RV Camping Mag. | Jan. 2023

By RVCM Staff

Happy New Year, and welcome to another edition of RV Camping Magazine. We hope you enjoyed the holiday season and received those RV gadgets and gizmos on your wishlist!

This month we feature Todd Henson and Tony Flammia from the National RV Training Academy. The NRVTA greatly contributes to the RV community by teaching people how to become RV technicians and inspectors. And now they’re on a mission to educate RV owners across the country!

We’ll also get our monthly tip from Todd on how Inverters work in our Nuts & Bolts Department.

In our Are We There Yet? Department, we found some awesome RV campgrounds for skiers!

‘To Gas or Diesel, that is the question,’ as Hamlet would say. Check out these fantastic Class A and C examples. In this time when electric vehicles are becoming the rule of the

road, we also answer the question if gasser and diesel motorhomes are worth buying.

Is Small the new Big? You decide as we explore some amazing teardrop campers. Whether you want one that honors the Vintage Era of the 1950s, something for the family, or an overlander that’ll climb over most anything, we’ll show you a teardrop camper that piques your interest!

Truck campers are portable and don’t extend your length. But what if you need to leave your camper behind to use your truck bed? Learn about some excellent truck camper lift systems that make separating a breeze!

Every day you see RV membership club ads online. But which ones are worth it? We cut through the confusion with fantastic recommendations on which RV memberships have the best deals.

Two of the biggest RV shows in the country occur in January each year! The Tampa RV Supershow in Florida and the Quartzite Show in Arizona. Get all the info and your scouting report here!

We hope you enjoy our January issue of RV Camping Magazine and thank you for your subscription.

Mike and Susan

RVBLOGGER

Kelly Y. Lee

CONTRIBUTORS

NRVTA Thomas Godwin Terri Nighswonger

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NUTS AND BOLTS HOW RV INVERTERS WORK

BY THE NRVTA

Some of you haven’t looked into RV Inverters because they seem complex. Right now, all you need to do is turn on your RV’s generator, and your air conditioner works. But how do you change the RV’s house battery power to turn on your TV?

The device you need is called an Inverter. It takes the 12-volt power in your house batteries and changes it to 120-volt power for your household outlets and other devices that don’t work without a gas-powered generator.

All RVs come with a converter from the manufacturer. Most RV brands offer decent-sized inverters as standard or optional equipment. In addition, you can buy top-end Inverters that are combo units, but you can save yourself major rewiring time and money by keeping the preinstalled converter under the fridge.

The key to all of this is your RV’s house batteries. They’re like a piggy bank of electrical energy. Your RV batteries already power the 12-volt side of your RV. The goal is also to use the batteries on the 120-volt side. The Inverter allows you to change the electricity, so it’s usable on

Let FMCA Help You Get Back To You

There’s a lot to learn – and love – about RV life, and the best resource for information, discounts, on-the-go assistance and more is the FMCA RV Club. FMCA is your ally to navigating the RV world with confidence. Here are a few of the great benefits that come with being a member of FMCA.

FMCAssist Medical Emergency & Travel Assistance Program

All members receive emergency medical evacuation coverage included with the membership. (over a $200 value).

Roadside Rescue®

FMCA members can purchase roadside assistance at FMCA’s discounted group rate.

FMCA’s Tire Savings Program

Save hundreds of dollars on name-brand RV, light truck, and passenger tires.

your RV's 12-volt and 120-volt electrical sides simultaneously.

12 VOLT, 120 VOLT, WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

If you’re going to camp offgrid while binge-watching your favorite TV show, recharge your laptop, and keep the fridge running, you’ll need the 120-volt power systems running using battery power. The problem is batteries use 12-volt power, and everything else uses 120-volt.

Electricity comes in two forms: Alternating Current (AC) and Direct Current

(DC). A converter changes the incoming 120-volt AC power from your RV’s power cord and changes it into 12-volt DC power stored in your house batteries. An Inverter changes your house batteries' DC power into AC power.

• Converter: AC 120 Volt ➜ DC 12 Volt

• Inverter: DC 12 Volt ➜ AC 120 Volt

USING AN INVERTER IN THE REAL WORLD

Let's say you want to spend the weekend at a Harvest Host or Hip Camp location in Mississippi in July, and there isn’t a

place to plug in. The rain ruined your water park plans, but it’s still over 100° outside.

Your lights, water pump, and other essential systems work, but it would be great to have your air conditioner on. Also, since gas-powered generators aren’t allowed after certain times, an inverter can use the saved energy from your batteries to keep the air conditioner and other 120-volt devices going at night.

