Happy Trailers

A Newell Coach is the Gulfstream jet of the RV world, custom-built from the frame up to owner specifications. Each is numbered sequentially, and this new edition features four slide-out sections that expand interior living space. A large master suite with full bath is aft, and there’s a half-bath forward. The galley has marble flooring, Corian counters and appliances from Sub-Zero and GE, while the salon offers a leather-upholstered sofa and recliner. Entertainment systems include Sherwood Newcastle surround sound, three LCD monitors, Blu-ray DVD and a MotoSat satellite receiver. It is powered by a 650-horsepower Cummins ISX 650 turbodiesel engine, and sells for a cool $1.52 million.

It took six years and $160,000 for Linda and Dirk van Rees of Atlanta to customize this classic coach, originally built for Gray Line Tours in San Francisco. Spelled without the “e” to create a trademark, Flxible manufactured intercity coaches from 1936 until the brand folded in 1995. This 33-foot Clipper Sightseer originally featured eight 6-foot windows in the roof, but the van Reeses eliminated four to accommodate a galley and bathroom in the conversion from bus to wood-paneled RV, during which the vehicle was gutted to its steel shell. Now this classic sleeps five, with a queen berth aft. It looks vintage but is loaded with modern amenities, including satellite TV and radio, a rear-view camera, diesel generator and water heater, and an electric awning. It is powered by a new 280-horsepower Detroit Diesel engine.

Since 1984 this modified 1983 Airstream Excella motor home, affectionately called the “Astrovan,” has transported every NASA space shuttle crew on the nine-mile ride from their quarters to the launch pad. The gleaming, polished-aluminum motor home is designed to accommodate the crew dressed in bulky launch-and-entry suits; the Astrovan interior has a narrow center aisle flanked by dark-blue upholstered benches. Lift-out seat sections accommodate the ventilator units used to circulate cool air through the suits. The Astrovan was supposed to be replaced several years ago, but the astronauts appreciate its tradition and asked that it remain in service until the shuttle program ends.

The first “toy hauler” from Airstream, this 34-foot, 7,000-pound trailer has 11 feet of garage space behind a clamshell rear door that can hold two motorcycles, ATVs, kayaks or up to 2,500 pounds of adventure gear, or can be outfitted as a mobile office or studio. A slide-out ramp makes it easy to load, and the rear compartment can be equipped with optional overhead storage lockers, workbenches and a floor-track cargo tie-down system. Mud can be hosed off the durable rubber flooring, and there’s a pass-through door to the living area. The crisp interior décor features walls of polished aluminum and blond wood, and the floor plan incorporates a queen berth forward, shower and bath, and a full galley. The exterior features a patio awning and hot/cold rinsing shower. Pricing starts at $92,000.

For NASCAR drivers such as Denny Hamlin, a motor coach may serve as a home, a dressing room, an entertainment site and a sanctuary during a long weekend of work at the track. Hamlin entertains friends on the rooftop viewing deck of his 45-foot Marathon Coach, which has a 32-inch high-def waterproof TV and a smaller monitor to display timing and scoring data. A ground-level entertainment center is equipped with an audio system, video monitors, coolers and a grill. Onboard, Hamlin can relax in luxury on leather-covered upholstery, surrounded by wood-paneled walls and tiled floors, and soothed by two small waterfalls. In addition to the usual electronic entertainment, the cabin has a special direct feed for weather radar and track telemetry.

Designed to take its owner way off the beaten path, the Sportsmobile 4WD is an off-road RV based on a Ford E-350 van. The standard suspension is replaced by a heavy-duty 4-wheel-drive system that includes an Advance Adapter Atlas II 2-speed transfer case that gives the Sportsmobile 10 forward gears and the ability to crawl over the most challenging trails. Crank up the Penthouse top to get 6 feet 10 inches of headroom and a bunk for two. The most popular interior option adds a galley with stovetop, refrigerator and sink, a dinette, and a second berth. The Ultimate Adventure version (shown here) features optional off-road bumpers, a winch, auxiliary lighting, roof racks and other extras. Available with gas or diesel power, these custom RVs sell for $85,000 to $100,000.

Here’s a premium coach with a garage for the Porsche. The Performance, from German coach builder Volkner Mobil is available in 34- and 40-foot lengths and will swallow just about any car in its belly, from a BMW to a MINI. The car is secured to a retractable platform that slides into the coach, which raises itself on hydraulic lifts to create enough clearance. Then fire up the 460-horsepower diesel engine and cruise down the autobahn to the campground cradled in luxury. Specify leather upholstery and granite flooring, a bathroom with massage shower and heated towel racks, a full galley with oven and dishwasher, a Bose stereo and a collapsible flat-screen monitor. A single touch-screen computer controls all onboard systems. Price is about $1.2 million.

The T@B (pronounced “tab”) is a compact $14,000 camper inspired by the classic “teardrop” trailers that were popular from the 1930s through the early 1950s. Like the original, the German-designed T@B is aerodynamic and lightweight — just 1,600 pounds unloaded — so it can be towed by small cars and trucks, and maneuvered in remote areas. Vintage teardrops were wood or aluminum, but the T@B is constructed with a skin of Alufiber, a lightweight laminate of painted aluminum over fiberglass. Inside, the T@B offers 5 feet 9 inches of headroom, a queen berth, blond wood trim and a choice of floor plans, including the classic Clam Shell with a chuck-wagon style galley located under a lift-up rear hatch. Other versions have a stove and sink inside the camper.

A rolling luxury stable, the $775,000 Equine Motorcoach has a rear ramp leading to accommodations for up to six horses with hay nets, water buckets, a soft floor and power ventilation. Two remote cameras monitor the stock while the rig is under way. Outside, there’s an awning-covered tie rail with horse wash-down station, dedicated saddle and tack storage in side bays and an exterior sink, refrigerator, ice maker and stereo. Riders roll in style, too. A convertible queen berth and bunk options sleep up to six, and there’s a full galley, lacquer-coated cherry cabinets, electronic entertainment, wine storage and a complete set of linens and silver service. The coach is built on a Volvo truck chassis with a 485-horsepower diesel engine.

Designed to be the “most eco-friendly motor home in the universe,” according to its creator, Ty Adams, the SolTrekker is a 37-foot 1994 Safari Trek motor home refitted to run completely free of fossil fuels. The engine runs on biodiesel and will soon be converted to vegetable oil. Six 100-watt, roof-mounted solar panels charge batteries that power energy-efficient appliances and LED lighting that uses 97 percent less electricity than regular bulbs. Roof-mounted solar thermal collectors coupled with a superinsulated heat exchanger provide hot water for sinks, showers and a radiant floor heat system. A waterless toilet converts waste to odorless, bacteria-free compost, while stainless-steel roof gutters catch rainwater, which is stored and filtered for future use. Finally, the interior is finished with either sustainable (cork and bamboo) or recycled (denim) materials.

Veteran moto-journalist and Wisconsin-native Charles Plueddeman has been driving, riding and testing automobiles, motorcycles, boats, ATVs and snowmobiles for more than 20 years. He is a regular contributor to Boating Magazine and Outdoor Life, and his product evaluation articles have appeared in Popular Mechanics, Men's Journal, AutoWorld, Playboy, Boats.com and many other national publications and Web sites.

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