty of room for storage.

Because you’re going to need room in that vehicle to store a lot of the things that probably many other RVers might put in their RV.

Now it’s not a huge issue. It’s not the end of the world. But it is something to consider before you buy an Airstream!

OK, those are the pros and cons I wanted to cover with you in this article. And they come from real life experiences with full-time RVing.

What You Should Do Before You Buy An Airstream

So what if you’re on the fence about some of the disadvantages or cons in this article?

Well, here’s my recommendation. Go rent an Airstream first and try it out before you buy one.

You need to make sure that you feel it’s livable for you first. Don’t just go out and buy one if you’re unsure about some of these things.

A Word Of Caution About Buying RVs

Also take note that quality control issues have affected Airstream during the Covid pandemic years.

Just like pretty much all other RV manufacturers experienced during that time.

And all RVs are made by hand too. Which means that consistent quality is always a challenge in the construction process.

So if you’re buying a new Airstream, be sure that you get it inspected before the purchase.

And that way, you can find all the issues that have come out of the factory right away.

And you can get them fixed before you take ownership of the RV and take it home.

To help in doing that, I’ve created a guidebook for buying new RVs of any kind. And it would be helpful for buying new Airstreams as well.

I highly recommend using the guidebook in the buying process. It will help you find the right RV for your needs and get it at the right price too.

Also, I will be personally available to help you throughout the buying process if you get my guidebook.

So if you think that could help you, just click on this link to find out more about it.

Conclusion

Well, there’s lots of pros for full-time RVing in Airstream travel trailers. There’s no doubt about that.

But there are some cons too. Some things you need to think about as well before you buy an Airstream.

Hopefully what I’ve covered here in this article will help you be able to make a good decision.

A decision that will work best for you and the way that you like to travel and camp.

Have safe and happy travels my friends!