You can keep the air conditioner running, rent a movie on the streaming service of your choice, and use your electric-powered cooking devices to eat.

to the

When quiet hours are over the next day, you can restart the generator to recharge the batteries from the night before.

DON’T I NEED AN INVERTER FOR SOLAR PANELS?

Many believe you must connect solar panels to make an Inverter work, but they’re two different systems.

Solar panels “make” DC power that feeds directly to your house batteries. So they complement each other, but they’re independent systems.

The National RV Training Academy

4 BEST RV MEMBERSHIPS

BY TERRI NIGHSWONGER

As an RVer, you always receive invitations, deals, and pop-up ads for RV memberships. Which ones are good? And, which memberships are worth the money?

Check out the more popular memberships and find out which works best for you!

1. HARVEST HOST/ BOONDOCKERS WELCOME

Harvest Host/ Boondockers Welcome is a great option. Harvest Hosts recently purchased Boondockers Welcome, giving you over 7,000 places to stay across the US and Canada if you subscribe to both. Here’s how it works.

Harvest Host properties allow self-contained RVers to overnight at unique locations around the country. These include farms, wineries, breweries, golf courses, museums and attractions, and much more. Over the past year, churches and other places of worship became new Harvest Host locations.

There are some 4,500 locations through Harvest Hosts. As a member, you pay $99 per year to camp at these local businesses for free! The website makes it easy to find locations throughout the country to reserve your spot, review the camping location, and learn about the area.

Boondockers Welcome has more than 3,000 locations, costing $79 per year. This membership allows RVers to stay on the host's property for up to 5 nights, depending

on the homeowner. Fellow Boondockers leave reviews, and the hosts give details about themselves and the property, so you know what to expect.

Some locations have hookups, but all require

you to be self-contained. Sign up on either website or join both through a single add-on transaction.

2. PASSPORT AMERICA

Passport America, which began in 1992, started with the mission to provide a service to RVers that promotes savings, family values, and lifelong community.

Once you sign up, the discount membership club’s yearly fee of $44 saves members up to 50% off on over 1,200 campgrounds across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. You’ll also receive additional benefits from other RVrelated services like repair, suppliers, RV

rental companies, etc.

Popular weekends, holidays, and certain times of the year have blackout days where the campgrounds won’t honor the Passport America discount, like

Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend.

After your first few nights, the discount will more than make up your membership cost with Passport America.

3. THOUSAND TRAILS

Thousand Trails is another camping membership in which RVers pay a yearly fee and receive free camping. This one is structured differently than the others. Members choose a region of the country, Southwest, Southeast, Northwest, Northeast, or Midwest, and pay a fee of $536. You can add additional regions for only $90.

In addition, you get to enjoy all the same

has plenty of camping locations to explore.  016 RV CAMPING MAG

VISIT THOUSAND TRAILS

4. ESCAPEES

With more than 60,000 members, Escapees is certainly a membership club to consider if you’re a part-timer, or full-time RVer, regardless of age. Escapees and their Xscapers group for

We used the mail service for three years and found it worth the membership fee. They have a great system to deliver your mail, and we never had any issues.

WHAT’S THE BEST RV MEMBERSHIP FOR YOU?

When you begin your RV journey, you’ll likely want to take advantage of a great RV membership club. Always consider where and how often your plan to travel. Don’t just consider the discounts; also look at all of the benefits and limitations.

These RV memberships are a great place to start, and many choose

to participate in more than one. There are many more to choose from, and they can make

your camping experience better than you ever imagined.

TRAILERS THE Different TYPES OF TEARDROP CAMPERS

BY THOMAS GODWIN

The beauty of a teardrop camper is in its versatility. That factor alone has catapulted the teardrop market into the stratosphere with a global market value of $5.21 billion. Smaller is better, it would seem, and whether you’re a rugged individualist or in it for a family adventure, there’s a teardrop camper with your name on it.

1. TIMBERLEAF CLASSIC TEARDROP

CAMPER

Timberleaf launched its first teardrop in 2015, starting with the Classic. It's more than a name, with a handmade look and a form pulled straight from the 1950s. With a queen-size bed in a spacious environment filled with small cabinetry, two people will enjoy their

time in this cozy camper for two.

The biggest draw is the vast skylight, which offers sleepers a perfect evening view of the stars. Like many teardrops, the galley is under the exterior popup hatch and features several compartments, a storage drawer for a propane stove, a sink, and an 11-gallon water tank.

