Canadian RVing Jan/Feb 2017

2017 Publications Mail Sales Agreement #40064277 • January/February 2017 • Published and printed in Canada W

AVENGER 28 RKS Family-Size!

by Prime Time Manufacturing

SASKATCHEWAN Anything but flat!

PART 2

+

Canadian Truck King Challenge Results

2017

Cross-Canada

RV SHOW CALENDAR

$5.25 January/February

2017

www.rvgazette.com

DESTINATIONS RECIPES TECH TIPS

Canadian RVing

in this issue

26 Special Interest

16 2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge The judges drove 4,000 kilometres putting these trucks through their paces.

14 2017 Cross-Canada RV Show Calendar It’s that time again to see what’s new in the RV world!

RV Test 8 Prime Time Manufacturing Avenger 28 RKS This family-size trailer is half-ton towable by a wide variety of pick-ups.

Technical/Mechanical 12 Good News!

Chevrolet is partnering with trailer manufacturers to create a more integrated trailering experience.

44 Recall Notices Here are the latest call-backs for RVs. Destinations 22 Surprising Saskatchewan Part 2

We pick up our story at Grasslands National Park.

26 Five Weeks in the Maritimes Part 1 Avoiding the express routes, Marianne Edwards and her spouse, Randy, travel down east taking the more scenic routes.

37 Crossroads – Anything RV Have fun with these anagrams!

38 Gourmet the Healthy Way – Lunch on the Go Here’s a easy solution to healthy eating on the go.

40 Camping News Read about the local rallies around the country.

32 The Oshkosh Romance Once a year, Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world, 50 2017 Explorer RV Club National Rally where airplane aficionados bring every type of RV you can Advertising imagine, including home-made 49 Marketplace ones!

50 Advertisers’ List General Interest 4 Masthead and Editor’s Letter 6 Mail Bag The place for your comments, questions, and hints.

36 Money Sense –Tax Planning 101 If you sell your residence, be aware that some tax rules may apply.

On The Cover In this issue, Howard tests a 2017 Prime Time Avenger 28 RKS travel trailer. This trailer has a single slide that features a full-width rear kitchen, large mid-ships bathroom, and enough sleeping space for six.

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

3

editor’s notebook

Canadian RVing Editor Cover & Graphic Design Test Editor

Marcia Anderson Karen Hannivan Howard Elmer PowerSports Media

Contributors Doug Barnes Ern Pennell Phyllis Briercliffe Virginia Pray Dale Dunlop Deborah Rankine Marianne Edwards Barry Sanderson Virginia Elliott Bob & Pat Sanderson Jim Lister Bill van der Valk Michael J. Martin Marlene and Bill Webb Martha Knight Advertising Sales Chris Forbes cforbes@dvtail.com Tel: (905) 707-3516 Fax: (905) 886-6615 Beth Kukkonen bkukkonen@dvtail.com Tel: (905) 707-3506 Fax: (905) 886-6615 Administrative Office P.O. Box 800, 328 Mill Street, Unit 11, Beaverton, ON L0K 1A0 Tel: (705) 426-1419 Fax: (705) 426-1403 Toll-Free: 1-800-999-0819 E-mail: info@rvgazette.com Website: www.rvgazette.com Newsstand Price: $5.25/issue Subscriptions One year: Canadian subscriptions for 2017: $22.00 + GST/HST U.S. subscriptions: $40.00/International: $60.00 (Canadian funds) The RV gazette is published by the Explorer RV Club. For the year of 2017, Explorer RV Club members pay the annual subscription rate, plus applicable taxes, when they remit their Explorer RV Club membership dues. Individual subscriptions are purchased directly through the office of the RV gazette, Subscription Department, P.O. Box 800, Beaverton, ON L0K 1A0.

All submissions to the RV gazette are welcome. A self-addressed, stamped envelope should accompany each submission if return of material is required. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of artwork, photographs or manuscripts. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertising. The RV gazette, its publisher and affiliate companies do not assume responsibility for any claims or statements made by its advertisers or columnists. No reproduction or redistribution, in whole or in part, of this magazine shall take place without prior written consent of the publisher.

2017 Explorer RV Club www.explorer-rvclub.com A division of Wayfarer Insurance Brokers Limited

Canadian publications mail sales agreement #40064277 Postage paid in Toronto ISSN 1484-1339 Published and Printed in Canada Next issue: March/April 2017 Newsstand distribution by Disticor.

Call Toll-Free 1-800-668-7724 for retail outlets.

4

RV gazette • January/February 2017

A

Adieu

s I sit looking out my window, the snow is coming down, and the Arctic wind is fierce. Summer went by too quickly for me, but now that winter is here, I will begin planning the summer of 2017! Just a rough plan will do for me, but you may prefer a more detailed plan. And I like to use a paper map! In fact, I love paper maps, and have spent many an hour staring at the roads and small towns all over the country, ever since I was a little girl. Tourism offices will send you a package that will include maps, campground listings, attractions, dining locations, etc. You can also download these guides on your computer. Once you have a rough idea of where you want to go, look at a map of the area, close your eyes, and land your finger on the map. Is there a small town nearby or a campground?

What does that area have to offer? Researching is half the fun! It’s a great exercise to give your children. Let them do some sleuthing on their own. Get everyone involved. There are always days when we hibernate in winter, so spend that day planning a camping adventure. It’s a lot of fun! (And don’t forget to share your discoveries with our readers!)

Winter also means the RV Show season is upon us. I wonder what the manufacturers will impress us with this year? There’s always so much to see and dream about.

Turn to page 14 for the 2017 Cross-Canada RV Show Calendar, and then visit an RV show in your area. Some campgrounds also have booths at the shows, so that might help in your summer planning!

We have three destinations in this issue that might help also. We pick up the Dunlops’ RVing adventure in Saskatchewan at Grasslands National Park, beginning on page 22. Then, on page 26, we bring you Part 1 of “Five Weeks in the Maritimes” by Marianne Edwards.

Finally, a very a small town, Oshkosh, is transformed into a city of RVs and airplanes. Read about this amazing modern “Brigadoon” beginning on page 32.

This is my last letter to you as editor of RV gazette/Canadian RVing, as I am retiring. Thank you all so much for your positive comments over the years. They have really meant a lot to me. I would also like to thank my writers who shared their RVing lives with us, and tried to make our lives better. They gave us technical help, showed us wonderful destinations, new products, recipes, financial solutions, provided light-hearted fun, and much more.

Keep up the great work!

Maybe I’ll see you down the road…

Follow us on Be safe, be happy, and keep smiling!

Toronto Congress Centre

650 Dixon Road, Toronto Free Parking!

January 19 to 22, 2017 Thu, Fri, Sat: 10am - 7pm Sunday: 11am - 5pm

$7.50 (HALF PRICE)

per person, Thursday & Friday

$15.00 per person, Saturday & Sunday at the Box Office

Children 16 and under FREE!

S a v e $ 2 .0 0 when purchasing online Saturday and Sunday only!

FULLY equipped parts & accessories store!

w w w . r v s h o w s o n t January/February a r i 2017o• RV .gazettec a5

mail bag DYour Letters The place for your comments, questions, and hints.

2017 Publications Mail Sales Agreement #40064277 • January/February 2017 • Published and printed in Canada �

AVENGER 28 RKS Family-Size!

by Prime Time Manufacturing

SASKATCHEWAN Anything but flat!

PART 2

+

Canadian Truck King Challenge Results

2017

Cross-Canada

RV SHOW CALENDAR

$5.25 January/February

2017

www.rvgazette.com

DESTINATIONS RECIPES TECH TIPS

Propane Tanks Nov/Dec 2016 RV gazette Dear Editor, Propane tanks (not cylinders) mounted underneath and exposed to the environment (rocks and salt) need to be inspected every 5 years.

CSA B149.2-10: Section 11.5.17(b) “(b) When previously installed in an area where it is subject to environmental corrosion and there is evidence of general corrosion or line corrosion and/or isolated pitting, and when it does not meet with the re-inspection requirements specified in the external visual cylinder inspection part of CGA C-6, the tank shall be cleaned to bare metal and have its exterior refinished with a protective coating, and shall be re-examined and re-marked by an approved facility.”

When I went to my RV place, they said it would cost approximately $600 to do this inspection.

If it didn’t pass (mine didn’t), it would cost an additional $900 for a new tank. I had a new tank installed, and afterwards, I made a cardboard template of what I needed to enclose the tank. It cost me $70 for the pre-cut materials from my welding shop. I welded the sides to the angle iron, bolted on the bottom plate with bolts accessible from underneath so it could be removed from underneath for future 6

RV gazette • January/February 2017

inspection, painted it, and installed it. I used expanding foam to seal any gaps.

Hopefully, now it is an enclosed tank and requires only a visual inspection every 10 years. If I had to do it over again, I would not weld anything but use bolts. I would also check to see if I could buy a new tank with the main valve installed and install it myself. For the tank, it is only 4 bolts and one gas connection.

Ron Thule Thanks for your information Ron. I will pass it on to our readers.

Tire Safety and Maintenance Nov/Dec 2016 RV gazette Greetings gazetteers, As usual, Howard Elmer provided some good and insightful information on care and feeding of vehicles and RVs. In regards to tire inspections, he is right on the money, but I must take issue with one of his instructions, and add additional information to another.

“Hand check lugs (nuts) for tightness and wear...”

Hand tight lug nuts, even a lot, is just asking for failure from a fatigue break, and the only proper way to check the tightness is with a preferably calibrated torque wrench.

Every RV manufacturer will tell you to torque the wheel nuts to a specific torque to achieve the proper tension of the stud. (Airstream is 110 lb-ft.)

If the wheel has been removed/ remounted, it is re-torqued after 25 km, then 100, then 500, and thereafter, before each trip. The reason is the aluminium wheels, and steel studs and backing plate, as dissimilar metals mean different expansion rates. The wheels can shift, and the nuts take time to settle into the seat of the cup. Even Ford tells us to retorque our wheels after 150-200 km for the same reason, and yes, you will gain some more tightness, even if just a tiny bit.

We have all seen the results of truck wheels flying off, and I for one, do not want my wheels coming off on Hwy 401.

By the way, the specified torques are given for dry studs, and not lubricated. If you do lubricate them, you had better know what you are doing, or you will have broken studs to excite you.

There are a number of ways to check the tension on bolts, but the torque wrench is the accepted general tool for the job.

“Check your tire pressure cold, before your trip...”

So true! (It is best in the morning.) And make sure that you do so with the tires in the shade. The reason: tires in the shade will give you the current pressures. Tires in the sun will give you higher readings, due to warming up. You need to know the proper pressures so you can decide where to go from there. Also, if you have been driving, you need to ensure that the tires are in the shade, and preferably wait for three hours for the pressures to stabilize.

To check pressures for your vehicle, raise the hood to release the engine temperatures because the heat spilling out from the wheel wells will warm up the front tires, giving false reading results.

“Touch the centre cap...” You bet, and feel the tires too when you pull off for a break.

You don’t need a fancy temperature reader like I have. Your hand will tell you if the tire is okay.

That’s what I use.

