Top Travel Trailers Similar to Airstream: Alternatives Reviewed
The Airstream Travel Trailer is often considered the benchmark for quality and luxury in RV campers. But before you buy, there are seven other brands and models you should seriously consider as alternatives to an Airstream.
In this article, we review the 20-foot Airstream Bambi and its top-rated competitors in the premium compact travel trailer category – the Sol Horizon, the Escape 19, the Lance 1685, and the Little Guy Max. We also include shorter profiles of three other full-featured compact trailers we like: the Oliver Legacy, the Safari Alto, and the Casita Spirit Deluxe. When preparing for any trip, remember the importance of packing essentials properly, and considering items like how to pack skincare for travel can make your journey more comfortable, whether by RV or other means.
Shopping for a Full-Featured Compact Travel Trailer
Our family has been RVers in our Rialta Motorhome since 2004 and we love our little traveling house on wheels. Until recently, our style of RVing and camping involved short stays and extensive travel and exploration of different places. Lately, we’ve been considering spending a portion of the winter parked in one campground or RV park, perhaps in Florida, for the duration. This led us to think about acquiring a travel trailer. A trailer would offer a little more living space and eliminate the need to disconnect our main vehicle every time we wanted to go golfing, visit the store, or tour a nearby attraction.
We were drawn to the Bambi Airstream Travel Trailer for reasons similar to our attraction to our Winnebago Rialta. Both possess the appealing features of curvy, aerodynamic lines, allow plenty of natural interior light, and efficiently engineer numerous amenities into a compact space. We specifically didn’t want a long trailer, prioritizing ease of driving and parking. When camping at a state, national, or Corps park, a long trailer can be a disadvantage in securing a site during popular camping periods. In this context, being short is advantageous, aiming for a length of no more than 23 feet.
Our other desired requirements in a travel trailer:
- External Storage for two golf bags
- Dedicated sleeping area
- Dedicated Dinette table/lounge
- Hanging Closet Space
- Useable amount of Kitchen Counter Space
- Useable Bath/Shower
- Quality Battery & Electrical Systems
- Dry Weight under 4500 lbs
The Airstream 20FB satisfies most of these requirements. However, the positives and attractive appearance of the Airstream come at a significant cost, arguably the highest price per foot of length among travel trailers. This high price, coupled with the reputed maintenance needed to keep that shiny aluminum skin looking good and rust-free, prompted us to search for alternatives to an Airstream.
In this article, I’ll detail what’s appealing about the Airstream Bambi 20FB. Following that, I will provide brief descriptions of what I view as the top alternatives to the Airstream Bambi, trailers that offer similar features but at a more accessible price point than the Airstream.
Review: Airstream Bambi 20FB
The Airstream is widely regarded as the gold standard among travel trailers. It is admired for its striking, iconic art deco design profile, high-quality components, luxurious appointments, and well-designed living space. We are attracted to the Airstream for these elements, plus the generous amount of window glass which floods the interior with light, making living in such a small environment feel much more spacious.
The Airstream Bambi is available in four models. The 20FB is the model we are most drawn to. It features the bed positioned at the front, the galley (kitchen) and bath located in the rear, and the dinette-lounge area situated in the center of the unit. The 20FB is 20.5 feet long, 8 feet wide, and has a dry weight of 4000 lbs. Even with the AC unit, it maintains a sleek height of only 9’3″, while providing a generous interior headroom of up to 6’4″. Its body is constructed entirely of aluminum, showcasing the iconic shapely art deco profile that has defined Airstream since the 1950s. Another classic Airstream feature is the set of wrap-around panoramic front windows, a design element first introduced in the 1970s. The current version features tinted windows protected by a second hinged solar window that functions as both a rock guard and additional sun shading.
Standard Airstream Features & Options
As one of the most expensive travel trailers in its class, premium features that are often considered options on other trailers are included as standard equipment on the Airstream Bambi. Among these standard features are: an awning, all-aluminum wheels, a tankless on-demand hot water system, a rear-view camera, an AC unit with a heat strip, and a 1,000-watt pure sine wave inverter capable of running most appliances on battery power alone. The brochure lists potentially a hundred notable features that are standard equipment. The only features that are optional are those specifically enhancing off-the-grid camping capabilities: a solar panel package and a lithium-based battery electrical system.
What We Like About the Bambi 20FB
Both my wife and I appreciate the floor plan significantly. It offers a spacious dinette/lounge area capable of seating four people, and a front double bed that is distinct from the kitchen and living areas. Other standard amenities include: a wardrobe closet with a hanging bar, a pillow-top memory foam mattress, a dry bathroom with a separate shower unit, a substantial amount of galley counter space with ample under-counter storage, and crisp, European-style handcrafted laminated cabinetry. The overall atmosphere is enhanced by the light-colored interior finishes and the generous number and size of the windows. If you plan to “live” in a compact space, having design features like those offered by the Bambi 20FB helps mitigate feelings of claustrophobia; for us, this is a particularly important aspect.