Teardrops’ Mt. Massive aims to change your mind. With a couch that converts into a queensize mattress and two permanent bunk beds that double as storage.

Despite the name, Mt.

Massive isn’t Colorado Teardrops’ biggest model but their largest, lightest model. The counter space is exceptional, with fold-up countertops on each door and a fullfeatured galley.

3. MAMMOTH OVERLAND

Whether by design or happenstance, Mammoth Overland followed in the footsteps of the Great Glenn Curtiss. Both aircraft designers used their skills to create incredible RVs. Mammoth Overland made an allterrain teardrop camper instead of a luxury fifth wheel; Genius, nonetheless.

The Mammoth Overland is an absolute beast, with a swing-out kitchen, instant hot water, and a portable toilet included. The good people of Woodinville, Washington, also have a chest-style fridge, shower, and roof rack that the 31-inch BFGoodrich K02 tires and 3,500-pound axle heft through the roughest terrain you can find.

The interior is far more spacious than it seems, with enough room to sleep four, thanks to the fold-down bunks over the queen-size bed. In addition, Mammoth Overland offers outstanding optional features to go solar, add climate control, and even make your teardrop look cool!

4. TURTLEBACK ADVENTURE TRAILER

The Adventure Trailer from Turtleback Adventure Trailer sleeps 5. Thanks to the Signature Suspension V.2 with Airlift/Air Ride with remote control, you can take it anywhere.

A steel chassis, rear stabilizer, and welded aluminum exterior will keep your Adventure Trailer on the trail for years to come. The kitchen includes a 42-gallon water tank, baltic birch drawers, and a ton of fold-out cabinetry.

The tent teardrop camper comes in three upgradable versions: T1, T2, and T3. The base T1 is nicely equipped with all the basic amenities, like a propane tank, modular storage, and a secure

WHY DO TEARDROP CAMPERS CONTINUE TO REMAIN POPULAR

Since people first started building them out of WWII surplus parts, teardrop campers have been

popular because they’re highly customizable. You can take them anywhere you can pitch a tent, and almost any vehicle can tow them. As a result, there’s something for every budget, and you can build them yourself (either with your tools and hardware or

a DIY teardrop kit).

As the age of EV cars and the thrill of exploring the great outdoors continues, the teardrop camper will continue to remain popular for those looking to start or continue to explore our country.

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MEET TODD & TONY

OF THE NRVTA

BY RVCM STAFF

Every month, Todd from the National RV Training Academy (NRVTA), The Largest RV Training Academy in the United States, treats our readers to his expertise with great RV tips. It could be a maintenance tip, a simple repair, or getting the right accessory like an electric dog bone.

But what do we really know about Todd “The Beard” Henson, Tony Flammia, and the classes at the NRVTA? What are their programs, how do they teach their classes, and most importantly, how successful are their students? We had the opportunity to speak with Todd and Tony about all that and more.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THE NRVTA?

The RV industry is in need of trained technicians and inspectors. The most

recent survey shows between 10-11 million households in the U.S. take RV vacations. Yet, the industry has less than 10,000 technicians that can be tracked (both at dealerships and mobile techs).

The industry is severely underserved. Average wait times are around 2 to 4 weeks for standard repairs (sometimes months). The NRVTA’s

mission is to help the RV Industry by training the most qualified RV Technicians and Inspectors to fill those needs.

We also see that simple breakdowns and problems vex RV owners. With our training, we can also instruct and train the RV owner on the more common simple breakdowns.

WHAT ARE YOUR ROLES AT THE NRVTA?

Todd is the Director of Education and the lead instructor. He’s tasked with developing training materials to keep up with changing technologies. He also manages all of the advanced instructors to ensure the highest quality.

Tony is the Director of Sales and Marketing. He manages the student

advisor & marketing team. The sales team speaks with over 50 interested students per day, while the marketing team produces countless videos and image campaigns for the school.

HOW MANY STUDENTS A YEAR GRADUATE?

NRVTA enrolls between 1,400 and 1,800 students yearly at the Big Red Schoolhouse and Community Center. Also, around 8,000 RV Owners have already started or completed the NRVTA Home Study program. As the resource

continues to become more popular, we plan to see many more RVers take advantage of this unique study-from-home program for years to come.

TELL US ABOUT THE CERTIFIED RV TECHNICIAN COURSE.

The Certified RV Technician course is 5 weeks of training. The first week we call the RV Fundamentals Training. It’s an introduction to electrical, plumbing, and propane systems and the major appliances that use them.

