Get Financing2023 Airstream Basecamp Travel Trailer Gets More Powerful Solar Panels, New Flooring & Other Upgrades
Airstream has introduced a host of improvements to its Basecamp travel trailer for 2023, including an upgrade to Merlin Solar 100-watt solar panels in place of the 90-W from the previous model year. The manufacturer is also moving away from WBP tongue-and-groove wood flooring in favor of proprietary, seamless TransCore composite flooring from Ridge Corporation that it says is engineered for firmness under foot, strength, and screw retention. Additionally, Airstream has introduced an all-new REI Co-op Special Edition model that’s built on a Basecamp foundation and is built using sustainable materials.
A Sunnier Outlook
Airstream reports that the compact, lightweight Basecamp has been its top-selling travel trailer for several years now. Towable by midsize SUVs, it’s available in two-person, 16-foot (4.9-meter) and four-person, 20-ft (6.1-m) floor plans. The Basecamp’s previous solar package provided two 90-W panels and two AGM batteries for 180 W of solar power. For 2023, the Merlin Solar system for the Basecamp 16 includes two roof-mounted panels that provide 200 W of combined output. The Basecamp 20’s system includes three panels for 300 W of total power. Airstream says travelers can expect better performance in all light conditions and quicker “wake up” performance, among other benefits. Furthermore, the panels’ parallel operation means they can operate individually or collectively.
A Step Forward
Although Airstream has used wood flooring for roughly 90 years, it says TransCore composite flooring provides enhanced quality and longevity. Constructed from waterproof, inert recycled glass and polypropylene, TransCore is manufactured through a process that relies on heat bonding rather than adhesives. As such, layers are fused together into one piece without bonding lines and without the squeaky noise caused by plywood pieces rubbing together as wear sets in over time. TransCore is also lighter than wood and wears better, helping your vinyl flooring last longer and improving the value of the trailer over time.
Other Improvements
Basecamp customers can now choose their own batteries at their Airstream dealership to match their particular usage scenario to the best battery chemistry type. Furthermore, Airstream has upgraded the Basecamp’s power converter to a multi-stage, auto-detecting unit that allows owners to drop in batteries with different chemistry without making any further changes to the trailer’s power system.
Other changes for 2023 include the addition of a 12-volt auxiliary outlet on the rear street-side bench that provides 200-W power from the batteries. The Basecamp 16 is also getting a tankless on-demand LP water heater that pumps hot water to the kitchen sink and wet-bath shower head. Lastly, both Basecamp versions will come with a redesigned systems panel located above the street-side bench that makes controlling and monitoring all trailer utilities easier.
Find Your Next Airstream Travel Trailer
You’ll find a big, varied selection of new and used Airstream RVs for sale on RVUniverse.com, including a number of Basecamp travel trailers.
Source: Airstream