Meteor Craters to the RV Lifestyle

50,000 years ago an asteroid decided that Winslow, Arizona looked like the perfect place to crash into Earth and create a crater that is about one mile across, 550 feet deep, and 2.4 miles in circumference. All to crater, err...cater to the RV Lifestyle. Today this area is known as Meteor Crater RV Park. The park has 71 pull-through RV and camping spaces, private restroom and shower facilities, plus two designated ADA and special needs accessible restroom and shower rooms. The park is also fully fenced with a secure gate. Pets are allowed and there is also a laundry room. Meteor Crater RV Park is in a great location. 

It is close enough for visitors to take day trips to the Grand Canyon - a must see for anyone within visiting range.  It is after all one of the seven natural wonders of the world!

There’s also the Navajo and Hopi Nations Tour  where you can experience the mysteries of the ancient past and unique modern culture of Navajos and Hopis who share more than 25,000 square miles of striking desert and mesa country.

Or take a trip over to the fascinating remains of a forest turned to stone to the Petrified Forest National Park. The 94,000 acre park includes a visitor center, restaurant, gift shop and scenic drive with parking areas and interpretative signs to help visitors understand this rare geologic phenomenon. If you don’t feel like venturing into town, you can always take a walk over to the visitors center at Meteor Crater Park, where there’s an 80 seat wide screen theater, an indoor crater viewing area, crater trail access, interactive discovery center, artifacts and exhibits, gift shop, and Subway restaurant.

You’ll want to be back at the RV Park by night fall and you’ll definitely want to set up your chairs outside, grab a drink and maybe a snack and prepare for one of the most amazing sites you may ever see.  The open sky full of bright stars is truly amazing and the possibility of witnessing a falling star is likely. The sunsets and sunrises are also one of the beautiful, natural experiences you won’t want to miss. While there is a lot to do away from the park, there are certainly plenty of reasons to stay.

If this sounds like an ideal spot for you, be sure to call ahead to make reservations and check on line for their admission prices and holiday hours.

Happy stargazing!

RV Country hauls in excitement with the new SandSport Toy Hauler!

If you missed the latest news in the toy hauler category, be prepared for some excitement! Pacific Coachworks has introduced the Sand Sport toy hauler line with several innovative features designed to meet the needs of the most demanding off-road enthusiast. Pacific Coachworks General Manager Jeff Daily said the new Sand Sport has “the look, specifications and price point that will surely meet or exceed the needs of even the most demanding toy hauler consumer.”  And if that isn’t enough to get your attention, maybe this will...dealer response has been amazing, so much so, that orders are flying in.

It seems that toy haulers are this years ‘must-have’ item. Toy hauler trailers are divided into two separate compartments with the storage section opening directly to the outside to allow for easy access to the cargo.

According to RV Business,  “a study commissioned by RVIA shows that even during a time of economic turmoil and fluctuating fuel prices, RV trips remain the least costly, 28% to 59% less expensive than other types of vacations for a family of four. For an “empty-nester” couple traveling by RV, savings were 15% to 45%”.

Could savings like that be one of the reasons people are turning to toy haulers? With a toy hauler, a family has all the comforts of an RV and the ability to bring their ATV’s with them. This gives the family the travel savings they need, the luxury of ‘home’ that they want, and the enjoyment of having their off road vehicle with them, which will help cut down on entertainment expense.
If you’re interested in more information on the Sand Sport toy hauler, give us a call or just stop on by and see us here at RV Country!



Happy Hauling!

We can't contain our excitement for Quartzsite!

Are you as excited as we are to get out to the desert in January and get the party started at Quartzsite?!  There’s just something about this event that gets us buzzing around here... From October until we leave we’re dreaming of the 1,000,000 people that come out, the food, the entertainment, and of course the BIG WHITE TENT! It's a 20 acre facility with FREE customer parking! Its 69,000 sq. ft. of fully carpeted indoor exhibit area! Please tell us you’re just as excited as we are! You must be, its the largest gathering of RV’ers on Earth!  

If you haven’t been a part of this amazing event in the past, this is the year to do it. What better way to relax after the holidays than to take off for the Arizona desert and explore acres of beautiful RVs, exhibits of all kinds, a great car show, a world renowned rock and gem show, and countless flea markets to visit. You don’t have to take our word for it, just check out this video!

Now, that you’ve seen the video we know we’ll see you there this year! Look for us by the main event stage under the big white tent!

