Breaking Bad, the critically acclaimed television series, featured an iconic RV that played a significant role in the storyline. This 1986 Fleetwood Bounder, known as “The Krystal Ship”, served as the mobile meth lab for the show’s main characters, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. The RV not only symbolizes a crucial turning point in Walter’s life but also represents the beginning of his partnership with Jesse.
Throughout the show, the Bounder becomes a recognizable symbol of the duo’s illicit activities and adventures. Purchased by Walter White, the 30-foot long Class A motorhome would have sold for between $4,000 and $7,000 during the series’ timeframe. As Walt and Jesse do their deeds inside the vehicle, they encounter numerous challenges and narrow escapes, adding to the suspense and drama of the series.
Embraced by fans, the Breaking Bad RV has become an integral part of the show’s legacy. Various tours and attractions now feature replicas of the 1986 Fleetwood Bounder, allowing devotees to experience a piece of the infamous duo’s notorious endeavors. The show’s popularity has solidified the RV’s place in television history, making it a memorable element of Breaking Bad’s compelling narrative.
Breaking Bad RV Overview
The Krystal Ship
The Krystal Ship is the nickname given to the RV used in the popular TV show, Breaking Bad. This RV served as a mobile laboratory where the main characters, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, cooked methamphetamine. The RV played a significant role in the show’s first two seasons and met its end in season three, episode six, during an intense moment when Hank Schrader locates the vehicle at a car and RV junkyard1.
Fleetwood Bounder
The Krystal Ship is actually a 1986 Fleetwood Bounder, which is a Class A recreational vehicle produced by Fleetwood RV. The model is 30 feet in length. During the timeframe Walter White would have purchased it, a Bounder of that age would have sold between $4,000 and $7,0002.
The RV itself is quite spacious and can accommodate between three to five people. Most models feature a freshwater tank with a capacity of 70 to 100 gallons, a 10-cubic-foot refrigerator, a microwave, a gas range, an oven, and wall-to-wall carpeting3. These features made the Fleetwood Bounder a suitable mobile laboratory for Walt and Jesse’s cooking operations in Breaking Bad.
The RV in Iconic Moments
Pilot Episode
In the Breaking Bad pilot episode, Walter White and Jesse Pinkman purchase a 1986 Fleetwood Bounder RV as their mobile lab. This RV, nicknamed The Krystal Ship, serves as the setting for many iconic moments throughout the show’s first couple of seasons. Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with lung cancer, partners with his former student Jesse to produce and sell methamphetamine to ensure his family’s financial security.
The Tuco Salamanca Encounter
One notable encounter involving the RV takes place during an episode in season 2. Walter and Jesse find themselves face-to-face with the brutal Tuco Salamanca. Inside the RV, Walter demonstrates his chemistry prowess when he creates a chemical explosion. This daring act leads to a negotiation with Tuco, who agrees to a partnership with the duo, marking a significant turning point in the story.
Hank’s Discovery
The RV is involved in a tense scene in season 3, episode 6, when Hank Schrader, Walter’s brother-in-law and a DEA agent, tracks down the vehicle at an RV junkyard. At this moment, Walter and Jesse are inside the RV, desperately attempting to conceal their activities. They manage to evade Hank’s discovery using ingenuity and quick thinking to distract and mislead him.
Throughout its time on the show, the Breaking Bad RV is not only a crucial piece of equipment for Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, but it also becomes a symbol of their journey. The 1986 Fleetwood Bounder played a significant part in the memorable storyline, showcasing the lengths the characters would go for their ambitions. Several iconic encounters, as well as the eventual end of the RV, provided dramatic moments that emphasized their dangerous world within the Sony Pictures television series.
The Legacy of Breaking Bad’s RV
In Popular Culture
The Breaking Bad RV played a significant role in the television series Breaking Bad. As a mobile laboratory for Walter White and Jesse Pinkman, this iconic vehicle turned heads and etched its place in popular culture. This RV not only became synonymous with the show but also influenced how recreational vehicles are portrayed in popular media.
Merchandise and Collectibles
In response to the show’s popularity, various merchandise and collectibles related to the Breaking Bad RV have emerged. These range from replica model vehicles to themed T-shirts, mugs, and posters, sporting the iconic orange and yellow stripes found on the Fleetwood Bounder. For die-hard fans, there is even a Breaking Bad RV tour in Albuquerque, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the series and visit key locations from the show, including Jesse’s house, Tuco’s Headquarters, and Los Pollos Hermanos.
Breaking Bad RV Tours
Breaking Bad RV Tours is a popular attraction for fans of the television show Breaking Bad, offering a unique experience of exploring iconic filming locations in the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Tour Itinerary
The tour takes approximately 3 hours and covers various memorable locations from the series, such as Walter White’s car wash, Saul Goodman’s office, and the infamous Negra Arroyo Lane address. Attendees will have the opportunity to view a gallery of behind-the-scenes photos and stories shared by the show’s cast and crew. The tour takes place on a refurbished RV reminiscent of “The Krystal Ship” from the series, adding authenticity to the overall experience.
The tours are available from Thursday to Monday, with a starting time of 9:00 AM. Participants will enjoy visiting the key sites during the tour:
- Walter White’s car wash
- Saul Goodman’s office
- Negra Arroyo Lane (Walter White’s house)
- Beautiful sunset scenes from the show
- A behind-the-scenes photo gallery
Address and Booking
Breaking Bad RV Tours pick-up location can be found in Old Town at 1919 Old Town Rd, Suite 11 NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104. Please be aware that there are no restrooms at the pick-up location; however, there will be a scheduled restroom break during the tour.
To secure a spot on one of the tours, reservations can be made online or by contacting the tour company by phone.
Sony Studios Tour
Believe it or not, Sony Studios actually still has the original RV used in the filming of Breaking Bad for viewing on their Sony Pictures Studios Tour, which is a two-hour guided walking tour and reservations are required. It runs Monday through Friday and costs $55 per person.
