Winnebago has developed and manufactured a new Ability Equipped design for the fuel-efficient ERA Class B motor home.

EDITORS NOTE:  RV Buddies helped with the remodel of Sandy Olivers' RV so she could continue RVing. CLICK HERE or search the site for all of her story. The link at the bottom of this article connects you to great ability-equipped resources at Winnebago - their commitment has always been their for those with special needs. Like Sandy, we want to see you RVing for years to come!

Perfect for those wishing to downsize, enjoy weekend travel or anyone looking for a full service recreation vehicle in a compact size, the ERA now has an additional new floorplan available for those with special physical needs. Winnebago Industries has added the new Ability Equipped floorplan to its ERA line to meet the needs of those customers who face physical challenges. While Winnebago Industries is well known as a leader in the sale of traditional Class A and C motor homes, the Company is also an experienced leader in the design and manufacture of vehicles that enable individuals with special mobility concerns to travel freely and comfortably.

Special Ability Equipped ERA features:

• Ricon KlearVue™ lift in the rear of the motor home. This lift provides easy access into the ERA while its low profile design allows an unobstructed view out the windows of the rear entrance door.
• Wider aisle-way for easier navigation inside the motor home
• Wheelchair lock-downs are provided on the driver’s side of the vehicle behind the front cab seats.
• Bath doors swing out for easy access into the bathroom
• Assist bar and second shower head holder in the wet bath
• Custom galley with sink, stovetop, microwave mounted under stovetop for easy access, and Waeco refrigerator which extends on a sliding tray from the end of the galley cabinet
• Built on an 8,550-lb. GVWR Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis with a fuel efficient 3L 6-cylinder turbo-diesel Mercedes-Benz engine, the ERA features an aerodynamic design with smooth lines and striking full body paint. The exterior is further enhanced with stylized, 16-inch aluminum wheels and full-length running boards. A 5,000-lb. hitch and optional patio awning are additional highlights of this coach. In addition to the rear door with the wheelchair lift, the Ability Equipped ERA also has front cab doors and a large sliding door on the passenger side of the vehicle for easy entry for additional occupants.

The ERA also features Winnebago Industries’ RV Radio that combines an AM/FM radio, CD and weatherband in one and includes an iPod/MP3 jack and hand held remote. The radio is also combined with a rearview monitor system with a touch screen, displaying weather alerts and song type, in addition to a clear picture of the exterior behind the motor home for use when backing up. The rearview monitor system also features one-way audio that is helpful when a person outside can help the driver navigate in and out of tight spots. Sirius satellite radio is also available. The ERA has plush, UltraLeather furnishings, solid-surface countertops and a 15-inch pivoting TV with DVD player. A rear dinette pedestal table and bench seats easily convert to a comfortable 40” x 69” sleeping area. The front cab seats swivel fully to face the rear of the motor home for easy access from a wheelchair. A removable pedestal table by the cab seats also provides a second dining area or a convenient spot for playing games. The ERA has a ceiling height of 6 feet, 3 inches and an exterior length just over 24 feet. The ERA also offers a 5,000-lb. trailer hitch.

For further information about the Ability Equipped ERA, contact Winnebago Industries Commercial and Specialty Vehicle Department at 1-800-492-9135 or the authorized ERA dealer near you.

Workhorse wrote this very informative and safety conscious article on maintaining a safe speed in your RV when going up and especially going down steep grades. The idea is to you let your engine do the (braking) work. Do keep in mind that the references are to gas-powered hydraulic disc brake motorhomes. Many of the principles are the same for air brakes. But is important to educate yourself to the fade characteristics of drum brakes if your coach is so equipped.

"Workhorse has found that drivers often overheat and damage their vehicle braking systems by improper braking in mountain areas or by “riding” the brakes on flat ground. The following includes suggestions from the Workhorse Technical Team as well as recommendations outlined in the DOT (Department of Transportation) commercial driver’s license manual. Workhorse has included these DOT procedures in its owner’s manual since 2007 and they apply to all types of motor homes.

In mountain driving, gravity plays a major role. On any upgrade, gravity slows you down. The steeper the grade, the longer the grade, and/or the heavier the load — the more you will have to use lower gears to climb hills or mountains. In coming down long, steep downgrades, gravity causes the speed of your vehicle to increase. You must select an appropriate safe speed, and then use a low gear and proper braking techniques.

You should plan ahead and obtain information about any long, steep grades along your planned route of travel. If possible, talk to other motor home or truck drivers who are familiar with the grades to find out what speeds are safe. You must utilize engine braking techniques to go slowly enough so your brakes can be utilized for speed reduction without getting too hot. If the brakes become too hot, they may start to "fade." This means you have to apply them harder and harder to get the same stopping power. If you continue to use the brakes hard, they can keep fading until you cannot slow down or stop at all.

