In the December 2021 issue of RV Enthusiast, we provided an overview of the hottest new trucks for 2022 — including a look at EVs (electric vehicles) from Ford (Lightning), Tesla (Cybertruck), Rivian (R1T pickup and R1S SUV) and GMC (Hummer EV).

One nameplate conspicuously absent from our electric vehicle rundown was Chevrolet — but it appears that is about to change.

At the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, General Motors CEO Mary Barra unveiled the Silverado EV — and according to a report in the Detroit Free Press, vowed to beat the Ford F-150 Lightning in key metrics including driving range, towing capacity and passenger space.

While the Silverado EV is expected to debut as a 2024 model, a lavishly equipped RST First Edition is anticipated to be released in Fall 2023. All production of the $105,000 First Edition pickup, said to feature an estimated range of 400 miles on a full charge, was spoken for in 12 minutes. Other models can be reserved by visiting Chevrolet’s website at chevrolet.com.

As for Ford, the iconic Blue Oval isn’t taking this news sitting down. According to Automotive News, Ford will build nearly four times as many Lightnings as originally intended and recently began inviting some of the nearly 200,000 people with reservations to place orders. The Lightning is scheduled for a Spring 2022 on-sale date.

Keystone RV has launched a new mobile app – dubbed “My Keystone” – that, said company sources, is designed to consolidate key resources to help owners camp more successfully and confidently. The app is free to Keystone owners.

Now available at the Apple and Google Play app stores, My Keystone includes manuals and quick start guides, Keystone’s First-Time Campers series, how-to videos, DIY program details, maintenance schedules, troubleshooting guides, and a consolidated library of all mobile apps associated with each brand’s vehicles. The company will continue to add additional resources in the future.

For more information — including links to download the app to Apple and Android smartphones — go to keystonerv.com/mykeystone.

Concept vehicles are coming thick and fast as the transportation industry plays catch-up with evolving technology — and one of the more interesting examples is “Vision Omnipod,” introduced by South Korean tech behemoth LG at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show.

According to LG’s website, the Omnipod is designed to blur the line between the house and the car. The vehicle looks like a standard van on the outside — but on the inside, it comes with a plethora of tech including a slew of LG’s own home appliances, including a refrigerator, TVs, and drink dispensers. All these devices would be upgradeable and are standardized for in-vehicle use. The well-appointed interior looks and feels somewhat like a lounge or a sitting area, with a reclining seat and a couch of sorts. According to LG, the adaptive interior can also reconfigure in real time using a “Meta Environmental Screen.”

While not a lot of other information was forthcoming, the Vision Omnipod is featured in this short video released by LG featuring the company’s vision for the tech of the future (including robots): youtube.com/watch?v=4NeM3_g807g&t=78s.

We all know that the popularity of the RV lifestyle — refueled by the pandemic — has hit previously unattainable heights. According to information coming from the RV Industry Association (RVIA), it’s yet to peak. The association’s December survey of manufacturers shows that total RV wholesale shipments to dealers hit 600,240 units. That’s not only a record, but it eclipses the previous highwater mark for wholesale shipments — 504,599, set in 2017 — by a whopping 19%.

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According to Statistical Surveys Inc., the data-processing firm that tracks RV retail registrations, the latest figures show that retail sales also were a record-setter for 2021. The Grand Rapids, Michigan-based company has recorded 541,737 registrations in North America (U.S. and Canada) for the year — with one month’s registrations (December) yet to be tallied. The previous mark for 12 months, 515,819 retail registrations, was set in 2020.

Wondering what interesting locations are worth a visit during your next trip? We ran across a magazine titled TRIPinfo recently, and found its contents well worth sharing. While it’s directed to organizers of large excursions, there’s a wealth of information on places of interest. For example, the Spring 2021 of this quarterly online publication revolves around “81 amazing Attractions” from Totem Bight State Historical Park in Ketchikan, Alaska, to Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library on the other side of the continent in Winterthur, Delaware. Other issues are dedicated to such pursuits as casinos, sports, transportation and even shopping.

Granted, some of the topics may not fly with your current mode of transportation — the latest issue is all about cruises — but, again, it just may pique your interest…especially since some of the cruises highlighted are along the Hudson River and the Great Lakes.

The site also contains information on literally thousands of destinations, most of which are in North America. For more information, visit tripinfo.com/magazines.

Fleetwood RV, a division of REV Recreation Group, debuted the new upscale 35GL floorplan for its Bounder Class A gas brand at the recent Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa. The mid-coach entry configuration features four distinct living areas, said to make it feel more like a traditional home.

