Monthly Archives: April 2019

5255 with full-body paint graphics

BT Cruiser Makes “Getting There” as Much Fun as “Being There!”

The iconic Gulf Stream Coach BT Cruiser built its fame by doing two things better than any other motor home on the road. It provides a luxury-suite living experience wherever you park it; AND it makes the driving experience truly enjoyable, whether you’re on city streets, country lanes, or cross-country highways.

Ford chassis rule!

The BT Cruiser is designed to be a driving machine, taking advantage of the powerful, reliable, efficient Ford E350 and E450 chassis. The Ford E-series chassis has logged far more RV miles than any other, and the latest edition is hands-down, the best version ever offered.

Our “Cradle of Strength” – more stable, safer, exclusive

Our BT Cruiser does things with the Ford E-series chassis that no one else does. It starts, literally, at the bottom, with our exclusive “Cradle of Strength” chassis reinforcements. We add steel stringers and braces to create box-style trusses that are stronger and more rigid than ordinary triangle frames. We use steel where nothing else can do the job, adding stability and safety to every mile you drive.

RVers love our lower profile!

The BT Cruiser also uses a significantly lower exterior profile than typical Class C’s. The benefits? Better fuel economy, lower travel costs, better aerodynamics, and surer handling in windy conditions. The lower stance also makes getting in and out of the BT Cruiser easier and safer. And, veteran RVers who are tired of clipping overhead branches on narrow tree-lined streets really appreciate the low overall height.

Go anywhere, see everything!

Overall dimensions of the BT Cruiser make it far easier to maneuver, park, back up and turn than traditional Class C and Class A motor homes. (The included back-up camera and monitor are a big help too.) Owners simply love the higher level of freedom and lower level of stress that comes with ‘BT Cruising.’ When driving a motor home is this easy and stress-free, you can take it virtually anywhere. Drive, park, and enjoy the high school soccer game, family reunion, flea market, race track, outlet mall. . . You name it, you’ll enjoy the trip and the destination more when you’re in a BT Cruiser.

Solid Step - Advanced Entry System for Gulf Stream Coach travel trailers

The Best Step You Can Take!

How many times do you go in and out of your travel trailer when you’re camping? How many times when you’re stocking food, supplies, clothes and other gear? If you’re like most campers, you climb in and out more times than you’d care to count. That’s why you will love ‘the best step you can take.’

It’s our new Solid Step, available on a growing number of Gulf Stream Coach travel trailers. Unlike old-fashioned steps, Solid Step puts two feet firmly on the ground, and holds tightly to the floor in your doorway. You get a rock-solid, stable, and safe footing for all those trips in and out.

The Solid Step is hinged so you can easily swing it up and latch it securely inside when it’s not in use. You can adjust the length of each leg independently too, so you can have a firm footing no matter where you set up camp. And here’s a bonus: Since the Solid Step stores inside your trailer, instead of collecting road dirt and grime, it stays clean and dry while you’re traveling.

The all-steel and aluminum construction of the Solid Step make it durable and long-lasting. Non-skid strips make the steps safer, even in a camping environment. Add it all up, and it’s another great reason to choose a Gulf Stream Coach travel trailer. Or put another way: It’s the best step you can take!

Rich and Sherry V

Camping: It’s the Friends You Meet…

It’s more than travel trailers – it’s friendships!

Travel trailer camping gives you a chance to obsess about gear, features, floor plans, tow vehicles – and more… But one of the real joys of camping is much more rewarding. It’s the chance you have to meet new people and make new friends along the way.

Maybe it’s not surprising that friendship is a big part of camping. After all, when you’re camping you leave behind so many barriers that stand between you and others. Instead, the camping world is one of shared experiences and common interests. Camping lets you share the beauty of our world, the extremes of nature, and a back-to-basics lifestyle with the campers you meet.

Sharing simple pleasures

Whether you get together at sundown in the glow of a campfire, or around a borrowed jigsaw puzzle on a rainy day, camping gives you a way to share simple pleasures with others.

Need help backing into your site? Someone you’ve never met before WILL be there to help. Want to know the best bait for your son’s first time fishing? Expert opinions abound.

