8 camping cars you’ll never lose in the woods!

Read article : 8 camping cars you’ll never lose in the woods!

What does it take to go camping these days? Die-hard campers swear by nothing more than a tent and a swath of multi-tools, while some outdoor enthusiasts prefer hauling everything they own atop a camper.

When a clean toilet and the occasional connection to a 4G network are seen as luxury amenities, it’s vital that your choice of camping vehicle be well thought-out.

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Whether your camp site is in the hinterlands, or in your very own backyard (stocked with scary stories and a bag of marshmallows), consider these choices for a most memorable experience:

All-in-one glamping: 2015 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour

stylish Airstream Interstate Grand Tour. " src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408907.1445626750!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/airstream-interstate.jpg" />

There is plenty of enjoyment in arriving, parking, and relaxing in the stylish Airstream Interstate Grand Tour. 

(Jeff Jablansky) Interstate Grand Tour is luxuriating in the rear compartment." src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408908.1445626862!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/airstream-interstate-02.jpg" />

The real pleasure in the Interstate Grand Tour is luxuriating in the rear compartment.

(Jeff Jablansky)

Who says that all camping trips must conform to be down-and-dirty affairs? After spending a limited amount of time with the Airstream Interstate Grand Tour, we can confirm that there is plenty of joy in stylishly arriving, parking, and relaxing. Although the Interstate shares fun-to-drive attributes with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van, upon which it’s based, the real pleasure is luxuriating in the rear compartment. A full kitchen offers a world of possibilities at the camp site, as does an airplane-size bathroom with a working shower. Rent or buy one, and instantly become the darling of the van contingent at every campsite.

Vital Stats: 2015 Airstream Interstate Grand Tour

Price: $155,060 (excluding destination fee, includes donor Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 3500)

Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine, 188-hp, 325 lb.-ft. of torque, 5-speed automatic transmission

Best camping feature: Enhancing the greater outdoors, from within.

Haul any trailer: 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel

The Colorado Diesel features a 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection, so camping won't be a vacation from the modern world. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

The Colorado Diesel can tow up to 7,700 lbs. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

If your idea of camping involves tailgating and long nights staring at the stars, there are few pickup trucks that do it better than the Chevrolet Colorado diesel. The standard Colorado – and its sibling, the GMC Canyon – are both capable pickups, but the diesel variants can tow up to 7,700 lbs. Hitch a trailer and head for the camp site, knowing that the integrated towing brake (aka “Jake brake”) is a midsize innovation that makes it easier to come to a stop while towing. Best of all, thanks to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi connection, camping doesn’t have to be a vacation from the modern world.

Vital Stats: 2016 Chevrolet Colorado diesel

Price: $32,185 (including $895 destination fee)

Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, 2.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, 181-hp, 369 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed automatic transmission

Best camping feature: The ability to attach a tent and cover the pickup bed.

Camping for the Civic-minded: 2016 Honda Civic

economy car champ has added refinement and style in a compact sedan market that suddenly looks outdated in comparison. " src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408918.1445627205!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/alt-front.jpg" />

Honda's economy car champ has added refinement and style in a compact sedan market that suddenly looks outdated in comparison. 

(Jeff Jablansky) base Civic LX offers tremendous value and a 6-speed manual transmission. " src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408921.1445627323!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/civic-rear-trees.jpg" />

The base Civic LX offers tremendous value and a 6-speed manual transmission. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

What if the tent was already set up, the drinks were chilled, the fire pit was lit and, in the end, to go camping all you really had to do was show up? Look no further than the 10th-generation Honda Civic. Honda’s economy car champ is all new for 2016, with added refinement and style in a compact sedan market that suddenly looks outdated in comparison. (Though be sure to check out the nimble Mazda3!) The base Civic LX offers tremendous value and a 6-speed manual transmission, a feature that goes back to Honda’s roots as building driver’s cars on a budget. Pull up at the camp site, unload what you need, and know that the trusty Civic is patiently waiting for the return trip.

Vital Stats: 2016 Honda Civic

Price: $19,475 (including $835 destination fee)

Powertrain: Front-wheel drive, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, 158-hp, 138 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmissions (LX trim)

Best camping feature: Light up the forest with standard LED taillights.

Leave no trace or emissions: 2015 BMW i3

electric motor offers plenty of pulling power." src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408923.1445627455!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/bmw-i3-front.jpg" />

 The i3’s electric motor offers plenty of pulling power.

(Jeff Jablansky) gorgeous natural tapestry that includes eucalyptus trim." src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408927.1445627537!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/bmw-i3-rear.jpg" />

Open the doors of the i3 to reveal a gorgeous natural tapestry that includes eucalyptus trim.

(Jeff Jablansky)

A respected mantra of camping is “leave no trace.” In the all-electric BMW i3, you can come and go from a camp site with little harm done to the environment, or the ozone layer. The i3’s electric motor offers plenty of pulling power – sorry, it’s not enough for trailers – and there are usually EV charging spots close to campsites. Yes, a “range-extended” hybrid i3 is also available, but there is merit in going completely electric and green…the wildlife you admire will thank you for it!

