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People who love overlanding sometimes struggle to find trailers and truck campers that meet the demands of off-road traveling.
However, a few companies manufacture top-quality, durable RVs just for overlanding, such as Ember RV.
It emerged in 2021 and has a laser focus committed to creating quality products for overlanders. Ember RV is becoming a top brand in the RV industry.
Let’s learn more about this new kid on the block.
About Ember RV
Ember RV’s slogan is “Building a Better RV by Building a Better RV Company.” The company focuses on making itself the best brand in the industry by manufacturing quality products and providing excellent customer service.
Ember RV challenges the status quo and meets customers’ needs while developing strong dealer relationships.
The company focuses on two lines of trailers: the Overland Series and the Overland Micro Series. Both lines provide durable trailers for off-road traveling so owners can enjoy the outdoors in remote locations.
While the Overland Micro Series is a compact version of the Overland Series, it doesn’t sacrifice quality or off-road ability.
Who Makes Ember RVs?
Ashley Bontrager Lehman is the founder, president, and CEO of Ember RV.
Her team includes Chris Barth, the founder, vice president, and COO, and Operations Directors Ernie Miller and Steve Delagrange. Their small team leads dozens of employees and supports owners by providing individual attention.
A small company like Ember RV can hone its focus and work hard to keep customers and employees happy. Instead of manufacturing dozens of models and floorplans, it produces top-quality overlanding trailers by sticking to the company’s mission, vision, and goals.
About Ashley Bontrager Lehman
Ashley Lehman, the granddaughter of Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager, founders of Jayco, Inc., started her industry career as a marketing manager. She later got promoted to director of marketing.
Her love for travel and her burning ambition led Lehman to help launch the new company in 2021.
The founding partnership included Vice President and COO Chris Barth and Operations Directors Ernie Miller and Steve Delagrange. Ember RV, located in Bristol, Ind., is the first woman-led RV manufacturing company.
What Makes Ember RV Unique
Because of the company’s size, it can remain focused on individuals. From top to bottom, all team members remain committed to high customer service and designing products for overlanders.
The company manufactures each unit with the individual customer in mind.
Ember RV works intentionally on everything it does. The company designs quality products with high-level functionality in combination with overlanding capabilities.
The team chooses the right suppliers and materials to fit the company’s mission, vision, and goals. Off-road and off-grid ability come with every unit.
Comfort and thoughtful design fill the interior, while rugged durability defines the exterior.
When Did Ember RV Start?
The Elkhart Development Corporation wrote an article in August 2021 about the emergence of Ember RV. In the interview, Lehman explains how and why the company began.
“Some of our initial discussions started with talking about building RVs, but as we got into it more, we realized that what we really wanted to do was build an RV company that would do things a little better, in our opinion,” said Lehman.
“And we got excited about the idea that we’re building a great company, that also builds RVs.”
So in 2021, Ember RV began focusing on building quality overland RVs and a quality company that people could trust.
The company commits to doing the right thing, customer loyalty, superior products, and excellent craftsmanship.
Where Are Ember RVs Made?
You can find Ember RV in Elkhart County, Ind., “The RV Capital of the World.” Elkhart County has earned that reputation from brands such as Keystone, Forest River, Newmar, Grand Design, Jayco, and more.
The local workforce has delivered RV products for decades, so it made sense for Lehman and her team to call Indiana “home.”
It initially operated out of an 18,000 square-foot warehouse, production, and office space in Bristol, Ind. The company then invested millions of dollars in an 87,750-square-foot building on 15 acres in late 2021.
The initial 23 employees hired in early 2021 grew to up to 150 positions. And it hopes to expand its RV production, service, engineering, accounting, and administration teams by 2023.
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What Is Overlanding?
Although overlanding has become a trending hobby today, it’s been around for many decades. The idea of camping off-grid and exploring remote places has fascinated people for a long time.
But more recently, companies have started manufacturing trailers and campers to help overlanders have an enjoyable and safe experience.
The self-reliance of overlanding means living off-grid without the aid of power or water. Overlanders can set up camp in the middle of the desert or deep in the forests and not need an electrical or water source.
They carry everything they need on board and can last from days to weeks, depending on the specific RV’s capabilities.
Additionally, overlanders don’t typically take the road most traveled and will often drive over rugged terrain to get to their destination.
About Ember RV Overland Series
Number of Floorplans: The Overland Series has eight floorplans.
MSRP: $48,816 to $60,971
Length: 20 feet 6 inches to 26 feet 1 inch
GVWR: 5,440 to 6,995 pounds
Features: The Ember RV Overland Series units have CURT independent-suspension heavy-duty coil springs with dual shock absorbers and a heavy-duty off-road tube steel frame.
It also comes with Nitro-filled 16-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires for superior travel.
Other features that support overlanding include a Go Power! 190W rooftop solar panel and the 1,000 Watt Pure Sine wave inverter. And the steel fenders and wheel wells make it more durable.
Additionally, you can enjoy the “Stargazer” European dual-pane acrylic skylight, 12 Volt tank heaters, and 12 Volt refrigerator. Ember RV offers a max solar package upgrade and Battle Born battery upgrades as well.
About: You can find floorplans for families, couples, and solo travelers. Three units have no slide-outs, and six have queen Murphy beds. The 171FB and 201FBQ have designated separate sleeping spaces with a front queen.
The 107MBH features single-over-single bunk beds, while the 190MDB, 191MDB, and 221MDB feature double-over-double bunks. Additionally, the Overland Series units have a full bathroom in the rear.
About Ember RV Overland Micro Series
Number of Floorplans: The Micro Series has two floorplans.
MSRP: $27,573 to $30,104
Length: 12 feet 10 inches
GVWR: 3,495 pounds
Features: Like the Overland Series, the Overland Micro Series units have CURT independent suspension heavy-duty coil springs with dual shock absorbers and a heavy-duty off-road tube steel frame.
It also comes with Nitro-filled 16-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires.
The Overland Mico Series is simply a smaller version of the same type of construction.
These two floorplans also include Go Power! 190W rooftop solar panel, 1,000 Watt Pure Sine wave inverter, steel fenders and wheel wells, and 12-Volt tank heaters.
Additionally, Ember RV can install a Thule Tepui rooftop tent, an outdoor griddle, and a sidewall-mount 8k BTU air conditioning unit.
Or you can get a Truma Combi eco-plus high-efficiency gas/electric water heater and furnace combo.
About: The Ember RV Overland Micro Series has two floorplans that feature a futon sofa that sits underneath a large window.
Across from the sofa, you’ll find a small mobile table/desk to the right and a nightstand to the left.
The futon easily unfolds for a comfortable sleeping space. The rear baggage door opens to an empty storage locker in the ROL model and an outside kitchen in the ROK.
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Ember RV: The Newest RV Brand Out There
Ember RV may be the new kid on the block, but the company is developing products that we expect will make them well-known in the future.
Between the Overland Series and the Overland Micro Series, Ember RV manufactures quality off-road trailers that meet the needs of overlanders.
Whether you’re a family seeking adventures on the weekends or a solo traveler seeking to live off-grid for months at a time, consider the Ember RVs.
Are you an overlander looking for a new rig? If so, check out the Ember RV website.
