What is an Airstream Chassis?

What is a chassis? A chassis is arguably the most important component of an Airstream’s construction. It’s the framework of the vehicle—the foundation that everything else is built upon. Without it, the fridge, bed, sinks, cabinetry, would all merely be a pile of parts. An Airstream chassis is the first piece of the puzzle that all the others depend on.

The Airstream travel trailer chassis’ arrive at the Travel Trailer Production Facility in Jackson Center, Ohio as painted black frames of intersecting beams. From there, the manufacturing team first begins to install segments of the trailer—the axles, wheels, initial plumbing and gas, stabilizer jacks, and so on. A separate team constructs the shell—five aluminum sheets coming together to envelope the chassis. This is followed by installing plumbing lines and wires and wrapping the aluminum sheets around the edges of the frame. Finally, constructing the travel trailer’s superstructure is complete with black plastic guards.

Unlike the travel trailer chassis, Airstream’s touring coach chassis arrive at the Touring Coach Production Facility as what appears to be a fully formed vehicle. In actuality, this is only a shell of a motorhome without its necessary components.

“The chassis provides the power, performance, and mobility. It’s the engine and drivetrain that powers the vehicle, the wheels and axles that allow it to move, and the shell that forms its waterproof housing.”

After arrival, the pre-production team installs parts such as the generator, electrical ports, and water hookups. Seats are removed and transferred to the upholstery department, RV windows replace standard ones. From there, the motorhome moves along in production until it becomes an Airstream.

Learn more about Airstream chassis’ and the production process here!