Contents July 2006 Great Getaways Parks & Resorts Helpful Hints Motorhomes & Trailers Trucks & SUVs What's New? Good Eats Good Reads This & That Buy/Sell an RV From Our Sponsors Subscription Services Trailer Life Customer Service      |      MotorHome Customer Service Welcome! Thanks for joining us for another informative issue of eNews. The long, hot summer has arrived and with it comes adventure. Whether you head north, south, east or west, and whether you heed our advice or follow your own path, we hope the July issue of eNews adds to your safe and enjoyable travels. Great Getaways I'd Like Some Morro, Please Seagulls drift on the morning breeze as kayakers glide across the placid water below. The deep-sea fishing boats set their course hours ago in the early morning fog, and later children build sandcastles on the shore in the balmy California sunshine. Presiding over the idyllic scene while providing endless photographic possibilities, Morro Rock is perhaps the most recognizable landmark along the California coast. With its hulking presence on the edge of the harbor, Morro Rock practically beckons travelers to come explore Morro Bay. Read more: http://motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?id=1114579. Parks & Resorts Okay, More Morro With four private RV parks inside the city limits and four state parks within easy striking distance, Morro Bay is a camper's bounty. Bay Pines, Cypress Morro Bay RV & Mobile Home Park, Morro Dunes Travel Trailer Park and Morro Strand RV Park all feature full hookups and offer easy access to the town's amenities, both natural and manmade. Montana de Oro State Park, 10 miles south of town, offers primitive camping in a rustic setting for motorhomes up to 24 feet. RVers should secure a reservation for one of the 50 sites before arriving from April through September. Read more: http://www.motorhomemagazine.com/output.cfm?id=1114597. Top of page Helpful Hints Fuel Tips / Sponsored by: Good Sam RV Emergency Service Since it seems we're stuck with high fuel costs, it's important for RV owners to do everything possible to maximize fuel economy. Some simple, inexpensive ways are suggested below: Good Driving Habits: The way you drive your RV is the most effective way to reduce your fuel costs. Slowing your cruising speed, gradually accelerating and avoiding excessive idling will help save fuel. Gas mileage may be increased by as much as 35 percent by simply accelerating and braking gradually. Also, reduce highway speeds. RVs usually get better fuel mileage around 55-60 mph. A general rule of thumb is for every 5 mph over 60, you will reduce your mileage by about 10 percent. Proper Tire Inflation: Under-inflated tires are a leading cause for reduced fuel mileage. The rolling resistance of one or more under-inflated tires will not only noticeably affect your miles per gallon and cause uneven tire wear, but will also increase the risk of sudden tire failure. Inflating your tires to the proper pressure takes only minutes if you have the necessary equipment at home. Or most tire shops will check and/or adjust your tire pressure for no charge. Routine Engine Maintenance: Keeping your engine maintained will ensure you are getting the most power for the least amount of fuel. The cost of an average tuneup can be recovered in fuel savings in a very short time. For gas engines, review the obvious things such as spark plugs, distributor cap, wires, etc., and other parts like the oxygen sensors and PCV valve. On diesel engines, service all filters, water separators, and clean the injectors as recommended by the manufacturer. Keep the oil changed as scheduled. Regular oil and filter changes (all filter types: air, fuel, oil) are an important part of keeping your RV running as efficiently as possible. Top of page Motorhomes & Trailers Into the Pines It's a great golf course in Southern California, and it's a terrific newly redesigned fifth-wheel from Newmar. The upscale Torrey Pine fiver for 2007 has taken its already ample standard package from the previous year and added high-end features and graphics, making it a strong contender for snowbirds and full-timers. The latest offerings include a 27-inch flatscreen television in the living room and a 20-inch LCD television in the bedroom. Queen Anne-style furniture in ginger maple and crown molding add to the luxurious setting. The new model is available in 10 floorplans varying from 35 to 39 feet, and the manufacturer's price starts at $71,685. For more information, go to http://newmarcorp.com. Taking the Show on the Road Talk about the early bird catching the worm! Winnebago is teaming up with CBS' The Early Show to tout the company's new Great American Vacation. Featuring two 2007 Winnebago Views built on Dodge Sprinter chassis and 2.7-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel Mercedes-Benz engines, the television show will take to the road this summer; the staff will award 16 unsuspecting lucky viewers with surprise vacations. For more information, go to http://winnebagoind.com. Choice Award Fleetwood's 2005 Grand Tour Elite folding camping trailer has won Nada Guides "2005 Visitor's Choice Award." Visit http://fleetwoodrv.com. Top of page Trucks & SUVs 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS Chevrolet has released its redesigned 2007 TrailBlazer early in 2006. A roomy five-person total seating capacity with bucket front seats and a 40-60 split bench rear seat add versatility, while premium leather upholstery coddles the passengers. TrailBlazer is available with all-wheel drive for optimum traction and a powerful 6.0-liter V-8 engine rated 395 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque backed up by a four-speed automatic transmission. For safety there are front and rear ventilated disc brakes with four-wheel ABS. With plenty of power on tap, you get a maximum towing capacity of 6,600 pounds. National base price (excludes destination charge) is $36,550. 