Last summer, the Truma marketing team embarked on a road trip that covered over 1,000 miles, crossed through 3 states, and built a strong partnership with an exciting new RV manufacturer, Coast.
The all-electric Coast is the sister brand to Aero Build, a manufacturer of high-end mobile coffee shops, bars, and boutique business trailers. Both Coast and Aero Build are based and built in Nashville, TN. The Coast Model 1, which was the star of the road trip and served as the accommodations for our team, is outfitted with a Truma Aventa eco rooftop air conditioner. After over a year of building luxury RVs with Truma Systems on board, we sat down with Coast Founder and CEO Brian Fuente to discuss the partnership between the two companies.
Truma: How did you first learn about Truma?
Brian Fuente: When we developed the Coast Model 1, it was important to me that we use the best of everything, especially heating and cooling systems. But a lot of what was out there just didn’t match the high-end aesthetic we were working toward. I saw the Truma Aventa and I thought it was perfect for what we were looking for. It was so sleek. And that black shroud just had the look we wanted. So, I started to dig into the website and the specs and saw the quality was there too. I made a phone call to Truma about wanting to use them in the Model 1 build and I was put in touch with the engineering team almost immediately. There was an incredible level of customer service from day one.
Truma: Obviously, the look and the functionality were important. What other things do you consider when you’re choosing a system or a supplier?
Fuente: Communication and support, absolutely. We are a boutique builder. We are building fewer RVs than your larger manufacturers. We had a lot of suppliers who wouldn’t even call us back. But Truma always answered, and they gave us the attention we needed as an OEM to build a successful product. The engineering and design support we received has consistently been top-notch.
Truma: How have customers responded to the Truma Aventa on board the Coast Model 1?
Fuente: Our customers love it. The Aventa eco is not only incredibly efficient but it’s quiet. My family has taken the Model 1 on several camping trips and it cools very quickly – even on a 107° day! And when you talk about off-grid living, energy consumption is so important. The Aventa is the most efficient air conditioner we tested. Customers are getting that incredible cooling power while still being able to stay off-grid longer.
Truma: How does having Truma systems on board make the RVing experience “Simply Better”?
Fuente: Well, when you say Truma is “Simply Better,” it just is. The customer service is number one. Anytime we have had to call Truma, we get an answer right away and the Customer Care team is ready to help in whatever way they can. I never hesitate to point my customers to Truma when they have questions because I know they will be taken care of. But I also know the Aventa will just work. I don’t worry about it. It is so highly engineered and high-quality that I have confidence in the system itself.
Truma: How do you see Coast’s partnership with Truma growing in the future?
Fuente: As we design new products, we are 100% coming to Truma first. We aren’t interested in any alternatives because the quality and the engineering support is so important for our brand. Our design and engineering teams just worked so well together. Plus, having access to Truma’s climate chamber when we do move forward with new Truma systems gives us an incredible opportunity to test the systems in the actual trailer and that really adds to the partnership.
Truma: Can you give us any insight to what’s next for Coast and Truma?
Fuente: We recently had the opportunity to be the first U.S. production model to use the PowerTouch mover technology from Truma Limited based out of the U.K. That technology powers the Coast Control remote maneuvering system. This has been especially exciting for me because the Coast offers a European design while still being made in America. Getting to work with the team in Elkhart and the team in the UK to bring this more European feature stateside was very cool. Overall, we plan to continue to innovate in the luxury travel trailer space and Truma is a great partner in building the best-looking, most efficient RVs.
To learn more about the Coast Model 1, visit https://coastrv.co/
