luxury RVs that drivers

Motorized mansions / Drivers and crews on the NASCAR circuit are helping fuel a growing demand for top-end RVs Drivers and crews on the NASCAR circuit are helping fuel a growing demand for top-end RVs" / SFGate Home Business Sports Entertainment Travel Jobs Real Estate Autos SFGate News Web by Motorized mansions Drivers and crews on the NASCAR circuit are helping fuel a growing demand for top-end RVs Susan Fornoff, Chronicle Staff Writer Saturday, August 6, 2005 now part of stylesheet -- More... Printable Version Email This Article More H&G Articles The Latest Green Gardener -- When the work day is done for Kevin Hamlin, he looks forward to plenty of wife Patti's cooking, a bit of remote surfing on the flat-screen TV and a good night's sleep in the Hamlins' king-size bed. Never mind that the setting for the Hamlins' domestic bliss rolls. With Kevin on the road 100 or more days of the year as crew chief for Jeff Burton's No. 31 Cingular car, the couple (and their three dogs) live the NASCAR lifestyle in the roaming community of luxury RVs that drivers and crews call home. And, really, with amenities like these, who wouldn't? "Double sinks, two-burner stove, microwave convection oven," Patti points out on a tour of the Hamlins' 45-foot Newmar Essex when it was parked at Infineon Raceway for June's Dodge/Save Mart 350. "Big refrigerator-freezer, Corian counters, plasma TV, washer-dryer. Full shower, full bathroom. King-size bed, cedar-lined closet, another TV. Lots of storage, with oak woodwork crafted by the Amish in Michigan. "We looked at a lot of motor homes. A lot of them can get really high-tech and modern looking. We liked this one because it has a more homey feel. It's very comfortable." At about $350,000, it also cost more than the house on 2 1/2 acres the Hamlins own back in Mocksville, N.C. -- but not nearly as much as the granite-countered, designer-furnished, million-dollar monsters that many of the circuit's drivers call home on the road. Actually, "motor coach" is what they call them, a fairy-tale-derived term that helps distinguish them from those pumpkin campers of old. More and more, it's the luxury model that's driving $14 billion a year in sales of RVs, the most popular search term on EBay last year. "High-end RVs are a small portion of the total RV market, but it's the fastest growing segment," says Ken Sommer, media relations director for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association. "Today's high-end RV is fully loaded, it has all the bells and whistles, the high-tech entertainment system, high-tech gadgets, plasma screen TVs, surround sound, hookups to the Internet, gourmet kitchens, designer interiors, and, especially, slideouts. "Slideouts, where you have a button on the wall and the wall slides out to expand the interior of the living room or bedroom, are the hot thing today -- at our trade show, we just saw an RV with five slideouts. These alone are sparking sales." In 1992, fewer than 100 of the 203,400 RVs sold cost $200,000 or more; 10 years later, 11,600 of 311,000 RVs sold cost $200,000 or more. And that 11,600 increased nearly 20 percent over the next year. California's weather, state parks and even film industry make the luxury RV market particularly strong here. "I just wish I could bring my hot tub along," says Stanton Barrett, a Busch Series driver and Hollywood stuntman who takes his Fleetwood American Eagle out on the racing circuit. "With all the injuries from my stunts, I thought it would be good to be able to soak, but I just couldn't fit it in." Barrett actually does his own RV driving, unlike NASCAR's more prosperous drivers and top crew, who will board a team jet and head home (generally North Carolina) after Sunday's Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis to work on their cars, then reboard the team jet on Wednesday to head for Watkins Glen, N.Y., and the next race. By the time they land, often with families in tow, the luxury motor coach has arrived and been parked at a track-designated, security-patrolled area with RV hookups where the likes of Jeff Gordon and Al Unser Jr. can comfortably plant their families while shuttling to and from the nearby garage area. "The alternative is for the family to stay home and me to stay in a hotel,and that gets too hard," says driver Joe Nemecheck, whose Newell has four slideouts to comfortably house wife Andrea and their three kids. "This way, everybody's got their own space and their own toys, and we can spend time together." "The great appeal to them is to get to go home in the evening and be with their spouses and children," Sommer says. "A lot of them say it helps with their performance to be able to do that. That, and not having