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Roadtrek and Chrysler Roll Out the New Zion Motorhome

| Updated Dec 11, 2014

With T-shirts celebrating the launch, 200 Roadtrek employees joined by executives from Chrysler offices in Canada and the U.S. celebrated the completion of the first production model of its brand new Zion motorhome, built on the Ram ProMaster chassis.

The completed new model, painted in a color called Champagne,  slowly drove past a line of cheering employees for a noon-time sendoff, as other ProMaster units, in various states of assembly, were being worked on back on the shop floor. Roadtrek President Jim Hammill gave a big thumbs up as the first Zion drove past.

The first Zion off the assembly line
The first Zion off the assembly line

“This is likely to be our biggest product launch in the last 10 years, ” said Hammill to loud applause from the Roadtrek workers. “We are buried in orders.”

Paul Cassidy, Roadtrek's vice president of sales, confirmed the demand for the Zion after its official debut at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky. the first week of December. “We've had orders from our dealers almost instantaneously,” he said. “Now I'm getting dealers emailing saying they are writing deals with retail customers. It's clearly hit the market with lots of intensity and the surprising thing is few people have even seen one yet.”

Roadtrek and Chrysler execs in front of the new Zion
Roadtrek and Chrysler execs in front of the new Zion

Ken Tuckey (yes, that really is his name), senior manager of National Fleet and Commercial Vehicles, Chrysler Canada, said the ProMaster makes for a unique RV.

“It's the only recreational vehicle on the market that has front wheel drive, making it lower to the ground, easy step in and it also has a very wide chassis so there;s a lot of content that the RV manufacturers like Roadtrek can put in the vehicle,” said Tuckey. “We at Chrysler couldn't be more pleased with this new Zion model that Roadtrek has produced. It's stunning.”

Ken Tuckey from Chrysler
Ken Tuckey from Chrysler

A team of Chrysler execs toured the factory before the rollout. Bob Johnson, from Chrysler's Fleet Sales office in Ingomar, Pa., said, “I just sort of sat back and watched people look at the Zion. They were clearly impressed. I think the touches that Roadtrek did to this vehicle  made this product stand out from all the other RVs that were at that (Louisville) show.”

We showed video and talked a lot about the Zion in our Podcast from the RV Trade show . You can find it at

Here's another Zion being built on the assembly line
Here's another Zion being built on the assembly line

Here are stats on the Zion:

  • Exterior length – 20’11”
  • Exterior width – 6′ 11″
  • Interior aisle width – 29″
  • Exterior height – 9′ 5″
  • Interior standing height – 6′ 2″
  • Wheelbase – 159″
  • Gross vehicle weight rating – 9,350 pounds
  • Occupant and cargo carrying capacity – 1,250 pounds
  • Gross combined weight rating – 11,500 pounds
  • Fuel type – Gas 24 US gal
  • Fresh water capacity – 35 US gal
  • Black holding tank capacity – 19 US gal
  • Gray holding tank capacity – 20 US gal
  • Rear king sleeping max width and length – 74′”x 76″

Here are some photos of the big day.

Roadtrek workers got a T-Shirt commemorating the launch
Roadtrek workers got a T-Shirt commemorating the launch. That's Jimmy Kennedy, front and center

 

 

Chrysler execs inspecting the Zion
Chrysler execs Jeff Sloan and Ken Tuckey checking out the Zion

 

There was a great catered meal for the workers who built the Zion
There was a great catered meal for the workers who built the Zion

Mike Wendland

Published on 2014-12-11

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

15 Responses to “Roadtrek and Chrysler Roll Out the New Zion Motorhome”

December 15, 2014at8:48 am, Star Flight said:

O… My… God…..Chrysler – Motorhome… Are you kidding me ??

December 11, 2014at8:59 pm, Terry Lookabill said:

could they have made the front of that van uglier.

December 11, 2014at9:55 pm, Bill Wallace said:

I don’t think so….

December 11, 2014at8:42 pm, Dale Clemons said:

got more pics bro????

December 11, 2014at6:53 pm, Sarita Burdan said:

I believe the public launch will be in January, this is just a peek for those on this group, that’s why you can’t find anything on it on website

December 11, 2014at6:16 pm, Karen PT Miller said:

Oh I wish we could afford one of these. I don’t go too many places because I need to use the “facility” often. This would take care of that problem. But even the used ones are way more than we now can afford.

December 11, 2014at5:50 pm, Michael Wickler said:

Why is there no detail available on it on the web? Am I missing something?

December 11, 2014at4:14 pm, Dan Frick said:

I’d consider it if it had the Cummins diesel.

December 11, 2014at4:03 pm, Bob Cater said:

as for me it was a bomb

December 11, 2014at4:21 pm, Paul Loup said:

Yes Bob Cater This is a Bomb

December 11, 2014at3:51 pm, JG Van said:

I think it looks pretty cool.

December 11, 2014at2:53 pm, Nancy said:

I really want to see the diagram of the floor plan from above like you get to see on the other models. I would like to see all the particulars of what is included with the Zion and what options there will be for the buyer.

Comments are closed.

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