Mobile Traveler, Inc. a subsidiary of Zimmer Corporation
Mobile Traveler was the motor home subsidiary of Zimmer Corporation, based in Junction City, Kansas. Products included the "Jubilee" and "Viscount" (pronounced V-I-K-O-U-N-T) motor homes 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.
Former Mobile Traveler employee, Sammy Williams, shared his thoughts about the Asteron and Zimmer's influence...
In the 1970s and 80s, a small RV manufacturer called Mobile Traveler, Inc of Junction City was purchased by "Zimmer Corp" of Boca Raton FL. Part of Zimmer's strategy was torecreate 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 US dollars 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.
12 Mobile Traveler Class A and 12 Mobile Traveler class C units were produced before the company finally died for the last time in 1990.
In the 1970s and 80s, a small RV manufacturer called Mobile Traveler, Inc of Junction City was purchased by "Zimmer Corp" of Boca Raton FL. Part of Zimmer's strategy was torecreate 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 US dollars 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.
12 Mobile Traveler Class A and 12 Mobile Traveler class C units were produced before the company finally died for the last time in 1990.
Jubilee Motor Homes
1985 advertisement for the "all new" Mobile Traveler, and their lineup of the Jubilee, Mobile Traveler (both Class "C") and the Class "A> Viscount (pronounced V-I-K-O-U-N-T) motorhomes.
Jubilee Motor Homes
Mobile Traveler's Class "C" product
Viscount Motor Home
New for 1984 by Mobile Traveler was "Viscount" (pronounced V-I-K-O-U-N-T) Class "A" motor home.
