Author: praveen.pothuganti@traderinteractive.com

Conventional vacuums take up valuable storage space and most central-vac systems are limited in where they can be installed. Used by RV builders such as Keystone, Pilgrim and Gulfstream, as well as boatbuilders such as Sea-Ray, the interVac offers infinite mounting capabilities.

According to the interVac site, the unique interVac systems can be mounted on their backs and sides or upright. Designed to be fully portable or permanently installed in minutes, they deliver a lightweight, space-optimizing vacuum that doesn’t sacrifice power. Able to be concealed within a wall, step or storage bay, the RM and RGM Models are remotely located.

They feature an auto start inlet valve connected with 2″ flex-hose and also have a cord or are hard-wired. For 100% protection from pet dander and allergens, the superior vacuums use an efficient HEPA Style filtration process. It helps provide a fresher, cleaner and healthier RV environment.

RV Education 101, a video and RV Information Company, recently released a new DVD titled Drive your Motorhome Like a Pro.

In this video, hosts Mark Polk (RV Education 101) and Lorrin Walsh (Professional driver & author of Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro) provide the tools to help the RV consumer drive their RV like a professional driver. That means professionalism developed by the ongoing awareness of driving motor coaches, and the execution of unique driving techniques needed to become a safer and a more confident driver.

Mark Polk stated “Driving a motorhome, especially for the first time, can be very intimidating. The truth is with power steering, automatic transmissions and great visibility, almost any experienced driver can quickly adapt to driving a motorhome. The question is; are you driving it the right way? Lots of people have been driving motorhomes for many years without a real understanding of the dynamics and driving techniques of driving a large vehicle.”

Drive Your Motorhome Like a Pro is a complete video guide to professional driving techniques for beginners and experienced drivers. It takes commercial driving training techniques and converts them to layman’s terms, and it explains basic rules you can apply to any vehicle you might drive.

Source: RV Education 101

Winnebago Industries, Inc reports they are taking CBS News’ ‘The Early Show’ on the road this summer thanks to a state-of-the-art Winnebago Adventurer. The model shown below is the 2009 Adventurer.

According to Winnebago, they are partnering for the third consecutive year with ‘The Early Show’ on their summer promotion, Early on the Road. This summer, ‘The Early Show’s’ weatherman and feature reporter Dave Price will visit eight U.S. locations to discover the excitement and beauty of America.
We are proud to partner with CBS News’ ‘The Early Show’ as they celebrate summer, said Winnebago Industries Chairman of the Board, CEO and President Bob Olson. This promotion showcases a Winnebago Adventurer motor home as a key element on this popular morning show. We chose the Winnebago Adventurer because of is popularity, style and innovation. The Adventurer is guaranteed to get Dave and the rest of ‘The Early Show’ crew to each destination in style and comfort. There is no better way to see the beauty of America than in an RV, and we’re excited that ‘The Early Show’s’ nearly 15 million weekly viewers will get to do just that through this summertime promotion.
A top selling Class A gas powered motor home, the Winnebago Adventurer is the total package with innovative floorplans, unique features, plush interior and a powerful chassis. Top-notch entertainment features are also found on this coach, like LCD TVs, the Sirius satellite radio and 10-CD changer just to name a few. Extras also include an electric fireplace, washer/dryer combination and the ultra-comfortable Sleep Number Bed by Select Comfort.
Source: Winnebago

Safety Components International homepage features details on the WeatherMax 80 awning.

When designing its new 17′ and 22′ Safari Sport, Airstream’s aim was to make the RV light enough to be pulled by a standard SUV or V6 minivan. The strenuous exercise in weight-savings left no ounce unexamined, including the awning. Airstream turned to fabricator Zip Dee to supply WeatherMax 80 by Safety Components for awnings that helped keep the Safari Sport light on its wheels.

“We’re able to roll WeatherMax 80 into a tighter package,” said Zip Dee owner Jim Webb. “That made it possible to remove 20% of the awning housing louvers. We used airplane aluminum rather than stainless steel for the rollers to decrease the awning’s weight by 14%.”

WeatherMax 80 is easily rolled because the premium fabric is 33% thinner and 14% lighter than acrylic.

Thin, attractive WeatherMax 80 is twice as strong as its competitors. Crazing marks from frequent rolling and unrolling are eliminated and its patented HydroMax finish combats mildew.

