Top RVs of 2019: ‘RVX’ Reveals Show Winners
This week in Salt Lake City, RVX is a new trade show highlighting the best of the RV industry. We went to Utah to see it all live, including the award-winning models below. The industry gathered Tuesday to award nine brands for innovation in the growing RV space.
New for 2019, the RV Experience (RVX) show brings hundreds of RV and outdoor brands together at the Salt Palace convention center in Salt Lake City.
A kickoff event called The Reveal broke RVs into nine categories — Outdoor Adventure, Family Friendly, Van Life, City Escape, Destination Camping, Sustainability, On the Horizon, Luxury Living, and Team Tailgate — and then highlighted one RV in each as a winner.
Outdoor Adventure
Category spotlight: SylvanSport VAST
SylvanSport has a trailer-camper to launch more than a decade after it unveiled its first unit, the popular GO. The 2019 model, the VAST, was made for adventure travelers and campers. Where it stands out is gear hauling, with the ability to carry toys like bikes as well as a side-mounted rack for kayaks and other large gear.
Its indoor/outdoor kitchen is an innovative design, and the trailer has two “true” queen-size beds, a bathroom, table, storage, lighting, and much more. GearJunkie will cover the SylvanSport VAST soon in a full article and review.
Judge’s choices: Airstream Basecamp, Forest River No Boundaries, Taxa Tigermoth, Taxa Cricket, Lance 855 Rule Maker
Family Friendly
Category spotlight: Jayco Eagle HT 264 BHOK
Sleep six people comfortably in the Jayco Eagle HT 264 BHOK. The trailer uses convertible furniture and pass-through exterior storage to enhance interior space. You can even add a fireplace and residential-style woodwork, fabrics, lighting, and fixtures.
This model also offers an outside kitchen, hybrid grill, and rear cargo door with flip-up bunk for bike or kayak storage.
Judge’s choices: Forest River Vengeance 385 FK Touring Edition, Forest River Sabre Fifth Wheel, Forest River R-pod, Winnebago Outlook, Coachmen Catalina 39 RLTS
Van Life
Category spotlight: ModVans CV1 Camper Van
ModVans starts with a Ford Transit to build out its dream vehicle with the CV1 Camper Van. Positioned to be an everyday minivan for those who want to use just one vehicle, the CV1 Camper Van has removable, modular components.
ModVans built it with a pop-up design to make it easier for everyday driving than a high-roof van. But the pop-up also gives owners lots of useable space on the inside.
Judge’s choices: Winnebago Revel, Winnebago Travato Pure 3, Leisure Vans 2019 Wonder Rear Twin Bed, Coachmen Galleria 24 A
City Escape
Category spotlight: Leisure Travel’s 2020 Unity Rear Lounge
Leisure Travel puts the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 through a major overhaul with its new Unity line. The Unity Rear Lounge is its spear-tip model, representing a decade of development. Unity has a spacious “rear lounge” with residential-like sectional sofa. It is the first RV to use the new Dometic IoT Smart RV system.
Judge’s choices: Airstream Interstate Nineteen, Forest River Flagstaff Hard Side SE Camping Trailer, Venture Sonic, Winnebago Boldt
Destination Camping
Category spotlight: Forest River Riverstone Luxury 39 RBFL
Getting into land-yacht stylings, Forest River showed the Riverstone Luxury 39 RBFL. Geared toward luxury customers or those who use their RVs for extended living, it has everything from garages to 1½-bath concepts. A redesigned front cap has a large windshield, tri-sofa front living, and rear bathroom with dual vanity sink. Add a half bath off the kitchen with a washer dryer and room for a king-size bed for all the comforts of a home on wheels.
Judge’s choices: KZ-RV Durango, Winnebago Horizon, Forest River Cedar Creek Cottage, Forest River Wildwood Grand Lodge 42DL
Sustainability
Category spotlight: Winnebago All-Electric/Zero-Emission
RVs are going electric! Winnebago’s All-Electric/Zero-Emission is an innovation that might give Elon Musk pause. Based on a 33-foot or 38-foot length, the Class A RV uses Motiv Power Systems’ Ford F53-based EPIC all-electric chassis. While this one is not yet designed for general consumer use, it’s a nod toward a not-too-distant, all-electric future.
It’s best suited for short-range commercial applications like mobile bloodmobiles, clinics, classrooms, and outreach vehicles. It houses six or eight batteries for an expected range of 85 to 125 miles.
Judge’s choices: Taxa 2019 Mantis, Forest River Rockwood Geo Pro, Eclipse Attitude F35GSG, Forest River Work and Play
On the Horizon
Category spotlight: Airstream Classic Smart RV
Airstream brings the smart home concept into the RV world with the Airstream Classic Smart RV. Smart Control Technology lets owners control and monitor the RV’s most important features and amenities from anywhere — and stay connected to the comforts of home. Connected features include things like lights, temperature, awnings, water tanks, batteries, and much more. This model also has 4G LTE connectivity, creating a blazing fast hotspot in many locations.
Judge’s choices: Keystone Fuzion 427 FW with Onboarding Weighting system, Keystone Raptor 356 with pneumatic suspension, Winnebago All-Electric/Zero-Emission, Winnebago Micro Minnie Fifth Wheel 2405 RG
Luxury Living
Category spotlight: Newmar 2020 Super Star
The 2020 Super Star debuted at the RVX event and made quite a splash. This product is a luxury Super C-class product with several innovations not offered in the market today. Details are still thin on this land yacht that won’t hit the market until next year.
Judge’s choices: Venture RV Stratus SR261 VRK, Entegra Coach Cornerstone, Crossroads Redwood RV, Forest River Cardinal
Team Tailgate
Category spotlight: Heartland Cyclone Ultimate Tailgate RV
Tailgaters rejoice! The Heartland Cyclone Ultimate Tailgate RV has the “first ever side patio” that sets up with the touch of a button. But of course, there’s also an outside bar, built-in kegerator, and multiple TVs.
The interior hosts multiple 55-inch TVs and a sound system with eight subwoofers and 18 amplified speakers. The “garage” holds a portable hot tub that can be moved outdoors. Outside, the full-body paint job is complemented by the underbody lighting system.
Judge’s choices: Coachmen Sportscoach 366BH, Venture RV SportTrek Touring, KZ-RV Venom V-Series, Lance 1975 Ultra Light Travel Trailer
