How to Turn an Airstream into a Fully Wired Mobile Office

When Chris Pendl bought an Airstream a few years ago, he wanted to escape the city without becoming totally disconnected from it. So he kitted out the trailer with a bevy of cool gadgets from Wink, a smart-home platform that lets users monitor everything from interior lights to propane levels to whether the door’s open. Here, Pendl breaks down all the wired tools in his home and explains how they empower him work from anywhere in the world.

With Wink, I can monitor and control all of the smart-home products in the Airstream, no matter where I am. It’s great for checking if the propane level is low, if the lights are on, or if activity is detected—all via my phone.

What’s camping without good music and a comfy place to hang out after a hike or paddle?

This door and window sensor from GoControl sends me notifications through the Wink app whenever it detects the door has been opened. It offers peace of mind when I leave the trailer unattended.

I took the Airstream to Burning Man last year. The promise of a clean bed and warm shower after a day in the desert is unparalleled.

I love how the finishings make me feel like I’m in a slick, modern city apartment while being surrounded by the forest.

The kitchen is fully up to date but has a retro feel as an homage to the Airstreams of the ’50s and ’60s. I keep my Vitamix and Nespresso in one of the slide-out cabinets.

I replaced the radio with Wink Relay, a touchscreen control panel that gives me another way to control the sensors in the trailer.