Bowlus Road Chief

[GettinAway]

Originally Posted by moosetags

Several years ago we had a truck camper with a cassette toilet. It worked well, but we still prefer the 39 gallon black tank in Lucythe down side of the cassette is trumped by some of the superior features of the Bowlus.

Brian

Do you still have your Rivian? I’m not on this forum much anymore, so please forgive me if I’ve missed something. I would think a Rivian/Bowlus would be easier to travel with than a Rivian/25FB. I do remember when you had a 23FB, and switched back to the 25. We had a 23FB before we went to the 25. I don’t think we are ready to go back to a smaller trailer. We had a cassette toilet in our old Rockwood popup many years ago. I don’t remember it being that big of a problem. Good luck on your decision. I look forward to reading about your adventures and choices.

[GOUSC]

Originally Posted by moosetags

Several years ago we had a truck camper with a cassette toilet. It worked well, but we still prefer the 39 gallon black tank in Lucythe down side of the cassette is trumped by some of the superior features of the Bowlus.

Brian

Aren’t you the member that has the Rivian? If so, the lower weight and tongue weight of the Bowlus would probably work to your advantage.

We rented a Class B motor home in New Zealand that has the cassette and a grey water tank. I was skeptical about it but it worked fairly well. We could stretch it to 4 days of use. 1 advantage was that we could empty it by just rolling it to the dump station. I still prefer what we have in our Airstream but it was manageable.

[gglockner]

Bowlus owner here, AMA.

Note that Bowlus currently only sells direct to consumers. This can be an issue for maintenance: either you have to get the trailer to Bowlus in Oxnard CA or you have to repair it locally. In my case, it's cheaper and easier to repair small things myself and pay for larger repairs at a local independent shop.

Also, if budget allows, Lazydays is selling their remaining Bowlus inventory at steep discounts.

[megster]

Tomorrow I am trading in my Airstream for a Bowlus Volterra. I wanted a lighter, more aerodynamic rig and couldn’t find the sweet spot with a new Airstream.

[LNBright]

Originally Posted by gglockner

Bowlus owner here, AMA.

Note that Bowlus currently only sells direct to consumers. This can be an issue for maintenance: either you have to get the trailer to Bowlus in Oxnard CA or you have to repair it locally. In my case, it's cheaper and easier to repair small things myself and pay for larger repairs at a local independent shop.

Also, if budget allows, Lazydays is selling their remaining Bowlus inventory at steep discounts.

Lazydays in Knoxville had several Bowlus models in stock.

I’m pretty sure we’re happier with our 20FB FC.

[Gene]

Brian,

What about an Oliver? I looked in the door of one once and if I recall correctly, everything was bright white, i.e., too white, but that is individual taste. The quality may be better than Airstream.

[wv2017]

Originally Posted by field & stream

This would be a tough decision for us too. We love the looks of the Bowlus, and spent some time with one and its owners in Yellowstone a few years ago. In addition to the spectacular design, the materials and workmanship are the best. It is rolling art.

Seems you have studied this enough to understand the pros and cons, and you understand yourselves enough to think it could work for you. So, maybe the question has become: WHY NOT?

It’s easy enough to undo the decision …… and you only live once.

.

We agree with Field & Stream's advice to you.

And like them, we spent a lot of time in a Bowlus Road Chief, at their showroom in Henderson, Nevada, back in 2019.

We think that the Road Chief has the same exact 'allure & Americana feel' to it, that an Airstream has, with it being a modern version of the 1935 Bowlus original..... but more importantly, it has the true craftsmanship quality workmanship & quality materials used in it, that an Airstream lacks.

Yes, it does cost more than an Airstream Classic..... but as with most things in life, "you get what you pay for"..... and in hindsight (which is always 20/20), I bet you won't regret paying out the extra money !


And in the end, if 'your treat to yourselves' isn't what you thought, move in a different direction in a year or two.

......as you can always make -or- save more money in the future......plus, you can't take it with you when you cross Rainbow Bridge.


Life is both Fragile & Short. I say: 'take the plunge' while you're both still Healthy enough to do so.

.