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HITCH HINTS RV TIPS THE COOKING LADIES NEW PRODUCTS AND MUCH MORE! CANADA’S #1 RV MAGAZINE - YOUR KEY TO RV ADVENTURES!CANADA’S #1 RV MAGAZINE - YOUR KEY TO RV ADVENTURES! www.rvlifemag.com $9.95 268 - 44 Crawford Crescent., Campbellville, ON L0P 1B0 Publications Mail Agreement #43638025 Vol. 52 No.5 PENNSYLVANIA Lancaster FIRST LOOK AT THE 2024 S ROAD TESTS: Keystone RV Cougar 25 MLE Travel Trailer DESTINATIONS: Plus 52-5 NEW.indd 152-5 NEW.indd 12024-01-25 2:45 PM2024-01-25 2:45 PMYour RV, your coverage Visit aviva.ca/rvlife or talk to your broker to learn more. Class A | Class B | Class C | Travel trailer | Tent trailer | Horse/Stock | Truck camper Toy hauler | Fifth wheel | Park model | Permanently parked trailer Insurance products are subject to terms, conditions, restrictions and exclusions, which are outlined in our final policy wording. Please speak with your Aviva insurance broker to learn more. Insurance products are underwritten by Elite Insurance Company, a subsidiary of Aviva Canada Inc. Product availability varies by province. Aviva and the Aviva logo are trademarks used under license by the licensor. CS-22-9812 11/22 © AvivaFollow us on Facebook! @ RVLifestyleMagazine Follow us on Instagram! @rvlifestylemagazine Departments 6 HITCH HINTS By Andy Thomson Travelling in a “B.” 12 RV TIPS by Garth Cane Touring with a “Toad.” 18 THE COOKING LADIES Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay Zesty Lemon Tarts – from the New Orleans we love. Road Test 18 KEYSTONE RV COUGAR 25MLE by Norm Rosen A half-ton towable treasure! CONTENTS VOL. 52 NO. 5 ON THE COVER Road testing the 2024 Keystone RV Cougar 25 MLE half-ton Towable Cover photo by Norm Rosen Destinations 28 LANCASTER PENNSYLVANIA An Eclectric Mix of Trains, Cruisine, and Culture. 34 THE JOYS OF AN EXTENDED RV SEASON Frank and Lucy Spence tell RV enthusiasts all about the joys of extending the RV season in Canada. Special Features 38 16 RV MANUFACTURERS EARN DSI QUALITY CIRCLE AWARDS A quick look at the DSI Award Winners. New Products 46 NEW PRODUCTS FOR YOUR RV LIFESTYLE 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 Click on MAGAZINES, and use the password RVLFREE2017. Watch our road test videos at our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/ rvlifestylemagazine SUBSCRIBERS: e-mail editor@rvlifemag.co m for FREE access to the latest digital edition! RV52-5 CONTENTS.indd 3RV52-5 CONTENTS.indd 32024-01-25 3:00 PM2024-01-25 3:00 PM4 RV Lifestyle | Volume 52 Number 5 While the winter snow covers campgrounds across Canada, RV enthusiasts are igniting their passion for camping by visiting shows across the country. Our RV Lifestyle Magazine staff will be on-site at several of the shows, includ- ing the Toronto Spring Camping and RV Show, the largest event of its kind in Canada. For a complete listing of the shows across Canada, please visit the website at www.rvlifemag.com and search for RV Show Calendar. You will find two articles – one listing all of the RV shows across Canada, and the other listing all of the shows in the USA. The RV shows provide a unique opportunity to see the latest models and a wide range of RV parts and accessories that complete your camping lifestyle. We always suggest that you shop the shows with two goals: to find a dealer who can help you select the ideal RB for your needs, and to take advantage of early season specials on current and pre- vious model year products. This year, Canadian RV dealers are clearing out the remaining 2023 models, so there are many exceptional opportuni- ties to purchase a brand new but non-cur- rent vehicle. It’s a unique situation that reflects the challenges of the pandemic and post-pandemic market for RVs and related items. In this issue, we focus on 16 RV man- ufacturers who have earned the coveted DSI Quality Circle Award for earning the highest ratings in the 29th annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey. These companies have been honoured by the dealers for producing the best value and most reliable RVs within each sector of the market. It’s a great place to start your selection process if you are looking for the RV of your dreams. If this is your first encounter with RV Lifestyle Magazine, thank you very much for sharing your leisure time with us. I invite you to join our growing fam- ily of subscribers… all of the details and a special subscription offer can be found on page 49. If you are a