New Horse Transporter
Equine Motorcoach, an RV and horse transport company based in Clarksville, Indiana, has designed and manufactured a motorhome to respond to the needs of show competitors and enthusiasts who travel with their horses.
The first Equine Carriage ST rolled off the manufacturing line in January 2013 as part of the tow vehicle and transport line the company is growing. The motorhome is built on a 2013 Freightliner M2 chassis with a 350-horspower Cummins engine and an Allison automatic transmission. The interior features a full shower, bath, and kitchen area, along with ample living space and a high-end entertainment system. A pair of 6-foot slideouts on each side include sofas that convert into beds. This configuration gives customers the option of safely seating up to eight people while traveling.
A companion fifth-wheel hitch with a 2 5/16-inch ball and a Class 5 tag hitch provide versatile towing options. The Equine Carriage ST can transport a gooseneck trailer, a fifth-wheel, or a bumper-pull trailer. A rear camera and an in-cab monitor assist with backing.
The company, in conjunction with Kibbi LLC and Renegade Custom Coaches, also produces a line of two-, four-, and six-horse coaches. These vehicles — half motorhome and half horse carrier — are modeled after the lorries and horseboxes that are popular in Europe.
In July 2013 Equine Motorcoach was featured on the TV program “Epic RVs” on the Destination America channel. The segment featured a look at the first-generation Equine Motorcoach that is the prototype for the company’s current model.
Equine Motorcoach is based at Stinnett RV in Clarksville, Indiana; (502) 664-3300; www.equinemotorcoach.com.
Detroit Diesel Option In Newmar Essex
Representatives from Detroit Diesel, a familiar name in the motorhome business for many years, participated in Newmar Corporation’s April 2013 dealer meeting, The engine builder’s factory personnel were on hand with a display model of its power plant in the Freightliner Custom Chassis exhibit. A 500-horsepower DD13 engine is being offered as an option on a Freightliner SLR chassis in Newmar’s 2014 Essex Type A motorhome.
This marks the second time in recent years that a Detroit Diesel engine has been used in the motorhome business. The DD13 was offered last year in Fleetwood RV’s 2012 American Eagle.
Not long ago, Detroit Diesel was a common engine brand in Type A motorhomes, and it has remained a staple in over-the-road motor coaches, fire trucks, and heavy-duty truck markets throughout the recession. The current version of the DD13 was completely redesigned by 2008 to meet 2010 emission standards.
Doug Weatherly, senior sales manager for Detroit Diesel, said the DD13 is “top of the line” in terms of fuel efficiency and includes a new Virtual Technician feature. This technology will provide owners with an added sense of security should engine trouble occur when on the road.
When an engine light comes on, notification goes to the company’s Detroit call center, where technicians analyze the fault, get a snapshot of the engine’s operating parameters, and, within three minutes, can determine whether parts are required. The driver is notified by the service center that the code was received by technicians and is told whether the engine is in need of immediate attention. If service and parts are required, technicians identify the nearest distributor and let the customer know how to get there.
The distributor also receives an e-mail with the troubleshooting guide and the parts list required, so when the customer arrives, the service center is prepared to repair the vehicle.
For more information about Detroit Diesel engines, visit www.demanddetroit.com.
Prevost Introduces Driver-Side DEF Filler
Prevost has introduced a driver-side DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) filler for Prevost H3-45 VIP motorhome shells. The new DEF filler has been thoroughly tested to ensure that it is operational with North American filling stations and complies with longstanding Prevost quality standards. Prevost was to begin production of the new DEF filler in late April.
A retrofit kit also will be available for all H3-45 VIP Prevost motorhomes equipped with EPA 2010 and later engines through Prevost converter partners and Prevost service centers. For more information, visit www.prevostcar.com.
RV Shipments Rise For 18th Straight Month
Through the midway point of 2013, RV wholesale shipments tracked by Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) have climbed to 174,918 units, 12.9 percent higher than the same point in 2012. Motorhome shipments jumped 33.6 percent, going from 14,576 units last year to 19,472 units this year. Towable shipments grew from 140,412 units to 155,446 units, a gain of 10.7 percent.
Total monthly wholesale shipments to retailers of all RVs were reported at 30,903 units in the June survey of manufacturers, an increase of 12.2 percent compared to this same month last year. This marked the 18th consecutive monthly total that was ahead of the same month a year earlier. Towable RVs increased 8.7 percent on shipments of 27,409 units, while motorhome shipments were ahead by 50.2 percent on 3,494 units shipped to dealers in June. Seasonally adjusted, June’s total represented an annualized rate of 302,700 units.
Another report from the University of Michigan indicated that consumer confidence in the U.S. economy is at its highest since July 2007. The group’s final July reading of consumer sentiment was 85.1, which was up one point from June 2013 and 13 points higher than a year ago. Consumer confidence is closely watched, because American spending accounts for 70 percent of the U.S. economy’s growth.
Roadtrek Introduces New CS-Adventurous
Roadtrek Motorhomes, based in Kitchener, Ontario, recently unveiled the CS-Adventurous Type B motorhome. Built on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, known for its fuel economy, engineering, and durability, this new model is said to include many features found in much larger motorhomes.
According to Jim Hammill, president of Roadtrek, the CS-Adventurous was designed for the avid RVer. “We made sure it had ample capacity for lengthy trips, both dry camping and otherwise — ample fresh water, propane, and storage. We incorporated a very advanced hydronic heating system to make spending time in the van as comfortable as home,” he said.
Features include a large galley with a 7-cubic-foot refrigerator, a raised convection-microwave oven, a hot and cold filtered drinking water dispenser, and plentiful storage space. The hydronic heating system provides coach heat and domestic hot water, as well as in-floor radiant comfort heating, supplementary heat in the bathroom, and vehicle and engine preheating in cold weather.
The cockpit seats provide a separate living area. The rear power sofa converts to large twin beds or a king-size bed.
The CS-Adventurous is available with Roadtrek’s E-trek electric and environmental package for even greater independence and capability while dry camping for extended periods.
For more information, visit www.roadtrek.com or call (888) 762-3873.