In February, the Jacksonville Mega RV Show, hosted by the Florida RV Trade Association, showcased, among many RV manufacturers, over a dozen makers of extreme motor coaches built for the discriminating traveler. While the typical RV buyer purchases a vehicle well within the confines of a middle-class budget, these luxury motorhomes, commonly sport price tags in excess to the cost of a block of typical suburban homes.
Crafted with the same handcrafted luxury as high-end residences, these vehicles are custom-tailored to the buyer’s desires. That means features like multiple bathrooms, fireplaces, top-tier tile and countertops, and custom cabinetry are just the beginning. The attention to detail extends to every imaginable amenity including hand-picked fabrics and color pallets, spa baths, multiple widescreen HD TVs, and even wine coolers. In short, think “yacht caliber.”
Many of these rigs have been built to order for celebrities, musicians, and sports figures and that crowd can really push the envelope on features. Singer Chris Brown, for example, owns a $1.5 million Marathon Coach, surprisingly on the lower end of conspicuousness. Will ’s semi-pulled trailer known as “The Heat” has nearly $200,000 worth of custom granite countertops, and another $100,000 worth of technology, including 14 TV screens. His rig comes in at over $2.5 million. Meanwhile, Simon Cowell, host of the X-Factor, enjoys a two-story unit manufactured by Anderson Mobile Estates valued at over $2 million. It sports hand-rubbed Italian wood, a makeup area for pre-show, and even a drop-down video conferencing screen to connect him to his personal physician.
For those with less than a million-dollar bankroll, there are builders that can put you on the road in custom luxury for a mere $300,000 - and perhaps less if you’re open to purchasing a used vehicle.
While some of these opulent coaches are Class A gas-powered, their size and level of outfitting usually mean a diesel class A.
While a small number of rigs feature custom-built chassis, many are built on converted chassis from companies like Spartan and Freightliner. Many of the best are Prevost bus conversions. Prevost started making coach bodies in 1924 and today is part of the Volvo Group headquartered in Sweden. According to Frank Konigseder, vice president of Liberty Coach, “Starting with a bus chassis means a unit is built to run 2-million miles as compared to other Class-A motorhomes.”
Coach from Emerald Luxury Coaches at the Jacksonville Mega RV Show. [Photo/Emerald Luxury Coaches]
If you are in a position to go “all in” with your purchase, here are a handful of the dozen or so mega-motorcoach builders:
Emerald motorcoaches are built on Prevost chassis, with integral stainless steel structures to ensure passenger safety. Volvo D13 engines are the typical powerplant. Emerald prides itself on the use of the highest-grade materials including hardwoods, stone, and tile, along with fine hand-craftsmanship. Prices can run over $1.5 million for new and even used rigs can exceed $900,000.
Featherlite traces its roots to the yacht building industry. Still located near the Atlantic in Suffolk, Virginia, maritime heritage remains an influence in their build. In their Prevost conversions, for example, they utilize American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) wiring to ensure their coaches can perform properly even under the harshest conditions.
Inside, buyers will find marine-grade LED lighting, Concetto agate countertops, components from companies like Viking and Samsung, and even electric powered pocket doors.
Used, pre-2015 Featherlites can be found for around $400,000. New 2018 company inventory is available for under $1.5 million.
Foretravel emphasizes uncompromising quality and attention to fit and finish. Units are built utilizing either Spartan chassis or their own TravelRide II monocoque chassis. Most are powered by Cummins diesel powerplants.
Their flagship Ih-45 comes equipped with features like a surround sound system, outdoor entertainment centers, and wine coolers. Beautiful craftsmanship is seen in the décor, featuring materials like natural quartz countertops and custom-built cabinetry. The entry point for this model is in excess of $1 million and even a 19-year old model with over 100,000 miles can carry a $100,000 price tag.
Foretravel’s Realm model, with an MSRP of $1.2 million, features true handcrafted woods like walnut or African mahogany, hand-rubbed and glossed stone, and a spa tub by Kohler with six speakers that emit music-infused bubbles. There’s an exterior freezer; and, four slides with pneumatic air seals that provide an airtight seal around each slide-out room regardless of slide position.
Liberty Coach started 50 years ago as a backyard business. Today, they make some of the finest Prevost coach conversions in the world. VP and managing partner Frank Konigseder, part of the family legacy at Liberty says, “We are the oldest and highest-quality conversion company in the industry,” adding, “We are also probably the most technologically advanced.” Liberty Coach adds components from suppliers who are considered the best in their fields, including sound systems by Integra paired with KEF speakers, Volta lithium “green” batteries, and Bosch stacking washer/dryers. Liberty Coaches have such a good reputation that even used units can run $800,000 or more.
Marathon’s moniker is “take a five-star hotel with you,” and, it’s an apt description. Of the 26 motorcoaches in Marathon’s early 2019 inventory, eight carried price tags of over $2 million. And, impressively, four of those were either sold or pending sale! Six earlier models were also sold or pending with price tags ranging from near $500,000 to well over $1 million. These units feature options like all-leather interiors, 49″ Samsung 4K LED TVs, iPad/iPhone interfaces with commercial-grade wifi, eucalyptus plank flooring and handmade glass sinks.
Millennium is a family owned company located in Sanford, Florida with over 20 years of experience in the luxury coach industry. The company uses Prevost conversions with Volvo engines. Millennium units recently ranked #1 and #2 on the Travel Channel’s “Mega RV Countdown - not surprising for a company that has produced models with price tags in excess of $2-million.
Millennium has sparked a number of innovations including a 360-degree camera system that utilizes four ultra-wide-angle cameras for making low-speed maneuvering as safe as possible. The driver sees a single, real-time view from a bird’s eye perspective, providing an unobstructed view of the entire vehicles.
Like many opulent coaches, Millennium offers rigs with four slides to maximize living space. Lutron Homeworks/ Savant Sytems automation allows users to control lights, windows, shades, and most everything else in the coach with the touch of a button. Outdoor features include a 55-inch smart television, wine refrigerator, and outdoor grill with induction cooktop.
Newell Coach was founded five decades ago and is still managed as a family business today.
Part of Newell’s calling card is industry-leading styling which is evident inside and out. They even work with Porsche Design for exterior styling. Their first project involving Porsche included a rear-taillight redesign inspired by the “cathedral” taillights of the 1955 and 1956 Packards.
Newell confidently uses their own purpose-built chassis powered by a Cummins diesel engine rather than a truck or bus conversion. According to Newell Coach President, Karl Blade, “This allows a Newell to be built from the ground up to be what it was meant to be – a luxury motorhome. It is not engineered to be a passenger bus, and then converted into a motorhome.”
Pricing for Newell Coaches is regularly in the $2 million range.
When it’s time to pull off the road, there are even “luxury RV resorts” that cater exclusively to these discerning owners. These properties offer amenities like oversize lots for accommodating these large rigs, private docks, and luxury clubhouses...for a price, of course!