Came across the postings about the Element by accident. I'd like to add my 2-cents worth about the Element.
Alf S: Fender skirts are no longer offered. They were on the prototype that was at the Tampa RV Show in January, 2011.
Ed Harris: I have no idea what “advanced fulcrum tracking” is either. I'm sure it is a marketing ploy.
Donna D: The $53,908 MSRP for an Element 24 (which is actually 26 feet long) is about right, but that's just an make believe number, just like the “sticker price” on new cars. I tried the link from your 03-06-2011 posting for the ET24SW and it took me no where.
Terry G: The Element is way less expensive than an Airstream. In the December, 2012 edition of TrailerLife Magazine, an Airstream 25FB EB has a MSR of $77,760. Compared to that, an Element is cheap! The Airsteam is also wider and heavier than an Element 26RSL, which has a slideout.
Each Element is weighed before it leaves the factory and the
weight is posted on the camper. The newer one are probably a little heavier since they do not offer the composite
propane tanks anymore and different options add more
weight. On a 26SRL, adding the solid surface countertops over the standard ones add about 350 pounds. I can believe an Element 24 could weigh in at 3,300 pounds and I think you are correct, that would be for a stripped down model.
Honda03842: The cartridge cassette toilet is no longer offered. Again, it was on the prototype hich is now at the Evergreen Factory in Middlebury, Indiana.
Greg H: Yes, a payment does come with the Element.
Klaus: Yes, it is a conversation piece. As everyone may have guessed, my wife and I own an Element 26RSL. We've had people follow us into Wal-Mart parking lots, stop us at rest areas, and almost ran us off the road while they were taking pictures of us going down the road.
Joy A: I think the camper you saw was an Earthbound Dillon. They are available only through special order from the factory. Although there have been rumors that Earthbound was going to close, Earthbound denies it. If you think an Element is expensive, check out the price of an Earthbound unit.
SherryNPaul: The “downside” to the cassette toilet is that they need to be emptied frequently due to the limited capacity of the cassette and the weight when full. We had the opportunity to RV in South Africa a few years ago and that is what the motorhomes we rented used. We'd try to use the toilets in the shower house (ablution block) as much as possible.
Matt in SV: Welds can break as a camper torques going down the road. Just my thought on that. That's why our
Casita had stress cracks in the
fiberglass.
Ken C: That price sounds like a very basic model. Unfortunately, there are always “add-ons” like a delivery charge, dealer prep, and other nuisances.
We enjoyed our
Casita and put on 45,000 miles in the four years we owned it, but it was just time to get away from the crawling over each other in the middle of the night and not having a “real” shower.
Bob