One more comment: In the 2016 Gift Guide is a portable lightning detector. I’m going to get one because this is the same technology that’s used in aviation. Most pilots know about the Stormscope, and lately, the Strikefinder. It’s a good thing to have as it tells you where the thunderstorm is.

Mel Goddard Howard Elmer replies: Dear Mr. Goddard, You’ve expanded on my suggestions for monitoring tire safety, and, frankly, everything you mentioned is right on. I do want to point out though that my choice of language might have lead to a misunderstanding where I said, “hand check lug nuts for tightness and wear”. I certainly did not mean tighten them by hand, so your mention of a torque wrench is, of course, correct.

However, when checking tires at stops during a road trip, it is a good practice to “hand check” the lugs, not just to see if they are loose, but also to note if they are wearing against the bolt holes.

Touching them will also reveal heat, which is a sign of a loose nut working against the steel backing. Either way, it’s a simple precaution, that if caught at a rest stop, can prevent a much more serious on-road failure.

Thanks for the note.

Happy Trails!

Send your letters to: Mail Bag, c/o RV gazette, P.O. Box 800, Beaverton, ON L0K 1A0 or e-mail to: mailbag@rvgazette.com fax to: (705) 426-1403 Please include your name and location (city/town, province/state).

Due to the volume of mail we receive, any mail that doesn’t include the proper identification might not be answered. A telephone number is optional on e-mail queries but should be included with letters sent through regular post or by fax. Thank you. Letters may be edited for space and/or content.

London and St. Thomas Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association

44th Annual LONDON RV SHOW

Agriplex, Western Fair District, London ON

South Western Ontario’s Largest RV Show

February 17, 18, 19, 20, 2017

COME AND SEE WHAT’S NEW FOR 2017

Show Hours Friday - 10 AM to 9 PM Saturday - 10 AM to 7 PM Sunday & Monday - 10 AM to 5 PM Adults: $12 •

Admission

Seniors: $9

•

Children under 12: Free

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

7

THIS TRAILER IS VERY KID-FRIENDLY!

PRIME TIME Manufacturing

28 RKS

By Howard Elmer

P

rime Time Manufacturing is an RV company that was formed in 2009, yet its history is so much longer. How is that possible? Each of the principles entered into this new company with decades of RV building experience behind them. This was a common theme among the founders. Another was to take their combined knowledge of what makes a good RV, and apply it to a series of new products that would stress value in the marketplace. This strategy appears to have worked if you consider that they attracted enough attention to be bought by RV giant Forest River, who in turn was purchased by investment behemoth Berkshire Hathaway.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

As a builder of travel trailers and fifth wheels, they have expanded into toy haulers as well. But for my purposes, I was interested in the meat of the market.

I wanted a trailer that served up family-size with sharp family values. This frankly is a tricky segment. As any younger family knows, money is always spread thin, yet with growing kids, there are so many potential RV adventures, that to put off a trailer purchase, means missing out on some of the really fun years. This is a balance that so many parents have to master. You want everything for your kids now, but there is just so much cash.

Travel trailers, in general, offer the most space and amenities for each RV dollar. So, starting there, I picked a 34-foot unit, that at 6,789 pounds (dry), is easily half-ton towable by a wide variety of pickups.

The trailer is called the Avenger, and this single slide model features a full-width rear kitchen, large midships bathroom, and enough sleeping space for six.

The rear kitchen is what will catch your attention in this unit (Avenger is built in 26 floorplans) right off.

The L-shaped counter top offers more counter space than most designs, and it creates a natural partition between the eating and salon areas. The one large driver’s side slideout holds the U-shaped dinette and the fold-out couch. Now, in my test unit, I had a nice hardwood freestanding table and chairs. This is an option, and that’s why I talk about the standard dinette,

which with my kid-friendly focus, is more practical.

Still, it’s nice to have choices. I see this dinette, across from the sink, as what makes this a large, busy, functional kitchen. With the sink at the heart of the counter, the prep area is to the left, the three-burner range with oven is to the right with the microwave above it, while one step away, on the rear wall, is the large built-in refrigerator/freezer. Turn around, and the large table is a step away for serving. However, what you’ll also notice is the number of cupboards, above, beside and below all the appliances – more than in most trailers, I’d say.

The focal point of the salon is a floor to ceiling builtin cabinet that houses the flat screen TV, stereo, and (again) decent amounts of hard door storage. The TV is high, next to the ceiling, so has clear sight lines to the couch, twin recliner rockers, or even the eating area.

This cabinet wall is also the dividing wall for the bathroom. Again, thinking of kids, the kitchen is important, check, so is the TV, check, and a bathroom big enough to wash off the great outdoors, check. The bathroom space has two doors: a sliding hard door for night-time master bedroom access, and a hallway door for everyone else. Even with these doors closed, it’s a large space due to the placement of the corner shower with the toilet in the opposite corner. The trade-off here is a smaller sink with very little counter space. However, the cabinet above and the cupboard below will hold all the stuff you won’t be able to leave out. Also, a large floor-to-ceiling four door clothes closet is a very practical feature in this space. A skylight in the shower also makes this a light space, as does the second vented skylight in the centre of the room. This is a bathroom, and a dressing room.

So, while I have been stressing kid-friendly spaces in this trailer, the front bedroom does offer enough space and privacy to offer refuge for frazzled parents.

Hard doors seal off this space, and the double bed does have reasonable space around one side, and along the foot of the bed. But whoever is on the right is going to be climbing in, as this side of the mattress is butt up against the wall.

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

9

I mentioned value pricing at the outset, and it’s probably important to look at how and where Prime Time saves money on its construction. Firstly, this is a three-season trailer, windows are fine, but not for winter. Walls use wood studs and the skin is aluminium. Insulation is only R7. However, the important items such as the HVAC systems, water heater, safety devices, one-piece TPO roof membrane, stabilizer jacks, outdoor shower, and diamond rock guard are included. I point these few items out simply to remind buyers that you do get what you pay for. But, having said that, a builder like Prime Time does have massive buying power advantages. A method of passing some of that advantage on to buyers is to bundle together a series of features, most often the ones that will add enjoyment for the whole family.

Specifications: Prime Time Avenger 28 RKS Length: ................................. 34 feet, 4 inches Height: ................................. 11 feet, 2 inches Dry Weight: ............................. 6,789 pounds GVWR: ..................................... 9,719 pounds Gas/Electric Water Heater: ...........6 gallons Fresh Water: ...................................48 gallons Grey Water: ....................................30 gallons Black Water: ...................................30 gallons Price as tested: ......................MSRP $35,685 Test Unit provided courtesy of Campkin’s RV Centre, Myrtle Station, Ontario, www.campkins.com.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

In the Avenger, I noted some of these to be: 87” U-shaped dinette, deep overhead cabinets, pleated shades in salon and dining area, solid wood core cabinets, double sink, high-rise kitchen faucet, pot and pan drawer, spice rack, a residential style HAB sofa, residential grade carpet, and an overall 82” interior height.

The trailer runs on 30 amps worth of shore power, making it pretty much pluggable anywhere.

I towed the Avenger with a new 2016 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab 1500. I didn’t use an equalizing hitch, and still found that truck and trailer maintained a nice level attitude. One reason for that is that the E-Z Lube axles on the trailer are set almost exactly at the centre of the frame. This makes for a flat, confident pull. However, it also gives the Avenger a healthy tail swing. That’s not an issue, just a fact that owners should be aware of, particularly in tight manoeuvring situations. So, while the Z71 package on my Silverado already added extra suspension and shock capability, another towing set-up is available this year. Called the NHT max trailering package, it features a 9.76-inch rear axle, heavy-duty rear springs, unique shock tuning, enhanced cooling, and an integrated trailer brake controller to optimize capability and comfort when trailering. A point of interest here is the advance in trailer sway control that is now possible because of the integration of braking in the truck and trailer. These new controllers do more than just activate the trailer brakes. Systems such as StabiliTrak also include the trailer; so, in effect, the trucks computer is also keeping an eye on what’s happening with your trailer.

Another system that I appreciate is an available automatic locking rear differential that is fully automatic, and reacts in milliseconds in low-traction situations.

Great for getting a trailer moving on wet grass.

My truck was equipped with the 5.3L V8, probably the most popular of GM’s engines in this Silverado.

It makes 355 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. This second number, in particular, pulls well up hills even with the full weight of the Avenger behind. Power is pushed through a new eight-speed automatic transmission.

This helps build that low-end torque, and at the high end, offers decent fuel economy.

Once again, the Avenger is a travel trailer that doesn’t have it all, but for most buyers, it has what’s important, at a price that will get you out RVing sooner.

Howard Elmer of PowerSports Media Services is a Canadian automotive journalist, truck writer and RVing specialist.

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

11

Good News!

By Howard Elmer

CHEVROLET JOINS TRAILER BUILDERS TO CREATE INTEGRATED SYSTEMS

M

ost RVers are well aware that the truck manufacturers and the RV builders rarely talk. By that, I mean, each industry watches what the other is doing, and then builds something they “think” will work with what the other guy built. If that sounds silly, it’s because it is, and frankly, for industry watchers like myself, it’s been a question I’ve put to the representatives many times, as in “when are you guys going to start working together?”.

Well, at a recent GM truck event in Texas, I was pleasantly surprised when one of the reps I’ve nagged over the years, approached me to say that this year it was going to happen. Specifically, Chevrolet is partnering with the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) to create a more integrated trailering experience.

“Safety and ease of use are key considerations for families that use RV trailers,” said Bruce Hopkins, RVIA Vice-President, Standards. “We’re pleased to partner with Chevrolet and NATM on this project to create a safer, simpler, and easier towing experience.”

By working directly with the industry, Chevrolet will help trailer manufacturers develop technologies that

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

improve combined trailer and truck safety, and industry safety standards. The partners will also work to increase communication between truck and trailer to provide the driver with more information, and help alert customers to prevent trailer tampering or theft.

Simply put, the relationship between truck and trailer can now move past how much weight can it tow, to an intelligent trailer that “talks” to the truck. This means better braking, sway control, tire monitoring and video coverage. This last one promises to be big.

Trailers (much like trucks being built today) can easily have cameras mounted on all sides and at the rear; however, the truck must be wired to accept those video feeds, and then have the right controls and screens to display the images in the cab. There is no better place to do this wiring than at the factory, and to accomplish this in each new truck, the two industries have to agree on a common platform, and tell each other what they are doing, so when the connector is plugged in, everything works.

That’s what this new partnership promises to do. This is good news for every RVer. Well done, Chevrolet.

Howard Elmer of PowerSports Media Services is a Canadian automotive journalist, truck writer and RVing specialist.

Players Paradise Sports Complex

565 Seaman Street, Stoney Creek Free Parking!

February 3-5, 2017 Friday: Saturday: Sunday:

10am - 8pm 10am - 7pm 11am - 5pm

$5.00 per person ALL Weekend Children 16 and under FREE!