Select a "safe" speed...

Your most important consideration is to select a speed that is not too fast for the:

• Total vehicle and cargo weight.
• Length of grade.
• Steepness of grade.
• Road conditions.
• Weather.

If a speed limit is posted, or there is a sign indicating "Maximum Safe Speed," never exceed the speed shown. Also, look for and heed warning signs indicating the length and steepness of the grade.

You must use the braking effect of the engine as the principal way of controlling your speed. The braking effect of the engine is greatest when it is near the governed rpms and the transmission is in the lower gears. Save your brakes so you will be able to slow or stop as required by road and traffic conditions.

Select the right gear before starting down the grade...

Shift the transmission to a low gear before starting down the grade. Pay close attention to the gear that is required to climb the grade prior to decent. For example if the gear required to climb the grade is 3rd gear, then 3rd gear should be selected prior to the decent as a base line to control your vehicle speed. Do not try to downshift after your speed has already built up above the safe posted speed limit. Once your speed has increased over the safe posted speed limit you may not be able to shift into a lower gear. You may not even be able to get back into any gear and all engine braking effect will be lost.

With motor homes, a rule for choosing gears has been to use the same gear going down a hill that you would to climb the hill. However, new motor homes have low friction parts and streamlined shapes for fuel economy. They may also have more powerful engines. This means they can go up hills in higher gears and have less friction and air drag to hold them back going down hills. For this reason, drivers of newer motor homes may have to use lower gears going down a hill than would be required to go up the hill. Usually you want the lowest gear that will keep the motor home at or near the speed you want in negotiating the downhill. For example, if you’re going down a six percent grade and wanted to go 35 mph, you would start downshifting and using the brakes to get to an engine rpm that will enable you to maintain a speed at or near 35 mph.

Proper braking technique...

Remember, the use of brakes on a long and/or steep downgrade is only a supplement to the braking effect of the engine. Once the vehicle is in the proper low gear, the following is the proper braking technique:

• When your speed increases to or above your “safe” speed, apply the brakes aggressively enough to feel a definite slowdown.
• When your speed has been reduced to approximately five mph below your safe speed, release the brakes. (This brake application should last for about three seconds.)
• When your speed increases again to your safe speed, repeat steps 1 and 2.

For example, if your safe speed is 40 mph, you would not apply the brakes to any increase in speed until you reach 40 mph. Then you apply the brakes aggressively enough to gradually reduce your speed to 35 mph and then release the brakes. Repeat this as often as necessary until you have reached the end of the downgrade.

Brake fade or failure...

Your brakes by design operate utilizing brake pads that rub against the brake disks to slow the vehicle during brake application. This braking function creates heat, which the brake system can dissipate during normal brake applications. However, brakes can fade or fail from excessive heat caused by improper use or dragging the brake to slow the vehicle on mountain grades rather than relying on the engine braking effect. To safely control a vehicle, every braking mechanism must do its share of the work. Brakes with excessively worn pads or rotors will not provide the same degree of braking power. If you are not sure about the condition of your braking system, have it inspected by qualified service center.

Escape ramps or runaway truck ramps...

Escape ramps, also known as Runaway Truck Ramps, have been built on many steep mountain downgrades. Escape ramps are made to stop runaway vehicles safely without injuring drivers and passengers. Escape ramps use a long bed of loose, soft material to slow a runaway vehicle, sometimes in combination with an upgrade. Know escape ramp locations on your route. Signs show drivers where ramps are located. Escape ramps save lives.

An example of brake-friendly driving technique in Death Valley
On a recent trip to California we made notes on driving technique when descending a mountain pass.

Background...

The motor home was built on a Workhorse W22 gas chassis, fully laden to 22,000 lb. GVWR. The driver, let’s call him Mike, is an experienced driver with a valid Commercial Driver’s License and is also a professional automotive technician. We asked Mike to drive the vehicle in a fashion that would conserve the brakes, but also be reasonable in using the engine and transmission for braking (i.e. drive it like you own it!).

We were traveling in a south-westerly direction into Death Valley National Park from the Nevada side on SR-374, with a planned stop at Stovepipe Wells Village in the park. This is quite a steep descent with almost 10 miles of 7 percent grade and 4 miles of 5 percent grade, with a total drop of around 4,000 foot over 12 miles of driving. The speed limit on some road sections inside the National Park on this road is 45 mph, so Mike shifted down to second gear as soon as we hit the down-grade. The motor home was a 2005 model with the 5 speed Allison transmission and equipped with the “Grade-Brake” feature, but Mike elected not to use the Grade Brake, instead preferring to manually shift down using the column shift.

