Rituals of the Road – Part II

Gone With the Wynns.com – A Real-Time Adventure From the Road – Part II

…Wynn said the Internet and Social Media has changed everything and how a simple question via their Facebook page can go a long way in helping find things to do, people to meet and places to see.

“Many times we roll into a new town without doing much research on places to see or fun things to do.  Nikki sends a simple question out on our Facebook Page: Anybody know a great place to eat in (enter city name)?,” Wynn said. “Before we know it, people are sending restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, or in some cases, inviting us to their home for dinner.”

One of the best parts of traveling in an RV is having the ability to bring along the whole family. For the Wynns, bringing along their two cats, Singa and Cleo, is a must.

“Our two cats are a huge part of our lives, so naturally I had to give them a spot front and center on our website (they even have their own e-mail address),” said Wynn. “When we walk our cats at the campground people realize they’ve seen us before (our website, on TV, etc.) which gives us the opportunity to make a new connection with other RV’ers.”

Right now, the Wynns are in the process of downsizing from their current RV, “Windy” a Monaco Vesta – the first of its kind.  Windy has become a celebrity in her own right. As far as what type of RV they plan to take up shop in the future, Wynn said it’s still up in the air.

“We’re still shopping around and weighing our options,” said Wynn. “The new home won’t be a travel trailer but it will be something under 30ft (hopefully around 25ish).”

Wynn added while he and Nikki have had the opportunity to meet thousands of people throughout their six years on the road, they’re still privy to the fact they have much to learn. It’s one of the reasons they decided to create their “Confessions of a Traveler” section on their blog which focuses on stories from many of the other travelers they meet.

“If I’ve learned anything in life it’s this: Listen to others and learn from their successes and failures,” said Wynn. “One thing we have learned with our years of RV travel is that each traveler has their own rituals, expenses and experiences. No one way is the best and you should go with what makes you happiest, not what others think you should or shouldn’t be doing.”

Author Bio:  Darrin Michael currently serves as the eCommerce/Marketing Director at Dave Arbogast RV Depot in Troy, Ohio. In addition, he also teaches Internet Development at Edison Community College.  He’s been featured on a number of other industry related blogs including Woodalls, RV-Pro.com, DealerRefresh.com and more.

 

Rituals of the Road – Part I

 

Gone With the Wynns.com – A Real-Time Adventure From the Road

Imagine having the ability to wake up every morning and take off on a different adventure.

Now imagine having the ability to document these adventures for the whole world to see.

The idea of jumping into a RV and hitting the open road in a carefree lifestyle is appealing to any die-hard traveler. Unfortunately, between the hustle and bustle of our real lives, bringing such an idea to fruition can seem like a daunting task for many. But the RV lifestyle is evolving…      

                                                                                                             

Now, RV adventurers on the open road have the ability to tell their stories to the world on a daily basis, and in real-time in some cases (FB, Twitter, etc.), thanks to the Internet.  In fact, one RV’ing couple has actually found a way to combine their real-life passions with the desire to just “hit the open road.”

Say hello to GoneWithTheWynns.com. 

The website tells the story of RV’ers Jason and Nikki Wynn’s adventures on the open road in the form of a blog which includes everything from RVmini video documentaries of their adventures to tales from other travelers they encounter throughout their journey. Even more, the eco-friendly couple has made it a goal to show other travelers living on the road, without leaving a huge carbon footprint, is more possible than you think.

For those who aren’t familiar with them, the Wynn’s could quite possibly be America’s most popular RV traveling couple.  They’ve been featured on everything from Home and Garden TV to USA Today. The self-proclaimed “quirky” couple decided to trade in their Dallas-based day jobs (Nikki, a make-up and styling business and Jason, a photography company) to satisfy their craving for adventure and traveling.  One day, they made the decision to sell everything, pack up their 2 cats (Cleo and Singa- celebrities in their own right), bought an RV and named it “Windy”, hit the road and didn’t look back.

I recently had the opportunity to speak with Jason Wynn about what it’s like to live on the road along with what some of he and Nikki’s own Rituals of the Road are.

“Support Local” said Wynn. “This is one of our biggest goals with our travels. In our opinion, there is no better way to enjoy a new town than eating your way through it! We love searching out a small mom and pop place which support local agriculture, finding a local beer which is brewed fresh in town, and purchasing coffee that’s Fair Trade and locally roasted. We like to say we vote with our forks and our dollars.”

Wynn says Farmers Markets are a must and that if planned right, one can actually pick up their groceries for the week. Even better, if you’re a ‘canner’ you’ll have high quality food even after the season is over.
 

