Retro Campers And RVs With Old-School Charm That Are Actually Brand New

The van life overflows with adventure and excitement, as well as a minimalistic RV-lifestyle trend. Whether you're someone fully committed to living out your dream on the move or a recreational camper, there's no denying the magnetism of the open road. The ability to load up and explore the abundant beauty of the world is immensely freeing, and it's a capability Americans are frequently seeking to bring into their everyday life. In a 2025 study published by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, RV owners are getting younger, on average, with the median age dropping from 53 in 2021 to 49 this year. First-time buyers are also becoming a much larger segment of the ownership statistics, and nearly half of all owners are within the 35 to 54 age demographic.

Another interesting trend that's taking hold of the marketplace more broadly is a turn toward old school styles (with retro builds imitating vintage examples). People love a modern take on vintage classics, whether that's in their clothing choices and selected décor around the house or as a tool they rely on to experience their leisure time. The RV is a classic example of this demand for vintage charm. Plenty of modern entrants into the marketplace are built off time-honored model specifics or seek to emulate old-school aesthetics in novel construction. These campers, RVs, and towable solutions are overflowing with expressions of vintage style. This allows a vacationer to kick off a fantastic exploration of their "backyard" without sacrificing upgrades like solar panels or modern cooking amenities.

Shasta has been making mobile living solutions since 1941. The brand got its start as a builder of mobile home options for military members and took on the Shasta name in 1952. It was in this post-war period that the company began to expand. Military personnel who had used Shasta camper equipment while in the service were some of the first to adopt the nomadic vacation tool in their personal lives. Wooden adornments and the iconic rear wings added to the trailer set classic Shasta models apart, marking the trailers as a comfortable and inviting space away from home. Eventually, Shasta would be sold to the Coachmen Company in 1976, and Forest River (a brand that acquired Coachmen in 2008) started building these models in 2009. 

The trailer features a slightly rounded overtop to provide a bit of aerodynamic shaping, but by extension, it leans heavily into the thematic visuals of a bygone era. The shape is a quaint reminder of a simpler time. The definitive but smooth color line between the bottom and top halves of the trailer adds to this aesthetic in a positive way. Inside, it is adorned with the trappings of a time capsule, while also introducing modern amenities to keep you comfortable and connected while on an adventure. An air conditioning unit is fitted into the modern trailers, as well as all contemporary electronics and other inclusions. It's worth noting that towing a trailer is one of the hardest things to get used to when camping, so some practice before heading off on your first adventure is essential.

Gidget Retro Teardrop Campers is no longer in business, but that doesn't mean you can't get your hands on one of the brand's wonderfully vintage-inspired offerings. Founded in Australia in 2012, Gidget isn't a company with a lengthy history of production to inform its design choices. However, the brand's builds nevertheless have consistently leaned into an ambitious merger of past and present. The custom towable camper trailers offer slide-out features to increase interior space and integrate modern amenities like a pressurized water system and built-in entertainment setups. 

As it was going out of business, it was alleged that the company was taking deposits on new orders, knowing that it wouldn't be able to fill them, making the brand one consumers might want to steer clear of if it were still trading. However, buyers seeking or coming across a Gidget trailer in their search for a retro camping solution will be solely perusing the aftermarket arena. Gidget trailers were naturally popular in Australia, but the brand also sold fairly well in the United States during its time, so plenty of used examples that are a decade or younger will be floating around American storage units and driveways.

The retro-styled Bondi is a particularly eye-catching option. The trailer features pop-out segments to support roughly double the interior cabin space once you stop hauling the towable. This makes it roomy on the inside but compact and easily maneuverable, even with a smaller primary vehicle. The center console rotates, allowing your media station to move with you, and the trailer also includes a pop-out table that could be used to support an on-the-go working lifestyle.

Riverside RV was founded in 2008 and has focused its production on vintage themes and quality customer service. Today, the brand is owned by Sunset Park RV (after a late 2024 acquisition), but remains in operation. Until new ownership came into the picture, Riverside RV operated as a small-scale, independent camper-trailer builder. It's unclear what new models produced after the transition will focus on, but the brand's reputation is based largely on its retro theming and commitment to quality construction. The units are comfortable to sleep in, even in northern winter conditions, and they deliver on the throwback vibes in a major way. The brand offers quasi-teardrop-shaped trailer builds and an iconic 1960s-inspired cabover design that includes an upper bunk that juts out above the hitch to provide increased interior living space.

