Oct 18

Oct 18 RV review: 2023 Palomino Pause is a game-changing RV

RV Review, Travel Trailer Review, Overlanding RV

Today we’re looking at a new RV from Palomino, the Pause. This is one of the most out-of-character products I have ever seen and is also an absolute game changer for so many reasons. For anyone who has complained about the build quality of an RV or wanted something vastly different, your RV has come in. But it ain’t cheap.

Game changing

The Palomino Pause is actually a new line of trailers from Palomino that is absolutely game changing in a lot of ways.

Starting at the frame, this is an aluminum frame that is huck riveted together rather than welded. Many RVs have enclosed underbellies but this one is enclosed with diamond plate metal. Typically a corrugated plastic material is what you’ll see used.

While we’re down here let’s take a look at the suspension which is a MorRyde independent air suspension. Independent suspensions are becoming more common with our first seeing them coming from Australian RVs and then migrating to the Ember line.

Palomino Pause 20.2

Palomino Pause 20.2 cabinets and walls

Palomino Pause 20.2

Palomino Pause 20.2 storage

Palomino Pause 20.2

Palomino Pause 20.2 sleeping area

Palomino Pause 20.2 storage

Palomino Pause 20.2 hidden safe storage

Palomino Pause 20.2 hidden dry bath

Palomino Pause 20.3

Palomino Pause 20.3 interior

Palomino Pause 20.3 bathroom

Palomino Pause 20.3 storage

Palomino Pause 20.3 side table

Palomino Pause 20.3 Murphy Bed

Palomino Pause 20.3 kitchen

Suspension animation

This air suspension goes to the next level as the air suspension on this can be raised and lowered. At its top setting, the suspension provides up to 25 inches of ground clearance. But then you can lower the suspension once you’re at your destination so that you can get in and out more easily or take advantage of the outside kitchen.

One of the reasons towable RVs are such an aerodynamic disaster is just that you’re pulling a huge box behind you and it just takes some power to overcome the wind resistance. You can also lower the suspension such that the trailer isn’t as high in the air which may help with this wind resistance, but then raise the suspension as you go over a driveway apron or hit the trail.

For aerodynamic reasons alone I bet this MorRyde suspension is going to be popular in a year or two.

Since there’s a provision for compressed air to operate the suspension, you can also use this to fill tires.

On the subject of tires, there are four that touch the ground on the initial releases of the Pause but they also include two spares. The assumption is that you’re going to go to places that are barely places and you may pop a tire. Or two.

Material differences

It’s not just the chassis and suspension where this model stands out. The walls are a new composite material from a company called Ridge Corporation in Ohio. Their TransCore walls are a different type of construction than you’ll typically find in RVs and Palomino had a sample of the wall at the RV dealer open house event. And a big, big sledge hammer.

Dylan Risser of Palomino took the big sledge hammer and gave the wall all he had, and the wall was just fine.

Not only is this a different type of wall material but then the interiors of the walls are 3D printed onto the wall surface. Inside the Pause there are examples of subway tiles and other interiors.

The advantage of this is that the walls are seamless, unlike in most RVs, but also don’t use a wallpaper-like product. That means there are no seams on the interiors either, which are a place where the seam tape fails with great regularity on many RVs.

Further all the holes for the windows are cut with a CNC machine so they’re very precise. While this isn’t typical in the RV industry I know Lance uses the same process for holes in the wall.

I have seen more than one RV factory where a worker with a router simply free-cuts the holes in the RV walls. Yikes.

Another area where the materials are different is in the cabinetry, which is a powder-coated aluminum structure. There are soft-close hinges on the cabinets but this is a bit more industrial feeling than some might be used to. However, it’s also more tank-like than most towables so that’s a plus.

Technology

One more area where these are different is in the technology behind them. Palomino has partnered with Garmin to provide a whole-RV monitoring system.

Many RVers are already familiar with Garmin as they have made navigation systems for many years, but they actually do much more than that. In the marine industry they have full-house…er, full-boat control systems and that’s what you have here.

Using an included Garmin tablet you can operate just about any system on the Pause.

With the tablet you can raise and lower the suspension including to levels pre-set by you; operate the lights, monitor tank levels and almost every other aspect of the RV. Further, you can also employ your own phone and tablet to do this as well.

But the Garmin device, called ONE, that’s included also incorporates navigation, of course. That navigation accommodates the length and height of your total vehicle so you won’t go where you won’t fit.

The term ONE is actually an acronym meaning Operation, Navigation and Entertainment.

I haven’t had a chance to fiddle with that system yet but I’m hoping to and will share a full review. I do know that it also incorporates things like customizable checklists and that’s a good thing.

What’s inside

The interior that I saw are two-tone affairs with the aforementioned printed wall surfaces. The cabinets are green and white which may make Army veterans either happy or not.

And thank you for your service.

But the two models currently announced are the 20.2 and the 20.3.

Both of these are similar but, for example, the 20.2 has the kitchen completely outside whereas the 20.3 has a 12 volt cooler outside but the kitchen is inside.

There is a big movable wall and behind that is a large storage spot and it’s pretty well outfitted to tote fishing poles or guns. I can imagine this trailer would absolutely appeal to hunters and people who enjoy fishing.

The two models I am sharing here both have Murphy beds in the front with a layout that is not dissimilar to the Ember offerings right down to the window above the bed that opens for air flow and incorporates both a screen and a full shade.

Power

The standard solar and power package on these units is 700 watts of solar with dual 60 amp chargers along with 400 amp-hours of lithium power. Standard.

You can also plug in portable panels up to 600 watts giving you a total of 1300 watts of solar. There is also one option - a second 400 amp hour lithium battery.

This is one incredible package of power, but absolutely fits the nature of this beast.

Conclusions

Even though I shared that I thought the Palomino Pause was out of character for the brand, which is not a terrible thing, Palomino’s not the only one who has stepped out of their normal space. Indeed the Lance Enduro, too, is an example of a company totally starting with a clean slate and coming up with a strong contender.

Okay, the price. When I spoke with Palomino the price of the larger rig (20.2 and 20.3) were hovering around $140,000.

When you think about this compared to many, many Class B RVs there is an absolute case that can be made here. I’ve seen more than a few Class B RVs hovering around $200,000 that aren’t anywhere near as durably built nor as well suited to off-road use.

Now at about 7,000 pounds dry weight you’re going to want something like a three-quarter ton four-wheel-drive pickup to haul this around. But you can get a good four-wheel-drive three-quarter ton pickup for around $60,000 MSRP. So you’re still below the cost of some Class B RVs and have a much, much better package in my opinion.

I was also assured that this trailer is quite capable of hauling around the 76 gallons of fresh water and 30 gallons, each, of gray and black water it’s outfitted to handle.

Considering how it’s built and the features aboard I truly do believe this is a game changer in a lot of ways.

There will also be additional floor plans including single-axle models that are more towable by things like Jeep Wranglers and that sort of thing. A very interesting package that truly shows that the RV industry is looking at innovation even at times of being in a strong position sales-wise.

Now, for all of you who have complained about how RVs are built, let’s see how many are willing to step-up with their check books and recognize when one is truly built better.