Sprinter RV, six years of dedication to leading the off-road RV industry—transforming like a butterfly, ultimately becoming a top travel RV in the U.S. ...

When it comes to Sprinter RV, many manufacturers in the RV industry and hardcore off-road RV enthusiasts are quite familiar with it. Recently, the 14th China (Beijing) International RV & Camping Show was held in Beijing, where Mr. Zhang Xinghong, founder and general manager of Shenzhen Sprinter RV Equipment Co., Ltd., made a brand-new appearance with the “Seeker” all-wheel-drive off-road RV. The author conducted a brief interview with him on site.

Perseverance turns RV enthusiasts into master craftsmen

The author’s acquaintance with Zhang Xinghong began with early enthusiast events. Tracing his entrepreneurial journey—from being among the first generation of domestic RV enthusiasts to becoming the No. 1 in the design and production of small and medium-sized off-road RVs in China, and then transitioning to group-scale development—perseverance has been a constant thread.

The tree of perseverance bears golden fruit. Zhang Xinghong’s Sprinter RV evolved from an initial company specializing in RV and off-road vehicle peripheral equipment to today’s group-scale operation, with Sprinter RV as the parent company overseeing multiple branded subsidiaries including the Traveler all-wheel-drive off-road RV sales company, Zhiheng Auto Manufacturing Company, RV camp management company, and off-road RV club. This didn’t happen overnight but is the result of his six full years of unwavering persistence.

“I studied electronic automation in university. In the beginning, I was just a car enthusiast. Together with a group of like-minded friends, we enjoyed cars and off-roading. While doing so, we found that neither domestic nor imported vehicles could meet our growing functional needs—some lacked mobility, others had poor off-road survivability, and some were very uncomfortable. It was all quite frustrating, so I decided to build my own. Before starting Sprinter RV, I didn’t know what the outcome would be, but once I started, I felt I should keep going,” said Zhang Xinghong.

Zhang Xinghong, who doesn’t come from an automotive background, turned passionately toward customizing RVs and resolutely transformed from an RV enthusiast into an R&D designer. He began building his company and conceptualizing products based on years of experience in cars, off-roading, and outdoor activities, as well as his own understanding of off-roading and RVs. Over the past six years, Zhang Xinghong has fought countless tough battles. Developing the RV power management system, researching automatic electronic integrated control systems, and designing the overall vehicle structure are just a few examples.

Perseverance leads to innovative designs for off-road RV enthusiasts

Zhang Xinghong firmly believes that where there’s a will, there’s a way. At the same time, he remains flexible, continuously adjusting direction during the process of perseverance, steering the Sprinter RV battleship through wind and waves, forging ahead bravely.

To avoid clashing with the scenery and mood of outdoor camping, he opted against using a generator, choosing instead to work with battery packs; to make things more convenient for RV enthusiasts, he developed an automatic electronic integrated control system. To cater to different customers, he designed a fixed roof with side-extension mode to ensure a luxurious and comfortable living experience, and an electrically raising roof mode to meet the high mobility demands of some customers. At the same time, he also embraced cutting-edge technology by adding communication modules to these systems to enable “internet of vehicles” functionality. These incremental refinements, guided by the spirit of perseverance, have continuously brought Zhang Xinghong closer to success.

Perseverance drives model innovation and R&D

To meet the diverse needs of different customers, Sprinter RV continuously innovates its products. Initially, Sprinter RV developed “F-150 Raptor/Tundra RV Equipment” for owners of the Raptor and Tundra who love off-roading but also want a mobile home; subsequently, to address issues around recreational vehicle registration and save buyers effort, Sprinter RV created the “Offroader,” which emphasizes driving comfort, and the “Trailblazer,” designed for short trips with simpler functions. Still committed to meeting customer needs, Sprinter RV didn’t stop there. To combine the strengths of the “Trailblazer” and “Offroader,” address their weaknesses, and resolve the seemingly irreconcilable conflict between off-roading and comfort, Sprinter RV launched two high-end off-road RVs in 2016 and 2017 respectively—the “Traveler” for those who love travel but seek high-tech operation, and the “Seeker” for those who love travel but prefer simpler operation.

Sprinter RV’s perseverance in model innovation and R&D has ultimately achieved remarkable results in its product line. “We now have a complete product line of all-wheel-drive off-road RVs for the entire Tundra and Ford F-150 Raptor series. From the perspective of RV chassis types, we offer single-cab, double-cab, and one-and-a-half-cab models; from the perspective of RV expansions, we provide roof extensions, side extensions, and both roof and side extensions. While the entire industry is imitating foreign RVs, our spirit of innovation moves the whole industry. We successfully developed China’s first lifting off-road RV, perfectly resolving the seemingly contradictory issues of RV space, mobility, and off-road capability. Of course, we’ve also obtained national invention patents and earned high recognition from the entire industry and our customers,” said Zhang Xinghong.

Perseverance paves the way for legal road use

To ensure its products are legally roadworthy and comply with traffic regulations and road requirements, Sprinter RV planned ahead several years in advance, investing in the establishment of a wholly-owned subsidiary—Zhiheng Auto—in Wuhu, Anhui, in the heart of China, and building a factory covering over 100 acres. At the same time, Sprinter RV insisted on pursuing excellence in craftsmanship and maintaining its spirit of innovation. With its smart RV project, it impressed relevant national ministries and, after layers of approval and technical reviews, finally obtained a full vehicle license.

Perseverance makes the “Traveler RV” brand a reality

Although China’s local environments are more complex compared to the U.S., Sprinter RV can operate effectively in various conditions while ensuring driving comfort for owners.

It’s undeniable that China doesn’t yet have campgrounds and supporting facilities as well-developed as those abroad. The places we want to go often require us to find campgrounds ourselves, and there are no so-called supporting facilities. But Sprinter RV can create and enjoy a mobile five-star home using what’s onboard.

More importantly, Sprinter RV is professionally designed, with digitally customized ERP-managed production processes and rational layouts. Based on imported chassis and equipped with various imported devices, its safety performance is controllable.

All of this brings Sprinter RV ever closer to the beauty of nature, making “Traveler RV” a reality. Because of perseverance, the “Traveler RV” brand has been successfully launched. As a brand of Sprinter RV, Traveler will continue to uphold the quality, leadership, and craftsmanship spirit of Sprinter RV, leading the development of the entire off-road RV industry. At the same time, Sprinter RV will carry forward its original RV craftsmanship spirit, adhere to the belief in perseverance, and continue to strive and reach new heights in the off-road RV industry.