Trash Can Turkey for the RV Lifestyle

Mmmmm, we can taste it now, the Thanksgiving feast that’s right around the corner. We know many of our RV friends spend Thanksgiving at an RV park or camp ground and we keep hearing about this gourmet "trash can turkey". Though the name isn't all at once appealing, we hear the end result is fantastic! 

So, as we are fast approaching the season, we thought we’d hustle up and share the recipe with you. We also found a video courtesy of The RV Cooking Show that we are going to include. If you try out this tasty recipe be sure to let us know if you enjoyed it!

The first thing you will need is a 20 gallon galvenized steel trash can. You’ll want to treat the trash can with a water and white vinegar mixture to remove the metallic taste from the can. Add 1 gallon of white vinegar and fill the trash can up half way with water. Scrub the trash can and let it sit for about 6 hours - swishing the mixture onto the sides of the trash can every half an hour. Once this step is done, be sure to rinse the trash can really well.

While you are letting your trash can “season” you can prepare the cooking station. You’ll want to get a large piece of aluminum foil and place it on the ground. Be sure it is in a non-flammable area.  Then you will want to get a 12x12 piece of wood and cover it with aluminum foil and an 18” dowel, also covering it with aluminum. You’re going to mount the dowel into the 12x12 piece of wood for the turkey to sit on.

Now that your trash can is ready and your cooking station is ready...onto the bird!

You can cook up to a 13 pound bird this way. You can season it if you want, but if this is the first time you have tried a trash can turkey, we suggest trying it without seasoning this time. Be sure to clean your turkey and then place it legs down over the dowel. Next, place the trash can over the turkey. Pour a 10 pound bag of self lighting charcoal on the top of the trash can and at the bottom of the trash can. You DO NOT want to use any lighter fluid at all. Let the charcoal flame up and cook for 90 minutes. After 90 minutes rake the coals off the top and away from the bottom of the can and using gloves remove the can - caution - it will be very hot!

And there you have it... One beautifully browned, juicy bird! And like we promised, here is the video from The RV Cooking Show for a visual on the whole process! Don’t forget to share your photos and tell us all about your experience!


Happy turkey cooking!

RV Lifestyle: Thor Motor Coach Recall for Diesel Engine

Recall. When ever I start to type the word "recall" I am reminded of the commercial for Ricola cough drops, and in my mind I sing ♫  Recalllll.... ♫  just like the narrator of the Ricola commercial. Okay, so maybe that was more information than you needed, but it might help get important information like this next recall stuck in your head. 

If you're the proud owner of a 2011 or 2012 Thor Tuscany, Astoria or Avanti, equipped with a Cummins ISX or ISL diesel engine you’ll want to make an appointment with a service department near you. According to RV Daily Report “The V-band clamp assembly, part numbers Q187684, Q187685, and Q187686, used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC)/Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) include a T-bolt which can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. A fracture or failure of the T-bolt may cause the clamp to loosen and the inlet or outlet sections attached to the DOC/DPF housing to disconnect.

If the inlet or outlet sections disconnect, hot exhaust gases can vent prior to exiting the tailpipe, creating the risk of combustion and a fire. If both clamps fail, there is a risk in some applications that the DOC/DPF housing may detach completely, creating a road hazard. TMC is working with Cummins to identify and notify owners of the recall campaign. Repairs will be performed by authorized Cummins dealers free of charge. Owners may contact Cummins at (812) 377-5000.
 

The NHTSA number for the Cummins recalls is 11E-031. Cummins' recall campaign number is C1154.”

Don’t forget you can always make a service appoint on-line with RV Country or give us a call at (800) 959-6485.

Special of the Week! 2011 Keystone RV Mountaineer

Since 1996, Keystone RV Company has quickly risen to become an industry leader in innovation and quality. Keystone was created by a group of owner/managers who left key positions at major corporations in the recreational vehicle industry, bringing together experience and innovation. This amazing Keystone Mountaineer Hickory Edition Bunkhouse Fifth Wheel has:

Quadruple Slideouts
Rear Double Slideout
Fold-Down Bunk Beds
Closet
LCD TV
1/2 Bath w/Lav. & Toilet
Booth Dinette & Air Mattress
Hide-A-Bed Sofa w/Overhead Storage
Refrigerator
3 Burner Range
Double Kitchen Sink
Microwave
LCD TV
Garden Tub
Private Toilet Area, Lav.
Dresser
Front Queen Bed w/Shelf
Wardrobe w/Sliding Doors
Washer Dryer Prep w/Storage & Much More.

