Written by Craig Kaminer 

I have never stepped foot in a recreational vehicle (RV), but I am intrigued by how many people are renting them this summer to stay socially distanced with their families, try something new and travel in luxury without getting on planes or staying in hotels. So when I first saw this retro beauty which is named for the designer, engineer and aircraft builder Hawley Bowlus, it was love at first sight. Not only because of its beauty, but its luxury and connection to St. Louis. 

Best known for his role in building the famed aircraft Spirit of St. Louis and training many of the first glider pilots in the world, including Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Bowlus was determined to design and build a lightweight travel trailer that could transport flight crews to remote takeoff locations.  

His incredible aerospace acumen led him to build the Bowlus Road Chief, the first aluminum riveted travel trailer, in 1934. Between 1934 and1936, he built more than 80 Bowlus Road Chiefs. These vehicles  made appearances in major motion pictures and were purchased by numerous celebrities. In 1936, Wally Byam borrowed the Bowlus Road Chief design for the Airstream Clipper after working for Hawley as a salesperson. In the short two years that the companies competed before closing, the Bowlus Road Chief outsold the Airstream Clipper 10 to one. 

The new Endless Highways edition, pictured, is a reimagined model of the original Bowlus Road Chief, now produced by a revived company.  It’s the top choice for modern adventurers, nomads and camping enthusiasts. Geneva Long, the founder and CEO, is driven in her design work so that bothBowlus Road Chief models deliver supreme comfort, maximum performance and unmistakable style while staying true to the iconic lines of the original riveted travel trailer.. 

The Bowlus Road Chief models boast the highest quality of materials along with the greatest attention to detail. Guided by reductive design concepts, true sustainability practices and distinctive artistry, Long has incorporated many innovative features that are industry firsts, including:   

● The first RV with heated floors and life-work solutions such as that include charging stations, a router and wifi amplifier for personal technology 

● The first direct-to-consumer model in the RV industry with sales generated completely online 

● The creation of the ultra-luxury market for travel trailers 

● The first lithium-powered travel trailer with sophisticated power management systems 

● The first truly sustainable RV 

● The first female-founded RV company 

The Bowlus Road Chief is available in two models:  the On The Road Edition starts at $150,000, and the Endless Highways Edition starts at $185,000. Both are towable with a car or SUV. For more information, head to bowlusroadchief.com.