There is no debate that RV buyers are getting younger. There was a time, before dot coms, before the letter “e” had pervaded all aspects of society, when space shuttles were operated on computers that today couldn’t power a Palm Pilot, when millionaires were still relatively rare. It was then that the privilege of purchasing a motorhome was reserved for those of proper “retirement age.” It was a rite of passage – you retired, turned your nest egg into a motorhome and wintered in Yuma, Arizona.

Now, the generation that brought us hippies and The Grateful Dead and lava lamps has come into its own and changed the game. Even the thirty-somethings are getting into coaches these days. The times have changed, the industry has changed and the all new 2003 Traveler by Holiday Rambler is an embodiment of that change.

It is the most affordable Class A in the Holiday Rambler lineup, perfect for anyone looking to hit the road for summer vacation, from young families to older couples and everyone in between.

For most, this won’t be a full-time coach. It is gas powered, relatively compact and only one of its six floorplans offers a slideout. That said, the Traveler packs an amazing amount of standards and options into 26 to 30 feet of space. It is designed for optimum efficiency and offers a surprising amount of storage, beginning with the pass-through bays outside that provide ample room for anything short of a grand piano.

The Traveler is not so different from the other gas coaches that are priced above it, especially when you consider all the options it offers. True, it is smaller than the Vacationer and when it’s at its purest form, without any options, you will go without things like a VCR, day/night shades and six-way power pilot and passenger seats. The good news is these things can be optioned and it still has all the Holiday Rambler goodies we’ve come to expect. The same Alumaframe‚ superstructure, consisting of interlocking crossmembers, double-welded at each intersection for maximum strength, and the same hydraulic leveling option. It also offers choices between the Ford Chassis with 6.8L V10 engine, (same as the Vacationer or the Workhorse Chassis with 8.1L V8 engine (same as the Vacationer).

The graphics, fabrics and wood choices are equal in elegance to coaches that are twice as expensive. There are fewer choices, however, Island Mocha, Beige Filigree, and Jadestone, with Western Oak standard and Regal Cherry and Maple options.

I think the interior is where your amazement will really begin, especially if it’s loaded with all the options. You would think that an entry-level coach would have to skimp on some of the amenities, but the Traveler truly doesn’t. The standards include a rear-vision system with audio, 25-inch stereo TV, dash computer laptop station and 1500 watt inverter. The options include DVD, Digital Satellite System, four-door refrigerator with icemaker, UltraLeather Euro-Recliner and combination washer dryer. The list goes on.

This is all made possible because the Traveler has no true bedroom. Instead, the coach is outfitted with the Electro-Majic™ bed that comes down out of the ceiling at the touch of a button. It’s groovy. Plus, it frees up space and allows for the presence of all the other good stuff. It’s not the only bed in the Traveler, either, as all models come with a sleeper sofa. It would be tight quarters for more than three people, but then everything looks the same from behind closed eyelids. When the beds are tucked up, there is once again room for dinner parties and the like.

The bathroom in the Traveler also benefits from the Electro-Majic bed. I didn’t get down and measure them, but they appear to be just as spacious as the bathrooms in some of the most expensive coaches. The only downside I can see is that there are no models that offer the shower area separate from the toilet, each floorplan offers them as one consolidated private bath. This might be an inconvenience if your spouse needs to use the toilet while you’re in the shower or vice-versa, but it doesn’t seem to be a deal-breaker and some folks might prefer it this way.

All in all, I think the debut of the 2003 Traveler will be met with a tremendous amount of customer enthusiasm. It is a smart, agile coach that will satisfy those buyers who want a quality Class A motorhome without spending much more than they would on a Class C. It is youthful, fun and active and will likely appeal to people who can be described that same way.