RV TIPS: EXPLORING THE WINNEBAGO ROAM PLUS: THE COOKING LADIES COOL NEW PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! DISCOVER MATTAWA AND UPPER OTTAWA VALLEY YOUR RV ADVENTURE STARTS HERE… YOUR RV ADVENTURE STARTS HERE… www.rvlifemag.com $6.95 ROAD TESTS: Grand Design RV Transcend Xplor 265BH ✓ 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 50 No. 4 Destinations: 16 IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHT NEW RVs 50-4.indd 150-4.indd 12021-10-05 4:23 PM2021-10-05 4:23 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 1grand desing.indd 12021-10-05 3:39 PM2021-10-05 3:39 PMFollow us on Facebook! @ RVLifestyleMagazine Follow us on Instagram! @rvlifestylemagazine Departments 6 HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson The Culture of Towing – Hitching lightweight trailers 12 RV TIPS by Garth Cane Winnebago Roam – the Accessibility Enhanced class B motorhome! 18 THE COOKING LADIES – Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay Smoked Mac and Cheese – inspired by the Shakespearean Festival… Road Test 22 GRAND DESIGN RV TRANSCEND XPLOR 365BH by Norm Rosen State-of-the-Art touring with bunkhouse convenience! 3 Volume 50 Number 4 | RV Lifestyle ON THE COVER Grand Design Transcend Xplor 265BH Cover photo by Norm Rosen CONTENTS VOL. 50 NO. 4 RV TIPS: EXPLORING THE WINNEBAGO ROAM PLUS: THE COOKING LADIES COOL NEW PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! DISCOVER MATTAWA AND UPPER OTTAWA VALLEY YOUR RV ADVENTURE STARTS HERE… YOUR RV ADVENTURE STARTS HERE… www.rvlifemag.com$6.95 ROAD TESTS: Grand Design RV Transcend Xplor 265BH ✓ 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 50 No. 4 Destinations: 16 IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHT NEW RVs 50-4.indd 150-4.indd 12021-10-05 4:23 PM2021-10-05 4:23 PM Destinations 28 MATTAWA AND THE UPPER OTTAWA VALLEY Travel Editor James Stoness describes the scenery, history, and activities .of this northern destination. Special Report 34 STAYING ACTIVE ON THE ROAD Isabelle Cooper takes us to five RV destinations where exercise and wellness are featured attractions. 36 ECO-TOURISM DUCKS UNLIMITED CANADA PRESENTS… Some of our wetlands’ most interesting inhabitants RV Spotlight 42 16 COOL RVS FOR YOUR AUTUMN ADVENTURES An RV Show - in print! 50 NEW CAMPSITE CONVENIENCE ITEMS Available now at RV dealerships and campground stores 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 50-4 CONTENTS.indd 3RV 50-4 CONTENTS.indd 32021-10-05 4:39 PM2021-10-05 4:39 PM4 RV Lifestyle | Volume 50 Number 4 As we head to press with this Autumn edition of our 50th Anniversary year, it looks like we may be facing another month or two of limited access to our favourite sunbelt des- tinations. Are we disappointed? Not really, because this presents a unique opportunity to discover some of Canada’s most spec- tacular scenery and explore the routes that the pioneers travelled in the days before anyone ever heard about Sars, Covid, and lockdowns. We asked our travel editor, James Stoness, to suggest a particularly scenic destination, and he came up with a beauty – the Mattawa and Upper Ottawa Valley region, where the hardwood forests will be golden and resplendent in a full spectrum of Fall colours. Just in case the White House decides to let us drive south, we asked Isabelle Cooper to suggest some sunbelt locations, where we can enjoy outdoor activities and attempt to get back in shape through fit- ness and wellness activities. One of several factors that may be con- sidered the “silver lining” of the Covid- 19 era is the extension of the camping season at many of Canada’s favourite campgrounds. While the traditional camp- ing season came to a close at the end of October, many campgrounds are plan- ning to remain open until the snow flies, and some will remain in limited operation throughout the winter… that’s fine with us – our cross-country skis are waxed and ready to go! We asked our Tech Editor, Garth Cane, to review the latest “acces- sibility enhanced” RV on the market – Winnebago’s Roam class B unit. This vehicle can open up a whole new world of mobility for those who have difficulty getting around in conventional vehicles. If you know someone whose life would be brightened by a vehicle of this type, please share the story with them – you can lend them your copy of the maga- zine, or refer them to our website – here is the direct link to the feature article: https://www.rvlifemag.com/winnebago- roam-the-accessibility-enhanced-class-b- motorhome/ RV Lifestyle Magazine subscribers are invited to access our extensive archive of DIGITAL editions – the collection is online at https://www.rvlifemag.com/mag- azines/ - if you have not yet received your password for the archives, please email Norm Rosen at nrosen@rvlifemag.com . For those who enjoy road test vid- eos, please take a few minutes to visit our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube. com/rvlifestylemagazine where you will find dozens of expert reviews, includ- ing our road test of the Grand Design RV model featured in this issue. It’s going to be an interesting Autumn season… see you on the RV road to adventure! Keep well, stay safe, COOL WEATHER CAMPING… A wonderful way to enjoy Canada’s signature season! 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 4 Publisher: WILLIAM E. TAYLOR bill@rvlifemag.com Group Publisher: MELANIE TAYLOR-WALLIS melanie@rvlifemag.com Editorial Director: NORM ROSEN nrosen@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 50-4 CONTENTS.indd 4RV 50-4 CONTENTS.indd 42021-10-05 5:02 PM2021-10-05 5:02 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 4 www.rvlifemag.com HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson W 6 When I put on my business hat, which is likely far too rarely, the business gurus often talk about how you change the culture of a com- pany. I know this is difficult because even in our little company we still have most of the culture crated by my father 40 years ago. Luckily, the corporate culture that my father created did not need a lot of changing. As hard as changing the culture of a company can be, changing the widely held industry culture of may be almost impossible. Many of the