2001 was the 70th anniversary of Airstream. Wally Byam
began making trailer of wood but in 1937 he introduced the
"Clipper". This trailer was built using the same principles
used for constructing airplanes. The body was a riveted aluminum
monocoque construction. Prior to 1952, all Airstreams were built in
southern California. The Jackson Center plant opened in July, 1952 and
the first Ohio built Airstream rolled off the production line the following
month. Currently, all Airstreams are manufactured in Jackson Center,
Ohio. Airstream produced its first motorhome in 1979 and produced a
fifth-wheel trailer for about 3 years in the mid 1990's. In 1989,
Airstream produced its first fiberglass bodied motorhome. (All
trailers built during the past 50+ years with the exception of the short
lived fifth-wheel are aluminum bodied.) Today motorhomes are a
significant part of the Airstream production mix. Money magazine named
Airstream as "one of the 99 things that Americans make
best." As a testimony to their construction, over 60% of the
Airstreams ever built are still in use.
Factory Tours are available Monday - Friday at 2
pm. The production line mixes all sizes and models of Airstream, both
trailers and motorhomes. The work is done by hand. Little
automation is used is the construction process. Airstream motorhomes
have a fiberglass exterior while all Airstream trailers are aluminum.
Fiberglass insulation batts are used in all Airstreams. Cabinets are
made at the plant as are the drapes. The axles for the trailers are
made by Henschen at their plant one block away from the Airstream
facility. The Henschen torque tube axles give the Airstream trailers
their smooth ride and allow any of the multi-axle trailers to be towed at
reduced speeds with one wheel removed in case of a flat. Gasoline
powered motorhomes are built on chassis from both Ford and Workhorse.
Rear diesel engine powered motorhomes are built on chassis from Freightliner
with Caterpillar engines.
UPDATE: Since our visit, Airstream has removed itself
from the class A motorhome business and now only makes trailers and the
class B motorhome.
Each Airstream is run through a high pressure water booth
to check for water leaks prior to installation of interior components.
Each dealer comes to the plant to pick up their Airstreams and either tow or
drive the units back to their dealership. Although service work is
provided to the end customer at the Jackson Center facility, new Airstreams
can only be purchased and delivered through an authorized dealer.
My wife and I toured the plant July 13, 2001.
Airstream is on a 4 and 1/2 day workweek. Since our tour was on a
Friday, the production line was shut down.
Click on any of the Photos below for a
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| Airstream Factory |
Assembling the shells for the Classic
trailers |
Front and Rear Caps for Airstream
Motorhome |
| Side Panels ribs installed |
Jigs for constructing shell |
Side Panel for an Excella |
| Henschen Torque Tube Axles |
Attaching the metal underbody |
Fiberglass Motorhome roof |
| Constructing the Cabinets |
Trailer Shell End Pieces |
|
| Shell mounted on chassis |
Trailer Wiring Installation |
Each Airstream Gets A Rain Bath |
| Wiring A Motorhome |
Insulation and Interior Walls in a
Trailer |
Cabinets Being Installed in a 30'
Limited Slide-out |
| Diesel Pusher Motorhome awaiting
Baggage Doors |
Interior of Diesel Pusher Motorhome |
Final Production Steps |
| Prototype for the 34' Limited Slide-out
Model |
1937 Airstream Clipper and Wally Byam's
Safari Airstream |
2002 16' Bambi |