Mike would allow the vehicle to run against engine compression with the engine speed varying between 4,000 rpm to 5,200 rpm, depending on the grade.  Each time we hit 5,200 rpm the transmission would force a shift to 3rd in order to protect the engine.  Each time this happened Mike applied the brake for a few seconds to scrub off speed and this allowed the transmission to downshift to 2nd gear again, allowing maximum engine braking in the safe speed range. Drivers should not be concerned about the high rpms in this situation because, as noted, the transmission will automatically adjust when needed to protect the engine. Also, if Mike had elected to use the Grade Brake feature, the down- and up-shifting would have happened automatically once he touched the brake pedal.

Overall, Mike applied the brake only seven times during the 14-mile descent and this includes the final stop at the T-junction with the North Highway!  Most of the applications were of short duration, with less than 5 seconds of brake pedal application required to control the vehicle speed.

Only once did Mike use the brake pedal for longer on a twisty section to ensure we remained at a safe speed. The total time of brake application was only around 45 seconds. This was quite an enlightening illustration of how driving technique learned on heavy trucks (where brakes simply do not have the huge excess capacity found on passenger cars) can allow for safe navigation of the most demanding descents with no danger of overheating and damaging the brakes on your motor home."

It's a publication that we look forward to every year. And if you are in the market for a new car - it really helps to know what can and cannot be a Dinghy. This year, the list of cars has grown immensely. There are the familiar ones and a few surprises too in Motohome magazines much-anticipated 2010 Guide to Dinghy Towing.

The popular guide is a supplement to MotorHome magazine’s March 2010 issue and can also be downloaded in PDF form via the MotorHomemagazine.com website.

The guide is packed with essential information for RVers who tow dinghies or are thinking of purchasing a dinghy.

Here are some of the features included in the guide:

• “What You Need to Know Before You Tow.”
• An informative “2010 Dinghy Roundup” article that breaks down entries by manufacturer and tells readers what’s new and exciting for 2010.
• An important “Towing Accessories” article with a separate section on dinghy braking systems.
• The 2010 Dinghy Guide list itself — 10 pages categorized by make and model and including such information as speed/distance limits, base curb weight, city/highway mileage, approximate retail price and any special procedures.

To read the guide, go to MotorHomemagazine.com and click on the “Dinghy Guide 2010" link on the lower right side of the home page for an immediate download of the PDF or CLICK HERE.

RV Buddies is proud to announce the addition of Hensley Mfg., of Davison, Michigan, as the Presenting Partner of our “Towables” category.

Hensley is an RV systems towing and towing equipment manufacturer that sells anti-sway trailer hitches, 5th wheel trailer hitches, brake controllers, Mirrors and accessories.  The products include the Hensley Arrow Anti-Sway Trailer Hitch, the Hensley Cub, TrailerSaver 5th wheel hitches, the TruControl Silver Brake Controller, the TruControl Gold Brake Controller and a wide array of towing mirrors and accessories.

We’re excited to partner with Hensley Mfg.  They’re a family business that prides itself on outstanding product quality and unparalleled customer service while producing the safest towing hitch in the market.  We’re looking forward to growing with them for many years to come.

Hensley will be the Presenting Partner for our RV Buddies “Towables” category, a newly created category on our website.  We added the Towables category in response to the changing landscape in the marketplace.  RV manufacturers have been producing lightweight and more cost-efficient towables and we needed to expand our coverage of the wide array of products that are now available and will soon become available in that category.

Last year RV Buddies attended The Rally and had a great time. RV Buddies is heading to the 2010 Rally again this year. RV Buddy, Bob Livingston (the publisher of MotorHome magazine) is hosting a very special event this year. RV Buddies can tell you this - Bob knows how to plan a good event and have a good time. Mark your calendar and read on for all the details...

"A behind-the-scenes look at the RV industry in Northern Indiana is being organized for RVers in conjunction with “The Rally,” the nation’s largest gathering of RVers, scheduled for July 22-25 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.

Bob Livingston and his wife, Lynne, are the hosts of this adventure, which begins in Elkhart, Ind., where they will lead a group of RVers on a short journey into the past and present — with a little partying stirred in to enhance the experience, according to the magazine.

The group will meet on Friday, July 16, in Elkhart. Once settled in at the RV park, the special four-day event commences with a private, guided tour of the Newmar RV factory in Nappanee, Ind., to learn firsthand how the vehicles are built. From there, participants will mingle with members of the Amish community and finish off the day with a homestyle meal.

