Rv show, january 17, 2016

Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review an S−R Media Company • spokesman.com • Sunday, January 17, 2016 1

Jan. 21, Thurs. Noon-8 p.m.Jan. 22, Fri. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.Jan. 23, Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.Jan. 24, Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission $8 Cash Only Good all Weekend

Kids 12 & under Free with Adult

Spokane County Fair & Expo

Center

JAN. 21-24

spokesman.com Free Parking!

2 Advertising Supplement to The Spokesman−Review an S−R Media Company • spokesman.com • Sunday, January 17, 2016

Greetings to all of you RV ENTHUSIASTS!Welcome to the 28th Annual Inland Northwest RV Show and Sale sponsored by The Spokesman-Review. This year’s show is the largest RV Show ever!

Take a look around – all the Fairgrounds buildings are heated and packed full of RVs and accessories. In addition, you will fi nd hundreds more RVs outside.The INW RV Show and Sale happens just once a year. It is the time when RV dealers show off what’s new in their industry. You will see new innovations and new technology. Plus, with all the dealers side by side, you’ll get the opportunity to

compare units, features and prices. Best of all, all the dealers have special RV Show pricing you won’t see any other time of year! It’s a great time to buy!Here at the RV Show, we always like to say “Investing in an RV is really investing in your family.” With an RV you can go anywhere with your family, stay anywhere with your family and make incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Plus gas prices are at record lows, yet another reason that RV ownership is a smart investment. From tent trailers to big diesel pushers, the RV Show has something for everyone. Don’t forget to register for The Spokesman-Review’s GIGANTIC GAS GIVEAWAY! They’ll be giving away a $100 gas card every two hours during the show. Register to win a trip to see George Strait in Las Vegas from 93.7 The Mountain or enter the kids Coloring Contest. Plus, buy any RV and you’ll get 30 seconds in the RV Show Cash Machine!Thank you for attending. We hope you enjoy the INW RV Show

and fi nd that perfect RV! May all your travels be safe and your destinations divine.Steve Cody and Jim CotterSteve Cody and Jim CotterShow Promoters

Now in its 28th year, the RV Show has grown into one of the largest annual events at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center. It now fi lls all of the buildings, and hundreds more RVs also can be found outside. It’s now considered one of the largest and most popular shows of its kind in the Western U.S.Here are some interesting highlights over the years: • 1988 The RV show debuts, and only fi lls one building. • 1991 The previous RV Show promoter decides to disband the show after low attendance. • 1992 Promoter Steve Cody and Jim Cotter, a Fairgrounds manager, meet with the RV dealers and decide to revive the RV Show. Media sponsors are brought in and attendance doubles… so does the size of the RV Show.• 1996 Cody created his fi rst waiting list for dealers and other exhibitors. A major snowstorm hits during RV Show weekend, and a tunnel was built to connect the buildings. More than 7,000 people still braved the elements, and dealers reported similar strong sales. Jim Cotter also becomes a partner.• 1999 Show expands to Ag buildings A and B.• 2000 The show featured the World’s Largest RV, a four-story rig with a hot tub, putting green, sun deck, three full bedrooms with king-sized beds, 1.5 bathrooms and a built-in barbecue. • 2001 Show expands to Bay 4.• 2003 RV fans received special free early-bird entry in order to come browse and be back home for Super Bowl kick-off. Spokesman-Review RV columnist Julianne Crane was the featured speaker. • 2006 Show expands into Ag building C. That year also saw the arrival of the Cash Machine, which everyone who buys an RV at the show gets to stand in for 30 seconds to try and catch whirling money. • 2008 Show expands to Ag building D.• 2012 More than 11,000 people attend to check out six dealers and 40 vendors. • 2013 The show celebrates its 25th anniversary with record crowds and record sales. The Spokesman Review becomes the exclusive sponsor of the Show and produces a 32-page Show Guide that readers and show guests enjoy. • 2014 More than 13,000 people attend the Show.• 2015 Show expands to Multi-Purpose A building, connecting tents and creating more outside space.

The Inland NW RV Show program is a product of The Spokesman-ReviewKathleen Coleman, Director of Sales and Marketing

Regina Winkler, Sales Lead • Joe Butler, Editor • Nita Alexander, Graphic Design

Contributing Writers/Photographers: Don Adair, Dan Webster, Courtney Dunham, Erika Prins,

Mariesa Stokes, S. Michal Bennett, Nicole Skinner, Jean Arthur, Allison Hall

The Inland NW RV Show and Sale keeps getting better and better

AND BIGGER!!


SEE OUR ENTIRE INVENTORY AT www.RnRRV.com

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Dan Webster/Marketing Correspondent

John Madden owned one because he has a famous fear of fl ying. Matthew McConaughey used his during a movie-publicity trek to take a “six-week Great American Tour.” NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon says his is “the only place I can fi nd some peace and quiet.”

All three, of course, are referring to their RVs. Like many celebrities, the trio discovered that RVs afford them all the privacy and comfort that they could possibly desire.

Madden’s vehicle was a fully equipped custom bus known as “The Madden Cruiser.” When McConaughey served as grand marshal of the 2005 Daytona 500, he parked his International Ocean Breeze Airstream in the speedway’s infi eld just like any other RV owner. In 2007, Gordon purchased his fi fth Marathon Coach, this one for a cool $2.1 million.

And they are hardly the only celebrities who have traveled, both for fun and for pleasure, in RVs of all shapes and sizes. A short list of celebrity RV owners would include singers Dolly Parton and Alan Jackson, actors Jeff Daniels, Vin Diesel, Will Smith and Brad Pitt, athletes such as baseball Hall-of-Famer Bob Gibson and professional golfer

Davis Love III and even U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

Madden, who retired in 2009, began logging RV miles in the 1970s after suffering a panic attack on an airliner. In fact, during his career he traveled up to 80,000 miles annually in a series of vehicles. The model he used during his last season as an NBC sportscaster was a converted MCI E4500, which carried a $800,000 price tag.

It came with a queen-size bed (necessary for his 6-feet-4, 250-plus-pound frame), was fi tted with offi ce essentials (high-speed Internet, fax, three plasma TVs) and two bathrooms.

As the former sportscaster told the New York Times, “When I fi rst started, people said, ‘That goofy John Madden.’ Now people are saying it’s a pretty good idea.”

Oscar-winning actor McConaughey is one of those people. He actually owns two Airstreams; he parks one in Austin, Texas, and the other at his home in Malibu. While doing publicity for the 2005 fi lm “Sahara,” McConaughey told People magazine that he used

his Airstream – which he dubbed “The Canoe” – both as a way to travel professionally and to see the country.

“I’m just going around the country,” he said. “It’s one of my favorite places. I’ve got a house, but even when I pull into my house, sometimes I sleep in that thing in my driveway. It’s really comfortable.”

Gordon, who garnered 93 wins during his 22-year professional racing career, is known for driving fast. But he likes his comfort, too, which is what his triple-slide, Prevost H3-45 provided.

Not only did the vehicle include hardwood fl oors and limestone countertops, it boasted three TVs, special built-in cribs for his then-baby daughter and an overall Ralph Lauren décor. (For a video tour of one of Gordon’s RVs, go online to https://youtu.be/kwOy5X0u0EI).

Gordon’s RV had so many features, it tempted a writer for the Birmingham News to ask, “Does it have a restrictor plate?”

All joking aside, the age of the average RV owner is now 48, according to a 2011 study conducted by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). Airstream owners in particular are even older. But that doesn’t bother the company at all.

“Somewhere, woven into the American fabric, is this idea of ‘the great American road trip,’ ”

company president and chief executive Bob Wheeler told the Los Angeles

Times. “Airstream got connected to that in a way that has just endured.”

Just ask actor-turned-RV-road-warrior McConaughey, who says he enjoyed bumping elbows with fellow RVers at the Daytona

Speedway.“I’ve had some good food with good

people,” he said. “I’ve traded ‘Sahara’ hats for racing hats and other hats. I’ve gotten to

know a lot of great people.”

Which just goes to show, celebrities, they’re just like us!

... the age of the average RV owner is

now 48, according to a 2011 study conducted

by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA)

Actor Matthew McConaughey poses in New York, during a six-week, cross-country tour in his Airstream trailer to promote the action-adventure fi lm, “Sahara.” in 2005. -AP Photo/John Smock

Celebrities Love Their RVs

https://youtu.be/kwOy5X0u0EI


In 1992, Steve Cody, a former radio broadcasting group co-owner, was handed a Class A-sized challenge/opportunity: take over the Spokane RV Show and make it bigger and better.

“I’d never put on a show like this in my life, but I fi gured I could do it,” said Cody, who worked for 30 years with Citadel Broadcasting.

His promotional experience gave him some advantages with friendships of the local RV dealers as well as radio, television and newspaper associates.

After letting the dealers know his intentions to continue the show, his new task was to talk to the staff at the Spokane Fair and Expo Center about how to make it happen. Jim Cotter at the Fairgrounds was an invaluable asset and became the Show’s co-promoter in 1996.

Today, nearly three decades later, that feat seems easy compared to what the show has become – hundreds of RVs and more than 13,000 visitors. It’s considered one of the BIG three annual events at the fairgrounds and one of the major RV Show’s in the Western United States.

Each year, in rain, sun or blizzards, people come to check out and often buy RVs. Sometimes they come several days in a row. Exhibitors also like being part of the show – Cody said he has maintained a long waiting list for vendors and RV dealers each year since 1996.

Some visitors love coming and daydreaming about someday taking a trip in an RV, others are ready to make that dream happen then and

there by talking to the different dealers.

For this year’s 28th annual show, Cody said there’s plenty of excitement ahead from six dealers and 40 vendors. There’s a gas giveaway sponsored by The Spokesman-Review where visitors can win $100 gas cards every two hours, and a Coloring Contest for RVers ages 5 and up!

There’s the RV Show Cash Machine, a booth which you can stand inside and catch as much fl ying currency in 30 seconds ….. There’s truly fun for everyone.

Some of the other common questions people ask about the show with answers from Steve Cody: Q. What kind of people attend? A. We draw people from all over the Northwest including Montana, western Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Canada. We see some of the same faces, plus new people every year. Some people tell us that they wait all year because of the great deals. Vendors also come from all over – some think of it as the ‘13th month’ for sales because January can often be slow without this event. This has become one of the major RV shows in the Western U.S. We love seeing everyone. For some customers, it may take two years to actually decide to buy so they may look around this year and come back next year. Or sometimes current owners want to see what’s new or what they can add to theirs. It gets crazy – we can sell $7 million in RVs and accessories in four days.

Q. Who buys RVs these days? A. Everyone! When we started doing this, customers were mostly retired, 65-plus, or maybe hunters. Now, the majority of buyers are young families. The hope is that owners get into their fi rst RV at around age 30, and keep on moving up all their lives. Many people are trading in their old RV for a bigger, better newer model. Appraisers are on hand to help determine trade-in values. We still see many retirees, some who sell their houses and want to move around the country in their big diesel pushers.