FULLY equipped parts & accessories store!

w w w . r v s h o w s o n t a r i o . c a

2017 Cross-Canada

RV SHOW CALENDAR BRITISH COLUMBIA _____________ February 16 - 19 Earlybird RV Show and Sale Tradex Building, Abbotsford Website: www.rvshowsbc.com April 7 - 9 Vancouver Island RV Show & Sale Arbutus Meadows Equestrian Centre, Nanoose Bay Contact: (604) 575-3868 Email: info@rvda.bc.ca Website: www.rvda.bc.ca/vancouver-islandshows April 21 – 23 BC Interior RV Show Pentiction Trade & Convention Centre & SOEC, Penticton E-mail: info@bcinteriorrvshow.ca Website: www.bcinteriorrvshow.ca September TBA Snowbird RV Show and Sale Tradex Centre, Abbotsford Website: www.rvshowsbc.com ALBERTA ________________________ January 26 – January 29 Calgary RV Expo & Sale BMO Centre – Stampede Park, Calgary E-mail: rvda@rvda-alberta.org Website: www.rvda-alberta.org/shows.html February 9 – 12 Edmonton RV Expo & Sale Edmonton Expo Centre – Northlands, Edmonton E-mail: rvda@rvda-alberta.org Website: www.rvda-alberta.org/shows.html February 17 – 26 Red Deer RV Show Westerner Park, Red Deer Contact: ronanne.ashton@vellner.com Website: www.reddeerrvshow.com SASKETCHEWAN ________________ January 20 – January 29 Saskatoon Indoor RV Sale 14

RV gazette • January/February 2017

Prairie Land Park Exhibition Centre, Saskatoon Website: www.saskatoonrvsale.com MANITOBA ______________________ March 9 – 12 Manitoba RV Show & Sale RBC Convention Centre, Winnipeg Website: www.manitobarvshow.com ONTARIO ________________________ January 19 - 22 Toronto RV Show & Sale Toronto Congress Centre, Toronto E-mail: info@ontariorvda.ca Website: www.rvshowtoronto.ca February 3 - 5 Hamilton RV Show & Sale Players Paradise, Stoney Creek E-mail: info@ontariorvda.ca Website: www.rvshowhamilton.ca February 9 - 12 Ottawa RV Expo & Sale Ernst & Young Centre, Ottawa Contact: info@ontariorvda.ca Website: rvshowsontario.ca February 17 – 20 London RV Show Metroland Media Agriplex, London Website: www.londonrvshow.com March 2 - 5 Toronto Spring Camping & RV Show & Sale International Centre, Toronto Website: torontospringcampingrvshow.com March 24 - 26 Kitchener RV Show & Sale Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, Kitchener E-mail: info@ontariorvda.ca Website: www.rvshowkitchener.ca October 13 - 15 Toronto Fall RV Show & Sale Toronto Congress Centre E-mail: info@ontariorvda.ca Website: www.rvshowfalltoronto.ca

QUEBÉC _________________________ February 16 – 19 Montreal RV Show Palais Des Congrès, Montreal Contact: (514) 338-1471 Website: www.salonvr.com March 23 – 26 Quebec City RV Show ExpoCité, Centre de foires, Quebec City Contact: (514) 338-1471 Website: www.salonvr.com NEW BRUNSWICK ______________ March 3 - 5 Moncton RV Show Moncton Coliseum Complex, Moncton Contact: 1-888-454-7469 Website: www.monctonrvshow.ca NOVA SCOTIA ___________________ January 26 - 29 Halifax RV Show Halifax Exhibition Centre, Halifax Contact: 1-888-454-7469 Website: www.halifaxrvshow.ca March 10 - 12 Atlantic Outdoor Sports and RV Show Halifax Exhibition Centre E-mail: info@darwineventgroup.com Website: www.sportsandrvshow.com PENNSYLVANIA, USA __________ Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show Industry Days: September 11 – 12 Public Days: September 13 – 17 Hersheypark Entertainment Complex Giant Center, Hershey, PA Contact: 1-888-303-2887 Website: www.largestrvshow.com

Get out and enjoy a RV Show this winter!

Information accurate as of press date.

THE EY CENTRE

4899 Uplands Drive, Ottawa Free Parking!

February 9 to 12, 2017 Thursday to Sunday please check our website for times

$7.50 (HALF PRICE)

per person, Thursday & Friday

$15.00 per person, Saturday & Sunday at the Box Office

Children 16 and under FREE!

S a v e $ 2 .0 0 when purchasing online Saturday and Sunday only!

FULLY equipped parts & accessories store!

w w w . r v s h o w s o n t January/February a r i 2017o• RV .gazettec 15a

2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge THE SCORES WERE CLOSE!

Story and Photos By Howard J. Elmer

I

f you stick with something long enough, you are bound to get lucky, or so it seems. I’m referring to rain and the Canadian Truck King Challenge. Each fall, for the past nine years, we did on-road testing in the Kawarthas, in central Ontario, and each year we were rained on. It became known as the “Truck King Curse”. Now, it’s year ten, and the odds finally worked in our favour; sunshine and warm temperatures were a welcome change to the norm for the home-grown truck test that has now put its first decade behind it.

Assembled at the IronWood test site this year were 11 pickup trucks, falling into four classes: Midsize, Full-size, Half-ton and Full-size ¾-ton. The full-size 1-ton trucks were tested in London, Ontario a few days later. In the midsize, we had the all-new Honda Ridgeline and the Chevy Colorado diesel. Toyota opted not to give use a Tacoma (which we did test last year), and the Nissan Frontier was also not offered. No doubt because it’s in

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

the last year of its current cycle before a major upgrade.

Between the two midsize trucks, the Honda impressed the judges. As with anything new, it had an edge, while the Colorado diesel was a big splash last year. However, it wasn’t just the new factor that pushed its score past that of the Colorado. The prior generation of Ridgeline was a niche, quirky truck that appealed to a select buyer. This time, Ridgeline has moved closer to the mainstream, while retaining some of its unique characterizes. It did most everything well (payload, towing, even off-road), and still offered the most “car-like” ride. The judges rewarded Honda for a significant generational update.

Honda Ridgeline – Final score of 75.5% Chevy Colorado – Final score of 72.2% The full-size ½-ton category is the meat of the market.

In Canada, it makes up just under 80% of total pickup sales. As such, it is one of the most competitively fought

over among the builders, and for us at the Challenge, it’s a segment that we annually consider carefully, as in what to test and how.

Despite the competition, as I mentioned, there are rarely more than two “new” half-tons in a given year.

Generational upgrades are typically every seven years, while lesser changes do come along in-between. These facts leave us with a problem when it comes to testing.

How do we field a full spread of pickups where perhaps only one is really “new”. This year, we came up with an idea that should appeal to Canadian buyers. We asked each of the manufacturers to give us one half-ton – the one that was their best seller, as in body style, cab and powertrain combination. This way, we’d test the trucks that Canadians buy most often. We had a Ram 1500, Crew cab with the 5.7L Hemi V8, the Chevy Silverado, Crew cab with the 5.3L V8, the new Nissan Titan, Crew cab with the 5.6L V8, and the Toyota Tundra TRD Pro, Crew cab with the 5.7L V8. For Toyota, the TRD Pro (or off-road version) of the Tundra was the newest truck they had, not really the most often purchased. But that was their choice to enter it. The others were exactly what we asked for.

Of course, I have to mention what is missing from the list. Ford. The leader in half-ton Canadian truck

sales chose not to compete. Despite having entered trucks in every other Truck King competition since 2006, this year they declined. No specific reason was given, and while I certainly have my own theories as to why, I won’t speculate. They were invited, they said no, and we continued on without them.

As always, all pickups are tested in the same way, by six automotive journalist judges who drive them back to back in each condition. The test loop we use is 17 kilometres long and combines, gravel, Class B pavement, and highway. There are twists, turns, and elevation changes. An off-road course on the IronWood site is saved for the last afternoon of testing. The trucks are always driven empty first. Then we add payload, and do the loops again. Finally, they are driven with tow loaded trailers, and do the loops again. Yes, it gets repetitious, but this is the best way to feel the differences between the trucks.

This year, the midsize trucks carried a payload of 500 lb and towed a total of 4,000 lb. The full-size half-tons used a payload of 1,000 lb and towed 6,000 lb, while the ¾-tons towed 10,000 lb and also used 1,000 lb for payload. These figures take into consideration the lowest manufacturer set limits among the entries. The weights we use never exceed any of those limits.

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

17

Amongst the ½-tons, the judges awarded the following totals: Ram 1500 5.7L V8 – Final score of 79.4% Chevy Silverado 1500 5.3LV 8 – Final score of 76.7% Nisan Titan 5.6L V8 – Final score of 74.3% Toyota Tundra TRD Pro 5.7L V8 – Final score of 73.7% In the ¾-ton category, note that each of the trucks was diesel-powered. As these are the most common big haulers being bought by Canadians, we stressed them with 10,000 lb of concrete, and the judges made a point of saying that under load was when they really felt how well they behaved. The scoring here was close, as each truck did well, however, the Ram 2500 with the Cummins 6.7L diesel did come out slightly ahead.

What was more interesting was the Nissan HD tied with the HD Silverado. The first uses the all new 5L Cummins diesel V8, new this year, while the Chevy had the veteran 6.6L Duramax diesel under the hood.

Ram 2500 6.7L Cummins 16 – Final score 77.0% Nissan Titan XD 5L Cummins V8 – Final score 74.9% Chevy Silverado 2500 6.6L Duramax V8 – Final score 74.9% For the one-ton trucks, we had a field of two. Again, we missed Ford, particularly because its 2017 Super Duty trucks are all new. However, we still performed a

full field of tests on the Ram 3500 and Silverado 3500 in and around London, Ontario. With the help of Patene building supply and IKO, we did payload testing using 4,000 lb of singles. Then, with the assistance of Can-Am RV Centre, we towed 15,000 lb fifth wheel travel trailers. After a full day of driving both trucks back to back, the judges awarded the win to the Chevy Silverado 3500.

Chevy Silverado 3500 6.6L Duramax V8 – Final score 75.1% Ram 3500 6.7L Cummins I6 – Final score 71.8% It’s worth noting that all the trucks performed well, and, as a group, you’ll note how close all the scores are.

If anything, this makes it tough for the judges to crown a winner because none of these trucks are “bad”. That is thanks to the fierce competition among the manufacturers. Never the less, this group of judges worked through the field of trucks, creating a mass of data in 20 key categories. Each of these judges hails from different parts of the country, and is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada. Collectively, they bring over 200 years of trucking experience to this intensive testing. Over three long days, they drove almost 4,000 km while evaluating these trucks The overall winner of the 10th Annual Canadian Truck King Challenge with the highest collective score of 79.4% is the 2017 Hemi-powered Ram 1500.

Mid-Size Truck Results

Chevrolet Colorado

Powertrain

Empty Test Loops (Head Lake Loop) Loaded with 500 lbs.

(Head Lake Loop)

Trailering 4,000 lbs.

(Head Lake Loop) Comparable Average*

Duramax 2.8L Diesel Turbo I4 181hp 369ft. lbs.

7.68

L/100km

7.53

L/100km

11.17 L/100km

8.32 L/100km

2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge 18

RV gazette • January/February 2017

Honda

Mid-size trucks showed similar behaviour to the half-ton trucks when trailering on the same cycle, with increases of 42% for the Ridgeline and 45% for the Colorado.

