Princess Craft Campers & Trailers • Pflugerville

Princess Craft Campers & Trailers • Pflugerville

Written by Eric Pulsifer Thursday, 03 July 2008

With problems in the housing market and the rising price of fuel, a high-dollar item that is half house and half automobile might seem like a tough sale.

But in Pflugerville, the numbers say otherwise.

 

“We’re probably one of the few [recreational vehicle] dealers to actually have an increase this year,” said P.J. Buerger, co-owner of Princess Craft Campers and Trailers.

From constructing a bioterrorism trailer for the government to building a recompression chamber for archaeologists in Egypt, Princess Craft has had its share of interesting projects. On a more regular basis, it handles service and repair work on RVs new and old and specializes in selling A-frame folding trailers and truck campers.

P.J. and her husband, Richard Buerger, have owned Princess Craft for 12 years, but the business has been in Pflugerville for 40 years. Though many locals do not know the Main Street business exists, it is one of the top sellers of truck campers and folding trailers in the region.

Truck campers are the more popular of the two RVs available at Princess Craft, but their weight and size require a larger vehicle for towing. The smaller A-frames are sturdy but lightweight, can be set up in 30 seconds and start at around $7,000. Buerger said the trailers are becoming increasingly popular with single women and widows who enjoy the independence of RV travel, but want to feel safe and secure.

“They’re hard to find and it’s an unusual product. A lot of people still want the quality, but they want it small,” Buerger said. “They kind of meet all the requirements: they’re easy to tow, easy to set up and secure with hard sides.”

Because of their compact size, light weight and aerodynamic design, A-frames can be towed by most vehicles without a drastic decrease in gas mileage.

Buerger predicts, despite fuel prices, RVs of all sizes will continue to be popular among people who want to explore the area affordably, especially with the number of nearby scenic spots for camping.

“Nobody gets a medal for traveling the farthest for camping. I camp 1 mile from my house,” she said. “If you do it correctly and you travel a lot, you get to see more for less. You can stop at a different site every night.”

No matter where one travels, Buerger said that for her, RV camping offers a good chance to bond with family in a hectic world.

“We’re all really busy these days,” she said. “It’s something you can do together, and you can talk to your kids. In the morning, you can get home and still have time to get to church.”

40 years of history

Princess Craft opened in 1968 with an order to build two office trailers for an Austin businessman. Demand for the portable spaces increased, and the company soon began manufacturing trailers of all types full time.

On July 20, 1971, Princess Craft’s original location was scorched in the fire that destroyed several buildings on Main Street in downtown Pflugerville. Volunteer firefighters were called to put out the fire, which burned late into the night.

Within three months, Princess Craft reopened across the street at 102 N. First St., where it remains today. Over the next four decades ownership changed, and Princess Craft’s business moved from production to sales. This year, Princess Craft celebrates its 40th anniversary.

Princess Craft Campers and Trailers, 102 N. First St., 251-4536