Holiday Rambler’s 2009 Traveler may not wear a cape or move faster than a speeding bullet, but it’s got enough fuel efficiency to make up some of the difference.

By Whitney Elkington

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Lately, sorting through the conundrum of how to get from place to place as efficiently as I can without soaring past my budgeted limit for fuel occasionally calls for a solution of super heroic proportions. Fortunately, for those looking for efficient ways to travel without sacrificing quality or comfort: The 2009 Holiday Rambler Traveler is compact, lightweight and has impressively high fuel economy by RV standards. (Somewhere around 16-18 miles to the gallon, depending on the usual variables: terrain, driver habits, weather, coach maintenance, etc.)

“For our customers who want to down-size, when it comes to economy, the Traveler’s Mercedes diesel engine is a major advantage,” said Page Robertson, product manager for Traveler.

What makes the fuel savings possible? The combination of Dodge’s Sprinter chassis powered by an ultra fuel-efficient turbo diesel Mercedes-Benz 3.0 Liter six-cylinder engine. The engine carries the power of 154 horses hitched up to a five-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. And though 154 horses may not sound like much, Traveler takes off like she’s got twice the horsepower (or maybe a turbo-charged rocket pulsifier).

Public Defender # 1
Traveler is also constructed with safety in mind. The Sprinter chassis adaptive Electronic Stability Program features a variety of systems to protect you and your loved ones, like brake assist, acceleration slip regulation and engine/transmission management, with anti-skid, anti-rollover technology. All of these terms translate to: this chassis is specially engineered to help you stay straight and steady on the road.

In addition to those safety systems, Traveler comes equipped with large four-wheel antilock power disc brakes with venting to help keep brakes cool, driver and passenger side airbags and front and rear stabilizer bars to prevent excessive sway.

Traveler’s four large storage bays with side-hinged bay doors are great for stowing items like suitcases, your inflatable kayak or Aunt Tillie’s handcrafted macramé action figure collection. On the interior, coach cabinetry is trimmed with Sienna Cherry finish while handles, hooks, drawer pulls and other fixtures are finished in satin nickel.

The Motorhome Beneath the Mask
At 24 feet, Traveler is one maneuverable package. Plus this package comes with a 3,500-pound hitch with a seven-pin connector so you can bring your toys along. The entry is located right behind the co-pilot chair, so you walk right into the cockpit. Traveler offers a 19-inch LCD TV in the living area, a water filtration system, a curbside topper slide-out awning, a three-burner cooktop, a microwave/convection oven and an assortment of other standard features.

Traveler has an array of options too. A roof skylight is just one of them. Then there’s a 15,000 BTU Carrier AC with heat pump, Ultra Leather pilot and co-pilot seats, a backup monitor system with a single camera and a 3.2 kW Onan® Quiet Diesel generator.

Buyers can choose between two floorplans, the 24RBH and the 24RFS. With the 24RBH, you can switch out the standard roadside booth dinette for the optional roadside sleeper sofa with a removable table. The back of the coach’s interior holds a bedroom area with a privacy curtain and a private shower and toilet. A vanity area and sink are stationed outside the bathroom door for added convenience. With the 24RFS, a sleeper sofa and a booth dinette provide seating and convertible sleeping arrangements and a surprisingly spacious bathroom stretches across the back of the coach.

For both floorplans the space located above the cab can be designated to serve as a bunk bed with a hinged mattress — the bed comes with an adjustable reading light, a window at the head and feet and a privacy curtain — or the same area can serve as a comparatively vast storage space. Both of Traveler’s floorplan choices offer furniture selections that can give you room enough to accommodate six people.

Traveler is one of the latest and most innovative lines from Holiday Rambler Coach Corporation this model year. Introduced only recently to dealers at Holiday Rambler’s annual Dealer Congress, Traveler’s reception, according to Robertson, was warm. “It was a very positive reaction,” Robertson said. “We were happy to sell a number of units.” At a base retail price of $95,000, Traveler may require more than pocket change but she’s worth every penny.

Super Support
“Traveler’s a great unit for a small family interested in saving some money and enjoying a product with maneuverability and first-rate quality,” Robertson said.

So what sets Traveler apart from other manufacturers’ Sprinter chassis-based models? “The name,” he replied. “The reputation, the quality, the customer service, the experience, the difference of the Holiday Rambler name.”

So if you’re looking for a great coach with newsworthy fuel efficiency and a name that will back you up 24/7 across the country and through the years — cape or no cape — Traveler is just the kind of coach you’ve been searching for.

For more information about Traveler go to www.holidayrambler.com or your nearest Holiday Rambler dealer.