3.5L V6 280hp 262ft. lbs.

The impact of the 500lb payload was small and within the amount of variation that can be attributed to small variations in drive cycle.

Ridgeline

10.87 L/100km

It’s important to note that while the Colorado consumes less L/100km, the fuel used differs between the two vehicles. The Colorado uses diesel while the Ridgeline runs on regular gas. This also accounts for some of the fuel usage comparisons for the other sized trucks.

10.85 L/100km

15.43 L/100km

11.81 L/100km

* Comparable average removes trip segments that are not sufficiently similar between vehicles.

Half-Ton Truck Results

Nissan

Ram

5.6L V8 390hp 394 ft-lbs.

HEMI 5.7L V8 395hp 410ft. lbs.

16.24

13.38

14.46

14.64

15.59

13.21

12.88

14.24

L/100km

L/100km

26.48

19.52

21.69

21.08

Titan

Engine type

Empty Test Loops (Head Lake Loop) Loaded with 1,000 lbs.

(Head Lake Loop) Trailering 6,000 lbs.

(Head Lake Loop) Comparable Average*

1500

L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

18.04 L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

14.6

L/100km

Chevrolet 2016 Silverado

EcoTec3 5.3L V8 355hp 383ft. lbs.

L/100km

L/100km

15.3

L/100km

Toyota Tundra

5.7L V8 381hp 401ft. lbs.

L/100km

L/100km

Unexpectedly the 1,000lb payload numbers showed lower consumption than the unloaded cycles. Looking at the specific drive cycles the empty tests included higher driving speeds and more idling.

Idle time for the unloaded test averaged 54min and the idle time for the payload test averaged 50min.

Average driving (removing idling time) was approximately 66km/h for the unloaded test and 64km/h for the test with payload.

Accordingly the results should be interpreted as being operated on different drive cycles.

Trailering fuel consumption rose by 63% over an empty-load trip for the Nissan Titan. The other three models saw an increase of 44-50% while towing.

15.8

L/100km

2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

19

Three-Quarter-Ton Truck Results

Chevrolet

RAM

2016 Silverado 2500

Powertrain

2500

Duramax 6.6L Diesel Turbo V8 397hp 765ft. lbs.

Cummins 6.7L Diesel Turbo I6 350hp 660ft. lbs.

14.07

14.5

Empty Test Loops (Head Lake Loop)

L/100km

Nissan Titan XD

Cummins 5.0L Diesel Turbo V8 310hp 555ft. lbs.

14.67

L/100km

14.2

15.6

14.88

Trailering 10,000 lbs.

(Head Lake Loop)

20.0

21.11

20.18

Comparable Average*

16.09

17.13

16.52

L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

For all eleven vehicles, the average speed was reduced by several kilometers per hour while trailering.

All trucks are the 2017 model year unless otherwise specified in the tables. Specifically, the Silverado 1500 & 2500 trucks were the only 2016 models.

L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

The average speed was calculated by removing the time spent idling.

L/100km

Loaded with 1,000 lbs.

(Head Lake Loop)

L/100km

Three-quarter-ton trucks showed more consumption when trailering on the same cycle, with increases of 27-30% over their empty test loops.

L/100km

2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge

One-Ton Truck Results

Powertrain

Empty Test Loops (London-Woodstock- Norval via 401)

Chevrolet

RAM

3500

3500

Duramax 6.6L Diesel Turbo V8 397hp 765ft. lbs.

Cummins 6.7L Diesel Turbo I6 350hp 660ft. lbs.

12.45

15.45

L/100km

Loaded with 4,000 lbs.

(London – St. Thomas Loop )

14.92

Trailering 15,000 lbs.

(London-Parkhill)

23.79

Comparable Average*

14.72

L/100km

L/100km

L/100km

When towing such a significant load, the 3500 series experienced a substantial increase in the consumption of fuel. The Chevrolet and Ram 3500s saw an increase of 92 and 93% respectively over their empty-load fuel efficiency.

L/100km

17.32 L/100km

29.92 L/100km

15.83 L/100km

2017 Canadian Truck King Challenge Howard Elmer of PowerSports Media Services is a Canadian automotive journalist, truck writer and RVing specialist.

20

RV gazette • January/February 2017

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Surprising

Saskatchewan PART 2

Frenchman Valley Campground, Grasslands National Park

GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK WAS THE STAR! Story and Photos by Dale Dunlop

I

t’s late in the afternoon as Dale and I arrive at the headquarters of Grasslands National Park in the small town of Val Marie. The Interpretive Centre is extremely modest by national park standards. Outside, there is this interpretive panel with a list of the Top 12 Amazing Experiences. As we have only one night and day here, we won’t get all twelve in, but we are anxious to get started.

In the Interpretive Centre we pick up a map, and the lady on duty points out where we are most likely to see the bison herd, as well as the only campground in the western section at Frenchman Valley. There are so few visitors to Grasslands National Park that there is no entry fee. From Val Marie, it’s still a fair drive to the park entrance, and once you leave the town, there are absolutely no services, so you need to have everything required before entering the park. All roads in the park are dirt, and quite rough in some places. The drive to the park gate is very scenic, with

22

RV gazette • January/February 2017

the occasional abandoned farmstead. We passed only one vehicle going the other way.

Almost from the moment you pass through the park’s boundaries, you start seeing things you won’t see outside the park - massive, solitary bison bulls, and prairie dog towns. I’ll come back to these when we drive the Grasslands Ecotour Road in its entirety tomorrow.

The Frenchman River, and the valley it has cut, is the dominant feature of the western sector of Grasslands National Park. We have crossed it three times already just getting here from Cypress Hills. Each time, the valley gets wider, and the descent from upland, steeper. The road down to the valley and the river crossing is so steep that a truck hauling a trailer in front of us decides to turn back. That gives us pause, but at about 15 kilometres per hour, we do inch the RV down onto the valley floor, from where its relatively clear, if not smooth sailing, all the way to the Frenchman River campground.

Great way to finish the day

As noted, this is the only campground in the western sector, and approaching it, I can’t help but notice that there are only three other groups here, all in RVs. Imagine, we have over 100 square miles, and there’s only us and these few other people.

The campsites do have electricity, and there are taps for potable water. The toilets are compostable pits.

There is one large building in which to take shelter.

On the map, it is indicated that there is Wi-Fi here, but there isn’t, and there certainly isn’t cell coverage.

So, if you like getting away from it all, Frenchman River Campground is a great place to do it.

We arrived quite late in the afternoon, and after cooking supper on one of the gas barbeques on site, we set out to watch the sun set over the Frenchman River Valley. There is a path that leads up to an overlook of the valley where Parks Canada has wisely placed two of its rapidly becoming famous, red chairs. From here, my son Dale and I watch, and sip our wine, as the sun becomes a glowing bright ball before it sinks below the horizon.

Grasslands National Park is a Dark Sky Preserve, and famous for its display of the northern lights and the Milky Way. Unfortunately for us, it clouded over, and we didn’t get to see one of the main attractions of the park. However, we did get one nighttime experience at Frenchman Valley campground that was worth staying for, just to hear. That was the sounds of coyotes in all directions around us. They were yowling and yipping in a way that indicated that they were clearly communicating with each other, and occasionally one would let out the baying that is the most iconic sound you can hear in the Canadian west.

The clouds cleared up once they made sure we couldn’t see the stars for the increasing light of day.

The sunrise was not that great because the actual rise was obstructed by the hills surrounding the campsite, but what was really neat were the great shadows thrown by the sun as it crested the horizon. It bathed the entire prairie in a beautiful suffused light that made for great photos.

There are many ways to explore the western sector of Grasslands National Park, but by far the most common, is to drive the 80-kilometre Ecotour Drive. Only about half of it is inside the park, and we were advised at the Interpretive Centre that this is where we would see the majority of the wildlife that is the feature of this drive. Having completed the entire loop, I can say the advice we were given was dead on, as we saw little outside the park boundaries other than lots of deer and one loggerhead shrike. Still, the landscape outside the park is beautiful rolling ranchland. The park boundary is also a good place to see the difference between what is true mixed grass prairie, and land that has been transformed by human activity.

The difference is striking.

We got up at first light and headed south on the Ecotour Drive with the understanding that this was the best time to see wildlife. Someone forgot to tell that to the prairie dogs, as at the first prairie dog town we came to, they weren’t up yet. Our next stop was at the head of the Larson Interpretive Trail, where a rabbit had apparently spent the night on a picnic table.

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

23

A true mixed grass prairie

This was a great spot to actually walk through a true mixed grass prairie, and believe me, it was not like anything I’d seen before. There was a wide variety of grasses with a lot of wildflowers thrown in. My idea of the prairies being a collection of fields all growing one crop was shattered for good.

The Larson Trail is a short 1.4 kilometre walk down to the banks of the Frenchman River. What was once pastureland for cattle and horses has now returned to original short grass prairie.

There are a couple of old buildings in the area, one being Will James’ cabin. Will James was a character right out of a dime western novel. He came west at age 15, and became a cowhand travelling throughout the west. He was sent to prison for cattle rustling, and after his release, turned his life around and became a famous artist, novelist, movie actor, and all round symbol of a dying way of life. He spent a good part of his career in this cabin. Not bad for a guy whose real name was Joseph Dufault, and who hailed from St. Nazaire, Quebec.

There were four types of wildlife I definitely wanted to see on this Ecotour Drive: bison, prairie dogs, burrowing owls, and pronghorn antelope. A real bonus would be a black-footed ferret or a rattlesnake. As it turns out, we saw the first three, but not the others. The lady at the Interpretive Centre said that the antelope could be seen anywhere along the drive, but I guess they were camera shy the day we visited. Still, what we did see was more than enough to satisfy our needs.

The bison were found in two different ways. Solitary male bison were actually right beside the road at a 24

RV gazette • January/February 2017

Will James’ cabin

number of places, including one guy who looked like he came right off a buffalo nickel.

The other way to see bison was to find the main herd where the females and young would be congregated. We found the herd not far past Larson Ranch, some half a mile away. There were enough of them that the size of the herd gave us just an inkling of what these prairies might have looked like before the buffalo hunters came.

By now, the prairie dogs were up, and I regret not taking a video of them as they scampered, frolicked and engaged in other antics that make them the North American version of meerkats. I can remember seeing a prairie dog town outside of Fargo, North Dakota, when we first moved to Manitoba. I was fascinated by them, and returned years later only to see fields planted with oats. Farmers and ranchers hated prairie dogs, and they paid the price. We saw at least half a dozen of their ‘towns’ in Grasslands National Park, and I am eternally grateful that we have cut them at least a little slack.

Bison

Last up were the burrowing owls, who are also residents of the prairie dog towns. Like the little rodents, burrowing owls have become quite rare as their habitat has been ploughed under, but here they live in peace with their neighbours, and instead dine on mice and insects.

In addition to the animals above, we saw at least four species of hawks or falcons, grouse, and many smaller birds, including meadowlarks and horned larks. One could easily spend the entire day driving back and force within the park looking for more.