“You better believe if there’s a farmers market near the city we’ll be there; fresh seasonal fruit, ripe vegetables, artisanal foods, local music, and in general happy people,” he said. 

Part II of this article will be featured in tomorrow’s blog post…

This article provided to RV Trader by:

Darrin Michael currently serves as the eCommerce/Marketing Director at DaveArbogast RV Depot in Troy, Ohio. In addition, he also teaches Internet Development at Edison Community College.  He’s been featured on a number of other industry related blogs including Woodalls, RV-Pro.com, DealerRefresh.com and more.

 

Come Visit the South this Winter!

Encore and Thousand Trails has something for everyone. Stay a day, a week or the entire season! RV sites, rental cottages, park models and hotel rooms available. Check out three of our featured Southern destinations:

Voyager Hotel and RV Resort- Tucson, Arizona

One of Woodall’s 5w Top Rated Resorts in 2012!

At Voyager, you have a variety of accommodations to choose from. There are RV sites to accommodate small and large RV’s. The hotel with newly renovated rooms is a great place to stay when visiting the Tucson area! There are also park model and casita rentals available for short or long term stays.

We take great pride in the exceptional amenities at Voyager including 3 swimming pools, pickle ball and tennis courts, 24 hour state of the art fitness center, day spa, and a full-time recreational staff. Voyager offers a daily schedule of planned and impromptu activities. A partial list includes dances, arts and crafts, wood carving, guided tours, water aerobics, volleyball and sports tournaments. Truly something for everyone!

Voyager Hot Deals:

-Hotel Room Special:  Oct- Dec $69 per night, plus tax and fees. Based on double occupancy.

-Monthly Seasonal Rental:  Oct-Dec $1,000 per month

-RV Premium Site:  Oct-Dec  $35 Daily  / $225 Weekly

Fun-N-Sun RV Resort- San Benito, Texas

Fun-N-Sun RV Resort is located in San Benito, Texas right in the heart of “The Magic Valley” otherwise known as the Rio Grande Valley. Its mild climate and exciting nearby attractions, including South Padre Island are what attract many winter visitors from across the United States.

With nearly 1,500 sites available, this resort has a lot to offer its guests. If you like being busy and enjoying several activities year-round, Fun-N-Sun is the place to be! Not only do they have fun activities, but they also have entertainment all year round!

Fun-n-Sun Hot Deals:

Valid on a standard Site. Reservations for Oct 1, 2012 through March 31, 2013

-1 month: $489 (savings of over $50)

-3 months: $1399 (savings of over $40)

-4 months: $1599 (savings of over $120)

-5 months: $1799 (savings of over $150)

Southern Palms- Eustis, Florida

Southern Palms RV Resort is friendly and full of fun! The staff is great, always willing to do their best to make your stay a wonderful experience. There is a full schedule of activities at Southern Palms and always something new to experience and enjoy, from a friendly game of bocce ball to dancing the evening away!

Southern Palms prides themselves on their exceptional amenities which include a fitness center, shuffle ball courts, bocce ball, heated pool and spa, billiard room, horseshoe pits, card rooms, picnic areas and clubhouses. Come and join your friends and the RV lifestyle at Southern Palms!

Southern Palms Hot Deals

$150 off seasonal stay

$99 week – December 31, 2012

$100 off a weekly Stay January – April 1, 2013

For more information or to make a reservation at these resorts or any of the other over 170 Encore and Thousand Trails resorts, please visit www.rvonthego.com or call (888) 307-5745

Hershey First To Taste Thor Motor Coach’s New Windsport Motorhomes & HD-MAX™ Technology

A brand new redesigned Windsport motorhome from Thor Motor Coach will be driving into dealer inventories with its debut at the 2012 Hershey RV Show in Pennsylvania, September 12-16.  In addition, this year’s show goers will be among the very first to experience Thor Motor Coach’s all new HD-MAX™ Full Color Exterior technology.

In its 16th year of production, the Windsport has been a popular choice for shoppers of gas-powered Class A Motorhomes. 

“With some much improved changes to modernize the Windsport, dealers and retail consumers are going to love what the new Windsport has of offer,” commented Jon Krider, Director of Product Planning at Thor Motor Coach.