Q. Have RVs changed over the years? A. Not that long ago, tent-trailers and tag-alongs were mainly what people wanted. The Winnebago was pretty much the only choice for a motorized RV. Now there are many brands, and families are also looking into trailers, fi fth wheels and motor homes. There are also so many more innovations – we never had slide-outs, fi replaces, king-sized beds, or room for a car or toys. Space has grown by 40 percent in some models, and everything is much more effi cient. There are also ways to make driving easier, like GPS, back-up cameras, and better towing options.

Q. Any advice for people considering a purchase? A. Visit all the dealers. Don’t be afraid to tell them what you want and what your RV needs are to make sure they can best help you. Walk around – it takes about 2.5 hours to see everything. It’s great to compare prices. For instance, for the same price of a tent-trailer, you can get a regular trailer. You can haul a little car with some models. Take a look at everything you can have with your RV. You really fi nd so many different styles in every price range, from $5,000 to $300,000.

Q. What about gas mileage? A. If the average owner drives their RV 2,000 miles a year, at 15 miles a gallon, that will work out to be about 130 gallons of gas. At $2.30/gallon, a year’s vacation cost you about $299!… WOW! With your RV, you’ll have all the comforts and can go anywhere you want at your own pace. RVs can be considered an investment in your family.

Q. Can you rent an RV….kind of a try-before-you-buy?A. We have vendors and dealers at the Show that rent RVs. Once you try RVing, you will be hooked for life….and want to BUY one.

Q. Putting on an RV Show takes a lot of people. Who helps make it happen?A. The INW RV Show is truly a ‘Family and Friends’ affair. For many years, ticket sales were handled by my wife Debbie. Now, Jim’s daughter-in-law Lynn does tickets. Friends are our security and ticket sellers, while our sons, Chris Cody, Jimmy Cotter and Gary Cotter, help with move in and daily activities.

Q.Why does this show continue to do so well? A. The top reason is the great RV Show prices: dealers are really dealing. Plus we have so many places

you can take an RV in the Inland Northwest. Your RV

adventures can start 20 miles

down the road.

... Cody has maintained a long

waiting list for vendors and RV

dealers each year since 1996

year 6

dealinyo

........ Cod

Hundreds Of RVs & 13,000 Visitors!


For this year’s RV Show guide, we’ve scanned the globe in search of those unique and not-unique-but-mighty-useful accessories that will complete the ideal RV lifestyle.

Some will seem obvious, especially to road warriors, others not so much. Some are pricey, others less so. All have been culled by the best experts of all – the RVers, who are out there, year after year, living the dream.

A word of caution to dreamers: Pile together enough of these “extras” and you could tax the load limits of your RV. Better to be safe than sorry.

Nevertheless, dream on!

Global Positioning System (GPS)Banish those clumsy paper maps and step up to the modern way to travel, with an RV-specifi c GPS unit. The experts say it’s a mistake to rely on a system designed for cars and, worse, to use your cell phone. RV-specifi c systems are confi gured to take into account the length, height and weight of the RV before sending you into a neighborhood with low-branched trees and tight corners. Or, under overpasses shorter than your rig is tall.Features found on a purpose-built GPS unit usually include: • 5-inch display, or larger• Custom RV-profi le settings, including settings for weight, height and length• Points of Interest specifi c to RVers; may include RV parks, campgrounds, hazards, highway-exit amenities and trip planners• Custom routing based on type of vehicle RV-specifi c tools and checklists

12-volt slow cookerNothing makes the road feel like home better than a home-cooked meal. You could even

invite the neighbors for a festive, slow-cooked dinner, wherever you have 12-volt power.

Electric bike Electric bikes come with an on-board battery and electric motor. Using a throttle or pedal assist system the bicycle is propelled forward. Most electric bicycles do not go faster than 20 mph. They are considered to be as safe as a traditional bicycle. With throttle control, operators have complete “on demand” power. You simply engage the throttle when you need assistance from the motor. Sensors detect when you are pedaling which activates the motor to provide additional assistance. Some off-road models (Outlaw SS and Outlaw 1200) can reach speeds up to 28 mph.Downtube and rear mounted battery systems are available. Generally, rear mounted battery systems are found on on folding bike models and downtube battery systems on rigid bike models. Rear mounted battery systems come in both 36 and 48 volts with an option of battery sizes. The higher the amperage, the further you can travel on a single charge. It costs approximately $10 a year to power an e-bike

if you commute 200 days a year.

Rearview Trailer Level This is as real-time as it gets. Attach this level to the front of the trailer – in a spot where the driver can see it – to simplify the leveling process without the need for a spotter. Most units provide front-and-back and side-to-side readings.

Solar-powered device chargerExpect the miniature solar-power charger-and-battery market to explode in the next few years. They just keep getting better. Not every camper wants to stay connected 24/7, but those who require

connectivity – and, for safety’s sake, who doesn’t? – a solar-powered charger might be the ticket.

Portable solar panelsNo one knows the value of power better than those who live off the grid for weeks at a time. Today’s portable solar panels and

chargers are smaller, lighter, more effi cient and more affordable than they’ve been in the past. They can be easily stowed and set-up takes just minutes. Portables can be positioned to take best advantage of available sunlight.

Don Adair/Marketing Correspondent

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Weather radio with hand-crank chargerWeather radio is an essential for anyone who spends serious time on the road. Problem is, when real weather happens and external power sources go down (think windstorm), real-time information can be hard to come by. The best of these little lifesavers include a small solar panel to aid in the charging process, ports for charging devices and a fl ashlight.

Recovery StrapYou could spend the rest of your life never needing a good recovery strap. But when you do – boy, do you ever! The next time you’re stuck on a muddy road, waiting for a tow and a hefty bill, you’ll wish you had one of these babies.

GlovesNo RVer should ever be caught without a few good pairs of gloves. Disposable gloves work perfectly for those distasteful sewer-hose-related chores. Gardening gloves protect fi ngers when they’re working in tight spaces and around sharp objects. And a set of sturdy leather work gloves belongs in every tool box.

Portable Ice Cube MakerIf you’re holed up in a nice park with a general store, there’s no doubt ice in abundance. Good thing, too, because RV refrigeration isn’t cut out for the task of keeping your drinks chilled. A good portable ice maker can churn out 50 pounds of ice a day.

Folding Step StoolIf there’s a good study on how many RVers

are injured in falls, we don’t know about it. However, there are very few who haven’t taken a tumble or two. Make it easy on yourself and reach for those high places the smart way, with a lightweight, easily stowed foot stool.

Locking battery boxMake sure no one takes off with your expensive batteries with a locking battery box. The PowerArmor unit from Torklift includes a unique lockable slide top, an access hole for wiring and a 10-volt solar charger to keep battery topped off. It’s made in the U.S., and covered by a life-time warranty.

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With the recession behind us, RV sales have risen to pre-recession volumes, as new buyers enter the market, and 2016 sales are expected to surpass the industry’s previous record.

Every day, another 11,000 Baby Boomers turn 65, boding well for the industry. Even more encouragingly, the RV market is trending younger.

With new buyers come new expectations, and builders know that innovation, build-quality and customer service are the benchmarks they must satisfy. Their R&D departments work overtime to make RVing more comfortable, safe and effi cient.

We asked local dealers to identify the year’s major trends and the products that exemplify them.

FREEDOM RVOwner Barry Danzig and general manager Joe

Lane recently shared their perspectives. “We’re the largest dealer of Class A diesel-

pushers in the area, so we’re known as the ‘heavy-metal’ dealer in Eastern Washington,” said Danzig. “We carry the most trusted brands, including Newmar, Tiffi n and the Berkshire from Forest River.”

Lane added, “Tiffi n and Newmar are No. 1 and No. 2 in diesel sales. By volume, they are the most trusted brands in the industry. We’re unique in that we carry them both.”

Newmar’s new Comfort Drive System is one of the industry’s most advanced products, Danzig said.

Comfort Drive removes friction from the steering system, requiring less driver effort and

enabling a lighter grip on the steering wheel, more like a car. Lane-change sensors help keep the motorhome in its lane – even at high speeds – and the self-straightening

wheel returns automatically to center. This feature is

especially helpful on roads that might tend

to pull the rig to the edge.

The system also includes rear-wheel-steering, which really cuts the rig’s turning circle. The added steering

input provided

by the rear wheels gives a

Newmar diesel-pusher the agility

and handling of a much smaller rig. RVers

who have ever eased a big rig into or out of a tight parking space

will recognize the advantage.Rear-wheel-steering also reduces effort needed to

back a rig with a towable attached.The Comfort Drive System is driver-controllable via

dash-mounted controls.

Freedom RV is the region’s Winnebago towables dealer. Among its current lineup are a set of trailerable RVs with double slides, which create enough interior space to produce a plumbed kitchen island.

PARKWAY RVParkway RV promotes small, high-quality travel

trailers.“We are seeing a defi nite move toward smaller, more

upper-end trailers,” said RV manager Thure Ahlquist. “Manufacturers are building more quality into smaller trailers and, with slides, they can be quite roomy.”

With their all-aluminum frames, advanced, moisture-resistant composites and LED lighting, the new, lightweight, precision-built coaches have broadened the appeal of small towables that range from 15-22 feet long.

“Many older RVers have decided to trade in the large motorhome,” Ahlquist said. “They don’t want to be full-timers anymore; they just want to be in a smaller trailer and go out for a week or two.”

Small trailers can be parked in spaces a motorhome can’t, and requires a less powerful, less expensive tow rig than a larger unit.

“They are a lot easier to deal with,” said Ahlquist. “In winter, owners just winterize them and put them away. There’s no motor to deal with, or other mechanicals of a motorized coach.”

Parkway carries Lance travel trailers, which use advanced composite that all but eliminates rot, mold and mildew, while boosting the trailer’s “R” value and soundproofi ng.

At the RV show, Parkway will feature the Lance1685, a 16-foot trailer with a large dinette slide and optional Four-Seasons package, which includes Thermopane windows, double-Azdale walls and heated and enclosed tanks.

What’s new in the world of RVs



The 1685 features a complete dry bath, generous kitchen-counter space and a forward queen-sized bed. Raised-panel glazed cabinet doors, wood paneling and laminated counter and table surfaces lend an elegant feel.

R’nR RVSResponding to a shift in the market

toward smaller RVs, R’nR RVs has added the full lineup of RoadTrek Class B motorhomes.

“We plan to meet the new demand with a full range of B Class vans, from economical gas models to Mercedes-Benz diesel fl oor plans,” said sales manager Wayde Foster. “With a Class B motorhome, buyers have the option of all-wheel-drive.”

Class B owners don’t require a tow vehicle and they’re small enough to be driven into town and parked in the same spot as a car. Because they utilize conventional van platforms and running gear, they can be serviced by mechanics across the country, and in out-of-the-way locations.

Roadtrek has been North America’s best-selling B Class builder since 1990. The company offers a full line of Class B and B+ coaches built on M-B, Chevrolet and Ram ProMaster chassis. They range in size from 19-22 feet, and sizes range from and sturdy utilitarian to full-bore luxury. Depending on size and fl oor plan, they can sleep up to four and seat as many as seven.

This year, Roadtrek introduces its new EcoTrek power module, which enables owners to use 90 percent of available power before voltage-loss occurs. The system also is optimized for a wide range of weather and electrical-demand conditions.

