Airstream rangeline

3617 Views 33 Replies 14 Participants Last post by yinzer19, 1 mo ago

keeponvaning

Discussion Starter · 9 mo ago

some interesting ideas here.

newatlas.com

Airstream entry-level (ish) camper van swerves toward off-grid freedom

The all-new Rangeline camper van opens a new chapter in an Airstream camper van story that's long been set in extortionately expensive territory. The Ram Promaster camper isn't quite the dirt-cheap adventure van many free-spirited Americans pine for, but it does bring Airstream van pricing tumbling…

newatlas.com

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Rob_s

· #2 · 9 mo ago

I like that they went with the manual awning and include poles. Our Pleasureway has a motorized awning and it's been a bit of a pain in the butt.

I also like the open cubbies with the face frames to hold stuff in the cubbies. great for access and visibility. I'm forever opening one cabinet after another trying to remember where something is or find where someone else put it.

Sliding screen door at sliding van door is super nice.

I would love to see a 12v AC (which also tends to be lower profile on the roof) option with enough lithium to power it. Not ideal on a Promaster as there's no second-alternator option, but would be good to let people choose vs. the gas generator.

Chance

· #3 · 9 mo ago (Edited)

3

I saw pictures and some specs of this Airstream Class B a few days ago and was impressed, particularly with price relative to other Airstream-branded campers; whether trailers or motorhomes. There is a lot I like, and some design features I don’t.

I really like that they placed refrigerator and microwave at great height, rather than under kitchen counter or microwave all the way against ceiling. This is so much better, since storage above and below can be used for items that are not accessed frequently. This is exactly the way I was planning to build, though I want a fridge with larger freezer. Fridge is small but OK, but freezer at 0.4 cubic feet won’t do. I also like that microwave was pushed back near wall, making aisle appear wider at shoulder and eye level.

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Upper cabinets appear too small on pictures. They might make van feel more open, but unless they are larger than they appear, they waste too much valuable storage space. I want to see in person.

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Chance

· #4 · 9 mo ago

2

I also like the balance between 270 Ah Battle Born lithium battery with 2,000-Watt inverter and Onan 2,800-Watt inverter generator to power air conditioner when boondocking. This could work for me in summer without having to add even more battery capacity that would only get used a few times a year. Mostly, Onan would serve as home backup power for fridge and lights.

The gasoline single-fuel feature is great as long as it works safely. Gasoline provides heat and hot water, and the rest is electric; including portable cooktop — which I also prefer over built-in. We cook so little it is not worth wasting counter space. Unfortunately, pictures show equipment hanging pretty low below van. I also want to see this in person to see if it’s an optical illusion.

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Lastly, the cross-coach bed is too high to get into easily, and also too high to use as a dinette or bench, yet too low for bikes below. If this RV had rear twin beds that could be used as dinette, I would like it a lot more.

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Chance

· #5 · 9 mo ago

P.S. — A/C at very rear is probably required with optional pop-up bed, but I hope it is located forward when pop-up is not purchased (option MSRP over $10K).

Van vs Wild

· #6 · 9 mo ago

That counterspace in front of the microwave is a great idea!

Baxsie

· #7 · 9 mo ago

So much crap under the van reducing the already low clearance.

Reactions: 1

MsNomer

· #8 · 9 mo ago

Van vs Wild said:
That counterspace in front of the microwave is a great idea!

Not really. The MW door will sweep across it, so nothing can sit there as door is opened or closed.

That rear screen, whatever, stupidly permanently blocks much of the rear view.

Van vs Wild

· #9 · 9 mo ago

MsNomer said:
Not really. The MW door will sweep across it, sonothing can sit there as door is opened or closed.

That rear screen, whatever, stupidly permanently blocks much of the rear view.

MsNomer said:
Not really. The MW door will sweep across it, sonothing can sit there as door is opened or closed.

That rear screen, whatever, stupidly permanently blocks much of the rear view.

but but but that’s how it is inside my kitchen at home 😂

I prepare my stuff on the counter in front of the microwave, pick it up, open the microwave door, and then put it inside.

When it’s done, I open up the door, grab my food, close the door, then put it back on the counter in front of the microwave.

Have I been doing this all wrong the whole time?

RV8R

· #10 · 9 mo ago

keeponvaning said:
some interesting ideas here.

Airstream entry-level (ish) camper van swerves toward off-grid freedom

The all-new Rangeline camper van opens a new chapter in an Airstream camper van story that's long been set in extortionately expensive territory. The Ram Promaster camper isn't quite the dirt-cheap adventure van many free-spirited Americans pine for, but it does bring Airstream van pricing tumbling…

newatlas.com

See what You OGs have done ,,, Now even Airstream is tagging in on Promaster 😜

Thanks KOV a very interestng article indeed !!

Chance

· #11 · 9 mo ago

2

MsNomer said:
That rear screen, whatever, stupidly permanently blocks much of the rear view.

MsNomer, if you are referring to the two screen wings on either side of center aisle, they appear to be removable based on pictures (below). They appear to roll down and Velcro to van, with center attaching to either side also with Velcro.

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MsNomer

· #12 · 9 mo ago (Edited)

OK, not permanent, but still not well-designed, and looks like there is no rear screen.

Chance

· #13 · 9 mo ago

2

In picture the rear screen center section appears to be rolled up and secured just under awning crank.

