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Sunday, March 26, 2023
Free, abbreviated edition
 Featured articles Â
Bowlus first RV manufacturer to go all electric across product line
Bowlus, a manufacturer of luxury recreation vehicles, announced last Tuesday its move to be the first fully electric RV company. The move to all-electric follows the success of the Bowlus Volterra, the world’s first all-electric RV, which Bowlus launched in August of last year. Read more.
America’s Outdoor Recreation Act likely to pass this time
By Randall Brink
The U.S. Senate again considers America’s Outdoor Recreation Act (AORA), which aims to “modernize public campgrounds and ensure increased access to public lands.” The legislation was introduced in 2022 as the Outdoor Recreation Act but was still tied up in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee when the session ended. The bipartisan package incorporates several ground-breaking recreation bills…. Continue reading.
Oregon officials explore affordable RV park as a solution to homelessness crisis
By Randall Brink
The homelessness crisis continues to challenge communities across the nation. Redmond, Oregon, is taking an innovative approach by developing an affordable RV park as an adjunct to its Safe Parking Program. Learn more.
What do you think of this new radio commercial that promotes RVing?
The RV Industry Association, through its Go RVing marketing program, has debuted some new radio commercials that promote RVing over other ways to travel. Listen to one of the 30-second commercials and then answer our poll question about whether it would help entice someone to take up RVing. Listen here.
Up to $1,500 tax credit may be possible for e-bike purchase
By Randall Brink
If you are considering adding an electric bicycle to your RV travel fleet, there’s potentially good news in the form of a federal tax credit bill. Legislation to provide a substantial tax incentive for purchasing an electric bike, The Electric Bicycle Incentive Kickstart for the Environment (E-BIKE) Act, has been reintroduced to the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure provides a tax credit of 30 percent on the purchase of a new e-bike, up to $1,500, up from the $800 credit set forth in the original version of the act introduced in 2021. Continue reading.
RVer busted for extensive fake ID lab inside ‘stolen’ trailer
By Russ and Tiña De Maris
How many people “on the road” in an RV are using it for business? With the advent of internet communications, many people are abandoning stationary business locations and working from the road. YouTubers, visiting nurses, even writers for RVtravel.com, for heaven’s sake! But one erstwhile road-working RVer has now traded his travel trailer in for a prison cell. His mobile ID theft lab is—at least temporarily—sidelined. Read more.
Campground Crowding
Is KOA ‘single-handedly ruining camping’?
By Nanci Dixon
RV sales have slowed (finally) and fewer people are buying RVs than has been the recent trend. Has that changed campground crowding? This week one reader complains, “living and traveling in an RV can be as expensive as owning a house!” Also, one reader writes about a particular RV park: “The new owners are much more comfortable with ‘asset branding’ than ‘asset management.'” One longtime RVing couple laments that “it’s just not as fun anymore.” And one RVer complains, “KOA has almost single-handedly ruined the camping experience and culture.” Find out why those folks made those statements here.
That was the RV week that was
March 18–24, 2023
Grounded, founded by ex-Tesla and SpaceX engineers, has revealed the world’s first customizable smart electric RV, the G1. Forbes says it sets a new standard for sustainable travel with zero emissions, solar power, and Ford batteries that allow for increased travel flexibility via a nationwide charging network. The Aerodynamic Towable, a spaceship-like trailer with remote-controlled electronics and 1500 watts of solar power, will launch soon. The G1 electric RV, with a range of 108 miles, is available for purchase from April 2023 for $125,000, while the G2, with a range of 250 miles, will be available from July 2023.
Former owners of Fremont RV Center in South Sioux City, Nebraska, have been found guilty of defrauding more than a dozen customers. Douglas Bras, 62, pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft by deception, while Shara Bras, 57, pleaded no contest to 11 counts. The couple also faced additional charges for bad check issuance, forgery, abuse of a senior adult, and violation of the motor vehicle certificate of title act. They sold campers on consignment but used the sales proceeds to pay their own debts instead of the owners, resulting in fraudulent activity from July 2019 to March 2022, affecting 17 victims. They face jail time and hefty fines.
