Boondocking may have just gotten a lot more interesting — and a lot more viable. Watergen Ltd., an Israel-based global leader in atmospheric water-generating technology, announced in October it had developed the world’s first aftermarket water generator for RVs.

Scheduled for release early next year through select Camping World locations, the “Watergen ON Board” system harnesses humidity in the air to provide up to 13.2 gallons (50 liters) per day of fresh, clean drinking water. Watergen’s globally patented “GENius” system for water extraction is the first heat exchanger to be composed of food-grade polymers, while the multifunction filtration cascade combines with proprietary “high end treatment technologies” followed by a germicidal UV lamp; vital minerals balance the water PH to achieve both high purification and “tasty” drinking water that complies with EPA and Federal Drinking Water standards.

It also is said to offer a wide operating range — 59 to 113 degrees F and 20% to 99% humidity — and is powered by any 12-volt power source (480-watt power consumption). The two-part installation includes a roof unit and water dispenser mounted inside the RV. The company will also offer a Mobile Box unit that provides up to 20 liters daily. For more information, visit us.watergen.com and, as the company’s motto suggests, “enjoy a sip of fresh air.”

The author Mark Twain reportedly replied, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated” when supposedly contacted once by a news reporter who asked him about rumors he was dying. We can subscribe the same retort to wild rumors of Goodyear pulling out of the trailer tire (ST) market.

A number of subscribers to various RV-related online forums had reported of late their difficulties with acquiring Goodyear rubber for their travel trailers and fifth wheels. In fact, one of RV Enthusiast magazine’s own editors encountered the same environment when shopping recently for replacement rubber for his Keystone Montana; he was told by both the tire tech and a regional sales rep that Goodyear was pulling out of the market. We did try to reach out to Goodyear representatives, to no avail.

However, during September’s Open House program staged by various manufacturers in and around Elkhart County, Indiana, to showcase 2022 model-year RVs to visiting dealers, we learned that a number of OEMs will be offering Goodyear Endurance tires on certain popular brands as original equipment. When we asked one product manager about it, he replied succinctly: “If I couldn’t get them, I wouldn’t offer them.” In October, Winnebago Towables announced it will be transitioning to Goodyear Endurance or Wrangler ST tires on all Winnebago travel trailers.

So, it would appear that the company is, indeed, continuing in the market. If anything, the dearth of Endurance-branded Goodyear rubber may in fact be due to the same supply-chain issues affecting other companies — although the tires, introduced in 2018, are made in Alabama and North Carolina, so any shortage may be due to components required — as well as RV OEMs gobbling up what product is out there.

Back in 2012, three respected RV executives — Ron and Bill Fenech and Don Clark — founded a new RV manufacturing company focused on innovation, quality and customer service. It wasn’t long before Grand Design RV’s models began showing up on — then topping — lists of the best-selling fifth wheels in the country. In 2013, Grand Design began building it’s first toy hauler, the Momentum.

In October, the Middlebury, Indiana, company announced it had surpassed 15,000 retail registrations (sales) of the luxury toy hauler, which has grown to include the Momentum, M-Class and G-Class fifth wheels and travel trailers. That information was provided to the company by Statistical Surveys, a data-crunching firm that monitors retail registrations — as was the fact that Momentum is the Number One-ranked fifth wheel toy hauler in North America and the Momentum brand is likewise ranked Number One in its class.

While Grand Design is no longer a private company — it was purchased by Winnebago Industries in 2016 — original partner Don Clark continues to run the company as president and CEO. And, he continues to ensure that the company builds innovative, quality RVs.

What does an ophthalmologist — an eye doctor — have to do with the price of gas? Usually, nothing. Let’s face it: sometimes we don’t want to see how much it costs to fill up. But when friends Dustin Coupal (an ophthalmologist) and Jason Toews (a computer programmer) founded GasBuddy in June 2000, they changed how we could follow fuel prices — and, by consumers sharing gas-pricing information, even find the lowest sellers in a given locale. Ownership of the corporation has changed hands a few times since then, but by acquiring information on 150,000+ stations, Gas Buddy remains the “go to” site for up-to-the-minute (almost) fuel cost data.

