Ember RV
“After three consistent years of significant new product development and innovations, Ember’s focus this year is on customer-driven upgrades, refinements and customization to enhance each of the three product lines. Our focus is on honing our craft and building on the advancements introduced in years past,” says Ashley Bontrager Lehman, Ember RV CEO.
Tuning into customer requests and feedback has led to a meaningful collaboration for the Ember team. Customers have been looking for units that are wallet-friendly and easy to tow.
“Based on customer requests for lighter-weight models and budget-conscious floorplans that better fit today’s marketplace, we are expanding our E-Series product offerings to include several new floorplans to meet these criteria,” says Chris Barth, Ember’s chief operating officer. “In addition to introducing our two smallest and lightest tandem axle E-Series models, we are also introducing multiple full-featured, single-axle floorplans to the product line. We have also expanded our patent-pending EmberTrack reconfigurable bunk/desk/storage system across all product lines, which will be showcased in several models, including the Touring Edition 28MSL.”
Enhancing the customer experience with its units is the priority for 2025, with a few upgrades to the standard features. The upgrades include adding a hitch light, stainless steel sink in the bathroom, plumbing system upgrades, prep for a second air conditioner and additional interior design changes.
In addition, the Overland Series now comes standard with an upgraded Truma Combi Comfort Plus.
The “Chill Cube” air conditioner by Furrion — an energy-efficient 18,000-Btu variable speed compressor with remote control — will also be featured in the Overland Series. This is a jump up from the 13,500-Btu air conditioner from previous model years, Ember says.
There will also be new options offered for 2025, including a 3,000-watt Victron inverter with Cerbo GX communication center, a 270-amp-hour LiFePO4 Gamechanger battery by Battle Born, 1.2 kilowatts of solar panels on the roof, additional Victron MPPT solar controllers and REDARC DC to DC trailer battery charger now included in the Overland Series Max Solar package.
This Max Solar option is also available on the Touring Edition for 2025 — a response to significant customer demand, Ember says.
“The substantial amount of customers interested in or demanding better off-grid power packages has been notable over the last couple of years,” Barth says. “Our upgraded Max Solar package, which includes 1,200 watts of solar panel on the roof and a premium power system featuring brand-name componentry is exactly what customers would install on their own. Ember provides this solution straight from the factory.”
Then, on the E-Series, Ember will offer a second air conditioner prep as a standard on the private bedroom models, as well as the option of a second energy-efficient 18,000-Btu variable speed compressor with remote control “Chill Cube” by Furrion.
Customization options will be available, too, with different seating and dining options such as theater seats or legless dinettes, depending on the floorplan.
What stands out most for Ember this year is the expansion of the E-Series with smaller and lighter weight floorplans at a lower price point, Bontrager Lehman says.
“We didn’t decontent to get these models to market, which is important to note. We continued with the successful formula we’ve used in our E-Series since it was introduced last fall, while still being able to deliver smaller, lighter weight and lower-cost models,” she says.
In 2024, the patent-pending EmberTrack reconfigurable bunk/desk/storage system, which is available in all three of the company’s product offerings, was a popular offering.
“This Ember-exclusive system gives customers the flexibility to reconfigure their coach for their specific needs in a wide variety of camping styles, whether it’s an office, specialty cargo area, pet enclosure, adaptable bunk space or more, and then back again,” Ember says.
In addition, Ember’s Overland Series tandem axle floorplans — the 201FBQ and the 221MSL — continue to be top sellers in that space. Customers who are looking to experience adventurous camping these floorplans when paired with the Max Solar option, allowing them to stay unplugged for longer with proper power management.
“From Ember’s beginning, we focused on the wide variety of customer use cases, including off-grid and off-road uses as well as flexibility from trip to trip,” Barth says. “We see these trends gaining even more popularity with terms like overlanding and boondocking becoming more mainstream. People are camping differently today and are looking for flexibility and adaptability to meet their needs, which is why for model year 2025 we continued to make these ideas our focus.”
The Touring Edition also continues to attract customers, the company says, with its unique feature set including Caravan windows, composite construction, drop-frame chassis, specialty front gear box and industry-exclusive Lane Change Assist.
The E-Series has been a success since its launch last fall. This budget-friendly product allows customers to get into the Ember brand. This product line represents popular floorplans with class-leading features like an 18,000-Btu air conditioner, 15-inch Goodyear American-made tires, 82-inch ceiling height, Azdel Onboard composite material and a 55-gallon fresh water tank. Exclusive features include the EmberTrack reconfigurable system, legless dinettes, Starlink prep and Ember’s 1-2-3 warranty.