According to the new KOA Monthly Research Report for March 2023, 74 percent of households that camped in 2022 have confirmed they will camp again in 2023, and most will camp during July and August. 35 percent of campers have already booked trips in July, and 33 percent have booked trips for August. 27 percent of campers say they have secured all camping reservations for the entire year. In the upcoming months, 26.1 million households are expected to go camping, a number slightly up from the 25.2 million in 2022. Read more.
FMCA, the Family Motor Coach Association, has issued an alert to the media that scam emails may have been sent offering to sell the mailing list of attendees of its recent convention in Perry, Georgia. FMCA notes that it never sells or shares such information to outside parties, and that anyone who receives such an offer should ignore it. (Better yet, forward it to chuck @ RVtravel.com and he will pass it along to FMCA.)
All campgrounds in Yosemite National Park will be available by reservation only. First-come, first-served camping will not be available. Reservations will be available two months and/or two weeks in advance for Camp 4, Bridalveil Creek, Crane Flat, Tamarack Flat, White Wolf, Yosemite Creek, and Porcupine Flat. Tuolumne Meadows Campground remains closed for rehabilitation. Get the details on when reservations will be available for each campground at go.nps.gov/camping. As previously announced, a reservation will not be required to visit Yosemite this year while work is underway on the Visitor Access Management Plan.
A new bill in Florida, HB 1323, is making headway in its aim to ease pressures for campground owners. The bill seeks to curb bogus and fraudulent claims against park owners and their insurers. Rep. Dean Black and the Florida RV Park and Campground Association (FRVCA) are promoting the bill, which would grant immunity to campground owners from civil liability arising from inherent camping risks. The bill aims to reduce fraudulent insurance lawsuits against RV park owners and operators in Florida, not to completely remove their liability.
BookOutdoors, an online platform for booking outdoor travel, has expanded its services to cover all 50 states in the U.S. The platform offers a variety of outdoor accommodations such as campsites, RV parks, cabins, glamping resorts, and other unique stays with no booking fees. The platform provides several benefits, including weather protection, affordable travel insurance options, Cancel For Any Reason coverage, and a loyalty program.
Several roads in Zion National Park remain closed after large rockfalls and storms severely damaged them on Wednesday. The Zion Canyon Shuttle System is operating, but some sections of the shuttle route are down to one lane. If you’re visiting the park, please note that shuttle services may be temporarily stopped or delayed as repairs are being made. Kolob Canyons Road is closed to all use at the Kolob Canyons Visitor Center.
FMCA’s bi-annual convention in Perry, Georgia, last week attracted members in 1,900 RVs, an increase of about 550 over its last rally there in 2021. Its last gathering in Perry in 2019, before the pandemic, attracted club members in 2,512 coaches.
For dog lovers: For the first time in 31 years, the U.S. has a new favorite dog breed, according to the American Kennel Club. Adorable in some eyes, deplorable in others, the sturdy, push-faced, perky-eared, world-weary-looking and distinctively droll French bulldog became the nation’s most prevalent purebred dog last year, the club announced Wednesday, ousting Labrador retrievers from the top spot.
Glacier National Park in Montana has plans for major construction areas during the 2023 summer season that could impede travel. Visitors are encouraged to plan ahead and prepare for traffic delays at the West Entrance and closures in the North Fork due to construction.
The Wetherill Mesa area of Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado will be closed for the 2023 season to accommodate the demolition and construction of a new visitor contact station in the Wetherill area. The existing contact station was damaged by the Pony Fire in August 2000 and needs to be replaced.
Congaree National Park, South Carolina, has announced the dates for the 2023 Synchronous Fireflies Viewing Event, which will take place on May 13-16 and May 19-24, 2023, and will offer the public opportunities to observe the synchronous fireflies. Passes will be required to enter the park on event nights and will be made available through a lottery hosted through https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/facility/300008.