The new front cap on the Windsport reveals aggressive headlight styling and large panoramic windshield while the rear cap is highlighted with vertical LED taillights.  The coach’s interior ceiling height has been raised providing more living space and increased cabinet storage.  The five available floorplans for the Windsport motorhomes start at 30-ft and extend up to 35-ft.  The Windsport 34E is also making its debut at this year’s show.  The 35 foot 34E has a rear bath plus an additional half bath at mid-ship.

Along with new styling, the 2013 Windsport will sport Thor Motor Coach’s all new HD-MAX™ exterior graphics packages.  Costing thousands of dollars less than existing full body paint schemes, the revolutionary and beautiful new HD-MAX™ Full Color Exteriors will change the way motorhomes look and feel in the future. 

Thor Motor Coach, North America’s most trusted and chosen motorhome brand since 2010 will also be showcasing a slew of new products at the 2012 Hershey RV Show.  Show shoppers will find a dozens of new floor plans, interiors, decors, and options from all fifteen brands of motorhomes manufactured by Thor Motor Coach.

More Information about the 2012 Hershey RV Show, visit: http://thormotorcoach.com/Hershey-RV-Show.php

For more information on Windsport motorhomes, visit http://Windsport-RV.com, or for Thor Motor Coach visit: http://ThorMotorCoach.com, or write to: Thor Motor Coach, Inc., PO Box 1486, Elkhart, Indiana 46515.

About Thor Motor Coach

Thor Motor Coach, Inc is an operating unit of Thor Industries, Inc.(NYSE:THO), producing various motorized recreation vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Thor Motor Coach RV brands include Class A Diesel Pushers; Palazzo and Tuscany TAG & XTE, Class A Gas Motorhomes; A.C.E., Daybreak, Challenger, Hurricane, Windsport, and Outlaw Toy Haulers, Class B+ Motorhomes; Siesta and Citation, Mercedes Benz Sprinter Based Diesel Motorhomes; Siesta Sprinter and Citation Sprinter, Class C Gas and Diesel Motorhomes; Four Winds and Chateau.

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Hershey First To Taste Thor Motor Coach’s New Windsport Motorhomes & HD-MAX™ Technology

A brand new redesigned Windsport motorhome from Thor Motor Coach will be driving into dealer inventories with its debut at the 2012 Hershey RV Show in Pennsylvania, September 12-16.  In addition, this year’s show goers will be among the very first to experience Thor Motor Coach’s all new HD-MAX™ Full Color Exterior technology.
 

In its 16th year of production, the Windsport has been a popular choice for shoppers of gas-powered Class A Motorhomes.  “With some much improved changes to modernize the Windsport, dealers and retail consumers are going to love what the new Windsport has of offer,” commented Jon Krider, Director of Product Planning at Thor Motor Coach.

The new front cap on the Windsport reveals aggressive headlight styling and large panoramic windshield while the rear cap is highlighted with vertical LED taillights.  The coach’s interior ceiling height has been raised providing more living space and increased cabinet storage.  The five available floorplans for the Windsport motorhomes start at 30-ft and extend up to 35-ft.  The Windsport 34E is also making its debut at this year’s show.  The 35 foot 34E has a rear bath plus an additional half bath at mid-ship.

Along with new styling, the 2013 Windsport will sport Thor Motor Coach’s all new HD-MAX™ exterior graphics packages.  Costing thousands of dollars less than existing full body paint schemes, the revolutionary and beautiful new HD-MAX™ Full Color Exteriors will change the way motorhomes look and feel in the future.  

Thor Motor Coach, North America’s most trusted and chosen motorhome brand since 2010 will also be showcasing a slew of new products at the 2012 Hershey RV Show.  Show shoppers will find a dozens of new floor plans, interiors, decors, and options from all fifteen brands of motorhomes manufactured by Thor Motor Coach. 

More Information about the 2012 Hershey RV Show, visit: http://thormotorcoach.com/Hershey-RV-Show.php

For more information on Windsport motorhomes, visit http://Windsport-RV.com, or for Thor Motor Coach visit: http://ThorMotorCoach.com, or write to: Thor Motor Coach, Inc., PO Box 1486, Elkhart, Indiana 46515.

About Thor Motor Coach

Thor Motor Coach, Inc is an operating unit of Thor Industries, Inc.(NYSE:THO), producing various motorized recreation vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Thor Motor Coach RV brands include Class A Diesel Pushers; Palazzo and Tuscany TAG & XTE, Class A Gas Motorhomes; A.C.E., Daybreak, Challenger, Hurricane, Windsport, and Outlaw Toy Haulers, Class B+ Motorhomes; Siesta and Citation, Mercedes Benz Sprinter Based Diesel Motorhomes; Siesta Sprinter and Citation Sprinter, Class C Gas and Diesel Motorhomes; Four Winds and Chateau.

Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd. Introduces First B Plus Motorhome at America’s Largest RV Show in Hershey, PA Sept. 12 – 16

Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd., one of the top producing Class B van motorhome manufacturers, announces the launch of their first B Plus motorhome – the Pleasure-Way Pursuit. The Pleasure-Way Pursuit B Plus motorhome is built on the Ford E350 dual rear wheel cutaway chassis and is unique in the market due to many of its special features, but primarily because it is 22 feet long.  This new B Plus is constructed with the same attention to detail and commitment to quality and safety that Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd. is known for.

“Building a B plus was the next natural progression for us,” claims Dean Rumpel CEO of Pleasure-Way, “We received a lot of feedback from customers who love what we do but wished the Class B motorhome was just a little larger. The Pursuit is going to meet the needs of the consumer who doesn’t want to go up to a 24’ motorhome but wants a little more than a traditional Class B.”  Rumpel states that, “Aside from spaciousness and efficiency, one of our focuses in building the Pursuit was to produce a stunning interior with extraordinary features that you don’t normally see in a B Plus motorhome.” 

The Pursuit starts with a full steel cage that is welded together and a one-piece seamless fibreglass roof. All fibreglass is bonded directly to the steel which eliminates the need for additional screws and moldings. Full body paint completes the exterior of the Pursuit. When you enter the coach you are immediately drawn to the elegant hard-wood maple interior. From the rich fluted molding and custom solid maple cabinet doors to the hand-fitted crown moldings, you feel as if you have entered into a high end Class A motorhome. Rich ultra-leather encompasses the rear lounge and is lined with three inches of memory foam to ensure your comfort. The spacious bathroom showcases a beautiful Corian and glass curved corner shower. The bathroom also features a skylight, maple cabinetry with crown moldings, a Corian vanity with matching Corian backsplash, a porcelain toilet, and a stainless steel sink complete with a waterfall single lever faucet.

The abundance of features, which are standard on the Pursuit, include multiplex wiring, which simplifies the electrical switches to three convenient panels, an Onan 4kw generator, a 13,500 btu roof air conditioner, a 32” LED LCD TV, a Blu-Ray player with built in Wi-Fi, Clarion in-dash navigation with Bluetooth, iPod and USB connections, a back-up camera, a six cubic foot double door fridge with stainless steel front, LED lighting, a unique computer work station, multi-position opening skylights with screen and shade, power day and  night roller shades and a 12 foot power awning.

With an estimated 13 -15 miles per gallon highway, the Pursuit is fuel efficient and easy to drive. Fully loaded, it retails for $103,870.00 USD / CAD.

For more information on Pleasure-Way Motorhomes please contact:

John Mattern

Sales Manager

Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd.

302 Portage Ave Saskatoon, SK Canada S7J 4C6

1-800-364-0189  www.pleasureway.com

Join Thor Motor Coach at the Hershey RV Show

Thor Motor Coach, North America’s most trusted and chosen motorhome brand since 2010, will be showcasing a slew of new Luxury Diesel Pushers, Class A, Class B+, & Class C motorhomes at the upcoming Pennsylvania RV Show in Hershey, PA. Gates are open to the public September 12-16, 2012. The Hershey RV Show is known as the World’s Largest RV Show, and we expect that this year will be even bigger.

Here are some of the exciting new 2013 products you’ll see in Hershey…

Thor Motor Coach’s dazzling new HD-MAX™ Full Color Exteriors will absolutely be show stoppers. Our new innovation in exterior décor is going to turn the motorhome market upside-down. These amazing new exterior color packages cost thousands of dollars less than the existing décor schemes, but maintain all the beauty. Look for all the options and colors of our HD-MAX™ Full Color Exteriors on our popular A.C.E., Hurricane, Windsport, Four Winds, & Chateau brands of motorhomes in the Thor Motor Coach/Camping World RV display.

CLASS A MOTORHOMES

The already best selling A.C.E. brand of motorhomes gets a little bigger with the introduction of the 30.1 model. This new double slide model features a 32” LCD TV uniquely mounted in a way that all
seating positions in the coach can watch. See why the A.C.E. is the best selling gas Class A motorhome.

· A.C.E. = class A & class C Evolution
· Pet & Family Friendly / EZ Clean
· Cockpit Overhead Bunk Sleeper
· Compact & Easy to Drive
· HD-MAX™ Full Color Exteriors Optional
· Thor Motor Coach’s Motorhome Mud-Room™
· PC Workstation & Tech Charging Station

Link: http://www.acemotorhome.com/

For full details, click here.