to pack and unpack the way you would in a hotel." For drivers and support personnel, the RV alternative runs laps around the hotel life. Access and egress at tracks hosting huge NASCAR events is notoriously horrendous, adding wasted minutes to the ride to a decent hotel. Drivers and crew often find themselves with short gaps in the workday that don't warrant leaving the track but do lend themselves to a quick nap in the motor coach or game of checkers with the kids. Like many frequent travelers, drivers worry about food poisoning and prefer the familiarity of a home-prepared meal. But here's something most of us don't have to think about: the emotional needs of our families while we're out risking our lives at speeds nearing 200 mph. "If anything happened to me, I would know that my family's in a place where they'd get the right support," Nemecheck says. The security comes not only from the 100 rolling homes congregating at most races, but from Motor Racing Outreach, a nonprofit Christian ministry that trucks around in a 53-foot hauler that carries, outreach staff member Monte Self says, "everything from foosball to TV" plus a fitness trailer for drivers and a staff for their kids. "On a typical weekend, there are about 37 kids here," says Self, who with his wife, Melanie, directs the community center. "It's nothing for a driver and his child to come to the community center and lie on the floor and play cards together." The Selfs sometimes lead field trips to nearby cities, and the families are by no means stuck at the track. All carry a "satellite vehicle" of some kind on the back. Stanton Barrett fits a Mini Cooper and two motocross bikes into a trailer; the Hamlins, who love wine-tasting and married at Chappellet Winery in St. Helena in 2003, tow a Chevy truck and have a pair of golf-cart-like vehicles for zipping around inside the track. RVs, of course, are not as much fun as race cars to handle or to park. "You don't need a special driver's license," Sommer says, "but you do need some training, which is usually provided by the dealer in a video or classes. The most important thing to remember is that driving an RV is different, but it's not difficult. Islands at gas stations are places where accidents might occur, because turning is going to be different, and backing up also takes practice." No wonder rear-view cameras have become standard equipment on even mid-priced RVs these days. And those popular slideouts can expand the RV for living and contract it for driving, a time when bigger isn't better. Even with single-digit gas mileage, Barrett guesses that he's saving money via luxury RV over planes, hotels and rental cars. When asked why a Californian wouldn't choose to live in a $300,000 RV rather than a $500,000 condo, he said he couldn't think of any reason. "I would live in one!" he says. "The only thing is your storage space. But I think if I got out of racing and wanted to travel a little, a motor home could be as nice as a home, especially if you spend a million or two." A million or two, figures Barrett, would get him more "cool stuff" and longer showers. "If your water tank's as small as mine," he notes, "10 minutes and you're out." E-mail Susan Fornoff at sfornoff@sfchronicle.com . Page F - 1 Get up to 50% off home delivery of the Chronicle for 12 weeks! From Serramonte Ford Acura 2003 TL $24,888 Dodge 2004 Neon $9,488 Dodge 2004 Neon $10,488 Dodge 2001 Dakota $14,488 Dodge 2004 Other $17,988 Dodge 2004 Dakota $20,588 Ford 2005 Focus $13,988 Ford 2005 Focus $14,288 Ford 2000 Mustang $9,688 Ford 2002 Taurus $8,988 Ford 2005 Taurus $17,188 Ford 2005 Econoline E350 $25,888 Ford 2005 Econoline E350 $25,988 Ford 2005 Econoline E350 $20,888 Ford 2005 Escape $25,288 See more from this dealer About Top Autos View All Top Autos Back To Top San Francisco Chronicle Sections Datebook Commentary Sports News Bay Area Home&Garden Business ©2006 San Francisco Chronicle | Privacy Policy | Feedback | RSS Feeds | FAQ | Site Index | Contact

RV Trader RV Insider

Your online classified advertising company - RV Trader Online.com Contents Home Search Browse Place An Ad · modify your ad · renew your ad Find a Dealer Buyer's Guide Subscribe Help My RV Trader RV Insider Resources Financial Services NADA RV Values Insurance Products for the RV Lifestyle RV Transport Warranties RV Donation Generators RV Lots and Properties for Sale Campgrounds/Resorts RV Rentals Loan Calculator RV Links Escrow Dealers Sign Up Now! Demo Login Password Forgot your password? Click here . About Us At RVTraderOnline.com you will find the widest selection of classified ads with 76914 recreational vehicles to choose from and more than 1510 dealership listings. RVTraderOnline.com is owned and operated by