- Latest touring coach from Airstream targets adventurers and nomads with an off-grid-ready rig that’s inspired by the #VanLife movement.
- The 21-foot Rangeline van rides on a Ram ProMaster 3500 chassis and features a clever generator system that runs on the gasoline in the van’s tank rather than a separate LP canister.
- Seating for four and sleeping accommodations for two are standard, but an optional pop-top roof provides an extra place for two campers.
Interested in joining the Van Life movement but have no desire to craft a mobile living space with your own two hands? Airstream’s latest touring coach—the Rangeline—is a turnkey option that will get you on the road and to your next adventure without having to get your hands dirty.
Unlike Airstream’s other motorhomes, which use the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, the Rangeline is built around the Ram ProMaster 3500 commercial van. That means all models come with a 280-hp 3.6-liter V-6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The van’s front-wheel-drive platform is ideal for such an application as it provides a low, flat load floor. However, ground clearance isn’t as generous as it is in all-wheel-drive variants of the Sprinter van. If your adventures require occasional off-road trails, the Rangeline may not have the clearance for that. It does, however, offer a towing capacity of 3500 pounds.
Since it’s smaller than other motorhomes, Airstream has had to get creative with storage solutions and interior layout in the same ways that DIY van-lifers and tiny-home builders have. It can accommodate two adults on its flip-down double bed while an optional pop-top feature adds sleeping space for two more for an additional $11,694.
Overhead storage is abundant, and a clever drawer that’s designed to hold dog bowls slides out from beneath the 3.2-cubic-foot refrigerator. The van’s front seats swivel around so they can pull double duty as loungers, and in lieu of a built-in cooktop, a portable induction hot plate is designed to store in one of the galley’s drawers.
A wet bath is hidden behind a silver accordion-style door, and aluminum ceiling panels are a reminder of Airstream’s iconic “silver bullet” camping trailer design. Airstream says it used Lizard Skin insulation—a spray-in product that’s also available to consumers—throughout the design to damp out sounds and help maintain comfortable temperatures inside the Rangeline’s living quarters.
The exterior is nicely finished with a fixed running board on the passenger side to aid access to the interior and a manually deployed awning that’s free of side supports, eliminating the fear of whacking your head as you walk into your campsite at night.
Like many of Airstream’s other products, including the Basecamp trailer, the Rangeline is equipped with features to satisfy buyers who intend to camp off the grid. It comes with a built-in generator that runs on gasoline stored in the van’s fuel tank rather than a separate source such as LP gas or propane. There’s also a 200-watt solar panel and a 270-Ah battery bank to store electricity.
Of course, the Rangeline can also be connected to shore power if you’re parked at a traditional campground, and all of its connections for electricity and water supplies have been cleverly hidden behind a panel on the driver’s side to preserve the van’s sleek, finished appearance.
Airstream says the Rangeline is prewired for several different aftermarket options for on-board enhancements such as a Wi-Fi hotspot, a cellphone booster, and a satellite TV antenna. The company also says its target audience for the Rangeline includes singles and couples or families with small childen who want to tour the country or visit nearby locations on short-haul weekend trips.
There’s a price for the convenience of a ready-equipped adventure mobile as the Rangeline starts at $134,582. Handmade camper vans can be done on the cheap, but those with high-end features such as those found in the Rangeline can approach a similar bottom line. The Rangeline is available for order now through Airstream dealers and, if you’re so inclined and are in the area, it will be on display at America’s Largest RV Show in Hershey, Pennsylvania, September 14–18.
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Source: Motor - aranddriver.com
