---
title: "The O.G. of Riveted Aluminum Aero Campers Returns"
description: "And it ain't an Airstream. It's something far, far cooler."
date: "2016-08-17"
modified: "2016-08-17"
authors:
  - name: "Max Prince"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/max-prince"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/design/4878/the-o-g-of-riveted-aluminum-aero-campers-returns"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Airstream"
  - "Bowlus"
  - "camping"
  - "Pebble Beach"
  - "Road Chief"
  - "rvs"
---

# The O.G. of Riveted Aluminum Aero Campers Returns

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/archive-images/trailer_header_1471288179.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

William Hawley Bowlus: Talk about a fine American. Born in 1898, the man basically invented recreational gliding, was instrumental in developing Charles Lindbergh’s *Spirit of St. Louis*, and designed the Senior Albatross, arguably the most iconic sailplane this side of the Atlantic. He also created the world’s first all-aluminum riveted travel trailer, dubbed Road Chief. Wally Byam, one of Bowlus’s employees, took a liking to the design. So he borrowed it, and, in 1931, founded a new company. Byam called that firm Airstream.

But what about the original, the Road Chief? That aero-inspired, mirror-finish camper beauty that predated Avion and Spartan? Vintage car collector John Long wrote the book on Bowlus’s design ([literally](<https://www.ventanamonthly.com/article.php?id=743&IssueNum=84>)) after tracking down an original, tearing it apart, and performing an epic restoration. Now, three years after acquiring the trademark, he’s relaunching the company.

![04-bowlus-bentley-bentayga.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/04-bowlus-bentley-bentayga.jpg>)
**Bentley Motors**

Ignore that gussied-up Volkswagen truck, and check out the new Bowlus Road Chief Limited Edition Lithium trailing behind. This is the first-ever monocoque camper to use lithium-ion battery tech, affording the 2,000-watt capability to juice up (or receive charge from) an electric vehicle. It also uses solar panels to capture and store energy, enough to operate off-the-grid for an entire week.

![bowlus-road-chief-3.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/bowlus-road-chief-3.jpg>)
**Bowlus LLC**

The cabin is plush, too. That means a full galley (freezer, fridge, and cooktop), three-by-five-foot bathroom, Wi-Fi routers, massive skylights, theater-style table, and a proper bedroom, which uses a pair of twin-sized mattresses that can reconfigure into a king-sized bed. It also has a glorious, glorious 8,000 BTU air conditioning system. The new Road Chief is long (24 feet) yet exceptionally lightweight, weighing in under 2,400 pounds. It’s also expensive, priced at a healthy $219,000. But, really, it’s just cool seeing an underappreciated piece of engineering rediscovered, updated, and realized.

![overview-main.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/content/archive-images/overview-main.jpg>)
**Bowlus LLC**

If you’re going to be at Monterey Car Week, swing by Turn 10 at Laguna Seca, where the new Road Chief will be on display. You can also catch a glimpse of the trailer at Quail at Pebble Beach on Saturday night. Alternatively, check out the Bowlus website for more photos and info [here](<https://www.bowlusroadchief.com/>).

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/themaxprince>)