In addition to the visible features, a significant advantage of the Airstream is its renowned quality manufacturing and strong reputation. This contributes to peace of mind during ownership and substantially increases the resale value should you ever decide to sell your Airstream.
Bambi 20FB floor plan showing kitchen, bath, dinette, and bed
Foreground: Bambi dinette-lounge. Background: Bedroom area.
A generously sized galley for a 20-foot travel trailer.
The Airstream 20FB meets all the requirements we outlined in our introduction… except one: it does not have ample exterior storage. There is a small compartment located in the rear, suitable for some tools and water hoses, but that is essentially the extent of it. However, somewhat compensating for the modest exterior storage is a large storage area located beneath the bed. When traveling, even in a compact trailer, having adequate travel size face wash and moisturizer and other personal care items is essential for comfort, requiring careful use of available storage space.
What Not to Like about the Bambi Airstream
The primary deterrent for most RVers considering an Airstream is its notably high retail price. The 2023 base price starts at around $67,000. While you certainly receive a wealth of premium features as standard equipment and top-tier construction quality, many potential buyers find it difficult to justify paying such a significant premium for these features. Its retail price can be nearly double that of some similarly sized travel trailers.
Another drawback is ironically also one of its strengths. The aluminum body, which could potentially last a lifetime, requires a considerable amount of maintenance to preserve its like-new appearance. Furthermore, if body repair is ever needed, it is likely to be more expensive and challenging to find a skilled repair technician experienced with aluminum bodywork.
Other disadvantages include its heavier tow weight, approximately 20% higher than other models of its length, and as previously mentioned, its very limited exterior storage capacity.
We have also learned that a common complaint among Airstream owners relates to the difficulty in opening the windows; they reportedly tend to stick shut.
For those wishing to boondock (camp without hookups) for more than just overnight, upgrading to solar panels, lithium batteries, and a larger inverter is necessary, as demonstrated by Scott and Collete in their video. This option package can easily add several thousand dollars to the overall cost.
Top Towable RV Competitors to the 20-foot Bambi Airstream
The Sol Horizon Travel Trailer
The InTech Sol Horizon could be described as a thoroughly modern interpretation of the Airstream concept. Similar to the Airstream, it features a large panoramic front window, includes premium appliances and amenities, and boasts a clean, uncluttered, light-toned interior. The Sol Horizon’s eight tinted windows and well-designed interior create a more spacious feel than one might expect from a 19-foot long travel trailer. Its frame is constructed from aluminum with a fiberglass skin. The Sol offers considerably more generous exterior storage than the Bambi, features a larger bed, and provides a more spacious lounge area. However, the Bambi has more galley counter space, a larger dry bath with a separate shower, and more features included as standard.
The new Terra Magnolia, measuring 22 feet long, provides a larger galley with more counter space, includes a wardrobe closet, and offers a more spacious bedroom area. This represents a very attractive upgrade from the Horizon while still remaining relatively compact (though at a higher price). Starting at a 2023 base price of $61,600 compared to $42,539 for the Horizon, these upgrades come with a significant cost increase. However, if the price is not a deterrent and your tow vehicle can handle a 7000 lbs towing capacity, the Terra Magnolia is an option worth exploring.
InTech Terra Magnolia travel trailer exterior
The Escape 19 Travel Trailer
Built in British Columbia, Canada, Escape Trailer’s 19.5-foot model features a low, rounded, aerodynamic profile somewhat similar to the Airstream – but instead of an aluminum body, it utilizes a one-piece, low-maintenance fiberglass body. While it lacks a large panoramic front window, its nine windows allow abundant natural light into the interior. Its dual axles provide a substantial carrying capacity of over 1600 lbs of gear, which can be stored in its spacious interior cabinets and larger-than-average exterior storage compartments.
The Escape is sold exclusively through direct sales, which allows customers to more fully customize their travel trailer from over 100 personalized options. Their website provides extensive customer resources, complemented by an enthusiastic and loyal owners group. Potential buyers can even preview an Escape trailer in person through their owners group, whose members have volunteered to act as Escape ambassadors.
Lance 1685 Travel Trailer
The 21-foot Lance Camper model 1685 offers more interior space than the Bambi and other top alternatives, primarily due to the inclusion of a slide-out that houses the dinette lounge area. It features a large front window and a total of eight windows throughout, plus a skylight, contributing to the airy interior feel that is important for an Airstream alternative. Dual axles contribute to over 1500 lbs of additional carrying capacity and enhance stability while towing. We like its generous external storage and large fresh water, gray water, and black water tank capacities. You have the option to add up to two solar panels and a Lithium battery system to facilitate extended boondocking. The interior is spacious with quality finishing.
