Airstream Basecamp 16-Foot Review, a 4-Year Owner's Review

2024 Memorial Day Weekend

Having just finished a full-time year of teaching 4th Grade after ten years of retirement, I'm now retiring . . . again. Oh, I'll probably be doing a little substitute teaching next year, but working 1-2 days a week and taking off 5-6 days a week--that's retired, isn't it?

I am, therefore, beginning my re-retirement with a review of our 2021 16-foot Airstream Basecamp. First, though, there should be some discussion about the subject this blog has been focused on during the years--tiny trailers, trailers that provide an inside living space, keep you comfortable during inclement weather, and provide a safe, secure place to sleep. Some tiny trailers are little more than "hard-sided tents" (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), and some tiny trailers are touted as self-sufficient living spaces. Most tiny trailers are truly tiny, providing a space for sleep and for sitting with legs crossed. 

My 16-foot Airstream Basecamp resides at the opposite side of the tiny trailer spectrum; I actually feel more comfortable labeling it a little or small trailer, one having enough room for a bed/dining table, a bathroom, and a kitchen. There are other little trailers that are slightly smaller which provide a self-sufficient living space, the Tab 320 being a notable example. However, with Airstream's years of experience building travel trailers and its innovative Basecamp design, the Airstream Basecamp 16-footer is right up there at the top of little trailers that, as my wife's son recently said after camping in the Basecamp for a week and a half, "provide everything you need and nothing you don't."

It should be noted that the tiny trailers camping philosophy is that choosing a small camping space inside means that one spends more time outside. Minimalism is the key word for tiny trailer camping, and minimalism begins with towing a very small living space which can generate descriptors all the way from "cozy" to "cramped," depending on the campers and weather. Our Basecamp is no exception to the dilemma of "How big is too big? How small is too small?" We still debate the trade-offs, sometimes with our individual selves! I have previously written about tiny trailers trade-offs in the article "The Airstream Basecamp Is a Little Camper--and We're Glad."

Positive Qualities

The current Basecamp is an innovative new iteration of an older idea, with the camper resurfacing in 2018 onto the market with a similar but upbeat design. Here are the features my wife and I like.

• At six and a half feet wide, the trailer is easily pulled by my Nissan Pathfinder SUV. Although not absolutely necessary, I've added inexpensive extension mirrors which lessen the blind spot behind the camper when towing. 
• The kitchen provides ample space for cooking equipment and supplies. The roof-level netting storage areas work well for us. We use REI storage bags for clothes and have found that the front net storage holds light food items well even without storage bags. We still cook quite a bit outside, but having an indoor space is a real treat when the weather is bad or buggy.
• We still use campground facilities a lot but have found the indoor toilet convenient for nighttime and inclement weather.
• Like all small trailers, there is quite a bit of setting up and breaking down the bed/dining area, but the Basecamp's configuration has been good for us. 
• The air conditioner and Truma  heating system work well; sometimes I use a space heater for a more "fireplace effect."

We've found the Basecamp to be solid and dependable. Our warranty issues were centered around three weaknesses that were identified during the first years of the trailer's reiteration: the air conditioner securing screws working loose (company fix with Loctite), the door window becoming unglued (re-sealed by the company), and door locks not strong enough in windy conditions (longer screws added by the company), As we turned the Basecamp in just now, we are having the visor over the rear door re-caulked because a leak during rain. We were told this is a known problem, that the caulk dries out and needs to be renewed. Other than those issues, we've found the unit delivers.

Design Issues

The quality of the materials used in the Basecamp we've found excellent, and the set-up of the unit is thoughtful and utilitarian yet still elegant. However, there are a few issues in the design that cause occasional consternation. 

• The overhead fan is noisy even at its lowest setting. There are quieter fans out there.
• The venting side "van" windows are classy to look at and really add to the unit's beauty; however, they provide less air circulation than some other options. This especially becomes a problem if the front door is closed at night for security. Adding windows with low air circulation with a noisy fan has caused some frustration. Why not use the air conditioner, you might ask? The ac is a solution but is more noisy than windows open and a quiet ceiling fan would be.
• The back door can provide nice ventilation if the area is secure. However, the snap netting, although it works well for mosquitoes isn't much of a barrier for crawling bugs, such as stink bugs that we once battled. Also, I use a swimming noodle and bungee cord to secure the back door to eliminate strain on the manufacturer's standard hooks.
• My wife and I eventually bought two-inch latex foam pads for sleeping to augment the standard Basecamp cushions. The factory cushions were minimally acceptable for me but a definite no-go for my wife. I later succumbed to the allure of greater sleeping softness and have never felt any guilt. 
• I've added a roof vent cover for the fan so that I can open the vent during rain. The cover definitely disrupts the sleek design of the roof, but having the fresh-air option during rain is too practical for me to take a "pass" on.
• The Basecamp design puts its electronic controls next to the door on the wall, a place that can attract excessive condensation inside the shell, which has shorted out some models. An after-market #D-printer spacer is available for the Truma control panel, discussed on a Facebook owners' group. This link should be available if you belong to the group Airstream Basecamp Owners. The spacer has venting on three sides. I also use a little dehumidifier when there's a lot of condensation. It provides some relief, taking out about a cup of water a day when I'm camping alone.

I've tried to discuss issues specific to the Basecamp and not pro and con issues that are common to all tiny trailers owners. My wife and I realize that buying a larger camper would create a new challenge for every challenge the larger camper would solve. Likewise, buying a tinier trailer would also both solve and create problems. Times change, needs change, but the Airstream Basecamp 16 is a pretty sweet rig, compared to any other camper its size. 

We do think fondly of our first camper, a little standy we called the Green Goddess, a Rustic Trail camper, Polar Bear model. Also, Rustic Trail is now manufacturing some new, innovative models. We've even talked some about someday owning both the Airstream and a Rustic Trail camper! Those are fun conversations, but the main reason I'm writing this review now is that my wife and I have just traded our Basecamp in at Blue Compass RV in Des Moines, Iowa, (where we bought the Basecamp, formerly RV One) and have bought a  16-foot Airstream Bambi. 

It wasn't that we were dissatisfied with the Basecamp, not in any fundamental way; our decision was based on our lifestyle. Right now I am retired and my wife is still busy with her consulting business. With the Basecamp, if she were working and I was resting, we were both together in the back of the Basecamp with either the bed half-made and one table set up, or with both tables set up and with me resting on one of the benches. With the Bambi, there is a permanent bed in the back and the dinette table (which can convert to a bed) up front, which provides separate spaces for each activity. The main reason this is possible is that the Bambi is wider than the Basecamp, eight feet wider rather than six and a half feet.

We know we'll miss the Basecamp with its unique design. I describe the Basecamp as having a modern aesthetic design, whereas the Bambi has the iconic, retro Airstream silver bullet look. Both looks are beautiful, but we'll have to get used to owning an iconic aluminum classic travel trailer rather than owning a spaceship cleverly disguised as an Airstream travel trailer. We look forward to new adventures, though, and will share our stories with you.

Subscribe--Follow by Email

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Last Name