The system can be charged via a range of sources, as Roadtrek’s E-Trek charge control harmonizes the vehicle alternator, its Onan generator, engine generator, solar and shore power.

“We invite all show attendees to stop by our Roadtrek display at the show,” said Foster. “We’re certain many new and veteran RVers will fi nd a lot to like about driving a quality Class B motorhome from Roadtrek and R’nR.”

AIRSTREAM OF SPOKANETo satisfy demand, aluminum-shelled travel trailers

and Class B motorhomes Airstream expanded its plant by more than 50 percent this year.

Nick Dietz, co-owner with his wife Karyn of Airstream of Spokane, says Airstream’s 2016 lineup refl ects a trend

toward equipping every coach with technology formerly reserved for upper-end products.

“All new Airstream trailers will now be pre-wired for back-up cameras,” Dietz said. “All of our coaches also use LED lighting inside and out, and

our more deluxe models offer dimmer switches on interior lighting and LED lighting for outdoor awnings. Plus our new Quiet Stream ducted air is now equipped with directional and closing ceiling vents.”

Also new this year is Pendleton Limited Edition Airstream, the result of a design collaboration with Pendleton Woolen Mills to honor the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary. Only 100 copies will be built,

with deliveries starting in spring 2016.“The Pendleton is based on our popular 27-foot Classic

front-bedroom model, with the addition of a rear opening screened hatch to bring the outdoors in,” Dietz said.

Each trailer includes a Pendleton blanket, buffalo pillow, towels, enameled dinner set, throw, a National Park stuffed bear and other related items.

Each unit carries numbered special-edition badging. Features include:

Rustic hickory laminateEmbossed, Ultra leather seatingAluminum bottlesLighted door handle16-inch Classic tiresRear opening hatchFront-window graphic

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Winterizing your RV

The need for everyday tasks is obvious. You brush your teeth. You clean out the lint fi lter in your clothes dryer. You feed your pets.

RV owners face the same kind of obvious tasks, if not day to day then certainly season to season.

Before you hit the road, you make sure your vehicle is properly lubricated. You check your tires for tread wear and for proper infl ation. You ensure that all your vehicle’s fl uid levels – from engine oil to transmission fl uid – are where they should be.

But what about when the RV season is over? What do you do when you live in snow country, don’t want to drive for a few months and decide that it’s time to put the vehicle away for the winter?

“Parking your RV for the winter requires some preventive measures so it will be ready to use next spring,” says Mark J. Polk, writing for KOA.com. “You’ll also be glad you did it when you don’t have to pay costly repair bills due to the damaging results of winter.”

Polk should know. He’s the producer of “RV 101: Learning RVs the Easy Way,” an Internet video/E-book series that addresses a range of RV-themed topics. Some examples that are available on DVD: “Tow Your 5th Wheel Like a Pro,” “RV Campground Basics,” and “RV Winterizing and Storing 101 (for order information, go to http://rveducation101.com).

Of course, for those who have no interest in do-it-yourself projects, a number of Inland Northwest businesses offer professional winterizing services for competitive prices. Among them: Courtesy RV Service www.courtesyrvservice.com, Ray’s Truck Service & RV www.raystruckservice.com) and Pro RV Repair www.prorvrepair.com.

For those DIY proponents among us, winterizing your RV is totally do-able. It’s important to remember that all RVs are different, and that each boasts distinct requirements. Most everything you’ll need can be found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual, which you should be familiar with.

As a general guideline, though, you need to follow two basic steps:Drain all water. Simple science here: when temperatures drop below zero, water freezes. And when it freezes, water expands. Any homeowners who have had homes fl ooded by burst pipes know just what kinds of headaches can result.

Water repositories in your RV include both fresh-water and waste-water tanks, plus the water heater (though before draining it you should wait until

the water cools and the heater is no longer under pressure). Also, remove all inline water fi lters.Install antifreeze. Make sure to use a non-toxic antifreeze (Prestone sells a popular line of RV Waterline antifreeze), and don’t forget to bypass the water heater so that you don’t use more antifreeze than necessary. Pressurize the system, opening hot and cold water valves to check when antifreeze overfl ows. Pour extra antifreeze down each drain and in the toilet bowl, and close all faucets.

Again, you can fi nd any number of online resources, including videos youtube/rgWbmFRvwlk, that offer step-by-step instructions. Or check with any of the local professionals. And, again, be sure to check your owner’s manual to see the specifi c needs of your particular RV model. Winter weather, you know, can be unforgiving. And the subsequent repairs, as Polk emphasizes, can be expensive.

Dan Webster/Marketing Correspondent

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Today’s modern RV owners may still like to get out of town and get closer to nature for a weekend or an extended road trip, but the available features in today’s vehicles make it easier to not have to “rough it.” Here’s a look at several owners:Kelli and Don Jay

Twenty or so years ago, Kelli and Don Jay spent their fi rst outdoor excursions in a tent. It wasn’t long before they upgraded to a motorhome with better accommodations.

Soon they were pulling a 19-foot trailer around the Inland Northwest, spending spring and summer weekends at campgrounds, or going to car shows and drag races.

“It’s nice to be able to park and enjoy ourselves,” says Kelli. “We can use our own linens, take showers and make all of our own meals, and we don’t have to haul anything back and forth like when you stay in a hotel.”

When the Jays became empty nesters, they eventually changed RVs again.

“We got an even bigger one to accommodate our daughter-in-law and grandkids!” Kelli laughs.

Their 25-foot Sunset sleeps six. It has plenty of storage, a fi replace, a TV that spins around, and even a second kitchen outside with its own fridge, sink, storage and TV.

“Travel trailers have come a long way from what they used to be,” she said.Robert Falvey

Robert Falvey bought his fi rst RV when he was stationed with the Army in Alaska. He, his wife, four kids and even the dogs climbed aboard and traveled all over the state.

“We went everywhere and saw everything,” he says. “We love outdoor-type adventures. We hit every single place we wanted to in Alaska, without paying for lodging.”

Robert says he’d like to travel the whole U.S. in an RV. “There’s something about the freedom. In an RV you

can come and go, tailgate, take a vacation or stay for

a night or a weekend and you don’t have to pack up anything or load and unload. You just pull up and park.”

With less than a year until retirement, Robert was reassigned to Clarksville, Tenn. He sold the RV, and his wife and kids went home to South Carolina. As Robert made the drive south, he stopped in Ohio to buy a new RV. Today he lives in his Forest River Vengeance 43-foot toy hauler full time.

“It has a bath and half, a king-sized bed in the master, fi ve recliners, two queen-sized electric bunkbeds, marble countertops and lots of storage. It’s a pretty good set-up,” he said.

Robert estimates in the campground where he stays that 90 percent of the families are active-duty military. There’s also plenty of RV parking at many of the bases he’s visited around the country.

“RVing is convenient

for military families. You don’t have to turn around and sell a house when you’re reassigned. And if you get orders overseas, you can just put the RV in storage,” he said. “I don’t know why more people don’t full-time RV. It’s a better deal than an apartment and the only downside I’ve found is having to get coins for the Laundromats.”

Jim and Jerri FalveyLast summer Jim Falvey – Robert’s dad – retired. Within months he and his wife Jerri were bitten by

the RV bug. Jim says getting a camper had always been in

the backs of their minds, but in late summer they started researching.

In November Jim and Jerri set out on their maiden voyage in a new Rockwood Mini Lite. It has

all the comforts of home – including a queen-sized bed for their Labrador to have her own place to sleep. Jim was delighted the fi rst trip went smoothly and says each adventure since has been a learning experience.

“Everyone at the campground is kind of in the same boat,” he says. “While we were setting up, neighbors would come by and they’d give advice or tips and explain things. Every time we’ve stopped we’ve learned something new or picked up a neat little idea.”

Late last fall, Jim and Jerri spent several weeks on the road. He says every time they stayed somewhere new setup was easier, faster and more organized.

“It takes commitment to get a site setup that’s livable, enjoyable and comfortable. But when we had the campfi re going, watching ESPN on the outside-mounted TV while grilling burgers, we fi nally realized what retirement should be like!”

While their stories are as different as their RVs, Kelli, Robert and Jim have all had similar experiences with the fellow RVers they’ve run across in their travels.

“The majority of the folks you meet have the same interests,” according to Robert. “Most people are really low-key, and they’re all there with the same goal – to relax and be free to do what they want.”

“Those who are more experienced remember what it was like when they fi rst started out and they pass on tips

they’ve picked up from others,” Jim explains. “Everyone is so friendly. This is a kind of community we’d never get in a hotel.”

Mariesa Stokes, Marketing Correspondent

Camping, traveling, you name it: local RVers do it all


Jay and Jeanie Froelich bought their 20-foot Lance travel trailer intending to chuck the daily routine and hit the road.

They weren’t retiring, said the North Idaho residents; they were leaving it all behind: “We’re walking away from our house and all of our worldly possessions,” Jeanie said.

Over the next few months, the Froelichs traveled 16,000 miles. They experienced grand adventures and found their share of adversity.

Then, Jay hurt his back and the money ran out. The couple returned to the Northwest to recoup and plot their next escape.

Now, they’re living in Portland with friends. Jay has returned to work and Jeanie is researching opportunities for middle-aged, middle-class couples who want to live on the road without a personal fortune backing them up.

“Yeah, we’re homeless and we feel pretty good about it,” said Jeanie, with a laugh. “We both have it in our minds that this is a temporary situation – we do love the lifestyle and want to get back out there.”

So, with the trailer shrink-wrapped and stored in Idaho, the Froehlichs are left with memories of their six-month, 16,000-mile adventure.

Like in Florida, where they rode their bikes in the Everglades, surrounded by alligators. “We had whole park to ourselves,” Jeanie says; “it was just Jay, me, and the alligators. We counted 75 alligators. I took over 1,000 pictures that day of the birds and the alligators and the scenery.”

In Texas, they camped on Mustang Island, one of the longest barrier islands on the coastline. “We opened the door and had fi ve or six steps to the ocean,” Jeanie said. “We liked it so much we almost stayed.”

If they had remained on Mustang Island, perhaps Jay wouldn’t have hurt his back during a stay in Savannah, Georgia. He spent two months in a walker, a challenge in the best of times and a near-crisis while living in a 20-foot trailer.

Fortunately, before leaving home, Jeanie had taken time to learn Jay’s chores along with her own. “I learned how to do everything,” she says. “It used to take us about half an hour to get on the road; now it took an hour-and-a-half. It’s not nearly as much fun

when you have to do everything by yourself; it was a bummer.”

Learning to take the good with the bad “is part of life on the road,” says Jeanie. “You have to be prepared to roll with the punches and it’s not always

pretty. You don’t just go out there and hook up the trailer and drive; there’s so much more involved.”

Before leaving home, the Froehlichs had spent only an evening or two in their Lance. Would six months – or a lifetime – sour their appreciation for what is a relatively small coach? In fact, they grew to appreciate it even more deeply.

Slides open up the Lance’s fl oor plan, giving them extra elbow room when parked, and the Lance proved

to be just the right size in other respects, as well.It is light enough to be towed behind the couple’s

GMC pickup and small enough to drive comfortably into a gas station.

