HITCH HINTS: COST-EFFECTIVE TOW VEHICLES RV TIPS: WHAT’S UNDER YOUR RV PLUS: THE COOKING LADIES, RV FIXER, COOL NEW RV PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! DISCOVER ARIZONA www.rvlifemag.com $6.95 ROAD TEST: Airstream Basecamp 20 ✓ 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 50 No. 5 Destinations IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHT WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2022 COOL RVS ARE ON THE WAY - LOOK WHAT’S NEW FOR ’22COOL RVS ARE ON THE WAY - LOOK WHAT’S NEW FOR ’22 50-5.indd 150-5.indd 12021-12-07 2:38 PM2021-12-07 2:38 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 search for a cost-effective tow vehicle. 12 RV TIPS by Garth Cane What’s under your motorhome? A guide to RV chassis. 18 THE COOKING LADIES – Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay French Onion Soup – How to “go to France” without crossing the Atlantic. Road Test 22 AIRSTREAM BASECAMP 20 by Norm Rosen The larger version of a very popular lightweight trailer! 3 Volume 50 Number 5 | RV Lifestyle ON THE COVER Road testing the 2022 Airstream Basecamp 20 towed by a Tesla Model 3. Cover photo by Norm Rosen CONTENTS VOL. 50 NO. 5 HITCH HINTS: COST-EFFECTIVE TOW VEHICLES RV TIPS: WHAT’S UNDER YOUR RV PLUS: THE COOKING LADIES, RV FIXER, COOL NEW RV PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! DISCOVER ARIZONA www.rvlifemag.com$6.95 ROAD TEST: Airstream Basecamp 20 ✓ 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 50 No. 5 Destinations IN THE SPOTLIGHTIN THE SPOTLIGHT WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2022 COOL RVS ARE ON THE WAY - LOOK WHAT’S NEW FOR ’22COOL RVS ARE ON THE WAY - LOOK WHAT’S NEW FOR ’22 50-5.indd 150-5.indd 12021-12-07 2:38 PM2021-12-07 2:38 PM Destinations 28 TOURING ARIZONA’S HIGH COUNTRY Travel Editor James Stoness takes us on the roads less travelled in this sunbelt state. Special Report 34 RVS FOR YOUR REMOTE WORKING LIFESTYLE… Jim Pirie from OK Tire takes a look at your office on the road. 36 UNIQUE AUTUMN VISTAS Monica Baer describes scenic tours of waterfalls, craters, river roads, and more! RV Spotlight 43 16 COOL RVS FOR YOUR AUTUMN ADVENTURES With the RV Shows on hold, we present a cross-section of vehicles that are new for ’22. 50 10 NEW PRODUCTS FOR YOUR RV EXPERIENCE! 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 50-5 CONTENTS.indd 3RV 50-5 CONTENTS.indd 32021-12-07 2:46 PM2021-12-07 2:46 PM4 RV Lifestyle | Volume 50 Number 5 As we head to press, the news has come in from Washington that the longest international border in the world will re-open for non-essen- tial land travel between Canada and the United States. This is a wonderful development in the almost two-year pandemic, and a very welcome announcement for mil- lions of Canadian snowbirds, who enjoy sojourning in the sunbelt states while the rest of us hit the ski hills and frozen ponds for our winter adventures. To help you turn up the heat on your RV adventures, we asked our travel edi- tor, James Stoness, to give you a glimpse of winter in Arizona – a favourite desti- nation for Canadians. James and Sylvia Stoness have spent many winters in the state, and their travel suggestions are worth their weight in gold. If you long for a taste of home, and French onion soup is one of your favourites, you will enjoy The Cooking Ladies’ recipe for real French onion soup from Saint Pierre and Miquelon - the French archipelago of islands south of Newfoundland. We have always said that for RV tour- ing, “getting there is half the fun” so when Monica Baer the PR specialist for REV Group, asked us if we were inter- ested in sharing an article on the spec- tacular Fall vistas of North America, we said “yes, please!” We asked Jim Pirie, our OK Tire specialist, to discuss the trend to mobile workspaces – the result is a fascinating story on how many RV owners are work- ing from the road and enjoying a new freedom that would not have been pos- sible prior to the pandemic. With the cost of fuel rising, we asked Andy Thomson to discuss the selec- tion of a cost-effective tow vehicle, and we asked our Tech Editor, Garth Cane, to show readers “what’s under their motorhome”. All in all, a very interesting mixture of content for the Autumn of 2021. RV Lifestyle Magazine sub- scribers are invited to access our extensive archive of DIGITAL edi- tions – the collection is online at www.rvlifemag.com/magazines - 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 videos, please take a few minutes to visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/ rvlifestylemagazine where you will find dozens of expert reviews, including our road test of the Grand Design RV model featured in this issue. It’s going to be an interesting con- clusion to a most unusual year… if you travel, please follow the social distanc- ing and masking practices as appropriate for the areas you visit – and we’ll look forward to seeing you on the RV road to adventure! Keep well, stay safe, HEADING SOUTH? Stay safe – be careful! 