The next morning guests will tour the RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum, which relives the 100-year evolution of RVs. In the afternoon, an interactive tech and lifestyle seminar will be presented. Bill Gehr, of Bill’s RV in Ventura, Calif., will join Livingston to answer attendees’ questions. Gehr — who has been living and breathing RVs for more than 35 years — and his wife, Jenn, are full-timers. On Sunday’s schedule, it’s off to Studebaker National Museum in nearby South Bend. Dinner and more socializing follow.

On Monday, the group breaks camp and heads for Louisville. It’s about a six-hour drive to The Rally site. Once there, participants will gather for a farewell party and get a preview of all the great things in store for them during the following six days at The Rally. To top it off, participants in this special program get the VIP treatment: They will be assigned a premium site close to all the action.

The cost for this special RV immersion tour, which includes an extra “early bird” day, is $1,169 per rig (two people), if you’re signed up for The Rally; for those not registered for The Rally, and departing on Tuesday morning, the tour price is $1,299. For reservations or more information, call (800) 829-5140."

For more information visit TheRally.com. The above article was posted on RVBusiness.com.

Winnebago is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Dummett to design engineering manager.

In his new role, Dummett is responsible for design engineering of the Company’s motor home product lines. Dummett oversees all design engineering functions at Winnebago, including body construction, cabinetry, plumbing and interior softgoods.

Dummett brings more than 29 years of extensive design experience to his new position. Most recently, he worked as a project engineer where he managed the design development of the Company’s Winnebago Tour and Itasca Ellipse, from concept to production. Prior to that, he held positions as a product designer, and numerous drafting positions with the Company.

Dummett earned an associate of arts degree in industrial education from Waldorf College, Forest City, Iowa, and continued his education studying industrial technology at Winona State University, Winona, Minn. He lives in Forest City, Iowa.

Designed for Improved Reception of Local Broadcast TV Channels

King Controls, manufacturer of the King-Dome and VuQube mobile satellite systems introduces the JACK digital, over-the-air HDTV Antenna for RV’s. Covering the full digital spectrum for both UHF and VHF signals, the JACK offers improved reception of UHF signals where over 80% of the new digital local channels are broadcast.

With a wider reception range, the JACK antenna is less directional than traditional RV antennas to simplify finding a signal and scanning for available channels.

At just 12.5”L x 16.5”W x 2”H, the JACK antenna is up to 70% smaller than other products and offers less wind resistance when deployed or traveling. The amplified antenna includes an AC to DC power supply and can also be used with an existing wall mount or video switch supplied +12 volt antenna power switch for simple retrofit. Two different mounting brackets allow quick and easy installation on your existing RV antenna lift or a pole in just minutes without any special tools.

King Controls’ JACK model OA-8000 antenna has a suggested retail price of $49.95 and is available in the U.S. and Canada through King Controls’ extensive dealer network. For more information on the JACK antenna, the location of authorized King Controls dealers, or to learn more about its entire product line, please call (800) 982-9920 or visit kingcontrols.com.

Lazydays Employee Foundation Makes Final Payment on $400,000 Pledge to Build Shelter for Abused Children

Lazydays RV believes in providing a better future for the children of their community. Recently the Lazydays Employee Foundation, a not-for-profit corporation comprised of the men and women who work at Lazydays and primarily funded by voluntary payroll deductions, made the final payment of a $400,000 pledge to build a shelter for abused children in Hillsborough County.

Located in Brandon, FL "The Lazydays House" is a kid-friendly, state-of-the-art safe haven for children who have been removed from an abusive home by the state and await placement in a foster home. Previously, no such facility existed in Hillsborough County. As a result, children who were removed from abusive domestic circumstances often spent the night in an open jail cell or on the floor of a welfare agency. Siblings were frequently placed in separate foster homes due to space limitations. The Lazydays House will ensure that not only are abused children welcomed with open and caring arms, but they also remain with their siblings in a comforting and loving environment.

Dana Philp, a 25-year veteran of Lazydays RV and President of the Lazydays Employee Foundation, believes the shelter is the realization of a long awaited dream that became a reality thanks in large part to the selfless generosity of her fellow Lazydays employees. "Almost every dollar of our pledge was raised through voluntary payroll deductions," said Philp who admittedly had her doubts about raising the funds during a historic recession," we all pressed on under the rally cry 'we pay the kids first!'"