“Given the state of the marketplace, the expansion of our E-series line to include smaller and lighter-weight floorplans that hit an even lower price point we think will be exciting for this model year introduction,” Bontrager Lehman says. “Secondarily, the upgraded Max Solar package is going to be extra exciting for customers interested in battery power systems. However, the most game-changing introduction that we have done to date is making sure that the truly flexible and reconfigurable EmberTrack system is available in all three of our product lines. This exclusive system fills a wide variety of customer use cases and makes it so floorplans are flexible.”
Visit the Ember Trails Campground during Open House week at 710 Commerce Drive, Bristol, Indiana 46507 — one toll road exit east of the RV/MH Hall of Fame.
Sunset Park
A specialist in building small, affordable trailers, Sunset Park RV has been in business for more than 16 years. At this year’s Open House, the company will feature a redesign of its Rush toy hauler and debut its 48-volt system for complete off-grid living with 100% solar power.
The new Volt 1500 model will stand out most among its 2025 debuts, Sunset Park says. It includes remote power monitoring.
“We have all spoken to a potential customer at an RV show during our careers who is looking for a completely off-grid unit,” says Nate Brown, vice president of sales and marketing. “Well, we built it — so come and get it.”
New floorplans being offered are the 139T Sunray and 25RBK Sunlite. Co-owners Merle Schmucker and Johnny Yoder say new standard features on models this year are solar power and adjustable spring shackles.
During 2024, Sunset’s top-selling models were the Sunray 109 and the Sun Lite 19RBLTD.
The brand’s display will be located by the THOR main entrance during Open House Week. The company will also host an Amish-cooked breakfast on Sept. 23 and 24 at its exhibit.
Travel Lite
The big news on the horizon for Travel Lite for Open House is a first-ever slideout for the Rove Lite. The 14FBS ultra-lightweight travel trailer now features a kitchen slide, says Bob Cira, president — sales and product development. The length is still 16 feet at 2,200 pounds dry weight, but the slideout offers more space in addition to a solid-surface kitchen and table, a 12-volt 3.3-cubic-foot refrigerator, two-burner stainless steel stovetop and wood grain cabinetry.
Another new floorplan, the FS, features a bar/tabletop dinette with a large campside window. The bar area will overlook the campsite view, offering a nice spot to dine or work, Cira says.
“For the FBS, we’ve gotten a lot of requests for a slide model in the Rove Lite series. We figured out a way to keep with our story in the market with a very lightweight, full standup height travel trailer … [and] create additional room without increasing much weight,” Cira says.
“The reason for the FS model was two reasons: to open up the coach so there’s more room in the living area, and then to also have a versatile tabletop so you can use it as a workstation or to eat off of it,” Cira says. “And also, the big campside window lets in a lot of natural light.”
The Rove Lite XL will gain two additional floorplans for 2025 — the 17FQ and the 17MB. The Rove Lite XL was launched this spring and is wider and taller than the original, with 8 feet in width and 6 feet, 6 inches interior ceiling height, Cira says.
“The launch has gone very well, and it’s a great natural progression from the Rove Lite series because it still sticks with the same story,” he says. “It still is very lightweight but just gives you a little bit more room.”
The last item Travel Lite will launch for 2025 is a new special edition truck camper called the 775U Extreme.
“It is going to have a screen-printed fiberglass exterior that looks like a full body paint, but it’s going to be geared for the off-grid truck camper consumer,” Cira says, noting there’s a roto-pax 3,300-watt generator. “[There’s] lots of windows in the interior — lets in lots of natural light.”
Travel Lite is tapping into a lot of the trends, he says. “The lightweight, the super lightweight, market is really popular right now. There are a lot of small sport utility vehicles that have a GVWR of 3,500 pounds and below … our average dry weights are going to be 2,000 pounds, so when you load up a few hundred pounds worth of stuff, a few passengers in the vehicle, you’re getting close up to that.”
Cira says the popularity of the lighter weight travel trailers has been good for the company.
“This year’s been really good for us,” he says. “We have been able to take advantage of the trend of customers wanting and needing lighter weight travel trailers. So, the lightweight trend obviously fits perfect for what we offer — that is what we do here at Travel Lite, is we build ultra-lightweight, full conventional travel trailers.
“I feel like our product is retailing well, and we are anticipating growth going into 2025. I think it’s only going to be up from here.”
Visit Travel Lite near the RV/MH Hall of Fame during Open House Week.