There is nothing quite like hitching up a travel trailer and going on a road trip in summertime. You can take a trailer where there are no cabins and have the kind of heartwarming experience no hotel can provide. But RVs are also sort of a pain for some people. You have to park them, learn how their systems work, and take a gigantic punch to your tow vehicle’s fuel economy or electric range.
The Pebble Flow wants to change that. This camper has its own propulsion system to help restore lost fuel economy and range while the team behind it has also baked in handy tech to make RV trips about as easy as using a smartphone.
The late 2010s and the early 2020s opened up with a slew of companies all thinking roughly the same thing: a camper that is easier to operate and more efficient to tow will surely be a winner with consumers. Americans adore the travel trailer, but it’s an incredibly inefficient way to take a trip. Some tow vehicles powered by gasoline vehicles may lose half of their fuel economy while hauling a box through the wind.
EVs aren’t much better. Tests continue to show that the most popular electric trucks on the market see their range drop into the low 100-mile range when a typical camper trailer is hitched up. But that’s not too surprising when you remember that so many campers are 7,000-pound (or even heavier) bricks being forced through the air at highway speed. Whether it’s gasoline refills or battery recharges, you can expect to burn a bunch of cash getting to your campsite.
When you finally arrive at your camping destination, you’ll need to set your camper up before you can put your feet up. That means connecting sewer hoses, dropping stabilizers, pulling out awnings, and firing up various systems. It’s not terribly difficult stuff, but some folks think it could be easier and faster.
A handful of companies have been wanting to solve these problems. Over in Germany, RV giant Dethleffs unveiled an all-electric, solar panel-covered motorhome in 2017. In 2019, the company then unveiled a camper trailer with its own all-electric propulsion system. Here in the United States, Airstream announced the eStream, a classic Airstream camper with a similar propulsion system. These established companies were joined by two startups, Lightship RV and Pebble, both with advanced concepts for making RVing more accessible, more efficient, and far easier.
Until recently, Americans were supposed to get all three of these designs. At the 2024 Elkhart RV Open House, Airstream representatives told me that while individual elements of the eStream may make it into production campers, such as the big battery in the Trade Wind, the camper as we know it will not be.
That leaves America with just two options, the Lightship AE.1 or the Pebble Flow, two similar, yet different takes on a similar idea. Whether their creators know it or not, Lightship and Pebble are in a race to launch the first production self-propelled travel trailer. Both companies are promising a launch of around spring or summer. Since the big companies are no longer in the race, whichever company manages to deliver a camper to a customer first will get the crown of being first to market.
Today, the folks of Pebble have revealed what they expect the production version of their Flow camper to look like when they expect it to release this spring. Pebble says this production-intent design was created after testing by its own engineers as well as feedback from the company’s community of over 3,000 prospective buyers. So, let’s just dig into it.
The Production-Intent Trailer
Pebble unveiled the concept for its Flow travel trailer back in 2023. I then got to play around with the concept trailer back at the LA Auto Show that same year. I’m happy to say that Pebble has made a lot of positive changes on the path to production. Namely, it looks a lot more like something people would actually sleep in.
Here’s what the original concept trailer looked like in 2023:
The first thing I noticed about the concept trailer was the fact that it didn’t have an awning. I consider missing awnings to be the concept camper version of how basically every concept car doesn’t have mirrors. While awnings aren’t required on a camper, nobody is going to spend six figures on a camping rig and not have an awning. So, the biggest change right out of the gate is that the Pebble Flow now has a real awning.
Pebble says that it made a lot of small changes. For example, prospective customers complained that the entry door was too small, so the team says they made it larger by two inches. People also felt that the original concept trailer didn’t have enough headroom, so now the ceiling sits 6 feet, 5 inches high. Likewise, pop-out windows are becoming a huge trend in RVs and while the Pebble had one pop-out window in the kitchen, that wasn’t enough. Now, the expansive rear window also flips out fully to let the air in.