CONTEST
Is this your RV?
Win a $25 Amazon gift certificate if today’s RV photo shows your rig
Every day we post a photo of an RV either submitted by its owner or by our editors and writers as they move about the country.
Click here to see if your RV made it into today’s issue.
Please note: This contest will end at the end of this month. It simply does not generate enough interest for our staff to continue putting their time into it. We’ve enjoyed it (and loved seeing all of your RVs!) and know those of you who have participated have, too. We apologize to those whose RVs weren’t randomly chosen out of the thousands of submissions. Now we’re off to think of another contest idea…Â
Saturday Giveaway!
How would you like to win a Portable Vacuum?
How to win
We’ll select a winner at random out of all entries we receive today (March 25, 2023) by 7 p.m. Pacific time. Remember, you can only enter once and after we notify you by email via RVcontests@gmail.com that you won, you have 24 hours to respond or we’ll give the prize to someone else.
Click here to enter or see last week’s winner!
Reader poll
Do you consider yourself an organized or disorganized person?
This should be interesting. Respond here.
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS STOLEN RV?
Missing in Mississippi: A brand-new 2023 Flagstaff Super Lite travel trailer, 36 feet in length, is missing in Lucedale, Mississippi. Someone with a “newer model” white Dodge crew cab pickup strolled off with the rig from Dad’s Camper Outlet on Hwy. 63 South, Monday, March 13, around 4:40 a.m. The pickup had no tailgate. If you know something, give the George County Sheriff’s Office a call at (601) 947-4811.
Did someone rip off your ride? Let us post information on your stolen RV. Email Russ (at) rvtravel.com.
Latest fuel prices
Here are the latest U.S. average prices per gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel as of March 20, 2023:
Regular unleaded gasoline: $3.42 [Calif.: $4.66]
Change from week before: Down 3 cents; Change from year before: Down 82 cents.
Diesel: $4.19 [Calif.: $5.26]
Change from week before: Down 6 cents; Change from year before: Down 95 cents.
?? MYSTERY PRODUCT OF THE DAY ??
Getting in and out of your car or RV can be a lot of work, but this will greatly help. You might want to consider this.
Upcoming RV shows
Click here for a directory of upcoming shows.
Recipe of the Day
Vegetable Tortellini Soup
by Debbie Kirk from Citrus Heights, CA
Whip up this vegetable tortellini soup when you’re looking to warm up on a cold day. It’s a quick and easy meal idea. Cheese tortellini makes this soup super hearty. Filled with carrots, celery, onion, tomatoes, and spinach, it’s loaded with fresh veggies. With Italian herbs, garlic powder, and oregano, it definitely has more of an Italian flare. Cozy and comforting!
The Perfect Scam Podcast
Every Saturday we present a podcast from AARP about scams and how crooks are stealing your money, often via telemarketing. Their efforts are often most successful with people 65 years and older who fall victim to the scammers’ sophisticated techniques. Here is this week’s episode.
Trivia
Americans love to grill. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults own a grill or smoker, and 75 percent of them use their grill even during the winter. So says a 2020 report from the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA).
Laugh of the Week
Today in History
RVtravel.com All Star Team
Publisher: Chuck Woodbury. Editor: Emily Woodbury. Associate editor: Diane McGovern. Senior editors: Russ and Tiña De Maris. Senior writers: Nanci Dixon, Gail Marsh, Dave Solberg. Contributors: Roger Marble, Dave Helgeson, Janet Groene, J.R. Montigel, Randall Brink, Karel Carnohan DVM, Cheri Sicard, Dustin and Ashley Simpson, Dale Wade, Paul Lacitinola and Jeff Clemishaw. Special projects director: Jessica Sarvis. Moderators: Gary Gilmore. Financial affairs director: Gail Meyring. Special Reports: Bradford Geer. IT wrangler: Kim Christiansen. Artificial (AI) contributors: Johnny Robot and Milly MacWilly. Canine Mascots: Archie and Astor “the Disaster”
Everything in this newsletter is true to the best of our knowledge. But we occasionally get something wrong. We’re just human! So don’t go spending $10,000 on something we said was good simply because we said so, or fixing something according to what we suggested (check with your own technician first). Maybe we made a mistake. Tips and/or comments in this newsletter are those of the authors and may not reflect the views of RVtravel.com or this newsletter.
