Destination -- Sweet (Motor) Home Alabama

Say you're a history buff who loves to golf ... an avid hiker who loves to shop ... a motorsports fan who loves white sand beaches ... a space enthusiast who loves fine dining ... or say you're any combination of the above: you'll find something to love in Alabama.

Little River Canyon National Preserve Photo courtesy of the Alabama Tourism Department

With its vibrant cities, rich history, natural beauty and many campgrounds, Alabama makes an ideal cold-weather destination for RVers.  Here are a few links to help get your Alabama adventure rolling.

Alabama Tourism

Go Camping America

Wildernet

RVWeb.com 

In the Rearview Mirror

Forty years ago "The Godfather" was in the theaters, Richard Nixon was in the White House, "American Pie" was on the radio, and the 1972 Winnebago Brave was turning up -- well, pretty much everywhere.  And no wonder. Available in 18-foot or (for those who thought really big) 20-foot floorplans, the Brave offered that '70's RVer a unique combination of quality, value and -- dare we say it? -- style that helped solidify America's love affair with Winnebago Industries motor homes.

And while styles have certainly changed, our focus on delivering quality motor homes that represent outstanding value has only gotten stronger over the years. 

 

The February issue of Family Motor Coaching has a lot to say about the 2012 Winnebago Tour, including "major wow factor...I love it!" and "as easy, as comfortable, and as relaxing as the Tour can be to drive, this motorhome really impresses in a campground setting." 

Besides featuring the Tour on the front cover, Family Motor Coaching devotes five full inside pages to our flagship Winnebago model, making it a must-read for anyone considering a top-of-the-line diesel pusher.  Read all about it here.

Also in the news, the Journey 36M is put through its paces in the February issue of Motorhome, where they recognize its bounty of contemporary features and residential appointments, and the full-wall curbside slide that enhances the spaciousness of the lounge and galley.  They also tout the powerful and reliable Freightliner Maxum Chassis.

And finally, MotorHome magazine reviews the Sightseer 30A in its March issue: " ... with two large slideouts and abundant standard features, it lives like a much larger, more expensive coach... many coach manufacturers have made claims such as this before, but the 30A really does deliver."  You'll find the complete review here.

Maintenance Tip

You've got a lot riding on your tires.  The better you take care of them, the better they'll take care of you.  Proper tire pressure:

• helps you get the most from every gallon of fuel 
• helps maximize the life of your tires
• helps your motor home ride and handle the way it's designed to
• helps ensure your coach can safely handle loads up to its Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).

So it's important to check tire pressure at least once a week when you're traveling.  And since tires warm up as you drive, it's important to check the pressure cold -- before you start driving.

You'll find your recommended tire pressures on your Vehicle Certification Label, which is affixed to the lower driver side armrest panel, driver door, or the driver side door jamb, depending on the model you own. 

Safe travels!

Spotlight on Suncruiser 37F

The 2012 Itasca Suncruiser 37F is a triple slideout design; the full-wall driver's side slide includes our BenchMark dinette, or optional extendable dinette or dining table/buffet with 40-inch retractable LCD TV.

The half bath of this versatile floorplan is located just ahead of the bedroom, so it's convenient for family members or guests, while the master bath features our Big 36 X 36-inch Shower.  The powered queen bed -- which can also be upgraded to a king bed -- adds an extra touch of luxury to the master suite.  A third slideout just behind the passenger's seat extends the Rest Easy sofa and Euro Chair with integrated footrest for added living space.

From the Mailbox

Bent Petersen of Bigfork, Montana, sends along the story of how he and his wife, Lynn, fell in love with their dream motor home -- even though they were only window shopping. 

"This time last year my wife and I

"We were very pleased with our Dynasty, but always enjoy seeing products and innovations.  Our salesman told us they had just taken delivery on a new 2011 Itasca Ellipse and we needed to see it.  It was so new that it was still in the shop being prepped.  

"The minute we walked into the shop we were sold. The re-design of the exterior, particularly the front end, gives the Ellipse the look of a really high-end bus-style coach.  But the exterior was just the beginning.  When we went inside we were blown away by the spaciousness, the rich finishes and the many amenities. The full-wall slide and incredible amount of space, the fireplace, living room sectional, two bathrooms, residential refrigerator, and much much more -- it is truly an apartment on wheels.  

"Twenty-four hours later we were loading our possessions from the Dynasty to our brand new Ellipse and heading down the road.  We love the coach and, in our opinion, it is the best value for the money in high-end pushers in the market today.  Itasca really hit a home run with the Ellipse!"

See the 2012 Ellipse here.