The original Airstream gets an upgrade Camper enthusiasts are no stranger to aluminum trailers; the iconic ?silver bullet? Airstream trailers can be found everywhere from campsites in Yosemite to hipster vacation rentals. But another aluminum trailer?the Bowlus Road Chief?is also making a name for itself in the American market, this time with a new model. Love campers and trailers" Come join our new community group.
We?ve covered the Bowlus Road Chief previously, and it?s important to note the historic similarities between Airstreams and the Bowlus Road Chief. First designed and built by engineer Hawley Bowlus in 1934, the Bowlus Road Chief was inspired by the curving forms and long horizontal lines of the Art Moderne period. With a lightweight design, low center of gravity, and efficient interior spaces, Bowlus employee Wally Byam eventually took these same features and built the first Airstream Clipper in 1936.
But whereas only about 80 Bowlus Road Chiefs were produced in the mid-1930s, Airstream went on to become a household name. In 2014, Geneva Long and her father, John, decided to relaunch the Bowlus brand, combining a love for their own vintage Bowlus trailer with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Now, the Bowlus Road Chief is available in a new, longer model. The new Road Chief 26 has room for four campers to sleep thanks to an extra two feet of length. An awning can be added to either side of the trailer and the company has also added a larger en-suite bath ...