Fleetwood RV shows off motorhome changes for 2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky, Nov. 29, 2012 -- Fleetwood RV, Inc., a leading producer of Class A and Class C recreational vehicles, has highlighted new floor plans for three of its Class A Diesel models, the Discovery, Expedition and Excursion, at the 50th Annual RVIA National RV Trade Show in Louisville.

The Excursion, a low-profile, mid-entry diesel pusher, offers new 35B and 35C floor plans, which feature a wrap-around galley with counter extension, a mid-coach 18 cubic foot residential refrigerator and an extendable dining table credenza with ample storage. The bedroom features a wardrobe slide-out and a 32 inch Sony LCD HDTV.

The popular 40X floor plan is now available in the Expedition which includes a mid-coach 40 inch Sony LCD HDTV entertainment center. The coach offers multiple furniture options, including an L-shaped sofa, a side-aisle single bathroom and an available king bed.

The high-end Discovery 40E floor plan offers a bath and a half with a "Super Shower," a Villa L-shaped transformer sofa, a large galley Corian backsplash and spice shelf and ultra-wide pantry storage and display cabinet. The 40E also includes a freestanding dinette with a hide-away 46 inch Sony LCD HDTV and an available king bed.

SOURCE: Fleetwood news release and RVtravel.com.

Feds list free access days for 2013

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Department of Interior has published its list of free entrance days for 2013. On those days regular gate fees will be waived for public lands.

January 21, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. 
Agencies participating include National Parks, Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service.

April 22 - 26, National Park Week.
All National Parks.

June 8, Great Outdoors Day.
All US Forest Service locations.

August 25, National Park Service Birthday.
All National Parks.

September 28, National Public Lands Day.
Agencies participating include National Parks, Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Forest Service.

November 9 - 11, Veterans Day weekend.
Agencies participating include National Parks, Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the US Forest Service.

Holiday Rambler RV celebrates 60 years, introduces three new models

1954 Holiday Rambler travel trailer

LISLE, Ill., November 15, 2012 – Navistar RV, a subsidiary of Navistar International Corporation (NYSE), will celebrate the 60th anniversary of its Holiday Rambler brand at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) National RV Trade Show, November 27 to 29 in Louisville, Ky.

It will also introduce three model-year 2014 vehicles. The new Presidential will reestablish Holiday Rambler’s presence in the luxury fifth-wheel category, and the company will continue to build and sell motorhomes with the reintroduction of its Augusta B-plus class B vehicle and its new Vacationer, an entry-level class A gas coach.

“We are very pleased to mark the 60th anniversary of Holiday Rambler, a preeminent brand in the history of recreational vehicles,” said Bill Osborne, president, Navistar RV. ”

The first Holiday Rambler was a travel trailer introduced to the public in 1953. In 1961, the brand’s introduction of aluminum body framing ushered in an era of lighter, stronger and more durable RVs. This aluminum frame (Alumaframe) became the standard for RVs for 40 years. Holiday Rambler was also responsible for many firsts, including built-in refrigerators, holding tanks and aerodynamic radiused corners. As Holiday Rambler moved into motorhomes, it was the first with tag axles, and its kitchen slide-out revolutionized interior engineering in the field. Holiday Rambler was sold to the Monaco Coach Corporation in 1996, now a part of Navistar.

“While we are proud of Holiday Rambler’s rich history, we aren’t stuck in it,” Osborne added. “We continue to introduce new designs, exciting new options and features.”

THE NEW PRESIDENTIAL is a maneuverable and roomy fifth-wheel that offers the appointments of a luxury motorized RV. A wide body design, combined with a unique chassis platform, provides industry-leading exterior storage with both front and rear pass-through storage. Premium construction methodologies include a 100-percent gel coat exterior (no metal skirt), thicker laminated walls, composite structure panels, frameless windows and arched roof trusses.

Notable interior features include Lane-brand leather furniture, a fireplace and pull-out desk, flatscreen TVs in the living room and bedroom, a walk-in shower and tiered bathroom vanity with vessel sink, and available dishwasher and stack washer/dryer. Storage is plentiful, with a full-size pantry, and custom dinnerware and glassware drawers.

The new Vacationer SE offers customers the high-end features of a diesel coach — Smart Structure chassis system, ergonomically designed cockpit, soft-touch ceiling and generous pass-through storage — at the lower price of a gas vehicle. The new Augusta B-plus is a maneuverable and compact motorized RV with maximum space and inventive design features including a Murphy bed that folds away to allow for a larger living area.

SOURCE: Holiday Rambler news release and RVtravel.com.

China beefs up RV tourism

CHINA -- Chinese officials looking for tourist dollars have designed five new tour routes for motorhome use though the Yangtze River Delta area. One of the most densely populated areas of the planet, the delta is home of Shanghai, China's most populous city of 23-million inhabitants.

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The newly-designed routes will shepherd visitors to major tourism sites and at end of day, to appropriate RV parks. Government authorities are working on plans to build RV-appropriate infrastructure along the routes. Plans call for 400 to 500 RV parks to be built by the year 2020, including dump stations, fuel pumps, and electrical connections. High-level RV resorts with "recreational activities" are planned for Shanghai. Tourist attractions along the routes are in the provinces of Anhui, Jiangsu, and Zhejiang.

Officials hope that by 2020 the region will see upwards to five and a half-million motorhome tourists. Most of the estimated 8,500 motorhomes in China are owned by private companies who rent them out for about $240 a day.

Source: Global Times

RV products on display at new Dicor Facebook page

What does a Norman Rockwell painting, a table dancer, R2D2, a roll top desk, tan and black lager, and a thermos bottle have in common? They’re all part of a whimsical and fun Facebook page started by Dicor Corporation. The online site provides a sneak preview of new products at the Dicor “Center of Amazing” booth during the National RV Trade Show in Louisville.

For RV manufacturers, the page previews new Vixen FRP sidewall and external panel options, new tan-colored EPDM roof material, a table with a four-way moveable top, and an exclusive robotic window sealing system that promises amazing manufacturing gains as far as leaner inventory, production efficiency and consistent quality.  These and other new offerings are from what Dicor calls its “Center of Amazing” research and innovation.

RV dealers who don’t usually visit the Dicor booth can view some of the attractive new products at this year’s display, including a heat-reducing roof coating, specialized lap sealants, roof cleaning and coating systems, shade repair and cleaning products, and more.

The page also shows the new roof care and repair videos that Dicor Products is currently producing as part of its expanded consumer communications.

Videos and iconic pop culture photos of robots, tables and people, among other things, liven up the page while highlighting product features. New postings are made daily.

“We want it to be a fun place for people to visit, and encourage the informal exchange of ideas and feedback between us and our visitors,” said Gregg Fore, Dicor Corporation president. “It’s another channel of communication for those interested in what we do.”

The new Facebook page is at Facebook.com/theCENTERofAMAZING.