Vital Stats: 2015 BMW i3

Price: $43,395 (including $995 destination fee, before added incentives)

Powertrain: Rear-wheel drive, electric motor, 170-hp, 184 lb.-ft. of torque, 1-speed automatic transmission

Best camping feature: Open the doors to reveal a gorgeous natural tapestry that includes eucalyptus trim.

Relax and catch some shut-eye: 2016 Honda Fit

The Honda Fit is a subcompact hatchback that has the interior volume that puts many small SUVs to shame.  (Jeff Jablansky)

The Honda Fit always surprises us, since it’s a subcompact hatchback that has the interior volume to shame many small SUVs. The functional front-wheel-drive Fit is a must, if you’re the one responsible for setting up camp. When you’re not carrying gear for a weekend getaway, fold the front passenger seat flat and stretch out, as part of a configuration that Honda calls “refresh mode.” We call it taking a snooze, but there you go. (There are also Utility, Long, and Tall modes.) If you forget a tent peg and need alternative accommodations, the Fit is your ride.

Vital Stats: 2016 Honda Fit

Price: $16,610 (including $820 destination fee)

Powertrain: Front-wheel drive, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, 130 hp, 118 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed manual or continuously variable automatic transmissions

Best camping feature: The ability to either stretch out and veg or store everything that would otherwise require a separate camper.

Space to roam: 2016 Ram ProMaster City

Ram ProMaster City." src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408950.1445627899!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/rpmc-front.jpg" />

There are a lot of choices when it comes to the small van category, but when it comes to camping, we choose the Ram ProMaster City.

(Jeff Jablansky)

The ProMaster has a 1,700-lb. payload, and SUV-like towing capacity. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

There is a growing list of choices in the small van category, from the Mercedes-Benz Metris to Ford’s Transit Connect. Yet the one we’d take camping is the nifty little Ram ProMaster City. After a week of driving it around New York City, we’re convinced by the ProMaster City’s versatility, ability to navigate tight spaces, and unexpected passenger comfort. With a 1,700-lb. payload, and SUV-like towing capacity, the ProMaster should make an excellent utilitarian vehicle for a quick camping trip with lots of gear to haul.

Vital Stats: 2016 Ram ProMaster City

Price: $25,240 (wagon, including $995 destination fee)

Powertrain: Front-wheel drive, 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, 178-hp, 174 lb.-ft. of torque, 9-speed automatic transmission

Best camping feature: Pickup-grade payload and as much room inside as your first NYC apartment.

Clearance to camp: 2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country

door sedan recently impressed us on the back-roads of California’s Napa Valley. " src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408958.1445628154!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/s60cchero.jpg" />

This high-riding, four-door sedan recently impressed us on the back-roads of California’s Napa Valley. 

(Jeff Jablansky) S60 Cross Country is a safe and classy alternative to the standard fare in the crowded luxury sedan class. " src="http://assets.nydailynews.com/polopoly_fs/1.2408965.1445628222!/img/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/article_750/s60ccrr2.jpg" />

The S60 Cross Country is a safe and classy alternative to the standard fare in the crowded luxury sedan class. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

What has 7.9 inches of ground clearance, all-wheel drive, European driving dynamics, and the ability to tow 3,300 pounds? Yes, of course, it’s the Volvo S60 Cross Country! This high-riding, four-door sedan recently impressed us on the back-roads of California’s Napa Valley. As you’d expect, the S60 Cross Country is a safe and classy alternative to the standard fare in the crowded luxury sedan class. Lo and behold, it’s also a great choice for a camping trip! If your pup tent could be upgraded business-class, the result would be the S60 Cross Country.

Vital Stats: 2016 Volvo S60 Cross Country

Price: $44,440 (including $940 destination fee)

Powertrain: All-wheel drive, 2.5-liter inline five-cylinder engine, 250-hp, 266 lb.-ft. of torque, 6-speed automatic transmission

Best camping feature: Heated front seats, heated rear seats, heated windshield…you stay warm when it’s cold!

Nature’s eye candy: 2015 Lamborghini Huracan LP 610-4

There are few vehicles as striking, and completely impractical, to take on a camping trip than a Lamborghini Huracan. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

The Lambo's standard all-wheel drive could make it the ideal camping ride if you happen to run into a den of Grizzlies. 

(Jeff Jablansky)

There are few vehicles as striking, and completely impractical, to take on a camping trip than a Lamborghini Huracan. Will its 602-hp V-10 help the Huracan tow a trailer? Nope. Will its trunk fit all your gear? Probably not. Does it seat all of your fellow campers? Not unless this is a couples trip. No, taking a Huracan camping makes as much sense as borrowing a Ford Transit for a date with a supermodel – but that’s why we love it. However, the Lambo’s standard all-wheel drive, not to mention its ability to make a quick exit, could make it the ideal camping ride if you suddenly pull up to a den of Grizzlies.

