Common TermsGlossary

Airstreamer:

More than just campers or travelers, Airstream owners are a unique band of wanderers and wonderers tied together by our mutual love of iconic design, expert craftsmanship, and endless adventures.

Aluminum:

Since the Airstream Clipper hit the market in 1936, Airstream has constructed recreational vehicles from sheets of this strong but highly pliable material.

Waste, Gray, and Fresh Water Tanks:

Most Airstreams are equipped with three holding tanks. The gray tank holds all liquids that go down the sink drains, the fresh tank holds several dozen gallons of fresh water, and the waste tank holds solid and liquid waste that goes down the toilet.

Boondocking:

Camping off-grid without the typical hookups available at a campsite.

Caravan:

From informal groups of Airstreamers traveling together to organized adventures conducted by the Airstream Club International (aka The Wally Byam Caravan Club International), Caravans strengthen the bonds between travelers while inspiring new adventures.

Coupler:

Your Airstream travel trailer features a chassis that tapers into an A-frame at the front, and the coupler is the rounded end of that A-frame. The coupler is lowered onto the hitch ball and secured for towing.

Curbside:

Equivalent to the passenger side of an automobile.The curbside features an awning and the main entry door.

GVWR:

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum amount of weight that your travel trailer should not exceed. The GVWR includes the weight of the trailer itself, plus any gear, equipment, food, and other items you pack for your trip.

Hitch:

The welded support bar on the back of your tow vehicle. The hitch features a receiver tube into which you insert a ball mount and secure with a hitch pin for safety.

Hitch Ball:

The metal ball onto which the travel trailer’s coupler will attach.

Rivet:

Airstream’s iconic travel trailers feature a shell of aluminum sheets riveted together. Rivets have been used since ancient times to fasten sheets of metal, in a process that hammers one end of the rivet down so it tightly pinches the two pieces together.

Semi-Monocoque:

An airplane fuselage is a monocoque (“monoh-cock”) body formed from a circular tube. An Airstream’s riveted aluminum shell is considered semi-monocoque because it’s fastened to a sheet of composite flooring. These types of structures are some of the most structurally sound vehicle shapes.

Streetside:

Equivalent to the driver’s side of an automobile.An Airstream’s streetside is where you’ll find electrical, water, and sewer hookups.

The Mothership:

Airstream’s world headquarters in Jackson Center, Ohio. Since 1980, all Airstreams have been born at The Mothership, and a visit is on many Airstreamer bucket lists.

Tongue:

The tapering A-frame of the chassis is referred to as the tongue. Your hitch has a tongue weight rating that should never be exceeded.

Wally Byam:

Born on the Fourth of July in 1896, Wally Byam founded Airstream in 1931 with the promise of giving travelers all the comforts of home while they explore the world.

Weight Distribution:

Safe towing of a travel trailer requires following all weight recommendations and not overloading the front or rear of the unit. Many Airstreamers add a weight distribution hitch to their towing setup for extra safety.

Winterize:

If you live in a northern climate where temperatures drop below freezing, your Airstream should be winterized to prevent damage. The process involves blowing water out of the plumbing and/or adding non-toxic RV antifreeze to prevent freezing pipes.

Work from Anywhere:

While any Airstream model can double as a mobile home office, we also manufacture several travel trailers equipped with connectivity solutions, desks, and dedicated workspaces that make it easier to work from the road