From the moment I caught a glimpse of the profile of its intriguing garage design, I knew Gulf Stream Coach had stumbled onto something truly deviant in the toy-hauler department with its Bounty Hunter. This unique approach to developing a Class A toy-hauler starting in and above the garage area made me want to view the 40-foot coach in a new direction: from the rear forward.
Walking up the rubberized diamond-plate ramp, I entered the 8 x 12-foot garage and the first things I noticed were the built-in side-wall air vents, battery charger and flip-down workbench. It was obvious that Gulf Stream focused on filling up this rig with features for the motorsports enthusiast.
Stepping up into the living portion of the coach, my eyes were drawn to a compact staircase. Compelled to follow the stepped pathway, it lead me into the attic-like master bedroom. Packed between the master-bedroom walls lies a king-size memory-foam mattress with matching pillows, its own full-width wardrobe and a movable 15-inch LCD TV — giving the segregated overhead slumber chamber a feeling of privacy and
comfort.
Heading back down the staircase, I entered the hallway and stepped into the streetside bathroom. In keeping with the toy-hauler theme, the utilitarian bath was upgraded just enough for functional comfort, but included fiberglass shower and a wall-switch-operated Fan-Tastic power vent.
At first glance the galley seemed to be just another kitchen, but checking into the build quality and peering deeper into the nooks and crannies revealed a slew of subtle enhancements such as ball-bearing-guided drawers and a flip-up countertop extension.
Finishing off the purpose-minded galley are solid maple hardwood cabinets and a pantry.
About halfway through the rig it became obvious that Gulf Stream didn’t want much to do with frilly options and their associated prices, relying more on functional appliances and accessories. The loaded coach on a Ford chassis retails for $138,430; a front-engine
diesel Freightliner (FRED) chassis is also offered, but that boosts the fare to $160,000 and includes a 7.5-kW Generac diesel generator. However, no matter if you opt for the FRED chassis or the Ford gas chassis, the Bounty Hunter comes standard with a 24-gallon auxiliary fuel tank to keep the toys gassed up.
As I wandered around inside the Bounty Hunter it was impossible to miss the enormous quantity of open floor space. Considering the fact that a large section of this motorhome is intended for transporting toys and only uses a single slideout, the coach has more of a homey feel than expected. The one slideout is carefully arranged with the dinette,
a 68-inch sofa bed and large sliding windows for grand views. Across the way sits a plush 48-inch love seat providing a clear view of the 32-inch LCD TV nestled behind the slideout wall.
Arriving at the cockpit, I planted myself behind the wheel expecting to find a dashboard that continued the minimalist look found throughout the rest of the coach. What I found was a glossy wood-type finish on the dash and an easy-to-read cluster of black contrasted instrumentation, conveying orders to standard features such as automatic
leveling jacks and a 7-inch backup monitor system complete with audio and side cameras.
Finally, the exterior, shown here with optional full-body paint, is graced with enough features to put most owners in electrical bliss. There’s a powered main awning, a total of six spotlights and an array of prewired goodies. The Bounty Hunter 381B is exactly what a
toy-hauler should be: simple, comfy and extremely functional.
