HITCH HINTS: TOWING WITH A TESLA RV TIPS: IT’S ALL IN THE OIL PLUS: THE COOKING LADIES, TIRE TECH, NEW RV PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! DISCOVER THE YUKON! www.rvlifemag.com $6.95 ROAD TEST: Jayco Precept Prestige 36H Class A Luxury! ✓ 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 50 No. 3 Destinations IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHT 12 COOL NEW RVS ON THE ROAD AGAIN! RV’ING IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERAON THE ROAD AGAIN! RV’ING IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA 50-3.indd 150-3.indd 12021-08-24 4:12 PM2021-08-24 4:12 PMBEST FIFTH WHEELSBEST TOY HAULERSDEALER AWARD 5X At Grand Design our goal is simple... We strive for nothing less than customers for life and we would be honored to welcome you to the Grand Design RV Family. GrandDesignRV.com/RVLifestyle We love our customers and they love us back. Dealers rate all Grand Design products at the top of the entire industry in reliability, quality, service, and warranty. grand desing.indd 12018-11-15 3:38 PMFollow us on Facebook! @ RVLifestyleMagazine Follow us on Instagram! @rvlifestylemagazine Departments 6 HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson Towing with a Tesla – The Future is Here! 12 RV TIPS by Garth Cane Motorhome and Tow Vehicle Longevity – It’s All in the Oil. 18 THE COOKING LADIES – Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay Reverse-Seared New York Strip Steak - In Temecula Wine Country. Road Test 22 JAYCO PRECEPT PRESTIGE 36H by Norm Rosen Affordable Luxury! 3 Volume 50 Number 3 | RV Lifestyle ON THE COVER Jayco Precept Prestige 36H Cover photo by Norm Rosen CONTENTS VOL. 50 NO. 3 HITCH HINTS: TOWING WITH A TESLA RV TIPS: IT’S ALL IN THE OIL PLUS: THE COOKING LADIES, TIRE TECH, NEW RV PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! DISCOVER THE YUKON! www.rvlifemag.com$6.95 ROAD TEST: Jayco Precept Prestige 36H Class A Luxury! ✓ 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 50 No. 3 Destinations IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHT 12 COOL NEW RVS ON THE ROAD AGAIN! RV’ING IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERAON THE ROAD AGAIN! RV’ING IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA 50-3.indd 150-3.indd 12021-08-24 4:12 PM2021-08-24 4:12 PM Destinations 28 HEAD NORTH TO THE YUKON! Travel Editor James Stoness takes us to on a Northern adventure. Special Report 34 RVING IN THE POST PANDEMIC ERA The only way to stay “out of the woods” is to stay IN the woods! RV Spotlight 36 12 COOL NEW RVS An RV Show - in print! Tire Tech 46 ROLLING ALONG… Your guide to RV tires, from the experts at OK Tire. 50 NEW PRODUCTS! These new products will bring warmth to your off-season camping adventures. RV Lifestyle Magazine archives are open for your viewing pleasure – check them out at www.rvlifemag.com Watch our road test videos at our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCFP3PKGEf131iOB8HaxPbig SUBSCRIBERS: e-mail editor@rvlifemag.com for FREE access to the latest digital edition! RV 50-3 CONTENTS.indd 3RV 50-3 CONTENTS.indd 32021-08-24 4:22 PM2021-08-24 4:22 PM4 RV Lifestyle | Volume 50 Number 3 With the heat of summer sim- mering down, and the cool breezes of Autumn promis- ing a season of spectacular scenery, it’s time to plan your RV adventures for the coming months. Over the past 18 months, as the world adjusted to the “new normal” of socially distanced activities, more North American families than ever before discovered the freedom and safety of the RV vacation lifestyle. As a result, campground bookings have surged, new and used RVs have been in very short supply, RV rentals are booked solid for months to come, and the spacious tranquility of the National, Provincial and State Parks has been relegated to a memory as all sites have been reserved for pre-winter weekends. Into this environment of crowded campgrounds, a new form of “dry camping” has emerged, with outfits like Harvest Hosts offering unique RV camping experiences at tourist attrac- tions like vineyards, golf courses, and family farms. This unique opportu- nity to be one of a handful of guests enjoying the hospitality of business- es throughout North America could become the ideal choice for a quiet and fascinating RV escape… it’s a trend that bears observing as the post-pan- demic camping era begins. Another new wave in the RV envi- ronment is the arrival of alternate fuel vehicles as viable elements in the trailer towing experience. Andy Thomson, our Hitch Hints guru, invit- ed us to test drive a Tesla Model 3, hitched to an Airstream. We jumped at the chance, and the result is a pair of articles – Andy’s Hitch Hints col- umn in this issue, describing a 500- mile RV trip towing a 27’ Airstream à la Tesla, and the cover feature for our November issue, which will feature a road test of the Airstream Basecamp 20X, also towed by the Tesla. You can preview that story on our website at www.rvlifemag.com . While Canada has achieved