RV Miles is filled with all things RVX this week! RVX is the new annual trade show for the RV industry, and we have Mark Koep from campgroundviews.com reporting on his takeaways from the experience. Mark also talks to us about his website and some futuristic campground booking ideas coming to fruition very soon on the platform. Plus, we have a list of this years top quality-rated RVs, some news, a new brain teaser, and more!

Sponsors

L.L.Bean

This year, L.L.Bean is joining up with the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, to help you find your happy place – in an amazing system of more than 400 national parks, including historic and cultural sites, monuments, preserves, lakeshores, and seashores that dot the American landscape, many of which you’ll find just a short trip from home. L.L.Bean is proud to be an official partner of the National Park Foundation. Discover your perfect day in a park at findyourpark.com.

FMCA

From Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Fifth Wheels, bus conversions, and more, FMCA is here to enhance your RV Lifestyle. For as little as $5 a month, you can travel with peace of mind knowing FMCA has your back. Get connected with like-minded RVers on their Facebook page, Forums, at Conventions, and Events. Deals and discounts include RV Insurance, and Tire Savings Programs, and their Medical Emergency and Travel Assistance Program is included FREE. A yearly membership is only $60, but RV Miles listeners can save $10 with code RVMILES19. Just visit FMCA.com and enter code RVMILES19 or click the link in the show notes.

STAND-Bi 3-in-1 Cup Holder

The STAND-Bi takes cupholders to a whole new level. This 3-in-1 product holds your drink and your phone at the same time and can accommodate numerous drink sizes making it perfect addition for your car, motorhome, golf cart, boat, stroller, or camp chair. No cupholder? No problem. Attach the removable foot, complete with condensation tray, and set it right on your table or desk. It even comes with a ground stake for the campsite or beach. The STAND-Bi is durable, dishwasher safe, UV protected, and will always be made in the USA. Your cupholder needs an upgrade. Get the STAND-Bi today by visiting Stand-Bi.com and save 15% with promo code SAVE.

The Togo App

Togo is the organizational app that simplifies, enhances and improves RV ownership. With Togo, everything you need to own and operate your RV is in one, convenient, digital space. Sort of a digital glove box—but without all the extra clutter. You can track maintenance, set reminders, follow checklists and keep track of registration details. Whether you’re a full-time traveler or weekend warrior, Togo is designed to make your life easier. Simplify your travel experience and download the Togo app in the U.S. Apple Store or Google Play. An RV that runs with Togo enjoys more miles with less trials. Download the Togo app today.

Show Notes

This week’s news stories kicked off with a blaze that has destroyed the Forest River RV plant in Elkhart, Indiana. Fortunately, there were no injuries. Next, we talked about the heavy snow pack and flooding that will have many of Yosemite National Park’s facilities opening late this year. Then we covered the brilliant new SylvanSport Vast, a trailer with an innovative kitchen that slides indoors and out.

After the break, we let you know about some of the top-ranked RVs for quality and reliability by an anonymous survey from the RV Dealer’s Association:

  • Airstream Motorhomes and Towables
  • Coachmen RV’s Brookstone and Chaparral Fifth Wheels
  • Forest River’s Flagstaff Travel Trailers & Fifth Wheels, Shamrock Expandables, Sierra and Sandpiper brands
  • Grand Design’s Image, Momentum, Reflection, Solitude and Transcend brands
  • Gulf Stream’s motorhomes, Vintage Cruiser, Vista Cruiser, Innsbruck, Amerilite, Conquest and Kingsport Towable brands
  • Heartland’s Big Country, Elk Ridge, Cyclone, Torque, Landmark, North Trail, Wilderness, Prowler, Trail Runner, Road Warrior, Sundance and Gateway brands
  • Keystone’s Montana and High Country brands
  • Lance Camper’s Travel Trailers and Toy Haulers
  • Leisure Travel Vans/Triple E Motorhomes
  • Newmar Motorhomes
  • Pleasure-Way Motorhomes
  • Tiffin Motorhomes

Our main topic of the week was an interview with Mark Koep from campgroundviews.com on his experience at RVX. Mark told us all about the great innovations on the show floor, as well as the Campground of the Future exhibit his company was a part of. You can view the online version of the exhibit here.

He then told us all about CampgroundViews.com, how you can use it today (with 30,000 campsite photos and 3,000 videos) and some of the exciting virtual reality campsite discovery features coming to the site later this year.