2006 Dodge Ram Pickup 2500 For the 2006 Ram 2500, Dodge adds a new body style called Mega Cab. It features a 20-inch-longer cabin than the Quad Cab. Dodge's 5.7-liter Hemi V8 is the standard engine, rated at 345 horsepower and 375 pound-feet of torque. A 5.9-liter Cummins turbodiesel is also offered with 325 horsepower and 610 lb-ft of torque. Both engines come with a standard six-speed manual transmission. A five-speed automatic is optional for the V8, while the diesel can be equipped with a four-speed overdrive automatic. Two-wheel- and four-wheel-drive configurations are offered. Many other features are optional. A properly equipped Dodge Ram 2500 regular cab with the diesel has a 13,700-pound tow rating. MSRP price range for the 5.7 Hemi $25,535 - $42,575. Top of page What's New? It's a Gas (Saver) No, you don't have to be a Gen-X Mountain-Dew drinker to ride a Go-Ped, the electric or gasoline-powered scooters perfect for campground travel. RVers interested in beating high fuel prices while motoring to the store or to their favorite fishing hole will find that Go-Peds perfectly fit their needs. The electric ESR750 can be charged by most any rig and then this lightweight, stylish vehicle purrs riders to their destinations. The gas-powered GSR40 model features disc brakes, an aircraft-grade frame and a chain-drive transmission. It also sips at the pump. Accessories such as a seat and a rack to carry goodies can be added. Motorized Go-Peds start at about $350. For a list of models and dealers, go to http://goped.com Top of page Good Eats Sometimes Flaky Can Be Good Zagat has named Hastings House Country Estate in British Columbia, Canada, the "Best Canadian Resort," and the 18-room boutique hotel has garnered numerous other honors. The following recipe for Buttery, Flaky Scones with Currants comes from the just-released Hastings House Country Cookbook (see "Good Reads" below). Buttery, Flaky Scones With Currants 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons sugar 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut in chunks 1 cup whipping cream 1 cup currants Whipping cream for brushing the scones and to serve Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Sift together the dry ingredients. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center and pour in the whipping cream. Fold everything together just to incorporate; do not overwork the dough. If mixture is a little dry, add more whipping cream. Fold the currants into the batter. Press the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 12" X 3" X 1-1/4". Cut the rectangle in half, then cut the pieces in half again, giving you four 3-inch squares. Cut the squares in half on a diagonal to give the classic triangle shape. If you would like a smaller scone, cut in half again. Place the scones on an ungreased cookie sheet and brush the tops with a little whipping cream. Bake for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Serve with jam and lightly sweetened whipped cream. Makes 8 large scones. Email your simple, RV-friendly recipe for consideration in our "Good Eats" section to: bleonard@affinitygroup.com Top of page Good Reads A Hastings Retreat All of us may not be able to visit the 22-acre country estate on Salt Spring Island in British Columbia, Canada (those of us who can stay at Hastings House Country Estate, however, should). But we can each sample what a visit to this first-class establishment is like by purchasing the gorgeous cookbook Hastings House has just released in celebration of its 25th anniversary. Serving up the estate's history and 31 of Executive Chef Marcel Kauer's favorite recipes, the book is as much a celebration of mouth-watering photography and the country lifestyle as it is of food. To order a cookbook for $59 Canadian (about $65 US), call (800) 661-9255, or go to http://hastingshouse.com if you just want to salivate. Top of page This & That Surf's Up The Rally (formerly known as The Great North American RV Rally) went off without a hitch this past April in Daytona Beach at the Speedway. If you were one of the thousands to attend, you already know that RV Publications Day, hosted by Trailer Life, MotorHome Magazine and Woodall's, featured a host of activities, as well as thousands of dollars in door-prize giveaways. To learn more about some of the companies that were involved in Pub Day, visit any of the following Web sites: ADCO Covers, http://adcoprod.com Amtech Suspension, http://www.amtechsprings.com Cracker Barrel Restaurants, http://crackerbarrel.com Eagle One, http://eagleone.com Edge Products, http://edgeproducts.com Gear Vendors Under/Overdrive, http://gearvendors.com Good Sam Club, http://goodsamclub.com Justice Brothers Automotive-care products, http://justicebros.com Kampgrounds of America, http://koa.com OfficeOntheGoGo.com GPS magnifier, http://officeonthegogo.com Oil Eater Degreaser, http://oileater.com Pioneer Electronics, http://pioneerelectronics.com RV Easy Curtain, http://easycurtain.com SHURflo Pumps, http://shurflo.com The Surfin' Tones Band, http://thesurfintones.com Tracks to Adventure, trackstoadventure.com Birthday Corner Congratulations to the following companies on their success and longevity: Dynamax, 10 years -- http://dynamaxcorp.com Good Sam Club, 40 years -- http://goodsamclub.com Lazy Daze, 50 years -- http://lazydaze.com Disneyland, 50 years -- http://disneyland.com Woodall's, 70 years -- http://woodalls.com Airstream, 75 years -- http://airstream.com Top of page To subscribe to Trailer Life & MotorHome eNews, go to: http://trailerlife.com/newsletter/index.cfm. 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