Vital Stats: 2015 Lamborghini Huracan

Price: $240,745

Powertrain: All-wheel drive, 5.2-liter V-10 engine, 602-hp, 413 lb.-ft. of torque, 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission

Best camping feature: The look on fellow campers’ faces when this V-10 roars to life.

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Single dad converts Airstream caravan into a luxury home

Read article : Single dad converts Airstream caravan into a luxury home

A single father has managed to halve his living costs by transforming a vintage Airstream caravan into a luxury home for £24,000.

Tom, from Lichfield, Staffordshire, built the nifty living space in less than a year in a bid to join the 9.5 million Brits now living mortgage free in a response to soaring housing prices.

He bought a 32ft long Airstream caravan from America for £11,000 and set himself an initial £15,000 budget for the refit - doing all the building and decorating himself - but ended up overspending by £9,000 and was forced to dip into his savings.

The 36-year-old was shelling out £12,000 a year on renting a two-bedroom house for him and daughter Katie, nine, after splitting with her mother.

But after seven years he grew tired of wasting money on rent and bills, saying: ‘I don’t like the idea of being tied down. Whether it’s renting or mortgage, I want to be freer.’

32ft long Airstream caravan from America for £11,000 but had the daunting challenge of creating a living space big enough for him and his daughter Katie" class="blkBorder img-share" />

Bright idea: Tom bought this 32ft long Airstream caravan from America for £11,000 but had the daunting challenge of creating a living space big enough for him and his daughter Katie

joins property expert Sarah Beeny, architect Damion Burrows and designer Max McMurdo in Wednesday night's series finale of How To Live Mortgage Free" class="blkBorder img-share" />

Tom (second left) joins property expert Sarah Beeny, architect Damion Burrows and designer Max McMurdo in Wednesday night's series finale of How To Live Mortgage Free

Tom, a project manager, revealed his ambitious plans to property expert Sarah Beeny on Channel 4's How to live Mortgage Free during Wednesday night's finale.

'I quite like a challenge,' Tom said of his plans for a home with an 'open-plan loft vibe'.

Staffordshire lies in the West Midlands, where house prices grew by 6.5 per cent in the year to March 2017 according to a recent ONS report - the second highest annual growth in the country.

Instead, Tom managed to build a comfortable and surprisingly spacious home for just a fraction of the price - at a total cost of £35,000.

His vintage 'silver bullet' was in full working order when he bought it but the interiors had a dated, 1980s feel to them - forcing Tom to start from scratch.

Two weeks in, architect Damion Burrows stepped in to help Tom make the most of the limited space advising him to merge the cramped toilet cubicle with the shower room to make a spacious 'wet room'. 

Blast from the past: Tom's vintage 'silver bullet' was in full working order when he bought it but the interiors had a dated, 1980s feel to them - forcing Tom to start from scratch

told presenter Sarah Beeny: ‘I don’t like the idea of being tied down. Whether it’s renting or mortgage, I want to be freer’" class="blkBorder img-share" />

Tom, who had spent £84,000 on renting and bills, told presenter Sarah Beeny: ‘I don’t like the idea of being tied down. Whether it’s renting or mortgage, I want to be freer’

32ft long Airstream caravan from America for £11,000 and set himself an initial £15,000 budget for the refit - doing all the building and decorating himself" class="blkBorder img-share" />

The father-of-one bought a 32ft long Airstream caravan from America for £11,000 and set himself an initial £15,000 budget for the refit - doing all the building and decorating himself

And a month into his project he got a visit from designer Max McMurdo, who uses a second-hand drop-leaf table as inspiration for a foldaway breakfast bar, dining table and working space which will also serve as a fold-up TV screen.

Meanwhile, nine-year-old Katie was tasked with downsizing her extensive toy collection to fit into a small storage bin in her new room.  

The finished product comprises a spacious double bedroom with a small bathroom leading into a galley kitchen with all the mod-cons, plus a ‘day bed’ in the living area for when nine-year-old Katie stays over.

architect Damion Burrows (left) stepped in to help Tom make the most of the limited space advising him to merge the cramped toilet cubicle with the shower room" class="blkBorder img-share" />

Two weeks in, architect Damion Burrows (left) stepped in to help Tom make the most of the limited space advising him to merge the cramped toilet cubicle with the shower room

Tom's mobile home means he can make the most of the Staffordshire countryside without the mortgage - in a region where house prices soared by 6.5 per cent in the last year alone

Damion said of the living area (pictured): ‘This is not a caravan as we know it at all, it feels so light and airy. It’s almost like he’s turned the whole thing inside out. This is such a nice space’

finished product comprises a spacious double bedroom with a small bathroom leading into a galley kitchen, plus a ‘day bed’ in the living area (pictured)" class="blkBorder img-share" />

Transformation: The finished product comprises a spacious double bedroom with a small bathroom leading into a galley kitchen, plus a ‘day bed’ in the living area (pictured)

With no mortgage, Tom now spends just £500 a month for space on a caravan site - half of what he was previously paying in rent and bills. 

