Features

Road to Open House: Winnebago, Grand Design, Riverstone, and Thor Motor Coach

Editor’s note: This is the twelfth entry leading up to 2019’s Elkhart Open House. To read the last preview, click here. For the full Open House preview, be sure to check out the September 2019 issue of RV PRO.

Winnebago Industries 

Leading up to Open House Week, Winnebago was touting the debut of the Boldt, which it describes as a four-season Class B motorhome designed for real-world use, from exploring urban areas to nature’s hidden gems.

The camper van is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis featuring a 3-liter V6 diesel engine with features including blind- spot monitoring, active brake assist, rain sensor and auto-high-beam assist. It comes in two floorplans, the 70KL and 70BL, and is available in four-wheel-drive.

Product features include the Pure3 Advanced Energy system, which eliminates the traditional RV generator and gives owners the ability to power through the night without the use of shore power. The Boldt also features extensive insulation and cabinet construction that is designed to create a quiet and comfortable camper van.

The View and Navion has been completely redesigned inside and out for an unparalleled C-class experience and features the all-new SuperShell Sleeper Deck that provides premium thermal and acoustic insulation, advanced Mercedes technology, residential amenities, and numerous features to extend off-grid capability with industry leading holding tanks, standard 200-watt solar and a 2,000-watt inverter. The interior is filled with fashionable interior and residential amenities, such as the innovative induction/LP dual cooktop, lighted galley drawers and industry-leading sprung cushion dinette and sofa seats.

The Intent is designed to provide owners the opportunity of a Class A living at a price that meets their budget. The newest floorplan in the lineup offers a highly functional layout, with three slide-outs, a spacious bedroom with a walk-around queen bed, and a large galley.

New floorplans of the Class A diesel Forza will be on display, including the 38F. Product features include a queen or king walkaround bed, enjoy a double sink in the master bathroom, and relax on the TrueComfort+Sofa.

Winnebago Towables will introduce a new fifth wheel and travel trailer line. Other enhancements to the product line include new floorplans in the Minnie and Micro Minnie lines.

Additionally, Winnebago Towables will relaunch the Spyder toy haulers. All floorplans include a private bedroom and kitchen area with top-notch appliances. The garage area has plenty of space to park toys and is equipped with tie-downs bolted to the frame.

Grand Design RV

The Grand Design display near the RV/MH Hall of Fame will include some must-see updates from Solitude, Momentum, Transcend, Imagine and Reflection. The Solitude 390RK features a rear kitchen layout with the kitchen raised above a built-in storage space below.

The unit is entered from the living area and a left turn takes the RVer up to the kitchen. The kitchen has a double slide with an island that includes the eating area. Below the kitchen, in the back of the unit, is the storage area featuring pull-out MORryde trays.

For Momentum, the 376THS fifth wheel toy hauler has no door-side slides, which means the camping area is more open. It has an 11-foot garage and will be the smallest among Momentum’s fifth wheels.

The 29GO has an open back end that can be used to carry toys or as an extra room. It is built to sleep six people. Among five new floorplans, Imagine will feature the 24MPR. The space in the 29-foot long trailer can be a second bed- room or a bunk room or a garage for toys.

Imagine’s 3250 has opposing slides and an island kitchen. It’s the first triple slide travel trailer Imagine has had. It’s got a big pantry with a barn door on it and its own private bunk room with lots of storage.

Transcend comes in with three new floorplans including the 30RBS with a rear bath and bedroom slide.

Reflection will display the 240RL, a smaller unit with a rear living room, among its three new floorplans.

Riverstone & Riverstone Legacy 

This year the two separate Riverstone and Riverstone Legacy segments combine to form one segment under Riverstone with a Legacy package.

The Legacy package will offer upgrades on items like tires, Bose sound systems, Dyson vacuum system, full-body paint, backsplashes and more.

A new feature implemented across all lineups is a new Insignia 24-inch stand-alone four-burner range that looks very residential and is different from the traditional built-in cooktop.

Riverstone will see a new decor package debuting at Open House with new wall vinyl, new cabinet colors including one called Juno Grey, and coordinating carpet and tile. A new lighting package, backsplashes and bedspreads will round out the redesign providing a more modern look.