Then we cover

maintenance training on the 4 largest appliances on the RV: air conditioning, refrigeration, water heaters, and furnaces for week 1. After the first week, students can take advanced courses.

Each advanced course is a week-long course. Students take what they learned from the maintenance training in the beginning course and get additional training. Students learn to work on the circuit boards and all replicable parts following the manufacturers' guidelines.

“NRVTA enrolls between 1,400 and 1,800 students yearly at the Big Red Schoolhouse and Community Center.”

The best part is that our students gain years of technical wisdom and experience from each instructor. Certified RV Technicians can make an excellent living as mobile RV techs or work for an RV dealership.

WHAT’S INVOLVED IN THE RV INSPECTOR COURSE?

The RV inspector course is a total of 3 weeks of training. A fundamentals course begins the first week, then two additional weeks, specifically in the inspector courses.

We train students on what to look for, how to document it, software, and report training. As more and more RV owners realize this is just as important as a home purchase, RV inspections will be the next big thing.

WHO BENEFITS THE MOST FROM THE NRVTA HOME STUDY PROGRAM?

The Home Study Program is for RVers that aren’t necessarily interested in creating a business or earning an accredited certification. Instead, it’s

for anyone who wants to learn more about their motorhome or travel trailer and gain the knowledge to complete many simple repairs themselves.

The Online or Flash Drive Home Study Program is for those that would love to have the Fundamentals Course at their fingertips. This is an abridged version of our week 1 course. The RVer can experience a recorded class. They also get to “sit in” on 20-plus hours of video to learn

the same topics as our fundamentals class.

We based our Home Study Program on the on-site Educated RVer Course without the hands-on lab work. But we still provide the same workbooks with the flash drive version or printable versions with the online course.

The best part about the Home Study Program is that anyone who gets it will always have access. So before starting a repair or maintenance project, male and female RVers can pull it up and refresh themselves on anything they learned.

WHERE DO STUDENTS STAY WHILE ATTENDING NRVTA COURSES?

The NRVTA conducts its training at the Big Red Schoolhouse in Athens, Texas, located on the Texan RV Park property.

“RVing is about adventure, and RV Unplugged helps to spotlight all the things that RVers can do aside from sitting in an RV park.”

Many of our students with RVs choose to stay at the Texan RV Park, but students can stay at RV parks, hotels, and even Airbnb locations nearby.

WHAT’S THE BEST PART ABOUT CREATING YOUTUBE CONTENT?

Creativity! I love to make people laugh and help people have their “aha” moments. I’ve been teaching for years, and YouTube is a great medium to do two things I love. We also love the feedback, both from followers and trolls. We especially like the trolls.

WHAT’S THE IDEA BEHIND RV UNPLUGGED?

We love RVing and noticed that much of the content in the RV realm

focuses on lifestyle and tech tips. So we wanted to work with RV influencers to offer entertainment specific to RVers but awesome enough that non-RVers would watch.

RVing is about adventure, and RV Unplugged helps to spotlight all the things that RVers can do aside from sitting in an RV park. Now mix in some awesome competitions at beautiful places, and you have the makings for an excellent time for the contestants and great content for the viewer.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS FOR THE NRVTA?

We want NRVTA to be the “go-to” education provider for anything RV. Our method is to balance the training between those that want to become technicians and others who just want to learn how to work on their RV. We aim to present the fundamentals class so that people just want to come for the experience.

HOW TO GET STARTED WITH THE NRVTA PROGRAMS

When Mr. Terry “The Texas RV Professor” Cooper, the original instructor and founder of the NRVTA, started the school, he aimed to take his years of RV technician

training within the classic college system and hone it into the best RV training program in the world. Now, as the Managing Director, he and his team continue to do so in the physical and virtual world.

Students can use the G.I. Bill and other tuition assistance programs to help with education costs. In addition, the Admissions and Financial Teams do their best to support incoming students with options to afford the education they want.

NRVTA STATISTICS FOR 2022

The Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)

Certified Career College is the accrediting agency for the NRVTA. It offers students who seek careers in the RV Industry hands-on training as RV Technicians or RV Inspectors.

The TWC sends an annual report on each school graduate's success rate. For 2022’s Annual Report, here’s how the NRVTA’s graduating students performed:

• RV SERVICE TECHNICIAN: 73% of all graduates work in their field, making an average

income of just under $104.76 an hour.

• RV INSPECTOR: 78% of graduates are employed and make $104.35 an hour.

*These numbers reflect graduates that reported back to the TWC survey.

These numbers are above average compared to many different career fields requiring education.