The team’s engineers also learned that the concept trailer wasn’t the greatest at maneuvering around imperfect ground. The revised design has a 50 percent greater approach angle and a 30 percent better departure angle, plus higher ground clearance. The Flow will also have the option for all-terrain levelers in case your campsite isn’t the flat ground of a KOA. The body is also still made out of composite and the underlying skeleton and chassis are both still aluminum. In other words, Pebble is already ahead of most of Indiana with this design.
Sadly, we do not have actual numbers for these just yet. However, you can see the physical difference in the trailer itself. It has the same overall design, but you can see that the roof has a slightly different shape as does the bottom portion of the trailer.
Pebble lays out its other changes:
Interior optimization: Pebble has made various design adjustments to improve ease of use: redesigning the cabinets to flip up rather than down for ease of access, adding side and rear windows that flip open for better airflow, a bigger door to accommodate taller customers, increased storage with better utilization, and an added huge skylight window for an even more open and airy dinette.
Refined exterior design: The exterior now features integrated tail lamps, enhanced aerodynamics, and a more modern, streamlined appearance. Ground clearance has been improved without sacrificing aerodynamic performance. The pass-through tunnel is larger, and optional all-terrain levelers have been introduced. A hitch receiver has also been added to accommodate accessories such as bike racks.
New features for enhanced functionality: An integrated motorized awning plus four strategically placed cameras added to the front, rear, and sides providing full coverage for easier maneuvering and safety on the road.
Pebble says the drive system has been re-engineered and updated, including the addition of an all-terrain caster wheel so the camper can have an easier time parking on a surface that isn’t pavement.
Of course, a flashy design is only part of the Pebble Flow. Like the incoming competition, the Flow is designed to ease the strain on your tow vehicle. The Flow features a 45 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and 1.1 kW solar panels for power. This battery and solar array serves as the camper’s house power. However, when the trailer is parked, the trailer can serve as a backup power source for your home or charge your EV. That’s pretty neat since many RVs spend more time sitting and taking up space rather than out on the road.
When properly equipped, the Pebble Flow also has a dual-motor propulsion system. This is designed to assist the tow vehicle in hauling the trailer. Just like the system found in the competing Lightship AE.1, this system isn’t supposed to push the truck or overpower it, but reduce the load. To use a rough example, the Lightship and the Pebble want to make it so that your truck isn’t pulling the full weight of a 6,800-pound camper, but something more like 1,000 pounds or so. Those aren’t the actual numbers given to me, but an example of the goal here.
The idea for these trailers is that if you hitch your camper up to a 300-mile EV, your EV should have close to 300 miles of range while towing this trailer. Likewise, if you hitch this up to a gas pickup truck that gets 20 mpg empty, it should still get pretty close to that while towing.
Of course, this solution isn’t perfect. If you have a gas truck, now you have to fill up your tank and then take your trailer somewhere else to top its battery, which seems like it’s going to be convoluted. If your tow vehicle is an EV, you now have to charge two packs and pay for charging those two packs. Most charging stations are still installed in single parking stall, which means charging would require you to remove the camper from your tow vehicle. That’s also needlessly complicated.
Thankfully, pull-through gas station-style EV charging stations are spreading across America, so it may not be very long before an EV owner could conceivably drive across the country with a camper in tow. Granted, they could do that now, provided they have no problem stopping every 100 miles because of the camper on the back.
Pebble’s final trick up its sleeve is its software. Everything in the trailer is app-connected and its systems can talk with each other, resulting in some interesting functions. For example, the camper can hitch itself to your truck. You just park your truck in front of the camper and it’ll figure it out. You can also get out of your truck and steer your Pebble Flow into a slot for a perfect park every time.
From Pebble:
All-electric power: A 45 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery and 1.1 kW solar array support extended off-grid adventures for up to seven days, recharging continuously from solar power or through regenerative braking. The system can also act as a backup power source at home or as an EV charging source for added peace of mind.
Advanced automation with Magic Hitch and InstaCamp: Magic Hitch ensures effortless hitching, automatically hitching the trailer to the tow vehicle with the push of a button. The InstaCamp feature deploys or retracts the stairs, stabilizers, and all-terrain levelers.
