The 35th annual Florida RV Supershow, which recently concluded in Tampa, went the extra mile in living up to this year’s theme “On the Road & Off the Grid.” The Florida State Fairgrounds were packed with RV models suitable for every potential camper, from bunkhouse-style fifth wheels designed for extended family groups to high-tech campervans ideal for a traveling couple, be they seniors or millennials.
Of special interest to many attendees were Winnebago’s new line of Accessibility-Enhanced (AE) coaches, available in three sizes (and price points), designed to make RV travel easy for those in wheelchairs, on scooters or using walkers. Sonya Kobriger, who has been involved with designing and building accessible vehicles for many years, showed off the remote controlled 800-lb. lifts, roll-in showers, extra-wide aisles, lowered controls and other features available on the Intent, Adventurer and Forza AE models.
“These coaches can be life-altering,” Kobriger said. “They make something that was impossible, possible. Now people with disabilities can get out and travel the country.” She said the AE modifications have actually been available by special order from Winnebago products for decades, but these new models make the changes standardized, so they are easier for people to order and dealers to stock. “We’re encouraging our dealers to offer these AE coaches as rentals, so as many people as possible can experience the joy of travel,” she explained. The Winnebago team will be taking the AE coaches to other RV shows this year to let people know what’s available.
Sonya pointed out one feature aimed at another traveling population - the growing number of pets that ride along on trips with their owners. The “Pet Palace” lets cats (and small dogs) get under the bed for a safe and secure experience.
Catering to the non-human traveler is a growing trend across the industry, with various RV models including outside tie-downs, slide-out pet food bowls, special watering stations, and more in their layouts. Especially wide-spread is the growing use of “pet-friendly” flooring, with easy-to-clean tile or linoleum replacing carpet in many new models.
Patios On The Go
Toy haulers are the hottest thing in 5th wheels right now, with manufacturers working to offer the largest garage space possible. The Heartland Cyclone, for instance, features a patent-pending telescoping “hidden garage” which is 14 feet long and wide enough for two side-by-side RZRs. Jayco has also patented the “split-level” Seismic floorplan. Dutchman’s Voltage introduced the “Stack-n-Pack” 13-foot garage with a half-bath that opens directly to the campsite, a convenient feature also seen in the Jayco Jay Feather.
Straight from the expo, here you see the Highland Ridge Highlander with generous patio attached! [Photo/Renee Wright]
The most popular feature on the models displayed in Tampa, judging by the crowds, proved to be the back porch, sometimes screened, available on many toy hauler models. The haulers’ drop-down ramp converts to a patio, often, as in the Grand Design models, equipped with additional amenities such as an outside kitchen and flat screen TV.
Manufacturers continue to make the RV experience more home-like with features such as office desks and bartop dining areas in place of a dinette, such as that featured in the new Keystone Sprinter 5th wheel. Entertainment centers, with “theater-style” reclining lounge chairs and big screen TVs, are standard in most large coaches, 5th wheels and trailers. Particularly interesting are new side-by-side “incliners” which individually open out into single beds.
Innovative Sleeping Solutions
“How many does it sleep?” is a frequently heard question at RV shows, and manufacturers have come up with a variety of ways to expand bed space in their newest models. The Murphy bed, a staple of studio apartments 50 years ago, has made a reappearance, adding an additional double bed to available sleeping space, then folding away into the wall to make more living space during the day.
The venerable pop-top is back as well, expanding Class B sleeping areas in both the Thor Tollero and Winnebago Solis, the first pop-tops for both of these major players. The Solis, with Murphy bed and sleeper sofa option, actually sleeps six, eliminating a major criticism of past Class B campervans. Both the Tollero and Solis are equipped for off-the-grid operation as well: the Tollero with 12-volt Mastervolt lithium ion batteries that’s able to deliver 11,000 watts, and the Solis with a 220-watt solar panel on the roof.
A more modern option found in several 2020 models is the electronic drop-down bed now available through Lippert Components. A European concept, a bed that lowers from the ceiling, such as Winnebago’s StudioLoft beds, can multiply available sleeping space, while not impacting living areas.
