News & Notes: January 2023
Winnebago Partners With Ironman Triathlete
Winnebago has announced a partnership with Ironman triathlete champion Lionel Sanders. As part of the partnership, Sanders will use a Winnebago Revel Type B motorhome as a home base for training and relaxing in between competitions.
The Revel is a rugged 4×4 camper van designed to go off the beaten path. With 188 horsepower, on-demand four-wheel-drive, electronic stability, traction control, and a lithium battery, the Revel provides Sanders the flexibility to go off-road and off-grid as needed when training.
Designed to haul all types of gear, the Revel also is outfitted with a power lift platform bed that can be raised or lowered to accommodate storage needs. The under-bed space includes six removable tie-down anchors for securing bikes and other large items, along with mold-ed pockets, zippered storage, and a cargo cubby — ideal for Sanders and his gear.
An Ironman triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, followed by a 112-mile bicycle ride, and then a marathon 26.22-mile run. It is considered one of the most difficult one-day sporting events in the world.
Sanders is a Canadian professional triathlete. He won the 2017 ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships. In 2017 and 2021, he placed second at the Ironman World Championship. Since beginning his career in 2013, he has won four Ironman and 29 half-Ironman races.
National Indoor RV Centers Expands To Virginia
In late October, National Indoor RV Centers (NIRVC) opened its newest “lifestyle center” in Manassas, Virginia, to offer motorhome sales, service, and parts to RVers throughout the Eastern Seaboard.
NIRVC plans to have approximately 30 different models of Type A, B, and C gas and diesel motorhomes for sale at this location, in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and price ranges.
The temporary facility in Virginia is just an hour outside of Washington, D.C., and NIRVC officials indicate that this is a first step in establishing a presence in the area and creating customer relationships. The company is currently finalizing plans to develop a full-service RV lifestyle center that is tentatively slated to open in 2025.
The Virginia dealership marks NIRVC’s sixth location nationally. In December 2022, NIRVC planned to open a 189,350-square-foot center in Nashville, Tennessee. Its other locations are in Atlanta, Dallas, Las Vegas, and Phoenix.
For more information about NIRVC and its services, visit www.nirvc.com.
Thor Motor Coach Unveils New Models
Thor Motor Coach revealed five new motorhome models at the company’s annual Dealer Open House in late September:
Dazzle: This 21-foot-1-inch Type B motorhome is offered in three floor plans. Top features include contemporary cabinetry and fabric selections; an Onan 2.8-kilowatt generator; and an ObeCo side screen door for the entry.
Indigo: Available in two floor plans — 35 feet 9 inches and 36 feet long — this Type A gas-powered motorhome boasts “cozy vibes” and luxury living. It is offered with three full-body paint options, a residential refrigerator, a “Project 2000” cockpit, and a drop-down bunk.
Luminate: A Type A gasoline-powered coach offered in two floor plans — 35 feet 9 inches and 36 inches long. It features a tankless water heater, a 300-watt solar charging system, and a marbled-pattern ABS-plastic shower surround.
Thor Motor Coach Resonate
Resonate: The four floor plans in this Type A gas-powered model range from 30 feet 9 inches to 33 feet 5 inches long. It includes a Pet-Link multipurpose tie-down and an exterior 32-inch TV on a swivel bracket with a Bluetooth built-in soundbar and radio.
Twist: Said to be the most affordable Ram ProMaster 3500 motorhome on the market, this Type B comes in three 21-foot-1-inch-long floor plans. Top features include a two-burner propane cooktop with a glass cover and a solar charge controller with a 190-watt solar panel.
For more information about these and other Thor Motor Coach models, visit thormotorcoach.com/motorhomes.
U.S. Outdoor Recreation: A Multibillion-Dollar Industry
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has released economic data for 2021 exhibiting outdoor recreation’s powerful impact on the U.S. economy. The new numbers indicate that outdoor recreation generates $862 billion in economic output. In addition, this sector creates 4.5 million jobs and contributes 1.9 percent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP). Outdoor recreation contributes more to the U.S. economy than oil and gas extraction, mining, and farming. The report includes national and state-level data.
The BEA data shows how the outdoor industry, which played a vital economic and social role throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, has since sustained considerable growth, and has continued to bolster local economies, the RV Industry Association noted in a press release.
Other key points cited in the report: a resurgence in trips and travel; record sales in many outdoor segments; an increase in manufacturing; and a continued interest in outdoor recreation as a way to increase quality of life.
“RVs provide a base camp for every form of recreation included in these new economic numbers, from boating and fishing to hiking, biking, and climbing,” said RV Industry Association president& CEO Craig Kirby. “What these new numbers show is that outdoor recreation is not just good for people’s physical and mental health, it is also a significant economic driver across the entire country.”
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Source: https://familyrvingmag.com/2023/01/02/news-notes-january-2023/
