The RV industry is full of well-known brand names, typically owned by a few larger companies. Collections of brands owned by larger companies like Forest River and Thor have been common in the industry for a while. In fact, this is the norm in most businesses where larger companies acquire smaller brands over time. Knowing this makes what I’m about to share with you that much more interesting.
This year, while I was at the Hershey RV Show, I saw a brand name I didn’t recognize. The brand was called Ember.
It turns out this year-old company is a new, independent RV manufacturer. The president is Ashley Bontrager. She’s also the granddaughter of Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager, the founders of Jayco Inc. Though Jayco is one of those smaller brands that a larger company purchased, Ashley has fond memories of her grandparents’ RV business. This legacy prompted her and a host of other veteran RV players to start Ember.
Introducing Ember
As with anything new, Ember aims to be different, and they were putting their best foot forward at the Hershey RV Show.
Ember builds a line of travel trailers for the micro market up to a mid-size unit, targeted towards Overlanding enthusiasts. Ember says its goal is to satisfy trailblazing owners who are passionate about camping where they want, when they want, with few limitations. Their coverage includes units with lengths from 12’10” to 26’1”, dry weights from 2,020 to 5,690 lb and ten different floorplans. While the floorplans vary widely, much of the core equipment is the same.
Each of the Ember models include:
- composite flooring
- five-sided aluminum construction
- Curt independent suspension
- integrated parking brake
- unique front storage box
The unit I walked through at the Hershey RV Show was the Ember 191MSL
The Ember 191MSL features a 74″ x 46″ rear cargo area with the repositionable EmberTrack E-Track System, which creates convenient attachment points for storing and transporting all gear. Access to this cargo locker is through a large exterior side door and through the rear kayak/bike door.
Photo credit: Ember
It has a single slide that houses the jack-knife sofa and a long removable table set up in front of it. The main sleeping space uses a 60×80-inch Queen Murphy bed, freeing up space when it’s not in use. Over the Murphy bed is an Ember signature feature – the Stargazer skylight. Despite its compact size, it still offers a 24×40-inch shower in a sizable bathroom.
Photo credit: Ember
Key Features of the Ember 191MSL
- “Stargazer” European Dual Pane Acrylic Skylight
- EmberLink Smart RV Control System
- 74″ x 46″ Rear Cargo Area with Reposition-able Ember E-Track System
- Jack-knife Sofa with Removable Table (converts from lounging to sleeping)
- Gear Box: Tongue-Mounted, Formed Aluminum, LP and Lockable Storage Box
- (Mandatory) Truma Combi: High Efficiency LP Water Heater and Furnace Combo
- (Mandatory) Truma Aventa A/C: Low-profile “Whisper-Quiet” Energy Efficient 13,500 BTU Air Conditioner
Construction Features of the Ember 191MSL
- CURT Independent Suspension: Heavy-Duty Coil Springs with Dual Shock Absorbers (each wheel)
- Trailblazer Heavy-Duty Offroad Chassis
- VersaCoupler Height-Adjustable Bolt-On Hitching System
- 5-Sided Aluminum Frame Construction
- Laminated Azdel Onboard Composite Walls
- Laminated Azdel Onboard Composite Rooftop
- TRANSCORE Structural Composite Flooring
- Steel Fenders/Wheel Wells
- Aluminum Bed, Bunk, and/or Dinette Construction (where applicable)
Max Solar Package: 3000W Inverter (in place of 1000W)
- 270Ah 12V Battle Born Gamechanger Lithium-ion (LiFePO4) Battery
- Two Additional Roof-mounted 200W Solar Panels (600W total)
- Upgraded Bluetooth MPPT Controller
- Wireless Side/Rear Observation Camera System with Monitor
Specifications of the Ember 191MSL:
- Exterior Length (overall): 22’6″
- Exterior Height (with A/C): 10’4″
- Exterior Width: 8′
- Awning Length: 14′
- Hitch Weight: 605 lb
- Dry Weight: 4,505 lb
- Cargo Carrying Capacity: 1,045 lb
- GVWR: 5,550 lb
- Fresh Water: 55 gal
- Gray Water: 35 gal
- Black Tank: 35 gal
- LP Gas: 40 lb
To see a walk-through of Ember 191MSL, check out TK Powersports & RV’s YouTube channel.
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