Ultra-luxury RV maker Bowlus is marketing its cheapest and smallest trailer to younger travelers — see inside the $165,000 Rivet

Brittany ChangMar 14, 2024, 22:23 IST

Bowlus recently unveiled the $165,000 Rivet, the ultra-luxury RV maker's smallest and cheapest travel trailer with off-grid and off-road capabilities. Bowlus

Ultra-luxury RV maker Bowlus's new Rivet is its smallest and cheapest travel trailer.
The $165,000 trailer can go off-grid, off-road, and be remote-controlled, the company says.

Bowlus is known for its ultra-sleek, ultra-luxury RVs with price tags that can rival a house.

To some roadtrippers, a recreational vehicle that costs more than $300,000 might be a little out of the price range.

But if you fall into this camp, Bowlus has a counteroffer: the new Rivet, its smallest and cheapest travel trailer.

In early March, the California-based RV maker unveiled the new "rugged" model with all-terrain tires, remote-control capabilities, and a more manageable starting price of $165,000.

Compared to Bowlus’s two other models, this new tiny home on wheels is being sold at a steep discount.

Bowlus says its new RV could start at $148,500 after a tax credit.Bowlus

And yet, compared to other travel trailers, the Rivet's isn't cheap either.

Bowlus' most expensive model starts at $310,000. To compare, Airstream's priciest trailer has a starting cost of $191,500 — and is almost three feet longer than its competitor.Bowlus

Bowlus' customers can range from young families to retirees, Long said.

The Rivet can sleep up to four people.Bowlus

Long said many of these younger buyers crave RVs that offer what the Rivet has: off-grid and off-road capabilities.

Airstream says its Interstate 19X has durable features like a brush guard and a protective coat on the van's hood and lower body.Airstream

And if they're desperate to relive their childhood memories of playing with remote-controlled Hot Wheels could scratch that itch with the Rivet.

The Rivet doesn't always need to be attached to a towing vehicle to be moved.Bowlus

With amenities like a remote control, Rivet was designed to fit in the “premium” RV segment.

At its price, Rivet is competing against products like Mercedes-Benz Sprinter camper vans and Airstream trailers. Its bedroom has amenities like reading lights and a king bed.Bowlus

The Rivet would’ve had some similarities to the Heritage, like its 25.25-foot length and 3,500-pound weight.

The Rivet could be towed by an electric vehicle like the Tesla Y.Bowlus

Traditional home luxuries have all been condensed into the new 6.7-foot-wide trailer.

The kitchen has amenities like a two-burner cooktop, microwave, and refrigerator-freezer.Bowlus

Travelers can enjoy home-cooked meals at the living room's dining table or sofa.

The living room has amenities like under-seating drawers and 120-volt outlets.Bowlus

No more "going outside": The trailer also has a shower and cassette toilet.

The shower (right) is on one side of the RV, across from the toilet room and sink (left).Bowlus

All of these amenities are powered by the RV's eight-kilowatt-hour lithium battery, 3,000-watt inverter, and up to 660 watts of solar.

During the winter, RVers can power the Rivet's heater for an extended period using a backup propane tank, Long told Business Insider.Bowlus

For companies like Bowlus, now is potentially a good time to grow a travel trailer business.

Long predicts most of the Rivet's buyers will be new to Bowlus' brand.Bowlus

RV sales have since slumped — or “normalized” — following their massive spike during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bowlus operates its own dealerships in Santa Barbara, California, and Las Vegas. Its expanded dealer network now includes two on the East Coast and one in Colorado, Texas, and the Pacific Northwest.Bowlus

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Ultra-luxury RV maker Bowlus is marketing its cheapest and smallest trailer to younger travelers &mdash; see inside the $165,000 Rivet