A visibly impressed Damion gushed: ‘This is not a caravan as we know it at all, it feels so light and airy. It’s almost like he’s turned the whole thing inside out. This is such a nice social space.’

The series sees Sarah team up with Damion and Max to look at the inventive ways people are beating the expensive property market by building high-end homes on a modest budget. 

Also on Wednesday night, a young Shropshire couple told how they became mortgage free by building a second house, which they sold to clear their debts.

And in the Cotswolds a couple built a two-bedroom farmstead home inside a pair of former mobile offices for just £36,000.

L-R Max McMurdo, Sarah Beeny and Damion Burrows were suitably impressed with Tom's mobile home which he refurbished at a relatively modest cost of £15,000

Property expert Sarah Beeny believes more people should be like Tom and find inventive ways to stop spending all their money on rent - as it will save them an 'extraordinary amount of money'" class="blkBorder img-share" />

Property expert Sarah Beeny believes more people should be like Tom and find inventive ways to stop spending all their money on rent - as it will save them an 'extraordinary amount of money'

In London, Sarah met Dominic, who bought a former parking lot with a friend and together they built two, four-storey homes out of concrete for £200,000, each now worth over £1million.

Explaining the concept behind her new show, former property developer and entrepreneur Sarah said: 'It’s all about finding slightly alternative ways of living. 

'If you want to go the standard route where you live near Starbucks and the tube in a three bedroom Victorian terrace, you probably can’t live mortgage free, because you need more money for that. 

'But a lot of people spend an awful lot of money on rent. If you can stop paying rent then you save an extraordinary amount of money.'

How to Live Mortgage Free with Sarah Beeny is now available on All 4

FIRST-CLASS B’s

Read article : FIRST-CLASS B’s

In a Market Dominated by the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Chassis, Several New Players Emerge for 2014

Change is coming to the Class B motorhome market in 2014 with two new European-based platforms on which RV manufacturers are
expected to build: The new ProMaster van, already available from Chrysler’s Ram truck division, and the 2015 Ford Transit van that is expected to debut early next year.
Both will challenge the decade-long market supremacy of the diesel-powered Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, which, as an RV platform, outsold the domestic Chevy Express van by more than two-to-one in 2012. The Chevy Express has been the Sprinter’s primary competitor in the RV market since Ford mothballed the popular Ford E-series van last year.

Ford Transit

And camper van builders are quickly adapting. Winnebago Industries Inc. got a jump on the market this summer with the introduction of the long-anticipated Travato van camper on the Ram ProMaster chassis, while others already have plans to add the Ford Transit to their stable when it becomes available.
‘’There is additional competition coming,’’ noted Jim Brieske, specialty vehicle manager for General Motors Fleet and Commercial Operations.
The suddenly increased competition in the Class B market portends well for consumers. More chassis mean more choices with regard to price, floorplans and powerplants.
Horsepower and gross vehicle weight rating (gvwr) for Ford’s unibody Transit haven’t been established yet, but it will be equipped with a V-6 gas or 3.2-liter diesel

Ram ProMaster

engine with wheelbases from 130 to 147 inches.
The Ram ProMaster, powered by a 280-hp 3.6-liter gasoline engine, features high- and low-roof models with a gvwr of 9,350 pounds and wheelbases up to 159 inches, while the Chevy Express provides a gvwr up to 9,600 pounds with a 324-hp 6.2-liter powerplant.
Although new to North America, both the ProMaster, based on the European Fiat Ducato, and the Ford Transit, upfitted for the U.S. market, have long been used in Europe as motorhome and commercial van platforms.
‘’Transit has been available in Europe for more than 40 years,’’ said Craig Hall, Ford Motor Company’s specialty vehicle marketing manager. ‘’It’s not a new vehicle, per se.’’
Hall says the Transit — not to be confused with the smaller Transit Connect — will be available in several lengths, roof heights and gvwrs. ‘’Fuel prices are going up, and the consumer wants better fuel mileage, which the Transit will provide,’’ he said.
The Ram ProMaster also has a long history. ‘’The ProMaster is a proven platform,’’ said Joe Benson, head of Ram commercial trucks. ‘’It’s been on the
European market for over 30 years and 4.5 million have been sold worldwide.
Two out of every three RV owners (in Europe) have chosen the Ducato on the Fiat platform.’’
Meanwhile, the Class B king, Mercedes-Benz, isn’t sitting still. The luxury European manufacturer is modifying the 2014 Sprinter chassis — released in September — with a redesigned front end and new 4-cylinder diesel engine that is expected to get 15 to 18 percent better fuel economy. Most van camper manufacturers that build on the Sprinter chassis will make the change to the new chassis in the middle of their 2014 model year.
Here’s a look at what some prominent B-van manufacturers are offering for 2014 (note: Sprinter-based photos are on the 2013 chassis).

