Here’s a First Look at America’s Newest Affordable Family Travel Trailer: Transcend One

Five people will have a place to rest their heads at night, made possible by a forward queen bed, two bunks at the rear, and a modular sofa. The second model we see is only designed for four guests, and it’s a tad more expensive because of the way the interior works; a Murphy bed is found at the front of this layout, and a modular dinette has replaced the bunk.

Two other differences between the two floorplans include the bathroom and galley setup. In the 151BH, the more affordable option, the bathroom lacks a sink with running water. As a result, there’s plenty of space to move around and meditate. The 151RB, the second unit spotted in the video, includes a sink and faucet, mainly because this bathroom spans the entire width of the unit, made possible by ditching the bunk beds.

Regarding galleys, the 151RB is the unit I admired most for its kitchen setup, but the one found in the 151BH will do just fine for traveling families, too. Then there’s something about a $4 trash bin, but I guess you’ll have to watch the video to see what I’m talking about.

For this single-axle lineup, storage options exist inside and outside the unit. Inside, we have all the cabinetry, bedside bays, and under-furniture bins, but Grand Design also added pass-through storage and other nooks and crannies outside, too.

Photo: Grand Design RV

Last but not least, for under $20K, the manufacturer of these travel trailers is giving us units that can handle traveling well into the colder months. Aside from an insulated and enclosed underbelly, to up to R-40 insulation in the walls and roof. The latter is double-insulated, and a 20K furnace is sure to keep things nice and warm inside. All that and a Lippert frame later, we’re looking at a camper lineup with a GVWR of 4,420 lbs, so you won’t need the biggest vehicle around to tow this one.

But what about off-grid living abilities? Here, too, Grand Design took the time to give potential and even current RV owners the ability to take these babies off-grid. As standard, up to 600 W of solar panel power can be added, and that juice is handled by a 2,000 W inverter and 30 A controller, all of which are optional and not included in the $20,000. In all, 37 gals of fresh water are available to both units.

What I found rather neat about this whole presentation is that Matt Eppers of Grand Design mentions that they want you to leave a comment in the video section regarding your thoughts on these units. Why? Think of it as a perfect opportunity to do a bit of market research, even going as far as making significant changes to units based on owner and possible client feedback.

Photo: Grand Design RV

The question now remains: is this the right unit for you and your family? Well, Grand Design seems to think so, even going as far as calling the Transcend One lineup a perfect addition to the current RV owner’s lifestyle or those that are looking to explore what the camper game is all about.

But, in my opinion, the best way to see if the Transcend Ones are for you is to head down to a local dealership and climb aboard. Touch the materials, flip up the beds, have the kids try out the bunks, and when you’re done, sign the papers; apparently, a new Grand Design warranty policy is in place with this lineup.

Now, before I go, I couldn’t help but hear the channel host, Matt, talking about how the rates you hear are nothing but an MSRP. General RV, the crew Matt works with, will be working on getting sub-MSRP prices for clients going through General RV. The Hersey RV show that’s coming up is also one event where folks like you and me can get their hands on an even better price for a new Transcend One.

What are your thoughts on the new lineup? I invite you to leave a comment below.