Thor Motor Coach’s New Hurricane Cranks up the Excitement in Class A Motorhomes

September 4th, 2012 (Elkhart, In.) – North America’s top selling motorhome brand, Thor Motor Coach to unveil their newly redesigned Hurricane gas-powered Class A motorhomes on at the 2012 Pennsylvania RV Show in Hershey, PA.

“With the Hurricane we are building one of the most recognized nameplates in motorhome history, and we intend on keeping the Hurricane on top of retail consumers want list.  The rejuvenation of the Hurricane line was driven by our valued Thor Motor Coach dealers and customers”, proclaimed Dana Simon, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Thor Motor Coach.

Hurricane Motorhomes are now available in four floor plans ranging in length from 30 to 35 feet, including the all new 34E a bath and a half model.  The exterior of the coach is all new with redesigned front and rear fiberglass caps and increased exterior storage.  Inside these new coaches you’ll find additional ceiling height, creating increased cabinet capacities.

Hershey Pennsylvania will also see the introduction of Thor Motor Coach’s HD-MAX™ full color exteriors on the new Hurricane.  HD-MAX™ completes one of the best selling motorhomes in history.  The HD-MAX™ package can be styled in one of two exciting graphics packages, giving it the high end look of coaches but costing thousands of dollars less.

“The look, shape and overall design of the Hurricane is going to make it even more appealing to the thousands of people who choose a Hurricane motorhome.,” commented Joel Grimm, National Sales Manager of Gas-Powered Motorhomes at Thor Motor Coach.

Look for the new Hurricane unveiling at the Pennsylvania RV show, in Hershey, PA September 11-16, 2012.

To learn more about Hurricane motorhomes visit http://hurricane-rv.com.

For more information about Thor Motor Coach, call (800) 860-5658, visit http://ThorMotorCoach.com, or write to: Thor Motor Coach, Inc., PO Box 1486, Elkhart, Indiana 46515.

About Thor Motor Coach

Thor Motor Coach, Inc is an operating unit of Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE:THO), producing various motorized recreational vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Thor Motor Coach’s RV brands include Class C Motorhomes; Four Winds and Chateau, Mercedes Benz Sprinter Based Diesel Motorhomes; Siesta Sprinter and Citation Sprinter, Class B Plus Motorhomes; Siesta and Citation, Class A Motorhomes Gas; A.C.E., Daybreak, Challenger, Hurricane, Windsport, and Outlaw Toy Haulers, Class A Diesel Motorhomes; Palazzo and Tuscany TAG & XTE.

Lifestyle RV Debuts Latest 32-Foot Fifth-Wheel

Courtesy of RVBusiness.com

Lifestyle Luxury RV continues to grow its line of luxury fifth-wheels, today (Sept. 4) announcing the addition of its newest floorplan, the LS32FW.

The LS32FW floorplan offers a number of unique features that demonstrate Lifestyle’s commitment to providing the comfort, luxury and amenities it is quickly becoming known for – and that dealers and consumers are getting excited about, according to a news release. Offering customers a more compact floorplan while still featuring immense interior living space, key features of the LS32FW include its innovative full wall-slide technology to maximize space and an 80-inch sofa in rear with two recliners in the slide as standard.

“For those consumers wanting a smaller floorplan footprint without sacrificing amenities, features, or space, the LS32FW is the perfect choice,” said Elliott Bond, national sales manager. “By utilizing an impressive array of design innovations, we are excited to bring this highly unique and functional floorplan to dealers and consumers.”

Additional key features of the LS32FW floorplan include:

• Spacious walk-around bed with recessed nightstands for extra room.
• Abundant wardrobe space.
• Available washer/dryer, either as two-piece side-by side or one-piece combo unit.
• Optional kitchen island for added convenience and functionality.
• Radius glass-door shower.
• Rear pass-through storage.

Lifestyle Luxury RV’s growing lineup will be featured at several upcoming high-profile events, including:

• Hershey RV Show, Booth #538, Sept. 12-16, in Hershey, Pa.
• Dealer Open House, Sept. 18-20, in Elkhart, Ind.
• Pomona California RV Show, Booth #1019, Oct. 12-21, in Pomona, Calif.

For more information on these events and the new LS32FW floorplan from Lifestyle Luxury RV, as well as all of the floorplans from its growing lineup, visit www.LifestyleLRV.com.