History & Factory Tours

The 1935 Bowlus That Inspired a Revival

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Step back in time with Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus, for an exclusive walkthrough of the 1935 Bowlus Road Chief, the very first riveted aluminum travel trailer and the origin of luxury land travel.

Lovingly restored by hand, it was this exact trailer, once forgotten in a farmer’s field, that inspired the revival of the modern Bowlus brand. In this video, Geneva takes you through its remarkable history: from its creation by Hawley Bowlus, the pioneering aerospace engineer who supervised the Spirit of St. Louis, to its groundbreaking role as the world’s first aerodynamic aluminum travel trailer.

Discover how revolutionary this design was in the 1930s, light enough to tow behind modest cars, futuristic in its shimmering aircraft-grade aluminum, and decades ahead of its time in shaping the American dream of freedom on the open road. You’ll also see how the Long family restored every rivet, panel, and window to its original glory, honoring Hawley Bowlus’ vision while making it road-ready for modern adventures.

This is more than a walkthrough of a vintage trailer — it’s the story of how Bowlus began, why it mattered then, and how it still inspires every handcrafted Bowlus built today.

FAQs

The Bowlus Road Chief is the world’s first all-aluminum riveted travel trailer. Built over 90 years ago, it represented a revolution in American land travel, introducing aircraft principles, such as aerodynamic forms and lightweight duraluminum, to the road long before commercial air travel was common for most Americans.

Hawley Bowlus was a pioneering aerospace engineer best known for supervising the construction of the Spirit of St. Louis, the plane Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic. He applied his expertise in sailplanes and gliders to create the lightweight, high-strength monocoque structures that define the Bowlus brand.

The iconic teardrop silhouette and front-entry design evolved from Holly’s early work with sailplanes. He originally built trailers to transport gliders to remote takeoff sites; eventually, he added a ribbed canvas shelter (nicknamed “The Egg”) inside the frame to stay overnight. By 1934, he transitioned from canvas to riveted aluminum sheets, creating the first Road Chief.

For most customers, we handle the registration on your behalf, ensuring a seamless experience. If you are self-registering or financing, we will provide the necessary paperwork and guidance to complete the process with your local DMV or lender.

Travel in 1935 was a luxury for the elite few during the depths of the Great Depression. Most American homes lacked indoor plumbing or electricity, and “auto camping” usually involved heavy, leaking canvas tents. The gleaming, silver Bowlus—with its electrical system and aerodynamic efficiency—looked like a spaceship on the frontier.

Intercom System: A phone was used to call the tow car to tell the driver that “dinner is ready.”
Advanced Power: It was marketed as an extension of the car, pulling power directly from the tow vehicle’s battery.
Fireproof Galley: The kitchen was advertised as fireproof because it was constructed entirely of aluminum.
Natural Cooling: It used a “thermosyphon” system, where aligned ceiling vents and open windows created a passive, electricity-free cooling flow.

This particular trailer was found in a farmer’s field in Washington state, where it served as a clubhouse for a donkey and mule enthusiast club. It was meticulously restored by hand by the Long family. The restoration involved removing 1960s modifications, sourcing period-accurate windows, and adding subtle modern necessities like a water pump, battery system, and a toilet.

Yes. Airstream’s founder originally sold Bowlus trailers. Inspired by Hawley Bowlus’s revolutionary design, he later created the Airstream Clipper, which utilized a similar aluminum construction but moved the entrance door from the front to the side.

This 1935 Road Chief is the soul of the modern brand. Every Bowlus built today is inspired by this unit’s craftsmanship, aerodynamic efficiency, and the “freedom of the road” spirit that defined Hawley Bowlus’s original vision.

Video Transcript

Hi, I’m Geneva Long, CEO of Bowlus, and today I’m honored to take you on a walkthrough of the most iconic travel trailer ever built: the 1935 Bowlus. This particular Bowlus Road Chief is incredibly special to me. It’s been in my family for decades, and we lovingly restored it by hand. It was our first road trip in this very trailer that inspired the revival of the Bowlus brand. This is more than a travel trailer; it’s the origin of luxury land travel and the beginning of my journey with Bowlus.

Before we get started, I think it’s important to understand how meaningful it is both when it was built over 90 years ago and to do that, I need to take you back into life in the 1930s. America was in the depths of the Great Depression. Travel and leisure were for the elite few. Most Americans were scraping by, not planning weekend adventures. American tourism was only beginning. Most American homes didn’t have indoor plumbing, heating was often from a wood stove, and electricity was still being introduced to parts of the country. Radio was cutting-edge technology; only 40% of homes had one, and they were even rarer in vehicles.

Few owned cars and very few had free time. The standard work week for most Americans was 48 hours, six days a week. Auto camping was for the elite, using heavy canvas tents prone to leaking. Homemade RVs were crude, heavy, and looked more like horse-drawn wagons from the 1800s. Amidst this, the gleaming silver shape of the Bowlus Road Chief was a glimpse of the future. It was the very first aluminum travel trailer, representing freedom, ingenuity, and a new kind of American dream. Aluminum was cutting-edge and exotic, used in aircraft and military engineering.

Hawley Bowlus, the pioneering engineer who supervised construction of the Spirit of St. Louis, brought aircraft principles to the road: riveted aluminum skin, aerodynamic form, and a lightweight design that even a modest car could tow. Hawley evolved his designs from trailers meant to transport his sailplanes. In 1934, he took an order for the first riveted aluminum travel trailer using duraluminum. It was a revolution. Airstream’s founder actually started by selling Bowlus trailers and later used the same design for the Airstream Clipper, simply moving the door to the side.

This Bowlus Road Chief was built in 1935, originally estimated to be sold for $1,100—about two to three times the cost of a car. It was found in a farmer’s field in Washington state decades later and purchased by my parents in the early 2000s. My father restored it, insisting on honoring every rivet and panel as Hawley Bowlus intended. The only modifications involved adding a toilet, water pump, and battery system to allow for modern camping.

Our cross-country trip in this restored trailer inspired the revival of the brand. We were stopped again and again by people who wanted to know where they could get one. It was a chance to carry forward the spirit of innovation and craftsmanship. Every Bowlus we build today is inspired by this very trailer. From the fireproof aluminum kitchen to the separate bedroom and the aircraft-inspired shell, this is more than a piece of history; it’s the soul of everything we do. Thank you so much for joining me.

Geneva Long
Geneva Long
Founder & CEO
Geneva Long has redefined the RV landscape since 2011, establishing the ultra-luxury travel trailer category. Drawing from her passion for adventure, she leads with a vision for user-centric design. Geneva ensures that every Bowlus delivers supreme comfort and innovative performance, built with a level of craftsmanship designed to last for generations.

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