Trader Publishing Company. Formed in 1991, Trader Publishing Company is the nation's leading publisher of specialty classified advertising publications, including over 750 paid and free magazines such as RV Trader, For Rent, Harmon Homes and The Employment Guide. Dedicated to satisfying consumer demand for efficient targeted advertising, these magazines are complemented by Trader's over 40 market leading Internet sites (RVTraderOnline.com, ForRent.com, Homes.com and EmploymentGuide.com), each designed to serve a specific category like the automotive, specialty vehicle, apartment rental, homes for sale, employment and lodging segments. It also provides website hosting services for over 12,000 real estate agents, car dealers, and other specialty vehicle businesses. With over 335,000 outlets, it boasts the largest paid and free distribution publication network across the U.S.; and it operates 11 regional printing plants. Trader's over 10,000 employees serve its customers through offices in most major cities in 47 states. Our number one goal is to provide the best service possible for our users. As a division of Trader Publishing Company, RVTraderOnline.com can boast the very best in technical support, hardware and software to ensure that we are always ready when you need us. We are also always looking for ways to make our site better and encourage you to contact us with any complaints or suggestions. About TraderOnline.com TraderOnline.com is a collection of high-traffic websites receiving millions of visitors each week. The sites cover virtually every used vehicle and general merchandise category. TraderOnline continues its relationship with private parties wanting to buy and sell used vehicles, including recreational vehicles, yet also serves as a forum for dealers and brokers to advertise their vehicles for sale. TraderOnline.com is a division of Trader Publishing Company. Trader Publishing has several hundred publications today covering a diverse mix of categories such as automobiles, trucks, heavy equipment, boats, motorcycles, aircraft, employment, homes, apartments and general merchandise. With local sales offices in almost a hundred U.S. cities, Trader's print magazines are distributed through hundreds of thousands of distribution points in most of the United States. Trader Distribution Services also a division of Trader Publishing, is the nations largest direct distributor to the retail channel for free publications, product and service brochures, and other free consumer media. TraderOnline.com and its parent company, Trader Publishing, are headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia. Trader Publishing Company is owned equally by Landmark Communications, Inc. and Cox Enterprises, Inc. Who we are. TraderOnline.com ( www.traderonline.com ) is the world's largest new and used vehicle classifieds service on the Internet. TraderOnline.com ranks in the top 200 most highly trafficked websites with 7 million visitors and 70 million page views each month. TraderOnline.com is a collection of websites covering the automotive, aircraft, boat, yacht, truck, motorcycle, RV, heavy equipment, collector car, employment, homes, apartments and general merchandise categories. TraderOnline.com Websites AutoTrader.com RVTraderOnline.com AeroTraderOnline.com BoatTraderOnline.com TruckTraderOnline.com EquipmentTraderOnline.com CycleTrader.com Dibit.com CollectorCarTraderOnline.com BargainTraderOnline.com Walnecks.com DealsonWheels.com SoundingsOnline.com TruckRaceCycle.com RacingMilestones.com WoodshopNews.com HarmonHomes.com ForRent.com EmploymentGuide.com Parenthood.com All Trader websites are accessible through www.traderonline.com . What we do. We provide quick, easy-to-navigate websites for our customers to search FREE for new and used vehicles. We allow the consumer to place an ad, online, to sell his/her vehicle. We facilitate the sales transaction by providing the seller's phone number and e-mail address when available with the item for sale. We provide dealer inventory tools to allow dealers to manage their inventory online. How to sell a recreational vehicle on RVTraderOnline.com. It takes about three minutes from any computer with Internet access. Describe your recreational vehicle, price it, let buyers know how to get in touch with you, and submit the ad. CLICK HERE to get started! How to buy a vehicle on RVTraderOnline.com. It's free to search. Search as long as you like for a recreational vehicle using criteria you select. CLICK HERE to start searching! Call the phone number listed in the ad, or email the owner. Cut a deal! Pick Up an RV Trader Magazine Today! | Search | Place an Ad | Find a Dealer | Resources | Site Map | | Contact Us | About Us | Help | Privacy Policy | Fraud Prevention Tips | Visitor Agreement | Security Center | 2006, Trader Publishing Company All Rights Reserved. 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RV campgrounds more than