“When you’re driving an RV, you have to consider every move you make,” noted Jeanie. “Can I get into here? And I get out of here?”

In busy RV parks, where the large parking spots have been claimed by Class A rigs, spots for there smaller rigs may be available.

“Lots of times you can fi nd spots for the smaller ones,” Jeanie said.

The GMC/Lance combo also earns points for fuel effi ciency, she said, a critical

issue for budget-minded travelers.Jeanie’s research has turned up several

opportunities for travelers who need to earn money to keep themselves out on the road.

“Amazon has warehouses, where you can go and work six months and live in your trailer,” she said. “They have it kind of set up for snowbirds; the camp is close enough to the warehouse that you can walk. There are laundry and shower facilities on site.”

North Idaho couple continues RV adventures Don Adair, Marketing Correspondent

cont. on pg. 34

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Snowballs. Millions of them. And in southwest Montana, RVers have lots of opportunity to throw snowballs well into spring – and fi nd many other adventures too.

Winter and spring in Yellowstone Country – one of Montana’s six tourism regions – delight visitors with 928,000 acres of wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, state parks and nature centers; three alpine ski resorts; 250 kilometers of groomed xc-ski trails and 1,000 miles of maintained snowmobile trails.

There’s dog sledding, sleigh ride dinners, wildlife watching, fl y fi shing and hot springs soaking as well as kid-friendly museums, adult-friendly saloons and fantastic eateries serving local, ranch-raised fare among 130,000 friendly people who populate Yellowstone Country’s 11,000 square miles of Montana.

In winter and spring, Yellowstone remains quiet compared to summer, when most of the 4 million visitors spy the geysers. Only about 132,000 visits occurred between January and April 2015.

This time of year in the park, RV camping is available only in Mammoth Hot Springs Campground’s 85 sites until snow melts from the majority of the park’s roads, when more than 2,150 campsites become available. Meet Mammoth

At fi ve miles south of the Gardiner entrance station, the only year-round entrance, the campground has spectacular views into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, and attracts record-size elk.

Remarkably, just a few miles south or east, snow depths reach fi ve or more feet, creating excellent cross-country skiing and snowmobiling.

The closest xc skiing is through the Mammoth Terraces which gurgle and bubble even when outside temperatures are well below freezing. Ski rentals are available at the Bear Den in Mammoth. Skier shuttles depart from the Bear Den on day trips inside the park to and from the Tower Junction trails or the Indian Creek Cross Country Ski Trail or even further, to Old Faithful Lodge, which is open for winter lodging. Old Faithful is only accessible via over-the-snow vehicles or snowmobiles. Snowmobile

rentals are available in Mammoth as well as West Yellowstone.

Hot springs soaking between Mammoth and Gardiner at the Boiling River opens during daylight hours only and requires a brief half-mile walk to the confl uence of the Boiling River and the Gardner River, where runoff from hydrothermal features meets the snow-chilled Gardner River

Other area public soaking includes Chico Hot Springs, 40 miles north of Mammoth. Besides two outdoor pools, excellent dining and historic lodging, Chico offers Dog Sled Treks to the delight of guests and the dashing dogs. Gardiner’s Yellowstone RV Park opens April 1, while other nearby RV campgrounds open in May.

There’s also Bozeman Hot Springs and KOA RV camping west of Bozeman along U.S. 191, which remains open for RVs and hot springs soakers all year long.

West Yellowstone is 180 highway miles in winter from Mammoth – but only 53 by snowmobile in winter or park roads in summer. RVers will fi nd one RV campground open in winter in spring, the Pony Express RV’s 16 RV spots with only electricity in winter. Next door is the Branding Iron Inn, The

Slippery Otter restaurant/brew pub, and across the street is Yellowstone Park’s boundary and the River Trail for xc skiing.

One of the most interesting West Yellowstone attractions is the Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center where visitors are fenced out of grizzly bear play areas on one side of stadium stands and fenced out of the wolf area on the other side. Montana’s fi rst IMAX Theater is next door.

The rest of Yellowstone Country has many offerings from wildlife viewing to winter fl yfi shing. The Orvis-endorsed fl y shop and guide program at Lone Mountain Ranch takes customers to the Gallatin River.

Mule deer spook from their day beds and dash across a meadow. Moose own the trails. Wolves

skulk among famous packs both inside and outside Yellowstone National Park.

Outfi tters offer wildlife tours such as Safari Yellowstone, where tour guides take guests in comfortable over-the-snow vehicles to

the park’s interior. “We all were thrilled to see a moose on the

trail – a cow moose and calf,” said Southern Californian Nancy Dimsan.

Dimsan and her family spent a week of recreating in Yellowstone Country. Their fi nal experience was a sleigh-ride dinner at Lone Mountain Ranch in Big Sky, about 45 miles south of Bozeman. BEFORE YOU GO

Bozeman is 400 miles east of Spokane via I-90. visityellowstonecountry.com or (800) 736-5276. Statewide tourism information is available at www.visitmt.com Yellowstone National Park entrance fee is $30 per vehicle for 7 days. www.nps.gov/yellMammoth Hot Springs Campground This year-round campsite in Yellowstone National Park costs $20 per night. The RV Pull-through sites accommodate up to 75 total feet length. Amenities include drinking water, fl ush toilets, picnic tables and fi re pits with grates, but no RV hookups or dump station.

Yellowstone RV Park in Gardiner, Montana, opens April 1 through late fall. www.ventureswestinc.com/YellowstoneRVPark.htm or (406) 848-7496

Chico Hot Springs www.chicohotsprings.com/ (406) 333-4933. Absaroka Dogsled Treks reservations (406) 223-6440.

Bozeman Hot Springs and KOA koa.com/campgrounds/bozeman/site-type/rv-camping-sites

RV Montana Winter/Spring in Yellowstone Country

http://www.visitmt.com

http://www.nps.gov/yell

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(406) 587-3030 or (800) 562-3036Safari Yellowstone

www.safariyellowstone.com/snowcoach.php (800) SAFARIS.

West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce www.destinationyellowstone.com/ (406) 646-7701

Lone Mountain Ranch Sleigh Ride Dinner and Orvis fl y fi shing guides www.lonemountainranch.com (800) 514-4644 or (406) 995-4644

Big Sky Resort www.bigskyresort.com (800) 548-4486 RV vs. non-RV

An RV can travel 400 miles from Spokane to Bozeman, Mont., in about 6 hours, and pay about $60-$70 in fuel, averaging around 15 mph. To Gardiner, it’s 476 miles and about $80-$90 in fuel. To West Yellowstone, it’s 461 miles and $75-$85 in fuel. More fuel may be used driving around Yellowstone National Park, depending on route.

Driving a more fuel-effi cient vehicle could be more affordable, but would require lodging and food.

Motels in Gardiner and West Yellowstone range in price from $100-$150/night depending on

season. Air travel is not very direct to the northern or western entrances to

Yellowstone – options include Billings, 120 miles to the northeast; Bozeman,

78 miles to the northwest; Idaho Falls, 108 miles to the south-west. During spring and summer, visitors can also fl y in via Cody, Wyo., to the east, or Jackson Hole, to the south,

however these entrances are restricted in winter.

This time of year in the park, RV camping is

available only in Mammoth Hot Springs Campground’s 85 sites until snow melts from the majority of the park’s roads, when more

than 2,150 campsites become available.

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The best part is the chance to enter to win drawings every two hours during the show for a $100 gas card, courtesy of The Spokesman-Review.

To enter, stop by the newspaper’s booth near the show entrance to pick up or drop off an entry form for the Great Gas Giveaway. You don’t have to buy anything to enter, or be present to win.

You must be at least age 18 to enter and not be affi liated with any of the sponsoring organizations. Odds vary depending on number of tickets submitted each round.

For complete rules, visit the Info Booth at the show entrance The Spokesman-Review table or www.spokesman.com/rvgiveaway.

Visit The Spokesman-Review booth to fi ll out an entry form.

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Big Country Smoke House 24

Brumback Rentals 30

Chuck’s RV 17

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Glacier Park KOA 25

Gottcha Covered 207

Go Wireless 208

Kitchen Craft 4

Klinks Resort 12

KM Resorts 9

Little Diamond Resort 203

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No. Spokane RV Campground 15

Port-A-Cover 13

Ray’s Truck Service 28

Renewal by Anderson 19

Rise n’ Thrive 7

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Scott Chiropractic 32

Spokane Power Tool 18

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The Legacy Resort 3

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Valley Synthetic 16

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Everyone who purchases an RV at the Inland Northwest RV Show and Sale is pretty much guaranteed to have plenty of good times with their family.

But in terms of instant gratifi cation, they can get that too from the RV Show Cash Machine.

Anyone who buys an RV of any size at the show will receive 30 seconds in the booth, where various denominations of bills will spin and swirl around them. The goal is to grab as much cash as you can and put it through a slot, which you can take home with you.

Show owner Steve Cody said the Cash Machine has become one of the favorite features of the show for anyone who attends.

He said some people, who just paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for a big rig, make sure they have the Cash Machine experience, even though the actual payoff is smaller.

Even if you aren’t able to make a purchase and spend time in the booth yourself, it’s still fun to cheer on other people taking their turn.

Since so many RVs are sold during the RV Show, there will likely be many opportunities for visitors to watch the fun and see how much cash people can emerge with. Cody will also make announcements inviting people to that area before this happens.

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Cory and Paige Quan are a young 20-something couple, working diligently to make their way in the world.

In the kitchen, their 4-year-old son Finn, his Lego collection proliferating the table, calls out “Choo choo!” every few minutes. There is a distinctive coziness to this home, which also just happens to be a 1992 Fleetwood Bounder RV.

Cory and Paige both grew up in North Idaho, where they met and started dating almost a decade ago. At the time, Paige was a local DJ, and Cory was completing his engineering degree in Cheney. Their romance abounded with partying, break-ups, friendship and make-ups. Then over spring break 2011, Finnigan happened.

“We fi gured out pretty quickly that our lives were going to change, so we made a goal to be a family,” recalled Paige.

“And,” added Cory, “being stubborn kids, we decided to do it in Southern California!”

After struggling to make ends meet and even living for a time in Paige’s Volkswagen camper van, they moved back to Coeur d’Alene in 2012.

“I came back with Finn a month early,” said Paige. “Apparently, [Cory and I] were broken up, but I didn’t really get the message.”

Over the next year, Paige endeavored to stabilize her life and take care of their son. Cory began spending more time with Finn as well. A little over a year ago, they formally committed their lives to each other.

Marriage gave the Quans a little taste of “normal” life as they moved into a house in town.

But in summer 2014, Paige and Cory realized that they were both in unfulfi lling jobs and their fi nances were still lacking. “It is a constant rat race,” says Paige. “We were either one step behind or barely scraping by. We were tired of it.”

They mutually decided to get out of their lease and purchase an RV and agreed on the model – a Fleetwood Bounder – which they considered a good sign, because they rarely agree on anything.

Then, they sold almost everything. In one week, they made over $1,000 with a daily yard sale, including Cory’s truck and Paige’s DJ equipment.

Finally, in September 2015, they drove to Port Angeles, Wash., and brought home their very own Bounder – fully paid for.

