How an Airstream is Made - Behind-the-scenes factory footage

[@felixcat9318]

Hearing the workers being repeatedly described as "associates" was particularly grating! As for the workers pouring their hearts into building them, the reality is that it's just assembly line factory work, with all the heartfelt input that entails!

[@Wingnut_Stickman]

I concur -- they are employees, or workers. They are not a team, there is no sport of making trailers, but I have to admit it sounds riveting. Too soon?

[@felixcat9318]

@@Wingnut_Stickman it's never too soon for a rivetting gag!

[@Wingnut_Stickman]

@@felixcat9318 I was of two minds on the double t in riveting. I am too lazy to as Alf says, "Look it up!"

[@graemeneale9311]

Without a doubt the best Airstrean factory tour presentation out there. Great job Andrew.

[@andrewjditton]

Wow, that's high praise indeed. Thanks Graeme!

[@ad70preterist]

Been waiting for two years for a tour. Thanks for the video!

[@GunsHarleysUSA]

Airstream has always been my favorite travel trailer. My uncle owned one when I was a kid and from then on I have loved them.

[@davidherringgo]

I grew up in Findlay just North of Jackson City , I'd never even heard that Airstreams were built there off highway 75 pretty cool . Always have loved the looks of those beautiful campers .

[@IngramCars]

Ooh look at you! An exceptionally professional presentation.

[@andrewjditton]

Thank you! 😃

[@marcusoutdoors4999]

Wonderful video and great to see you promoting one of the loves of your life

[@andrewjditton]

Thank you so much!

[@catw6274]

That was so cool. I had no idea they were built by hand. I lived in one in a forest canyon for 3 years and fell in love with it. Surprised at the simple insulation... no vents, moisture barriers, spray foam, just eco batts! Hmph!

[@jomcd2073]

They do look nice and it's nice to see back before Covid.

[@VantasticAdventures]

Loved this look behind the scenes 🤩 Airstreams really are special, this helps you appreciate why they are expensive, the amount of quality labour time that goes into crafting one is incredible! They really are like a Rolls Royce or Bentley of the caravan world - splendid 😊👍

[@terrystephens1102]

Very impressed with both the design and production of Airstream 😃👌👏👏👏

[@nextstopevwhere]

Stunning travel trailers in every way, truly iconic, pure Americana! Thanks to our friends at Lowdhams, we really have completely fallen in love with the Airstream range... and what a fantastic film Andrew, thank you for that treat 🇺🇸😎❤👍

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers C&S, glad you enjoyed it :) So glad I could finally get it to see the light of day after all that work and three long years!

[@nextstopevwhere]

@@andrewjditton it was a fabulous film, thank you! So many people don't know the hand-crafted techniques that Airstream still employ all these years later... they are far more than just an expensive caravan, they are a proper work of art, a real blast from the past, a hark-back to a bygone golden era of travel, a celebration of unadulterated American streamlined style, a reminder that not everything that has gone before should or could be improved upon. The Americans always had (and mainly still do) a well-spun yarn about the adventure, the promise and the epic-ness of the open road... Big skies, wide open spaces and huge dreams. To us, the Airstream encapsulates all of that, and brings a little flavour of it across the pond too. We, as you can probably tell, just love 'em 😉👍

[@clintburrell5448]

Absolutely beautiful it's my dream to own one.

[@andrewjditton]

Of course, now I'm holding out for an invitation to the new Airstream factory ;)

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

I’ll come and video it all for you. For free. I’ve no experience but very willing 😉😂🤩

[@karenkouns577]

Hope you enjoyed your visit to Ohio. Thank you sharing!

[@Smurphenstein]

Do they still do a polished aluminium option? They may use older technology but they are far more recyclable than a lot of the modern Tupperware you see being towed around.

[@andrewjditton]

@@Smurphenstein Not as far as I'm aware - it's clear-coated aluminium. But if/when the clearcoat expires you *can* polish it up I believe, but then you have a job for life keeping it shiny!

[@jimmyconnolly3461]

@@andrewjditton you should have answered my kind offer first!😂🤦‍♂️

[@garrygreen3210]

Nice. Will be a great day when you are able to go and collect yours. Looking forward to seeing the videos on that!

[@susanbinks8868]

Hi Andrew, Airstreams, how Classy they are, lovely to see how they are built. Thank You for sharing. Lots of Love to You & Dougal xx♥️♥️

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks for watching!

[@aaronharris5275]

Thanks for the video. Really great to see a lovely top quality product being mostly made by hand and showing people who care about craftsmanship.

[@motorhomemarketplace]

Really interesting to see the factory!

