1 reviews
(1)Randall D.
1•July 2025
If you read no further than this sentence, know this: if you are renting a 2021 or newer Airstream, be absolutely sure the 30 Amp shore power 30 ft SMARTPLUG is with the camper. They are unique to Airstream and marine vessels (albeit quite rare I found).I rented the 2023 Airstream Basecamp 20 for a week up on Lake Ontario for an annual visit with friends and family. I rented this specific model because we were doing a test run to see if this is something we would invest in versus jamming my family in my Roof Top Tent and sticking to each other during hot summers. Having AC as standard in the Basecamp was a priority in booking it and the camper was along our route north.Be prepared that the location is quite remote to Roscoe, NY. There is no cell service so be sure to communicate with the host prior to getting there if they do not reach out first. I made this mistake and had to drive 15 minutes back to cell service, wait for a reply, and 15 minutes back. This cost me 90 minutes.I did not get a walk-thru on-site but did notice damage to the driver's side of the camper and that the shore power cord was not found. The cord should have been standard for the Basecamp and is required to ensure use of the AC, water heater for the shower, and keeping the lithium battery topped off when not in tow. The owner stated I could buy one and get reimbursed back. I was going to have to also purchase a 50A to 30A connector. Little did I know this was going to be my unfortunate task for nearly two days. You will also need to take a right out of the camp site where it sits back towards Route 30 and the reservoir. Going left you will likely come to the Beaverkill covered bridge that has a 6'-6" height limit and the Basecamp is nearly 9' and it would require Austin Powers turnaround skills.Departing towards Route 30 and towards Downsville then to I-81 via 206, it was extremely hilly. My 2017 T4R's engine screamed up and my oversized brakes on the way down. I would have been better off returning to SR-17 and heading to I-81 versus negotiating the mountains.3-1/2 hours later I was in Syracuse at a Camping World, looking for the 30A cord and a 50A to 30A converter. This is when I found out that Airstream has a unique shore plug connection and one that Camping World did not have. Neither did about a half dozen other places nearby. I spent the next 90 minutes in the parking lot calling around the state, including marinas and West Marine supply. The replacement cord would have to be ordered, was approximately $300 vs a standard $50 30A 30ft twist lock, and would arrive the following week; several days after completing my trip. Mind you, it was 85 degrees with 80% humidity which furthered my resolve for a remedy. A couple hours later, 3 plus hours late, I was at my destination. Because I didn't have shore power, I ran a 120v cord into the camper to power a fan in lieu of utilizing the features of the camper that were included in the listing as standard. It stormed real hard that night so with windows closed and despite the fan, she was real sticky.For the next two days, with the help of several friends and family, we scoured NY and Canada for a solution, calling and visiting over a dozen hardware, marine stores, marina's, RV parks, and electrician supply stores to no avail. After speaking to Airstream Albany and Airstream HQ in Ohio, it was determined the fastest solution to replace the standard cord was to order one on Amazon that would cost $82 to expedite two-day delivery 45 minutes away sometime on the 3rd. I spoke with Outdoorsy who said I'd have to settle this with the owner, who refused to reimburse the purchase. So, we instead sweated out the next several days and I towed the $1500, 4500 lb king size bed back to the owner on the 5th.It's too bad. Apart from the cord fiasco and having to repair one of the four jack stands that was hanging by a single bolt, it is a really nice set up. The hosts seemed nice upon meeting them, but I got the impression what I was trying to communicate with them about the smartplug through the app was not driving home their need to remedy the solution. They did nothing to help me find a solution except offer me a couple extra nights if I purchased it (which I could not do due to obligations). Outdoorsy was also of no help. They take your money well in advance, did no follow-up when I called their customer service, and neither the host nor Outdoorsy offered me a credit/partial refund, or an apology for not coming through on their end of the bargain. Imagine renting an AirBnB and when you show up, there is no power, and the host says, "You figure it out"?
8 Photos submitted by Randall D