APPLE CREEK, Ohio — Don’t tell Scott Hubble this is not a good time to start a new RV manufacturing company.
The latest quarterly forecast prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association (RVIA) shows wholesale shipments for the year are projected to come in at about 337,000 units, which would represent a very slight increase from 2024 but a decline from recent boom years. Meanwhile, the impact of tariffs, mixed jobs numbers and gyrating consumer sentiment all represent unknowns for the second half of the year.
Hubble remains undeterred.
“I think that’s a valid question, and I have been asked about it a number of times,” he acknowledged, referring to reported softness in the RV market. “But I believe this product is going to be so unique, both in terms of the build and also in terms of the fit, that I don’t think we are going to encounter a lot of difficulties.”
Known for his long association with Ohio-based teardrop trailer manufacturer nuCamp, where he served as CEO and helped expand the company’s market beyond its Midwest roots, Hubble’s new venture is Awaken RV, which aims to build lightweight, durable, mid-priced fiberglass molded travel trailers.
“The thing that’s appealing about fiberglass molded trailers is that they have a storied history behind them,” he said. “They’re somewhat iconic and they have great durability. I saw a lot of similarities between the fiberglass molded market and the market that I helped grow at nuCamp with teardrops and truck campers.”
Of course, there are already a number of players in fiberglass molded trailer market, but Hubble said they tend to be concentrated in the high-end luxury market ($85,000 and up) or the entry-level market ($20,000-$35,000), which he said creates an opportunity for a savvy mid-tier player. Additionally, he noted that many of those other manufacturers of fiberglass molded trailers sell factory direct, which he said creates an opening for an RV maker that sells via a traditional dealer network.
“I saw there was an opportunity here, with a pretty big gap right in the middle of the market. I think one of my skills is identifying unredeemed opportunities, so that’s why I decided to start Awaken RV,” Hubble said.
He said Awaken expects to begin production on its trailer line in September, with the company’s fiberglass molded parts being provided by strategic partners AC&T and Goldshield, both out of Decatur, Indiana. The first model will be called the MorningStar and will be 24 feet in length, tip to tail, with a 19-foot box and a 5-foot tongue, plus bumper/spare tire carrier. It is expected to feature a dry weight of about 5,500 pounds and feature an MSRP of $82,500, fully loaded.
According to Hubble, some of the key features dealers and customers will find on Awaken RVs include an aluminum chassis; a double-hull molded fiberglass designed to allow four-season camping; insulated, acrylic windows; a design-forward aesthetic; Euro-styling with no beltline; a Battle Born off-grid power system; ducted Truma heat and A/C; a 24-square-foot dry bath; and warm-grained, solid-wood cabinetry.
“I’m a big fan of having a lot of windows to let in natural light, so you’ll see that with these units. And I’m a big fan of the European caravan market, so I think you’ll some of those styling trends, because I wanted something that’s visually pleasing,” he said. “It’s also important that this unit be functional, so it was important that it was a four-season camper and that it had those creature comforts, like a good-sized dry bath.”
Hubble said he envisions that Awaken RV models will appeal to Gen Xers who are retired or approaching retirement age, are empty nesters and who are generally looking for a couple’s coach.
While Awaken RV has yet to produce any models as of early August, Hubble said the company fully expects to have at least one model on display for dealers during Elkhart Open House Week, at Truma’s exhibit space on County Road 6.
Hubble said he has assembled a quality leadership team that includes Bill Westfall, CFO; Nathan Wagler, COO; Will Gerton, project engineer; Roy Troyer Jr., production manager; and Zac Schweitzer, assembly and fabrication manager.
Awaken RV has a secured a 17,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Apple Creek, Ohio, an area that Hubble described as being rich in Amish craftsmanship, which he said he hopes his company will be able to tap into.
Hubble said he initially expects the company to start small, building maybe 20 trailers per month before the end of the year, and then scale up from there in 2026. As the company grows, Hubble said the RV maker will look to add models in greater lengths, to 25 feet and longer, which he said represents a major untapped market in fiberglass-molded RVs.
“As I looked at the market, I realized no one (in the fiberglass segment) is building anything north of about 25 feet,” he said. “So, that’s a huge opportunity for us moving forward.”