The next question was, where do they park – the initial solution was a friend’s empty lot in mid-town Coeur d’Alene. It had no electricity,

water or sewage, so it was pretty much like camping. Then other friends suggested that they spend a

week at a time in front of various friends’ homes, where they could plug into their outdoor outlets. So they did, starting with the couple who had suggested it.

“We spent a week in Spokane, which was kind of fun, and then a week in Post Falls,” said Paige.

“It was awesome to experience community living,” says Cory, “but our friends just kept telling us to come back. They are really awesome to let us do this, and we try to help out with what we can.”

The Quans are currently parked near downtown Coeur d’Alene.

Although they initially had a few issues with heating, it hasn’t been too diffi cult to adjust to RV living.

The vehicle came with stock interior and exterior, but they pulled the microwave to make more room for utensils and small appliances, such as Paige’s juicer and Vita Mix blender. They also switched to paper plates and bowls because of challenges with gray water tank capacity.

I actually dump a lot of our dishwater down the toilet,” said Paige. “The toilet seems to have more capacity than it should and the gray water has less than it should.” They hope to eventually install a

composting toilet and combine the tanks. One thing, though, is a serious problem. “I hate the blinds,” said Paige, pointing

to the faded dusty-pink pull-up shades. “I hate them so much.”

While the mobile, simplifi ed life of RV living is perfect for the Quans as they reevaluate their careers, live within their means and focus on

their family, the transition has given them renewed inspiration for the

future. They dream of buying some land, parking

the RV, building a tiny house and adding a few outlying buildings, like a kitchen for entertaining, a clubhouse for music and hosting, and a studio where Paige can build hula hoops and practice her hooping.

Cory has discovered a passion for outdoor pursuits that he hopes to translate into full-time work with a quality outdoor company.

“We could leave at a moment’s notice, which is nice, but we are very much about developing friendships and relationships here,” Paige said.

S. Michal Bennett/Marketing Correspondent

“We could leave at a moment’s notice, which is nice, but we are very much about developing friendships and

relationships here,” Paige said.

“Waaaaa ww

A mobile community: Cory & Paige Quan enjoy RV life



Retired Marine Corps pilot Bill Nichols doesn’t like to shovel snow – “I don’t think there’s a snow shovel made for my hands,” he joked.

So, as soon as the holidays are over, Bill, his wife Judy and their cat, Callie, load up their 28-foot Airstream and head to warmer places for three months.

Bill didn’t even like cats before adopting Callie. He’d brought her home as a gift for a friend – but Judy fell in love with her instantly and he knew what that meant. So, the next day, he returned to the shelter and pick out another cat for his friend.

Callie became part of the Nichols family, a family that’s vacationed in an RV for 30 years. She adapted quite well to the RV life; Bill speculates she’s a more pleasant road trip companion than most humans would be.

“We have her in the truck with us, in her cage.

She loves it,” he said. For the most part, she enjoys the ride without so much as a peep, only speaking up when she needs to be let into the Airstream for a litter box break. She hops out of the Airstream to explore her surroundings at campsites that permit pets to roam.

Since Judy and Bill’s retirement, the three adventurers have been all over the States. The couple gathered beautiful agates at Oregon’s Agate Beach during last year’s stint. After exploring California’s Redwood Forest and Mount Shasta, they made their way to Camp Pendleton near San Diego, the base where Bill was stationed for years.

“We got to bring back some fond memories,” he said. “A couple of our kids were raised down there.”

Then, they drove inland to Palm Desert. On the days they’re camping, they mountain bike, golf, hike and observe the wildlife, or walk on the beach, gathering sea glass or agate.

They’ll drive as few as 150 miles, or as many as 600 in a day.

“It just depends on what you’re feeling and where you have to go to,” he says. “That’s the nice thing about this RV thing: You don’t have to rush.”

This year, they plan to seize the temperate winter and go fl y fi shing in Montana. They generally have a few fi rm reservations and otherwise call to snag a spot a few days to a week in advance. That way, their day-to-day schedule can be spontaneous.

Retirees – and their cat – take their RV wherever they wantErika Prins/Marketing Correspondent

cont.on pg. 35

They’ll drive as few as 150 miles, or as

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Embark on a remote winter getaway just a few hours’ drive away in British Columbia’s Kootenay Rockies. If you happen to be behind the wheel of an RV, even better.

Outdoor adventurers will fi nd world-class skiing quite a bit closer to home than the Swiss Alps. The Kootenay Rockies are the birthplace of cat-skiing and a worldwide destination for heli-skiing, both offering unparalleled access to backcountry slopes.

Home to four of B.C.’s national parks and natural mineral hot springs, even non-skiers can easily fi ll the days outdoors snowshoeing, dog-sledding and snowmobiling. Or, just grab a sled and head off in search of the perfect hill, using your RV as a base camp.

Known as the Powder Highway, this area has the highest concentration of ski resorts and ski communities in the world, with 71 stops along the route.

Sink into the soothing hot springs after a day on the slopes to soothe your muscles and your soul. Even if your lodging is self-contained, Ainsworth, Halcyon and Fairmont Hot Springs Resorts offer dining and recreational facilities to soothe your muscles.

Cultural traditions unique to the region make a visit to the area much more than a ski trip. Visit local towns and cities for distinct fl avors of B.C. life – eclectic boutiques, art galleries, fi lm, wineries, dining and historical tours. No matter when you go, you’re bound to fi nd a wealth of culture and activity in the region.

Traverse the Kootenay Rockies via Highway 3 to visit Nelson, Castlegar, Creston and Cranbrook, allof which offer RV accommodations. Head north from Cranbrook on Highway 93/95 to visit Fairmont and Radium Hot Springs.

First Stop: NelsonBefore venturing out to explore small towns

and backcountry, spend a night in Nelson and the morning poking around book stores, trendy shops and other unexpected gems. You may fi nd a rare fossil for sale at a curio shop or a spice you’ve been in search of for years.

RV campsites: Nelson City Campground, Kokanee Creek Provincial Park, Klines RV Park and Cool Waters RV Park.

Cast a LineKootenay Lake is internationally renowned for

its fi shing adventures during the winter months. Guided sport fi shing tours target Gerrard Rainbow Trout and Bull Trout. The Gerrard, the largest species of Rainbow Trout, can grow to over 30 pounds.

RV campsites: Woodbury Resort and Marina, Cedar Bay RV Park, Mirror Lake and Bayshore Resort.Get Toasty at Hot Springs

Ainsworth, Fairmont, Halcyon, Halfway, Lussier, and Radium hot springs are open year-round for your soaking pleasure. A dip in the mineral-rich natural springs may improve skin health, increase circulation, and provide relief for muscle and joint pain. Sublime relaxation guaranteed. RV Campsites: Ainsworth: Woodbury Resort and Marina.Fairmont: Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, and Spruce Grove RV Park and Campground.Nakusp (Halycon & Halfway): Halcyon Hot Springs Resort, McDonald Creek Provincial Park, Murphy’s Landing Creekside and

Lakefront Resort, Nakusp Hot Springs, Nakusp Municipal Campground, Summitt Lake Provincial Park and Three Island Resort.Radium: The Canyon RV Resort & Campground,

Radium Valley Vacation Resort, Redstreak Campground and Dry Gulch Provincial Park.

Lussier: Whiteswan Lake Provincial Park.

Get a Taste of BC in CrestonCreston, at the agricultural heart of the region, takes dining local to a whole new level

with its abundant ingredients grown with eyesight. Tour the Columbia Brewery, home of

Kokanee beer. RV campsites: Pair-A-Dice RV Park & Campground, Scottie’s RV Park & Campground, Kozy Tent & Trailer Park and Mountain Park Resort.Explore Historic Fernie

The largest community in the Elk Valley is also the oldest. Explore Fernie’s historic downtown for its treasure of 100-year old brick and stone architecture. Set in the heart of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, wilderness adventure begins right at the edge of town.

RV campsites: Snow Valley Motel & RV Park and Snowy Peaks RV.

Find more information on these and other Kootenay Rockies destinations at kootenayrockies.com. RV vs Non-RV Driving time to Castlegar: 3 hours each way; $90 in gas (based on 15 mpg and the Spokane average of $2.30 per gallon.) Flight from Spokane to Castlegar: 6+ hours each way; $600-700 per person, roundtrip.RV campsite rental: $175-$350/week 3+-star hotel rental: $500-$1,000/week

Create a Canadian RV adventure

Photos courtesy Kootenai Rockies Tourism


If motorcycles rev your engines as much as RVs – or more – then start getting excited now for the Inland Northwest Motorcycle Show and Sale.

The 13th annual event takes place March 11-13 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

As in past years, it’s designed for anyone who appreciates this special type of transportation, especially those ready to make a purchase.

The show will include representation from several area dealers offering great deals on the latest bikes. There will also be dozens of vendors offering all sorts of accessories, equipment and apparel designed to help you look cool and stay safe while on the road. Finally, some bike-friendly travel destinations throughout the region will also be available to give suggestions for future road trips.

There will also other fun elements, such as the Budweiser Biker Bar, a shoe/boot shine area, and the return of Toyota’s Great Gas

Giveaway, where gas cards are raffl ed off hourly. One new element is the Indoor Poker Run, where players

can win cash for the best or the worst hands. Bike owners can show their stuff by entering the KKZX

Bike-Off Competition, where trophies and prizes are awarded to the top motorcycles in each class. Show hours are 3-8 pm. March 11, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. March 12 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. March 13. Tickets are good for all weekend and are $10 for adults, $5

kids 6-12 and free for 5 and under. (Cash only.) For more info visit spokanemotorcycleshow.com.

Mark calendars for the Inland NW Motorcycle Show March 11-13

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Nicole Skinner /Marketing Correspondent

RVs may offer the ultimate way to travel in comfort and style these days, but vacationers and retired free spirits aren’t the only ones who love them.

Many musicians, actors and celebrities prefer to travel by RV too. Whether on tour, out for promotional appearances or living the RV lifestyle full-time, there’s never been a way to travel that offers the comforts of home.

Dolly Parton enjoys touring in her current tour bus named Gypsy Wagon. She loves it so much she’s offered virtual tours on numerous websites. It includes a custom closet for all her wigs, a makeup corner, a pink bedroom and extra bunk beds for family or staff traveling with her.

Parton’s love for the RV lifestyle goes all the way back to when buses were fi rst converted to RVs. Her original tour vehicle is on display at the Dollywood Museum in Tennessee.

Another famous RV lover for more than two decades is actor Jeff Daniels, who even starred in the movie “RV.” Daniels documents some of his RV travels on his own YouTube channel, and has been quoted as saying, “You can’t call yourself an American until you’ve been behind the wheel of an RV.”

In 2012, actor Vin Diesel showed that “The Fast and Furious” star also likes the luxurious with his own custom RV. Clocking in at over a million dollars, this 1,100 square-foot vehicle is the star’s home away from home when he is fi lming.

He allowed HGTV cameras in to his spacious trailer, which shows features like a pop-up top fl oor, granite countertops in the kitchen, a media lounge, private offi ce space and a special play area for his kids.