Riverstone and Cedar Creek products will now have the option for a Thule Crown awning. The awning has no legs and is the result of a partnership between LCI and Thule.

Two of the nine floorplans available in the Riverstone lineup will be garage models. Not designed as a toy hauler, the garage is for the individual or couple who is carrying golf carts or the big touring-type motorcycle. No living space is sacrificed as the bed lifts up and down.

Riverstone production is moving into a new 100,000-square-foot facility.

Thor Motor Coach 2020 Outlaw Class A

Thor Motor Coach’s 2020 Class A Outlaw toy hauler motorhome will get a number of upgrades, including an upgraded dash and a media player with a 10.1-inch touchscreen display that includes a navigation system and SiriusXM radio.

Thor Motor Coach 

This summer, TMC began shipping to dealers 2020 A.C.E. models, including the 32.3 floorplan, which features bunk beds, a king-sized bed and a full-wall slide-out. Consumers can choose from three new interior decors, which include all new flooring and countertops, two exterior graphics and a new cabinetry wood color.

Consumers also will see new technology with the Winegard ConnecT 2.0 4G LTE router and Wi-Fi extender and the Thor Motor Coach App.

TMC also is highlighting its 2020 Super C motorhome lineup with four unique floorplans, two of which offer four-wheel drive. Standard this year on Super C RVs is the Winegard ConnecT 2.0 4G LTE Router and Wi-Fi. Thor owns a third of the Class A market, and its Palazzo, Aria, Venetian and Tuscany diesel brands will take center stage at Open House. TMC is updating the Palazzo interior decors and adding safety features such as the bird’s eye window.

Aria motorhomes feature four new full-body paint packages and inside a power drop-down overhead bunk, which is unique in the diesel market. The Aria also features Winegard ConnecT 2.0 4G/ Wi-Fi antenna, a 2,000-watt, pure-sine wave inverter, a tankless water heater, and hardwood cabinetry.

Venetian motorhomes see the biggest changes for 2020. New this year is the B42 built on a Freightliner tag-axle chassis. Venetian now features a 30-inch entry step, three air conditioners, a 10,000-watt generator, an Aqua-Hot heating system, six house batteries, an electric water hose, and power cord reels, Girard patio entry awnings, keyless entry system and push-button start.

This year, the Rapid Camp+ wiring control system receives an upgrade and features both digital and analog controls. Rapid Camp+ is App-enabled and allows operation of lights, expanding slide-outs and check battery levels from a phone or tablet. Rapid Camp+ is available on Hurricane, Windsport, Miramar and Challenger RVs.

Model year 2020 Outlaw Class A toy haulers include an upgraded dash and house design with an Axxera media control dash radio. This media player consists of a 10.1-inch touchscreen display, App-based navigation and SiriusXM radio.

Meanwhile, TMC continues to gain traction with its lineup of RUVs: the Axis and Vegas, built on the Ford E-series chassis, and the Compass and Gemini, built on a Ford transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter diesel chassis. RUVs feature Rapid Camp+, LED lighting and are solar prepped.

Finally, TMC is making a splash in the Class B motorhome market with the launch of the Sequence motorhome, which is built on the fuel-efficient RAM Promaster 3500 window van chassis. The motorhome debuted at the RVX show in Salt Lake City.

The Sequence features an exterior accessory package from Thule that includes bike and roof racks plus a patio awning. Additionally, the motorhome is equipped with a Go Power! 190-watt solar charging system that allows an additional energy source if boondocking, plus a Winegard ConnecT 2.0 4G/Wi-Fi system.

TMC’s 20L floorplan features modern interior decor inspired by European designs and is equipped with a Froli sleep cooling system and adjustable headrests. The new concept includes four seat belts throughout the coach.

Convenience features are throughout the Sequence, such as the 7-inch touchscreen dash radio with Apple Carplay or Android Auto enabled. The intuitive Rapid Camp+ multiplex wiring platform makes setting up camp easy; the TrumaCombi Eco water heater/furnace allows faster heat times.

Related Articles

Back to top button