Airstream has introduced the all-new Rangeline Touring Coach a Type B gas motorhome. The Airstream Rangeline is the 91-year-old company’s first motorized RV built on the RAM ProMaster 3500 chassis.
The company has been building Type B motorhomes since 1980 and Type B diesel motorhomes built on the Mercedes Benz Sprinter chassis since 2004. The company currently markets an Interstate line of diesel Type B vans.
“We started looking at this segment and where the market is headed. The hottest segment is the Type B motorhome segment,” said Airstream President and CEO Bob Wheeler. “They are going very strongly even as the rest of the market cools off a little bit. The Type B motorhome segment, the diesel market and other variants… are up 20% year-to-date. The gasoline-powered Type B motorhomes are up 35% year-to-date, so this is a very hot segment.”
The company is still committed to the Mercedes Sprinter platform going forward, he said.
The Dodge Ram Promaster chassis was the gas chassis of choice for the company, Wheeler said. It features a 3.6 liter Pentastar V6 engine with 276 horsepower and a TorqueFlite nine-speed automatic transmission. The ProMaster has a high-traction front-wheel-drive system and low floor height.
“We put together a great team that did a lot of market research about what this buyer might want that is different from our Interstate customer and we developed the Rangeline,” Wheeler said.
While the Rangeline is not trying to be all things to all people, Airstream wanted the Rangeline to flexibly accommodate a Type B gas motorhome customer ranging from the single traveler to a small family with two kids for camping, tailgating, road trips or soccer tournaments, Wheeler said.
And with a length like many large pickup trucks, Rangeline has four belted positions spread between two captain’s chairs and a two-seat bench. The standard configuration sleeps two on a 74-inch by 52-inch elevated bed rated for 500 pounds, with storage in a “garage” below. The optional pop-top expands the sleeping capacity to four people.
The 21-foot camper van’s onboard systems are all powered by the fuel in the gas tank.
More Highlights:
- 270Ah lithium battery bank and a 2,000-watt power inverter
- All-electric appliances, including a 3.2 cu. ft. refrigerator, .4 cu. ft. freezer, and a stowable induction cooktop that can be used to cook outdoors
- Hydronic heating and hot water system for on-demand hot water and interior heat, powered by the gasoline in the vehicle’s fuel tank
- 8 kW generator also draws fuel from the gas tank and can operate the air conditioner while away from shore power
- Firefly multiplex control panel for managing and monitoring lighting and onboard systems
- Wet bath with sink, shower, and toilet
- Pet amenities built into the design, with an integrated pet bowl pull-out drawer and exterior leash attachment on the running board
- Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE) panels mounted on both rear doors allow for customizable gear storage with easy access to outdoor equipment
- Integrated L-track storage system gives consumers the ability to secure larger equipment like bikes, fishing gear and luggage
- Standard RV water hookups are concealed in an external compartment, while sewer and electric hookups are below the vehicle
- Automotive design with a painted black grille
- European-inspired interior featuring dynamic galley, sleeping, and living areas
- Flex table system offers expandable space for meals or work
- Soft-closing drawers and posi-lock cabinets for securing items while traveling
The Rangeline has a MSRP of $131,882. The optional pop-top is $11, 694 MSRP. Authorized Airstream dealerships are now taking orders and will be receiving inventory in the coming weeks.
Upon introducing the new model to dealers, Airstream received over 1,000 orders Wheeler said.
“The Rangeline is a thoughtfully-designed, highly capable, multi-purpose van that handles like a daily driver, and it’ll open a new world of Airstream adventures to one of the fastest growing segments in the RV industry,” Wheeler said.