The traditional solution for expanding sleeping area - bunk beds - was also much in evidence in the new 2020 models. Among new models, the Coachmen Apex Tera, the Forest River Sabre, and the Highland Ridge Open Range Ultra Lite all include bunks for larger families vacationing together.
Another quality shared by these and many other new trailer models is light weight, making them towable by the SUVs already owned by many families. Scott Wes, senior Director of Product Development at Highland Ridge explains that weight and length are now key issues in trailer design. “Staying under that 30-foot mark is important because customers want to get into the national and state parks, where there are some length restrictions,” he said. “[The Open Range Ultra Lite] is a family unit that can sleep up to eight comfortably... but can be towed by a mid-size SUV.”
Smaller units, such as Aliner’s new 18-foot RV Expedition and Airstream’s 16-foot Basecamp with its expandable tent area, offer the conveniences of RV living (bath, kitchen, bed, A/C) in a package easily towed by an SUV.
Adventure RVs Go Off Grid All Year
A growing number of new models arrived in Tampa equipped for off-grid travel year-round. The Dynamax Isata-5 Super C, for example, is insulated to withstand true Arctic conditions, with extra insulation, 480-amp hours of heated lithium batteries and 800 watts from solar panels.
Other models grab attention with the statement, “No generator needed!”, using a combination of lithium-ion batteries, solar panels and a high capacity converter to provide coach power without electric hookups. The Winnebago Solis and Thor Tollero, described earlier and both built on a Ram ProMaster van chassis, are prime examples of this trend, joined by the new “all electric” American Coach Patriot, based on a Ford 3500 Transit Van.
Venture RV, a division of Thor-owned KZ RV, has gone another route, producing an off-the-grid travel trailer suitable for camping anywhere, anytime. The 26-foot Sonic X, an award-winning production model of a concept prototype that created a mighty buzz at the 2019 RVX show, draws 400 watts of power from four solar panels, a 250-amp lithium-ion battery, a 2,000 watt inverter and 100-amp charger. Standard equipment includes a Murphy bed, Euro-design furniture, off-road tires, the innovative “No Dirty Water” purification system and the “nerf bar” bumper system, as well as external mounts for bikes up front and a kayak in the rear.
What The Customer Wants
The Sonic X and many other RVs on display in Tampa reflect the result of customer feedback. RV manufacturers are keenly aware that they must be responsive to the needs and preferences of both future and past customers in designing new models.
The Alliance Paradigm, one of the new RV models attracting the most attention at the Supershow, epitomizes this process. A new company founded in Elkhart, IN, just last year, Alliance’s upper management nevertheless has more than 200 years of experience building RVs. Brothers Coley and Ryan Brady, sons of Brian Brady, who founded both Damon Motor Coach (which merged with Four Winds to form Thor Motor Coach) and Heartland RV, admit to being “obsessed” with providing the best RV ownership possible and closely monitor Alliance’s Facebook page for feedback.
“They really listened to what people had to say, what they wanted in an RV, and built it into their design,” Bryan Brescia, a sales consultant at Orlando’s RV One, said. “We’ve seen a huge interest in these models during the show.”
The first models to roll off Alliance’s brand-new assembly line in Elkhart are luxury Paradigm 5th wheels from 35 to 40 feet. Numerous customer driven features are incorporated, ranging from king-size beds, flush floor slides, pet-friendly flooring, and dimmable LED lighting to the latest in suspension, air conditioning and heater technology. There’s even an under-coach garage for a golf cart or kayaks, and an optional solar panel setup available.
The Brady brothers say they designed the Paradigm for extended stays, aiming at the full-time RVing market. Customer feedback suggests they’ve succeeded. One visitor said, “I’d rather live in this than my house at home.”
Within the next month, the Florida RV Trade Association, organizer of the Supershow, will host three more Florida events in Ft. Myers, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach, offering additional opportunities to see the latest models - and take advantage of the big savings offered during RV shows. For additional information, visit the FRVTA website.
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