RVtravel.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Regardless of this potential revenue, unless stated otherwise, we only recommend products or services we believe provide value to our readers.
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I definitely am coming back as a bear. Love the concept. Never knew an E bike was a tax write off. Will definitely give that some consideration. As for the new trailer? 100% ready for solar panels. Love being eco friendly. Doing that with the new house. Thanks for the tips. Glad we saw Mesa Verde before the tourist center burned and a road closure. That is one beautiful area out there.
I really enjoyed the bear bit too. Pretty funny. Love our E-Bikes but no tax break here, EVER!!!
Jury is out on Solar Panels for me (ROI not there yet) but our new home is one of the most energy efficient homes in the country through other means and that makes me smile. Mesa Verde is incredible. Cheers.
I’m sad to see “Is this your RV” go away. Even when I’ve been traveling and had no access to internet, I read all your newsletters that are waiting for me. The main reason is to see the RV’s and hope that ours is next.
I am 100% for the green RV, in fact I am 100% for all green products. However, since the current power grid can not support the current needs of our country, why do we keep adding “green” without making sure it will be supported.
Total electric EV ? Read the article about the gas Vs electric F 150 and they had to call the test off because the E F 150 only made it 75 miles towing an identical 3500 lb bumper pull RV
If you don’t want an electric tow vehicle, don’t buy one.
That’s a bit snide. At the rate government is going, especially on the Left Coast, the freedom to choose between buying an EV, be it a passenger car or tow vehicle, or a traditionally powered vehicle, will be moot in a few short years. And I’d hate to give up my warm, fossil-fuel powered vehicle in a cold winter. So would you, unless you enjoy being cold and/or stranded.
Well said CeeCee. Steve’s kind of making your point for you with his left coast irony. People want choice not mandates but leftcoasters are ok to have govt mandate losing your choice in the name of choice.
I just read that the new E cars are too heavy for the roads that they travel on now and also heard they more dangerous in an accident then gas cars. Think I will stick with my gas powered car for now. E stuff is starting to worry me.Plus I am hearing you pay more for insurance on those things then the gas ones.
The Mystery Product is good in theory. However, with the thin metal and substandard construction of most cars, there is a good chance that the latching loop will bend. Those parts are not made for vertical loads. It is a good idea for steadying yourself while getting in and out, but not for supporting loads.
That’s simply not true. There are similar products that are designed to be stepped on to more easily access roof racks, etc., and door latches can easily support the weight of most humans.
I agree Steve. That is the most structurally sound area of a vehicle and the product design transfers the majority of the load onto the doors frame structure, not the latching receiver. Some European manufacturers offer a similar product at delivery to access roof racks.
WOW! An electric RV Class B with a range of a whopping 108 miles. This truly answers the question of why we call e-vehicles “Short Range Vehicles” of SRVs for short. I can’t wait for the time where I can only go 108 miles for camping, or will need a charge that will take about as much time as ALL the gas stops I’d do in a year. And I bet whatever solar cells it has won’t even charge the drive batteries. Why won’t they do that, you ask, because then they can’t fleece you to charge your vehicle with power from NON-GREEN power plants. What a scam being played on this Nation.
And the EV crowd bubbles over and drools about an ” Electric Airplane ” I am a licensed pilot and I would not even sit in one.
Yep!
Well said.
The article was confusing. The picture shows a class B and talks about milage, but it also says it’s a towable??? Didn’t get that. And Winnebago already has a 2nd gen prototype all electric class B that gets the same 108 mile range, so these former Tesla guys are first?