A Couple Built A Double-Decker Airstream Camper And It’s As Awesome As It Sounds

For how awesome Airstream campers are, there’s one thing the brand’s iconic trailers don’t do, and that’s expand on their space. That hasn’t stopped a couple from figuring out how to make a bigger Airstream by building up. This 1974 Airstream Excella 500 wears a 1966 Airstream International as a hat and it’s exactly as sweet and silly as you’d expect.

Being able to go to RV shows has afforded me the privilege of finding out what a lot of RV buyers are looking for today. Airstream is one of those brands with a strong and loyal following. Even our own readers have their own “silver bullet” trailers. However, I’ve noticed that there is a set of RV buyer who really wants to buy an Airstream, but won’t because the riveted aluminum wonders don’t have slides.

It sounds a bit silly, but slides can make travel trailers feel substantially more roomy, especially when the manufacturer is creative with the expanded space. Courtney and Bill Stephens have taken things into their own hands and have given a vintage Airstream more space not through a slide, but by grafting a third of another Airstream onto its roof!

1970s Luxury

The base trailer in this weird combination is the Excella 500.

Airstream is one of a few RV manufacturers with an expansive document repository and a blog documenting its own history. Unfortunately, Airstream doesn’t say much about the Excella 500. That’s not stopping me from finding you the sweet details.

According to Airstream historian Joe Peplinski, the Excella 500 launched in 1971. On the surface, an Excella 500 looks like a trim level for the 31′ Airstream Sovereign, but Airstream advertised the Excella 500 as its own model. The Excella 500 is 31 feet long like the Sovereign and features the same floorplans, but that’s where the trailers depart.

Airstream positioned the Excella 500 as its most opulent flagship trailer. This included the usage of better quality materials than were found in lower Airstream models. The Excella 500 trailers were filled to the brim with standard equipment that would have been options in other trailers if the options were available at all. The Excella 500 derives part of its name from the fact that it was a limited-production model selling just 500 units a year.

According to A Complete Guide for the Family Camper, a book published in 1972, the average price of a travel trailer in 1972 was between $2,500 ($19,110 today) and $4,000 ($30,576 today). But the Excella 500? It was a whopping $14,662 ($112,078 today). That’s a lot of dough, but you also got a lavish trailer with a 45-gallon water tank, a doorbell, an electric jack, tinted windows, a water purifier, a telephone jack, a motorized TV antenna, an air-conditioner, and so much more. The options list was short and consisted of two different bunk bed setups, a spare tire, a generator, and the infamous Thetford Thermasan poop burner.

None of these features are that surprising, but many trailers in the 1970s were still pretty bare affairs. The Excella 500 gave you everything right out of the box.

The other half of this equation is the Airstream International on the roof. Airstream does have some history on the International and states that the 1958 International was designed to be the first-ever “self-contained” travel trailer, a camper capable of being parked somewhere without hookups while still providing everything its occupants needed.

This Excella International

Of course, the history of the two trailers doesn’t really matter because this custom unit ditches heritage for something different.

From what I’ve been able to find, Courtney and Bill began this project in the late 2010s starting from two completely ragged trailers. The Excella 500 looked nice from the outside, but its frame was rusted out beyond belief and the interior was far past its prime. Then there was the old International, which also had its best years behind it. In an Instagram post, Courtney explains that the Excella 500 was so rotted out that its frame snapped while they were working on parts of the trailer.

The couple gutted the Excella and then had it lifted off of its frame. The trailer was given a rebuilt frame and new axles while the donor International was cut into roughly a third of its original size. From there, Courtney and Bill put the shell onto the frame and it was slowly filled out with a floor while the International was perched on top. The couple then enlisted the help of friends, finishing the build sometime in 2020.

Courtney says that the frame underneath was reinforced for the trailer’s new roof and the monocoque structure of the Excella 500 was also strengthened since it also wasn’t made to have a wart on its top. The couple also tried to keep the trailer as OEM and period-correct as possible. The result is something fresh, but still looking vintage. Here’s what she says about what you’re looking at today:

Both trailers have working exterior lights and this airstream tows like a dream! This custom Airstream has been renovated from top to bottom with the love of Classic airstream in mind. The open concept will make it a breeze to make yourown. The trailer frame has been totally reinforced with fresh c-channel steel, and new torsion axles and tires.

Loft has an interior steel frame to ensure stability. New subfloor and flooring. All new insulation in both walls and under subfloor with completely new electrical wire and components and new aluminum sheeting for interior walls.

Custom cabinets, closet/pantry, and bathroom vanity with Custom Stainless steel tub. Above kitchen sink has OEM roller storage as well as in living area. Counter top in kitchen is teak and in bathroom is layered cherry and white oak.

Airstream is all electric. No gas to worry about. Retro fridge with freezer, 5 gallon electric hot water heater, and portable two stove top burner and convection oven. Comes with two 13,000 BTU domestic A/C with front AC having heating element, fantastic fans in both living area and loft, and come with Grizzly cub mini wood burning stove for cold winter nights. Large sink in kitchen and unique sink in bathroom. Airstream comes with custom curtains, sway bar, x-chock tire stabilizers, 8 prong truck connector, electric trailer brake, tire covers, and towable dump tank.

I will note that while the completed trailer looks pretty sweet, some parts could be a little better. For example, the refurbished frame still has rust on it and for the price I’m about to tell you I think you’d expect a little better polish. Speaking of polish, the body could probably use a good polishing, too.

Worth The Price?

What I really like about this unit is the fact that it’s not just something built to show off on Instagram. Courtney had a baby during the build and the trailer was actually towed around the United States for family adventures.

I also like how the trailer appears to be a fully-functioning unit. They didn’t cut corners like getting rid of the plumbing or ditching the shower. The loft up at the top also looks like a neat place to saw some logs. The wood, fixtures, and roomy lower level are other nice touches.

Now we come to the big question. This trailer looks nice, but is it worth the asking price of $60,000? The ask here is about double what you’ll pay for an original Excella 500 from the era. So, is an interior renovation and the unique growth worth double?

I’m not sure, but I do love how silly this is while also remaining functional. It’s just the right amount of goofy and it did save a trailer that was otherwise likely destined for a scrap heap. If you’re interested, head on over to  Ruskin, Florida, and begin your next adventure. If anything, I love the continued creativity of RV fans who work with their hands.

(Images: Courtney Stephens, unless otherwise noted.)