The RV brand is intimately focused on recalling the glorious past of RVing. The side paneling made of corrugated metal that makes up the exterior screams vintage. Even the color scheme is dipped in nostalgia — brilliant white-edge highlights, coupled with bright stripes, round out the look. Inside, you'll find a vintage overload in the stylings, as well, but rounded out with modern amenities to support cooking needs, creature comforts like entertainment, and more. It's an impassioned blend of nostalgic simplicity and modern functionality.

The Winnebago Brave is a new offering from a genuine classic brand within the campervan world. Winnebago has been delivering iconic recreational living tools since its founding in 1958 (as Modernistic Industries, before changing its name to align with the Iowa county of its creation). Winnebago offered its first true motorhomes in the mid-'60s, and booming growth only followed from there. One of the brand's iconic offerings was The Brave, a Class A motorhome that first saw production in 1967. The Brave featured a front hump that would come to be known as the Winnebago eyebrow, and its large footprint was perfect for a family looking to explore far and wide without having to compromise their travel plans due to space or packing limitations. The Brave was a classic campervan model that helped Winnebago continue to grow in stature.

For this reason, the return of a modern Brave model in 2015 comes as a welcome throwback that's sure to stir up nostalgic feelings among anyone who had the privilege to enjoy the scenic open roads in an older model (or an alternative camper solution). The Brave is a completely self-contained RVing tool. Instead of hitching up a trailer, this is a vehicle all on its own. It will naturally cost you an arm and a leg to get hold of a new model, but the investment is almost certainly worth it for those who can swing the cost and want a new adventure platform of this sort. The Brave is a faithful recreation of the original, with the smallest build measuring almost 28 feet in length. It's a comprehensive and luxurious mobile home large enough for a family while oozing old-school charm.

Instead of seeking a campervan model within a brand's catalog that delivers on nostalgic needs, some buyers have turned in another direction. They instead prefer a brand that builds vintage themes into its trailers as the only point of focus within their offerings. CH Camper Company specializes in making replicas of vintage camper models, creating old school charm and an overload of good vibes and throwback aesthetics in each new model it produces. 

The company's founder, Jerry Ragon, found his way into this segment of the market naturally. Rather than exploring a new business idea, he purchased a 1961 Shasta to restore ahead of a camping trip. Before heading away, though, he got an offer to sell the rebuilt camper and took it. This happened a few more times, and the market for vintage exploration amenities opened up to him as an opportunity he couldn't ignore. The company builds a number of Shasta-inspired models, but the most prominent offering is a reimagined Retroliner trailer. 

The trailer is not for the faint of heart. It weighs 7,500 pounds, meaning you'll need a substantial vehicle to pull the 27-foot time capsule. But for those unfazed by the rigors of hooking up a trailer (see: Hacks to make hooking up your RV easier), this option delivers immense old-school atmosphere and more than enough interior room for a family or travel group. The silvery exterior covered in metal siding with a flashy whit trim running through its center exudes classic camper trailer energy, and the interior is vintage and packed with modern touches.

An English camper builder, Dub Box, creates undeniably stylish trailers that exude the classic beach aesthetic. The trailers are frequently utilized as food truck options or mobile studio spaces to support other working needs. They are equally at home parked on the side of the road to serve customers as they are in a backyard to offer a Zen getaway space or outdoor office area at home. The brand offers customized builds to support all kinds of individual needs, but the most prominent model has to be the Dub Box Big. This trailer is large enough to support any workspace you might have in mind for the mobile unit. It's perfectly capable of delivering a mobile living option for a solo traveler or small group looking to hit the highway with a lightweight but still spacious trailer in tow.

The visual aesthetic of the Dub Box lineup is powerful. It's built with a vintage VW campervan as its spirit animal, and the single axle design that places one tire with a classic full moon-style hub cap at the center point along the trailer's length is a chef's kiss of finishing touches. Everything about these trailers gives off a throwback style that's more than capable of setting your exploration off on the right foot. Because of the potent energy these trailers give off, they may be better suited to performing a mobile business role rather than a traditional camper option. Either way, you'll enjoy an undeniable vintage charm when setting off with one in tow.