Some celebrities take to their RV out of necessity more than anything. In John Madden’s case, his wife holds a pilot’s license, but the football star is afraid of

More celebs who love their RVsMore celebs who love their RVs

Former NFL coach John Madden rides in his bus from the Baltimore Ravens football camp to the Washington Redskins camp. -AP Photo/Rob Carr

Dolly Parton enjoys her tour bus - Gypsy Wagon. She offers

virtual tours on many websites.

cont.on pg. 27

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Whether you’re on the road for a week or six months, having the right kitchen stuff could make all the difference in your RV experience. Simple NeedsThe fi rst question you should ask when stocking your RV kitchen is “What do I really need?” Each person’s answer will differ slightly, but will also eliminate some extra weight that could cut down on overall fuel economy while you are on the road. A month or so before you depart, pay attention to the pots, pans and utensils that you use regularly in your home kitchen. This will be a benefi cial guide to what items to bring on your trip. When you have your initial list, cut it down to one of each – perhaps one large knife, one small knife, one frying pan, one sauce pan, one strainer, etc.Green & LightweightWhen choosing strainers, opt for plastic over metal mesh. Cleaning plastic utensils and tools is signifi cantly less painful than scrubbing metal counterparts. Choose recycled plastic spatulas, bowls and other utensils that are better for you and the environment, from such companies as Preserve Plastic or Green Street. Compostable plates are also handy, since they are lightweight and disposable. Just stuff the plates, scraps still attached, into a countertop compost bin

and save them for your garden back home. Here are a couple compact kitchen composters: Full Circle’s Fresh Air Countertop Compost Collector and OXO’s Good Grips Compost Bin.Pots & PansPots and pans can be laborious to clean in a small RV sink. Cast iron may be a little heavier, but cooking cures the pan, adds iron to your diet and is versatile for stovetop, oven and campfi re use. Don’t have cast iron? Look for eco-friendly, non-stick pans to reduce toxin transfer. For additional fl exibility, invest in an electric skillet or grill.Maximized SpaceAnother feature to consider with limited space is stackability. Pans and food storage containers that fi t one inside the other will open up a great deal of space in your cabinets. Stocking bulk ingredients, like sugar, fl our and spices, into clear square containers that fi t neatly on the shelf, as well as attaching an herb rack to a kitchen panel, can maximize space while minimizing movement and the risk of spillage during travel.Canned foods neatly stacked are an excellent way to augment your cabinet space, and make meal-preparation and clean up more effi cient. Provide healthier fare for your family by shopping for cans with BPA-free linings, such as Eden Foods, Annie’s

Homegrown, Raincoast Trading and Imagine Foods.Simple WantsWhen you have amassed all the basic tools, foods and pans you just can’t live without, then you can ask, “What kitchen items do I use daily that just make my life a little better?” Personally, I have two: my Vita Mix blender and my Bonavita Coffee Maker. If I had to choose between the two, I would take the blender, then downsize my coffee equipment to a compact, lightweight, self-cleaning Aero Press with a hand grinder on the side. What is your must-have pleasure?Get OrganizedMake a checklist and check it twice. A good packing list will go through a few prunings before you fi nd just the right travel items for you and your family. Don’t throw the list away once you are on the road. As you journey, you will discover more gadgets and processes that do and don’t work. Adjusting your list this time around will save you loads of time and fewer headaches next trip. Happy driving and cooking!

Stocking your pantry


Creating a good RV kitchen starts with the basics

fl ying, so he purchased a custom RV he dubbed the “Madden Cruiser.”

His fi rst cruiser debuted in the early 1980s, and he went through a number of models as they wore out.

The rumor is that his fi rst RV experience was aboard Dolly Parton’s RV when he needed to get to a photo shoot in a hurry. This led him to get his own.

Back before he was a married man and father of three, Matthew McConaughey lived in his 2004 Airstream trailer home. When his fi rst son was born, his family decided to take up a more permanent residence that wasn’t on wheels. But he still enjoyed riding aboard “Canoe,” an affectionately named Airstream, with a barbeque on the

back, extra book racks for scripts and travel literature, and modifying the banquette and table for his taller frame. He used his RV for traveling, as an offi ce, a home and as place to hold meetings for his production company while he was on the road. Now Canoe is parked outside his Malibu home. In a previous interview, he said he’d like a whole fl eet, maybe an Airstream

hotel or Airstream compound. “I don’t know where it’ll be yet, but the thing about Airstreams is you feel a little bad for ’em if you got ’em parked too long and the axles aren’t spinning, you know, because they’re built for the road.”

cont.from pg. 26


RV Trips South: Warm up in Utah in Winter/Spring

Jean Arthur/Marketing Correspondent

Spring arrives early to southern Utah, and in years like this when El Niño soaks the deserts of the West, wildfl owers surprise even seasoned visitors like Bob and Susan Seibert, who have visited the desert each spring for 24 years in their RV.

“The big attraction is the national park circuit,” said Bob, a retired National Park Service ranger whose career took him to Alaska, Montana and Wyoming. “Our focus has always been Canyonlands, Arches, and Moab to hike and bike. In the spring, the cacti in bloom are phenomenal.”

The earliest bloomers aren’t cactus, but are brilliant: Canyonlands biscuitroot and Parry’s lomatium burst into yellow bloom in February, according to Arches National Park’s fl owers calendar, which lists 98 desert species that bloom between February and April.

A perfect seasonal home base for RVers is St. George, Utah, which offers mild winters and lovely spring temperatures, ripe for RV entertainment and adventures.

St. George, 300 miles south of Salt Lake City along I-15 (1,200 miles south of Spokane), is a great gateway for the Mojave Desert and legendary national parks, beginning with Zion, 50 miles east of St. George.

Zion’s hikes, natural pools and streams, and rock formations attract more than a million visitors annually.

Visitors enter Zion via the town of Springdale, an 1862 Mormon farming community, now gateway to a 229-square-mile park, and Watchman Campground, open year-round for RVs. Famous hikes like Angel’s Landing and the Narrows are popular.

Other adventures in the neighborhood include Grand Canyon National Park, Pipe Spring National Monument, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Capitol Reef, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Escalante (Grand Staircase), Lake Mead, Lake Powell and Snow Canyon State Park.Amenities

St. George actually includes four communities: St. George, Washington, Santa Clara and Bloomington, which together host a population of about 134,000, (150,000 in Washington County).

Southern Utah’s reputation for temperate desert winters, awe-inspiring state and national parks and sparse populations has attracted travelers for more than a century.

Few times of the year see actual “traffi c.” One time is during the annual Huntsman Senior Games. Each October since 1987, some 8,000 competitors – aged 55 and older – take part in 22 different events including swimming, cycling and race walking, tennis, horseshoes, cowboy shoot, and pickleball.

The court game, hosted by SunRiver, a St. George 55+ residential community, is played on a paved surface with a small racquet and a whiffl e-ball-type sphere. During the two weeks of games, some 2,000 volunteers assist at events.

RVers welcomeThe historic St. George RV Park and

Campground sees visitors from Canada, Washington and Idaho.

“We are about as far north as you can get and still be in the

Sun Belt,” said manager Gary Hewitt. The park is now for sale although several pull-through overnight spaces remain available. “Some campgrounds closed and sold because the land is so valuable in southern Utah with all the snowbirds

wanting to buy a lot or build.

“In the 1960s, the park started the growth

and interest in wintering in St. George. We’d get

farmers and railroad workers who’d spend all winter.”

Now, he says, most Baby Boomers just want somewhere to park their RVs.

Temple View RV Park is the area’s largest, says resident manager Ben Imley, and a popular place for RV rallies.

“A group of fi ve or more RVs book a Rally, and they often come for the 4-wheeling. They get a root beer fl oat party, discounts and escape from the super cold regions,” said Imley. “There are a few bike trails in St. George, mostly along the Virgin River, but a lot of people head over to Moab to bicycle – about 3 hours from here.”

Moab’s 100 scenic bike routes like the challenging 9.6-mile Slickrock Bike Trail, attract hikers and bicyclists to 15 commercial campgrounds, and numerous state and national park campsites. Many of these accommodate RVs although some lack hookup service. Additionally, numerous BLM campgrounds dominate the desert.

Lots of other activities are nearby: Las Vegas is 120 miles south, an easy 90-minute drive from St. George. Even closer is Mesquite, Nevada, 30 minutes south of St. George on Interstate 15, yet a full time zone west.

St. George is home to dinosaur tracks, Indian Petroglyphs at the Virgin River Anasazi site, and riverside routes along the Virgin River Walkway. Recreational options include Jeep tours, ATV and horse riding, historic sites such as Brigham Young’s

cont.on pg. 31



When is enough not truly enough?No, this is not a Zen koan, answerable only with suffi cient enlightenment, but a real-world problem: How much tire does an RV need?

Tires are the unsung heroes of the RV world. They are, after all, the place where the rubber meets the road. At any moment, a speeding RV makes contact with the pavement via four “contact patches” – the section of each tire at the bottom of its rotation in that instant.

Many thousands of pounds, supported only by perhaps two or three ever-changing square feet of rubber. At speed.

What could possibly go wrong?In truth, very little. If the rig is shod

with proper tires, and the owner has taken good care of them, a set of RV tires should offer many miles of trouble-free driving.

But buying and maintaining RV tires is more complicated than managing those on your personal vehicle. For starters, the weight of two RVs of the same make and model may vary signifi cantly.

Every roof-mounted air-conditioning unit, entertainment center and optional belly pan adds weight to a base model.

And then there’s the load the owner adds. The additional weight of food and water – and of the clothes, books, tools, toys and other miscellany – add up quickly and must be considered.

Like all consumers, RVers enjoy saving money when they can, and may tend to fudge their weight deliberations on the light side. This is one time when a high estimate may be in order, though.

Almost certainly, tires that are inadequate for the load they carry will wear out faster. Less likely, but far more consequential is the safety factor; a tire

that saves its owner a few bucks is very likely less safe than a heavier tire, and is more likely to experience a blow-out.

Best to go with the experts, who advise an abundance of caution.Generally, an

owner in search of information about tires, should start with the owners manual. Most manuals include detailed information about tire size, weight ratings, sidewall strength, load rating, and more.

Each of the major tire brands also has charts displaying its tires in all their sizes and variations. Charts provided by tire retailers and other third-party vendors, should be

double-checked against the tire maker’s recommendations.

TALKING TIRES: proper in ation key to good RV performance

Other factorsSidewall Strength The strength of a tire’s sidewall – also known as its Load Range – may also infl uence the buying decision. A stronger sidewall is better equipped to withstand the rigors of carrying heavy loads at high speeds and in uncertain conditions. Some owners prefer to give themselves and extra margin of safety by run light-truck tires on their RVs. Truck tire sidewall construction tends to be more rugged than an automobile’s.

Driving conditions The manufacturer can’t anticipate the type of driving each owner will encounter, yet conditions should be factored into the decision. Drivers who intend to extend the season may encounter weather conditions that require winter or all-season tires. RVers who venture off the beaten path will subject their tires to demanding conditions that may impact tire performance and longevity.

Distance. Even the number of miles during a day can infl uence the choice of tires. Some have superior heat-disseminating properties that allow them to run cooler for extended sessions.

As always, any one of the area’s authorized dealerships is qualifi ed to answer your tire-related questions, and may even offer an ideal solution for the RV owner’s needs.

