I Toured The Most Ridiculous New Airstream Camper And It Makes Me Want To Buy Land And Become A Cowgirl

Airstream is known for a lot of things. It’s perhaps the most iconic RV producer in the entire world. It builds trailers that have had a distinctive look forever. It’s also known for building RVs with good longevity. But Airstream rarely gets silly. That was until it partnered with Stetson and the 6666 Ranch to build a special edition trailer. This new camper is ridiculous cranked up to 11, and I’m not even sure actual cowboys would even buy one … but somehow I’m hopelessly in love.

Airstream is not a stranger to building special-edition trailers. It’s a tradition that Thor’s flagship brand has been doing for a long time. Usually, Airstream’s partners have been trendy brands like Pottery Barn or REI, but recently, Airstream’s been getting really creative. Last year, I wrote about the Airstream limited edition trailer that Airstream crafted with the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation. That one was wild because it really did feel like some Frank Lloyd Wright touches were compacted and slapped into an Airstream.

I had concluded that the Airstream Frank Lloyd Wright Usonian Limited Edition Travel Trailer was my favorite modern Airstream, but the company’s fresh collaboration with Stetson and the 6666 Ranch has me feeling all kinds of warm and fuzzy. The Airstream Stetson + 6666 Special Edition Travel Trailer is supposed to be a sort of love letter to the American West, cowboys, and ranching, and it’s basically like if you were to sleep in a hotel-room-sized pair of Ariat boots and under a Stetson hat. It’s supposed to be the kind of camper that a rancher might buy. Honestly, it’s pretty silly and polarizing, especially if you don’t even want to pretend to be a cowboy.

Sensory Overload

Sometimes, a camper that looks really interesting in press photos can be somewhat of a letdown in person. I finally got to see the Stetson camper in person, and it somehow looks even cooler. Well, if you’re into this sort of thing, anyway.

If you’re interested in reading about the history of the 6666 Ranch and about the history of Stetson, I recommend clicking here to read my previous coverage. I like to update my RV coverage when I happen to see a unit in person, if only so you can get untouched, unedited photos straight from me, rather than the pretty ones from the manufacturer. I also like to, you know, actually touch these units.

Like most Airstream limited edition models, the changes outside are pretty subtle. Airstream added a bright red accent line around the trailer. That got my attention first when I walked through the Airstream display. Then, I got close and noticed that the trailer’s trim has a simulated weathered look to give the trailer a sort of vibe, like it’s hardened by sitting out in a desert.

Then I just had to smile and laugh at the cowboy mural on the front window covers.

That laugh wasn’t a mocking one, just sort of an “oh my gosh, this is a lot” laugh. The most bombastic change on the outside is the awning, which has a western-themed pattern plus Stetson and 6666 Ranch branding. Honestly, the awning is a real draw when it is open. The bright red makes for a sharp contrast to the aluminum of the trailer.

Things got wild before I even walked through the door. The door’s screen door has a cowboy hat, plus Stetson and 6666 Ranch branding cut into it. Then, I opened that door and was immediately overwhelmed.

When I wrote about this trailer in December, I said that Airstream, Stetson, and 6666 Ranch went for a sort of mobile-ranch-on-the-range look. In person, I can see what these companies were going for here, but when the whole ranch look is scaled down to camper size, it becomes ridiculous. Everything feels cranked up to 11, almost like a caricature.

Upon entry, I gazed upon feet of darkened wood against a backdrop of riveted aluminum. Airstream says that the dinette table is a black-stained oak, and the cushions are tobacco-brown semi-aniline leather. Both of these felt pleasing to the touch. The table was solid, and while I probably would not sleep using those pillows, they did feel like they were made out of a quality material. To the credit of these companies, the pillows and cushions looked quite similar to the Ariat boots in my closet, but thankfully are a bit softer.

There’s so much going on in front of this trailer. Look past all of the wood and leather, and you’ll spot Kipsch speakers, and then an illuminated rack for three of your favorite Stetson hats.