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 5 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 NICOLE KOLODZIEJ 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 50-5 CONTENTS.indd 4RV 50-5 CONTENTS.indd 42021-12-07 1:46 PM2021-12-07 1:46 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 5 www.rvlifemag.com HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson W 6 From 1999 through 2014, the most popular combination to leave our store was a front-drive van such as a Ford Windstar, Honda Odyssey, etc. towing what was then called a “lite” trailer, about 30’ long. These trailers had bunk beds in the back corner, dinette, the sofa and galley were in a 12 foot by 20-inch deep slide-out which was several inches above the floor. This configuration allowed the trailer to have wheel wells, which results in a low overall height. In the front was a walk around queen bed. They were 30-33’ long but were only around 5000 pounds, and because they had independent sus- pension, and a radically sloped nose, they were quite easy to tow. A V6 van worked very well with them. For a young family, the combination was a cost-effective way to be able to travel with enough space in both the tow vehicle and trailer. Even for those with more powerful vehicle, the fuel economy and handling were much better than towing a taller trailer. Today, we have three choices in an easy-to-tow bunk model trailer. There is the Vista Cruiser 23BHS, which tows nicely due to its teardrop shape - but the interior space is not as spacious as the “lites” of old. The other two options are the 2445 Lance which is 29’ long, or a 30’ Airstream bunk model. Both of these have the space, but they don’t fit the most cost-effective definition. These days, our most popular bunk model is an Imagine 2400BH which is 29’ long with a large slide that goes to the floor - which means the trailer has a tall exterior height as the slide has to be above the top of the tires. This is a com- mon layout in many brands. The 2800 Imagine at 32’ long is a close second in sales. Due to the aerodynamic drag, we generally we suggest a reasonably potent tow vehicle for these trailers. Although our Caravan has towed many of these units from Indiana, it is not ideal when there is a headwind. Recently, we had a customer order a 30’ Airstream which they originally intended to tow with the fantastic Dodge Durango RT with the Tow n Go pack- age. As nice as the new Durango would be, the customer decided they would like a more cost-effective tow vehicle in terms of both fuel economy and pur- chase price. What they settled on was a 2014 Durango V6 with the 8-speed ZF transmission and only 66,000 kilometers on it. They were able to buy this for only $27,000. We wanted to improve the tow- ing performance beyond the capabili- ties of the stock V6 Durango, and we did this, substantially, with three simple changes. This Durango had soft sidewall P265/60R x 18” tires with a load capac- ity of 2337 pounds or (450 pounds more than a suburban once had). We changed these to P235/55R x 18” extra load high- er performance tires with a load capacity of 1984 pounds, which is well in excess of what this vehicle will ever need. This change accomplished two things for us: we eliminated about 80% of the sidewall roll, which greatly improved steering feel and stability - I would make this change if I never towed anything. 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 SEARCH FOR A COST-EFFECTIVE TOW VEHICLE Hitch Hints 50-5_NEW.indd 6Hitch Hints 50-5_NEW.indd 62021-12-07 1:49 PM2021-12-07 1:49 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 5 www.rvlifemag.com This tire change is really just a change in focus - what sells an SUV these days is a soft mushy ride, and few people test any kind of handling limits on a test drive. We sacrificed some of the softness for more traction and more precise handling. The downsides are that the speedometer reads 108 when traveling 100, and the tread life will be shorter due to the softer, higher traction rubber compound. By changing the tire size, we also in effect changed the gear ratio from 3.45:1 to a 3.73:1 ratio. Basically, this makes another gear available for towing. With these tires, 6th gear, which is a 1:1 ratio in the ZF 8-speed is 2500 RPM at 100 KPH, which is about ideal for towing with the 3.6 Litre. 7th gear slows the engine to 2205 RPM, and 5th gear is 3200, which is ideal for climbing larg- er hills at highway speed. Towing the Airstream, about 50% of the driving will be done in 7th gear, with 6th needed for headwinds and moderate climbs. Changing the tire size this amount necessitated tweaking the front-end align- ment to match the tire size change, which you need a good front end technician to do, not a “this is what the specs say” sort of mechanic. The third change was to upgrade the shocks to Bilsteins, which give the sus- pension more control without any serious impact on the ride. As a solo vehicle, these changes trans- formed the Durango from a vague han- dling, slightly sluggish SUV into some- thing far more fun to drive and that actu- ally feels connected to the road. Since we had the Durango for a few days before the customer came to col- lect it, I thought it would be interesting to see how it performed while towing the tall Imagine bunk model. The day I test- ed this I had a 15-23 KPH front corner crosswind in one direction, and a tailwind on the return leg of the route. Going into the wind, 5th gear (at 3200 RPM) was needed, but slowing to 95 KPH actually allowed 6th be used at 22350 RPM - but only on perfectly level stretches; the 3.6 does not pay a big mileage penalty at higher RPM, so 95 KPH in 5th was the best choice. The front corner crosswind pushed the Imagine around a little, but it was easy to drive and quite acceptable. A Hensley Properly hitched, many family vehicles become capable and efficient tow vehicles. With your equalizer bars properly adjusted, the tow vehicle should sit level, with equal weight on the front and rear tires. Hitch Hints 50-5_NEW.indd 8Hitch Hints 50-5_NEW.indd 82021-12-07 1:49 PM2021-12-07 1:49 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 >