[@jmbcbataille9594]

The most extraordinary trailer ever made in the world My dream

[@mikehydropneumatic2583]

Airstream and Eriba have this epic status in my book. Nice video Andrew.

[@andrewjditton]

Thanks Mike!

[@ralmonrode]

Go by the Airstream factory almost every week the factory is booming right now. Airstream seems to be working in every building they own in Jackson Center, OH.

[@stex1985]

I own a 1984 Limited 31, azalea color interior(orange) even the carpet, all original except for the frig. It was replaced in 1997. I tell my wife its like a MG roadster, any more people and it’s crowded, but we like it just fine. It’s hard to believe it will be 50 years old in a couple of years.

[@NewJunction]

Really enjoyed that, very nicely put together film.

[@andrewjditton]

Coming from a professional as yourself I am most humbled, thank you my friend!

[@NewJunction]

@@andrewjditton you were the professional long before me, hope you're keeping well!

[@TheBillingeboy]

You make me want one, maybe one day.

[@paula.jackson5463]

so well made, so well presented, if I had the coin, there would be one in my drive!

[@protonneutron9046]

Yes, their insulation is antiquated and once it gets damp from environment it becomes a heat conductor rather than an insulator. They should have LONG ago moved to closed cell foam insulation. Each seam and rivet is a future potential leak point. Lots of moment connections too. This is why monocoque, molded fiberglass bodies stand up better to being on the road. Like one you recently reviewed.

[@Smurphenstein]

Air streams have far more recyclable parts than tupperware on wheels though.

[@protonneutron9046]

@@Smurphenstein true. Can be made into a lot of beer cans

[@charlevoix418]

Yep, drilling 3000 holes in a hull will inevitably lead to leaks, sooner than later. I was always disappointed with their biodegradable floors and rusty steel frames...

[@protonneutron9046]

@@charlevoix418 I thought they were going to ditch plywood floors and go with a marine solution. smh

[@charlevoix418]

@@protonneutron9046 Well, at least, using marine plywood covered with fiberglass sheets like Glasbord and the rest of the surface protected with penetrating epoxy.

[@HereWeTow]

I remember watching your content from the US and loved it! You are still a great Airstream ambassador in the UK. 😊 Karina

[@andrewjditton]

Thank you! 😃

[@christinecharbonneau4448]

The floors are no longer made of wood. They are now a composite material which is waterproof.

[@harveylyon178]

Another great Airstream video Andrew, thanks, hopefully you will have your Airstream back soon for more great videos, we are off up to the Highlands this summer will be visiting Uist and Barra for the first time - we have watched your videos :)

[@andrewjditton]

Brilliant! Have a great time :)

[@robertirving5293]

Enjoyed the video Andrew well made look nice when you get your van any way next care both of you see you next time .

[@pedrofreitas1663]

Brilliant video.

[@andrewjditton]

Glad you enjoyed it my friend!

[@JR-en5pl]

excellent and informative video

[@andrewjditton]

Thank you!

[@tim1289r]

"Travel Trailer", what a great term!

[@marzsit9833]

in the usa they have always been called travel trailers, it's newbies that call them pull-behinds or bumper-pulls. but in the uk and europe caravan is the popular term.

[@timdolan1437]

Where's the gold and precious gems that make these things so darn expensive?

[@marzsit9833]

it's the cheap crappy jaycos that make airstreams look expensive. 'muricans have no complaints paying $70,000+ for a pickup truck....

[@carolynhaywood7701]

So very beautiful, I love these. I didn’t know that they were made by hand. Thank you for showing us.

[@andrewjditton]

You are so welcome!

[@Subgunman]

AirStream is the Rolls Royce of the classic travel trailer world. Their facilities are only fourth minits from Columbus and I have been up to Jackson center many times. In days past during their slow season you could even make an appointment to get the exterior polished and for those wanting a update of their older home on wheels you could have made arrangements for a remodel of the interrior. I missed out on buying one of their Bambi models some 30 years ago, oh well....

[@andrewjditton]

Columbus is where I arrived, so I know the drive myself! All the best, Andrew

[@thetinysideoftiny7625]

Airstream is not a travel trailer company. It’s a marketing company selling you history and heritage. *Brutally* overpriced even for a boutique product. $85,000 for a 24 ft trailer? Absurd. As a mechanical engineer, I’ve picked these trailers apart piece by piece and they are absolutely not worth the heart-stopping price.

