Airstream unveiled a new $131,882 camper van on a Ram Promaster chassis.
The RV maker previously exclusively used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis for its Class B RVs.
Airstream has "always" considered shifting from the Sprinter amid Mercedes-Benz's supply chain delays.
Famed RV maker Airstream has unveiled a new $131,882 Ram Promaster-based camper van in a major shift away from Mercedes-Benz's beloved Sprinter chassis, which has been impacted by supply chain issues and the semiconductor shortage.
Longtime fans of Airstream's Class B motorhomes may be surprised to see the popular RV maker working with Ram for the first time.
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Before it announced this new Rangeline Touring Coach, the RV maker had been exclusively using Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis for its camper vans since 2004, Bob Wheeler, president and CEO of Airstream, said during a virtual media event.
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But in the last two years, as Airstream started seeing rising demand and a growing backlog of orders …
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… Mercedes-Benz began experiencing more COVID-19-induced supply chain issues amid the semiconductor shortage.
However, these pandemic woes and supply chain delays aren't an isolated incident, according to Wheeler, which has pushed Airstream to consider other chassis alternatives.
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"Let's just say that we've had enough supply side issues with our Sprinter chassis over the years that we'd be foolish if we didn't start to look for other alternatives," Wheeler told Insider in 2021.
And as a result, moving away from the Sprinter chassis has "always" been a consideration amid these ongoing supply challenges.
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Now, this consideration has become a reality in the form of the 21-foot-long Rangeline Touring Coach camper van.
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"As an OEM, we'd be foolish not to diversify our supply base away from a single source for such a critical component as chassis," Wheeler said during the media event …
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… noting that working with Ram allows Airstream to create a chassis supply with "backup and redundancy" while entering a new camper van segment.
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Despite differences in the chassis brand and price point — the Rangeline Touring Coach is almost $69,000 cheaper than Airstream's least expensive Sprinter-based camper van — the new model still has all the typical amenities RVers have come to expect from Airstream.
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The tiny home on wheels can seat up to four people.
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To accommodate this many travelers at night, the camper van has a rear folding twin bed above the garage …
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… and an optional pop-top roof with a mattress, windows, a fan, and lights.
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Like most camper vans at this almost $132,000 price point, there's also a kitchen with a refrigerator, freezer, and electric stovetop …
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… a bathroom with a sink, shower, and toilet …
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… and an expandable table that can be used when the driver and passenger seats are swiveled to face the table and two-person bench.
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All of these amenities are powered using energy sources like a lithium battery, generator, inverter, solar, and hookups.
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Plus, your furry friends are welcome as well: The Rangeline Touring Coach has pet bowls built into a pull-out drawer and a leash attachment on the van's running board.
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As always, storage is plentiful inside the camper van with features like gear storage panels on the rear doors and cubbies by the entry door.
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And it wouldn't be a luxury camper van without an awning, although this one is manual.
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In terms of interior amenities, it's evident the Ram Promaster hasn't dramatically changed the camper van's functions.
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But if you're a loyal fan of the RV maker's Sprinter-based diesel camper vans, you can still expect to see the German chassis in future Airstream builds.
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"[The Sprinter] has been a fantastic platform for us and will continue to be so far into the future," Wheeler said.
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Camper van demand has stayed resilient despite the supply chain issues that have impacted auto and RV makers.
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The COVID-19 pandemic helped catapult camper vans and van life, along with other forms of RVing, into mainstream fame.
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But as general RV sales have dwindled again, Class B RV shipments have remained strong.
And Airstream predicts it'll continue to ride this ongoing wave of #VanLife popularity with the Rangeline Touring Coach.
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The RV maker has already received over 1,000 Rangeline Touring Coach orders from dealers, and the team predicts this momentum will continue to grow now that the camper van has been unveiled to the public, Wheeler said.
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