Advanced RV

Factory-direct Advanced RV LLC of Willoughby, Ohio, offers an optional ‘’Independence Package’’ in the all-diesel Gulf Coast and Ocean One Class B motorhomes that include two solar panels to charge a set of lithium-iron batteries that also can be charged by a shore connection or through an optional generator attached to the engine. Standard with diesel appliances — including a hydronic heating system and on-demand hot water — the Gulf Coast is built on the standard 22-foot Sprinter chassis while Ocean One 24-footer is assembled on the Sprinter’s dual-wheel extended platform. Both include a touch-screen Silverleaf multiplex system to monitor tank levels and batteries; it also acts as a thermostat and starts the generator. Although highly customizable, Gulf Coast and Ocean One are equipped with convertible electric sofas — fixed double or twin beds are optional — LED lighting, heated floors, custom ground effects with integrated running boards, European-style cabinets, portable single-burner induction cooktop and a Keurig K-Cup coffeemaker.
Retail prices start at about $137,000.
Advanced RV
440-283-0405
www.advanced-rv.com

Airstream

Jackson Center, Ohio-based Airstream Inc.’s Interstate Class B has been the best-selling van camper brand for the last three years and will be mounted on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis with a standard 161-hp 6-cylinder diesel engine by the time you read this. Available in seven 22 and 24-foot floorplans on standard and extended Sprinter chassis, the Interstate has been upgraded for 2014 with a larger TV, Alcoa DuraBright aluminum wheels, an enhanced navigation system and Xenon headlights with automatic rain-sensing washers. Other standards include Corian countertops and pedestal tables, high-gloss laminate cabinets, power rear sofas or twin beds, Ultraleather seating and adjustable LED lighting.
MSRPs start at $137,364.
Airstream
877-596-6111
www.airstream.com

Great West Van Conversions

Great West Van Conversions Inc. of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, builds three van campers: the Legend, Legend SE and Legend XE — all mounted on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter diesel platform with a gvwr of 11,030 pounds. Two floorplans, one with a tri-fold rear bed, the other with twin beds, are available in all three models. The Legend and upgraded Legend SE are 22 feet, while the Legend XE is 24 feet and offers more living space, a longer bed and four coach batteries. Both the Legend SE and XE are equipped with hydronic heating/hot water, along with a standard 85-watt solar panel. All models feature solid wood cabinets, recessed LED lighting, Avonite countertops and laminate hardwood-look floors.
Base MSRPs: Legend, $110,000; Legend SE, $120,000; Legend EX, $128,000.
Great West Van Conversions
204-338-9303
www.greatwestvans.com

Pleasure-Way Industries

Pleasure-Way offers two Class B platforms in varying lengths — the 19½-foot Ascent and 22-foot 9-inch dual-wheel Plateau on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; and the 20½-foot Lexor on the Chevy 3500 Express. GVWRs are 8,500 pounds on the Ascent, 11,030 pounds on the Plateau and 9,600 pounds with a 320-hp gas engine on the Lexor. Pleasure-Way will start building on the 2014 Mercedes-Benz Sprinter equipped with a 4-cylinder diesel engine when they become available later this year. Standard features include a private bath and shower, maple cabinets, Corian countertop, stainless steel sink and two-burner stove/cooktop. Its 2014 RVs come with a 5 Year/60,000 mile limited warranty.
Base MSRPs: Lexor, $87,000; Ascent, $109,000;
Plateau, $111,540.
Pleasure-Way Industries
800-364-0189
www.pleasureway.com

RoadTrek

Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc., Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, has introduced for 2014 the 22-foot CS-Adventurous series built on the Sprinter dual-wheel chassis with a gvwr of 11,030 pounds.
The floorplan is versatile with three captains chairs up front and a rear convertible sofa or twin beds, either of which can be converted into a king-size sleeping platform. The front-seating and rear-sleeping areas allow two people to get up and go to bed at different times without disturbing each other. Features on the new CS-Adventurous include frameless windows, marine toilets, engineered granite countertops, cherry cabinet doors and heavy-duty vinyl flooring. An optional E-Trek package allows the coach to be operated ‘’off-the-grid” with an engine-mounted 3500 watt generator, eight 6-volt solar-charged AGM batteries and an Alde comfort heating system that includes hot water.
Base MSRP: $115,960.
Roadtrek Motorhomes
519-745-1169
www.roadtrek.com

Triple E RV

Winkler, Manitoba, Canada-based Triple E RV has designed a driver-side slideout
in the 2014 Leisure Travel Vans Free Spirit FS22SS Class B motorhome. Built on
the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
chassis with a gvwr of 11,030 pounds, Triple E will give the buyer the option of a 4- or 6-cylinder diesel engine when it goes into production with the 2014 Sprinter chassis. New to the 22-foot 9-inch Free Spirit for 2014 is an electric convertible sofa, new roof trim with integrated power awning
and a 4.8-cubic-foot refrigerator. The FS22SS, one of two Free Spirit floorplans, takes a cue from European designers with curved cabinets and a self-contained lavatory. Standards include contoured Corian countertops, radius windows and powered patio awning.
Base MSRP: $113,815.
Triple E Recreational Vehicles
877-992-9906
www.tripleerv.com

