Tiffin Motorhomes’ 28-foot Allegro Breeze, chosen as “Best of Show” by
the RVBusiness staff during the 47th Annual National RV Trade Show,
breaks new ground with regard to diesel-pusher length due to its
relatively short size.
In fact, the Breeze, built on the Red Bay, Ala., manufacturer’s own
21,500-pound GVWR chassis equipped with a 215-hp Navistar MaxxForce 7
V-8 engine, may point to the future direction of motorized RVs.
Because the Allegro Breeze is a concept vehicle that is expected to
be available in March, Tiffin in late December hadn’t set an MSRP nor
determined fuel mileage, although it’s expected to get miles-per-gallon
in the mid-teens.
The mid-priced Breeze has a single streetside slideout, one-piece
windshield, antique white interior, booth dinette, queen bed, separate
toilet and shower and plenty of interior and exterior storage for a
coach its size and as such, may be a glimpse of things to come.
Runner-up in the “Best of Show” category was Roadtrek Motor Home Inc.’s
unique 20-foot Class B coach on an imported 8,550-pound GVWR
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis equipped with a slideout that extends
through the Sprinter’s rear double doors.
Also in the runner-up category was Heartland Recreational Vehicles
LLC’s diminutive retro-looking MPG travel trailer with four 19- and
20-foot floorplans, fenders and front and rear pass-through storage that
was a real eye-catcher.
While the Roadtrek slideout van camper unit is the first in its
class, the MPG is an example of a trend toward smaller travel trailers
that include the Keystone Passport, Forest River R-Pod, the new Gulf
Stream Visa, Micro-Lite Trailer Manufacturing Inc.’s Vymeron and Cikira
RV LLC’s Retro-Lite, among others. All have are characterized by shorter
lengths, lighter weights, a somewhat retro look and most have sloping
aerodynamic front ends that provide better towing.
All of them also are positioned to appeal to a more cost-sensitive buyer.
For innovation in the 2010 model year – along with Roadtrek’s Class
B slideout – RVBusiness recognizes the Chalet RV Inc. triple-slide
truck camper that provides the feel of a Class C motorhome; Dutchmen
Manufacturing Inc.’s Grand Junction fifth-wheel that incorporates a
large cedar-line closet into the front cap; and Pacific Coachworks
Inc.’s outdoor kitchen contained in a powered rear slideout.
