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Winnebago has unveiled its 2010 lineup at the Company’s Winnebago Itasca Travelers Club Grand National Rally.

Photo Credit: Winnebago

According to Winnebago, this year’s lineup has a more concentrated effort on fuel efficient vehicles, unique and innovative floorplans, dynamic styling as well as a stronger diesel presence.

“Our 2010 model lineup is without a doubt the best we’ve ever offered, and what better group to show it to first than our own, loyal owners,” said Winnebago Industries’ Chairman of the Board, CEO and President Bob Olson. “From top to bottom we’ve raised the bar in creating innovative products with exciting floorplans and features with an emphasis on form, function and styling. We’ve added diesel availability to our entire Class A lineup including the amazingly fuel efficient Winnebago Via and Itasca Reyo – the first Class A coaches built on the Dodge/Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis. Add in our industry leading Class C products, and our 2010 lineup has something for everyone.”

Source: Winnebago

WSET.com reports on a Lynchburg, Virginia RV dealership that says sales this year’s are breaking records.

According to the story, RV dealers report that customers who are determined to take vacations find RV trips are cheaper than other forms of travel.

Source: WSET.com

ShadePro Inc. will be unveiling two new RV products that will make “going green” while on the road a bit more user-friendly and affordable at the July 2009 Family MotorCoach Association (FMCA) International Convention in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Photo Credit: ShadePro

“What many RV owners don’t realize is that there are plenty of inexpensive ways to go green.” comments ShadePro.net President, Steve Smoot. “One simple item all RV-ers can do to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint is to install shade products on their RV. This not only helps limit air conditioning use during the hot summer months, but also reduces the fuel consumption by running the generator.”

The Vista Shade is an inside mounted windshield cover for Class A motor homes that blocks approximately 94% of the sun’s hot rays and saves energy by keeping the sun’s rays out and the inside of the coach cool.

ShadePro is also re-introducing their line of awning shades with newfeatures at the FMCA RV Convention. The RV awning shade drop is nowavailable in 6’, 7’ and 8’ heights to accommodate tall motor homes orcustomers that prefer longer shades to block out the wind, sun andother elements.

Source: ShadePro

Motorcycle fans have American Chopper and big truck fans have Ice Road Truckers. Now, RVers get a TV show with NBC’s The Great American Road Trip, premiering tonight.

Photo Credit: NBC

According to NBC, The Great American Road Trip follows seven families traveling through different cities while competing in challenges that will lead one family to victory.

Along the way, the families and viewers will also discover quirky American landmarks ranging from the World’s Largest Chair to the Muffler Men and Cadillac Ranch.

Source: NBC.com

Contoure Int. introduces the space-saving CMC12070S Microwave Convection Oven Combination with Grill. This innovative stainless steel oven provides microwaving, baking and grilling in a single unit.

Photo Credit: Contoure Int.

Saving precious space in tight quarters, as well as money and time, the advanced Contoure CMC12070S delivers three appliances in one. With all the convenience of a microwave, the convection oven also offers enhanced browning, baking and crisping.

The grill emits radiant heat to give food that hot-off-the-grill taste. Users can reduce cooking time even more by adding convection heat in combination with microwave energy.With 10 power levels and eight touch menus, the sleek Contoure CMC12070S has 1.2 cu. ft. of cooking space, a 12-1/2″ glass turntable and kitchen timer with a 30-seconds-plus option.

State-of-the-art features also include convection baking, microwave cooking and combo-grill cooking settings, defrost by weight or timed defrost and a child safety lock.

Source: Contoure

Winnebago Industries announced the industry’s first hybrid RV, a 2009 Winnebago Adventurer, provided to Brad and Amy Herzog for their summer travel tour.

The Herzogs, spokespersons for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), will be traveling in this concept hybrid RV this summer as they promote the benefits of RV travel.

Photo Credit: Winnebago

According to Winnebago, The Winnebago Adventurer hybrid rides on a Freightliner Custom Chassis’ ecoFRED chassis, the motor home industry’s first hybrid-electric chassis featuring Eaton hybrid power components. This is a full hybrid system in that it utilizes two independent power sources (a diesel engine and an electric motor) that work in conjunction to optimally power the vehicle.

The Adventurer hybrid also features regenerative braking for less brake wear. With regenerative braking, the hybrid electric motor uses electricity to create torque, while also being able to reverse the process to use torque to create electricity. By reversing its electric engine to become a generator, electricity is fed back into the battery resulting in energy savings.

“We are excited to be the first RV manufacturer to begin active testing of this hybrid technology,” said Winnebago Industries Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Martin. “This hybrid concept can bring many benefits including improved fuel efficiency in select driving environments, reduced noise and emissions, improved acceleration and reduced maintenance. We are proud to provide this hybrid concept vehicle to the Herzogs this summer for their tour as we continue to test the viability of hybrid technology in the RV industry.”