Winnebago

Winnebago Industries Inc., long an innovator in the Class B market, has introduced the Travato motorhome assembled on the Ram ProMaster chassis with a gvwr of 9,350 pounds. The more affordable 21-foot, front-wheel drive Travato from the Forest City, Iowa, manufacturer is equipped with a 280-hp V-6 gasoline engine that gets an esti­mated 15 to 18 mpg. With more vertical side walls than Winnebago’s Sprinter-based Era Class B, the Travato provides 4 additional inches of shoulder room and offers features such as a soft vinyl ceiling, LED interior lights, shower, powered patio awning, laminate countertops, two-burner range and a refrigerator with a
removable freezer unit.
MSRP: $84,039.
Winnebago Industries
641-585-3535
www.winnebagoind.com

Bob Ashley is a columnist for RV Business magazine and has covered the industry for nearly 20 years. He is a recipient of the “Distinguished Service in RV Journalism” award from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA).

 

 

 

 

Top RVs, campers and tents of 2014

Read article : Top RVs, campers and tents of 2014

Another year, another few dozen ways to escape urban life and set up camp in the wild ... 2014 has been an interesting year for campers. From the heavy-duty off-road machines of Overland Expo to ultralight bicycle campers, and from familiar campground designs to new concepts of sea and air camping, the year has seen a large variety of innovative designs from around the world. Here are our picks for the best tents, camper vans, trailers and mobile homes of 2014, in no particular order.

Tentsile Vista multi-story tree tent

Since we first featured Tentsile in 2012, the company has continued to impress us with its suspended tents. Other manufacturers offer hammock-based tents, but Tentsile makes large, spacious aerials that are more like canvas treehouses, none more so than the all-new Vista. The non-weather-sealed nature of the design isn't for everyone or all conditions, but the available multi-floor layout is certainly an interesting twist on the tree tent. The primary Vista tent protects three campers with a combination of detachable insect mesh and removable rain fly. The really cool part of the design is that you can add extra floors to make a suspended, multi-level "portable treehouse" for nine or more people. The basic tent without extra floors costs US$595.

SylvanSport GO-Easy ultralight camping trailer

A compact, 275-lb (125 kg) gear trailer, the SylvanSport GO-Easy is designed to give the smallest cars and motorcycles the ability to haul all kinds of sports gear and tools. To add overnighting capabilities, SylvanSport teamed with Roost tents to create a flip-top tent camper with underbody storage. When you don't need a tent, remove the foam mattress and canvas sides and Roost's innovative two-person clamshell becomes a gear box. To add some of the comforts of home, SylvanSport offers options like Goal Zero solar power systems and the Road Shower. Combine the $2,000 price of the GO-Easy with the $3,000 price of the Roost tent, and you have an ultralight, ultra-versatile camping trailer for around $5K.

Tonke Fieldsleeper International expedition vehicle

Prior to 2014, we knew Tonke as the Dutch company behind some the most stylish wooden trailers we've ever seen. This year, it added one of the most stylish aluminum trailers on the market not named Airstream. The Mercedes Sprinter-based Fieldsleeper International is built as an expedition vehicle, available in both 4x2 and 4x4 drive options. Its aluminum skin creates a more modern exterior style, but the interior still features the warmth of mahogany wood.

Tonke attempts to give Fieldsleeper International owners more off-grid autonomy by eliminating the liquid propane systems typical in RVs in favor of a roof-mounted solar array and auxiliary diesel tank. The 400- to 600-watt solar system powers onboard equipment like the refrigerator, stove, lighting and even air conditioning. The five-person camper includes a washroom with sink, shower and cassette toilet.

When we covered it earlier in the year, the International was offered with a 190-hp Mercedes Sprinter 519Cdi for $192,000, but now it's listed with a 160-hp Sprinter 516Cdi base for a bit cheaper – $154,576.

XVenture XV-2 penthouse trailer

Simple problem, simple solution. The military-grade Xventure XV-2 makes the most of its small trailer form by pushing the pop-up tent high above the cargo box below using an elevated rack system. The adjustable height opens up more storage space in the cargo box – enough for an ATV, even – and makes everything inside that cargo box easier to access. As a few astute readers pointed out, it looks like the configuration could prove quite chilly in the winter, when the thin floor of the XV-2 could use the added insulation value of a trailer directly below, but that shouldn't be as much a problem in the popular warmer months, or with a heavier sleeping pad. And if it is, you can always adjust it to one of the lower settings on the six-setting rack. The pricing information we received earlier in the year put the XV-2 with elevating rack system and roof tent at around $14,500 to start.

Wide Path bicycle camper

There are dozens upon dozens of camping trailers on the market, but the overwhelming majority of them are designed to be towed by vehicles with motor. The slim, 88-lb (40-kg) Wide Path Camper, on the other hand, is built to be towed by leg power alone. The bicycle camper offers enough sleeping space for two adults and one child and includes a basic but functional interior with a folding table, convertible bed/seats and 300 liters (79 gal) of storage capacity. Add a few select pieces of gear like a propane stove and portable toilet and suddenly you have a fully functioning mobile home on the back of your 12-speed.