RV Family Travel and Camping Testimonials Go RVing Search Reconnect with Family Cool For Kids Easy on the Pocket Freedom & Control Convenience & Comfort Lure of the Outdoors Retire In Style Meet RV Families/Testimonials Pursue Your Passions Print this Page Meet RV Families/Testimonials We'd love to hear about your RVadventures. If you'd like your story to be considered for posting on ourwebsite for other RVers to read, please send it to us. Please note that bysending us your personal RV testimonial, you are giving us your permissionto post it on the site. Click here to Submit Your Own Testimonial. Joel & Jerrie Crawford Joel Crawford is now on his eighth RV and he says they just keep getting better. He and his wife, Jerrie, along with their dog, Beau, love to hop in their 35-foot Type A Motorhome and take off on the spur of the moment. Its an easy escape. You dont have to pack or unpack, Joel says. We keep the RV loaded. We keep our clothes in there all the time, so we just put the perishables in and were gone. Its a convenient way to travel. Im retired, so most of the time we get away in the middle of the week when nobody else is getting away, Joel says. A lot of times we just go up into the mountains and hide for three or four days. Joel became an RV owner in his thirties when he got tired of borrowing his parents RV and decided it was time to get one of his own. And, over the years, he and Jerrie have traveled the southern half of the United States from coast to coast and up the east side of the Rockies and down the west side, border to border. Joel said the conveniences of their RV make it seem like they were never away from home. Its a trouble-free way to travel. The Crawfords 10 grandchildren are RVing fans, as well. Joel and Jerrie have taken them to Disney World, Opryland and Dollywood, to name just a few places. A lot of people think an RVs hard to drive, but thats just not true. You get used to it. For me, it was always there. It was in my blood. And dogs are fans of the RV, too. The Crawfords once had a dog named Chuck who had an amazing ability to read road signs, they say. Chuck would look out the window, and every time he saw a road sign for a rest area, hed jump off the seat and wait by the door, Joel says, laughing. And Beau just likes to get up on the dash and bark at the trucks. Joel & Jerrie Crawford, Lawrenceville, GA Tim & Lynne Polley Tim Polley has been RV camping his entire life. And now hes introducing a third generation of Polleys to the experience. I started RV camping with my parents. We started out with a folding camping trailer, then moved up to a 16-foot travel trailer and then to a 24-foot travel trailer with all the amenities, he says. And then I got married. My wife, Lynne, and I both love being outdoors. We started tent camping, but as we got older, it was taking an entire day for our weary bones to recover. So, about a year ago, we bought a folding camping trailer of our own. Its great for comfort. And it provides better protection from the weather. I dont want to forget to mention how important our dealer was in assisting us to pick the right trailer for us and helping take care of our service issues. They have been a very vital part of Lynnes and my RV experience. So far, theyve used their RV for trips through Iowa and Illinois. One highlight from their RV excursions so far? A two-week visit to Colorado. The kids are enjoying the RV as well. It keeps them active and stops em from being couch potatoes. We are able to bring our bikes along with us, and so we can all go bike riding together. Were able to teach our kids about the outdoors. And teach them how to rough it a little bit. With RVing, youre able to develop a closeness with people. At night, my wife and I like to walk around the campgrounds. You say hello to the people there and start having conversations with each otherwhere youre from, what you do for a living. And from those conversations, you form friendships. I think you talk to people at RV campgrounds more than you would in everyday life. Tim & Lynne Polley, Moline, IL Geula Resnick (and friends) Geula Resnicks RV is NOT going to the dogs. But it IS going to the dog shows. After all, she bought her RV three years ago with the express purpose of going to dog shows. Geula shows Rottweilers. She and her husband, David, own three: Monty, Riley and Charley, along with two Manchesters: Redi and Lola. Geula says the motivation behind getting their RV was simple: The convenience, she says. Being able to have all the dogs with methose