There is something about Grasslands National Park that makes the overall experience greater than the sum total of all the things I’ve mentioned above. I know it’s an environment that is unlike any I have seen before, and it’s there for anybody who has the desire to look into the past and see the prairies for what they once were.

On a trip with many highlights, Grasslands was the star.

From Grasslands, we headed north in search of more Saskatchewan adventure. We spent the night at Danielson Provincial Park on the shores of Lake Diefenbaker, which is a huge reservoir created by the damming of the South Saskatchewan and Qu’Appelle Rivers. Just about every type of water based recreation you can think of can be indulged in at Lake Diefenbaker. Even though there was a slight drizzle, that didn’t stop Dale from trying his hand at paddle boarding. Turns out with his snowboarding background, he was a natural.

Next we drove to Saskatchewan’s largest city, Saskatoon, where we dropped into the Diefenbaker Canada Centre on the campus of the University of Saskatchewan. John Diefenbaker was the only Canadian Prime Minister to ever be elected from Saskatchewan. He was a controversial figure to many, but a visit to the centre reminded us of his many accomplishments, including the Canadian Bill of Rights. Outside the centre, overlooking the city, we visited his final resting place.

Our final stop before having to head back to Calgary was at the site of the last major battle fought on Canadian soil. Batoche National Historic Site is located on the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, in a fairly

Prairie Dog

Burrowing Owl

remote location off the main highway, between Saskatoon and Prince Albert. This is where Canadian troops, led by General Middleton, defeated those of Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont in a three-day battle that ended the North West Rebellion in 1885.

Today, it is a peaceful place with few visitors. At the interpretation centre, we learned the history of the Métis people, and the very valid grievances they had with the fledgling Canadian government. This was once a thriving community of over 500 people, but all that remains today are the church and the rectory buildings.

Guides dressed in period costume took us through them, and afterwards, we walked the trails that lead down to the river. At the entrance to the cemetery, there is a moving memorial marking the reconciliation of the Métis people, the aboriginals, and other Canadians.

As I departed, I stood with Louis Riel, and realized that he was a truly misunderstood man who deserved a much better fate than to be hanged as a traitor.

On the way back to Calgary, I reflected on the wonderful days we had spent in Saskatchewan, and how our eyes had been opened to the natural beauty of the province. Also, we had learned some of the very significant historical events that took place here. As we neared the Alberta border, almost as if on cue, a male pronghorn antelope with four does posed in a field.

Now we had seen it all.

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

25

A beautiful view of the Cabot Trail

W

Five Weeks in the

Maritimes Part 1

WE MET SOME OF THE NICEST PEOPLE IN CANADA!

by Marianne

26

Edwards

RV gazette • January/February 2017

e had been promising ourselves this trip for the past four years and finally did it!

We had a plan or, I should say, a loose plan. Unless a whim or fancy steered us off course, we hoped to drive the blue highways - the coastline roads - all the way around Quebec’s Gaspé Peninsula, continue through New Brunswick, around Prince Edward Island, and along every bit of Nova Scotia’s coast, including Cape Breton Island. This, folks, is the true definition of shunpiking – avoiding the express routes (turnpikes) in favour of scenic back roads. But was five weeks enough?

As it turned out, not really.

Two budget-friendly factors played a role in our decision that this was the year for this trip. The price of fuel was dependably low, even in Canada. (If and when our currency gains on the American again, we might be tempted to put off this trip even longer, and travel below the border.) My website, www.boondockerswelcome.com, has been steadily attracting more members. Through the site, we would be able to arrange free camping on private property owned by fellow RVers. There are members who have been very generous, welcoming many RVers as guests each season since the website was launched. This would be an opportunity to meet and thank them personally!

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

27

A Gaspé art gallery

A Pointe- au-Père boondocking

Marianne at Percé Rock 28

RV gazette • January/February 2017

QUEBÉC’S GASPÉ PENINSULA We crossed the St. Lawrence River east of Montreal at Trois-Rivières, and followed the “Rue des Navigateurs” (Hwy 132), getting our first taste of Quebec’s many picturesque villages and scenic landscapes. We enjoyed choosing from the many riverside picnic areas for our lunch stops.

There were a few things we were immediately thankful for that we hadn’t really thought about in advance.

We timed our August visit perfectly with the end of the Quebec Construction Holiday. We didn’t know anything about it, but we learned that, for those two weeks, the parks, beaches, roads, and all tourist attractions in the province are extra busy.

All the French Canadians we met were super patient with our poor efforts to remember bits of our high school French. We were glad that most of them do, in fact, speak and understand English.

We’ve never been more grateful for our GPS (we call her Jane). She speaks to us in English even when the street signs are all in French, although her pronunciation of the French words is horrendous!

True to our shunpiking nature, we stayed on the secondary roads, following the Gaspé coast (or Gaspésie as the French call it). In this case, the scenic road doesn’t necessarily mean “the slow route”. Although it passes through one village after another, the posted speed limit is 90 km/h between villages. It rarely drops below 70 km/h in town, and there are very few stop signs or lights.

It was quite feasible and pleasant to drive this road for hundreds of miles, so we did.

We could, however, have stopped a hundred times.

Each village seemed more picturesque than the last, a fact not lost on the many artists who have galleries along the route. A Catholic church is always a prominent centrepiece. The homes are small and unpretentious, all of them pristine and obviously kept with pride. We don’t know the reason or real name for the roof shape we saw on many of the homes. We called it a “ski jump roof”. The unique architecture and the French language gave us the distinct sense that we had left Canada and entered a different country.

We were equally unsure what to call the waterway we were driving along, at this point. Surely, when there’s open water as far as the eye can see, this must be the ocean or, at the very least, the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

In fact, we discovered it’s all still considered the south shore of the St. Lawrence River.

We travel frugally. Eating in restaurants is generally reserved for special treats, and only for local fare – something that makes those stops all the more special. Our

McPhail'sOfHarriston_Layout 1 5/8/14 9:49 AM Page 1

first “foodie stop” was at Canteen d’Amores in Trois Pistoles, a very ordinary diner. We were there for the poutine, reportedly the best this side of Quebec City. It was great, but we can’t really rate it since we didn’t shop around to compare.

At Pointe-au-Père, the lighthouse is more than a historic site. The location commemorates the largest loss of life in Canadian waters; 1,012 died near here in the 1914 Empress of Ireland shipwreck.

This stop rewarded us with a history lesson and our first real night of boondocking, legally on federal land. Something common in our U.S. travels, but harder to find in Canada.

Our main destination on the Gaspé Peninsula was Forillon National Park. This park is all about the views, and it did not disappoint. We hiked the two most notable trails in the park - a long hard climb to a lookout tower plus the Lands End Trail.

We spotted a dozen seals close to shore and many gannets (diving seabirds); however, we just missed seeing whales that other hikers told us about.

Further south, we stopped for many views of Percé Rock, including some from the ocean floor;

Lands End, Forillon National Park

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we were able to walk right up to “The Rock” at low tide. Although not recommended as safe (due to frequent rock falls), we couldn’t resist. We followed many other visitors through an opening in the fence that led to a steep, narrow footpath, and waded through a bit of ankle-deep water to reach the famous rock.

LOBSTER DINNER FOR TWO – Total $18.00 We crossed into New Brunswick at Campbellton, and, following a suggestion in a tourist guide, stopped in Escuminac to learn the history of a fishing boat disaster that occurred here in the ‘50s. Instead of the free museum or interpretive signage we expected to find, we were treated to a personal 45-minute history lesson and tour by the local dock master, Robert Martin. He educated us about lobster, and other fishing here on the St. Lawrence coast. Lobster season was in full swing here.

I refused to wait any longer. I wanted my first lobster dinner! We bought a fully cooked 2-lb lobster at O’Neil and Sons Fishery on the Escuminac wharf for $18.00.

We shelled it, steamed the meat just enough to warm it through, then served it up adding our own wine and side dishes. What a treat! We had not thought to pack lobster tools so we improvised; Randy pulled pliers and tin snips from the toolbox, gave them a quick wash, and they worked great! Some meals just don’t seem as good outside of a restaurant. Lobster is an exception! Aside from the cost savings ($50 to $60 per person on most menus), we were able to pre-shell our lobster so that it’s not cold by the time we eat. You can order it this way on some restaurant menus too – at a premium price.

es the flow inland. On occasion, surfers are permitted to ride this wave, and apparently can do so for many miles.

Just west of Moncton, at Hopewell Rocks, we walked on the ocean floor at low tide, and watched with envy as kayakers skirted the flowerpot rocks and crevices, but, at $69.00 per person, we felt the 2-hour kayak tour was overpriced. Then we found out that we could launch our own kayak or canoe in the park for free. All we had to do was sign a waiver. Although we don’t break it out often, this is precisely the kind of opportunity that makes us glad we carry a two-man inflatable kayak.

At St John, we witnessed the reversing falls (more like reversing rapids). To fully appreciate this phenomenon, you have to view the river three times in one day. And we did: at low, high, and slack tide. Normally, at both low and high tide, the river is fast with class 5 rapids flowing either toward the bay or inland. At slack tide, which happens twice a day and lasts about 20 minutes each time, the water becomes very still - as smooth as glass. Sailboats and tour boats take advantage and cruise the river for about an hour surrounding this period.

THE WORLD’S HIGHEST TIDES Although we knew the Bay of Fundy boasts the highest tides in the world, we never really knew why this was. Nor did we know that there are so many different Hope Well Rocks at low tide ways to experience this phenomenon. All of them were worth going out of our way for.

At times, the Bay of Fundy tides are the height of a 3-story building – more than 16 metres. We had to ask several people in tourist offices and at the parks we visited before we got a good answer to the question, “Why here and why so high?” It’s all due to a combination of various precisely-right conditions: the length and shape of the bay, the perfect shape of the land masses surrounding the bay where it constricts the flow, the depth of the rivers it pushes into, and the amount of back-pressure from the rivers.

In downtown Moncton, we watched the tidal bore, a low but definite wave that arrives on schedule each day as the tide comes into the Petitcodiac River, and revers- Hope Well Rocks at high tide 30

RV gazette • January/February 2017

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The Oshkosh Romance Once a year, over 40,000 people camp on airport property to experience the magic of flight.

By Michael J. Martin

W

hen Lerner and Loewe created the 1954 MGM musical, Brigadoon, they could have been describing the wonderful aviation event called AirVenture that happens every July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

You see, Brigadoon is a story of romance and magic that happens in the Scottish highlands. You will not find Brigadoon on any map. It is about a mythical village that appears for one day every 100 years, and then vanishes just as quickly into the fog laden valleys and heatherlaced rolling hills of this enchanted land. It is a village populated by wonderful townsfolk dressed in their traditional Scottish tartan. The village and its people possess dreamy qualities.

The Experimental Aircraft Association’s (EAA) AirVenture is a modern day Brigadoon. For one week every year, this miraculous event manifests itself in a rural Wisconsin valley, and brings together people, excitement, and airplanes in a surreal world for the aviation aficionado. Like Brigadoon, AirVenture’s populace is adorned in the colours of general aviation, vintage and antique machines, aircraft from commercial, army, navy, air force, national guard, coast guard, and every walk of life with ties to man’s passion to slip the surly bonds of Earth

32

RV gazette • January/February 2017

and dance the skies on laughter-silvered wings. And yes, it is a world leading camping experience, too.