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Nicole Skinner/Marketing Correspondent

Looking to escape the winter blues and eradicate cabin fever?

An RV vacation can be full of exciting, and affordable, adventures, so hop into your rig and head west. Instead of stopping near the Emerald City with every other tourist, consider going a little farther to discover the best of a waterfront city with small- town charm: Port Angeles, Washington.

Located on the Olympic Peninsula about 400 miles from Spokane, Port Angeles is often hailed as the ‘authentic Northwest.’ This city of more than 19,000 people can be great for a fun getaway. (It’s also worth noting it came in at No. 10 on livability.com’s 2015 list of the Top 100 Small Towns)

Some of us prefer visiting the coast only in the summer, but the milder climate and waterfront setting of Port Angeles can be perfect any time of the year. A late winter/early spring visit can also reward travelers with fewer crowds and potential savings with off-season rates.

While you’re there, it’s easy to visit the Olympic National Park, take the Coho Ferry for a day visit to

Victoria, B.C. Or explore downtown which features a year-round Saturday market plus many unique

shops and boutiques,

including Art on the Town, an outdoor art gallery.

Other popular things to do include a trip to the Feiro Marine Life Center, the Olympic Game Farm, whale watching, and heritage tours. Plus there’s an abundance of beaches, parks and trails offer endless outdoor experiences.

Find more information and a downloadable visitor’s guide at

portangeles.org. RV travelers can fi nd a

wide variety of RV parks in the Port Angeles area. At least two are open all year, so great for off-season excursions.

Crescent Beach & RV ParkEnjoy more than a half mile of

pristine sandy beach here. The park is a quiet stretch of beach that once supported a bustling logging

community. The park is just west of Port Angeles, and is located just minutes from the Olympic

National Park Visitor’s Center and gateway to Hurricane Ridge.

Guest will enjoy full hookup RV sites, private fi re pits, laundry facilities, and a private beach. Firewood is available on site. Weekly rates start at $276 for two people and $420 for families.

Find more information or book reservations at olypen.com/crescent.

Elwha Dam RV ParkThis family-oriented park is only 10 minutes from

Port Angeles and the Victoria, B.C. Ferry. It makes an excellent base camp for exploring the region. Visitors can receive full hookups, a meeting room, free Wi-Fi and laundry facilities. Firewood and ice are available on-site, plus pet sitting. It includes a barbeque pavilion, plus areas for horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, and badminton. Find more information or book reservations at

elwhadamrvpark.com.

How you can saveHow does an RV vacation to Port Angeles stack up

vs. fl ying and renting a car? Surprisingly, this will trip has a similar travel time

whether you drive or fl y, depending on your route and traffi c.

At fi rst glance, fl ying to Seattle and heading north, or to Vancouver, B.C., and heading south, may seem a little more appealing.

Though the fl ight itself may only take an hour, you need to factor in getting to the

airport, checking in, going through security, any car rental check-ins

and then drive time to your destination. The time adds up.

Getting there through Seattle or Victoria also requires a ferry.

An RV does get considerably fewer miles

per gallon than most cars or even trucks, but does have some

advantages. Instead of fi nding a hotel or B&B, you’ll need

to fi nd an RV park, hopefully with a hook-up, something that generally costs much less.

The food factor is important – car travelers either have to hit restaurants or rely on whatever is available at their hotel/B&B.

With an RV, you can eat out or make meals in your RV, tailoring your plans to your budget.

Head west for an RV trip to remember Port Angeles can be an easy Coastal destination

A week trip for two via RV

can save you up to $844 versus fl ying

or up to $223 when traveling

by car.


1873 winter home and shopping at factory stores.One favorite is the outdoor theater Tuacahn

Center for the Arts, which draws 60,000 visitors to events such as this spring’s “Disney’s Tarzan”.

BEFORE YOU GOBecause temperatures can vary from below freezing

to 90 degrees in spring, pet owners should consider challenges, especially since pets cannot travel into the backcountry trails of national parks.

Cheatgrass can pose a danger to pets because its dry seed pods have one-way microscopic barbs that allow the seed to work its way into fur, skin and mucous membranes of dogs. Keep dogs leashed, and check fur for cheatgrass seeds, especially between toes, and near eyes, ears, and mouth.

Humans should pack layers of clothing for all desert activities to accommodate the varied temperatures and potential spring snow, rain or heat.

For more infowww.visitutah.com (800) 200-1160www.visitstgeorge.com/rv-parksutah.com/campgrounds/st-georgewww.nps.gov/zion (435) 772-3256 stgeorgervpark.yolasite.com/ (435) 673-2970.www.templeviewrv.com/ Call via Hangouts (800) 776-6410

Getting thereIf you choose to fl y, one-way tickets from Spokane

to St. George are around $250-$450 depending on date, time of year and time of day and or any connections/transfers.

Expect to spend at least three hours in the air, plus a few more hours of additional airport time.

A slightly more affordable fl ight option might be Spokane to Salt Lake City, a larger airline hub, and prices may drop to around $300.

Car rental for a week from Salt Lake City, a fi ve- to six-hour drive, would be right around $200, or around $150 from St. George.

If you’re driving a car or an RV from Spokane, it’s going to be a long day or a multi-day adventure. Expect at least 14-15 hours depending on road conditions and construction, and whether you go through Oregon and southern Idaho, or through Montana and eastern Idaho.

Hotels vary by season, from $100 a night in the off-season to past $200 in prime summer.

In comparison, RV options are less expensive – Temple View RV Park is about $40 a night for a hook-up site, plus discounts for longer stays, or membership in Good Sam or AAA.

For a 7-day stay in St. George, expect to pay under $300 for RV hook-up vs. at least $700 for a hotel.

For fuel costs from Spokane, a one-way drive in a car would cost around $90, but double that for an RV.

cont.from pg. 28

Financing your RV Allison Hall/Marketing Correspondent

Purchasing an RV is about a new way of life and it is also a huge investment.

The process of buying can take awhile, so buyers should be pro-active and do their homework before they contact a dealer.

First, consider what type of RV to shop for. This is largely based on what type of camping or recreation someone wants to do and whether they want to drive or tow their RV.

There are three major classes in motorized RVs: Class A, Class B and Class C. The basic varieties sleep four to eight people, are approximately 16 to 40 feet in length, and can cost a few thousand dollars to well over $500,000.

Towables can include travel trailers, fi fth wheels, expandable travel trailers, sport utility (toy haulers), folding campers and truck campers. These sleep six to 10 people, are approximately 8 to 40 feet long, and cost anywhere from $8,000 to past $170,000.

Unless you have disposable income to pay cash, you’ll likely want to

fi nance your purchase. When trying to determine possible monthly payments, make sure you consider any additional costs, including insurance, monthly and yearly maintenance, fuel, campground fees and the cost of

maintaining a bigger vehicle that may tow your rig, or a

smaller one you may tow behind.

Landing a good fi nancing deal on a recreational vehicle takes

some work, Your research should

include reviewing current interest rates, loan terms and down

payment needed at several lending agents. Most banks will offer fl exible terms from 48 months all the way up to 240 months (20 years) and loans from $3,000 up to $1 million. Down payments of 10 percent are usually required on loans up to $100,000 and on loans over $100,000 a buyer may need to pay additional amounts. Keep in mind that with no down payment you may not qualify for a loan.

In terms of the loan amount, 100 percent fi nancing is usually available for loans up to $100,000 and 80 percent

fi nancing is usually available for loans over $100,000.

Buying a used RV? Keep in mind that these will most likely need to be under 6 years old and have no more than 50,000 miles in order to qualify for good fi nancing. Depending on the fi nancial institution this may vary by year or miles.

Interest rates currently range from 3 percent all the way up to 17 percent and depend on your loan total (the lower the loan, the higher the rate), down payment (the lower your down payment, the higher your interest rate), and credit profi le. Also, if your debt-to-income ratio is high you may not quality for a loan with lower rates and fl exible terms.

The best rates will be given to those with a least a 640 credit score or higher. Depending on the exact score, a buyer may qualify for special programs or have no minimum down payment. Always ask if you qualify for a rate discount if you are a current customer of the fi nancing institution.

You will also want to gather information such as pay stubs, tax returns, employment information and bank statements to bring with you to the bank in order to pre-qualify for a loan. Once you have your pre-qualifi cation, use this to compare to dealer terms and deals when shopping.

Now that all the leg work is fi nished, the type of RV to buy and loan pre-qualifi cation is complete, it’s time to go shopping. Take your time and visit several dealers, some of who may also have preferred lenders.

Work with your dealer to settle on a price without discussing fi nancing and then spend a little time seeing what they will offer in-house before divulging the terms from your bank. Remember, only you know what is best for you, and only after you do your homework.

Take your time and visit several dealers, some of

who may also have preferred lenders

http://www.visitutah.com

http://www.visitstgeorge.com/rv-parks

http://www.nps.gov/zion

http://www.templeviewrv.com/


Courtney Dunham/Marketing Correspondent

Joan Stewart and Lisa Caldwell knew they both wanted to travel the country in an RV when they retired, they just thought they’d be doing it with their husbands. However, even though both of them lost their partners, it didn’t stop either of them from pursuing their dreams of travel.

When Stewart lost her husband Jerry of 32 years from lung cancer, she became good friends with a woman who seemed to understand her grief more than anyone else: Caldwell, Jerry’s nurse in hospice care.

“Not only did we bond for obvious reasons since Lisa was right there for the tough times when I was losing Jer – she knew exactly how I felt,” Stewart said.

Caldwell also had lost her husband because of cancer, two years prior. It was an important mission, Caldwell said, to remind her new friend that she still had a lot of living to do at 62 years old.

“I lost my partner when he was only 51, and at the time we were both planning on retiring at 55,” Caldwell said. “We had been working since we were in our late teens and knew exactly what we wanted to do.”

Caldwell and her husband Scott had already bought their Type A motorhome, so they could comfortably live wherever they decided to travel in the States, Canada, and Mexico.

Since they had four grandchildren, they also wanted to buy a model that was big enough to accommodate another guests on certain trips.

“So you might say we had our plan all set up,” Caldwell said. “But as they say, ‘When we make plans, God laughs.’”

Scott died just six months after they purchased their dream RV, and Caldwell didn’t feel overly excited going out on the road by herself.

“I felt comfortable driving it since we’ve had RVs all of our life and had both learned how to drive a motorhome,” Caldwell. “It was more so I don’t really love my own company for days on end to myself!”

Although her two sisters and grandkids were keen to come along for a weekend trip here and there, no one was available to take extensive trips like she had planned with her husband.

Caldwell knew she’d have more takers as her friends got older or retired too, so in the meantime she decided to continuing working as a hospice nurse. That’s when fate stepped in.

“Anyone who has experienced hospice care with a family member knows there is a lot of down time sitting around when your loved one is sleeping or just not with it, you might say,” Stewart said. “That’s when Lisa and I began talking and just really clicked.”

Caldwell said she remembers Stewart asking her about her life a lot and her own plans for retirement.

