RVX 2019

Thor Industries used the RVX show to get serious about its products, but it also had some fun ... a lot of fun. Its custom Heartland Cyclone tailgater trailer pulls up stadium-side, screens games on numerous TVs, keeps the beer flowing with a keg fridge, and provides plenty of space to kick back.

American camper van offerings from major brands still aren't anywhere near as diverse as those in Europe, but the recent RVX trade show demonstrated that the van market is alive and well, brimming with new and exciting products for world travelers, thrill seekers, family road trippers and others.

One of the most spacious, luxurious motorhomes at the RVX show was also created as one of the most efficient Class As at camp. The Thor Tuscany concept drops its diesel generator for a massive lithium battery bank and solar array. It also includes a fully reworked, residential-style interior.

Leisure Vans builds its latest Type C motorhome on the all-new 2019 Mercedes Sprinter. Not only does the plus-sized camper van bring the latest in auto technology and design, it further innovates with a split-cabin layout, mobile workstation, and smart home-style control.

If you squeezed between the block-long motorhomes and fifth-wheels at last week's RVX show, there were also some small, affordable trailers. And though they were smaller in size and number, the light, compact towables punched above their weight in innovation, styling and cool features.

Best known for huge motorhomes and trailers, Thor Industries became the world's largest RV manufacturer when it purchased Germany's Erwin Hymer Group. Now it's showing a little bit of city-friendly European camper van sensibility with the Sequence concept, a loaded Ram ProMaster adventure van.

KOA rockets ahead to the year 2030, showing a futuristic vision of camping. Much more than just campground Wi-Fi, solar panels and EV charging, its "Campground of the Future" looks to bring people closer to nature than ever, in ways that mimic some of today's most stunning architecture.

Winnebago launches one of America's first third-generation Mercedes Sprinter camper vans, the all-new Boldt. It marries the tech-focused Sprinter with a comfy two- or three-sleeper floor plan, fully weatherized cabin and powerful lithium-based electrical system.

One of the innovative small RVs of this week's RVX show, the Trail Wagon from Chinook matches the Mercedes Sprinter seamlessly. It also features a versatile toy hauler/camping trailer layout controlled via smartphone app and enough space to carry a side-by-side or Smart car.

Long known for its Go and Go-Easy gear-hauling tent trailers, SylvanSport has debuted its first hard-sided trailer at the RVX show. Like the Go trailers, the new Vast is a dual-purpose toy-hauler/camper, only this trailer packs even more multifunctional ingenuity to effectively fill both roles.