subscriber or a regu- lar newsstand reader, and you are not receiving our weekly newsletter, please send an email to editor@rvlifemag. com and ask Norm to add your name to the newsletter list – it’s FREE, it’s fun, and it’s the key to a world of RV adventures. Keep well, stay safe, and we will see you soon with another spectacular issue of RV Lifestyle Magazine! IT’S RV SHOW SEASON! Publisher’s MESSAGE William E. Taylor, Publisher TM volume 52 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 JAMES STONESS ANDY THOMSON 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 1 year (6 issues) $35+tax: 2 years (12 issues) $50+tax. U.S. subscriptions:1 year (6 issues) $50 US. Single copies are $9.95 for regular issues, and $14.95 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 © 2023 CAMPING CANADA MAGAZINE PRINTED IN CANADA RV52-5 CONTENTS.indd 4RV52-5 CONTENTS.indd 42024-01-25 3:58 PM2024-01-25 3:58 PMTake a one-on-one personalized video tour of any 2024 Pleasure-Way model today at www.pleasureway.com/golive E X P ERIENCE THE 2 0 2 4 LINEUP T OD A Y pleasureway.indd 1pleasureway.indd 12023-11-22 9:25 AM2023-11-22 9:25 AMRV Lifestyle | Volume 52 Number 5 www.rvlifemag.com HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson 6 My wife, Heather, and I have always tended to use larger units for our travels. Other than one trip in a 23-foot Airstream for two weeks and a couple of short trips in a 25-foot Airstream, most of our RV experiences have been in 30- to 34-foot trailers and 36-foot fifth wheels. We have used a class B a couple of times in the past to attend shows in Toronto so we could just sleep in the parking lot instead of getting a hotel. Since the Airstream Interstate seats nine I have also used them for wine tours and tailgating, but I have never taken a vaca- tion in one. I recently wrote this column from an Airstream Interstate B van on a beach in San Diego, CA. It turned out we had a little Alto trailer to be delivered to Phoenix, AZ, about the same time as I was attending a meeting in South Dakota. Since it takes three flights to get from London, ON, to South Dakota, you can drive it just about as quick with a lot less frustration. So, since I was going to be almost halfway to Phoenix I volun- teered to deliver the little Alto. My wife decided this would also be a good excuse for some vacation time in the warm weather, which left me thinking about towing a combination to Phoenix. A better solution came from my sister and her husband who decided they would like to use their Airstream Interstate out west this spring but did not have time to drive out. So, we decid- ed to take the Interstate, store it in Los Angeles, and then fly home. I thought what will it be like to spend a couple of weeks in a unit much smaller than I ever thought I would. In summation, it was a lot better than I thought it would be. Since my wife made the mistake of marrying a morning person (as I wake up about 5:00 a.m.), I would just slip out of bed, get behind the wheel and have 200 miles covered before she wakes up, so you can really eat up the miles in this unit. The only downside was the trip from London to South Dakota was very windy, which you feel more than you do with a car and an Airstream in tow. Though Heather has often towed the Airstream in just as substantial cross winds, she lasted about 20 miles in the Interstate and turned the wheel back over to me. Once we were in less chal- lenging conditions she was very com- fortable driving. I think changing the front tires to a lower profile would help a great deal. The current ones were tall sidewall 215/85R x 16LT tires, the single wheel vans have 225/75R x 16 tires, which are quite a bit more direct and Michelin offers its fantastic XPS Rib in that size. There’s also larger rear sway bars avail- able aftermarket so I might experiment a little with one of those in time. On the other hand, none of our customers have complained about the handling so maybe I am just being too picky. 