To start the admissions prwocess for the RV Technician or RV

Inspector Programs, head to the NRVTA admissions page for more information.

Go to the NRVTA’s Home Study Website if you want to know more about how you can learn more about your motorhome or travel trailer.

As Terry says, “All Roads Lead to Athens, Texas!”

NRVTA ADMISSIONS

NRVTA HOME STUDY

MOTORHOMES

GAS VS DIESEL MOTORHOMES: WHICH ARE BETTER?

BY RVCM STAFF

Happy New Year! Is this the year you decided to hit the road in a new (or new to you) drivable motorhome? Just because there’s snow on the ground doesn’t mean you have to wait! The new cycle of RV Shows is about to begin, so grab your pen and paper and let the research begin!

One of the big decisions you may face is whether to go with a gas engine or a diesel engine motorhome. Both have their advantages and drawbacks.

The bottom line is that diesel motorhomes are better than gassers, but they can cost up to $100,000 or more than their gasser counterparts. So the real question is…are diesel motorhomes $100,000 better than gas powered motorhomes?

Here are some iconic examples to use as starting points to help you decide which is best for you.

1. COACHMEN

LEPRECHAUN 298KBCLASS C GASSER  Coachmen’s Leprechaun Series goes back decades. It’s been one of the top family Class C motorhomes for families and

the flagship in this category for Coachmen. For 2023, there are 7 models to choose from, but if you’re looking for space and all the ‘fixin’s,’ look no further than the Leprechaun 319MB.

With two road side slideouts, a deluxe RV outdoor kitchen, a U-shaped Dinette, a residential king bed, and a televator, you’ll have plenty of room for 8 people to sleep. So large families, those with older kids, or traveling professionals will enjoy living on the road.

A well-maintained gasser Class C could see 200,000 miles or more. The 55-gallon gas tank comes on the Ford E-450 chassis, which has a 7,500-pound rear tow hitch. So if you want, bring the boat, ATV, or passenger car dinghy with you.

2. JAYCO SENECA XT

35L CLASS C

DIESEL

Making a huge splash this year is the Jayco Seneca XT. This new series of off-road diesel Class C motorhomes are mobile log cabins in the back trails. Yet, with many of the luxury-level features, it doesn’t have to be.

Sitting on Ford’s new F-600 super duty chassis, you can enjoy 3 slideouts, a king bed with an LED fireplace, a standard dinette with a 50-inch televator, an 18 cu. ft. fridge, and a roomy split bathroom.

Ford’s Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel is the heart of this Class C. This decade’s old engine has repeatedly proven its worth on America’s roads and backtrails. Fuel economy will be a bit better than the gasser, but years from now, replacement parts will lighten your wallet twice to three times as much.

“Ford’s Power Stroke V8 turbo diesel is the heart of this Class C.”

3. THOR

MIRAMAR 37.1

The Miramar (and sister coach Challenger) have been Thor Motor Coach’s top-level Class A Gas Motorhomes for years. With the new Luminate and Indigo covering the mid-length (35-37 ft.) sizes, the Miramar and Challenger can sit at the lengths where they really belong: 37-39 ft.

The Miramar 37.1 gives you the size and appointments of a luxury diesel motorhome for large families, but at a gasser price. This Class A with bunk beds places the bathrooms and shower in the best places. Mom and dad can use the rear half bath and enjoy their king bed while the kids are

“The Miramar 37.1 gives you the size and appointments of a luxury diesel motorhome for large families, gasser price.”

opposite the midship road side full bath.

On the long Ford F-53, the Ford V8 Triton (a.k.a. Godzilla) will keep this gasser cruising around 9 -11 miles per gallon, but an 80-gallon tank will let you pass a handful of turnpike gas stops before this “hungry beast” needs to be fed again.

appointments families, but at a

4. HOLIDAY RAMBLER

NAVIGATOR 38K

Sometimes overshadowed by its fraternal twin, Fleetwood, Holiday Rambler has some excellent diesel pusher motorhomes that will last decades. The average lifespan of a diesel motorhome is 30 years, but maintaining these beauties is a labor of love.

While expensive to keep on the road, they earn their reputation as “rolling palaces.” The Navigator 38K is a 1 ½ bath diesel pusher (engine in the back) with the top decor, true kingsize bed, and residential-

sized everything. Even the residential fridge has a water and ice dispenser in the door.

The 80-gallon diesel fuel tank moves the vehicle itself and powers the hydronic water heater.

Otherwise, this all-electric featured motorhome uses two deep-cycle house batteries to power everything. At cruising speed, don’t be surprised if you see your fuel efficiency around 14 mpg.

