A new Type B+ motorhome from Phoenix USA RV is offered throughout the United States at authorized factory outlets.
By Robbin Gould, Editor
December 2019
When Phoenix USA RV changed hands in late 2017, the new owners acquired a respected name in the motorized RV industry. The company was established in Elkhart, Indiana, in 1996 to manufacture Phoenix Cruiser Type B+ motorhomes.
When current owners Chuck and Tina Cooper ushered in improvements to the Phoenix Cruiser line, they sought input from existing customers. Acting upon one frequent request, they established authorized factory outlets to sell Phoenix USA motorhomes throughout the United States. At this writing, 11 Campers Inn dealerships carry the company’s RVs, with more in the offing. A sales outlet continues to operate at the Elkhart factory as well.
Under the new leadership, Phoenix USA also created a new Type B+ motorhome: the TRX.
A “Crossover” Coach
The 22-foot-10-inch-long TRX is constructed on the Ford Transit chassis, both gasoline and diesel versions. Ford’s 350HD gas chassis is powered by the 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V-6 engine; the Transit 350HD also comes with the 3.2-liter I-5 Power Stroke turbo-diesel engine.
Phoenix USA literature explains that the new TRX was designed as a crossover vehicle, providing a smooth transition from an SUV to an RV. Its smaller size and van-like maneuverability enable couples and families to travel short distances in the vehicle, say, across town to sporting events or tailgates, dinner, shopping, etc. — practically anywhere they could go in a conventional passenger vehicle. Yet, it also provides all the amenities of a motorhome, enabling one or two occupants to hit the road for extended periods. The TRX has six seat belts and sleeps two. It was designed with a high-end luxury interior.
The coach has a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,360 pounds and a gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of 12,000 pounds. For towing, it comes with a Class III hitch rated at 3,000 pounds.
Exterior
The TRX is crafted with vacuum-bonded sidewalls and floor; a one-piece, walkable fiberglass roof; and custom fiberglass front and rear caps. The unit sports a contemporary, aerodynamic look; this is achieved in part via two-color full-body exterior paint, created through a process of wet sanding, buffing, and clear coating. Customers can select their preferred exterior color choice: Metallic Sand Dune or Metallic Steel. It comes equipped with Ford factory-installed forged aluminum wheels.
The TRX includes insulated glass windows. A power step at the entry door is outfitted with LED lighting. A full-length power awning comes standard. In fact, no options are offered with the TRX; everything is standard.
Interior
Currently, two TRX floor plans are available. One includes a dinette and an opposing sleeper sofa; the other, opposing sleeper sofas. According to company representatives, additional floor plans are in development and may possibly include a slideout.
Both of these floor plans feature a rear-galley/rear-bath layout. Entry to the coach is near the back wall, adjacent to these areas.
The compact galley offers a nice, workable area. Appliances include a 30-inch Sharp residential convection-microwave oven, a two-burner propane cooktop with a hinged cover, and a 6.5-cubic-foot two-way refrigerator-freezer. Countertops here and throughout the motorhome are solid Corian, including the sink cover. The sink comes with a single-handle faucet, and behind it, a wide window in the rear wall expands the view. When access to the entry door is not needed, a 24-inch countertop extension can be flipped up in front of it, creating extra space for food prep or serving. A decorative galley backsplash adds flair.
All TRX motorhomes come with full-functioning dry baths — a feature not commonly found in Type B and B+ motorhomes. Along the street-side wall are a vanity with a small washbasin and a single-handle faucet, a mirrored medicine cabinet, and a toilet. A molded shower is against the rear wall.
A wardrobe crafted from solid wood stands just in front of the bath. Solid-wood cabinetry is used throughout the coach. Customers have two interior décor choices.
In one floor plan, the 28-inch-by-67-inch curbside dinette is across from a 32-inch-by-71-inch power-operated sofa bed. The dinette converts to a 28-inch-by-67-inch sleeping space. The other layout replaces the dinette with a manual sofa bed, and it also has a power bed across the aisle; both measure 32 inches by 64 inches. In the latter floor plan, the two sofa beds can be moved together to form one larger bed. For versatility, sofa arms and tables are removable.
The TRX boasts plush seating covered in Ultraleather. A nice detail is visible in the cockpit, where the headrests in the captains chairs are embroidered with the Phoenix TRX logo.
