Airstream's New Toy Hauler

[swebster]

All, thought you might enjoy this pic of Airstream's protoype toy hauler which is being shown to dealers this week at the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association Show in Louisville. It looks like a 34 footer with about a 12 foot "garage" in the back.




Noticably absent from the booth this year was the BaseCamp.

More pics of this AS toy box along with some new interior concepts from another trailer on my website at: THISOLDRV.COM | Photo Gallery, Airstream Motorhome Photos, GMC Motorhome Photos, Travco Motorhome Photos, Winnebago Motorhome Photos

Enjoy!!!!

[lewster]

34' huh?

Well, let's hope that they include a smaller size also.....like a 25'. I'll be there with cash in hand when they do!

THANKS for the shots!

[swebster]

They also had this little beauty (made by Jesse James of West Coast Customs) on display



If anyone has something they really want to see I'll try and get specific photos tomorrow...just let me know what you want

[swebster]

Lew, I think is was a 34. IIRC is had a triple axle setup.

[lewster]

Thanks SW,

That's WAY more trailer than I need or can pull. Let's see what they come out with.

I'm not impressed with Jesse James' efforts in aluminum. I would have hoped that the side car was formed with far less panels like a modern AS, or more like the vintage units from the 50's. Just my HO ya' know. Given his supposed talents with metal working, I would have expected a much more refined unit.....or a much funkier design.........................

Thanks for the shot though!

[ArtStream]

Thanks for the photos Steve!

Michael

[Minnie's Mate]

Well, uh, different.

[Silvertwinkie]

Hope that garage door seals better than my main entry door.

[mandolindave]

I wonder if it would fit a golfcart. I would like to have one of those units even if I didn't have any toys.

[FiveOJoe]

I think it's a bad idea. Airstream doesn't need to compete with the others, they have thier own nitch. Cutting a square hole in the back of a round trailer look's like.... well, cutting a square hole in the back of a round trailer.

[craftsman]

Looks to me like they should consider putting some thicker diamond plate on the lower half of the walls. That thin aluminum would get destroyed in no time hauling things around in there. Considering the actual square foot cost of an Airstream, that's pretty expensive real estate for hauling you dirt bike or ATV. Still ,it's a popular idea.

[Royce]

That has been done much better by the SOB's. Often the door is the ramp. I know that would require a much different door treatment but still a better idea for actual use and could have been done. I think they need to stick to the knitting, improve workmanship and manufacturing process to keep the price in line and be more competitive. And find some real designers if they must tinker. What were they thinging with DWR? Saw one yesterday, what a mess. Function is beauty, get the function right then work on the other stuff but don't foul function in the process. OK I feel better now, rant off.

Steven,

Thanks for posting it is always cool to see what A/S is coming up with next. Good to see they are trying even if somewhat misguided.

[enduroryda]

Originally Posted by swebster

If anyone has something they really want to see I'll try and get specific photos tomorrow...just let me know what you want

How about seeing if you can get a pic of the toy hauler with the doors closed
maybe...I'd enjoy seeing the finished look. Thanks!

[swebster]

I'll try. I'm at the show now. Today is the last day and really slow so it's a good time to snap pics. This is truely a prototype and it shows as such. I think the concept is a good one and in person it looks really nice.

Also, consider that it sits across the hall from a Damon motorhome toy hauler that costs somewhere around $280,000. So, an AS with a garage might be a bargain for the outdoor set.

In general the theme this year is toy hauler and active lifestyles. Almost every major brand has a toy hauler (motorized and trailer) in the front of their booth. Even Thule got in on the act this year with their Smart RV (Thule SMART RV) racking and accessories system designed for active RVers.

We use our 345 for camping and bicycle racing and I have to admin the thule concepts and some of the other innovations (trash cans on the screen door that are accessible from inside and outside) make sense to me.

One dealer I know picked up a line almost soley because it came with the Thule products already installed and his customers have been asking for something like this.

More to follow

[Minnie's Mate]

Really this is nothing new. Airstream Life did an article a year or so ago about Airstreamers that have done this to their Airstreams as part of, or as the purpose of, their renovations. There were even car toyhaulers as I recall.

I would be interested to know what Airstream has done structurally to accommodate the frame and what the max load that could be carried. I do think the Airstream toyhauler would suffer the same issues faced with other toyhaulers such as being tail heavy. But it is nice that Airstream kept the garage separate from the living quarters and gave the living quarters a better grade of finishes than is typical of any of the toyhaulers I have ever seen.

[thecatsandi]

This may be thor influence. Diverting valuable resources from improving the current products.

[wagnerda]

I love the 34' with the garage at back... I have been thinking along the same lines, although what I was thinking was to get an old one and then modify it somehow myself with a 10 or 11 foot space at back, a wall, then the insides from about a 25 ft up front.

Having one from the factory is an option I would personally have to take a look at and consider it. I like the idea. The ramp and rear section would have to be heavy duty though, like 900+ lbs rated minimum so it will handle a Harley. It wouldn't be any good if they just make one capable of handling bicycles.

At any rate, thanks swebster for the photos... If nothing else and I someday get an old 34' to play with at least I know somebody makes a door that would probably work on the rear...

regards, Dave

[bobfowler]

I feel another Basecamp-like failure coming on...

IMNSHO, Airstream shouldn't be trying to get into the big toy hauler market. With the economy starting to slide and money being tight, do they really think that an full size A/S toy hauler is going to sell? You just KNOW that this is going to be uber expensive compared to the SOB units.

A/S should concentrate their R&D efforts into fixing/improving what they already have.

[craftsman]

I guess there's nothing wrong with testing the market. The big thing now is people wanting to take all of their toys on holiday.It brings up images of te 40Ft motor homes traveling down the highway towing a 30 enclosed trailer. I'm always wondering just what the hell could be in them.

[2airishuman]

fun pics steve, thanks for giving them to us!

prototypes seldom have the stats sorted out, for ratings, structural reinforcements and so on....

some prototype vehicles don't start, have an engine or are even road worthy yet.

this isn't really a new a/s thing, they've made custom units with a variety of pop up walls over the years....

i think it would be more useful/fun practical IF the door/hatch was on the curb side rear.

no one is gonna haul a car in side, but a motor bike or 4 wheeler or mtn bikes would fit in sideways.

many of the large campsites i've been in, barely fit the 34.

we can often barely open the current tiny door hatch, much less this.

also a side opening hatch that faces the campsite could be used for LOTS of other things....

and given enough structural support the same hole could accommodate a new slide location, for those that like slides.

take more pics steve, and as them if you can take it for a spin!!!

cheers
2air'