USING A FUEL-BASED MOTORHOME IN THE

ELECTRICAGE

So right now, you’re thinking, “okay, all of these look great, but by 2030 or 2040, is ‘Uncle Sam’ going to tell me I can’t use my 5 or 6-figure investment RV anymore?

The simple answer is, No.

California’s AB 1745 Bill states that only NEW vehicle purchases at lower vehicle classifications will be affected. What it doesn’t do is target the USED market or existing owned vehicles.

In California, and the 15 to 20 states that are following California’s lead, this law directly affects Class B and smaller Class C RVs. Anything over

10,000 pounds is not impacted by these laws.

Once semi-truck electric motor technology becomes a reality, we may see Standard C, Super C, and all Class A motorhomes become electric vehicles. Meanwhile, rest assured, the motorhome you buy today will be usable now and in the future for you to enjoy the roadways to adventure!

THERE YET?

4 Best CAMPGROUNDS FOR SKIING

BY RVCM STAFF

There's nothing better than experiencing the incredible thrill of skiing while breathing in the fresh winter air. But after a long day on the slopes, why not kick back and relax in your RV?

Skiing and camping go hand in hand—combining thrilling adventure with cozy comfort. So make it part of your winter routine by visiting one of the many stunning campgrounds for skiing throughout the country. It's an unbeatable combination that will make for beautiful vacations

packed with delightful experiences you won't soon forget.

1. GRAND TARGHEE RESORT

ALTA, WY

Grand Targhee Resort, nestled in Wyoming’s spectacular Teton Mountains, is a must for RVers looking for a skiing haven. With two mountains to ski from, including a bowl with chutes and tree runs, and pockets of glades throughout each mountain, seasoned skiers

and those just getting the hang of the sport can find the thrill of their life here.

Lift tickets are affordable, so all members of your camping crew can experience the breathtaking beauty of the surrounding mountain ranges while being active on the slopes.

On top of all this, Grand Targhee Resort offers RV winter on-site camping, so you don’t have to worry about packing up and heading back home after

a long day of skiing.

While crowds can be an issue at many ski resorts, powder days on the “Ghee” have plenty of space for everyone, with over 90 trails and 2,600 acres of terrain.

GRAND TARGHEE

2. STEVENS PASS SKI RESORT

SKYKOMISH, WA

In its 85th season, Stevens Pass offers 52 major runs with many additional bowls, glades, and faces. In addition, skiers can enjoy the 460 inches of average snowfall on Cowboy and Big Chief mountains on the crest of the Cascade Range of the State of Washington.

If you get a late start, don’t worry because 6 lifts are well-lit from Wednesday to Sunday for night runs. Favorites include Skid Road, Broadway, and Barrier Ridge, to name a few.

Overnight parking for Stevens Pass Ski Resort started on December 2nd and goes through April 15th, but reservations are required. There are 30 and 40-foot spaces available, but the fulllength fills up quickly.

Both size spaces offer 30amp electricity only, but all RVs must be self-contained concerning plumbing resources. Tow vehicles and motorhome passenger vehicle dinghy’s are allowed, but other guest parking is prohibited. Make sure you read through the Winter Lot Policy thoroughly before reserving your space.

3. DELAWARE

WATER GAP

/ POCONO MOUNTAIN KOA HOLIDAY

EAST STROUDSBURG, PA

Venturing to Delaware

Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA Holiday this winter provides RVers with a superb location to enjoy winter activities like skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

The Shawnee Mountain Ski Area is just a short one-mile drive away, offering a supportive, family-friendly environment for every skill level. Whether an experienced skier or a first-time snowboarder, you’ll have a magical adventure as you race down the slopes.

The snow isn’t the only thing to enjoy at Delaware Water Gap / Pocono Mountain KOA Holiday. Relax and warm up after a day on the slopes at one of the many fire pits open to all campers, or take a winter hike through the beautiful mountains and admire the snow-covered scenery.

The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and the Pocono Mountains provide a winter wonderland to explore. There are also nearby casinos, shopping outlets, and breweries to enjoy when you need a break from the cold.

SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN SKI DELAWARE WATER GAP/ POCONO MOUNTAINS KOA HOLIDAY

4. WILLAMETTE PASS RESORT

CRESCENT LAKE, OR Away from the hustle and bustle of city life and conveniently located 70 miles southeast of Eugene lies a hidden gem and an off-the-beaten-path ski area. Welcome to Willamette Pass Resort!

