Change of plans – new rig
So the LTV wonder time line kept getting longer and the price keeps going up. Order cancelled lose part of the deposit.
Had my eye on an Entegra Esteem 29v, the 2023 colors are nice, my concern is it has plenty of storage but no CCC capacity. The Vision XL 34g turned out to be the winner, found a full body paint at a great price and pulled the trigger.
Gadget List
Garmin RV 1090 RV GPS Navigator
VIAIR 400P-RVS Automatic Tire Inflator
stargaze™ recliner luxury chair
inReach Explorer®+ Satellite Communicator
Travel Berkey Water Filter
ROADIE 24 HARD COOLER
LevelMatePRO+
INVIEW 360° VEHICLE MONITORING SYSTEM
Xtend & Climb Telescoping Ladder, 12ft 770p
Finally Decided on New RV
I’ve been planning to get an RV for a couple years, decided I really want to get a motorhome. Usually when I go to the shows I quickly bypass the class B vans and check out the big class A’s and Fifth Wheels. This year show I spent most of the time looking at the B Vans and the B+. Having looked at several different brands and chassis, I initially thought I would prefer the Mercedes. The more I read the forums and Facebook groups and saw the problems others were experiencing I knew the Mercedes was not for me, on to the Ford Transit chassis.
I had my eye on a Coachman Beyond 22c, nice van; fit and finish looked good, nice solid cabinetry, exterior had clean lines and did not appear cluttered. I was not a fan of the wet bath and zero outside storage, the back of the van under to convertible sofa space was consumed with the Li3 lithium system (which is an awesome option)
The problem with a B van is I am a chronic over packer for trips, I wanted a small RV with no slide, (less problems). Finally discovered the Leisure Travel Vans, watched Deans videos along with the Fit RV factory tour and the Wendland’s factory tour. I also Joined the Facebook Group Leisure Travel Vans Enthusiasts what a great source of information. I have been a member of many Facebook groups in the past few years, one thing I quickly learned is NO RV is perfect, you will always have issues no matter what you get and how much you spend. After looking at the LTV’s and seeing how they are produced this brand quickly made the short list. Looking at several brands and models I realized the major large manufacturers are more into mass production with little to no quality control, and the horror stories on social media were plentiful.
I chose the Wonder RL — rear lounge, the lounge converts to a sleeping area with a fold down murphy style bed, the lounge is decent size with plenty of windows for natural light. The Leisure Travel vans have dry baths and separate shower. Decent amount of storage inside and outside compared to the B vans. A big differentiator with LTV is they have a premium price and are hard to come by, typical order time currently is about 18 months minimum, some dealers are quoting 24 – 30 months out. Leisure vans have limited dealers and many offer no discounts from MSRP due to the high demand. Darn near impossible to actually see one on a dealer lot. Some of the larger dealers are Van City RV, Fretz RV, Howard RV Center and Gerzeny’s RV World.
RV Industry Making Changes To Address Growing Popularity Of Lithium Batteries | RVIA
RVs feature two different types of batteries, an automotive battery that is used to start the engine and a deep cycle battery, that is used to power the user’s electronics.
Over the past decade, lithium batteries have become more widely used due to their prolonged service life and high energy density, while costs have declined due to increase in production volume. With the growing popularity of lithium batteries, they were added to the 2020 edition of RV industry’s adopted American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Low-Voltage Standard. To be included in RV products, lithium batteries must be listed by a third-party listing agency recognized by the RV Industry Association. The listing agency gives their independent stamp of approval which addresses thermal run-away, having a management or protection system to provide safety in situations of high/low voltages and temperatures, limiting high current output, and cell balancing.
When lithium batteries were included in the ANSI Low Voltage Standard, they were added to flooded, or lead-acid battery provisions that required all batteries located in the RV interior to be placed in vented battery compartments or boxes. This was intended to protect consumers and manufacturers if a lithium battery was ever replaced with a lead-acid battery after purchase. Lead-acid batteries that are installed in RVs require venting because of the hydrogen gas that is created when the battery is being charged. In contrast, lithium-based batteries do not vent during the charge cycle.
With the existing and continued growth in popularity of non-vented batteries, it seemed no longer necessary to place non-vented, lithium batteries in vented compartments or boxes.