[@charles1964]

Yup, they're selling you a dream. They have an iconic look but some of the features seem tacked on; For example: the frame is wrapped, but they have all the cables, hoses, and wires outside of the shell. Why couldn't they engineer a service channel and rout all the systems through there? The fresh water tank has a plastic drain that's exposed to road damage - $100,000 dollars and they can't even design it out of stainless steel? The plastic outside shower cover is directly over the water heater exhaust - but for $800 buck they'll sell you a kit to replace all the plastic covers with locking stainless steel versions. They're supposed to be TOTL but their electrical systems and batteries are straight out of the 1970's...

[@cablb9118]

Thx for that great video, Andrew. Maybe one day i´ll get an Airstream International 25 IB (only available in Europe/German??) to explore Europe. more airstream videos, please :-) all the best and also greetings to Dougal, the dog that never smiles :-) Carsten

[@andrewjditton]

Cheers Carsten! Plenty of Airstream content on the channel if you scroll back. Thanks for watching :)

[@sjchan3199]

loved the video very interesting.

[@andrewjditton]

Thank you!

[@holsteincowboy]

The airstream base camp is very cool but last time I checked it is not available in the UK.

[@andrewjditton]

Sadly not. Wish it was! Airstream Germany brought one over once and it took a long time to sell once the conversion costs were added.

[@colinrimmer789]

Enjoyed that Andrew, thank You

[@silaslongshot941]

I'm guessing that UK equipped appliances, etc plus trans Atlantic shipping probably adds another $50k to the price tag?

[@stevenhuckaby2902]

Personally, i like the older AirStreams built in the 80's and 90's , they just seem more cozy with all the natural solid oak and wall coverings,

[@michaeljordan5639]

They still use staples for all the interior

[@lys823]

You'd think that they would fit the door on the other side on models made specifically for the UK

[@andrewjditton]

They do on the 25IB. But the same models also head to Germany and other European countries.

[@lindakirk698]

Fab vans - wish we could have one! Always admire them when we visit Lowdhams - just 10 mins along the A46 from home. Keep up the vlog we look forward to them

[@waldemirotiedt5206]

How can buy one with the entrance behind the wells love them thanks

[@alexott9835]

beautiful outside look but care of shocks, like old Eriba's, same way of sheets and glass wool.

[@GamzeMutfakta]

What do you think about the new facelift.. I really don't like the new gray cupboards :(( With all the metal, blue and gray the interior looks very cold..

[@andrewjditton]

I actually like it! I think it's softer than the outgoing white.

[@rojomostrat]

Fascinating Andrew, thank you for this insight into Airstream. We would love one but might have a problem towing with our Smart For4🤣

[@jb-lu4vo]

Other English youtuber don't want to make videos of UK manufacturers please could you make frequent videos of UK caravan, teardrop camper trailer and motorhome manufacturers? Thanks and greetings to your friend who never smiles. Take care both of you.

[@andrewjditton]

You'll find it's not for want of trying - most UK manufacturers do not allow or commission filming on the factory floor.

[@mavicsteve9275]

@@andrewjditton I wish they would allow filming then I could see the cowboys who built our van.

[@Smurphenstein]

@@andrewjditton maybe it is against "health and safety" rules or they don't want their opposition or a certain country copying their ideas.

[@nealeburgess6756]

That was really interesting. The construction is so different from the UK caravans, and I mean DIFFERENT. Their construction has almost nothing in common with the way our UK ones are made. I'm guessing the Airstream way is quite lightweight? Although I don't know how heavy the insulation is. It looks like the frame, being boxed in with aluminium sheet both inside and out would be strong. Do they rely on the furniture to stiffen the construction the way ours do? Once again, I guess not so much, because it comes in after the main structure is finished. Also the curvature of the panels will be inherantly stiffer. Thanks for that insight. I will look on Airstreams with even more respect now.

[@andrewjditton]

You're right Neale, the body is strong enough on its own without furniture. Very different to most other caravans!

[@bpn6c1]

This is a proper way of manufacturing a caravan, unlike their European counterparts these grp or alutech constructions are quite frankly flimsy. Thanks Andrew for showing us the factory.

[@Venomator.]

I GET IT, I really do Andrew… 💚 😉 Fascinating to see the build process and what a fabulous experience for you sir, thank you for sharing the insight… ✅ Unfortunately, time is running out for us (well me!) as SWMBO will not sell the house (again) just to buy me an Airstream Dream… 😂

[@andrewjditton]

Bad luck there Rog! But glad you enjoyed the video. All the best.

[@abodawoodalsadi4366]

How can I buy one ?? How much the price???

[@patriotcustodian7777]

They are beautiful, but who can afford them? Roughly $45,000 for their entry level unit and the price just goes higher and higher. Would I like to own one? You bet I would! Will I ever own one working a 9-5 job and punching a clock?.... Nope! For those that can afford one, I say go for it. The old saying still stands true... Good things aren’t cheap and cheap things aren’t good. Happy travels.