With an impressive annual snowfall of 430 inches, Willamette Pass is the perfect destination for RVers looking to camp and ski.

In 1941, the Willamette Pass Ski Area opened with only a few rope tows. It now boasts twenty-nine trails and five chairlifts, the longest and fastest in the state.

With 1,563 feet of liftserved vertical available, there’s plenty to explore. Resort amenities include on-site ski lessons, equipment rentals, and a restaurant/lounge.

When you’re not enjoying all the resort offers, there are plenty of activities and attractions nearby that you can check out during your stay at Willamette Pass.

There are nearby fishing spots and scenic trails where you can explore nature or take panoramic photos against the backdrop of evergreens and snow-capped mountains.

You can also find several hot springs soaking spots close by, making it easy to relax after a day spent on the slopes.

And if you’re looking for more city life activities before departing, consider

checking out some of Eugene’s popular activities, like visiting its many museums or exploring historical sites.

WILLAMETTE PASS RESORT WILLAMETTE PASS RESORT

LOT-DOCKING

BEST CAMPGROUNDS

FOR RVERS WHO LOVE SKIING

If you’re looking for a place to ski and camp in the same area, these are some of the best campgrounds for RVers. These locations offer great skiing opportunities and plenty of space for RVs. However, before making your final decision, check out each location’s website to learn more about their specific rules, regulations, and winter warnings.

4 LIFT SYSTEMS FOR TRUCK CAMPERS

BY RVCM STAFF

Not everybody sports a forklift or mini-excavator in their garage. A little oldfashioned elbow grease isn’t going to cut it when the base weight of the truck camper is well over a ton.

Every truck camper comes with jacks, yet an electronic lift system that drops the jacks and levels them makes the truck camping experience much easier. So why work hard on your RV vacation with your truck camper jacks when a powered lift system can do it for you?

Here are some excellent truck camper lift systems that won’t make you work hard on your truck camping adventure.

1. HAPPI-JAC LIFT SYSTEMS

Happi-Jac has been in the business of manufacturing RV industry products for over 50 years. Their Acme Screw Jack is one such innovation. It has a

redundant safety check system and cupped footpads for better stability, providing nearly a yard’s worth of lift.

That’s enough lift to handle a moderate lift kit. Happi-Jac offers a 1,500 lbs. and a 1,900 lbs. lift system. That might not be enough for a Host Mammoth truck camper, but it can handle most of what the industry offers.

If you like going wireless, the Happi-Jac system is compatible with the brand’s motor and wiring kits, which sell separately.

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We realize that when it comes to travel, vacations and renting out your RV, that you have a lot of options

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2. REICO-TITAN ELECTRIC

JACKS

This 2,500 lbs. capacity lift system comes with a 360° head swivel. It’s completely motorized out the door and features a one-button operation. In other words, set it and forget it. It's that simple. A built-in safety measure shuts the lift system down after 15 minutes of inactivity, in case you really do forget it.

With a 36-inch lift adjustment, it's the most adaptable in the industry. In addition, the large footpads provide additional stability and include a smooth, streamlined drive

system—no shaking and vibrating from the ReicoTitan.

Coded security keeps thieves away, and the powder coat paint job is highly corrosion-resistant. That’s a fantastic addition if you’re camping in the rain, sleet, or snow.

3. STABLE-LIFT DUALLY 3 JACK SYSTEM

As the name implies,

the Stable-Lift System is compatible with dual-wheel trucks, but it's also excellent for standard trucks. StableLift included a two-way power leveling system and designed their lift to replace tie-down systems.

The leveling system works for on or off-the-truck use. So you’ll always know you have a perfectly aligned camper before installation or during removal. Of course, it's always nice to have some of the guesswork removed when you want to hit the

road in under 5 minutes.

Speaking of speed, Stable-Lift designed this system to install or remove in under two minutes. So whether you’re dealing with a massive truck bed or something smaller, this jack system is compatible.

4. ACME HEAVY DUTY CAMPER JACK FROM LIPPERT

Lippert is the ultimate upgrade option for improving your current lift kits. For instance, standard Happi-Jac lift

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systems are manual crank jacks. Yet if you want to motorize it with a remote, Lippert has the solution.

Whether it's jack lift extenders or the Lippert EX Bed Lift Motor Assembly, Lippert has the products to upgrade your equipment fully. And honestly, who prefers a manual crank over a motorized assembly? You don’t want to pump your

water out of the faucet, do you?

WHY DISCONNECT YOUR CAMPER FROM YOUR TRUCK?