were the main reasons we got an RV. For the people, its more comfortable. And for the dogs it is, too. Without an RV, our dogs would to travel to the shows in crates, but this way, we can let them have the run of the RV. With an RV, youre able to bring the comforts of home with youfor you and for your dogs. The Denver resident uses her 28-foot Type A Motorhome to take her dogs (as well as friends and their dogs) to shows throughout Colorado, New Mexico, Arkansas and Nebraska. She has been showing dogs for about five years now and loves the pastime. She says that owning an RV has made the experience all the easierand more enjoyable. When we take our RV with us, well usually stay on the show site. Everyone parks together. Its a very social atmosphere at dog shows. RVs are a very popular mode of transportation among the dog show crowd. Out of about 100 members of our local Rottweiler club, I would say about 15 of us own RVs. And at a good-sized dog show, youll probably see anywhere from 40 to 50 RVs there for the weekend. I know people who have ordered custom RVs just to accommodate their dogs. Geula Resnick (and friends), Denver, CO Steve & Becky Miller Steve Miller and his wife, Becky, are RV veterans and have the friendships to prove it. In 1989, they purchased their first folding camping trailer so they could take family trips with their four-year-old son. But they soon realized that RVing isnt just a convenient way to travel with all the comforts of home. Its also a great way to meet new people and forge lifelong friendships with other RVers. It was at a campground in Myrtle Beach, S.C., that Steve and Becky met and befriended Bill, his wife, Jean, and their two children. And through them, they met Jerry, his wife, Joyce, and their grandson. The group hit it off and have been friends ever since. We have become friends with people we would not have met if we did not camp, Steve says. People we didnt even know when we purchased our first small camper have now become important to us. In 1994, with their son then nine years old, the Millers traded for a slightly larger towable RV. It was perfect for their trips to the Fort Wilderness Resort at Disney World, Williamsburg, Va., and Busch Gardens parks. Camping in our pop-ups has afforded us opportunities to go places we otherwise would not have gone, Steve says. When their son was almost 15 years old, the Millers were ready for another upgrade. That's when they bought the larger folding camping trailer they have to this day. This camper hasn't gone to Atlanta, Disney or Williamsburg, but it has continued the tradition of enabling us to be with friends that we have grown closer to over the years. Steve summed his feelings up best when he said, Vacationing any other way simply would not have yielded the same quality of life results. Steve & Becky Miller, Asheboro, NC ©2005 Go RVing, Inc.

RV Travel With Pets

RVing with Pets Visit our sister site FabulousFoods.com Tuesday January 24, 2006 Email This Page To A Friend! RV Travel With Pets By Mark J. Polk Pets and RV's just seem to go together. One of the really great things about traveling in an RV is that you can take your pets with you. In many cases the main reason people buy an RV is so their pets can travel with them. Both of our dogs have been traveling with us in our RV since they were puppies. They both get extremely excited when they see us loading the RV for another trip. It's fun and convenient to be able to take your pets along with you, but I realized a long time ago that certain precautions must be taken when you travel with pets. There were a lot of things to remember about traveling with our pets, so to make it easier I included this checklist in my Checklists for RVers e-book. First and foremost always keep in mind that an RV gets extremely hot and / or cold inside depending on the outside temperature. Always make sure there is some type of ventilation and / or heat and air available when pets are left in the RV. Never leave your pets in an RV for long periods of time without somebody checking on them periodically. If you will be away from your pets and the RV for an extended period of time leave a key with someone you can trust to check on the pets and in case of an emergency. Always have fresh water available for your pets. You never know the quality of the drinking water when you are traveling so it's a good idea to take a container of water from your home that your pets are accustomed to, or use bottled water. Pets should always travel in a pet carrier or crate for their personal safety. Get a current health certificate from your veterinarian before traveling. Always take the pets medical records along with you. Take a recent color photograph of your pets