Easy Tow with Active Tow Assist: The dual-motor system ensures stress-free and efficient towing whether using a traditional gas vehicle or an electric car, reducing strain on the tow vehicle and maximizing range to eliminate range anxiety especially with EVs.
Remote Control: Navigate and park the Pebble Flow using the Pebble App, enabling precise maneuvering even in tight spaces for stress-free parking and setup.
Onboard Intelligence: Powered by NVIDIA DRIVE Orin, the Pebble Flow offers advanced AI capabilities and computing power for perception, planning, and control. This system supports over-the-air updates and delivers a connected user experience.
Multi-functional and modern interior: The flexible living area easily transitions from a workspace to a bedroom with a queen-sized Murphy bed. The convertible dinette table quickly transforms into a full bed, comfortably accommodating two additional sleepers. The Chef’s Kitchen includes a removable induction cooktop, 4-in-1 convection microwave, full-sized refrigerator, and flip-up window for outdoor meal prep. The skylight and rear-opening windows bring in natural light and fresh air.
Looking inside the production-intent model, this looks a bit more like a place real people would use for camping. My favorite touch is the electrochromic glass. Normally, campers use flimsy blinds to create privacy and reduce light getting in. The Pebble Flow doesn’t have blinds. Instead, you can make all of the windows opaque with the flick of a switch.
The Pebble team says this camper is supposed to be one of the most beginner-friendly campers you’ll ever run across. It’s designed to help hitch itself up, help park itself, help tow itself, and help set itself up all with the touches of buttons. The idea here is that anyone can buy a Pebble and quickly find it as easy to use as the smartphone in their pocket. I like that. You can just park the Pebble and get right to having fun.
At the very least, it’s something different. Currently, I have a whole routine where I take an impact gun and zip down the stabilizer jacks, set up the appliances, try to get the unit perfectly level, and set up HVAC. I find all of this, including backing trailers, deeply cathartic. I take pride in handling 7,000-pound campers on my own, but Pebble has found that not everyone is like me.
Admittedly, I do worry a little that the camper might be programmed to do too much of the work. Part of towing a trailer involves learning how to hitch up and maneuver the trailer. Having the trailer do all of the heavy lifting isn’t going to help you when you tow something that’s not a Pebble Flow. Maybe I’m a luddite, but I think learning how to back a trailer and knowing how to hitch a trailer are still very useful skills to learn. But to be fair to Pebble, they aren’t the only ones doing this. Properly-equipped Ford trucks can actually back themselves up to a trailer hitch.
I have some other good news. Pebble has finally published tech specs. The Pebble Flow is 24’8″ long, 7’7” wide, and 8’9” tall. The interior is 21′ of that length. The trailer weighs 5,800 lbs empty and 6,800 lbs when loaded with gear. When loaded, the hitch weighs around 680 pounds. Technically, my VW Touareg can tow a Pebble Flow!
In terms of holding tanks, you get 40 gallons for fresh water, 37 gallons for gray water, and 13 gallons for waste.
The People Behind Pebble
Like many vehicle startups, Pebble is run by people from the tech and automotive sectors. Pebble specifically calls out that its founders and engineers have come from Apple, GM Cruise, Tesla, Rivian, Zoox, and other places. Pebble was founded in California in 2022 by Bingrui Yang. He, like others entering the RV space, was fed up with the stagnation in the RV industry. This motivated him to create what he believes is the iPhone of RVs. I‘ve written about the founding of this company before:
For much of the company’s short life thus far, it was operating in the background in what some entrepreneurs call “stealth mode.” Like many of these electric camper startups, Yang and his team have entered the RV field from the tech/EV world. Yang’s experience includes a nine-year tenure at Apple as a leader in iPhone development. Later, he worked at GM’s Cruise and Amazon-based Zoox autonomous vehicle startups.
