(Originally published at OnWheels, Inc.)

It’s clear from the moment that the Adrenaline Surge by Coachmen rolls onto the scene that it’s not like the other recreational vehicles.  For starters, it doesn’t look like other towable RVs.  The Surge’s black and silver exterior treatment gets immediate attention at the KOA Kampground, and the black diamond-plate skirting and patterned awning set it apart even further.  It’s got big chrome wheels, exterior speakers and rather than a window at the rear, there’s a large cargo door.  This is the Mountain Dew of RVs.

Flip the latches and lower the door into a ramp and it’s easy to see what makes the Surge different; this 27′ towable RV is carrying its own garage.  The Surge is an example of the Next Big Thing in recreational vehicles: the “sport-utility RV,” or toyhauler.  Designed to appeal to campers who hit the road with large accessories as well as motorsports aficianados, these rapidly evolving RVs are designed to haul motorcycles, four-wheelers or other off-road sporting equipment as well as providing a place to sleep, cook and hang out after a hard day of using ‘em.  SURVs can be had in a variety of styles and configurations.  We spent a week with the Adrenaline Surge 27FKSR to get a taste for the on-the-go toyhauler’s camping style.

The radical exterior treatment got the Surge noticed right away.  Rather than the usual white or beige, our tester featured a platinum-colored ribbed aluminum exterior with black trim and a bold red and black decal package.  Diamond-plate metal clads the lower edges all the way around.  Roll out the awning, with its available checkered-flag pattern, and it’s obvious that this is not your typical retiree’s rolling retreat–the Surge is a bona fide outdoor party bus and pit stop.

Curious fellow campers who wanted a closer look were impressed by the Surge’s interior appointments, as well.  A choice of cherry wood or carbon-fiber trimmed cabinets is offered.  The Surge 27FKSR features a full kitchen with a double-door fridge and a three-burner cooktop.  A portable gas grill is also available.  Fresh water capacity is over 100 gallons, and there are two 30-pound LP gas bottles.  The generous-sized bath has a forty-inch shower and a six-gallon hot water heater.  Out in the living area, two 74-inch couches serve as a dinette with removable tables, fold down into sleeping surfaces or flip up to the sides and out of the way to create additional cargo loading area.  Beyond that, the queen-size bed is electrically raised and lowered for sleeping or hauling cargo.  A 25,000 BTU furnace and 15,000 BTU rooftop air conditioner are on hand to keep the interior warm or cool as needed.  In garage-mode, the full kitchen and bath are still accessible.  The carpetless TPO-floored interior is easily swept out, and pop-out ventilation units allow Surge owners to run vehicles inside without respiratory concerns.  Coachmen clearly doesn’t expect Adrenaline owners to sit back and quietly contemplate nature, because the Surge is equipped to make its own noise thanks to a thumping 800-watt sound system with an amplifier, subwoofer and external speakers.  With the standard stabilizer jacks lowered, the Surge makes an excellent extreme-sports cabin.

The 6500-pound, 27′ Surge tows easily, though an anti-sway hitch is recommended.  We pulled it with both Ford and Chevrolet heavy-duty diesel pickups, and found the Surge to be a dual-natured trailer.  It’s docile at its unladen weight, but hang a thousand pounds of motorcycles or four-wheelers on the back and and the Surge can get squirrely in a big hurry.  The effect is likely even more pronounced on the shorter Surge trailers.  That said, experienced drivers will have no trouble negotiating the highways and campgrounds.

This is one RV that can do more than schlep the family out to the lake.  We loaded the Surge with a variety of smaller vehicles (see sidebars) and even helped a friend to move; the cargo area measures over nineteen feet with the couches folded and is just as good as a U-Haul trailer.  In the off-season, the Surge can double as enclosed storage for sports equipment and off-road vehicles.  The large loading door doubles as a ramp and is countersprung so it’s easily raised or lowered by one person.

The Adrenaline Surge also abounds with “but wait, there’s more!” features.  To help out extreme-sports types who need to service the gear they’ve brought with, there’s an onboard air compressor and fuel tank complete with filler nozzle.  There’s also an outdoor shower.  The cargo ramp is textured for easy loading and will support 2500 pounds, sadly squashing the hopes of Jeep owners who envisioned hauling their off-roaders in the back.  Twelve 750-pound tiedowns enable cargo to be secured, and the flooring is coated to resist staining or damage from spilled fuel.  Payload starts at a ton and works its way up from there; the Surge 27FKSR we tested is the cargo champion of the line, able to carry 3525 pounds, enabling it to haul a dune buggy or small race car.

The Surge is available with six different floorplans, in lengths from 21 to 30 feet. Pricing starts at $27,860 for the 27-foot 27FKSR we tested.

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