RV Products: February 2003

Aluminum Wheels

Alcoa’s new forged-aluminum Dura-Bright wheels are said to wash clean and stay bright without polishing. Unlike conventional wheels, Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels are protected by a patented treatment that penetrates the wheel so that brake dust, grime, and oil residue wash off quickly and easily. According to product literature, field tests show that the brilliant shine will last without polishing, even after years of use. These new wheels are available for motorhomes and buses, as well as medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and trailers. Besides the wheels’ good looks and the enhanced resale value they can bring, product literature states that their lighter weight can increase payload, improve fuel economy, and extend brake and tire life.

For more information, contact:
Alcoa Wheel Products
1600 Harvard Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44105
(800) 242-9898
www.alcoawheels.com

Black & Decker’s new DustBuster Cordless Floor Vac is actually three cordless vacuum cleaners in one. According to company literature, the 9.6-volt vacuum is said to be the most powerful cordless model on the market. When it is used as an upright floor vacuum, a selector switch turns a rotating power head on and off to maximize performance on hard or carpeted surfaces. With the push of a button, the upright floor vacuum converts to a full-size hand-held vacuum for cleaning small areas such as stairwells and under dinettes. With the push of another button, the DustBuster becomes a traditional hand vacuum to clean draperies and other hard-to-reach surfaces.

The vacuum’s Double Action Filter System employs a filter that deflects dirt and debris off a primary hard filter and into the dirt bowl, and captures fine dust in a secondary pleated filter. The collection system keeps users from touching the dirt when emptying the large-capacity dirt bowl. The DustBuster Cordless Floor Vac is covered by a full two-year warranty and has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $64.99.

For more information, contact:
Black & Decker Consumer Services
P.O. Box 618
Hampstead, MD 21074
(800) 544-6986
www.blackanddecker.com

The Esprit faucet is the latest addition to the Seagull IV LTF (lifetime finish) Designer Series water filter offerings from General Ecology Inc. This faucet is offered with a variety of options, including “LTF gold” or chrome finish, a flat or dome-shaped base, and either an extended or standard spout configuration. Other features include lifetime ceramic disk valving, lead-free materials, and a thermoplastic tip to minimize scale buildup in hard-water areas.

Beneath the counter, the Seagull IV X-2KF Designer Series drinking water purifier uses General Ecology’s proprietary “Structured Matrix” purification technology. According to product literature, the device “purifies water to independently meet EPA microbiological purification standards against bacteria, cysts, and viruses, plus it excels at the removal of many chemical and aesthetic contaminants for great-tasting, top-quality water.” The Seagull IV X-2KF purifier with installation kit, mounting hardware, and choice of new Esprit faucets, ranges in price from $718 for chrome-finish faucets to $728 for gold-finish faucets.

For more information, contact:
General Ecology Inc.
151 Sheree Blvd.
Exton, PA 19341
(800) 441-8166
(610) 363-7900
Fax: (610) 363-0412
www.generalecology.com

The patented RollGard suspension stabilizer system from Amtech employs a pair of leaf springs that attach to the vehicle’s existing leaf spring system. According to product literature, the RollGard system forces the wheels to the ground, reducing the sway, pitch, and roll of the vehicle. It also is said to reduce the possibility of a rollover accident caused by a sudden lane change or cornering too fast.

RollGard can be installed in less than 30 minutes on any vehicle with rear leaf springs. It attaches to both ends of the leaf springs and uses the rear axle as a pivot to maintain consistent ride height. The RollGard for RVs and 15-passenger vans is available for $395. It also is available for sport utility vehicles and light trucks for $350.

For more information, contact:
Amtech Corp.
3120 Venture Drive
Las Vegas, NV 89101
(888) 880-8949
www.rollgard.com

Top Line offers the Tire Hopper tire step, a portable platform that is said to fit most makes of cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles, and vans. The tire step doesn’t require any assembly and it folds to a compact 2 inches when not in use. Simply slip the Tire Hopper’s mounting strap over the wheel and tire, and step onto the platform to load and unload cargo from the rooftop. The Tire Hopper also can make washing the windshields on many type B and type C motorhomes easier. The platform’s aluminum construction and non-slip surface can help lessen the risk of injury associated with these jobs. The Tire Hopper is available for $39.95.

