RV News & Notes: January 2018

Airstream introduced its newest touring coach, the Atlas, this past fall. Company officials categorize the vehicle — which is 24 feet 9 inches long — as a Type B-plus motorhome and say it has the most spacious floor plan in Airstream’s touring coach lineup. The Atlas is built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500 chassis and is equipped with a 3.0-liter V-6 turbo diesel engine.

Features of the Atlas include a rear air-ride suspension system; a Cummins 3.2-kilowatt diesel generator; a rear bath suite with teak shower inlay; a Murphy bed featuring the Froli ergonomic sleep system; keyless remote-locking exterior storage compartments; and a variety of advanced safety features.

For more information, call (877) 596-6111 or visit www.airstream.com.

ASA Electronics opened its doors in November 1977 as a distributor. But a few years later, the company shifted gears.

“Although we did start out as a distributor, we became frustrated by the major electronics companies’ lax attitudes about developing products specifically for our target markets,” founder and CEO Tom Irions said in a release. “So, by the mid-’80s we started to develop our own designs and engineered solutions.” Today, ASA sells to several recreational and commercial markets — including the RV industry — under its own seven brand names. It also has partnered with Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Harley-Davidson, Klipsch, and other companies.

ASA Electronics has a reputation for integrating the convenience of modern technology into the camping experience. Examples include the latest generation of its iN-Command Control Systems (an RV controller that acts as the central hub of operations and allows the user to control and monitor many RV systems), as well as its line of Jensen wall-mount stereos.

For more information, visit www.asaelectronics.com.

Two companies with high profiles in the RV industry — Cummins Inc. and Erwin Hymer Group North America — have played roles in assisting areas hard hit by recent hurricanes.

Cummins, a manufacturer of engines and power systems, deployed technicians to support Florida customers affected by Hurricane Irma. Technicians also were deployed to Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria to help bring electricity to key parts of the U.S. territory. For example, workers frequently serviced three Cummins generators running around the clock at the Puerto Rico Convention Center in San Juan. The convention center houses the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) command center and also has served as Puerto Rico’s largest shelter for people displaced by hurricanes. In addition, Cummins employees have responded to recent natural disasters in Texas, Mexico, and India. The company also has been working with Save the Children to raise money for disaster relief.

Erwin Hymer Group North America, a manufacturer of Type B motorhomes, has partnered with Kymeta, Liberty Global, and Intelsat to provide communications support in Puerto Rico. Erwin Hymer Group’s mobile lab operates out of a Roadtrek CS Adventurous 4×4 with E-trek technology, and is equipped with a high-speed Kymeta satellite. By supplying internet access and other communications services, the lab provides support for first responders; for residents, who can fill out FEMA aid applications, use ATMs, and order goods; and for pharmacists, who can retrieve prescriptions.

Mighway, an RV rental service, has been operating in New Zealand since 2015. It launched in California in early 2017, and it plans to expand across the United States in stages.

The service, sometimes called the “Airbnb of motorhomes,” helps RV owners connect either directly or indirectly with people who wish to rent their vehicles. Owners can choose to have Mighway take care of everything, including bookings, payment, vehicle pickup, customer support, and vehicle returns. Or, owners can choose to meet with renters and have Mighway handle security, payment, and safety concerns.

In October 2017, when wildfires caused many northern California residents to be displaced, Mighway began working with its community of RV owners to provide temporary, discounted emergency accommodations. Mighway waived its service fee for such bookings. Vehicles also were available to relief workers and staff coming into affected areas to assist with recovery.

RV owners who would like to make their vehicles available can call (844) 462-9299 or email owners@mighway.com. For more information, visit www.mighway.com.

Coachmen RV and Midwest Automotive Designs have begun offering motorhome buyers the option of equipping their vehicles with the Xantrex Freedom e-GEN lithium-ion power system. The system is marketed as a safe, environmentally friendly source of power that eliminates the need for an RV generator.

Coachmen RV, a division of Forest River Inc., offers the Xantrex e-GEN system as an option on its Galleria Type B motorhomes. Midwest Automotive Designs, a division of REV Group Inc., offers the same system in all of its luxury RV vans.

According to Xantrex literature, the e-GEN lithium-ion system provides reliable AC and DC power to run an air conditioner and other high-power loads in all climate conditions. Features include an advanced inverter/charger, long battery life, long electronics run time, and fast engine recharge time. In addition, a battery-management system accurately charges the lithium-ion batteries from multiple sources. According to Xantrex, the power-to-weight ratio of its lithium-ion batteries is seven times more than lead acid-based batteries.

A “Made in America” Recreation Advisory Committee was established this past November by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke. The committee will advise Secretary Zinke on public-private partnerships across public lands, with the goal of expanding access to and improving infrastructure on public lands and waterways. Committee members will be selected for their diverse backgrounds and their experience in the recreational industry.

Frank Hugelmeyer, president of Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), praised Secretary Zinke for forming the committee. “Public-private partnerships are a well-established solution that can harness the expertise and investment of the private sector to achieve the upgrades desperately needed by outdoor enthusiasts across the country,” Mr. Hugelmeyer said in a statement.

Secretary Zinke also appointed former Navy SEAL Rick May as a senior adviser, focusing on outdoor recreation.