Ask yourself, do you have a collection of leather luggage, cocktail shakers, aviation sunglasses, and a poster of a Douglas DC-3 adorning the wall of your office, garage, or pub? Is your nickname “Indy”? If you have answered, “yes, in fact, I do,” then the Bowlus Heritage Edition Travel Trailer is tailor-made for you. This luxury travel trailer is inspired by the golden age of aviation, a time of optimism and excitement for the future of flight and the general progress of humanity.
The exterior of the Heritage is decidedly avionic, minus wings, engines, and propellers. The unpolished monocoque aluminum skin cladding is riveted to a TIG welded aluminum space frame skeleton and forms what Bowlus claims is the “world’s lightest and most aerodynamic full-size RV.” Eight relatively small airplane-style windows adorn the flanks of the Zeppelin, and a door opens over the trailer tongue. Accessible from the outside are a propane tank, a city water inlet, an outdoor storage compartment, and four stabilizer jacks. The trailer sits on a torsion axle system and aluminum wheels with electric brakes. Weighing in at a mere 2,900 pounds unloaded and with a low center of gravity, the trailer can be towed comfortably by most SUV, EV, or crossover vehicles.
The aeronautic theme carries into the interior. Upon stepping inside from the “front porch” and removing your Ray Bans and sheepskin bomber jacket, you are greeted by a compact, well-designed galley that features a two-burner Italian cooktop, composite countertops, an extendable faucet, a high-efficiency fridge/freezer, microwave, and three ample aluminum cupboards. With a gin and lemon-based cocktail in hand, you can stroll into the well-lit living room where a sofa and armchairs with collapsible table converts into beds perfect for the kids or grandkids. The floor and walls of the living room are light gray, and we can see a few excellent locations to hang your classic TWA poster. To ensure passenger comfort, the Heritage Edition comes equipped with a silent hydronic heating system (LPG & 120-volt), an integrated freshwater heating system, five radiators, and a vented air conditioning unit. All 120-volt electrical outlets operate from the two-kilo-watt lithium-iron-phosphate battery.
Between the living room and the main bedroom, you will find what Bowlus describes as “a large hotel-style bathroom with privacy doors.” On one side of the passageway is a cassette toilet and vanity with stainless steel sink and a medicine cabinet facing a shower with composite floor and seating; the shower extends outside. A tapered king-size bed fills the trailer’s tail, and the bedroom is equipped with marine LED reading lights, a night table, a cooling fan, drapes, and wood inserts. Be sure to have clean feet when climbing into bed, as you will need to clamber over the pillows.
The aviation inspiration of Bowlus trailers is no flash in the pan; the luxury trailer manufacturer has an origin story that reaches back to the time of Howard Hughes and Amelia Earhart. According to the Bowlus website, “the Bowlus story is about building upon a legacy of originality and authenticity which began when Hawley Bowlus made the first riveted aluminum travel trailer in 1934. Hawley hailed from the genesis of commercial air travel as the builder of the Spirit of St. Louis.” Hawley quickly found admirers and would-be copycats, including Wally Byam of Airstream, who attempted to duplicate the first Bowlus design.
To secure your Heritage Edition trailer, be prepared to invest at least $159,000 and visit bowlus.com
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