Earlier this month, Airstream2Go.com launched the first rentals of the distinctive airstream trailers, according to NBC.
"Everybody recognizes them," Al Hesselbart, a historian at the Recreational Vehicle Hall of Fame and Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, told NBC. "If it's a bright aluminum trailer with rounded curves, it's got to be an Airstream."
Hawley Bowlus designed the Airstream in the early 1930s after helping build the Spirit of St. Louis for Charles Lindbergh. The company struggled until Wally Byam took over, renamed it Airstream and launched a marketing campaign that focused on the trailer's unique shape and styling.
"For many years, it had a kind of snob appeal," Hesselbart said. "It was, 'I've got one and you don't.'"
Dicky Riegel founded Airstream 2 after serving as the president of Airstream and as group president of its parent company, Thor Industries. New models cost between $30,000 and $100,000 and Riegel saw a gap in the business model because the trailers were only available for sale and not rental.
"I was with Airstream for 15 years, and there wasn't a day that went by that someone didn't ask, 'How do I rent one?'" he said. "The answer to that question was always, 'Well, I'm sorry, but you can't.'"
Now, that has changed. Airstream 2 is renting 23 and 28-foot trailers from Las Vegas and Los Angeles. They are rented with a GMC Yukon Denali truck and have rates that start at $3,850 for a self-guided "Take It & Go" five-day rental.
The company is also offering pre-planned itineraries and concierge-style services through a partnership with Off the Beaten Path, an adventure travel company that offers an eight-day trip departing from Las Vegas, with stops at Zion and Grand Canyon national parks, as well as Lake Powell. They also offer a nine-day trip that departs from Los Angeles and stops at Yosemite and then returns south along the Pacific Coast Highway. The rates start at $7,500 and the company will arrange everything, with offers such as guided tours and surfing lessons.
Christopher Deam has redesigned the interiors of the trailers. The inside now has an exposed burnished metal frame that highlights the curves in the design, giving it an appeal that's both retro and futuristic. It also has added additional amenities such as a flat panel television, an iPod interface and beds for up to six that include duvets and high-thread count sheets.
While less expensive RV's are available for rental, Riegel is not worried as he feels his company is offering a premium product to a discerning audience that is looking for quality.
"Airstreams have proven to be an outstanding value over time - 75 percent of all Airstreams ever built are still on the road today," Riegel said. "At a time when Americana and wanderlust are coming together, it seems timely to offer the experience to people even if they can't own one."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