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 TRAVELLING IN A “B” Towing and Touring the South West United States in Style and Comfort The Airstream Interstate Class B is designed to offer comfort and functionality for camp- ing and delivers a smooth ride for touring. Hitch Hints 52-5.indd 6Hitch Hints 52-5.indd 62024-01-25 2:50 PM2024-01-25 2:50 PMFor generations, Canadian campers have lived out their travel dreams with Cougar fifth wheels and travel trailers. Explore the award-winning 2024 floorplans featuring Amy Gray Signature Series interiors, Climate Guard four-season weather protection, iN-Command control systems, on-demand hot water, SMART TVs, and SolarFlex solar power. LEARN MORE Keystone.indd 1Keystone.indd 12024-01-02 10:18 AM2024-01-02 10:18 AMRV Lifestyle | Volume 52 Number 5 www.rvlifemag.com HITCH HINTS by Andy Thomson 8 continued from page 6 “wet” bath (where the entire bathroom is the shower). It turned out that it’s actually not that bad. In the Interstate the entire bath is one piece of molded fiberglass so it drains easily and water doesn’t collect anywhere. The bath sink is tiny but if you spill some water while shaving it just goes down the shower drain. One thing I did find was that if you run the exhaust fan in the bathroom the suction pulls the shower curtain in against you which is not overly pleasant. So I put the Fan-Tastic Fan on in the other part of the van and opened the bath vent without the fan. This draws the steam out and keeps the curtain sucked against the wall. Making the almost king size bed that My other pet peeve about the Interstate has always been the lack of power seats, but there are a number of manual adjustments so it’s not difficult to find a comfortable driving position once you figure them out. It must have been pretty good as twice I knocked off 1000 miles in a day. Of course, the great thing about driv- ing this unit is the ease of getting in and out of places that you would not take a larger RV. Since this design originat- ed and is based on the tighter roads of Europe, the front wheels will turn quite sharp giving it a turning circle of only 47 feet, not bad for a 24-foot vehicle. The narrow overall width helps as well. With great mirrors, a colour back- up camera, plus front and rear park- ing sensors, you can park in a standard parking spot. When we visited friends in Palm Springs for dinner one evening as we were passing through we were able to park on the street in their gated community. For our five days in San Diego, where we wanted to visit the city quite a bit, we simply rented a car for $140. This also allowed us to get into parking garages or run to the store if we needed something for dinner. One of the reasons we like to travel by RV is that we sleep in our own bed and use our own bathroom. No matter how nice the hotel is, it just isn’t your space. It occurred to me that in all the units I have ever used I never utilized a is closed-in on three sides was a bit of pain until we got smart. I opened the rear doors, stood outside and made that por- tion of the bed while Heather tucked in the bottom. Once we figured that out we could go from lounge to bedroom in less than five minutes, although that method would not be good in Mosquito country or the two nights we spent at -14C. For next time I will try one of the Super Bag sleep systems, which is basically a sleep- ing bag with interchangeable sheets held in with Velcro – you just toss it on top and you’re done. The kitchen area is small but there is a surprising amount of storage when it’s organized. Even the tiny fridge holds more than you would think. After our first trip for groceries we were very care- ful not to buy too much and then we found that the fridge was only half full with the groceries we bought. In general, there is far more storage than you would think. Every inch is used and we kept finding little cubby’s we didn’t realize were there. The fridge is an electric compressor instead of absorption gas so you don’t have to be concerned about leveling, which is certainly nice on a motorized unit without power jacks. The key to the kitchen is that only one person can pre- pare meals at any one time. There is an outside barbeque connection and plenty Socializing and entertaining is convenient in the Interstate. More space and seating is found in the rear of the unit.continued on page 10 Hitch Hints 52-5.indd 8Hitch Hints 52-5.indd 82024-01-25 2:51 PM2024-01-25 2:51 PMMARCH 15-17, KITCHENER MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM 400 EAST AVENUE kitchener rv show & sale 2024 Epic adventures start here! ontario’s rv shows A GREAT SELECTION OF THE LATEST RVS, RV PARTS, ACCESSORIES AND LEISURE GEAR. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY! FREE PARKING. FRIDAY, MARCH 15: 10AM-7PM SATURDAY, MARCH 16: 10AM-7PM SUNDAY, MARCH 17: 10AM-5PM GENERAL ADMISSION, EACH DAY $8 ONLINE, $9 BOX OFFICE KIDS (UNDER 16) FREE www.rvshowsontario.caNext >