The company’s Chief Technology Officer is Stefan Solyom, who brings a combined 20 years of automotive and tech experience. Solyom’s background includes a seven-year stint at Apple plus being one of the founding members of the team behind Tesla’s Autopilot system. His other work includes a 10-year tenure at Volvo working on safety and autonomous systems. The rest of Pebble’s team consists of people from tech companies as well as engineers from Cruise, Lucid, and other companies in the automotive sector.
Pebble decided to stop operating in stealth mode in June [2023] when it received $13.6 million in seed and Series A funding from venture capital firms Lightspeed, Vision Plus, and UpHonest Capital.
Technology Doesn’t Come Cheap
Pebble says its configurator should be up now. There, you’ll be able to play around with options and colors. The company expects to deliver the first trailers to customers this spring. You can still place a pre-order today, which will require a $500 deposit.
The Pebble Flow’s base price is $109,500. It’s noted that this version of the trailer does not have a propulsion system. So, it’s more or less a futuristic aerodynamic travel trailer with a huge battery. You get the 45kWh LFP battery and the solar system plus the Pebble app, the InstaCamp feature, and the other features that do not require the drive system. Sadly, that means you don’t get the self-hitching or self-parking systems either.
If you want to have the drive system and the features associated with it, the Pebble Flow will demand $135,500 of your hard-earned Benjamins. Further, there’s also a special Founders Edition which comes with every option box checked and painted in an exclusive color for $175,000.
Overall, I still like what I’m seeing here. I love RVs with expansive windows, durable construction, and striking designs. While most of the tech stuff on display here isn’t for me, the direction seems right. The Pebble Flow not a flimsy box with a bending frame and it doesn’t rely on boring swoops to wow you. I could also see this RV being compelling if you’re not an expert at planting your stabilizers down. At this point I don’t really care if Pebble or Lightship are first, I’m just happy that at consumers will hopefully soon have more choice than what they have now. Hopefully, I’ll get to sleep in one of these soon.
(Images: Pebble)
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Removing all of the annoying pain would mean it would robotically empty the black water tank and self-winterize.
So awesome to have a very expensive item be app controlled. /s Presumably all comms between app and trailer are local, and not dependent on an online service. But it would still be good to ask these manufacturers if that’s the case and what happens if they go out of business or otherwise stop updating their app.
And for all the faults and cheap parts used by the Indiana manufacturers, you can get repair items at any RV dealer in the country. If these startups go out of business in a couple of years, repairs are going to be a problem.
At 7000 lbs or so, I’d like to see this on dual axles. The heaviest Airstream single is 4300.
I’m still unclear how the propulsion assist / regen will work. What kind of communication will it have with the tow vehicle and how will it know when or how much to assist at any given point?
Sadly, we don’t have that information from this team yet. That being said, we will be publishing an interview this week from this trailer’s competition where I got an explanation about this sort of stuff from that team’s engineers.
I don’t understand the buyer. I would guess its for people who want to largely stay put and work remotely as a couple or small family. Its not that the price is that off-putting compared to some offerings, but you don’t get a lot of camper after you pay for your electric car underneath. If you are making top tier developer money and you want to work remotely for a month at a beach someplace, this makes some sense I guess?
If you want a $150k camper trailer and want to use your EV as a tow vehicle. So basically EV Airstream buyers.
That’s sort of the conclusion I came to.
hitch itself up? what?! and deprive young children from hearing their parents, while attempting to ‘go camping’, yell and fight and get that much closer to a divorce, which means two of every holiday function? think of the children!
Just another symptom of the great wealth divide in the US. 90% of Americans will laugh their heads off at the idea of ever being able to afford this, and 10% will think it’s a bargain.
This looks a lot more appealing than the Lightship RV from a few weeks ago.
It looks like the pricing is competitive with Airstreams, so it will boil down to whether one wants to show off their old money or new money . . .
This is getting pretty close to Class B (and C) territory, minus the steering wheel. The only difference ends up being which powered vehicle ends up in front, for the trips down the highway.
