What owners actually add

Factory 200–810Ah · aftermarket $230–949 per 100Ah

2–3× the usable capacity of lead-acid (100% depth of discharge vs ~50%), far lighter, ~10-year life, and they charge faster. Airstream now sells lithium from the factory as a heated 200Ah (~2.5 kWh) bank — standard on Classic and Pottery Barn, optional on Globetrotter, International, Flying Cloud, Caravel, Bambi and Basecamp — but only bundled with the solar package. The Trade Wind goes furthest with a standard 810Ah heated bank.

What owners pick Airstream's own factory cells are Battle Born — the Trade Wind runs three heated Battle Born units for its 810Ah bank. Aftermarket, Battle Born 100Ah (~$799, 10-yr warranty) is the default and the Epoch Elite V2T (up to 460Ah, built-in Class-T fuse, internal heater) is the installer high-end. Budget drop-ins (Power Queen, LiTime) run ~$230–280 per 100Ah.

Factory 300W $2,600 · aftermarket $500–3,000+

Keeps the battery bank topped up off-grid so you can stay out for days without a generator. Airstream matches factory solar to the model: 600W standard on Trade Wind, 300W on Classic, 300W optional ($2,600) on Globetrotter/International/Flying Cloud, and 100–200W on the smaller Caravel, Bambi and Basecamp — with a 360W tier on Basecamp when you add lithium. See the table above for the full per-model breakdown.

What owners pick The factory 300W package (three 100W panels + controller + interior battery monitor) is the easy box-tick. Owners going bigger fit 600–1000W aftermarket for serious boondocking; a front portable-solar port on 2017+ trailers lets you plug in a ground panel for shaded sites.

$1,000–1,400 (Victron 3000VA)

Runs household AC outlets — coffee maker, microwave, TV — off the battery bank when you're not plugged in. A pure-sine 2000–3000W unit covers most loads; pair with lithium and solar for a complete off-grid system. The Trade Wind already ships a 3,000W inverter standard with every outlet inverted; on other trailers it's an aftermarket add.

What owners pick Victron MultiPlus / MultiPlus-II 12V 3000VA (US 50A model ~$1,088–1,375) is the near-universal installer choice, usually with a Victron Lynx distributor, Orion XS DC-DC charger and a Cerbo GX touchscreen for monitoring.

$150–350

Lets the tow vehicle's alternator safely charge a lithium bank while you drive, without overloading the alternator. Essential once you switch to lithium because the factory converter alone charges slowly and the alternator needs current limiting.

What owners pick Victron Orion XS 1400 is the current favorite in installer builds.

$270–350 installed part

A rooftop A/C draws 60–100+ amps the instant the compressor kicks on, which trips breakers and stalls inverters. A soft start cuts that surge by ~70% (down to ~25–30A), so you can run the A/C off lithium + inverter, or start it on a small 2,000W generator or a 15/20A household plug. Owners call this near-mandatory if you want A/C off-grid.

What owners pick Micro-Air EasyStart 364 and SoftStartRV are the two enthusiast standards; installers report thousands of installs with no warranty issues. Needed on each A/C unit if you have two.

$2,200

Adds cooling capacity for hot climates or larger floorplans and boosts the electrical system to 50 amps. Factory option on several International and Globetrotter floorplans (not all — e.g. excluded on the 30RB).

What owners pick Factory-only; most owners who camp in the South add it. The heat-pump function also extends shoulder-season heating without burning propane.

~$1,000–1,600 (per model kit)

Inflatable tubes seal the gap under the trailer to cut heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer — no drilling, stores compactly. Airstream highlights it in their own customization guide for four-season use.

What owners pick AirSkirts is the named product owners use; sold in model-specific kits.

$500 (Equal-i-zer) – $3,645 (ProPride 3P)

Distributes tongue weight across all axles and fights trailer sway — the biggest single towing-safety upgrade. Airstream's long wheelbase tows well, but a proper WD/anti-sway hitch transforms stability, especially in crosswinds and truck passes.

What owners pick Equal-i-zer 4-point (integrated sway, ~$500–700) is the value standard. ProPride 3P (Jim Hensley design, $2,995–3,645) is the no-sway premium pick enthusiasts swear by for larger trailers. Size the model to your loaded hitch weight.

$250–450 (4–6 sensors)

Trailer tires fail far from the driver's seat; a TPMS alarms on pressure or temperature before a blowout that can shred a fender and bodywork. Universally recommended by the Airstream Club and owners.

What owners pick TST 507 (flow-through or cap sensors, color monitor; 6-sensor kit ~$446) is the enthusiast standard; a signal repeater is recommended for travel-trailer length.

$100 (surge) – $350+ (full EMS)

Campground pedestals deliver miswired, low, or surging power that can fry the converter, A/C and electronics. A surge protector blocks spikes; a full Electrical Management System also disconnects on low/high voltage and wiring faults. Owners consider this cheap insurance.

What owners pick Progressive Industries EMS (portable or hardwired EMS-HW50C) and Hughes Autoformer are the recommended names; match 30A or 50A to your trailer.

$40–150

Campsites are rarely level, and the absorption fridge works best level. Curved drive-on levelers plus solid chocks are the fast, reliable setup the Airstream Beginner's Guide and owners recommend.

What owners pick Andersen Levelers are the most-recommended drive-on levelers; pair with X-chocks between dual… (single-axle trailers use standard chocks).

$15–60

Campground water pressure can spike high enough to burst RV plumbing lines. An adjustable regulator with a gauge protects the system — a cheap, universally recommended first buy.

What owners pick Adjustable brass regulators (e.g. Renator, Valterra) with a gauge are the common pick.

$20 (inline) – $300+ (multi-stage)

Removes sediment, chlorine taste and impurities from campground water. Owners who care about taste step up from cheap blue inline filters to a higher-flow multi-stage system.

What owners pick Basic Camco inline for most; the Airstream Club specifically calls out the Blu Technology / Clearsource-type ELITE multi-stage filters for serious filtration.

$30–120

Saves fresh and grey tank capacity off-grid by cutting the cold-water purge before hot arrives — a popular small mod for boondockers. Frequently cited in owner 'upgrades I'd do again' lists.

What owners pick Shower mixing/recirculation valve upgrades show up in long-term owner upgrade roundups.

$200–600

Airstream's wraparound windows let in a lot of heat and sun; tint cuts cabin heat and glare and adds daytime privacy. Recurring item on 'upgrades I'd do again' lists.

What owners pick Professional ceramic tint (e.g. TNT Tinting in owner videos) is the common route.

$300–700

Replaces the stock plastic dome with a clear glass skylight for a better view and a more premium feel. Popular cosmetic + light upgrade.

What owners pick Maxim Skylights is the brand owners name.

$10–40

Stock cabinet doors only open partway; swapping to 170° hinges gives full access to closets and lockers. Cheap, high-satisfaction DIY fix that comes up constantly.

What owners pick 170° soft-close hinges (Amazon/ROK) — a top community 'fixes' recommendation.

Varies (DIY kits, no hardware)

Swap plastic exterior parts for stainless for durability and shine; padded window and stone guards protect the shell and windows from road debris. Airstream sells both as customization kits.

What owners pick Airstream's own stainless upgrade bundle and stone/window guard kits (no drilling, multiple colors).

$30–150

Locks the coupler and hitch so a thief can't simply tow the trailer away, hitched or unhitched. Recommended security basic.

What owners pick Airstream's Anti-Theft Lock Kit (three locks) or a heavy-duty coupler lock.