I turned my body around, and from there I had a total sensory overload in the entire kitchen area. The kitchen goes from zero to one hundred really quickly, and it started right at my feet with the floor rug that matches the red trim and the awning of the trailer.

Before I was even done taking in the rug, I looked up and saw a vintage Stetson advertisement plastered on the kitchen’s walls.

I didn’t even have time to take that in because right in front of it was a hammered copper sink, which lived atop a handcrafted wood counter. I was pleasantly surprised that the wood on the countertop, like the wood used for the cabinetry, felt sturdy. It didn’t feel like you could destroy this kitchen just by tripping and falling into the counter, which is legitimately a feeling I get from many campers.

I also like how Airstream was incredibly consistent with the theming. Some themed campers might have a special table, a special sink, or neat cushions, but don’t really commit to their bit. Airstream made all of the metal trim inside the trailer out of the same materials, and then wrapped the handles and such out of material that matches the pillows and cushions.

This trailer didn’t let up, either. The bathroom was nearly as bold as the kitchen, and the bedroom in the rear was lovely. Everything from the pillows on the bed to the curtains looked and felt well-done in person.

By well-done, I don’t just mean in terms of style and theme, either. But these materials felt great to the touch, and I could see them lasting longer than the interior of a typical trailer. Airstream is considered the flagship brand of Thor Industries, and the build here seems to live up to this. The difference between this Airstream and something like my family’s Heartland is shocking, despite both brands falling under the same umbrella. Then again, the prices are also shockingly different.

Bring A Stetson-Sized Wallet

Yeah, I’m not going to sugarcoat it for you, dear reader. This thing is an expensive bit of kit. At a starting price of $169,900, this Airstream costs more than some houses here in the Midwest. In a way, it’s like a supercar. It’s priced way out of the means of many people, myself included. Perhaps the first and the only time you might step into one of these is at an RV show, and that’s sad. But I also get it, Airstream is not exactly targeting people who have only Scamp money, here.

Anyway, for that price, Airstream says you’ll get a 27-foot-long travel trailer with a dinette that turns into a front bed plus the rear main bedroom, resulting in sleeping for four. As I said before, this does technically mean that the fourth person in your group can’t hang their hat in the hat display. You also get 2.4 kWh of lithium batteries, a 2,000W inverter, and 300W of rooftop solar. All of this adds up to 7,600 pounds when loaded. Like everyone’s favorite classic Airstream designs, the trailer is built out of riveted aluminum panels without any wood in the supporting structure. That should lend to a hopefully long life, which I think you’d expect after paying this kind of money.

The Airstream Stetson + 6666 Special Edition Travel Trailer is definitely not for everyone. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s overwhelming. It’s overwhelming to look at, smell, and touch. If you were crazy enough to chew on it, I bet that would be overwhelming, too. You absolutely have to be into this theme to like this trailer, because there is no time in which this trailer doesn’t shove its theme in your face. As I said, it’s cranked up to 11, and you better like it because the dial is never coming down.

I still don’t really see real ranchers buying one of these, either. While I have seen some cowboys rolling around with Airstreams, I’ve seen many more with huge fifth wheels hitched up to one dually diesel trucks, or fancy trailers that have living spaces for humans and horses. Instead, I think the Airstream Stetson + 6666 Special Edition Travel Trailer is really more for fans of the Stetson and 6666 brands. That’s totally fine! I mean, I dig this thing so much it makes me want to buy a plot of land and a horse.

I also think of this as one of the best examples of the future I want to see, where RV companies aren’t afraid to have fun with their interiors. Most campers feel like hotel rooms, casinos, or generic cookie-cutter homes inside. I guess doing so makes sense because you don’t want to offend customers, but it also leads to campers that aren’t particularly memorable. This? You’re not forgetting this.

All photos by Mercedes Streeter
Top graphic images: Mercedes Streeter; Stetson