AirVenture is a glorious happening. For one week every year, quaint little Oshkosh becomes the busiest airport in the world. It is busier than Chicago, Toronto, Paris, Tokyo, and New York. And not just by a wee bit, but by a very large margin. AirVenture 2016 happened from July 25th to July 31st this year. It drew over 563,000 participants through its gates. More than 10,000 airplanes arrived at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, and other nearby airports in the east-central Wisconsin area. This year, there were some 2,855 show planes, a 7 percent increase over last year: 1,124 of those aircraft were homebuilt (up 11 percent), 1,032 were vintage aircraft (up 7 percent), 371 were warbirds (up 6 percent), 135 were ultralights and light-sport aircraft, 101 were seaplanes (including one turbine-powered Super Seawind), 41 were aerobatic aircraft, 31 were rotorcraft, and 20 were non-categorized. A record 2,369 visitors from 80 nations attended the show.

The top international countries represented were Canada (578 visitors), Australia (340 visitors), and Argentina (167 visitors). More than 5,000 volunteers came together to make this event a reality.

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So where do all of these people stay in tiny Oshkosh during AirVenture? Literally every bed is occupied.

Hotels and motels as far away as Green Bay and Milwaukee are booked. The university dorm rooms are full, and homes are rented out, but the smartest option of all is camping. And do they ever camp. Nearly 5,000 campsites are temporarily created on the airport property. Almost 9,000 more tents are set up under the wings of tied down airplanes, resulting in over 40,000 people sleeping on the airport property every night during the event.

Forget the RV shows, if you want to see every camping option available, then AirVenture is the place to walk around and say hello to folks. It is a friendly place. You will see everything you can image, and many things that you cannot comprehend that are all called camping. Yes, you will see Class A, B, and Cs, and every variants in between. For example, I had three Prevost coaches with matching trailers, hauling cars, Harleys, and golf carts, parked next to my older Class A motorhome. I estimated that there was over $5 million invested in these three RVs alone! They were heading to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally next.

Not all RVs at AirVenture are million dollar beauties.

There were vintage RVs fully restored to better than new standards from the 40s, 50s, and 60s. I expected to January/February 2017 • RV gazette

33

see Lucy and Desi jump out of one very long 1950s era travel trailer.

There are home built RVs of every description, and some that are very difficult to describe. Of course, there are numerous requisite school bus conversions, and one irregular stand out was a flaming red fire engine conversion with three stories hydraulically lifted to position, and topped off with an observation deck, complete with oversized sun umbrellas to watch the seven daytime and two night-time air shows.

The campgrounds are sectioned for everyone’s tastes.

There are several large sections for general camping for tents, pop-ups, and travel trailers for the classic and more robust adventurers. Some areas are restricted for 24-hour generator operations that forbid tents due to the risks from harmful exhaust. There are 450 enhanced sites with 50-amp power and fresh water. A large section is reserved for those who travel with pets with nearby dog walking areas.

Bringing together this many people for one magical week means that they have strategically placed shower buildings, washrooms, laundry facilities with available detergent and dryer sheets, free Wi-Fi, and an abundance of temporary cellular sites from all of the carriers to permit connections. Onsite, there are stores for supplies and food items, ice blocks and cubes are available for $3.50 per bag, and a $30.00 sewage pump out service is readily available to visit your site. However, a donation based, drive-in, pump out service is also on the property, costing just $2 or $3 depending on the number of tanks emptied.

AirVenture is famous for entertainment, too. It is not all just about airplanes … no wait, yes it is! But, in addition to the airplanes this year, there is entertainment for everyone of all ages. The band called, Third Eye Blind was the featured act at the Monday evening concert. In the past, we have seen bands such as Chicago, Survivor, REO Speedwagon, The Doobie Brothers, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band, The Steve Miller Band, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Loggins, and many more.

There is entertainment for kids, too, in the popular KidsVenture activity areas loaded with safe climbing, hanging, sliding, and swinging apparatus. They even have a drone training area for the teens that is caged in to prevent errant drones from flying away, causing havoc. For adults, they have more than 1,000 forums, lectures, tutorials, and workshops. There is more to AirVenture than just seeing unique and cutting-edge aircraft. We talk about them. We learn about them. We even find out how we can build them. AirVenture is the epicentre of aviation knowledge. You can complete 34

RV gazette • January/February 2017

your Oshkosh experience by interacting and getting hands-on at the hundreds of forums, workshops, and special presentations included with your admission.

One of the entertainment favourites is the outdoor Theater-in-the-Woods, which runs feature films every night during AirVenture. The open-air pavilion has seating for 3,500 people under its spacious roof, while many more have traditionally brought lawn chairs and blankets and enjoyed the evening’s programmes from spots adjacent to the seating area. One year, famed filmmaker George Lucas spoke for over an hour prior to the showing of his movie, Red Tails. Last year, we all enjoyed a talk commemorating the 45th anniversary of Apollo 13 with Flight Director Gene Kranz, astronauts Jim Lovell and Fred Haise, and other team members from the famed “successful failure” of the aborted moon mission. The Ron Howard film, Apollo 13 followed the talk. This year, it was EAA member and accomplished pilot Harrison Ford taking the stage. He hosted a discussion prior to a showing of the latest installment, Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens.

As quickly as it appeared, AirVenture ended, and everything and everyone simply disappeared, just like in the fabled Brigadoon.

If you are interested in enjoying a grand camping experience, meeting new friends, seeing amazing aircraft, watching daily air shows, and having wholesome fun for all ages, then plan to visit AirVenture 2017 next year. It is scheduled for July 24th to July 30th, 2017.

Next year, for instance, is the 80th anniversary of the iconic Piper Cub airplane, and the 70th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force, and both of these anniversaries will be featured. AirVenture wants to continue to be the place where new aviation technology and innovations are unveiled to the world. So, you will be amongst the first to see the next generation aircraft.

You can kick the tires, too, by getting up close and personal. They have already lined up Canadian alt-rock group Barenaked Ladies for an opening night concert, and they will be busily organizing an unparalleled lineup of unmatched features, attractions, and aircraft.

AirVenture is a camping experience like no other; it is filled with the magic of flight, and the romance with aviation. Will I see you there in 2017?

About the Author Michael J. Martin is a licensed pilot and passionate aviation buff. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Candy, and their four dogs. They own a 36’ Holiday Rambler diesel pusher, and the entire family loves time together in the motorhome. This was his eighth year attending AirVenture.

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money senseDplanning

Tax Planning 101 Is my house my home?

By Barry Sanderson

Y

our “principal residence” is generally any residential property owned and occupied by you or your spouse or common-law partner, your former spouse or commonlaw partner, or your child, at any time in the year. It can be a house, condominium, cottage, mobile home, trailer or even a live-aboard boat, and it need not be located in Canada. Any gain on the sale of a principal residence is tax-free. However, if you sell your residence, you should be aware that some tax rules apply.

Just because you live in a house that you own doesn’t automatically qualify it as a principal residence. For example, building contractors or house renovators who follow a pattern of living for a short period of time in a home they have built or renovated, and then selling it at a profit, may be subject to tax as ordinary business income on their gains.

December 31, 1981. Factors to consider will include the relative appreciation of each house and the expected timing of any sale.

Tax Issues If you made a capital gains election on a residential property such as a cottage, the tax implications on the eventual disposition of the property will depend on a number of factors. These include the value of the property at the time of disposition, the number of years it was designated as a principal residence at the time of making the capital gains election, and the years after 1994 it was designated as a principal residence. The rules in this area are quite complex, and well worth a trip to your tax advisor’s office.

Tax tip: Be careful before designating a foreignowned home as your principal residence. Even though Designating a Principal Residence the gain under Canadian rules is tax-free, you may A home can be designated as your principal resi- incur a foreign tax liability when you sell your home. dence for each year in which you, your spouse or common-law partner and/or your children were resiHomes for Rent dents in Canada, and ordinarily lived in it for some If you move out and rent your home, you can contime during the particular year. You’re only allowed tinue to treat the house as your principal residence for to designate one home as your principal residence for four additional years, or possibly more if you move as a a particular year. If you’re unable to designate your consequence of a change of your place of employment home as your principal residence for all the years you with your employer. There are also rules that apply if owned it, a portion of any gain on sale may be subyou own property to earn rental income, and subseject to tax as a capital gain. The portion of the gain quently convert the property to personal use. Basicsubject to tax is based on a formula that takes into ally, at the time of the change in use, you’re deemed to account the number of years you owned the home, have disposed of the property at its fair market value. and the number of years it was designated as your If this value exceeds your original cost, you will have principal residence. Suppose you and your spouse own to report a capital gain. However, you can make a spetwo residences, a home in the city, and a cottage out cial election to defer recognizing this gain until you of town. Only one of these homes can be designated ultimately sell the home. This election is not availas your family’s principal residence each year. Before able if you have claimed depreciation on the property 1982, each spouse could designate a separate property for any year after 1984. as a principal residence for a particular year, provided the property was not jointly owned. However, for each At the Club, we work with advisors across Canada, year after 1981, couples and their unmarried minor children can only designate one home in total as their at no fee to Explorer RV Club members, to get initial advice on a wide range of financial matters. Call our principal residence each year.

To help you make this designation, you should de- toll-free number at 1-800-613-0794 and we will do termine the fair market value of both homes as of our best to refer you to a local advisor in your area.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

37

gourmet the healthy wayDon the go

Recipes and photos by Deborah A. Rankine

LUNCH ON THE GO Staying the course to healthy eating is really tricky when you’re on the go, and making a from-scratch meal is not on the horizon.

Solution?

Homemade ramen noodle cups! Make them in advance, using what’s on hand, and flavour them to your heart’s content. Pack the jars in an insulated bag with an ice pack, and you’re well on your way to healthy noshing any time of day. Just add boiling water.

Here’s a vegetarian ramen recipe to get you going.

Pack wet ingredients (liquid stocks, curry pastes, hot sauces) in the bottom of the jars first, then cut your vegetables into bite-size pieces, and layer them with the hardest vegetables going in first (cabbage, broccoli, carrot), and ending with the most delicate ones on top (mushroom, green onion). Top with protein (tofu, cooked chicken, pork or beef, frozen, shelled shrimp), dry noodles (rice stick, low mein, chow mein, soba), followed by herbs (cilantro, parsley) and, if desired, dry vegetable seasoning. For my recipe, I processed a packet of Knorr Vegetable Soup mix in my spice grinder into a powder and used that to flavour my ramen.

Vegetarian Ramen Noodle Cup (serves 1) Ingredients ½ teaspoon sambal hot chili paste 38

RV gazette • January/February 2017

2 cups finely chopped vegetables (cabbage, carrot, bell pepper, broccoli, kohlrabi, bok choy, mushrooms, green beans, etc.) ¼ cup diced smoked tofu 1 portion dried chow mein noodle 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro leaves 2 tablespoons dried vegetable seasoning 2 cups boiling water Method • Place sambal in bottom of a 2-cup container or glass jar with tight fitting lid.