Source: Winnebago

Newmar Corporation reports it has decided to hold its 24th Annual International Kountry Klub Rally close to home.

The annual rally, originally scheduled for Perry, Georgia, has been moved and will be held August 3-8, 2009 at the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds.

Photo Credit: Newmar

“Newmar’s decision to move the rally made sense given the current economic state the county is in,” said Barney Barnett, Newmar International Kountry Klub Director. “Newmar is located in Elkhart County and we wanted to do something to help support local business and drive traffic to the county.”

Photo Credit: Newmar

The Klub has over 360 confirmed reservations and expects to end up with between 500 and 600 total units at the fairgrounds participating in the rally. “Surprisingly reservations are coming in ahead of where we have been in years past,” said Barnett. “We are hoping this is a good sign and that our expectations will be exceeded.”

Photo Credit: Newmar

“Newmar is looking forward to this year’s rally,” said Matthew Miller, Newmar President and Chairman of the Klub’s Board of Directors. “We are confident the RV industry will turn around and we wanted to get together with our Klub members close to home for a week of fellowship and to show our loyal owners that Newmar and Elkhart County are open for business.”

Source: Newmar Corporation

RESOURCES

• 24^th Annual International Kountry Klub Rally Info
• Newmar Corporation Homepage
• Newmark Kountry Klub Homepage
• Newmar RVs For Sale On RV Trader Online

RVTraderOnline.com, the Web site of RV Trader magazine and a division of Dominion Enterprises, now offers dealer advertisers the option to directly publish their online classified listings in participating RV Trader magazines throughout the country.

Adding print advertising is just a few clicks away. RV dealers simply log on to their RV Trader Inventory Management Tool, provided free of charge to all RVTraderOnline.com dealer advertisers, and click on the Add Magazines tab.

After selecting which RVs from their online inventory they wish to publish in RV Trader magazine, they select the magazines they wish to publish in by market. Dealers also have options to advertise all their inventory in print or advertise in all RV Trader magazines with just one click.

“We are giving dealers a turnkey option to increase their reach and market penetration with media other than the Internet,” explained Tim Custer, RV Trader general manager. “Our research shows that print advertising is a great way to supplement online advertising. On average, dealers who advertise in our print magazines and on RVTraderOnline.com receive 57 percent more leads than dealers who advertise online only.”

Source: RV Trader Online

The RVIA reports that the RV industry’s shipments are projected to total approximately 169,500 units in 2010 — a 24 percent increase from the 136,500 predicted for 2009.

Photo Credit: RVIA

According to a new forecast by RV industry analyst Dr. Richard Curtin, released at Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) Annual Membership Meeting on June 9.

Seasonally adjusted shipments reached their low point in the first quarter of 2009, and gains are expected over the next two years as the negative financial factors that caused the steep drop in RV sales will slowly give way to improved conditions in the market.

Dr. Richard Curtin, director of consumer surveys at the University of Michigan, who produces the closely-watched monthly Index of Consumer Sentiment, briefed RVIA members on his analysis of the industry’s future at RVIA’s annual Committee Week, held June 8-11 in Washington, DC.

Source: RVIA

Photo Credit: Sylvan Sport

National Geographic Adventure named SylvanSport’s “GO Mobile Adventure Gear,” the “Best of Adventure Gear 2008,” calling this multi-mode trailer “the coolest camper ever.”

According to SylvanSport, this precision-engineered “backpack on wheels” enables you to haul all your gear and indulge in every adventure without compromising what gets left behind.

Photo Credit: Sylvan Sport

‘GO’ easily morphs from a low-profile high-capacity trailer, to a rugged hefty-toy-hauler, to a comfortable camper that can be pulled behind almost any vehicle. This super spacious camper, with its Hyper-Engineered aluminum frame, weighs only 700 lbs. and can haul up to 800 lbs. of gear.

Featuring 24 cubic feet of waterproof gear storage (9 cubic feet lockable), ‘GO’ cruises with kayaks and canoes stowed securely, plus racking systems for bikes, boards and other fun gear.

Photo Credit: Sylvan Sport

With its huge capacity, ‘GO’ frees up space inside and on the roof of your tow vehicle. Its enhanced torsion suspension provides smooth load control to help protect your stuff during the journey.

Photo Credit: Sylvan Sport

‘GO’ easily deploys its Kelty tenting system with all components already on-board—no extra tools, no PhD in physics required. And you choose from multiple sleeping configurations—all of which feature spaciousness and all-weather protection.

Source: Sylvan Sport