“She knew that my husband had died too, so of course we bonded about that. Then she’d ask me what I was up to for the weekend, and I’d tell her where me and a friend were headed in the RV, or how I was going to see my grandchildren,” Caldwell said. “It was then when her eyes lit up, which was

very nice to see since she was obviously going through a very hard time.”

Stewart was eager to talk and listen about anything other than what was happening in that room 24/7, she said, and in the process hearing about her new friend’s plans and outlook to still travel around the country offered her hope that maybe she still could do the same herself.

“We hadn’t bought our RV yet, but we had plenty of money saved to travel and retire, but I felt like that wasn’t going to happen anymore until Lisa and I became good friends,” Stewart said.

After Jerry passed away, they exchanged phone numbers and

became closer having meals out and going to fi lms or

concerts. Then Caldwell asked Stewart if she wanted to go on a road trip to California that next month. She accepted in a

heartbeat and four years later, the two have been

on more than a dozen trips together.

“She’s a great travel partner because for starters we get along great and also know how to give each other space,” Caldwell said.

“Not all the time, but most of the time we do!” Stewart jumps in and the two laugh in unison. “More than the good times and the few times really that we do argue, Lisa has truly given me a new lease on life. I honestly don’t know what I would do without her now.”

Both said they feel like they have known each other their whole lives and with trips to the Grand Canyon next spring and an extended east coast trip planned next fall, it sounds like they will be two peas in a pod – or rather motorhome – for years to come.

Fate brings friends together later in life to travel the country via RV

“So you might say we had our plan all set up,” Caldwell said. “But as they

say, ‘When we make plans,

God laughs.’ ”


A few years into retirement, Tim and Judy Williams already have two fi ve-month RV vacations under their belt.

They fi rst explored the canyons and bicycling trails in Utah – they’re both avid cyclers who ride 20-50 miles together on their tandem in a day.

Last year, they drove down the California coast. When they arrived in San Jose, they stored their 25-foot Airstream and fl ew home for the holidays. A few weeks later, they picked up where they left off, making their way south to Death Valley, then east to Galveston, Texas.

Though they cover a lot of ground, Tim prefers to stop and spend a few days exploring every 200 miles or so.

“Wherever we go, we look for places where we can ride and where we can do stuff. We don’t do so much the stopping at the monument on the side of the road — were not that kind of traveler,” he said.

Instead, they explore on their tandem bike for three days at a time: One day to ride around the area, one to hop in the truck and scout out a great spot for a long ride, and a third to ride 20-50 miles at that perfect spot they’ve found.

There’s no reason to put limitations on us,” he said. “We don’t have anyone waiting for us at home.”

Tim and Judy camped often with their kids as they grew up. When their son graduated from high school, Tim bicycled cross-country and tent camped along their route. They’d always planned to continue traveling and camping after retirement, but wanted a more comfortable option than tent camping.

“We ended up choosing the trailer - the Airsteam - because of the windows,” Tim said.

It has these wraparound windows that let in a lot of

natural light – so if you’re stuck in the trailer because of weather, you’re not in the dark.”

The trailer is packed with amenities, plus

a few they’ve added themselves: They bring

along a portable WiFi hotspot and two TVs with a

sound system. Avid Zag fans, they even ‘Macgyvered’ a way to watch games via satellite last year while on the road.

“For two people, it’s unbelievably comfortable,” Tim said. He’s especially grateful for a shower large enough to accommodate his tall stature.

The retired schoolteachers squirreled away money for

years to prepare for this phase in their lives.

“We call them the go-go years,” Tim said. “The way I look at it, I only have, at the maximum, 10 years to do all this playing around stuff.”

When they’re not traveling cross-country,

they take overnight trips in the Spokane area,

sometimes with their two granddaughters.

“Our favorite spot to go to is Heyburn State Park which is down at

the bottom of Coeur d’Alene Lake down by St. Maries,” Tim said. It’s 50 minutes away and connects to the Trail of the Coeur d’Alene. Not only is it close, but then we’re on the best trail in the country as far as rail-trails go. We do that quite often in the fall.”

Now seasoned RV vacationers, the pair has a few tricks up their sleeves for smooth traveling.

The fi rst: camp during off-times, during the middle of the week and on non-peak weekends.

“We go when nobody else is there,” Tim said. “There’s no reason for us to go on Memorial Day or the 4th of July. The week after Memorial Day or the middle of the week is when we go, because there’s no problem getting a space.”

The second trick? Reserve space ahead of time. “When were on the road, the smartphone is a

remarkable tool.” Judy will call and get us a spot ahead of time,” he said.

Finally, they’ve found it’s easy to keep costs down by eating dinner in.

“We have found that traveling in the trailer is remarkably cheap, even counting the gas. Maybe it’s because we always cook in,” Tim said. “We’re out and about at lunch, but we rarely go to dinner spots in the trailer—but when we’re home, it seems like we always fi nd an excuse to go out once or twice a week.”

Read more about Tim and Judy’s adventures on their blog at abektrucking.blogspot.com.

RV owners love to explore

Erika Prins/Marketing Correspondent

Tim prefers to stop and spend a

few days exploring every 200 miles

or so.


Check the oil, test your battery, check the fl uids and tire pressure; the main items we as vehicle owners are responsible to check on a day-to-day basis. If we fail to do any of these, serious issues could occur and the vehicle may not run.

RVing is no different: there’s routine maintenance that should be performed at regular intervals, and record-keeping is essential. Money you spend on an RV can add up quickly, so by performing regular maintenance, costly situations can be avoided.

Each trip should have a routine check that should happen prior to leaving to ensure the RV is in top shape for traveling. This goes for leaving home as well as well as the campsite; even inspecting things like the tires on short stops for gas.

For motorized RVs the main checklist should consist of checking engine oil, coolant, tire pressure, fi lters, fl uids (brake, transmission, power steering) and the battery.

A pop-up trailer will not require the same level of maintenance as a motorized RV, but don’t forget about it just because it doesn’t have the same equipment as a motorized RV.

Some things will need to be performed daily, some weekly, monthly, or yearly, so set up a way to ensure the schedule is maintained as to not void the warranty. The best way to do this is to create a maintenance checklist to use each year.

Before creating your checklist, review the owner’s manual to see the recommended maintenance schedule and consider the three basic types of RV maintenance: preventative, scheduled, and emergency.

Preventive Maintenance Performed before a problem exists, maintenance consists of cleaning, inspecting, lubricating, adjusting and general service on your RV. It should be completed each time the RV is used.

Preventative maintenance consists of things such as checking or changing the the oil every 3,000 to 4,500 miles as well as tire rotation to ensure even

tread wear. In addition, check lug nuts, tire pressure and your battery and all connections, hoses, seals and clamps monthly to ensure they are fi rm and tight.

Look for any signs of leakage and inspect hitch system for cracks. Check for loose bolts or hardware and check vehicle and trailer lights. Use biodegradable RV toilet paper to keep your waste system in good condition and test your CO2 detector, smoke detector and fi re extinguisher.

RV roofs are susceptible to sun and environmental damage and they are mostly ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ so keep your RV stored under a carport or covering and have it cleaned on a regular basis.

Scheduled Maintenance This routine maintenance that is performed monthly or yearly (usually in accordance with your RV owner’s

manual). This type of maintenance keeps your RV in top operating condition and prevents untimely breakdowns and repairs.

Scheduled maintenance consists of things such as slide and jack service to clean gears, lubricate regularly and protect seals. For the air conditioner wash inner coils, clean drains, replace gaskets and fi lters. Check the overall operation of appliances and liquid propane systems to ensure burn chambers are cleared of debris.

For batteries clean terminal and posts, test-crank amps/volts, top off fl uid and apply anticorrosive. Brake and axle service should include inspecting brakes for wear and repack wheel bearings if necessary.

Inspect tires and adjust air pressure a needed, as well as chassis lubrication service to lubricate setting

linkage, drive shaft, U-joints, front axle kingpins and front suspension. Coolant Service should be performed by draining and refi lling coolant and visually inspecting hoses and clamps.

The generator should be serviced and the oil, oil fi lter, air fi lter and fuel fi lter replaced as well as the exhaust inspected. Inspect seals and seams for the entire RV every 6 months.

Finally, weigh your RV each year to make sure the load is balanced and that you haven’t exceeded the gross vehicle weight rating.Emergency Maintenance This maintenance, or repair, is required when you least expect it due some sort of failure. By performing preventative and scheduled

maintenance, it is less likely you will have an emergency.

Remember, RVing is about traveling and having fun, so taking proactive measures to perform the needed RV maintenance will ensure when you are ready to go on a trip, your RV is ready too.

RV Service Must-Knows

Allison Hall/Marketing Correspondent

cont. from pg. 15

They’ve looked into becoming camp hosts and even considered buying an RV park, which would allow them to travel in the off-season.

“We have to fi gure out a balance between doing it and making enough money to be able to do it.”

Having lived in the Lance for six months, Jeanie

says she now thinks of it as home. “Being here (in Portland) has only made me realize even more how much I want to get back out there.”

They’ve decided that if a permanent opportunity doesn’t present itself by spring, “ … we’re going to go back to Idaho and get the trailer and hit the

road. I don’t know what the next chapter holds for us, but I do know we’ll go back on the road.”

When Jeanie and Jay are traveling, she blogs about the experience at http://jeanbean1210.wordpress.com

http://jeanbean1210.wordpress.com


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Spokane Fairgrounds

“Driving through Montana, you’re going to see more elk and deer just in the farmers’ fi elds and sometimes we’ll pull over and just have lunch there and watch them,” Bill said. They bring along fi shing poles in case they stumble upon an inviting stream.

Campsites generally don’t fi ll up during the winter, so Judy and Bill don’t worry too much about reserving sites far ahead between their main destinations. When they are going somewhere new, they chat with fellow campers to scout out the best campsite along their route.

Seasoned campers always know which sites are the best, Bill says, and that’s hard to discern from RV atlases or even online.

Talking to other campers is one of the highlights of RV traveling for Bill, whether in pursuit of valuable campsite intel or just shooting the breeze.

“RVers are the most social people that you’ve ever met,” he said. “It’s a whole total life and you can defi nitely tell it once you’re around them a little bit. You know, in 15 minutes, they’ll be your best friend – especially if you have an Airstream.”

Over the years, Bill and Judy have noticed a pattern among experienced RV travelers that Bill now considers the secret to successful travel: leave early in the morning and arrive at the next campsite by around 3 p.m.

Not only does early arrival allow for daylight exploration and meeting the neighbors, it increases their chance of landing a scenic campsite.

“If you’re on the Oregon coast, you’d like to have a spot with a view of the ocean,” he said.

And, they’ve learned to pack light. “There’s never enough storage space in an

RV, I don’t care what you’re looking at,” he said. “Your fi rst couple of times out, you’re going to take so much stuff that you don’t need.”

When they fi rst started out, they packed way too many clothes and a whole kitchen’s worth of cooking utensils. Most campsites have washers and dryers, so packing few clothing items can drastically cut down on storage space needed. And when it comes down to it, it’s unlikely anyone will need to make a Thanksgiving feast in the trailer – one pot and pan, and a few table settings will do just fi ne for most meals.

“The basics are all you need,” Bill said. “And a wine opener.”

cont. from pg. 23

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Rv show, january 17, 2016