• Layer in vegetables according to degree of hardness.

• Sprinkle tofu on top of vegetables, push noodles into jar on top of tofu, add cilantro and vegetable seasoning and seal jar.

• To serve, add boiling water, cover with lid, and let sit until noodles are cooked to desired doneness, anywhere from 5 to 15 minutes depending on type of noodle used.

Rice noodles will take the least amount of time to cook, soba the longest. The chow mein noodles in this recipe took 10 minutes to become al dente.

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

39

camping newsDreports ALBERTA Sunday was a beautiful day when we said our farewells.

Alberta Wildrose Explorers Several units travelled on to the International Plowing Otto Neitsch is ill and no longer able to look after Match and Rural Expo at Minto for the following week. any campouts. If any of our members are interested Till we meet again, happy camping! in heading up a campout, please give us a call at 1-800-999-0819.

Happy Campers Fall Campout – Scone, September 2016 MANITOBA submitted by Virginia Elliott Manitoba Explorers Scone appears to be a popular spot for the Happy submitted by Phyllis Briercliffe Campers as we had a record number of campers for our fall camp wanting to come, ending up with 80, and, unfortunately, having to turn some away. As usual, we lived up to our name with much laughter, fun, and friendship during the camp.

Our theme this year was the 50s, with lots of decorations from that time, bringing back many memories of that time in our life. I think we had as much fun reminiscing about what our life was like back then. Of course, there were those who talked about wearing diapers, and about not being able to remember too much. At the fifties dance, we enjoyed the music of that era dressed in In Manitoba, we are having wonderful camping our poodle skirts, sexy blonde wigs, tight pants, scarves weather. We feel sorry for those people who have already around our neck, saddle shoes, cat-eyed glasses etc. The gone south, though we know winter will come. slow dances saw the guys cuddling up to their partner as We’ve said good-bye to our Snowbirds, and said thank was done in the 50s, and even though women tend to you to Phil Lauterer, our retiring President, at a brunch enjoy the fast dancing more, there were many exceptions in Winnipeg. Phil has been President/Wagonmaster for a to that. number of years, and we wish him happy camping with To our usual washer toss tournament, baseball game, us next year. Ruth Dejong and Wayne Smith are taking bocce fun, we added a mini golf tournament that proved over these jobs after they return in the spring. Our spring to be good for a lot of laughs. Sometimes that little ball get-to-gether will take place on April 22, 2017. just isn’t ready to go down the hole. We also had a go Spend your winter around a fire, indoors or outside at “chipping” golf shots, but as the “greens” weren’t too (that can be good fun, also), and daydream of camping smooth, the results tended to be somewhat erratic. trips next spring.

Music nights were a special treat this time, as not only did we have our usual duo, John and Ted playing guitar ONTARIO and singing, but Willard was back doing his smooth playExplore Canada Caravan Reunion ing keyboard, while Pat and Rick played their fiddles, submitted by Virginia Pray and Tom added his voice and guitar to the mix. It was Our annual caravan reunion was held from Septem- a variety of music, and great to listen to, sing along, or ber 15-17, 2016 at Cedar Rail Family Campground, whatever. We also had Maureen and many others come Scone, Ontario, which is close to Chesley. Eleven units up with some hilarious jokes. attended. Happy hour and meet and greet was enjoyed Since we were well fed the whole time, many of us were on Thursday night in the Riverside Hall, followed by a appreciative of the walking distance to the clubhouse to campfire under a star studded and full moon sky. keep us in shape. Don’t worry; we did have many willing Friday, we all went to Port Elgin for lunch at the Wis- to pick up those not quite so mobile. The food was excelmer House Restaurant. That evening, we again enjoyed lent, with many helpers to cook, set up and clean up after. another campfire.

Cedar Rail Camp was very good to us, and we appreSaturday turned out to be a very wet day, so we had ciated them going the extra mile for our campout, so games and visits in the Riverside Hall. A delicious pot- thanks guys, you were great! luck supper and more games finished the day. Virginia’s Thanks to Ginny and Gil and Ed and Jean for all the hand-made pogo horses were a hit, with everyone having hard work planning, shopping, and putting such a wona chance to win the horse race challenge. derful campout together.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

Happy Campers – Spring Campout – Bracebridge 2017 submitted by Marlene and Bill Webb Date: June 11 to 15, 2017 Location: Bracebridge Fairgrounds (www.bracebridgefair.com), J.D. Lang Activity Park, 331 Fraserburg Road, Bracebridge, Ontario (just off Highway 11}. From Highway 11, take Taylor Road (Exit 189) west to the traffic circle. At the traffic circle, go left (south) on Cedar Lane to Monica Lane on your left. From Monica Lane, go right onto Grey Road, which runs into the fairgrounds (rear entrance). It’s just a few minutes from Highway 11 to the fairgrounds WE ARE NOW FULLY BOOKED FOR THIS CAMPOUT. Please get in touch with the contact person listed below if you wish to be placed on a waiting list, in case there are cancellations. Registration Fee: $25.00 per person (for food, facilities, etc.) Camping Fee: $100.00 per unit (four nights). It will be collected at the meet and greet. Theme: Spring Fling - Parade of colourful outfits Tuesday night. Note: Site hydro is 15 amp, water is via your hose, bring your Ys. A dumping site is available in the fairgrounds.

Contact person: Bill Webb – www.twistedacres1@ gmail.com or call 705-769-3003.

Memories Chapter – Walton’s Mountain submitted by Bob and Pat Sanderson It’s hard to write in the month of November, sitting in my living room with the fireplace on and a glass of wine, staring out my windows at nature’s last fireworks display of fall. Strong north winds are now taking it all down.

Only the Tiffany lamps are adding ambiance to any fall display. Let’s take a moment of silence and think over the memories of the past RV season.

As the season came to an end, Memories Chapter had two more outings. We joined up with RVing Canada Facebook group. The fall potluck was held at Balsam Lake Provincial Park in the Lakeshore Campground. We had enough food to feed any size army, with every type of salad, plus endless kinds of tarts, cake, and other types of desserts, and endless trays of meats, stews, and casseroles.

I would need another page just to list all the foods. We were also blessed with excellent fall weather – bright, warm, sunny days. Many of this group read plus subscribe

and are members of the RV gazette magazine and Explorer RV Club. It was a great group outing, an extended weekend stay. Memories held a wine and cheese meet and greet on the Thursday night. Potluck was on the Saturday, with total guests of around 40.

The last one of the season was Thanksgiving weekend at KOA Niagara Falls in Lundy’s Lane. Yes, it was cool and windy, but we all had a great time. Once again, a potluck plus turkey, and the event was supplied and served by the staff of the KOA. There were too many to count in attendance so please see the group photo.

Memories Chapter is planning another great season, soon to be upon us, so please say tuned for upcoming events of RVing adventures.

We would like to wish everyone a great New Year!

May the year 2017 bring the greatest of joy, happiness, excellent RVing adventures, and family group outings For Memories Chapter information, please call the Explorer RV Club office at 1-800-999-0819, or e-mail bobpat@rogers.com.

Quinte Wagoneers Chapter submitted by Bill van der Valk The 2016 camping season has come to an end.

Our September camp was a little different. We camped during the week, instead of the weekend, and we went

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

41

camping news west. We were at Green Acre Camp in Waterloo to take advantage of their “Farmer’s Market Special” (a nice camping discount), and we went to St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market on the Thursday. This was a perfect time to visit. The weather was great, the Market was less busy because it was a weekday, and the campground had lots of room for our group.

Our final Thanksgiving camp was held at Smuggler’s Cove Campground, in Prince Edward County, on the final weekend in September. We had 14 rigs attend, most of us arriving a day or two early, and staying a day or two later. We had an enjoyable Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixings and desserts that made your mouth water. After dinner, we had our AGM and elected a new president and vice-president. We also set up tentative dates and hosts for our 2017 camping season. We will have 6 camps next year from May to October.

If you have any inquiries, or would like to join us at any of our camps, please contact me at billandgerryv@ gmail.com.

Newfound Chapter submitted by Doug Barnes The Newfound Chapter held our last rally for the year during the weekend of September 9 - 11, at the Shriner’s RV Park on the Eastport peninsula. This location permits the greatest participation of all our members, and this year, approximately 32 club members attended the events that started with our Meet & Greet on Friday afternoon, followed by a card game in the evening.

Saturday started with our Annual General Meeting, and immediately following the AGM, we held an auction of Newfoundland items. This year, our fund raising again enabled the club to make a significant donation to the Shriner’s for their charitable activities.

This year, our outside games event in the afternoon had good sunshine and many participants. Our supper on Saturday evening was at a local restaurant for a smorgasbord of food, then back to the park for another card game. On Sunday morning, several members of the club were up early to prepare a hearty breakfast for the other members.

Southwestern Ontario Chapter submitted by Martha Knight Our last campout of the year was held at Dalewood Conservation Area in September. An excellent time was had by all those attending.

At this campout, we held our AGM, and the new executive was installed. Ben Sietsma will be our new president, Michele Garraway will be vice-President, Martha Knight as secretary, and treasurer will be Ann Jacobsen. Campouts have been planned monthly from May until September throughout Southwest Ontario.

Our first outing is May 23 to 26, 2017 at Golden Pond After the rally ended, several members moved on Park, Mosley, Ontario. to Terra Nova Park for another couple of days of good If you are interested in joining our group, please contact our President, Ben Sietsma, at b.lsietsma@gmail. weather, camping and exploring.

We have made arrangements for our annual Christcom or (519) 520-2061. mas dinner at the Woodstock restaurant just outside St. John’s.

NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR Our website has been updated with pictures and vidNewfoundland and Labrador Chapter eos from our last event, and our other rallies throughsubmitted by Ern Pennell out the year. Further information can be obtained by Our newly elected executive consists of: President going to our Club website at http://www.newfoundexUna Joseph, Vice President - Violet Parsons, Treasurer - George Joseph, Secretary - Ern Pennell, Immediate plorerrv.ca/. past President - David Lewis, Directors - Victoria PenEDITORIAL DEADLINE nell, Margie Hart and Leo Bonnell.

Don’t forget to submit your Camping News writeOur next official event will be the annual May ups!

Next deadline is January 9, 2017. luncheon and meeting, followed by the June Rally, Please remember when submitting photos to make scheduled to be held at the Shriner’s RV Park in Eastsure the resolution is 300 dpi at a minimum size of port, NL, on the weekend of June 16, 2017.

4”x6”.

Safe travels, till next time.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

Canada’s Largest National RV Club Join in on the Friendships, Fun and Savings!

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

43

Recall Notices

By Jim Lister

If you have a vehicle or product that has been recalled, please record the VIN or serial number and call the manufacturer or dealer. The recall contact number for GM is 1-800-263-3777 and for Ford, 1-800-565-3673 or visit that company’s website at www.fordcanada.com and click on “Contact Us” to send an e-mail. Chrysler Canada can be reached at 1-800-465-2001 or e-mail at www.chryslercanada.ca/owners/en and Toyota at 1-888-869-6828.