For more information, contact:
Top Line
7032 Alondra Blvd.
Paramount, CA 90723
(800) 653-0605, ext. 5
Fax: (562) 633-6550
www.toplinemfg.com

CITGO SUPERGARD UltraLife motor oil is specifically designed to meet the needs of high-mileage vehicles. Said to be ideal for gas and diesel motorhome engines, as well as automobiles, light trucks, and sport utility vehicles, the oil is formulated with dispersants and additives that perform many functions vital to the needs of high-mileage engines. These include lubricating and conditioning engine seals; reducing oil leakage; resisting oil burn-off; and inhibiting the formation of valve deposits. CITGO SUPERGARD UltraLife exceeds engine oil requirements of API SL, SJ, SH, and previous categories. It is available in 10W-30 and 10W-40 viscosity grades and is compatible with rebuilt engines.

For more information, contact:
CITGO Petroleum Corporation
P.O. Box 3758
Tulsa, OK 74102
www.citgo.com

The new K-1400 pressure washer from Karcher generates 1,400 psi of water pressure, which is approximately 30 times the pressure from a garden hose, while using 80 percent less water. The compact, electric-powered unit features Karcher’s Razor-Edge nozzle technology to produce a focused stream and deliver concentrated water pressure for more power and better cleaning results. Using the Quattro Nozzle attachment, it reportedly is easy to switch between a pencil-thin spray for hard-to-reach places; a high-pressure fan-jet for vehicles and boats; a low-pressure setting for applying detergents; and the Dirt Blaster high-speed rotary jet that boosts cleaning power by 50 percent.

For cleaning large surfaces, the K-12 Surface Cleaner attachment is said to clean five times faster than a standard fan-jet. The K-12 connects easily to any Karcher pressure washer and incorporates two powerful nozzles attached to fan blades that spin at up to 1,000 rpm to clean a foot-wide path with a single pass. The K-1400 and the K-12 Surface Cleaner are available in an introductory bundle for $199.99, which amounts to a savings of more than $80 compared to the separate purchase prices.

For more information, contact:
Karcher
2170 Satellite Blvd., Suite 350
Duluth, GA 30097
(800) 537-4129
www.karcher-usa.com

The RodDoors’ Flame-Out system provides an attractive fire extinguisher and storage panel that can be placed in an easily accessible location in any motorhome, automobile, or stationary home. The 1-pound dry-chemical fire extinguisher features a chrome finish and is fully rechargeable. The storage panel is precision-molded from ABS plastic and is designed to be trimmed for an exact fit in any convenient and easily reachable location. The storage panel can be covered with any material and installed using the included 3M Dualloc adhesive-backed, no-screw, no-drill fastener strips. The RodDoors’ Flame-Out system is available for $99.

For more information, contact:
RodDoors
636 Nord Ave. #B
Chico, CA 95926
(800) 428-7114
Fax: (530) 896-1518
www.roddoors.com

The Safety Hot Blade is designed to begin to warm automatically during freezing conditions. The heating element in the wiper blade prevents snow and ice from accumulating on the blade, and helps your wipers keep the windshield clean and clear during winter’s dangerous driving conditions. The heated wiper blade kit comes with all required hardware and easy-to-follow instructions for what is termed a quick and easy installation. The silicone wiping blade is said to last up to three times longer than normal blades. With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $49.95 per blade assembly, the Safety Hot Blade can be fitted to many motorhomes, as well as domestic cars, trucks, and sport utility vehicles.

For more information, contact:
Rostra Precision Controls
2519 Dana Drive
Laurinburg, NC 28352
(800) 782-3379
www.rostra.com

The MINOX 6X16A monocular features six-power magnification with a 420-foot field of view at 1,000 yards; a unique close-up setting for macro viewing of small objects from less than 5 feet; and an LCD digital computer that functions as a clock, altimeter, thermometer, and stopwatch. The monocular, with its rugged metal housing, measures less than 4 inches by 2 inches by 1 inch, weighs less than four ounces, and  is said to be dust-free and waterproof. The MINOX 6X16A monocular has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $249 and comes with a neck strap and a nylon case.

For more information, contact:
MINOX at Leica Camera Inc.
156 Ludlow Ave., Dept. P
Northvale, NJ 07647-2305
(800) 222-0118
Fax: (201) 767-8666
www.minox.com