Obviously, these look way cooler than most current Class C’s (and many Class B’s), plus the app adds another level of complexity/user control, but the real issue (besides the absurd price premiums) remains the batteries and long-term storage. Mostly, they just seem like an answer to a question that most people simply are not asking, at least outside of California.
So for the price of…. 1000 nights of hotel stays you can use this 3 times a year to get away from it all….
For absolutely free, people could stop making these comments on the camper articles….
i mean i guess we could. But… I think it bears pointing out every time how ridiculous the pricing on these things is. So keep an eye out for more of the same from me.
The real use case is if you live somewhere with free BLM land nearby for camping…and can actually prep, use, and clean a trailer for a 3/4-day weekend and it gets you closer to whatever you want to do (hiking, biking, climbing, birdwatching, whatever). I’ve been to enough State and National Parks to see how RV camping really works, and 99% of the time it’s not like the TV commercials.
The only big problem with most park lodging is it’s kinda crappy and expensive. Anything half-decent is farther away and there’s a HUGE difference between 7am and 10am in any crowded outdoor space.
We are going to have this same argument in the comments of every RV post.
I prefer my RVs constructed of steel and concrete, and anchored to the ground with piles.
I also prefer to lease the RV by the night, ideally through online portals such as Expedia.
Let’s be honest… that thing looks much nicer than any $100 hotel room in a place I’d actually be interested visiting…
Woah, you’re paying $100 a night for your hotel rooms? Mr. Moneybags over here! 🙂
Well… depends on who’s paying for it… and not always by choice! In a lot of areas… $100 doesn’t get you too far. I find there’s a limit to what I’m willing to put my kids in. It used to be easier when I was single and childless.
(And I’m not the one writing articles about $100K trailers! ???? )
If you want people to go out overnight in nature and they demand bathrooms and enclosed climate-controlled bedrooms.
Saw something that looked like this rolling thru town last week. Maybe not this specific thing, but a smooth modern composite box like it… Looked good, and the battery/drive stuff seems like it could be a solid idea (ignoring stupid app integration and potential failure points). Still not at all for me, but I get the appeal.
When backing a trailer, put you hand on the BOTTOM of the steering wheel, and then move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go.
Easy as pie.
Longtime owners: “Motor homes are like having all the problems of a home AND a car; and a campsite AND a hotel, and all at the same time.”
Counterpoint: “Well, with travel trailers at least you don’t have to worry about a drivetrain!”
Pebble Flow: “Hold my beer.”
It’s an EV drivetrain . That’s a ton easier to maintain (i.e. don’t) than an IC one.
Yes, I want to sleep in a solar oven. Why do these companies want to make them so extreme and cover them in windows?
I have an exclusive interview with the engineers of Lightship that will be published this week that covers that topic. The answer, at least from Lightship’s engineers, is that the big windows aren’t as big of a deal as you’d think. The windows are tinted like the back of an SUV and the HVAC system is more than capable enough of keeping things cool.
Sadly, both of these companies keep publishing renders rather than showing the actual product, which is weird since both companies have physical trailers out there. Amusingly, the interview covers the topic of using renders, too.
While I haven’t seen the newer iteration of the Pebble in person, I did tour the previous incarnation and yeah, the renders made it look like an oven compared to the real deal.
Yes, and all those windows will need curtains inside, so you can have privacy at night….Plus, all those windows, just invite more water leaks. Yeah but the designers say it makes it look Kool!
The Lightship’s windows have curtains (again, not pictured in the renders) and the Pebble uses electrochromic glass, so privacy isn’t an issue with either design.
You are correct about the potential for water leaks. Every hole you cut into the body is a potential entry point for water. At the very least, both of these designs are a mix of composites and metal without any wood to be seen. So a water leak shouldn’t be as disastrous as the water leaks my family’s stick-built units have suffered from.
Personally, I love the airy feeling brought on by more windows, but there’s no shortage of RVs with fewer and smaller windows if that’s your jam.
I am VERY much looking forward to that article. I’m hoping some of the questions I posted in the thread made it in to the conversation.