conventions of the RV industry still trace their roots back to the 1960s and early 1970s, the formative years of the RV indus- try. For example, hitch classifications still reach back to a time when pretty much every tow vehicle weighed 5000 pounds or more. In those days, virtu- ally every RV trailer weighed 5000 pounds by time you loaded it, even a 17’ model. The only “lite” trailers on the road at that time were boat trail- ers and fold down camping trailers. Another example of an outdated indus- try “rule of thumb” is that brakes are not required on a trailer weighing less than 2000 pounds - but if you are tow- ing a 1500-pound trailer with a 2400- pound car, you very much do need brakes! Another element that was present in the 1960s and early 1970s was an assumption of the driver’s ability and expectations. After all, if you grew up driving a model “A” Ford with a three- quarter of a turn of play in the steer- ing, and mechanical brakes that often worked, a little sway from the trailer when towing with your 1969 Buick Electra did not bother you very much. When hitch classifications were first established, the only class with weight distribution was class 3, which includes hitches over 5000 pound capacity. I guess the thought at the time was that with 5000-pound tow vehicles, trailers lighter than that did not require weight distribution. This was not a correct assumption, but since almost all vehicles of that era could have a class 3 hitch if you wanted it, weight distribution was easy to do and the lack of weight distribution capa- bility on the lighter hitches was not really a problem. Also, most hitches were manufactured on the car in hitch shops – bolt-on receivers were a rela- tively new thing. Overall, I doubt that a lot of thought was given to the lighter classifications; no one envisioned 2800 pound 23’ trailers or 200 hp 4 cylinder tow vehicles. Today, we often tow 3500-pound trailers with vehicles that are lighter than the trailer, which is not a prob- lem with weight distribution. In other words, towing a 3500-pound trailer with a 2700-pound tow vehicle usu- ally requires the same degree of hitch- ing (weight distribution, sway controls, electric brakes) as towing a 6500- pound trailer with a 5000-pound tow vehicle. This can present a problem because we still design and rate hitch- es like we did in the 1970s - no one 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 CULTURE OF TOWING HITCHING LIGHTWEIGHT TRAILERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. Hitch Hints 50-4.indd 6Hitch Hints 50-4.indd 62021-10-05 3:49 PM2021-10-05 3:49 PMIntroducing the Outdoor Event Series Welcome to DUC’s Outdoor Event Series, a new family of events designed to empower you to make the most of the outdoors. Part of our role as conservationists is to pass on what we have learned to others. That’s why DUC has partnered with conservation and outdoor experts to share our knowledge and skills with you — and have some fun while we do it! Our goal is to take your enjoyment of outdoor activities to the next level. Are you wild at heart? Join our flock! Connect with DUC’s community of outdoor enthusiasts from all walks of life and share your passion for adventure. Let us take you under our wing with experiences that will help you embrace your inner wild. ducks.ca/eventsHITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson W 8 continued from page 6 RV Lifestyle | Volume 50 Number 4 www.rvlifemag.com designs class 2 hitches (rated for 3500 pounds total weight and 350 pounds hitch weight) to accept the torque of weight distribution. To prevent the use of weight distri- bution in a class 2 hitch, the receiver tube is a smaller size. Unlike the 1970s when you could buy a class 3 hitch for almost any vehicle, today there are many vehicles where a class 2 hitch is the largest hitch available. This causes some interesting anom- alies; for example, Reese builds a mini hitch that we use on our Alto trailers and some hardtops. It is ideal for these ultra-lite trailers, but you would never use it on a trailer weigh- ing more than 2500 pounds - however there are no equivalent off-the-shelf receivers to match with it. You may own a vehicle with plenty of power to tow, great chassis dynamics etc. but it cannot carry 350 pounds on the back without weight distribution, and you cannot easily purchase a receiver for it that will accept weight distribution. As a result of this, I see somewhat disturbing things happen. You will see a trailer that desperately needs weight distribution being towed just on the ball, with maybe a sway con- trol, or you see people spend thou- sands of dollars to change tow vehi- cles when all they needed was a little better hitch receiver. I have also seen class 2 receivers where someone has cut off the small receiver tube and welded on a 2” tube, but they have not made the hitch any stronger so it just twists from the torsion bar torque. Even scarier is when someone takes an adaptor intended for bike carriers and adapts the 1.5” receiver tube to a 2”. This is doubly bad as it pushes the ball well behind the tow vehicle, further increasing the strain on the receiver and reducing stability. So how do you solve the problem if you own a potentially great tow vehi- cle, but just cannot get a receiver for it? What you need to find is a fabricator that can change a class 2 into a class 3 receiver. There are still a few old time hitch shops around from the 1970s who understand how to do this, but if there is not one in your area, you can often have it done by a general welding or machine shop. One person I spoke with in Arizona had it done by a racecar builder - another had it done at a truck repair facility, and a couple of people On this car, the independent rear suspension besides being great for towing makes a perfect spot to fasten the front of the hitch. This is the reinforcement for the hitch on a Chevrolet Traverse, which goes above the spare tire. The small flanges sticking out sideways are for the spare to rest against. Hitch Hints 50-4.indd 8Hitch Hints 50-4.indd 82021-10-05 3:49 PM2021-10-05 3:49 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. Untitled-7 1Untitled-7 12021-10-06 12:39 PM2021-10-06 12:39 PMNext >