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The Muskegon Chronicle reports on a new upscale RV park opening in Muskegon, Michigan.

The Duck Creek RV Resort is located in Muskegon across from the entrance to Michigan’s Adventure Amusement Park.

According to The Muskegon Chronicle, the new resort will feature 157 sites with paved pads for RVs and full hookups for utilities.

Other amenities include a heated, duck-shaped pool, clubhouse with a game room, laundry facilities, large playground, a camp store, and shower facilities.

Source: The Muskegon Chronicle and The Duck Creek RV Resort

Messy, leaky hoses, spills and odors are no longer part of emptying a holding tank. Making the unpleasant task more sanitary and uncomplicated, Thetford Corporation offers Sani-Con, a holding tank emptying system with a macerating pump. Once connected to a RV’s dump valve and 20-amp power source, this system makes the process extremely simple, even easier than pumping gas.

Providing more power, flexibility and convenience than any other product on the market, Sani-Con can pump holding tank waste as far as 150′ away and 20′ uphill. Its heavy-duty, space-saving hose is 21′ long and retracts to just 7′. Due to its high-performing motor, Sani-Con needs a hose that is only 1″ in diameter.

A convenient nozzle has a stairstepped and threaded design to fit and lock into virtually any sewer receptacle, eliminating the need for adapters. The nozzle’s easy-grip handle helps prevent the hose from dropping into the soiled area near the dump port, further keeping the entire operation sanitary. Its threaded cap keeps the user and RV compartment clean during transport and storage.

Source and Photo Credit: Thetford

The 21st Annual Manufacturers’ RV Show is scheduled for May 15 – 25th 2009 at the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, California.

According to GoodTimes Promotions, Mike Nohr, manager of the show, is anything but worried about the outcome of this year’s mid-May event.

A combination of dealers offering steep discounts, buyers eager to take advantage of the deals and the long-term cost savings of an RV vacation has created an environment Nohr believes will prove to be a boon for his show. “We’re hearing about a lot of people who are looking to the future,” Nohr said. “They want to make a modest investment on an RV now so they can recoup those costs in the coming years.”

A survey conducted by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association found that 45 percent of RV owners are considering purchasing another RV this year because they appreciate the value they get compared to the more traditional vacations. “Who knows where the economy is going. I’ve heard it’s supposed to get better soon, but I’m not going to bet my vacations on it,” said Scotts Valley resident Anthony Leimas, who plans on attending the May show to shop for a toy hauler. “With an RV, I know we’ll always be able to afford to go on a nice vacation — recession or not.”

Consumers can expect to choose from hundreds of new and used models at the show — which runs at the Alameda County Fairgrounds from May 15-25. The event drew more than 20,000 people last year. “This year, I expect to see more serious buyers and less looky-loos,” Nohr said. “Consumers know they won’t see these kind of prices probably ever again in their lifetime.”

Source:GoodTimes Promotions Photo Credit: RVIA

Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles has come up with an RV that pushes the idea of a “green RV” to a new level. According to Livin’ Lite, their new 2010 line of Camp Lite trailers aren’t just gas efficient (weighing in at a miniscule 1,500 lbs), the RV itself is 98% recyclable.

To make such a recyclable RV, Livin’ Lite has made the Camp Lite entirely out of aluminum and composites.

That means an aluminum frame; aluminum rims; aluminum flooring; aluminum sidewalls with aluminum interior and exterior skin; aluminum roof trusses laminated with aluminum interior and exterior skin; aluminum cabinetry with aluminum framing, and more.

Inside the Camp Lite is a 12’ bunkhouse floorplan with a dinette that converts to a bed, allowing it to sleep four comfortably, with an interior height of 6’-5”, a full compliment of base and overhead cabinets – made of all aluminum, and loads of storage space.

Other features include European-style, lightweight composite windows; fully laminated construction for extra strength; LED exterior lights; sleek diamond-plate accents – and which comes in multiple exterior colors – including camouflage for outdoorsman.

Source: Livin’ Lite Recreational Vehicles

EverGreen Recreational Vehicles recently annouced the first of its Ever-Lite travel trailers was delivered to Summit RV of Ashland.

Photo Courtesy of Evergreen RVAccording to President of EverGreen, Doug Lantz and the company’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Kevin Slater, traveled to Summit RV from their Middlebury, Indiana manufacturing headquarters, to present a special award signifying the first true eco-friendly recreational vehicle in the field on April 16, 2009.

A bright spot in the RV manufacturing world, the start up EverGreen Recreation Vehicles LLC is just 90 days old and has already revolutionized the industry with innovative, eco-friendly Ever-Lite travel trailers. The trailers are the first all composite-construction, lightweight, formaldehyde-free, recyclable travel trailers ever produced. Summit RV received the first EverGreen Ever-Lite travel trailer one week ago.

Photo Courtesy of Evergreen RVPresident of Summit RV, James Bradley, is excited about the new EverGreen environmentally friendly product line. “We’re really excited about Ever-Lite campers for several reasons. We like the idea of selling green and taking care of the environment. We’re also excited that the trailer is so lightweight it can be towed by a variety of vehicles. The concept of doing away with wood and eliminating any concerns of rot or decay and a longer lasting, more durable trailer is another benefit that drew us to this product,” said Bradley.