The Wide Path Camper was still in the prototype stages as of last month, but its Dutch designer hopes to have it ready for sale next year, starting around $2,500.

Amok Draumr hammock tent

While not quite as common a sight at the campground as a dome tent or RV, the hammock shelter is a widely available camping option offered by brands like Hennessy Hammock and Grand Trunk. Typically, these hammocks are strung between trees end to end, but the Amok rotates the Draumr around 90 degrees, creating a side-to-side hanging structure. This construction creates a flat, sleeping pad-cushioned bed designed to deliver a more comfortable night of sleep. With a few tugs of the adjustment straps, it also turns into a suspended chair.

The ISPO BrandNew Award-nominated Draumr is available now for $379, which includes mosquito netting, straps and a rain fly, but not the required sleeping pad. All in, the Draumr weighs less than 4.5 lb (2 kg).

MVP Aero MVP seaplane camper

We're already suckers for amphibious vehicles, so throw in a convertible overnight package, and you get one of our favorite vehicles of the year. Billed as the "world's most versatile plane," the MVP, which we checked out at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2014, is part seaplane, part fishing boat and part floating/flying camper. The tri-phibious plane can land on dry land, snow or water. On water, it can motor along and act as a boat, and slide the canopy back and it offers a flat deck for fishing and observation. The wings also fold up, adding to its maneuverability on water.

At night, the MVP's instrument panel lifts out of the way, creating a large, flat floor with the help of a four-panel origami deck that slides over top the seat wells. Tent fabric secures over the entire cockpit area, providing shelter for two occupants. A fitted inflatable mattress offers added comfort, and there's also a hammock that sets up between the engine pylon and the tail.

The MVP isn't exactly a practical camper for the masses, but one can certainly dream of using it on some pretty epic adventures. The aircraft is still in the prototype stages, but for those that simply can't wait, it's available for reservation at a price of $189,000. Delivery is not expected until 2018/19, however.

Audi-Heimplanet Q3 tent camper

Two innovative German brands teamed up for something a bit different at Volkswagen's 2014 Wörthersee festival. Heimplanet custom-fit its inflatable tent technology to the hatch of an Audi Q3 2.0 TDI. The design created an extended car-tent living space with vestibule and also allowed for a freestanding tent set-up. The inflatable tent and Q3 combo certainly wasn't the most rugged camper design of the year, but it was rated up to wind speeds of 43.5 mph (70 km/h).

The Audi-Heimplanet inflatable car camper was clearly designed as an eye-catching showpiece (a role it filled quite nicely), and we don't expect to see Audi dealerships advertising the Q3 "overnight package" anytime soon.

2014 EarthRoamer XV-LTS xpedition vehicle

A beastly, intimidating contradiction on wheels, the 2014 EarthRoamer XV-LTS combines one of the more rugged 4WD expedition vehicle platforms out there with a carefully-detailed, luxury-level interior and front porch. In designing the truck, Colorado-based EarthRoamer fortified a commercial-duty F-550 chassis for rough, off-road use, bolted a composite living module to the back and outfitted it for comfortable off-grid living. The design includes a cozy six-seat living room, sleeping space for four to six and a bathroom with a sink, full-height shower and cassette toilet. Occupants are furnished with utilities by way of a solar-driven electrical system, engine-powered dual alternators and a 90-gallon (340.7-L) fresh water tank. It appears to be an extremely cozy space to retire to after hard days of fighting through mud, boulders and dust with the 300-hp V8 turbo diesel and 37-in tires. The model we stepped inside at Overland Expo even included luxuries like a wine cabinet with engraved wine glasses, slide-out Keurig coffeemaker, and exterior tailgating package with retractable 46-in TV.

The 2014 XV-LTS sold out, but EarthRoamer is now advertising the 2015 model at prices between $312,000 and $560,000.

ADAK Trailer

It's not at all rare to find a gritty, all-terrain expedition vehicle furnished like a luxury apartment on wheels. In fact, there are two on this list, including the EarthRoamer we just looked at. When you're spending six or seven figures on a large, motorized toy, there's no reason you can't have it all.It is rarer to find that mix of any-terrain readiness and luxury in the far more modestly priced camping trailer segment. Most off-road trailer manufacturers we've covered seem to put all their R&D money into building a bombproof chassis and body ready to take on everything Mother Earth can throw at it, leaving live-in accommodations to a simple fold-out tent or small, spartan teardrop interior.Built by a group of outdoorsman tired of inferior campers quitting when the road got rough, but too seasoned for a skimpy, uncomfortable shelter, the ADAK Trailer offers an admirable combination of rugged exterior and spacious, comfy interior. The design uses a mix of aluminum and composite to hold up to rough, choppy roads and off-roads. Inside the trailer's 116-sq ft (10.8 sq m) cabin, campers find three beds, a bathroom with toilet and shower, a tankless hot water system designed to work in the middle of winter, and available wood flooring and cabinetry. When we originally covered the ADAK earlier in the year, pricing started at $49,000.