And the FOOD! Simple meals become feasts, and everything tastes better when it’s shared with others. Burn a hot dog? No problem! Your new ‘best friend’ LIKES them that way. Wish you had a charcoal grill? Look – Two campsites away there’s charcoal glowing, room on the grill, and a new friend.

It’s no wonder you can’t wait to hitch up and go camping!

For these and countless other reasons, it’s no wonder you can’t wait to leave the real world behind, hitch up your trailer, and escape – to the REAL world. We’ll see you out there!

(THANKS for the friendly hello from Rich & Sherry V., Vintage Cruiser owners and members of “The Vintage Cruisers” on Facebook – Check it out!

Conventional or Laminated Construction

Conventional or Laminated Construction: Which Travel Trailer Is Right for You?

When you start shopping for a travel trailer, you’ll learn that there are two basic types of construction to consider. Each has advantages, and each has a history of satisfying countless trailer campers over many years. That said, what are the key differences and advantages? And as someone looking for a travel trailer, which is the right choice for you?

The basic differences

Conventional construction (here are some examples) is the tried-and-true industry standard since the first mass-produced travel trailers. It uses construction features adapted from residential construction. Walls have upright wood studs 13″ to 16″ on center. Floors have wooden joists, and ceilings have wooden rafters. Aluminum siding covers exterior walls and wall insulation is familiar spun fiberglass. Inside walls are rigid panels covered with vinyl. Instead of shingles, a seamless synthetic membrane covers the roof, and an electroplated steel frame replaces a traditional foundation.

Laminated construction (here are examples) builds a skeleton of welded square-tube aluminum instead of wood studs. Instead of spun fiberglass, closed-cell rigid foam insulation fills the frame, and exterior walls are sheets of fiberglass. Laminated construction uses robotically applied glues to join all the layers of the wall. A vacuum chamber then bonds the layers together into a single solid panel.

Conventional construction has the key advantages of being less expensive, simpler, and easier to repair.

The big advantages of laminated construction are its light weight, stiffness, and easy cleanup.

Keep exploring – You’ll be an expert soon

Of course, there are variations on the basics described above, and much more to the story of both methods. You can find diagrams and explanations of our construction right here on the Gulf Stream Web Site. Here’s a good starting point for more information.

Online e-brochure for the BT Cruiser

Newest E-Brochures Updated, Uploaded

If you want the latest Gulf Stream Coach floor plans, specifications, features, and photos, take a moment to download the newest e-brochures from the Gulf Stream Web site. The new brochures are color PDF’s, which look great on screen, download quickly, and print well on your desktop printer.

Headed to an RV show or dealer? Be prepared!

Choosing a new travel trailer or motor home means assembling a lot of information and making a lot of choices. That makes it smart to check out our e-brochures before you head to the next RV show or visit your local RV dealer.

All the info you need in one handy place

Our e-brochures have an easy-to-read table that includes the latest dimension data – Length, width, weight, tank sizes, and more. They also show current floor plans side-by-side, so you can compare living spaces and sleeping arrangements.

Key too is the latest list of standard features, packages and options. That’s your guide to getting exactly what you want in your new RV. We highlight construction features and materials in our brochures, too. That helps you understand all the unique steps we take to make our RV’s more reliable, durable, and safer.

Finally, e-brochures provide a great showcase for pictures of our RV interiors. Brochure pictures let you study our RV’s, so you can decide how you’ll make use of the spaces and features.

Do your homework before you go!

Of course nothing can replace the fun and functionality of exploring new travel trailers and motor homes in person. (Use this link to find dealers near you.) Whether you visit an RV show or a dealer near you, you’ll have an experience that no brochure can provide. But don’t head out of the house without doing a little homework – Take a look at our online e-brochures.

Our e-brochures are easy to find

You’ll find a link to our e-brochures at the top of every Brand page. Just click the “Get A Brochure” button near the top of the page. Once you’ve chosen a model on the site, the e-brochure is also posted under the “Features” tab. Finally, all e-brochures are on our “Download Center” page under the Company Info and News tab in our Main Menu.