Boxes on doors (comment/question deleted) is described as part of storage. Makes sense I suppose though I’m not likely to attach much of anything I actually need or of value to a door for fear it could fall off during door closing and opening.

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TarpitCarnivore

· #14 · 9 mo ago

Chance said:
In picture the rear screen center section appears to be rolled up and secured just under awning crank.

Boxes on doors (comment/question deleted) is described as part of storage. Makes sense I suppose though I’m not likely to attach much of anything I actually need or of value to a door for fear it could fall off during door closing and opening.

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i like these a lot just from a potential use stand point. We plan to use our van a lot with bikes so it’d be a nice way to leave tools accessible but out of the way of other storage areas.

Rob_s

· #15 · 9 mo ago

Chance said:
In picture the rear screen center section appears to be rolled up and secured just under awning crank.

Boxes on doors (comment/question deleted) is described as part of storage. Makes sense I suppose though I’m not likely to attach much of anything I actually need or of value to a door for fear it could fall off during door closing and opening.

View attachment 89627 View attachment 89628

TarpitCarnivore said:
i like these a lot just from a potential use stand point. We plan to use our van a lot with bikes so it’d be a nice way to leave tools accessible but out of the way of other storage areas.

they are advertised as being "MOLLE", but the spacing looks wrong to me compared to true milspec molle. When utilized correctly, however, MOLLE is quite secure.

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TarpitCarnivore

· #16 · 9 mo ago

Rob_s said:
they are advertised as being "MOLLE", but the spacing looks wrong to me compared to true milspec molle. When utilized correctly, however, MOLLE is quite secure.

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I thought they looked small as well. I've found a few companies who make inserts over the panels, but they're $$$$$.

ilmor

· #17 · 8 mo ago

Chance said:
I also like the balance between 270 Ah Battle Born lithium battery with 2,000-Watt inverter and Onan 2,800-Watt inverter generator to power air conditioner when boondocking. This could work for me in summer without having to add even more battery capacity that would only get used a few times a year. Mostly, Onan would serve as home backup power for fridge and lights. ...

P-W OnTour is set up this way, which is why I like it ...

Rob_s

· #18 · 8 mo ago

ilmor said:
P-W OnTour is set up this way, which is why I like it ...

we have a Lexor, built on the Promaster, with 200AH lithium, 2000W inverter, and 2.8KW generator. The system works reasonably well, but I wish we had enough battery power to run the ac without the generator at times. Would be particularly nice for rear passengers when driving in particularly hot climates.

I don’t even need it to run all night, just the ability to run it for a couple of hours would be great in a lot of situations. Can always start the chassis engine to recharge.

ilmor

· #19 · 8 mo ago

Rob_s said:
we have a Lexor, built on the Promaster, with 200AH lithium, 2000W inverter, and 2.8KW generator. The system works reasonably well, but I wish we had enough battery power to run the ac without the generator at times. Would be particularly nice for rear passengers when driving in particularly hot climates.

I don’t even need it to run all night, just the ability to run it for a couple of hours would be great in a lot of situations. Can always start the chassis engine to recharge.

Winnebago's Volta system (such as w/ Travato or Boldt) can do this, however, I've read about so many issues and failures by the system that I've decided to go w/ the generator / lithium route. Also, the Volt generator must run at "high idle", at least 1500 rpm, before it will even begin to charge the battery pack, and the higher rpm the better. I understand that a Li3 system generator can start charging at a normal idle speed. In my particular case, i think the generator / lithium setup will work best, but different folks have different needs and we've learned well over the years that there is apparently never going to be "the perfect rv".

Rob_s

· #20 · 8 mo ago

ilmor said:
Winnebago's Volta system (such as w/ Travato or Boldt) can do this, however, I've read about so many issues and failures by the system that I've decided to go w/ the generator / lithium route. Also, the Volt generator must run at "high idle", at least 1500 rpm, before it will even begin to charge the battery pack, and the higher rpm the better. I understand that a Li3 system generator can start charging at a normal idle speed. In my particular case, i think the generator / lithium setup will work best, but different folks have different needs and we've learned well over the years that there is apparently never going to be "the perfect rv".

Fwiw, in our Lexor the system charges no problem from idle.

i think there are two separate issues at play.
one is the basic desire to have the ac run off the batteries (no shore power, no generator). That’s pretty basic

the other is, for how long, why, when, and on what chassis. The Boldt and others are on the Sprinter or Transit chassis and have the second alternator option, and are designed to be able to run the AC off the battery “nonstop”. In order to do that the system automatically starts the chassis engine and charges the batteries off the second alternator until they reach a certain point and then shuts off. Some friends have this on a Storyteller and they love it, works fine for them. however, I don’t know that I’d out the same faith in Winnebago to get it right as Storyteller, and no matter what it’s more complexity to the system.

The Promaster doesn’t have a second alternator option, and adding one isn’t viable IMO. So right off the bat, we’re talking about a different setup. However, with enough battery power it should be possible to run the AC for a few hours and the recharge only after a manual starting of the chassis engine (or shore power, or generator if so equipped). That’s the functionality I’d like to have, and something I would have liked to have seen in the Airatream, and will be working towards in my build. And wouldn’t be as complex as the systems designed to run “nonstop” with an automated engine start and second alternator.

other secondary benefits are that the 12v rooftop ACs needed to run an ac off battery seem to tend to be lower profile and quieter, both of which are desirable IMO.

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