As such, last month, the RV Industry Association Board of Directors approved a recommendation from the Standards Steering Committee permitting non-vented (lithium) batteries to be located inside the living space of the RV, without venting. Manufacturers who install lithium batteries will need to have multiple warning labels that educate consumers “to not replace a non-vented battery with a vented battery.” These warning labels will need to be affixed on the battery, on the RV adjacent to the non-vented battery’s location, on the inside and outside of a case or compartment, if provided, and included via a statement in the RV owner’s manual.
The RV Industry Association’s signature initiative is to promote the enhancement of safety through industry standards during the construction of RVs. The adjustments made on lithium batteries shows how the industry comes together to make best practices decisions that lead to a better manufacturing environment and consumer experience.
Source: RV Industry Making Changes To Address Growing Popularity Of Lithium Batteries | RVIA
Surge In RV Shipments Projected Through 2021 | RVIA
RV shipments are expected to surpass 400,000 wholesale units by the end of 2020 and see continued growth in 2021 to more than 500,000 units, according to the Fall 2020 RV RoadSigns prepared by ITR Economics for the RV Industry Association.
The new projection sees total shipments ranging between 414,200 and 434,500 units with the most likely 2020 year-end total being 424,400 units. That total would represent a 4.5 percent gain over the 406,070 units shipped in 2019, overcoming a nearly two-month RV industry shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Initial estimates for 2021 have a range of 494,400 to 519,900 units with a most likely outcome of 507,200 units, a 19.5 percent increase over 2020.
The 507,200 units projected for 2021 would represent the best annual total on measurable record for the RV industry, eclipsing the 504,600 units shipped in 2017. The projected 424,400 units in 2020 would be the fourth best annual total on record.
Towable RV shipments are anticipated to reach 383,900 units in 2020 and 452,500 units in 2021. Motorhome shipments projected to finish at 40,500 units in 2020 and 54,700 units in 2021.
“The RV industry has experienced strong consumer growth over the past 10 years, but the recent soar in consumer interest in RVing driven by the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a marked increase in RV shipments to meet the incredibly strong order activity at the retail level,” said RV Industry Association President Craig Kirby. “This new forecast confirms what we have been seeing across the country as people turn to RVs as a way to have the freedom to travel and experience an active outdoor lifestyle while also controlling their environment.”
“RV manufacturers and suppliers have seen historic production numbers this summer as we work to meet the increased demand from customers flocking to the RV lifestyle,” said Kip Ellis, Patrick Industries Executive vice president and chief operating officer and RV Industry Association market information committee chairman. “As we continue through the rest of this year and into next year, sustained wholesale RV production will be needed to replenish dealer inventories that are at historically low levels.”
ITR Economics also reports that their system of leading economic indicators is rising, creating positive conditions for RV shipments to approach record levels. Supply chain issues and labor tightness are short-term uncertainties that could limit the gains in shipments.
Members can view the Fall 2020 issue of RV RoadSigns byclicking here.
ITR Economics is the oldest privately held, continuously operating economic research and consulting firm in the United States, providing businesses with forecasting, economic information, insight, analysis, and strategy. Since 1985, their overall forecast accuracy is 94.7 percent at one year out.
With offices in Reston, Va., and Elkhart, Ind., the RV Industry Association is the leading trade voice of the $114 billion dollar RV industry, representing approximately 400 manufacturers and component and aftermarket suppliers who together produce 98 percent of all RVs made in the United States, and approximately 60 percent of RVs produced worldwide.
Source: Surge In RV Shipments Projected Through 2021 | RVIA
Airstream, Winnebago Sales Hot as Road Trips Gain Popularity
The lasting effects of the coronavirus pandemic are still unknown. What we do know is that people are tired of being at home but also trying to balance their annual vacation plans against COVID-19 safety concerns. With that in mind, recent studies have shown that more people are thinking about in-car trips over spending time in a metal tube flying through the air. One way that’s playing out is an increase in retail sales for two of the biggest names in RV and travel trailers, along with a boost in the rentals of travel vehicles.
Airstream saw retail deliveries up 49 percent in May 2020 over the previous year, a record for the company, Justin Humphreys, Airstream vice president of sales, told Car and Driver. The company known for its iconic travel trailers is also seeing record sales numbers in June as demand continues to grow, although the company does not release the number it actually sold.
Source: Airstream, Winnebago Sales Hot as Road Trips Gain Popularity