Astron & Executive Motor Coach
Mobile Traveler was the motor home subsidiary of Zimmer Corporation, based in Junction City, Kansas and initially produced the Astron and Executive Coach before production of it was transferred to Florida under the "Astron Motor Homes" division sometime in mid-1985.
1984½ Astron
Billed as "the Ultimate" RV, the Astron was reportedly a significant drain on the Zimmer Corporation. The first production Astron used the Peugeot-Renault-Volvo V6 and for reasons that are unclear, switch to a Ford pickup (some reports say an F-350) subframe and engine.
It's unknown how many were actually produced, but the occasionally turn up on Ebay or other online venues and at least a couple are in the Middle East. If you have one, had one, know someone who does or where one is now, please contact us, and we'll start an "Astron Survivors" page.
It's unknown how many were actually produced, but the occasionally turn up on Ebay or other online venues and at least a couple are in the Middle East. If you have one, had one, know someone who does or where one is now, please contact us, and we'll start an "Astron Survivors" page.
Has anyone seen or know of any more of the RV versions as pictured in this brochure? Contact us!
The photo below first appeared here in March of 2022 - the rear side window configuration is different from the Astron pictured in the brochure above, so there was at least two!
The photo below first appeared here in March of 2022 - the rear side window configuration is different from the Astron pictured in the brochure above, so there was at least two!
Executive Motor Coach
It's anyone's guess just how many of these were made, here is one and here is another that have popped up online that we've seen...anyone else have one of these? Contact us!
Former Mobile Traveler employee, Sammy Williams, shared his thoughts about the Astron...
In the 1970s and 80s, a small RV manufacturer called Mobile Traveler, Inc of Junction City was purchased by "Zimmer Corp" of Boca Raton, Florida. Part of Zimmer's strategy was to recreate the small FWD motorhome in a "high tech" package called "The Astron." The motorhome was front wheel drive, consisted of 100 percent fiberglass construction used the same PRV V6 as found in Volvos Renaults and Peugeots of the time. The motorhome had a opening door similar to buses that opened up with assist, the motorhome had an altimeter on the dash, a central HVAC system in the coach and a drivers side door, also.
The coach had all of the technology Mobile Traveler/Zimmer could pack into a FWD 26' coach (the only size available. It also had vent style A/C and heating (like a house) and no roof appendages at all. It was a 1980s (roughly) equal to the GMC as they were quoted to have said at the time. however, the coach was not without problems. It was underpowered, the PRV V6 could get it to 60, but barely. The frames, made by MT in-house had to be reworked after the prototype fell apart (frame splitting) on its maiden voyage out of the plant. Systems didn't work as advertised, and the units had lots of minor problems, also.
The straw that broke the camels back was the price of entry for an Astron: $104,000 (in 1980s dollars) and coupled with a recession, it's a wonder 52 of these things found homes at all.
Astrons were made from 1984 through 1986 with minor trim revisions to the grill and some brightwork. The Astron and other "high line" products made by Zimmer was more then enough to kill Mobile Traveler and Zimmer Corp. The Mobile Traveler company tried to obtain local financing and actually got up to retool for model years 1989 and part
of 1990, then shut down again when local banks balked at continuing to finance the company.
In the 1970s and 80s, a small RV manufacturer called Mobile Traveler, Inc of Junction City was purchased by "Zimmer Corp" of Boca Raton, Florida. Part of Zimmer's strategy was to recreate the small FWD motorhome in a "high tech" package called "The Astron." The motorhome was front wheel drive, consisted of 100 percent fiberglass construction used the same PRV V6 as found in Volvos Renaults and Peugeots of the time. The motorhome had a opening door similar to buses that opened up with assist, the motorhome had an altimeter on the dash, a central HVAC system in the coach and a drivers side door, also.
The coach had all of the technology Mobile Traveler/Zimmer could pack into a FWD 26' coach (the only size available. It also had vent style A/C and heating (like a house) and no roof appendages at all. It was a 1980s (roughly) equal to the GMC as they were quoted to have said at the time. however, the coach was not without problems. It was underpowered, the PRV V6 could get it to 60, but barely. The frames, made by MT in-house had to be reworked after the prototype fell apart (frame splitting) on its maiden voyage out of the plant. Systems didn't work as advertised, and the units had lots of minor problems, also.
The straw that broke the camels back was the price of entry for an Astron: $104,000 (in 1980s dollars) and coupled with a recession, it's a wonder 52 of these things found homes at all.
Astrons were made from 1984 through 1986 with minor trim revisions to the grill and some brightwork. The Astron and other "high line" products made by Zimmer was more then enough to kill Mobile Traveler and Zimmer Corp. The Mobile Traveler company tried to obtain local financing and actually got up to retool for model years 1989 and part
of 1990, then shut down again when local banks balked at continuing to finance the company.