Volksleisure T5 camper van

After more than a decade of focusing on camper conversions for vans from manufacturers other than Volkswagen, Wellhouse Leisure presented its first production-ready VW camper van this year. The first offering from the brand's VW-centric subsidiary Volksleisure, the little people mover packs enough versatility for both everyday and holiday use. It's Wellhouse's electric rear bench that makes the Volksleisure camper a van that you can overnight in on the weekend and get the kids to school in come Monday morning. The bench slides the length of the cabin, allowing it to work as a live-in camper, regular people mover or big-item hauler. The camper van offers sleeping space for up to four people, along with a kitchen area, refrigerator, dining table, and 35-L (9.2 US gal) fresh and waste water tanks. Volksleisure's T5 camper is currently listed at a £47,850 ($75,000) base price.

Safari Condo Alto R1723 teardrop pop-top

Combining two timeless camping-trailer concepts into one seamless family tag-along, the Alto R1723 by Safari Condo is a pop-up teardrop camper designed to get the family outdoors. The 83-in-high (2.1-m), 1725-lb (782-kg) teardrop design gives the Alto R1723 drag-cutting aerodynamic performance on the road and garage clearance during storage. The electric aluminum roof pops up at camp to offer 82 inches (2.08 m) of interior headroom, more than enough for the average person to stand up and walk around, a convenience that smaller, lower teardrops lack. The trailer sleeps three or four and includes home-like comforts such as a flush toilet and shower. The large windows let you experience the grand scenery of the outdoors while remaining under the roof.

The Alto R1723 starts at around CAD$28,500 (US$24,500), and Safari also offers the smaller R1713 for CAD$1,000 less.

Knaus Travelino camper concept

Much like automakers do at every major auto show, German manufacturer Knaus Tabbert has been using the annual Düsseldorf Caravan Salon to showcase ideas for the future of the industry. It followed up last year's much talked about Caravisio concept with the 2014 Travelino trailer.

While we aren't really sold on the odd, broadsided shape of the black-and-white Travelino, the real highlight is the interior. The caravan offers very versatile use of its limited space through carefully designed and placed equipment. In place of a dedicated bathroom, a folding-panel wall and slide-out cassette toilet provide indoor privacy without permanently occupying floor space. The indoor and slide-out outdoor kitchens share a portable camping stove, eliminating the need for fixed cooktops.

The Travelino launched as just a concept, so there was no accompanying price information, but it's easy to see how some of its features could find their way into production camping trailers.

Marco Polo Activity light camper van

Manufacturers around the world have come up with very clever ways of packing all kinds of amenities and comforts into small, portable vehicles. But there's really only so much equipment you can fit into a camper while keeping it light, spacious and comfortable. And not every overnight trip requires a full bathroom, kitchen and living room. If you're sleeping in a ski resort parking lot or adjacent to a surf break so that you're in prime position to take advantage of first tracks/early morning waves, you don't necessarily need a fully equipped RV, just a roof and a comfortable place to sleep.In that spirit, Mercedes-Benz dropped some of the usual camping equipment to make a lighter, simpler camper van in the form of the Marco Polo Activity it revealed in Düsseldorf. The Activity has a three-seat bench that extends clean across the width of the van thanks to the absence of the kitchen unit. That bench folds down into a bed for up to three, and two more people can sleep below the pop-up roof. If you need to cook your own meals, you can slide the bench forward on its rails and store a stove, cookware and plenty of other gear in back, then eat on the included folding table in the cabin. What you give up in equipment and amenities, you gain in versatility and spaciousness. The Activity was released at a starting price of €38,960 (US$49,000).

Action Mobil Global XRS 720 6x6 camper

Our second rolling, all-terrain luxury apartment, the Action Mobil Global XRS 7200 introduced at the 2014 Düsseldorf Caravan Salon was this year's exercise in no-expense-spared expeditioning opulence, the type of vehicle one only considers if the very thought of "roughing it" is a much bigger deterrent than a seven-figure price tag. The 720-hp, 18-ton MAN-chassised 6x6 is eager to travel to any part of the world and stay there about as long as its occupants can handle. Once inside the spacious, climate-controlled cabin, they'll immediately forget about whatever harsh, desolate reality surrounds the exterior walls. The cabin is appointed in materials like stone and metal, includes a master bedroom, is hydrated by a 720-L (190-gal) fresh water tank, and keeps everyone entertained with a multimedia system that's more impressive than what many people have in their living rooms – 40-in HD TV, satellite internet, Apple TV, Bose audio, and a large-capacity hard drive for storing multimedia content. There's even a bidet and washer/dryer. Not a bad living situation for the middle of $#@#$in nowhere.

Pricing info out of the Düsseldorf show put the XRS 7200 at €850,000 (US$1.1 million) to start.

Look through our gallery for a closer look at the interiors and features of each of these campers and tents. And if you're wondering how this year's designs compare to last year's, take a trip back in time with our best of 2013 camper round-up.

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