Overhead cabinets stretch above the seating/dining areas, and a cabinet resides beneath each dinette bench seat. Additional storage is available under the sofas.
To keep occupants comfortable, a 30,000-Btu furnace warms the interior. Cooling comes from a 13,500-Btu roof air conditioner with a heat strip. Throughout the coach, LED lighting can be dimmed or brightened with the touch of a button.
In the electronics category, the TRX comes with a 32-inch Samsung smart TV, a Blu-ray DVD player, and a surround-sound system with five speakers. A “power tower” with electrical outlets and USB ports is on hand for charging smartphones, laptops, and other devices. Four wall-mounted USB ports provide even more charging convenience. An 1,800-watt inverter helps provide AC power as needed.
Sales And Service
As noted earlier, Phoenix Cruiser and TRX motorhomes are sold at a growing number of authorized factory outlets in the Campers Inn dealer network, as well as at Phoenix USA’s factory in Elkhart. This marks a change from factory-direct sales only, which the company switched to in 2009 when many RV dealers struggled to obtain bank financing during the Great Recession. Pricing is the same regardless of whether customers purchase a motorhome at the factory or at a Campers Inn dealership.
At this writing, the TRX and Phoenix Cruiser can be viewed at Campers Inn locations in Alabama, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Virginia. Additional dealers, including some in the western United States, will carry these product lines in the future, according to company officials.
The Campers Inn dealerships also service Phoenix USA motorhomes, as does the Elkhart factory. Any licensed RV service center can provide service also.
It’s been a busy couple of years for Phoenix USA RV, as the company remains committed to its established Phoenix Cruiser motorhome, while also branching out with the versatile new TRX.
SPECS | Phoenix TRX
MANUFACTURER
Phoenix USA RV, 2601 Marina Drive, Elkhart, IN 46514; (877) 754-8535, (574) 266-2020; www.phoenixusarv.com
MODEL
2020 TRX
FLOOR PLANS
(2)
CHASSIS
Ford Transit 350HD gas;
Ford Transit 350HD diesel
ENGINE
350HD gas — 3.7-liter Ti-VCT V-6; 275 horsepower at 6,000 rpm; 260 pound-feet torque at 4,000 rpm;
350HD diesel — 3.2-liter I-5 Power Stroke turbo-diesel; 185 horsepower at 3,000 rpm; 350 pound-feet torque at 1,500-2,500 rpm
TRANSMISSION
6-speed automatic
AXLE RATIO
4.10 to 1
TIRES
195/75R16C
WHEELBASE
156 inches
BRAKES
four-wheel antilock disc
STEERING
power
ALTERNATOR
150 amps
BATTERIES
chassis – (1)
house – (2)
ELECTRICAL SERVICE
30 amps
AUXILIARY GENERATOR
Onan 2.8 kw, 350HD gas chassis;
Onan 2.5 kw, 350HD diesel chassis
INVERTER
1,800 watts
EXTERIOR LENGTH
22 feet 10 inches
EXTERIOR WIDTH
97 inches
EXTERIOR HEIGHT
9 feet 6 inches with roof A/C
INTERIOR HEIGHT
6 feet 3 inches
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR)
10,360 pounds
GROSS COMBINATION WEIGHT RATING (GCWR)
12,000 pounds
GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING (GAWR)
front — 4,130 pounds;
rear — 7,275 pounds
OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (OCCC)
1,900 pounds
FRESH WATER CAPACITY
26 gallons
HOLDING TANK CAPACITIES
gray water — 23 gallons;
black water — 25.5 gallons
FUEL CAPACITY
25 gallons
FUEL REQUIREMENTS
gas or diesel, depending on model
PROPANE CAPACITY
42 pounds
WATER HEATER
6-gallon propane/electric
HEATING SYSTEM
30,000-Btu furnace
AIR CONDITIONING
(1) 13,500-Btu with heat strip
REFRIGERATOR
Norcold 6.5 cubic feet two-way
TOILET
Thetford Style III china bowl
WARRANTY
motorhome — 1 year/12,000 miles limited from date of purchase
chassis — 3 years/36,000 miles
BASE SUGGESTED RETAIL PRICE
350HD gasoline chassis — $114,231;
350HD diesel chassis — $118,223