There was a time not long ago when the competition in the high end of the travel trailer market was limited to a few companies like Airstream and Silver Streak. The evolution of travel trailer innovation was slow and limited to things like build quality, towing weight, and four season capability.
Fast forward to the 2020s. It seems like every week brings news of evolved travel trailers and, in some instances, from manufacturers we’ve never heard of before. Toward the end of 2022, the RV industry saw new trailers from, as an example, Bowlus—visually stunning retro-modern electric RVs with a breathtaking price of $310,000!
More recently, a new brand, Aero Build, introduced the Coast RV, billed as “America’s most advanced, fully electric luxury RV” and “The Tesla of campers.”
Features of the Aero Build Coast
Aero Build claims the Coast is fully off-grid capable, with its 1,360 watts of solar power and 810 Ah lithium battery bank.
One of the Coast RV’s most innovative and notable features is its Havelock Wool Insulation.
Though the company currently stops short of advertising its trailer as “four season” capable, it does say that it “stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, keeping the cabin operating at peak efficiency.”
Coast comes equipped with a Nebia by Moen™ water-saving shower that uses 50% less water. Like many RV manufacturers, Aero Build has addressed the vexed downside of RV waste disposal, the flush toilet and associated black water storage tank, with the Laveo™ Dry Flush toilet. The Dry Flush unit sequesters waste for disposal in foil-lined containers.
As its rival Airstream has done, Aero Build is installing Starlink RV Wi-Fi as standard equipment.
Perception of spaciousness
As a tiny travel trailer RVer, I was immediately impressed by the perception of spaciousness inside this 18-foot design. The kitchen and dining areas seem huge, in part due to the large panorama of windows surrounding them. The three-quarter-berth sleeping area, separated at a distance from the galley and salon, keeps the bed from overwhelming the living space, as it does in many smaller form factors.
The price of the Coast starts at $124,900, putting it definitely at the top of the pricing hierarchy for a small towable. But financing is offered through the Aero Build Coast RV website, with 20-year terms.
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We had this same floor plan in a 2000 20 foot Mallard travel trailer. I can feel very confident in saying that a full 50% of folks who buy this expensive trailer will within a short while become claustrophobic sleeping in the small walled in bed…and then they will be stuck trying to sell this thing in a very limited market. But for those who love it…I wish them well!
The newest white elephant to join a long list of white elephants.
The operative word here being “white”. Who in their right mind goes camping with white furniture and bedding. I don’t go camping – or even glamping – to spend my whole trip trying to keep the furniture spotless.
An all-electric trailer? It’s not a Tesla. It’s a trailer with an electric stove, furnace and water heater. What else in any trailer isn’t powered by electricity. To be a Tesla of an RV would require it to be at least drivable with an electric motor.
To me at this time the featured rig is a novelty at best, both determined by price and size.
Sure I can see a Tesla pulling into a campground with one of these, just like we saw one towing a Bowlus last year but that will be as often as Big Foot sightings.
All electric, but with the least aerodynamic front end I have seen in a travel trailer in 20 years. It has the aerodynamics of a 1970 Winnebago motorhome! You know, when gas was selling for 30 cents a gallon. You couldn’t pay me $100K to tow that brick around!
Always appreciate these articles about new, innovative RVs – even outlandishly expensive ones like this. Keeps us all abreast of new developments, while giving ample opportunity for many of us to cast aspersions from the cheap seats at the real risk takers .
Very well put Roger. Thank you!
Fascinating. Thank you!
Financing is offered… with 20 year terms. Good grief, Chuck! YOU are the foremost disciple of the horrors of 20 year RV financing. This is not a good thing to be citing as a benefit…
You took the words out of my mouth!
An 18′ TT for well over $100K financed for two decades. Upside down is an understatement!
DITTO!
Yikes.
Hi, Don. The article is just stating the facts. And it was written by Randall, not Chuck, BTW. 😉 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Don’t believe it’ll be a success, of course at that price there’ll be several buyers that have to have the very first of everything so maybe they’ll get there investment back before going out of business.
Agreed. But even if you could easily afford it, this isn’t a good value- and just imagine the resale value once it’s over the curb…
Totally agree, Bob. Too small and too high tech. Too much to go wrong, and you KNOW the more electronic stuff built into your RV, the more stuff that can go wrong.
Unlike the ever reliable Onan generator, Norcold fridge, 3 level converter/charger and cheap and shoddily constructed everything else…