Luxurious living is not affordable.
Airstream’s aluminum exterior shell is one of its most distinctive features. It wasn’t the first trailer company that used the shiny metal. This honor goes to Bowlus, a 1930s travel trailer manufacturer that made an estimated 80 travel trailers. Production ended in 1937. Today, more than half of the original trailers remain in existence. The brand was revived several years ago under the name Bowlus Road Chief, with the aluminum-clad On The Road Model. It’s now introducing Road Chief Endless Highways for those who want to live off the grid.
The crowning feature of the Endless Highways travel trailer is its innovative battery power-management system, which features 4-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron-phosphate batteries that allow for battery operation of appliances for up to one week between recharges, according to the company. The trailer’s 10,000 BTU air conditioner can be run on one charge for as long as four hours. The system can also be recharged by an optional 120-watt solar panel, which can be stored in the closet. Endless Highways has a “2,000-watt pure sine wave inverter that can boost 120-volt AC power between 15 and 30 amps.”
Bowlus’ off-the-grid capabilities are combined with a range of sweet features. The high-efficiency 12-volt refrigerator/freezer and microwave can be operated by battery power. The countertop houses a two-burner Italian stovetop. A stand-alone stainless-steel sink, full length mirror, medicine cabinet and vanity can also be found in the trailer. A 3G/4G modem, GPS and a WiFi router are included in the trailer.
The Bowlus Road Chief Endless Highways is a more comfortable option than the flexible seven-sleeper Knaus Boxlife. It can comfortably accommodate four people and has real-wood walls, ceilings and in-floor heating. But, luxury off-the-grid living comes with a cost. The Endless Highways is available starting at $185,000 and financing available as low as $942 per month. Although it is not cheap to live off the grid, it is luxurious.