Next-gen RVs designed with millennials in mind

In 2015, Jessi and Valerie Smith took a radical step toward downsizing.

The couple, both 30 at the time, decided to trade in their three-bedroom San Francisco home to take up residence in an 8square-foot TAB Teardrop camper.

There were a few growing, or in this case, shrinking, pains. They would bump their heads on the low ceilings and grew weary of having to convert the bed into a living area each day. But they both agree that it was the best decision they could have ever made.

“It probably wouldn’t work for everyone,” said Valerie, “but it actually brought us closer.”

The pair who document their travel adventures on a blog called Happy Camper Wives are among the young adults who are embracing a new, hip wave of travel trailers.

From small, app-connected campers with retractable flat-screen TVs to solar-powered cabins on wheels, young adults can find an influx of innovative travel trailers geared specifically toward their interests.

“We have been targeting the millennials over the past few years in an effort to help them understand how RVs fit with what they already enjoy doing and that RVs aren’t the stereotypical vehicle they might imagine ... and it’s working,” said Karen Redfern, a vice president for Go RVing.

The smaller trailers are in keeping with the smallhome movement that also has been proving popular among millennials. But the trailers are made for people who want to stay on the move rather than settling in one place for awhile.

“The millennial generation is probably the most mobile generation that the world has ever seen,” said Kevin Broom, Go RVing’s director of media relations. “They want to be able to share their experiences using social media. They want to find the best restaurants in the area. They want to know what interesting spots are off the beaten path. All that stuff is on the internet, so they need updated RVs that have that type of connectivity.”

There’s been a wave of niche brands stepping up to offer the high-tech features, flexibility and connectivity that adults under 35 desire – most of which are at prices early career adults can afford.

“It’s a natural evolution,” said Sherman Goldenberg, publisher of RV Business and Woodall’s Campground Management magazines. “Millennials are interested in spending time outside. That has generated a spur in demand for smaller, towable recreational vestarts

hicles.”

Nest by Airstream

This fresh take on an old idea is available in two compact models. Both with plenty of inside storage, the Nest includes a microwave, two-stove burner and a bathroom.

“We’re seeing this group of people who are kind of tired of the big home and the big car,” said, Justin Humphreys, chief operating officer of Airstream. “Small is the new the big. Committing to less frees them up for more outdoor experiences.”

At 3,400 pounds, this fiberglass travel trailer is midsize-vehicle friendly. With a minimalist design, it “appeals to the crowd that grew up on Apple,” Humphreys said. Using a smartphone app, users can adjust the colors of the interior lighting to change the vibe. Nest at $45,900.

TAG Teardrop Boondock

At 2,900 pounds the Boondock by nuCamp was designed for off-road adventures. Compact and built with knobby offroad tires, millennial adventurers can easily take it onto the back roads.

“We’ve seen a giant uptick from the younger market,” said Scott Hubble, CEO of nuCamp. He said towability is the most important feature for young adults.

And starting at $15,000, it’s intended to be affordable for people who are still early in their careers.

Happier Camper HC1

The Adaptiv modular system in the HC1 by Happier Camper allows for a number of interior configurations, so it can be used as a mobile office, sales space or camping unit.

“They’re not just buying one product. (The HC1) is something that can fit in every aspect of their lives,” said Ryan Edwards, co-founder of Happier Camper.

The camper weighs 1,100 pounds. The starter package starts at $24,950.