T@B offers a classic teardrop trailer option that's a little more modern-looking from the outside than most others, aimed at delivering a throwback atmosphere. That doesn't mean it can't bring retro aesthetics into your adventure, though. The trailer shape kickstarts things, providing a classic and time-honored silhouette. The Metropolis is likely the most vintage-themed option of the bunch, sporting a thick graphic print stripe through its midsection as well as dark frames bordering the trailer's exterior edges. T@B is a German manufacturer, so finding one outside of Europe might not be the easiest feat, but there are T@B models floating around the American market. The brand makes excellent modern trailers with plenty of cutting-edge amenities to go alongside the vintage roots that underpin the model's style elements.

Each one delivers an iconic shape with a rounded over design and pointed back end. The door on each model is completed by a rounded top, and most feature a porthole-style window that leans directly into a classic '70s vibe. The trailers aren't just vintage throwbacks on the outside either, though. They offer large windows to allow sunlight to pour into the living space and exude clean lines and a precise sleekness that admirably meshes old school aesthetics with the demands of the here and now.

Happier Camper's first offering to the market was its HC1 trailer, arriving on lots in 2015. The HC1 is light and incredibly mobile, featuring a dry weight of just 1,800 pounds. It's built with a two-layer fiberglass shell that helps keep the trailer as tow-friendly as possible. Some of the original camper trailers were accessible for those who owned trucks as well as average Joes who didn't drive anything larger than a sedan or station wagon. This gives the HC1 an instant connection with the trailers of old. 

All this comes before even digging into the aesthetic choices that Happier Camper opted for when building the trailer. The exterior explodes with vintage charm. It comes alive with a round porthole window on the door and big, retro-inspired bumpers near the back of the unit. The whole thing is wrapped up as a package that's not quite teardrop-shaped (although its rounded design makes for a rectangular effort that's not entirely far off, either). In truth, it reads more like a blown-up version of a SMEG fridge than a classic aluminum Airstream camper.

The bulbous edges lean heavily into 1970s style, and the whole production screams out in exuberant vintage notes. Even with its style firmly planted in the past, the HC1 introduces a rugged frame and other enhanced amenities that take advantage of modern capabilities. The trailer includes a hatchback door to allow for expanded mobility, and some trims offer air conditioning, a retractable awning, and even integrated solar power solutions.

The Airstream name is legendary. Airstream camper units have been exploring the roadways since Wally Byam first put together a teardrop-style trailer contraption in 1929. In the 1930s, the now-ubiquitous Airstream tubular shape took form. A decade later, Airstream became the only one of roughly 400 trailer manufacturers to survive the Great Depression and WWII. It came out of these immense trials to support the leisure travel desires of Americans.

Vintage Airstreams from the brand's early years are still cruising the roads today, and Airstreams of all eras fit right in at RV resorts and campgrounds around the country. There are even lots of glamping options that will have you sleeping in an Airstream instead of tents. If you're after your own modern model that leans into classic charm, however, the Bambi is a solid choice. It's Airstream's shortest offering, and is ideal for small groups or solo travelers (sleeping up to four). The lightweight design makes it towable with a wider selection of personal vehicles beyond the heavy-duty range, and modern amenities like heating and air conditioning, and a Bluetooth stereo deliver a crossover between the classic and contemporary.

Gulf Stream Coach is a modern trailer builder, but takes its inspiration from the past. The company has been family-owned since 1983 and delivers a full slate of excellent trailer options as well as full-service motorhomes. Yet, one of the brand's most impressive builds is known as the Vintage Cruiser. It melds the past and present together in a way that's sure to hit shoppers right in their emotional center.

The Vintage Cruiser offers exactly what its name suggests. The trailer is lightweight, although it provides enough room within the unit to house a king-size bed. The trailer can also be configured to include a slide-out segment to move the sofa out and create more movement space within the interior. The living space is decked out in two-tone upholstery that instantly transports you back in time. It is also complemented by an exterior aesthetic that completes the time capsule's efforts. 

Bold colors offer striped accents while a white or cream primary tone features prominently to round out the vibe that this trailer so accurately captures. Vinyl flooring and other period-enhanced stylistic choices inside are met with modern touches like heating and air conditioning. A power tongue jack is available to make linking up with your car easier. Furthermore, a tankless water heater can make life comfortable, even in deep backwoods locations.