[@batandball617]

I often wondered why these exquisite machines cost soooo much money, I didn’t realise they are hand built! Truly an investment!

[@richardbrown4816]

Airstreams are god awfully expensive here in the USA, can’t imagine how much more they are in the UK

[@stolnpckup]

Do they offer tours of the factory?

[@andrewjditton]

They do indeed!

[@stolnpckup]

@@andrewjditton thanks for the info.

[@lifemanitoba7293]

I am a airstream owner, it is good product but not as I expected high .

[@Factory400]

Airstreams are 100000000% better than the usual RV suspects.

[@darltennant6005]

How is a uk air stream made to travel on the other side of the road?

[@andrewjditton]

There's no difference there. It's all to do with services such as 220v electrics etc.

[@charles1964]

They also have Amber Directional Signal Lights - at an Extra Charge, of course....

[@TheMusingGreg]

Educate me. Why would someone want a caravan with thousands of rivets and lots of different layers and joints, vs complete composite walls? Surely it's a recipe for leaks eventually?

[@marzsit9833]

composite walls eventually delaminate, fall apart and are generally not repairable. airstreams are built like aircraft and can always be repaired easily.

[@TheMusingGreg]

@@marzsit9833 Cool thanks. Interesting approach. I don't really like the patchwork quilt look myself but I appreciate understanding the logic.

[@catw6274]

There are airstreams on the road that are 50 years old. I think aluminum handles direct sun and vibration better.

[@Moondoggy1941]

4:11 It is married. That is the correct term.

[@MrMauidiver]

After more than 70 years of engineering you think they could make a shell without ripples in it

[@stevecallachor]

What's an associate??? Stavros

[@colinwp8285]

But, were not UK airstreams going to be made by Swift Caravans? Or is that deal dead? Airstream now owned by Thor Industries, same as Hymer. Thor is buying up everything. Shame they have not allowed the classic or globetrotter variants to ship to UK with minor adjustments for UK regulations.A 33FB Classic I would consider.

[@andrewjditton]

The arrangement with Swift didn't last long unfortunately. I know that they are looking to expand the availability of models in the UK with certain suitable US models, but I think that's a way off yet.

[@erod6214]

Hot 🔥 in summer, cold 🥶 in winter. Looks nice but I'll pass

[@andrewyork8208]

If only you had one :)

[@andrewjditton]

If only... :(

[@bonniestalls4780]

Love to have one but it hard to get away from abuse 😉

[@kenmunozatmmrrailroad6853]

Should anyone have question of cost need only see this.

[@ImTheDudeMan471]

I get it. Someday.

[@921aa]

In the European world of mini cars and extreme fuel costs I'm surprised they sell in the UK.

[@petebird7171]

Agreed Andrew, you can definitely see where the money is, superb vans, but I’m sorry to say out of my league 😥 good video by the way 👍👍👍👍👍

[@winnetou7529]

this company is very expensive and the prices are clearly too high for buyers and this is a fact. This company does not make caravans for the winter and in winter in Alaska you will simply die in their house without heating. Pay for what ?

[@brianknowles1727]

Still got a wooden floor still too expensive.

[@andrewjditton]

Many now have composite floors - hence my explanation that some things have moved on!

[@markmangan8586]

😊👍

[@billkennedy8869]

Why can't you say aluminum?

[@andrewjditton]

For the same reason you don't say Aluminium. This is a UK produced video primarily aimed at a UK audience about a UK-specific product.

[@catw6274]

@@andrewjditton I love the way Brits pronounce it. ( :

[@LijunZHANG]

You can afford it or you don’t

[@Wingnut_Stickman]

Do they come in colours? That plain Al is boring.

[@Factory400]

These cost twice as much and last 10x longer than the typical wood/fiberglass junk offered by everyone else. That means the owners are not fiddling with stupid problems and then they can sell it 10 years later for great price. The others are about zero value in 10 years. That makes Airstream the best bargain in the entire RV industry - take it from a Winnebago owner.

[@Moondoggy1941]

Ouch and very true. But what sucks now is that lots of resorts only allow a 10 year or newer RV in therre park.

[@bodyguard5879]

Expensive piece of junk.

[@nemo6686]

Did it not get aired because you referred to the workers as "men and women"? You naughty transphobe, you.

[@andrewjditton]

No, although I guess I should have said 'people'. Nowadays I stick to the all-encompassing 'folks'. The main reason for the delay was that the 'UK' bit changed and had to be re-done.

[@akita96th]

They are made good but vastly or should I say ridiculously overpriced.