Jayco's Generational Offspring Is at It Again! Ember's E-Series Is Only the "Essentials"

That's because Ember RV's CEO is Ashley Bontrager Lehman, and if the name Bontrager sounds familiar, it's because she's the granddaughter of Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager, the one and the same that started the one and only global powerhouse, Jayco.

Well, it would seem as though Ember is on the path of becoming yet another industry powerhouse because ever since I started covering the work they achieve, I've only seen growth and lots of it. This brings me to the most recently announced class of camper from this crew, the E-Series.

Now, these days, whenever something comes at you with the letter "E" in its title, you might start thinking "electric." However, As Ember states on their website, the "E" in this one stands for "essentials." Time to see what Ember has in store for future American owners.

One way Ember is currently staying ahead of other established industry giants, Jayco included, is by offering rather affordable units, especially when we consider what an E-Series can achieve. All this starts off with this unit's price.

This is where the E-Series really jumped into my brain and started sparking all these words you see. Depending on which of the four available floorplans you eventually go for, Ember is only asking us to bring a tad under $42K (€39 at current exchange rates) to pick up one of these babies; that would be the 22MLQ floorplan, the lightest of the bunch.

But, if we start climbing the money ladder just a bit, we can access units over 31 feet (9.4 m) long that can accommodate up to eight people. That's the 26ETS layout, and in it, eight guests can crash their heads. Sounds like quite a deal, so let's dive a tad deeper and see what we're up against here.

Now, a whole lot of images don't exist of this series, and the ones we do have don't specify precisely what layout is being displayed. Nonetheless, it shouldn't stop us from understanding what Ember has achieved here. After all, since all four floorplans are part of the same class and well within a similar price range, we can expect to see the same materials used here and there, with a few modifications, of course, mainly in the shape of extra bedding; I've chosen the 26ETS to be our guiding light for this lineup.

Overall, this unit starts off with a tandem-axle design upon which a framework of aluminum creates the backdrop for what will eventually become your mobile home. Laminated Azdel walls are then laid down, and a fully walkable one-piece roof seals everything in. The latter also comes with a lifetime warranty. But, the real neat side of things is that each of these units include a slide-out, and the 26ETS places over half of the port wall on such a feature.

Before we climb inside, let's take a step back for a minute and explore the exterior of the E-Series. Why? Well, one way Ember is standing apart from other manufacturers on the market is by crafting an outdoor-oriented machine.

For example, units include essentials like outdoor showers and power service, but features like awnings, telescoping roof ladders, and solar prep are also part of the magic here. Oh, and with 55 gals (208 l) of fresh water and a fully enclosed radiant barrier underbelly, you and the family can break away from the park.

As for the cargo-carrying abilities of this bugger, there's really not much you won't be able to bring along. At the front of the unit, pass-through storage is in place, while the rear includes a lateral bay that looks as though we can access a toy garage suitable for bikes and kayaks. The catch here is that this toy garage shares the same space as a set of bunk beds. Those bunks are set up on a track system, so if you're leaving the kids at home, you can easily lift them out of the way.

From this toy garage/bedroom, the rest of the 26ETS unfolds with spaces like an entertainment center, a wonderful L-shaped kitchen and bar, a bathroom with separate features, and at the very front of the unit, a large bedroom with walk-around a queen bed. Each owner also gets their own nightstand and plenty of storage overhead. This section of the camper can be closed off from the rest for utter privacy.

A few notable features of the interior are things like the air fryer/microwave combo, massive fridge, integrated Bluetooth speakers, hardwood cabinet doors, 30K TBU furnace, 18K BTU AC, and the well-lit ambiance created by large windows along the sides of the trailer.

Now, to go through all the little itty-bitty pieces that make up this mobile home would be sheer insanity; we'd be here for a couple of hours. But if what you see in the gallery and the video below grabs your attention, all I have to say is that this year's season is just around the corner, and that means it's time to buy, buy, buy, or upgrade, and with the price, looks, and capability the E-Series brings to the modern RV table, it stands a solid chance of ending up behind our trucks.