Lance has a reputation for quality construction and providing good value for its price point.
If you prefer not to have a slide-out, Lance offers a model similar to the 1685: the 2075. This model is about 1.5 feet longer but maintains a similar weight profile.
A caveat: Since our initial review of the Lance, we have spoken with two owners who have expressed less-than-satisfaction with the construction quality and the responsiveness of the factory to their inquiries.
The Little Guy Max Travel Trailer
Little Guy Trailers has developed a larger version of its classic teardrop trailer, featuring a queen bed situated in the rear and a dinette lounge area set up in the front. Large windows at both the front and rear, along with generously sized side windows, provide ample interior light. The floor plan offers a decent amount of interior storage, including a pantry and a hanging clothes closet. The bathroom is a compact wet bath/shower combination. Additionally, there are ingenious cubby hole storage compartments cleverly integrated throughout the unit. Overall, it presents an attractive interior with an intelligently designed layout. Living comfortably in a compact space like this requires smart packing, including essentials like travel size face wash and moisturizer to maximize limited space.
Befitting its name, the Max model features a large 35 cubic feet of external storage capacity. The Little Guy Max boasts a cargo carrying capacity of more than 1100 lbs, allowing you to bring bikes and plenty of camping accessories along on your trips.
A strong characteristic of the Little Guy Max trailer is its teardrop shape and lighter weight, which makes it easily towable with many SUVs. Even when loaded down with 1100 pounds of your gear and toys, its total weight will remain under 5000 lbs.
Other Competitors to the 20-foot Bambi Airstream
Oliver Legacy Elite
Another high-quality, premium-priced travel trailer often considered a competitor to the smaller Airstream trailers is the Oliver brand. Oliver produces two very durable fiberglass trailers known for their luxury features and a reputation for quality construction. The interior furnishings are made from low-maintenance molded fiberglass. However, its design layout features fewer and smaller windows compared to other top Airstream competitors, and its interior width is a foot less than the Bambi. Our primary concern is the relative lack of natural lighting and the absence of the spacious ambiance that is one of our key criteria. But if abundant natural light isn’t a major issue for you and you are seeking a compact luxury travel trailer, the Oliver is definitely worth considering. You can find more information on the Oliver Website.
Casita Travel Trailers
Casita has been manufacturing compact travel trailers since 1983. Similar to the Oliver and the Escape, its body features a low-maintenance fiberglass shell with very few seams, making it highly resistant to water intrusion. The Casita is offered in a variety of interior configurations designed to meet the needs of couples or families. The configuration we find most appealing is the Casita Spirit Deluxe, which uniquely features two dinette areas. This layout allows the rear dinette/bed combination to remain permanently set up as a double bed, while still retaining a separate dinette area suitable for two people. Other floor plans are available that can accommodate sleeping for up to six people.
Also like the Escape, there is no traditional dealer network for Casita; you order directly from the factory. However, you can arrange to “see” a Casita trailer located near you through their Casita Discovery Program, which is a network of current Casita owners who are happy to showcase their models to prospective buyers.
All Casita models are built on the same 17-foot chassis, making them slightly shorter than the Airstream, Escape, and Oliver models we have highlighted in this article. It is impressive how much they manage to pack into this shorter chassis. For instance, the Spirit Deluxe, in addition to having both a permanent double bed and a separate dinette area, also includes a wardrobe closet and a spacious bathroom with a separate shower.
If Casita were to introduce a 19-foot model, we believe it would strongly contend for a top spot on our list of recommended Airstream Alternatives. You can visit the Casita Factory Website for more details.
Safari Alto
Safari Condo Alto 21 travel trailer exterior with rising roof
Another intriguing line of compact travel trailers comes from the Safari Alto models, sold directly from the Safari Condo factory located in Quebec. All of the Alto models are designed to provide generous natural lighting and feature ingenious layouts that pack numerous amenities into a smaller footprint. We are particularly interested in the A21 model due to its aerodynamic shape and thoughtful interior features. One consideration for customers in the US market is the availability of air conditioning; apparently, an AC unit is not included as standard equipment (perhaps the climate in Quebec makes AC less essential for most of the summer?).
When exploring options for RV travel, remember that planning for personal needs is crucial. Packing strategically, especially items like travel size face wash and moisturizer, helps maximize the limited space available in any compact trailer, ensuring comfort on the road.
Finding Travel Trailers Similar To Airstream that meet your specific needs and budget requires careful research and comparison of various models and features. The alternatives discussed here represent some of the top contenders offering quality, functionality, and design that stand out in the compact towable RV market.