“Although we’re out on the cutting edge of green, sustainable innovation with our new Ever-Lite travel trailers, we’re still servicing our dealer partners with a traditional twist. We are so pleased that Summit RV, James Bradley and his team have taken on our Ever-Lite product line that we came down to mark this historic event for our company in person. These are exciting times. We’re proud to have Summit RV as a partner as we retool our industry with greener, lighter weight, more fuel-efficient products,” concluded Lantz.

Source: EverGreen Recreational Vehicles and RV Trade Digest

If you use a 2003 to 2007 Dodge truck with the Cummins 5.9L engine to tow your RV, the Wilson Thrasher intake manifold is designed for you.

According to Wilson Manifolds, the Thrasher manifold improves EGTs (Exhaust gas temperatures), improves torque, and improves fuel mileage on the Cummins 5.9L engines.

Depending upon the state of tune, the Thrasher can generate in excess of 300 extra ft-lb of torque, or with lighter throttle use, the equivalent in fuel savings. In contrast with the OEM arrangement, this new induction system provides greater equality of air-fuel distribution, especially in the cruise zone of 2,000 to 2,100 rpm.

As a result, the Thrasher generates not only amazing gains in both torque and fuel economy but also improves horsepower output, lowers exhaust gas temperatures, reduces exhaust emissions, and improves drivability.

Check out the results from the strict disciplines of the dynamometer graphs below. One graph demonstrates the gains in both torque and horsepower of the Wilson Thrasher manifold when compared with the OEM manifold, both of which are tested with a standard ECU. In the other, both are tested with an aftermarket ECU.

What is more, the greater the power improvements made to this engine, the greater the performance or economy benefits of the Thrasher. In simple terms, the Thrasher requires less accelerator pedal action to pull, tow, or cruise; therefore, it uses less fuel

Source: Wilson Manifolds

In spite of the challenging conditions testing the U.S. economy and the RV industry, Newmar Corporation recently announced it has doubled its Class A motor home market share in January 2009 when compared to January 2008.

This, according to Statistical Surveys data recently released. According to the data compiled by the Grand Rapids, MI based company, Class A motor home retail registrations in January of this year showed a 61% decline vs. the numbers a year prior. In the face of these declining numbers, Newmar experienced an increase of its Class A motor home market share from 3.2% in January 2008 vs. 7.6% in January 2009. Newmar’s market share growth was 136.3%.

 “Although one month’s worth of data does not make it a trend, this is welcome news and a good sign for Newmar and its dealers,” said John Sammut, Newmar’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing. “Newmar will continue to work hard through the 2009 calendar year, but this certainly is a strong start to the year for our company.”

Newmar‘s growth in market share came from both the gas and diesel motor home segments of its Class A motor home business. “The improvements made to the interior and exterior designs of Newmar’s 2009 motor home product line up appear to be having a positive impact even in a declining motor home market,” added Pat Terveer, Newmar’s Director of Sales. “Developing great looking product at a great value will continue to be our company’s focus.”

Source: Newmar Corporation

If you are parking your RV in the wilderness, far from any convenient power source, you can still get power from solar panels or a generator. But which is the better choice?

The RV Home Yet? blog features a story exploring the advantages and trade-offs of solar panels and generators.Solar panels are quiet and earth-friendly, but can be pricey. Generators are cheaper, but can disturb your peace and quiet.

The story also features a handy guide to generator courtesy, so generator users and non-users can enjoy the outdoors and co-exist peacefully.

Source: RV Home Yet?

It is only one month till The Rally (formerly called the Great North American RV Rally), an annual event to be held on April 17 – 20, 2009 at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

According to the official site, RV owners from nearly every state and province are expected, with around 4,500 RVs and about 10,000 people at the event each day.

Why is The Rally so big? RV rallies have been around for about 30 years, but some are only for owners of particular brands and types of motorhomes. The Rally brings together interests of various RV organizations involved, offering comprehensive seminar programs and exhibits.

There will be more than 500 booths featuring the latest in RV products and services, and more than 30 seminars scheduled for each day beginning on April 16. You can read more about the rally at the official site: http://www.therally.com

You can also get updates about The Rally on Twitter at http://twitter.com/therally
 
Source: The Rally

RVTraderOnline.com now offers RV dealers an “RV Clip” advertising option for each of their advertised RVs on RVTraderOnline.com.

An RV Clip is an animated slide show accompanied by spoken text and music. Each clip features photographs of the RV for sale, panned over for a video-like effect. A voice-over describes the RV’s features, its location and selling price, all set to upbeat background music.

RV Clips are automatically generated on RVTraderOnline.com with no hassle to the dealer. RV dealers do have the option to let RV Trader’s data fields automatically create the spoken text or they can customize the spoken text themselves at no additional cost.

“We are always looking for new opportunities for dealers to advertise their RVs and to provide a better user experience for RV buyers. With the ‘RV Clips’ we are able to do both,” commented Tim Custer, RV Trader general manager.

Current RV dealers on RVTraderonline.com receive a complimentary 30-day trial of RV Clips. Dealers can incorporate the clips along side the photo gallery already in place.

According to a study by the Online Publishers Association, after viewing video ads, 31 percent of consumers visit the company’s website, 52 percent of consumers take an action after viewing a video ad and 16 percent of consumers who view video ads make a purchase. Statistics such as these were key influences to the development of user generated video and RV Clips to RVTraderOnline.com.

A sample RV Clip can be viewed at: at this link by clicking “Watch RV Clip”

Source: RV Trader Online