The upgraded options include:
Glacier pkg
Moving to Montana pkg
32" LCD TV
19" LCD TV in bunkroom
Washer/dryer prep
DVD player
Outside camp kitchen
Black tank flush
Power vent fan kitchen & rear bathroom
19" LCD TV in bedroom
10 gal gas/elec water heater w/ DSI
Wire & frame for 2nd AC
Medallion high gloss ext
Aluminum wheels w/ equaflex suspension upgrade
Air mattress hide-a-bed
Duel jacknife sofas
Ceiling fan
RVIA seal.

To see more details and measurements, visit us at RV Country!

Fall Foliage You'll Fall in Love With

One great thing about our beautiful country is that we have the freedom to go wherever we want, whenever we want. It's like the song says “This land is your land, this land is my land” and if you live in a state that doesn’t get to see much fall foliage (ahem...Florida) why not pack up your RV and head out to somewhere you can witness the colorful miracle that is the Autumn changing of the leaves?  To make the trip even sweeter, how about a visit to some of the most amazing national parks the good ol' USA has to offer! Here are some of the prime parks you won't want to miss this Fall:
1. Whiskeytown National Recreation Area - Peak colors expected middle to end of October. On October 18, a hiking event to Whiskeytown Falls offer a perfect way to view the foliage during the peak season.
2. Curecanti National Recreational Area - Peak colors begin in late September and run through the end of October.
3. Natchez Trace Parkway - In middle to late October, the maple, hickory, oak and other hardwood trees begin to change colors.
4. Glacier National Park - The bright yellow and gold colors on the aspen and larch trees run through mid-October covering the trails around the park, but particularly along Summit Trail. For more information on the best trails to see colors or view photos of the fall colors, visit Glacier’s Facebook page.
5. Flight 93 National Memorial - The trees across the Flight 93 National Memorial begin to turn around mid-October. Check out the Honor Flight webcam today to find instant inspiration for a trip to the site or to take a virtual fall foliage tour.
6. Great Smokey Mountains National Park - The Great Smokey Mountains boast over 130 different tree species, many of which  produce breathtaking Autumnal colors. Peak foliage viewing depends greatly on the various levels of elevation found within the park, but overall, the Smokies’ foliage shows run from late September through October.
7. Zion National Park - Peak foliage colors appear at the end of October and into the first few days of November.
8. Shenandoah National Park - Peak colors in the upper elevations begin early to mid-October with lower elevations peaking at the end of October into November.
9. Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park - Rich with sugar maples and 400-year-old hemlocks, this site boasts outstanding fall foliage each year.  This year’s prime viewing is expected from mid-October through early November.
10. Apostles Islands National Lakeshore - Peak foliage viewing various depending on inland or coastal location, however the foliage show runs from late September through October.  Additionally, many bird species are migrating through the park right now, so foliage seekers get an extra show from Mother Nature.

Special thanks to the National Park Foundation for providing us with this amazing list of parks, and their prime time for Autumnal viewing! Remember to share your stories and pictures either by submitting your story or on our Facebook wall.

Happy RV’ing!

Super Cool, "Cooler" Corn On The Cob

Have you ever done it? Have you ever heard of anyone else doing it? What is it, you ask? Why it's only the newest, most innovative way to cook your corn on the cob...Coleman cooler style. 

Well, for starters corn on the cob isn’t just for summer anymore, and for those of you that enjoy camping, cooking out, simplicity, and walks on the beach (uh, scratch that last one, wrong blog) or for those of you that just want to have a good conversation piece, this way of cooking corn is for you. You’re going to want to shuck the ears first and scrub off the silk strands. Then put the corn in your trusty cooler (not the one that’s full of beverages and ice). Once the corn is in, fill the cooler with boiling water and shut the lid. You'll want to do it a bit ahead of time because it takes about 2 hours, but you can leave it in longer to keep it hot. Prepare your dinner, and by the time you sit down to eat, your corn is going to be perfectly done. 

This ingenious way of cooking corn has another perk... If it's cold outside, you have a nice toasty bench to sit on while you wait for dinner to be ready! This is also a great and super easy way to make a large batch if you're feeding a group. Your friends will be amazed at your clever corn cooking skills, and you’re likely to be the topic of conversation for quite awhile. 

You can thank your friends at RV Country for making you the hero of every one's weekend by sharing your story with us or by posting pictures of your cooler corn on our Facebook wall!

Happy Eating!