world- class levels of vaccination against the virus, the health risks of rogue variants will likely persist for months, if not years to come. In light of this situation, we have included a special feature in this issue – RVing in the Post-Pandemic Era, which describes the “new normal” camping experience, and what we may have to adapt to in order to maintain the freedom of the RV lifestyle. All in all, we have weathered the storm reasonably well so far, and with a bit of preparation, careful camping procedures, and a bit of luck, we should be able to enjoy the freedom of the RV lifestyle for many years to come. Stay safe, RV ADVENTURE PLANNING – WHERE WILL YOU GO THIS MONTH? Publisher’s MESSAGE Are you receiving your weekly RV Lifestyle Magazine Newsletter? If not, check your “junk mail” folder – and if it is not there, send Norm Rosen an email requesting the newsletter – nrosen@rvlifemag.com William E. Taylor, Publisher TMTM TM TM volume 50 number 3 Publisher: WILLIAM E. TAYLOR bill@rvlifemag.com Group Publisher: MELANIE TAYLOR-WALLIS melanie@rvlifemag.com Editorial Director: NORM ROSEN nrosen@rvlifemag.com Assisstant Editor: MYLES ARNOTT info@rvlifemag.com Technical Editors: GARTH CANE gcane@taylorpublishinggroup.com Art/Production Manager: GISELLE BANSAL Design: TAMARA TAYLOR Contributing Writers: PHYLLIS HINZ LAMONT MACKAY JAMES STONESS ANDY THOMSON JAMIE RUSSELL Advertising Sales: info@rvlifemag.com 1-800-354-9145 EXECUTIVE OFFICES: TORONTO: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent, Campbellville, Ontario L0P 1B0 Tel: 905-844-8218 Fax: 905-844-5032 MONTREAL: Tel: 514-856-0788 Fax: 514-856-0790 VANCOUVER: Bob and Carole Taylor, 1745 Rufus Drive North Vancouver, BC V7J 3L8 ADMINISTRATION: President/CEO: WILLIAM E. TAYLOR Group Publisher: MELANIE TAYLOR-WALLIS VP/Special Projects: NORM ROSEN Advertising Sales: TODD TAYLOR, Accounting: NANCY MUELLER Camping Canada’s RV Lifestyle Magazine is published seven times a year by Camping Canada Magazine Ltd. Reproduction of any material appearing in this magazine in any form is forbidden without prior consent of the publisher. Subscription rates: Canada (prices include G.S.T.) 1 year (7 issues) $30: 2 years (14 issues) $45. U.S. subscriptions:1 year (7 issues) $40 US. Other: 1 year (7 issues) $75 CDN. Single copies are $6.95 for regular issues, and $9.95 for the annual RV Buyer’s Guide and the annual Campground Directory issues. Subscription inquiries 1-800-354-9145 Advertising rates available on request. Editorial contributions must be accompanied by return post- age and will be handled with reasonable care. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of safety of artwork, pho- tographs, or manuscripts. Camping Canada Magazine reserves the right to refuse any and all advertising and disclaims all responsibilities for claims or statements of facts made by its advertisers or inde- pendent columnists. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT #43638025 Undeliverables to: 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent, Campbellville, Ontario L0P 1B0 MONTREAL, QUEBEC © 2021 CAMPING CANADA MAGAZINE PRINTED IN CANADA RV 50-3 CONTENTS.indd 4RV 50-3 CONTENTS.indd 42021-08-24 4:14 PM2021-08-24 4:14 PMHappy travelling In the 2021 Zion Slumber Built for a family wanting to explore the countryside together or a couple who is looking for separate living and dining spaces, the slumber option takes our popular Zion model to new heights. Experience Roadtrek www.roadtrek.comRV Lifestyle | Volume 50 Number 3 www.rvlifemag.com HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson W 6 My theory when I ordered the Tesla was that it would be possible to travel 500 miles a day towing. I had planned to go to the Airstream Rally in Denver to test that theory, but due to Covid that was not possible - but on warm day in November we did it. We traveled from London Ontario to Huntsville Ontario, and back. The trip took longer than it would have had we towed with a gas fuelled tow vehicle, but it was oh so much more relaxing. We left London at 7:20 AM and headed East on the 401. Everyone focusses on the range of an electric car, but the first stop was required by the humans at the Kitchener Service Centre. Back on the road, we drove to the Tesla super charger at 401 and Winston Churchill Blvd., on the west edge of Toronto. 