You probably shouldn’t roll your truck through the local carwash with an Outfitter Juno 8.5 Hybrid camper mounted on the back. But, sometimes, you just have to take the camper off,

especially if your truck is your daily driver.

While most truck campers are highly versatile, some are more streamlined than others; they’re tough to deal with in high winds. So whether it's a windy day or you just need to run some errands, it's very convenient to have one of these lifts handy for quick removal.

KICKING OFF THE RV SHOW SEASON

BY RVCM STAFF

For the sticks and bricks folks, the “most wonderful time of the year” has concluded with holiday presents and New Years' celebrations. Yet for us RVers, that was only ‘Part 1.’

The 2023 RV shows kick off this year with 24 shows across the country in January. While they vary in size, two of the biggest shows are happening this month!

For those in the East, come on down to the Tampa Florida RV Supershow at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida!

Western U.S. RVers, both Overlanders and on-road, can converge on the sleepy town of Quartzite, Arizona, for the Quartzite Sports, Vacation, & RV Show!

TAMPA RV

SUPERSHOW

The first few things you’ll notice about the RV Supershow are the ticket and boondocking changes. Your eyes may pop when you see that boondocking at the RV show is now $50 a night

and requires reservations. Ensure you also read the other changes the Florida State Fairgrounds made concerning boondocking in the parking lot.

The Tampa RV Supershow has two main entrances. You’ll either enter in through the Expo Hall at Gate 1 or into the Arena at Gate 3. Either way, you’ll come across rows of vendors you have to see. You’ll find camping accessories, RV membership clubs,

campgrounds from the region, and other RVFriendly businesses.

The Expo Hall will also have the Prevosts and Foretravel. Sorry, they don’t let you tour them anymore. But they provide platforms with steps to look through the windshields.

Make sure you have your walking shoes at the RV Supershow because it's spread out, with a lot to

see. It’s a good thing the tickets give you a two-day pass because you may need a second day to see the rest of the displays or finish the buying process of your new RV with the onsite dealer finance teams.

Tampa winters get down to the 40s-50s at night, so bring a jacket. During the day, highs can get up to almost 80°F. Florida weather is unpredictable, so bring an umbrella or raincoat.

Finally, you can buy your tickets at the gate, but morning lines can be long. You can order your tickets online and pick them up at the will-call. For those that need it, there’ll be electric scooters ($60) or manual wheelchairs ($25) for daily rental at Gates 1 and 3.

GET YOUR TICKETS TO MEET THE CAST OF RV UNPLUGGED

This year, you can meet the cast of the upcoming

YouTube reality show RV Unplugged at the Tampa RV Supershow. Many of your favorite YouTube RV Influencers competed in a boondocking challenge to win a $10,000 prize.

Team Phil (Blue) and Team Stacy (Red) from “Today Is Someday”

competed in daily competitions, refereed by the National RV Training Academy instructors in Athens, Texas. It’s your favorite reality TV show competition, RV Style. All ticket sales are donated to veteran charities. You can meet

them off-site at the Tampa Elks Lodge in the heart of Tampa. Due to traffic conditions, RV parking isn’t available.

QUARTZITE SPORTS, VACATION, & RV SHOW

For most of the year, Quartzite, Arizona, is a small town that barely appears on a map. Yet in January, its population explodes

during the Quartzite Sports, Vacation, and RV Show.

Unlike the Tampa RV Supershow, Quartzite’s vendors are at the heart of the event under a  giant rectangular tent. Inside, you’ll find vendors that sell sports, vacation, and RV-themed gadgets and gizmos. Surrounding the tent will be rows and rows of new touring and overlanding RVs.

Quartzite doesn’t have an entrance fee, and RVers boondock for free on the nearby BLM land. Average temperatures at night range in the 40s and raise to the 60s during the day. You’ll be in the Arizona Desert, so comfort is key.

Quartzite is so complete you could walk in with your tow vehicle and come out with your new RV and most of your camping gear all in one location. Progressive

Insurance will even be there to get your paperwork in order.

So if you’re looking for an RV you can use to hit the best fishing holes, you can find one and even get that ultra-fancy graphite pole you’ve been dreaming about.

WHAT IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT THIS YEAR?

If you can’t make it, don’t worry, there’s a whole list of RV shows

happening throughout the country. There’ll be one within driving distance in your area at some point this year.

Don’t forget to check out all of the great vendors while you're there. Besides the amazing products, services, and campgrounds, many of these companies may be looking for RV remote workers. You never know who you’ll meet and what opportunities may transpire.