The BEST keeps getting BETTER

I posted a while back about the EARTHBOUND travel trailers. Well, they've done it again. The guys at EARTHBOUND are always looking for ways to be better. They started by scrapping the old, traditional way of  thinking when it comes to travel trailer design and started from the ground up. They say that "Necessity is the mother of invention". With years upon years in the RV business, the folks at EARTHBOUND know the strengths and weaknesses of the various construction materials and methods as well as the functionality of the industry standards and options. With this knowledge in hand, EARTHBOUND has found NEW methods and materials to construct a travel trailer that will last a lifetime. From composite materials to seals to fasteners, EARTHBOUND has revolutionized the RV industry. And now they have just released their newest invention. "The Montreal" with "SKY VISION". This floor plan offers a front dinette with an automotive grade windshield. Yes, I said automotive grade windshield. When I spoke with the founder of EARTHBOUND, he explained to me that he wants these EARTHBOUND travel trailers to be built more like a high end luxury car rather than a traditional camper. The Montreal with SKY VIEW proves it. In traditional travel trailers a front window was possible but they were usually small, they leaked and had a cheap aluminum cover. With EARTHBOUNDS "SKY VIEW" automotive windshield, you get a window large enough to see full mountain ranges, the vastness of the great plains and all of the stars in the sky while sipping coffee at your over sized dinette. Because the 'SKY VIEW" is an automotive grade windshield, there is no need for cheap, unattractive covers and water leaks are a thing of the past. If you are looking for the best, greenest and most reliable travel trailer in the world, take a look at an EARTHBOUND.

If you have questions or would like to view an EARTHBOUND in person, please call 1-800-344-5074 x 105 and ask for David or email to dfrailey@camplandrv.com

Heating and cooling options for the Modern Camper!

I was building an online listing for a used motor home and in the list of options available I saw "swamp cooler". After asking everyone I know and consulting GOOGLE, I realized that there are a lot of options out there that most people wouldn't know about.

A swamp cooler is a system that you won't see much of anymore. Water sprayed over another water line or even an air duct, evaporates into the surrounding air. Either a warmer ambient air or an artificially heated air. Through the process of evaporation, whatever the water is in contact with when it evaporates actually cools 10-15 degrees. Similar to our own bodies when we sweat. Though environmentally friendly, the side effects are not the most desirable. Algae, mold, mildew and odors have pretty much done away with the system.

Another system that is slowly becoming more popular is a heat pump system. Heat pumps have the ability to move heat energy from one environment to another, and in either direction. This allows the heat pump to both bring heat into an occupied space, and take it out. In the cooling mode a heat pump works the same as an ordinary air conditioner (A/C). A heat pump uses an intermediate fluid called a refrigerant which absorbs heat as it vaporizes and releases the heat when it condenses. It uses an evaporator to absorb heat from inside an occupied space and rejects this heat to the outside through the condenser. The refrigerant flows outside of the space to be conditioned, where the condenser and compressor are located, while the evaporator is inside. The key component that makes a heat pump different from an A/C is the reversing valve. The reversing valve allows for the flow direction of the refrigerant to be changed. This allows the heat to be pumped in either direction.
In heating mode the outdoor coil becomes the evaporator, while the indoor becomes the condenser which absorbs the heat from the refrigerant and dissipates to the air flowing through it. The air outside even at 0 °C has heat energy in it. With the refrigerant flowing in the opposite direction the evaporator (outdoor coil) is absorbing the heat from the air and moving it inside. Once it picks up heat it is compressed and then sent to the condenser (indoor coil). The indoor coil then rejects the heat into the air handler, which moves the heated air through out the RV.
In cooling mode the outdoor coil is now the condenser. This makes the indoor coil now the evaporator. The indoor coil is now the evaporator in the sense that it is going to be used to absorb the heat from inside the enclosed space. The evaporator absorbs the heat from the inside, and takes it to the condenser where it is rejected into the outside air. This system is nice but not recommended in temperatures below 15 degrees. In my opinion, anything below 40 degrees deserves a conventional gas furnace. But that's just me. If yo have anything to add, please do so. I'd like to hear other campers opinions from around the country in different climates.

Winter is on its way. What should you do?

With winter just around the corner, we are all starting to think about winterizing. When asked about the most important item to cover when winterizing, besides the obvious water system, Tony Kammerer, Service Manager of Camp-Land RV in Burns Harbor, IN recommends a SealTech evaluation. As a salesman, I see on a regular basis, used trade in campers with rotten and water logged walls, floors and ceilings caused by water leaks that were left untreated. A SealTech evaluation is well worth the expense of around $100. A blower machine pressurizes the inside of the coach with air. Then a soapy solution is applied to the entire coach exterior. If there is a leak present, bubbles will form over the leak. The purpose of the test is to find the leak with air, before the water finds it and causes a whole lot of problems. Once the leak is detected, it is repaired, saving you thousands of dollars in future repairs and also preserving your trade-in or resale value. Tony recommends the test on ALL RVs and Travel Trailers, new or used, EVERY YEAR! To schedule a SealTech test, you can contact the service department at Camp-Land RV at (219) 787-1040.
A few other items to consider would be the exterior cleaning and protection. The longer a stain sits on the surface of your RV, the harder it will be to remove. A good bath and an application of a good exterior protection will keep your coach from becoming stained, faded or discolored. This keeps the coach looking good but also adds to resale value down the road. Some exterior protection products will come with a warranty up to five years. For general cleaning I recommend Oil Eater. Be careful when using cleaners. Read the manufacturers directions and only use the product where the manufacturer recommends. Another good tip is to place a clean, unused urinal cake in areas where bugs are an issue. The compartment behind your refrigerator is a good place to battle a bug infestation. And don't forget about the little furry critters. I use a product called Store It Right. It is scented like cedar and repels rodents for 30days. It also keeps your coach smelling fresh and clean.
These are just a few suggestions to insure a pleasant camping experience come spring time. If you have any tips or tricks to add, Please do! We are all looking for better ways to make camping even more enjoyable.

