2011 National Park Fee-Free Days
United States Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced that the National Park Service will waive admission fees on selected dates throughout 2011 and encouraged all Americans to visit a national park this year.
“Many people have made resolutions to spend more quality time with loved ones and to get outdoors and unplug in 2011,” Mr. Salazar said. “There’s no better place than a national park to help keep those resolutions. Parks offer superb recreational opportunities, making them perfect places to enjoy our beautiful land, history, and culture, and nurture a healthy lifestyle.”
Mr. Salazar noted that with 394 national parks throughout the country, most Americans live within a few hours of a park, making them places for easy and affordable vacations any time of the year.
The remaining 2011 fee-free dates will be during National Park Week (April 16-24); the first day of summer (June 21); National Public Lands Day (September 24); and the weekend of Veterans Day (November 11-13).
Many national park concessions also will offer discounts on fee-free days, saving visitors money on food, lodging, tours, and souvenirs. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm.
Sun Safety For Drivers
A recent study from the St. Louis University Medical School revealed that nearly 53 percent of skin cancers in the United States occur on the left side, or driver’s side, of the body. Researchers believe the increase in left-sided skin cancers may be from exposure to UV (ultraviolet) radiation while driving.
“People may be surprised to learn that car windows don’t provide complete sun protection,” said Perry Robins, M.D., president of The Skin Cancer Foundation. “Ultraviolet radiation reaches us in the form of shortwave UVB and long-wave UVA rays, but glass blocks only UVB effectively.”
The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends the following ways to protect your skin, particularly when spending extended time in the motorhome or towed vehicle.
Treat your vehicle to window film. The sun’s ultraviolet radiation is associated with most cases of skin cancer, which will affect one in five Americans over a lifetime. Although vehicle windshields are partially treated to filter out UVA, the side windows let in about 63 percent of the sun’s UVA radiation. However, transparent window film screen filters out 100 percent of UVB and UVA without reducing visibility, and it can be used in all 50 states. When shopping for window film, be sure to check whether the product has the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation.
Keep sunscreen handy. For those without window film, sunscreen should be on hand for quick reapplication during long drives. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends reapplying every two hours. Look for a sunscreen with an SPF of 15+ and some combination of the following UVA-blocking ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.
Wear protective sunglasses. UV-blocking sunglasses are one of the strongest defenses against eye and eyelid damage. For proper protection, sunglasses should have the ability to absorb and block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB light. Wraparound styles with a comfortable, close fit and UV-protective side shields are ideal. Polarized lenses to eliminate glare are especially good when driving. Also look to see whether the glasses meet ANSI and/or ISO standards for traffic signal recognition, which means that the lenses permit good color recognition, especially for distinguishing between red and green traffic signals.
Coast Distribution System Unveils RV Healthy Roof Program
Coast Distribution System has launched a new program titled “Is Your Roof Healthy?” aimed at educating RV owners about the importance of RV roof maintenance. The program encourages participating RV dealers to offer free RV roof inspections to customers.
Participating dealers are trained to perform RV roof inspections, which includes the use of a checklist. At the end of the inspection, dealers inform the RV owner of the condition of their roof and make recommendations if maintenance is required.
Consumers can visit www.rvhealthyroof.com to find a participating dealer. The site also provides roof maintenance tips and product information. Consumers also can sign up to receive periodic e-mail updates with tips and product promotions.
Coast Distribution has partnered with Dicor Corporation, a supplier in RV roof technology, and RVP Coleman, a manufacturer of RV air conditioners, to make this program possible.
Born Free Approved For Sale In Canada
Born Free Motorcoach, a division of Dodgen Industries Inc. based in Humboldt, Iowa, has been approved to sell its products in all Canadian provinces and territories. The company, which has sold its motorhomes factory-direct in the United States for 41 years, was recently notified by Transport Canada that it has been added to the division’s pre-clearance list. This allows the Canada Border Services Agency to quickly check any new Born Free motorhome against its list of vehicles admissible from the United States, thereby facilitating the import process and minimizing a customer’s time and effort before, at the time of, and after crossing the border.
Born Free Motorcoach produces a variety of Type C motorhomes with lengths ranging from 20 feet to 27 feet and featuring numerous floor plan options. For more information, contact Born Free Motorcoach at (800) 247-1835 or visit www.bornfreemotorcoach.com.
MVP RV To Export More Than 30,000 RVs To China
MVP RV Inc., a manufacturer of motorhomes and towable RVs based in Riverside, California, has entered into an agreement with China-based Winston Global Energy to export more than 30,000 recreation vehicles worth in excess of $5 billion to China during the next three to four years.
The agreement was cited in a press release from the White House on January 19, 2011, in conjunction with Chinese President Hu Jintao’s state visit and was heralded as a significant step in the continued development of the recreation vehicle industry in China.
Under the agreement, Winston Global Energy will provide $310 million in capital to MVP RV to promote motorhome exports to China. It is expected that MVP RV will export approximately 10,000 Type A motorhomes and 20,000 Type C motorhomes. Additional capital also will be provided for the development of all-electric RVs and fast-charging electrical systems.
MVP RV recently purchased a vacated RV manufacturing facility, which has 500,000 square feet of manufacturing space on 23 acres. According to Brad Williams, MVP RV president and CEO, the company anticipates hiring approximately 1,300 employees during the next 12 months.