The Lazydays Employee Foundation commemorated their final payment of $100,000 with the presentation of a ceremonial check to A Kid's Place, a local children's charity with whom the Foundation partnered to build the shelter. "We can't thank the employees of Lazydays enough, said Virginia Johnson, Executive Director of A Kid's Place, "the Lazydays Employee Foundation is truly dedicated to our community's most vulnerable children."

Lazydays Employee Foundation was formed as a non-profit corporation by the employees of Lazydays in order to enhance their ability to support their community's at-risk children. To date the employees of Lazydays have generated pledges of over $1,000,000 for children's charities in the Tampa Bay area. For more information please visit ldpf.org.

A Kid's Place has housed and cared for more than 150 underprivileged, abused and neglected children since opening its doors in June 2009. Each of its five homes has live-in house parents who provide a consistent and nurturing family atmosphere for the children. It is the only shelter facility of its kind in Hillsborough County where siblings are placed together rather than being separated, which is critical during such a devastating time. For more information please visit akidsplacetb.org.

Visit Lazydays at Lazydays.com for a fun RV shopping and lifestyle experience.

RV Buddies friend Sue Bray is starting a new chapter in her life. After 33 years as the Executive Director of the Good Sam Club, the world’s largest recreational vehicle owners’ organization, she is leaving to run her own consulting business, Sue Bray Consulting. She will focus on marketing, operating membership clubs and events. No doubt, as a free agent, she will be sought after widely by the RV community.

Affinity CEO and President Mike Schneider made the announcement stating, “Much of Good Sam’s phenomenal growth over the years can be attributed to Sue. We wish her the very best of luck in her future endeavors, and I’m proud to announce that the Good Sam Club will be one of her first clients. She now has the opportunity to expand her outreach, public relations and development functions for the club as well as providing her expertise to other organizations. We are fortunate Sue will remain available to the members for the foreseeable future.”

Bray joined the Good Sam Club in 1976. During her tenure with the Good Sam Club, the organization grew from less than 200,000 members to nearly 1 million families today.

Bray managed the Good Sam Club’s participation in several major charity initiatives, including the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, Dogs for the Deaf and Hole in the Wall Camps. She also managed its legislative and lobbying efforts, which she’ll continue to do on behalf of the club and its members.

In 2009, Bray was inducted into the RV Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind.— one of the youngest members and only the ninth woman selected for the RV industry’s most prestigious honor.

Keep in touch with Sue Bray at her new website. CLICK HERE to send her your best wishes for continued success. RV Buddies wishes to extend our thanks to Sue for her contributions and making our world a better place.

GoRVing.com recently launched their new website. It's state-of-the-art. But more importantly - it's a lot of fun. Whether you own an RV or not, or are planning to buy one - this is the perfect fun spot to research and learn. It's very interactive and will be a big hit with the kids - young and old!

"Reinforcing the innovative look and value theme of Go RVing’s new “Ambassadors of Affordability” TV ads, GoRVing.com launched a state-of-the-art interactive micro-website. The site utilizes new technology and programming, allowing more interactivity than the current website to keep visitors entertained and bring them back.

When a visitor lands on GoRVing.com, they’ll be greeted by the television ads’ new Ambassadors of Affordability. Each animal ambassador will be a tour guide to an updated area of the website. The latest interactive technologies will be used to give the animals voices and personalities, drawing the user further into the site.

Instead of simply reading about RV travel savings, features and activities, web users will discover an interactive and more customized experience tailored to their interests and needs. They’ll have access to an Explore RVs tool comparing the various RV types, sizes and features; a Vacation Cost Comparison tool utilizing the most current PKF Vacation Cost Comparison data; an Activities Selector tailored to their age and interests; and most important, a more accessible, visible Locator tool to find a dealer, rental, manufacturer, campground or industry supplier.

More than 2.5 million people visited GoRVing.com in 2009. Since July – at the height of Go RVing summer advertising – web visits have actually exceeded last year’s. GoRVing.com has seen four consecutive months of increased website visits.

New Streaming Video Highlights Industry Product Innovations

The new GoRVing.com will also offer a new consumer video showcasing new products and technological developments that have hit the market since the last Go RVing consumer video was produced in 2003 -- most noticeably, smaller, fuel-efficient, lightweight and eco-friendly RVs.

A supplemental video shoot in Elkhart in August 2009 provided footage to highlight those industry innovations. The affordability of these RV technological advances is also stressed.

Eight RVIA member manufacturers offered vehicles featured in the three-day production shoot held in Elkhart. Those participating included: Damon Corporation, EverGreen Recreational Vehicles, Forest River Inc., Heartland Recreational Vehicles, Jayco Inc., Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc., Thor Industries, Inc. and Winnebago Industries, Inc."

For more information visit GoRVing.com.