Four season camping or Extended season camping?

Some manufacturers make claims that their travel trailers are FOUR SEASON campers while others conservatively advertise EXTENDED SEASON. The difference? Four season would allow you to camp in the middle of winter ANYWHERE in the continental US. Which would indicate that your water system and holding tanks are fully insulated and heated. Extended season would mean that you could camp in COOL weather up to the point of freezing. In my opinion, why settle for extended season when you can go all the way and camp through out the winter? Their are different levels of protection available for the cold weather camper. Some manufacturers wrap the under belly of the trailer with a plastic membrane and stuff some fiberglass insulation in for good measure. I appreciate the gesture but I can't believe that this would be enough of a precaution to allow cold weather camping. Others duct their heat into the compartment surrounding the holding tanks to offer another level of protection. This works well as long as your furnace is running constantly. I don't know about you but I'm not crazy about having my furnace run while I'm traveling down the road or while I'm away from camp for the day. The third option which in my opinion is the BEST, is an electric heating element that warms the holding tanks. This is a 12 volt system that will run off of your 12 volt battery while you are traveling down the road and can be left on when away from camp without running yourself out of propane. When you are plugged into a campground electric hook up, the campground pays to heat your tanks, not you. In addition it is better for the environment than burning propane constantly.  Though your tanks are heated with this element, not all manufacturers wrap the water lines. While your holding tanks are nice and warm, the water in your supply lines may be frozen. You'll need to investigate this when looking into a trailer with heated tanks. Some will run the supply lines closer to the center of the trailer but some designs have the water lines running the entire length of the trailer exposed to the elements. Another great option is to upgrade to a On-Demand water heater. Aside from the fact that you can take a longer shower than with a traditional 6 gal water heater, there is no storage tank in a On-Demand water heater. Which means you have one less potential for freeze-up. When shopping for a new travel trailer or RV, make sure that the manufacturer that you choose has taken all of this into account when designing their cold weather packages. If you have anything to add to this post, please do so. Also, any tips or tricks to cold weather camping will be appreciated.

EARTHBOUND is here!

I promised to bring you the NEWEST, GREENEST, BEST RV in the industry. Here it is. The EARTHBOUND! We've just taken on the EARTHBOUND line and BOY ARE WE IMPRESSED! Ultra low VOC & recyclable materials are just a few of the benefits to owning an EARTHBOUND. The quality of materials and construction methods are so high that EARTHBOUND is more than comfortable offering a 3 year bumper to hitch warranty which is a full year longer than their closest competition while MOST manufacturers only offer a 1 year warranty. It is AMAZING to see this much class and elegance in a travel trailer that can be towed by a small SUV. With dry weights ranging from only 4140lbs in a 26' model to 5010lbs in a 30' model, it is plain to see that the construction of this RV is the lightest that you will find. Currently there are 7 sizes and floor plans to choose from. We currently have 3 floor plans here in our showroom. 

NUTS & BOLTS:

Low VOC composite construction materials

All aluminum framed, vacuum bonded walls, floor, roof and interior walls.

Composite seamless roof and floors. (NO RUBBER or WOOD)

Roto-Cast holding tanks (insulated and heated)

Standard 10 gal water heater with optional On Demand Water Heater

Optional Carmanah Solar Power System

Seamless aluminum exterior and interior walls

Independent Torsion Suspension System (The suspension passes through the frame instead of under the frame. Which increases strength but also allows for a lower center of gravity which in turn provides for a MUCH safer and comfortable towing experience.)

Docking station with manifold plumbing including individual shut off valves for each line and a black tank flush.

(3) 20lb LP bottles are exchangeable. Instead of refilling, just pull them out and trade them in at the gas station.

Dual-Pane, Thermo-Pane windows with built in night shades and screens

What does it look like? Is it comfortable? You tell me.......

EARTHBOUNDRV.com WEBSITE
EARTHBOUND VS Airstream VIDEO
EARTHBOUND Interview VIDEO 

Good Morning Campers

As a life long camper and a salesman for one of the largest Rv and Travel Trailer dealerships in the Midwest, I've been looking for a way to communicate with the public about the newest and most exciting advancements in the RV and Travel Trailer world. What's New? What's Good?  What's Bad? As I discover the answers to these questions I will post them here along with any photos or video that I can obtain. In addition, I would like to hear from YOU. I'd like to know your opinions on these topics and I'd like for you to share with me anything pertaining to the RV business or camping lifestyle that you feel will be beneficial to other RV and Travel Trailer owners. From new technology and tips and tricks to your favorite campfire recipe, I want you to be as much a part of this blog as I am.
Tomorrow I will post on the NEWEST, GREENEST, most BEAUTIFUL Travel Trailer on the Market. So be sure to check back regularly.
David