The Best Appliances for the Best RVs: An Interview with Mark Howlett from Truma

Over roughly the last decade, we have used the Truma AquaGo in several travel trailers, the Truma Combi in our Ember, and the Alde hydronic heating system in our nüCamp TAB 320 CSS. More recently, we have also been spending time in a TAB 360 CS equipped with both Alde heat and the Truma Saphir air-conditioning system.
After all of these experiences with Truma products, one thing has become very clear: their appliances can dramatically change how an RV feels at the campground when it comes to comfort and convenience.
On this week’s episode of The RV Atlas Podcast, Jeremy sits down with Mark Howlett, President and CEO of Truma North America, for a deep dive into the company’s history, the differences between European and North American RV design, and the major Truma products available to RV owners today.
To listen to our interview with Mark, click on the media player above or subscribe to the RV Atlas podcast wherever you get your favorite shows.
Why We Pay Attention to the Appliances Inside an RV
When people shop for an RV, it’s easy to focus almost entirely on the floor plan.
Where is the bed? How big is the refrigerator? Does the dinette convert into a sleeping space? How much storage is there?
Those things absolutely matter. But after years of RV ownership, we’ve learned to pay close attention to the components a manufacturer chooses as well.
What furnace is installed? What water heater? What air conditioner? What suspension? What solar products are being used?
Those choices can tell you quite a bit about what kind of ownership experience the manufacturer is trying to create.
That is why Jeremy believes that when an RV manufacturer chooses Truma products they are making a statement about the quality of their RVs.
That doesn’t mean every RV with a Truma appliance will automatically be perfect.
But after using these products ourselves, we understand why so many premium manufacturers select them.
Truma’s History Starts With Harry S. Truman
One of the most surprising parts of our conversation with Mark was learning the history behind the Truma name.
The company was founded in Germany in 1949 by Philipp Kreis, and the name was inspired by President Harry S. Truman.
After World War II, Kreis benefited from the Marshall Plan as Germany rebuilt. He later wrote to Truman to thank him for that support and asked to name the company in his honor—dropping the final “n” to create Truma.
The original signed correspondence with Truman is still preserved at Truma’s facility near Munich.
Even more surprising is how the company actually started.
Kreis began repairing and selling gas lanterns in postwar Munich, where street lighting was still badly damaged. By the 1960s, Truma had moved into RV heating systems that allowed European caravan owners to extend their travel season and even take their rigs on winter ski trips.
Today, Truma has operations across Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia.
Why European RV Design Matters in North America
To understand Truma products, it helps to understand the RVs they were originally designed for.
European caravans and motorhomes are generally smaller than the massive travel trailers, fifth wheels, and Class A motorhomes many Americans picture when they hear the word RV.
Roads are narrower in Europe.
Campsites can be tighter.
Weight restrictions are often stricter.
Fuel efficiency matters.
Space matters.
And noise really matters.
Those constraints have encouraged European manufacturers to become extremely thoughtful about compact appliances.
The Truma Combi is a great example. It combines the furnace and water heater into a single appliance roughly the size of a slightly oversized carry-on suitcase.
Instead of dedicating separate spaces to a furnace and a water heater, one compact unit performs both jobs.
That kind of engineering becomes especially valuable in the small-RV categories that continue to grow in North America: Class B vans, teardrops, truck campers, and overlanding rigs.
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