Reader Rave: Navion iQ

"We took a 5,500 mile trip to northern California, Oregon and Washington last July and August in our new Navion iQ. We had just traded our 40' diesel pusher in on the iQ and were very happy to be traveling in this wonderful driving RV.

"The thing that surprised us the most was all the attention we were attracting as we traveled.  Now we know that we have good taste and when we saw the iQ we knew it was what we wanted. However, we were actually shocked by the response it got on the trip.  Several people asked for a tour and we cooperated with all who asked.  We were asked about the iQ in gas stations, at restaurants, Walmart, campgrounds and at the places we stopped for sightseeing.

"It continues every time we take the unit out.  We recently attended our high school reunion and a couple found out we owned the unit and asked us for a tour.  We love our new iQ and just thought we should tell you that we think you have hit the jackpot with this unit."

                                                - Sincerely yours, Dr. Jack and Valle Montgomery

Maintenance Tip

This goes out to readers with gas-powered motor homes.

Today's highly oxygenated fuel doesn't have the shelf-life yesterday's gasolines had.  So it's a good idea to add a fuel preservative (such as Stabil) anytime your motor home will go unused for more than a few weeks.  Just be sure to follow the directions, as this is one situation in which some is good, but more is definitely not better!

Got a maintenance tip, favorite recipe or destination to share?  Send it along and if we use it, we'll send you a little something in return.

It's Showtime!

Hershey... Pomona... Tampa... every year, the big RV shows mark the official debut for many new models and floorplans, and 2013 is no exception.

While we can't share everything ahead of time, we can give you a peek into some of the highlights from Winnebago, Itasca and Era that you'll find at this year's biggest shows:

Three new Winnebago Vista and Itasca Sunstar floorplans  

With the new $69,999* 26HE, triple-slideout 27N and bath-and-a-half 35B, the 2013 Winnebago Vista and Itasca Sunstar take the industry's best value to a whole new level.  Whether you're an experienced RVer or just starting out, chances are there's a Vista or Sunstar that meets your needs -- and fits your budget -- perfectly!

The new Winnebago Tour and Itasca Ellipse 42GD

The 42GD flows gracefully from the expansive driver-side galley with pull-out island to the elegant lounge (with stunning 55" TV) to the walk-through bath and master bedroom with Ideal Rest digital control mattress.  See how good life can be in the elegant 42GD, the latest addition to our top-of-the-line coach.

The new Winnebago Journey and Itasca Meridian 34B

With premium amenities like our extendable sectional sofa, 40" TV and luxurious master bedroom, plus the outstanding storage and performance of our proven Maxum Chassis, the triple-slideout 34B delivers deluxe performance and accommodations in a compact diesel pusher.

The new Winnebago Access and Itasca Impulse 31W

Like every Access and Impulse, the 31W comes fully equipped with a long list of standard amenities that are upgrades -- if available at all -- from other brands.  The family friendly Class C 31W features a spacious galley and lounge upfront; while the large master bedroom with walk-around queen bed and generous wardrobe help make the 31W the complete package.

The new Era 70A

Built on the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, the new 70A is the most versatile Era yet. Featuring our exclusive Flex Bed that transforms from twin beds to a large queen, the 70A incorporates our legendary build quality -- yet it's priced thousands less than the competition.

Hidden Gem

One of the best-kept secrets in outdoor recreation is the fact that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the country's largest provider of water-based recreation.

The Corps manages 12 million acres of public land and waterways, and hosts 370 million visitors to its recreation areas each year.

Among the areas it manages in 43 states is Lake Barkley, which straddles the border between Kentucky and Tennessee.  At 58,000 acres and with more than 1,000 miles of shoreline, Lake Barkley is one of the world's largest man-made bodies of water.

Together with Kentucky Lake to the west, Lake Barkley helps define the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area (but that's another newsletter!).

You'll find more about Lake Barkley here, and more camping information from the Army Corps of Engineers here.