Jay Leno tours the new Land Yacht...

[Mexray]

Here's a You Tube video with Jay & Bob Wheeler...

2013 Airstream Land Yacht Concept - Jay Leno's Garage - YouTube

[CowtwnSilver]

It's like the first time he's ever seen a RV.

[CowtwnSilver]

Let alone an Airstream.

[mutcth]

Great publicity. Lets a sizable audience know AS is still in business. Bob Wheeler did pretty well too - personable and polished. Good for them.

Tom

[DKB_SATX]

Funny that Wheeler totally skipped mentioning one of their hot-selling products, the Interstates, when he referred to the Classic mohos. Come to think of it, he failed to mention the square motorhomes as well.

[Steve Bryant]

Originally Posted by DKB_SATX

Funny that Wheeler totally skipped mentioning one of their hot-selling products, the Interstates, when he referred to the Classic mohos. Come to think of it, he failed to mention the square motorhomes as well.

I can't fault Bob at all. He was trying to go with the flow and follow Jay's lead. I think that being interviewed and filmed/videoed by any national talk show host would be pretty intimidating for most of us!

Steve

[Goal15]

You don't try to spin that kind of exposure. You take it for what it is worth, publicity that otherwise could cost in the millions, if Airstream needed to advertise, which, if recent anecdotal reports about production and orders at the factory are accurate, it clearly doesnt need to!
Previous sentence carefully crafted to drive any copy editors from my previous life absolutely bonkers! LOL

[TouringDan]

He really should have mentioned the Interstate since Leno is a car guy.

Dan

[Silver Goose]

Originally Posted by Goal15

... if recent anecdotal reports about production and orders at the factory are accurate ...

We were at Jackson Center for some planned service last week and took the tour again. Quite a change from a couple of years ago. We were told production was up to nearly 50/week and they currently have almost 800 orders to fill. Great news for Airstream but a bit of a wait for those who have just put in an order for one. Also noticed they have changed from the pink fiberglass insulation to a brown fiber based material that is supposed to have a higher R-factor.

[Protagonist]

All American, huh? Except for the Dometic appliances from Sweden. That's still better than an Interstate. The Interstate is truly international, and that might be why it wasn't mentioned.

Interstates are:
German (Mercedes body & drive train)
Italian (Fiamma awning, Project 2000 step)
Swedish (Dometic sink)
British (SMEV cooktop)
Japanese (Kenwood stereo, Ultraleather upholstery)
Canadian (Atwood water heater, Nova Kool fridge, CR Laurence windows)
American (Carrier AC, MaxxAir fan)
Maybe some other nationalities I've forgotten, too.

[Erik Olson]

Maybe an American company should start making appliances that work as well as my Dometic stuff does.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Erik Olson

Maybe an American company should start making appliances that work as well as my Dometic stuff does.

You'll get no argument from me!

[Aage]

I got a chuckle when Bob Wheeler pointed out the "hot water heater".

As my brother is always quick to point out, "It isn't a HOT water heater, it's just a water heater. You heat COLD water."

[dkottum]

Snazzy Airstream. The marketing here is interesting as they expand the line from the most basic but practical Bambi to those who like the retro luxury of nice old boats. The galley looks better equipped to prepare a Martini than a dinner.

What better place to into a cool man-cave than Jay Leno's garage.

I'm in (oooopps, just heard Bob Wheeler mention $130-$140 thou).

doug k

[Bluto]

If Leno keeps it, at least it won't leak, or have filiform, as long as he uses it in his garage.

[SteveSueMac]

Originally Posted by Bluto

If Leno keeps it, at least it won't leak, or have filiform, as long as he uses it in his garage.

For $140k, the filiform actually presents itself in an artistic rendering of the original purchaser of the product - so that's pretty cool. :EddieHaskel:

[Bluto]

Yes, that is cool.

[murreywalker]

I too, am impressed with the beauty of the interior.

BUT…

The argument of which comes first; form or function has to be brought into play.

I might be mistaken but I believe I saw a SMALLER refrigerator than that which comes with a FC, International, or Classic of that size. It appears to me that a 5 cubic foot unit has replaced the standard 7 cubic foot (note the dual screens behind the refrigerator, on the exterior).

And, while I think the counter which hides the sink and cooktop to be absolutely striking, it appears that function of the trailer is compromised, not to mention the question of where to place those items that might find their place on that counter that hides the stuff under it. Surely some folks would put things on top of that sleek counter, wouldn't they?

Price? Certainly there are folks out there who subscribe to the "function be damned, it's beautiful and I don't care what it costs", theory.

But I think the group of us who tend to tow a trailer to destinations unknown, tend to be true campers and not necessarily followers of form over function. We recognize the true value of a functional camper over a work of art that belongs at MOMA.

Wouldn't you?

Just my two cents worth.

[dkottum]

Murray, my nature is "Form follows function, unless function interferes with form. Then to hell with function." So I like this thing. I think the 1930's boat interior is a good mate to the 1930's Airstream exterior, both modernized.

Yeah, the galley is tiny. But on the other hand ever seen the galley on a WWII submarine; they served the whole crew from a tiny galley. In the last many years, I think we spend way to much money and space on kitchens and bedrooms in our homes, and that has spilled over into RV's at the sacrifice of design quality. Economics and good sense working together is correcting some of that, even if not exactly here.

So the Land Yacht is a nifty design exercise, even at $140,000 looks good to a diesel pusher owner/shopper looking to get smaller and still impress the neighbors.

doug k

[bredlo]

My disappointment, speaking of the galley, is that for $140K, you open the Italian designed cabinet door to discover the same, plasticky fridge installed in a $12K SOB. What a let down!

There are some phenomenal products out there, often found in the marine industry for boats that cost as much as this trailer. These manufacturers - Indel Marine and Precision Temp come to mind - are big enough to handle the volume for a client like Airstream, but also small enough for it to be worth the trouble and expense of retooling an Airstream-exclusive appliance.

If a yacht manufacturer is willing to take a lower profit margin on their appliances, why couldn't Airstream? Does Jackson Center simply believe their discerning buyers only care for the flashy exterior and brag factor, while caring little for the quality of the hardware?

With stainless, modern looking appliances with dead reliable compressors, burners and fans readily able to be converted for RV use... I don't understand why we continue to put up with superior looks and design outside, while inside we use the same ho-hum, pedestrian stuff as everyone else in the campground.