Jayco Unveils 2016 Melbourne
Jayco Inc. has introduced its 2016 Melbourne, a Type C motorhome built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 chassis. It’s powered by a V-6 turbo diesel engine with 188 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque.
Two floor plans, each just under 25 feet, are available. Both sleep up to six people. Features include an 81-inch interior ceiling height, a queen-size mattress, and a 32-inch LED high-definition living area TV. The kitchen offers an 8-cubic-foot refrigerator, a convection-microwave oven, a two-burner cooktop, a flip-up countertop extension, and residential linoleum flooring.
The Melbourne comes with a Customer Value Package that includes a backup camera with monitor, a black-tank flush, an electric patio awning with LED light strip, frameless windows, keyless entry, heated remote-control mirrors, stabilizer jacks, swivel driver and passenger seats, and a touch-screen in-dash stereo with a built-in CD/DVD/MP3 player and input jack.
Other features: a front bunk rated at 750 pounds, an integrated electric step, and fiberglass running boards. Lap safety belts are installed in all seating locations.
Two interior décor options are available, as well as two exterior graphic package options and two full-body paint package options.
For more information, visit www.jayco.com or call (800) 785-2926.
Cummins Engines Meet EPA Requirements
Motorhome owners can expect improved fuel efficiency in the latest Cummins Inc. diesel engines. Company officials announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has certified that Cummins’ entire lineup of diesel and natural gas engines meets current EPA regulations as well as greenhouse gas and fuel-efficiency standards that will take effect in January 2017.
Amy Boerger, Cummins’ vice president of sales and support, noted efficiency improvements in the 2016 ISX15, a heavy-duty motorhome engine. The engine’s 400-horsepower-to-475-horsepower ratings will increase fuel economy ranging from 2.5 percent to 7.5 percent over the 2013 ISX15, depending on engine features, she said.
For information about Cummins engines, call Cummins Care at (800) 343-7357.
Winnebago’s Winnvision Debuts
It’s not exactly like being there, but a virtual reality image and display technology called WinnVision allows prospective Winnebago buyers to “walk” through a motorhome and see the interior from all perspectives.
WinnVision, which debuted at the 2015 National RV Trade Show in December 2015, is the first tool of its kind in the RV industry, said Scott Degnan, Winnebago’s vice president of sales and product management. WinnVision can be viewed on computers, tablets, and smartphones. It allows users to navigate through a motorhome and see detailed images, such as wood grains and control panels, that might not be visible in traditional photos or videos.
WinnVision images for certain motorhomes can be seen on the Winnebago website, www.winnebagoind.com. Go to a motorhome’s photo gallery and open WinnVision by clicking on an icon that looks like a three-dimensional drawing. Eventually, all the company’s floor plans will be available for viewing using WinnVision, Mr. Degnan said.
RVSEF To Offer Educational Conference
The RV Safety & Education Foundation will present an educational conference May 15-19, 2016, at Pritchard Community Center in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. The RV Technical, Education, and Safety Conference will feature more than 50 classes covering a variety of lifestyle, technical, driving, and safety topics. The conference is designed for people of all experience levels, from those considering buying an RV to new RVers to full-time RVers.
Classes will be taught by award-winning RV instructors and authors, including “RV Doctor” Gary Bunzer, a Family Motor Coaching columnist; Walter Cannon, RVSEF executive director; Bruce Hopkins, vice president, standards, Recreation Vehicle Industry Association; Randy Biles, president of Pikes Peak Traveland; Gary Motley, owner of Motley RV Repair; and others.
The registration fee is $249 per person, which includes access to all general conference classes, a conference notebook, daily lunches, a farewell dinner, and dry camping for the first 25 who reserve spots. RV weighing will be available for an additional fee. For more information or to register, visit www.rvsafety.com or call (321) 453-7673.
REV Recreation Group Adds Type C Motorhome Facility
REV Recreation Group has acquired a 50,000-square-foot plant where it will manufacture Type C motorhomes. The facility is directly across from the REV Recreation Group Welcome Center and Service Facility in Decatur, Indiana.
The manufacturing facility will house a team focused on Fleetwood and Holiday Rambler Type C motorhomes. Initially, those coaches will be built on the Ford E-Series platform. But shortly thereafter, a new product based on a Mercedes-Benz chassis will be introduced.
REV Recreation Group, formerly Allied Recreation Group, temporarily halted production of Type C motorhomes in mid-2015 to focus design efforts on the introduction of a new line of such motorhomes. The launch of the new lines will coincide with the opening of the new manufacturing facility in March 2016, according to REV Recreation Group officials.
Dometic Engineers Focus On Refrigeration
A new refrigeration engineering team at Dometic Group is focused on researching, designing, and developing RV refrigerators that provide more fresh food and freezer storage space without adding weight and bulk, according to a Dometic press release. Chief engineer Tek Lentine, a former design engineer, leads the team, which includes experienced engineers from the appliance and automotive industries.
The team was formed against a backdrop of RV customers who are seeking larger food-storage space. “In fact,” Mr. Lentine said, “many are asking for full-size residential fridges to be installed in their RVs. This presents several problems: The fridges do not fit, they need to be secured shut with sturdy straps or makeshift locks, and they are not energy-efficient enough for prolonged use with vehicle batteries.”
The Dometic team plans to address those issues with new designs and state-of-the-art power configurations. Historically, absorption refrigerators have been the industry standard because of their ability to run on propane gas or the vehicle battery, offering flexibility while traveling. “However, traditional absorption technology can be frustrating for RVers who are looking for a quicker cool-down period, particularly in hot climates,” Mr. Lentine said. “As part of Dometic’s R&D, we will be looking at, for example, technologies to speed the cool-down process while drawing minimal DC power.”