Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 Airstream Interstate 24X Touring Coach

Let’s be real. When you think of Airstream, you think of the giant Classic travel trailer, or maybe the smaller Flying Cloud, or the even-smaller Bambi. You picture these trailers parked neatly on paved pads at KOAs or other campgrounds, fully connected to water, electricity, and sewer. Maybe there’s a welcome mat, a bird feeder, and a friendly flag. It’s a darn beautiful scene, the epitome of American leisure travel.
 

There’s a growing spirit of adventure and ruggedness to Airstream, though. Airstream broke its iconic silver bullet mold with the introduction of its Basecamp line, an off-roady free-spirited travel trailer built with the adventurer—and all the adventurer’s gear—in mind. And now Airstream continues this off-the-grid direction with the introduction of the Interstate 24X touring coach, a four-wheel-drive Class B van.
 
The Interstate 24X is not the first Class B coach from Airstream. There’s the Atlas, Interstate 19, Interstate 24GL, and Interstate 24GT. What differentiates the 24X from the rest is its adventurous, off-the-grid, boondocking capabilities. Feeding on the insatiable desire of off-road adventure camper van enthusiasts, the Interstate 24X promises to take occupants closer to nature in style, comfort, and all the luxury that Airstream represents.
 

The Airstream Interstate 24X uses a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 with a 170-inch wheelbase as its base. Power comes courtesy of a turbocharged 3.0-liter diesel engine producing 188 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, which makes its way to the drive wheels by way of a seven-speed automatic transmission. The camper can tow up to 5,000 pounds. All of the Mercedes-Benz driving and safety features are present, too, creating a pleasant and confident experience on- and off-road. Additionally, the 24X comes with a 23.0-gallon freshwater tank, 24.0-gallon gray water tank, and 11.0-gallon black water tank. It also has a nearly 10-gallon propane tank.
 
Here’s the fun stuff that makes the Interstate 24X more capable off-grid and off-road. Whereas a good handful of travel trailers don’t have a built-in generator, the camper includes a Cummins Onan 2.5-kW unit. This amounts to one less thing to slog around. It also has what Airstream dubs an Advanced Power System, which includes two 100-Ah deep cycle lithium batteries, a 30-amp energy management system, a 2000-watt power inverter, 300 watts of flexible solar panels, an additional 100-watt solar panel for the chassis battery, and much more.
 

In addition to a 4×4 system, the 24X has air suspension, six meaty LT215/85R16 all-terrain tires, and a protective coating on its wheels. There’s also a protective body coating that helps protect the bumpers and side moldings from scratches and scrapes off-road. To help light the way, this Airstream van has a 42-inch LED light bar (how cool is that!) and additional side and rear pod LED lights. Even the power patio awning, mounted to the roof rack, has an LED light strip.
 
The interior of the Airstream Interstate 24X is versatile and accommodates the adventurer by way of ample storage compartments overhead and large drawers and cabinets in the galley. An L-track storage system on the walls, ceiling, and floor help secure adventure gear. It also has a large rear bed that can be configured four different ways and a modular table system with four mounting options, as well as all the amenities needed to keep adventurers comfortable during a spontaneous snowstorm or a day on the trail. This includes a heated wet bath, a 13,500-BTU air conditioner, exterior wash stations on the side and rear, a two-burner cooktop, a 0.7 cu-ft microwave, and an energy-efficient 5.0-cu-ft all-electric refrigerator with a 1.6-cu-ft freezer.
 

There’s no doubt the Airstream Interstate 24X is a fully-loaded 4×4 adventure van. The Class B van market may be competitive and booming, but this one comes with the Airstream badge of honor. It’s rugged enough to thrive in harsh elements, yet refined enough to keep adventurers lavishly pampered. (C’mon, its ceiling lights are on a dimmer switch, the reading lights have USB charging ports, and it includes a 5G-ready cellular antenna.)
 
Ready for the fun part? Luxury off-gridding in a 4×4 Airstream van comes at a cost, naturally, with the Airstream Interstate 24X starting price at a hefty $213,850.