From Bend, Oregon-Based Nest Caravan: This Isn’t Your Grandpa’s Travel Trailer

(Photos above L-R; 1)With its sleek, muscular lines, the automotive styling helps reduce drag, improve towability and enhance fuel economy. 2)Features include full-time queen bed, large functional windows, LED lighting, shower enclosure and integrated solar charging)

A new fiberglass travel trailer from an innovative manufacturer, Nest Caravan, is redefining the popular RV market segment with construction, design and features that have more in common with luxury yachts and corporate jets than existing trailer designs.

The first and only travel trailer architecture based on monocoque (unibody) construction, the Jay/1S from Nest Caravans is engineered to eliminate the need for a frame under-carriage, reducing the amount of steel by about 75 percent compared to conventional designs. The result is a lighter weight 17-foot trailer that can be towed easily by most mid-size SUVs, crossovers or light trucks.

According to Nest Caravans CEO Robert Johans, part of the secret is in the molding technology. “The body forms are produced using vacuum-infusion that roughly inverts the typical resin-to-fiberglass ratio used in ‘chopper gun’ construction methods,” he explained. “Infusion allows us to use about 65 percent fiberglass to 35 percent resin, which is how we achieve the strength needed for structural integrity. In contrast, traditional chopper gun methods use about 35 percent fiber to 65 percent resin, which produces a heavier, weaker and more brittle final product.”

Johans explained that the load, stress and structural requirements of the shell body are engineered into the lay-up schedule of the infusion fiberglass process. The integrity and strength of the materials are carefully calculated to eliminate the need for a typical frame support structure, significantly reducing the overall weight of the trailer. The Jay/1S features industry-standard ball hitch connectivity, with a powder-coated steel towing “delta” bolted directly to the shell body.

Design
The molded fiberglass construction process allows a level of automotive styling that’s impossible to achieve with ubiquitous “stick-built” travel trailers. With exterior design by transportation specialist Bryan Thompson, designer of the Airstream “BaseCamp,” the aerodynamic styling of the Jay/1S is not only visually appealing, but also reduces drag, improves towability and enhances fuel economy.

“With this type of construction, we were free of the normal constraints on typical trailer manufacturers,” Thompson said.

“This design incorporates graceful lines and sleek, muscular forms that aren’t typically found in standard travel trailers.”

Features
Nest Caravans’ Director of Operations Tim Koester commented that one of the company’s objectives was to introduce a level of true luxury to compact travel trailers. “Every design and construction decision was made with quality as a top priority,” he observed. “We literally reconsidered the compact trailer from the ground up, with every feature scrutinized and deliberately engineered throughout the entire build process. Wherever possible, sources outside of the RV industry — such as aviation, boating and fine home building — were tapped for their most modern, innovative and functional products and components,” he added.

The physical layout and integrated components within the interior have been directed in large part by customer research. Details preferred by a majority of compact travel trailer owners have been incorporated into the design, including a full-time, queen-sized bed, maximum number of windows, and energy-efficient fixtures and components. A wet bath shower/toilet enclosure, with an integrated grey water tank, is also included. LED lighting is used throughout, and all units feature 12VDC and USB charging capabilities, as well as integrated solar power charging for extended off-grid camping.

Functionality was paramount for the design team, as evidenced by space-efficient innovations that include integrated nose cone storage, which provides space for two 5.5-pound LPG tanks, hoses and cables. Additional storage (with inside and outside access) can be found under the bed platform.

The galley features a designer sink and two-burner gas cooktop, plus a highly efficient 12VDC, 3.7 cubic foot refrigerator. A tankless hydronic heater delivers both hot water to the sink and shower, as well as space heating throughout the cabin. A remote-controlled rooftop fan provides additional fresh air ventilation.

Johans summarized the company’s philosophy by returning to direct feedback from current travel trailer owners. “Our research clearly indicated that travel trailer owners were frustrated by the inferior quality and limitations of existing technology, which haven’t changed much in 50 years,” he said. “Our customers have expressed a desire to move away from inexpensive features and finishes, toward a level of design and quality that better reflected their tastes and lifestyles. The Jay/1S represents a huge leap forward in compact trailer design.”

The new design will also offer clients a range of customization options and upgrades, including tow-vehicle color matching. The exact cost of the Jay/1S will depend on the customer’s choices, but Johans indicated that pricing for the base model will be significantly lower than the popular Airstream 16′ Sport, which sells for around $45K.

Nest Caravans is an innovator in the popular compact travel trailer market, incorporating design elements and features normally associated with high-end yachts, corporate jets and luxury automobiles. The concept was developed by CEO Robert Johans, a professional designer and trailer restoration expert with more than 20 years of industry experience. The Central Oregon company’s mission is to fill the unmet need for modern, highly efficient, aesthetically appealing products that deliver true pride of ownership to a discriminating clientele.

www.nestcaravans.com

For more information, contact:
Robert Johans
Nest Caravans
+1 (541) 323-6920
rj@nestcarvans.com