RV RECALLS Recall No.: 2016-414 Company: Cruiser RV Models: 2017 Fun Finder, MPG and Shadow Cruiser Mfg. Recall No.: 99-03-10 Canadian Units: 119 Description: On certain travel trailers, the switched accessory LED light that is located on the front cap of the camper may have a fault that could cause it to short circuit. Should a short occur, the wiring could overheat and cause a fire, which could increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will replace the current light with a different light, which has built in voltage protection.

Recall No.: 2016-362 Company: Forest River Models: 2016-2017 Work and Play Canadian Units: 15 Description: Certain travel trailers outfitted with MB Sturgis propane regulators may have been assembled with an improper crimp of the retaining cap for the regulator diaphragm. The regulator sight glass could degrade, potentially causing a crack, which could result in a slow leak of propane gas. Propane gas, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire and/ or an explosion causing injury and/or property damage.

Correction: Dealers will replace the propane regulator and associated hoses.

Recall No.: 2016-372 Company: Forest River Models: 2014-2016 Charleston Canadian Units: 11 Description: On certain motorhomes, when the throttle pedal is released, the associated throttle pedal sensor may not return to zero, causing the engine brake to fail to activate as expected. This could cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facilities will replace the throttle pedal.

Recall No.: 2016-387 Company: Forest River Models: 2016-2017 Dynamax REV 44

RV gazette • January/February 2017

Canadian Units: 8 Description: Certain vehicles equipped with a trailer tow lighting control module may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The trailer tow lighting control module may contain a software error that may result in inoperative trailer brake lights after the first actuation of the brakes, which is contrary to the standard. Towing a trailer with inoperative brake lights may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Fiat Chrysler Automobile (FCA) dealers will replace the Trailer Tow Light Control Module.

Recall No.: 2016-391 Company: Forest River Models: 2015-2017 Forester 2016 Isata 2015-2016 Solera 2015-2017 Sunseeker Canadian Units: 110 Description: Certain motorhomes may not comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 108 - Lighting System and Retroreflective Devices. The module that controls the vehicle’s tail lights, stop lights, signal lights, clearance lights and marker lights could potentially fail due to moisture intrusion into the housing of the module.

This condition could affect the rear brake lights on the vehicle or on a towed object that is connected to the vehicle. Failure of brake lights to illuminate when the brake pedal is depressed could result in a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will relocate the module to a water resistant location.

Recall No.: 2016-399 Company: Forest River Models: 2010-2015 Encounter and Mirada 2013-2015 Pursuit Canadian Units: 488 Description: On certain motorhomes, the fasteners that secure the trailer hitch to the chassis may have been improperly torqued during installation. An improperly torqued nut and bolt may result in the hitch dropping loose on one side of the chassis, which may cause a potential loss of vehicle control. If all of the

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

45

recalls fasteners were to fail, the hitch could detach from the motorhome and become a road hazard, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will install a new and improved fastener kit and ensure proper torque.

Recall No.: 2016-400 Company: Forest River Models: 2016-2017 Coachmen Orion and Dynamax REV Canadian Units: 11 Description: Certain motorhomes may experience an intermittent loss of electrical contact in the ignition switch electrical contact block. This may result in loss of motive power and/or partial or complete loss of function of the following safety systems: Airbag/ supplemental restraint systems (SRS), Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Instrument Panel Cluster. The loss of motive power, ABS and/or ESC system(s), in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver’s reactions, may increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. The loss of airbag/SRS function in a crash may increase the risk of injury to vehicle occupants.

Correction: Fiat Chrysler Automobile dealers will replace the ignition switch contact holder block.

Recall No.: 2016-402 Company: Forest River Models: 2017 Coachmen Freedom Canadian Units: 14 Description: On certain travel trailers, there may be insufficient space between the slideroom driveshaft and the trailer’s driver’s side tires. If a tire continuously rubs against or repeatedly makes contact with the driveshaft, this may result in tire failure, which could increase the risk of loss of vehicle control and/or a crash causing injury and/or property damage.

Correction: Dealers will install a new gear pack that is smaller in size and a cross shaft that is narrower in width to allow for a sufficient distance between the tire inside wall and the slideroom drive shaft.

Recall No.: 2016-416 Company: Forest River Models: 2016-2017 Freelander Canadian Units: 12 Description: Certain motorhomes may not comply with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 302 – Flammability of Interior Materials. The shower door installed in the vehicle does not meet the requirements of the standard, which could enhance the spread of a flame in the event of a fire, which could result in injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will replace the shower door with a material that meets the requirements of the standard.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

Recall No.: 2016-415 Company: Heartland Models: 2015-2016 Elk Ridge 2016-2017 Mallard and Wilderness 2017 Sundance and Torque Mfg. Recall No.: 99-01-27 Canadian Units: 428 Description: On certain travel trailers, the switched accessory LED light that is located on the front cap of the camper may have a fault that could cause it to short circuit. Should a short occur, the wiring could overheat and cause a fire, which could increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will replace the current light with a different light, which has built in voltage protection.

Recall No.: 2016-380 Company: Jayco Models: 2016-2017 Eagle, Jay Feather, Jay Flight SLX, Jay Flight, Octane and White Hawk Travel Trailers Canadian Units: 328 Description: On certain travel trailers equipped with Sway Command, if the tow vehicle is equipped with a factory integrated brake controller, the operator could lose trailer brakes during a sway event due to a compatibility issue. The loss of trailer brakes could increase stopping distances and affect vehicle stability, which could result in a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will remove the Sway Command system.

Recall No.: 2016-384 Company: Jayco Models: 2016-2017 Starcraft AR-One Maxx Canadian Units: 52 Description: On certain travel trailers and fifth wheels outfitted with the Extreme Package Option, the certification, tire and loading information labels do not contain correct tire size information. The labels incorrectly indicate a tire size of ST225/75R15D or ST205/75R14C, while the correct size on the trailer is LT235/75R15C. As a result, an incorrect tire size may inadvertently be fitted, which may lead to poor vehicle handling characteristics and potentially result in a crash causing injury and/or property damage.

Correction: Labels stating the correct tire size will be mailed to owners along with instructions for proper installation.

Recall No.: 2016-385 Company: Jayco Models: 2016-2017 Alante and Precept Motorhomes Canadian Units: 71 Description: On certain motorhomes, the driver and front passenger seat base nuts could loosen over time

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recalls due to the seat(s) swivelling. This could cause the seat(s) to detach from the seat base, which, if the vehicle were in motion, could result in the operator potentially losing control of the motorhome, which could increase the risk of injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will install a jam nut to the top of the seat base nut on each affected seat and ensure they are properly torqued.

Recall No.: 2016-386 Company: Jayco Models: 2012-2017 Redhawk Motorhome Canadian Units: 357 Description: Certain motorhomes may not comply with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 302 – Flammability of Interior Materials. The shower door installed in the vehicle does not meet the requirements of the standard, which could enhance the spread of a flame in the event of a fire. This could result in injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will replace the shower door with a material that meets the requirements of the standard.

Recall No.: 2016-405 Company: Keystone Models: 2011-2017 Bullet and Passport Mfg. Recall No.: 16-261 Canadian Units: 7,912 Description: On certain travel trailers, the wiring for the air conditioner may not have been installed properly. This could cause the thermostat wiring to potentially short circuit, which would increase the risk of a fire causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will inspect, and reroute/separate the wiring at the control box of the air conditioner unit as necessary.

Recall No.: 2016-406 Company: Keystone Models: 2017 Cougar Mfg. Recall No.: 16-262 Canadian Units: 6 Description: On certain travel trailers, the certification, tire and loading information labels may contain incorrect information. Additionally, the load range of the tires installed may be different than what is indicated. This could lead to improperly inflated tires, which could affect vehicle handling and stability, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the tires and/or certification label.

Recall No.: 2016-376 Company: Newmar Models: 2017 Dutch Star and London Aire Class A 48

RV gazette • January/February 2017

Motorhomes Canadian Units: 5 Description: On certain motorhomes, the front facia wood trim could separate from the slide out. If this occurs, the slide out could come in contact with the driver or passenger, which could cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/ or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will secure the fascia trim to the slide out.

Recall No.: 2016-383 Company: Thor Motor Coach Models: 2012-2017 Ace 2013 Citation 2012-2013 Siesta Canadian Units: 289 Description: Certain motorhomes may not comply with Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (CMVSS) 302 – Flammability of Interior Materials. The shower door installed in the vehicle does not meet the requirements of the standard, which could enhance the spread of a flame in the event of a fire. This could result in injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will replace the shower door with a material that meets the requirements of the standard.

Recall No.: 2016-389 Company: Tiffin Models: 2007-2011 Allegro, Allegro Bay, Allegro Bus, Phaeton and Zephyr Canadian Units: 802 Description: On certain motorhomes, the windshield wiper arms could break. Loss of windshield wiping capability, should it occur during a rainy/snowy day, may compromise the driver’s ability to see the road and its users, which could result in a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper arms.

Recall No.: 2016-378 Company: Winnebago Industries Models: 2013-2015 Itasca Ellipse 2013-2015 Winnebago Tour Canadian Units: 53 Description: On certain motorhomes, when the throttle pedal is released, the associated throttle pedal sensor may not return to zero, causing the engine brake to fail to activate as expected. This could cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property.

Correction: Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facilities will replace the throttle pedal.

Our list of January/February recalls on vehicles can be found at www.rvgazette.com.

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January/February 2017 • RV gazette

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Explorer RV Club National Rally • June 22-25 In 2017, we are heading to southern Ontario to Shangri-La Niagara Campground (30 amp service and water hook-ups). Details will follow, but you can reserve your spot with a $100 deposit by calling the office at 1-800-999-0819.

We are still working out the cost and will put the registration form up on the website, explorer-rvclub.com as soon as we have everything finalized. Thank you for your patience.

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RV gazette • January/February 2017

Adventure Caravans ............................................................33 Aviva Home and Auto Insurance .................................35 B&W Trailer Hitches ............................................................19 Camp Cross Stitch ...............................................................49 Can-Am RV Centre (RV Dealer) .................................11 Emergency Road Service (ERS) ....................................45 Explorer RV Club ..................................................................43 H. Broer Equipment (Service Centre/Generators) ..37 Hamilton RV Show & Sale ...............................................13 Lant Insurance (Hagerty Classic Car Insurance) ...39 London RV Show & Sale .....................................................7 McPhail’s of Harriston (RV Dealer) ..............................29 Ottawa RV Expo & Sale ....................................................15 Ramona Oaks RV Resort .................................................33 Roadtrek Motorhomes ......................................................27 RV gazette .................................................................................47 RV Hotline .................................................................................50 Sanderson Insurance and Investments ......................41 Sanderson Travel Insurance .............................................31 Toronto RV Show & Sale .....................................................5 Toronto Spring Camping & RV Show & Sale ........21 Vagabundos Del Mar (RV, Boat and Travel Club) ..37 Wayfarer Insurance ..................................... 49, 52 (OBC) Wilder RV Resorts ................................2 (IFC), 51 (IBC)

January/February 2017 • RV gazette

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