Source: Safety Components International

Highline Motorcoach Manufacturer Country Coach recently announced the launch of an entirely new product line.

Named Country Coach Veranda, this new coach line-up will offer multiple models of luxury diesel motorcoaches, each designed to integrate the company’s new patent-pending Veranda innovation.

This feature opens the motorcoach’s interior living space to outside air and light, and unifies the interior and exterior living area. Essentially a steel deck with railings that is created when a section of the coach sidewall is lowered, the Veranda living area is separated from the coach interior by a 12-foot expanse of hurricane-rated sliding glass doors that easily slide open to join the spaces. This revolutionary new concept allows for myriad floorplan configurations.

Jay Howard, company president and CEO, commented on the mission accomplished by this new line of motorcoaches. “The Veranda is designed to upgrade each of our owners’ experience. Motorcoach enthusiasts visit the most beautiful locations across North America. Now, with the push of a button, they instantly upgrade to a private balcony with a view.”

The Country Coach Veranda is currently in limited production, with its first motorcoach market debut scheduled for July 14th, 2008 at the Family Motor Coach Association International Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Source: Country Coach

Chetco Digital Instruments Inc. has added a multi-function Color digital gauge to its line of automotive and marine monitoring products. The vGaugeG12c is an innovative digital instrument that can monitor and display up to 16 engine parameters in real-time using full color graphics to represent current engine parameters

The vGaugeG12c features a 5.7” sunlight viewable color touch screen that can display many types of user selectable gauges. By incorporating color graphics, vGaugeG12c allows users to see critical engine temperatures and pressures over a selectable time interval and can warn of harmful operating conditions before engine damage occurs. The company’s unique color Bar Histograms can show six temperature or pressure graphs using human color perception models to quickly identify harmful changes resulting from rich or lean fuel conditions.

According to Joe Burke CTO for the company, “We have developed a real-time color gauge package that can give operators instant feedback on multiple time critical temperatures or pressures. Our innovative color bar histograms depict temperatures with color intensities that are easy to interpret.” The color display can be configured with many other gauge formats that can be arranged by users and accessed using a touch screen interface.

Source: Chetco Digital Instruments

The blogzine Haha.nu features a series of photos of tiny cars. We were captivated by this photo in the series of this little car pulling an travel trailer.

This car and trailer would look meek next to any modern Class A model, but its cute factor would certainly draw the attention of everyone in the campground.

Source: Haha.nu and Boing Boing

During an excursion on a boat or RV, there’s nothing more refreshing than enjoying a cold beverage or snack on a hot day. U-Line’s compact SP-18 Ice Maker produces a large amount of ice in a short time, making it easy for everyone on board to keep cool.

According to U-line, this high-performance ice maker can produce over 20 lbs. of ice per day from only 2-1/2 gal. of water. It can store up to 12 lbs. of ice in its clear, removable ice bucket.

Due to its low profile, the SP-18 takes up minimal space. This ice maker has a zero clearance door swing and a field reversible door. A travel pin keeps the door securely closed.

U-Line’s SP-18 is available in black or white. To withstand the adverse effects of the sun, the white model has an anodized aluminum door frame and handle as well as a specially designed stainless grill. Both models have stainless hinges and fasteners to help prevent corrosion.

Source: U-Line

Keystone RV Company recently announced that the 5,000th Passport Ultra Lite travel trailer was produced by Keystone RV Company’s Howe, Indiana facility.

According to Keystone this 5,000th trailer comes less than 18 months after the brand was introduced and is the fastest start ever for a brand made by Keystone.

The price of gas has broadened the appeal of lightweight trailers, but Keystone RV suggests that the Passport’s wealth of features makes it stand apart from other trailers in its class.

Source: Keystone RV and RV Trade Digest

To survive as an RV sales and service manager you have to know how to handle both people and machines. You are part salesperson and part mechanic.

The Winona Daily News features a profile of Doug Breza, an RV sales and service manager at Breezee’s RV Center in Homer, Minnesota.

Unlike car sales, an RV salesperson is selling a house on wheels. That means you have to know an RV inside and out, from the handling the steering system to dealing with plumbing issues. The customers range from veteran RVers to first time buyers.

The story explores how Breza found a job in the RV industry and what opportunities are available for those who want to work in the business.

Source: Winona Daily News