Cortes Campers, an Ohio-based RV manufacturer, released its Cortes 18 travel trailer. The 17-foot-long, single-axle trailer has a gross vehicle weight rating of 3,500 pounds and weighs 1,885 pounds dry.
The Cortes 18 is the company’s first RV to feature a licensed integrated composite chassis. Cortes Campers engineers replaced a traditional steel chassis with its new, patented composite materials, such as fiberglass and carbon fiber.
The result is an RV 68% to 80% lighter than steel, depending on the composite materials used. The Cortes 18 is 800 pounds lighter than the previous 17-foot model, called the Cortes 17.
The company calls the construction “Monocoque Construction.” Monocoque is a French term meaning “single shell.”
Taylor Bennington, Cortes Campers’ vice president of sales and operations, said, “With the introduction of the Cortes 18, we have made major advancements by integrating a composite frame directly into the RV body, which will be a game-changer for the RV industry. This positions Cortes Campers at the forefront of a new era in lightweight travel trailer construction.”
The monocoque construction molds the frame into the body during production using eco-friendly biaxial fiberglass. The travel trailer’s holding tanks are molded into the RV.
Bennington said the RV’s biaxial fiberglass construction keeps the RV light without compromising strength.
The Cortes 18 will be available in two floorplans. The 18BK features a 48-inch by 76-inch bed that converts into a dinette at the trailer’s rear and a larger kitchen. The 18BB features a king-sized bed that converts into a dinette.
The Cortes 18 will be limited to 100 production models annually.
The 18BK includes an 8-cubic-foot 12-volt Furrion Arctic refrigerator, a 900-watt microwave and a 19-inch smart LED TV.
The 18BB features a 3.2-cubic-foot Vitrifrigo refrigerator and a 19-inch smart LED TV.
Both floorplans include Timbren’s axle-less suspension, a 13,500 BTU Furrion Chill air conditioner, a Suburban external mount propane furnace, a Fiamma awning, tank heaters, electric brakes and dual marine batteries.
Each includes a full bathroom and a low-profile porcelain toilet.
