Recently, I watched a GQ video where Justin Bieber gave an inside look at the motorhome he spent the height of the pandemic in. It turns out this mammoth RV is custom-made and estimated to cost close to $2 million, which is quite different from the entry level RV that costs $30,000 - the same as a Honda Accord - or even a vintage Fleetwood Bounder from 2001.

I’ve been thinking about the ubiquitous swoops and swooshes on RVs and why they’ve lasted so long and if they are here to stay. To try and finally get answers to this question, I went to Elkhart, Indiana - the RV capital of the world - and visited the RV Museum Library.

I chatted with Ryan Loucks, who designs custom exterior graphics for Newell - a high-end motorhome maker. He explained that the process starts with the computer cutting perfect stripes and curves, which is then followed by a layer of depth and detail that wasn’t possible before. With digital tools, straight lines were out and swooshes and swoops were in.

Ryan also explained that when it comes to paint design, the whole thing is sprayed white, then pinstripes are laid in a silvery or white edge to the shapes. The next darkest color is then applied, followed by a layer of clear, translucent pearl similar to what’s used in women’s nail polish as a topcoat. “Let’s do something minimal.”

At first glance, you can see the color behind it, but it also adds a sparkle and interest. During this time, painters might also add drop shadows to make the swoops and swirls look almost three-dimensional, which is an art form in and of itself. There is no mechanical way to add drop shadows, so the painters must be precise and accurate with their paint gun. These painters are artists, even if they don’t realize it.

I recently saw an awesome RV with a fully custom and very personal paint job, which made me appreciate the complexity and detail of the swoops. However, these kinds of paint jobs cost $2 million, while most new owners get an RV with an automotive-grade vinyl that looks more two-dimensional. In the last 3 years, the average age of a first time buyer has dropped from 41 to 32, likely due to the pandemic.

Many RV designs are now opting for a more minimal, linear graphic look, with names like Raptor and Avenger. Even the iconic Bounder has straightened up their lines for 2024. We may be moving from the era of swoops to daggers, and some people love the swoops and swirls, while others are sick of them and want something different.