with you in the event that they should get lost. Update all vaccinations before leaving on your trip. Take a proof of rabies vaccination. Take flea, tick, and heartworm medications. Take a pet first aid kit and know what dosages of medication to give your pets. Take your veterinarian's regular phone number and emergency phone numbers with you. Get the phone number for a local veterinarian when you arrive at your destination. Don't forget to take the brand of pet food your pet is used to and take a food and water travel bowl. Take a walking leash. Your pet's collar should include identification along with basic information such as your name, address and a cell phone number. You can even include an e-mail address. Take a harness, tie out anchor and a leash or chain. Give your pet plenty of room to move, but be cautious of traffic and obstacles that they can get hung or caught on. We use portable exercise pens. Take grooming tools, pet toys and treats. Take extra cat litter and the cat box. Take some plastic bags for pet clean up. Take your pet's favorite bedding or crate. Take some old towels just in case you need them Traveling can be stressful on pets especially if they are not used to it. When your pet is away from home and off of their regular schedule it can affect their health. Perform a daily health check on your pet. Look for anything out of the ordinary. Stop often when you're traveling and allow your pets to exercise and to relieve themselves. When making campground reservations be sure and ask about pets. Some campgrounds offer kennels and boarding for pets. If your travel plans include day trips or extended travel away from the campsite inquire about these services. This checklist does not cover everything that you need to be concerned with when traveling with pets in your RV, but it's a good start. You can add to this list and tailor it to your specific type of pet or your pet's needs and refer back to it before a trip so you don't forget anything. I wrote an e-book with over 35 checklists all in one place. For more information click to: Checklists for RVers . Happy Camping, Mark Mark Polk is the owner of RV Education 101 . He also hosts the RV Savvy segments on RVTV , which airs on the Outdoor Channel. RV Education 101 is a North Carolina based company that produces professional training videos, DVDs and e-books on how to use and maintain your RV. Our goal is to make all of your RVing experiences safe, fun and stress free. For more information, visit www.rveducation101.com . Sign up today for one of our FREE informative and fun Newsletters . RV / Camping Budget Travel Travel Tips Kitchen Tips Low Carb Low Fat Desserts Holidays/Parties Vegetarian E-Mail address subscribe unsubscribe Home | Budget | Adventures | Globetrotting | Weird Wanderings | RV & Camper's Corner | Galavanting Gourmet On the Water | Travel Books | Community | Tips © Enigma Communications™ 2006 About Us | Advertising Opportunities | Privacy Policy

Diesel Motor Home

Weights: 2006 Islander Diesel Motorhome by National RV Overview Features Photo Gallery Floorplans Weights Exteriors Dealer Locator Search by State Mail my Brochure 16 mb Download Quick Menu 2006 Islander 2006 tradewinds 2005 Tropi-Cal 2005 Dolphin 2005 Sea Breeze WEIGHTS & MEASURES Printer Friendly Islander WEIGHT RATINGS (IN LBS.) 40 F 40 G Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) 32,000 32,000 Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) 42,000 42,000 Front Gross Axle Weight Rating (FGAWR) 12,000 12,000 Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RGAWR) 20,000 20,000 Unloaded Weight Rating (UWR) TBD 29,300 Maximum Carrying Capacity (MCC) TBD 2,700 Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) TBD 1,001 MEASUREMENTS 40 F 40 G Wheelbase 252" 252" Overall Length 39' 11" 39' 11" Overall Height (incl. ladder) 12' 6" 12' 6" Overall Height (incl. SAT) 13' 2" 13' 2" Interior Height 85-1/8" 85-1/8" Interior Width 96-3/8" 96-3/8" Exterior width 100-1/8" 100-1/8" TANK CAPACITIES (IN GAL) 40 F 40 G Water Heater Capacity 10 10 Gray Tank Capacity 60 60 Black Tank Capacity 60 60 Fresh Water Capacity (incl. w.h.) 100 100 LP-Gas (volume w.c.) 50.6 50.6 Fuel Tank 150 150 NOTE: Due to continuing product improvements, specifications and equipment are subject to change without notice. Weights stated are based on a typical build of standard and optional equipment, but some variance in weights from coach to coach is normal and to be expected. Please consider these factors BEFORE you buy. Islander RV/Motorhome: Overview | Features | Photo Gallery | Floorplans | Weights | Exteriors 2005 National R.V., Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms and Conditions | Statement of Privacy | Site Map | Contact Us