The four areas include: the forward cabin, with couch, multi-purpose Adap-table dinette and LED TV; an open-concept galley with French-door Whirlpool refrigerator, three-burner cooktop and angled sink with plenty of quartz countertop space; split lavatory — each with its own sink — with privacy doors to close it off from the kitchen and bedroom; and large master bedroom.

The 36-foot, 3-inch, two slideout coach rides on the new Power Platform Ford chassis, powered by a 7.3-liter V-8 with 350 hp and 468 lb.-ft. of torque, and includes a 100-watt solar panel, 2,000-watt inverter, exterior entertainment center with LED TV and Bluetooth soundbar and 14-foot awning. Other features include a towing capacity of up to 8,000 pounds, 5.5kW generator with auto-start and 160 cubic feet of basement storage. For more information, visit fleetwoodrv.com/models/bounder-2022/.

An RV’s chassis is designed and built to endure many years of abuse, from bad weather to bad roads — but it’s not impervious, and ultimately road debris will start to take its toll. Lippert Components, Inc. — the top supplier of towable chassis — announced Jan. 12 that it is upgrading the formula for all powder coatings on all of its chassis headed for RV use. The change comes as a result of Lippert and one of its suppliers, AkzoNobel, collaborating to raise the bar in product performance and innovative manufacturing processes.

Known as Road Defense, the powder coating formula is designed to provide a more uniform density and give the chassis more protection against the elements. It has endured rigorous testing to ensure superior strength, durability and resistance to corrosion, fading, weathering, humidity and more.

Pivotal characteristics of the new powder coating that set it apart include its texture (instead of the traditional high-gloss black). Other key features and benefits include:

• 3x more resilient to salt spray and humidity.
• 5x improved weathering for reduced fading and chalking.
• 2x more resistant to chipping and cracking.
• 4x more uniformed coverage for increased protection and performance.
• 3x heavier coating for improved durability and reduced touch-ups.
• Enhanced cyclic corrosion score to withstand harsh weather environments. Production of chassis treated to the Road Defense chassis powder coating will begin in early 2022.

Spartan RV Chassis recently introduced its Red Diamond Leveling System, an exclusive aftermarket option, that according to company officials brings quick and easy leveling to an RV — without the use of jacks. This air spring leveling system is available for installation on model year 2000-and-newer Class A coaches built on a Spartan chassis and not already equipped with air leveling.

Designed to take the hassle out of leveling while stationary and also while getting over bumps or under a low garage door, the Red Diamond Leveling System utilizes an innovative air spring and control panel setup. Controlled by a simple and intuitive touchscreen interface, users have a full suite of leveling functionality, including:

• One-touch automatic leveling;
• Manual leveling with control of each air spring while traveling at low speeds or while in park;
• Adjustable entry height to ease ingress and egress;
• Automatic protection against chassis twist.

The user-friendly touchscreen provides RV owners with easy control and selection of either auto-leveling or four-point manual control of the leveling actuators. Three digital “bubble level” indicators show the exact vehicle stance, and clear visual feedback on vehicle status is provided.

Truck campers are a great way to go off-grid — but they tend to add considerable weight to the vehicle, meaning owners of smaller pickups are out of luck, for the most part. Bend, Oregon-based Cube Series has come up with an ultra-lightweight folding camper that can be utilized by owners of lighter pickups such as the Chevy Colorado, Nissan Frontier and Ford Ranger.

Designed to fit on any standard small- or mid-sized pickup, the fully hard-sided folding camper is built of fiberglass, aluminum and composites and weighs in at less than 1,200 pounds. By employing a patent-pending technology, the units collapse to roughly a third of their “open” height. Power actuators put the two load-bearing walls up, then two interior walls are pushed into place manually and locked.

Features of the $33,827 camper include Gray Stone or Walnut Bark interior, wood-look vinyl flooring, leather-look 44-inch dinette, Olympic twin XL memory foam bed, 2-burner stove/sink combo, aluminum cabinet drawers, storage doors and Corian countertops. There’s also an 18,000 BTU gas furnace, 1.7 cubic-foot built-in refrigerator, 1.0 cubic-foot built-in microwave, three ceiling LED lights, four power sockets and four USB ports, Thetford electric flushing cassette toilet, plug-and-play solar panel, 7.5-gallon LP tank, exterior outlet and patio light, electric powered roof with remote, tankless water heater with outside shower and a 21-gallon freshwater tank.

The company, by the way, plans to introduce a towable version in the near future. The travel trailer, expected to retail for $46,262, will stretch just 16 feet and weigh in at less than 1,600 pounds. For more information, visit cubeseries.com.