158 kilometers into the trip. Since we were only driving to Barrie, which was 112 Kilometers away, we did not need a full charge, so 35 minutes later we were on our way. When we arrived in Barrie, 270 kilo- meters into the trip, Kelsey’s restaurant was just opening, so we ordered curb- side pickup for lunch as we charged the batteries. The Tesla finished charging before we were finished lunch (those darn humans again). Then we were off up Highway 11 to Huntsville, 130 Kilometers away. At this point we had not done much hilly driving with the Tesla, and I would have worried about how the hills on this section would affect the range - but we had a strong tail wind, so I was not very concerned. We left the cruise control set at 90 KPH and did not slow down on any hills, so power was not an issue. Once in Huntsville, we faced the return trip to Barrie, and with the hills and a substantial headwind we were a bit concerned about running out of power, but we arrived in Barrie with a 38-kilometer cushion. Unlike a gas car where you often look at the fuel gauge dropping rapidly through the last quar- ter of the tank, and you wonder how much range you really have, the Tesla projects your range very accurately. Other annoyances like stop and go traf- fic can actually improve the Tesla’s range. On our trip, it also appeared that hills had very little if any effect on range. One thing about towing with the Tesla is that you can have lots of con- versations, especially at Superchargers, so we spent more time talking to peo- ple than the charging took at the sec- ond Barrie stop. As we headed south from Barrie, we realized that the 401 was jammed up like a parking lot and since there was no sense driv- ing into a traffic jam, we drove just 70 Kilometers to the Supercharger at Vaughn Mills to top up the car, have dinner, and wait for the traffic to clear somewhat. We had taken a Sienna van along as a chase vehicle so we could photograph and video this trip, and in Vaughn it needed fuel for the first time - so it provided an interesting comparison. Both the Tesla and the van left London full, and both were filled/charged fully in Vaughn. The Tesla towing the 27’ Airstream needed $70.17 of super- charging to cover the 600 Kilometers up to that point in the trip. The Sienna, which is a pretty efficient vehicle for Andy Thomson has been writing for RV Lifestyle Magazine for more than 25 years. He also owns and operates Can-Am RV Centre located in London, ON. continued on page 8 THE FUTURE IS HERE! CAN YOU TOW A TRAILER 500 MILES IN ONE DAY WITH A TESLA? Hitch Hints 50-3.indd 6Hitch Hints 50-3.indd 62021-08-24 4:20 PM2021-08-24 4:20 PM3 YEAR WARRANTY hyundai.indd 1hyundai.indd 12020-11-19 2:16 PM2020-11-19 2:16 PMHITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson W 8 continued from page 6 RV Lifestyle | Volume 50 Number 3 www.rvlifemag.com its size, turned in 8.7 L/100 Km and cost $68.00 in fuel running solo. After dinner, we continued south to the 401 and then turned west towards London, still heading into a headwind, and driving in traffic that never quite stopped, but never got up to full high- way cruising speed either for the first 40 kilometers on the 401. Our projected range showed us com- ing up just short of home, which was to be expected as it was 193 kilometers in a headwind, so our last stop was to take on a 15-minute charge in Woodstock, which was plenty to take us the last 50 kilometers to London. We arrived back in London after our charging stop in Woodstock, having completed a round trip of 800 kilo- meters or 500 miles. The trip took 14 hours, and 45 minutes of that was spent at superchargers. Due to the downtime, it did not feel like a 14-hour day, in fact, I was less tired than I would have been had I done it in 10 hours in a gas tow vehicle. The time to relax along the way combined with the ease of driving the Tesla and the lack of engine noise certainly takes less toll on the driver and passengers. Total cost of the trip for super- charging was $76.77, plus the cost to recharge the car using our home base plug was an additional $10.00, so the total energy cost for the trip was $86.77. There are some other cost sav- ings as well, if you calculate the oil and wear and tear compared to a gas fuelled vehicle. We now have 10,000 kilometers on our Tesla, of which, 8,000 have been towing a trailer. If it were a gas vehi- cle, I would have done my second oil change. I know many people buy a Tesla to help save the environment, and that is all good. Environmental factors aside, it is an outrageously stable, very quiet and comfortable tow vehicle that is a lot of fun to drive solo. It will also likely have a very low operating cost. The bottom line is that I love driving this car. I have never considered myself an environmentalist. Yes, I know oil will eventually run out, and we are using too much oxygen, but I believed human ingenuity would solve those issues just like so many in the past. My personal car is an also fun to drive – it is a supercharged 2012 500 HP Jag XJ that I have had for 7 years now. It will soon be replaced by the new version of the Tesla Model S. Two years ago, I would have scoffed at the suggestion. Hitch Hints 50-3.indd 8Hitch Hints 50-3.indd 82021-08-24 4:21 PM2021-08-24 4:21 PMCOMMITTED TO QUALITY SINCE 1986. Check out our new blog! WWW.PLEASUREWAY.COM KEY FEATURES ECO-ION LITHIUM BATTERIES SOLAR PANEL PACKAGES 2000 WATT PURE-SINE WAVE INVERTER TRUMA AQUAGO® COMFORT PLUS WATER HEATER 10-INCH TOUCHSCREEN CONTROL PANELS REAR AND SIDE DOOR ROLL-UP SCREENS PRIVATE ENCLOSED WET BATH LG SMART TV & BOSE® SOUNDBAR * Some items may not be available with every model. See website for further details. Next >