That’s vital to travelers at a time of inflation (like now). If you haven’t visited the site in a while, you might be surprised at the wealth of information you can find there. The home page, for example, shows a “live ticking average” of fuel costs across the U.S. (a 2021 high of $3.387 when we checked on October 26), and the interactive map showing state costs can, when a state is clicked on, break things down even to individual counties.

As it’s grown, Gas Buddy has also added features — it now offers cash awards with brand partners, a payment card with cashback awards and an app that, by virtue of being downloaded more than 100 million times, is one of the highest-rated apps in the history of the Apple App Store. Stay informed. Go here to sign up for the latest information or to sign up for email alerts (fuelinsights.gasbuddy.com/home) or here (gasbuddy.com) to sign up for the free forever gas card and/or download the app.

When ATC Trailers was founded by Steve Brenneman in 1999, the company focused on building a better utility trailer — and the “ATC” in its name represents the company’s original moniker: Aluminum Trailer Company. And, while building specialty trailers fueled the company’s success, it’s moved into the RV market in recent years — bring with it ATC’s same commitment to quality. ATV builds a pair of toy haulers — Game Changer and Game Changer PRO Series — in both fifth wheel and travel trailer floorplans.

In addition to its aluminum construction and industry-first configurable furniture track system, the 2022 models (introduced in October) offer a fresh look as ATV prioritizes mobile sustainability. All 2022 models incorporate a 200-watt solar panel, with a 400-watt Solar Package and 800-watt Off-Grid Package available as options. All fifth wheels also will come with a large-capacity 12-volt DC refrigerator, with the 4023 Game Changer PRO now also including a loft and moveable/removeable partition wall, making it possible to have three floorplans in one unit. For more information, visit atctrailers.com.

Driven by “the continued interest in road-based travel and Roadtrippers’ features that support a unique road travel experience,” Roadtrippers announced recently that it had surpassed five million members.

Called “the world’s Number One road trip planning tool,” Roadtrippers (roadtrippers.com) is part of the Togo Group family of brands that also includes Togo RV (togorv.com), RVillage (rvillage.com), Campendium (campendium.com) and Overnight RV Parking (overnightrvparking.com).

Recent feature additions said to contribute to Roadtrippers’ growth include the release of Roadpass, a universal secure account log that makes it easier for RVers and members from other Togo Group apps to easily launch their next adventure. RVers planning their next adventure also can take advantage of RV-friendly routing tools including vehicle dimensions, safety alerts and route avoidances. All-new map filters also highlight mix-and-match categories like offbeat attractions and campgrounds that can accommodate big rigs.

Roadtrippers apps are available for desktops as well as Apple iOS (through the Apple App Store) and Android (via Google Play) operating systems.

While travelers might be attracted to Wilmington, North Carolina, for its beaches, during the past 40 years or so the area has quietly established a reputation among film location scouts and managers as being able to represent “Anywhere, U.S.A.” The catalog of movies and television series shot at least in part in Wilmington has earned the coastal city the unofficial titles of “Hollywood East” and “Wilmywood.”

It’s said that the local film industry was initially fueled by the horror genre of the 1980s, including a handful of Stephen King novels committed to celluloid including Firestarter, Cat’s eye, Silver Bullet and Maximum Overdrive as well as David Lynch’s Blue Velvet.

Since then, Wilmington and its environs have racked up more than 400 film and TV credits, from King Kong Lives and the Scream franchise to popular TV shows including Sleepy Hollow, Dawson’s Creek and One Tree Hill. In fact, in 1985 EUE/Screen Gems Studios — the largest domestic television and movie production facility outside of California — was opened in Wilmington.

While we couldn’t locate any official tour site for the area that focuses on the town’s film history, there are a number of online resources available for anyone wanting to take a self-guided tour of Wilmywood.

• Arlie Gardens is a 76-acre public garden known mostly for its stunning botanical diversity — but this map (airliegardens.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Film-Brochure-NEW-copy.pdf) highlights where parts of movies and shows were filmed, from Black Knight to Well Wishes.
• For the truly adventurous, here (assets.simpleviewinc.com/simpleview/image/upload/v1/clients/wilmingtonnc/Wilmington_Film_and_TV_Location_Guide_c05317f1-7773-4694-a362-bd75d41b82c2.pdf) is an extensive list of various locations in the area, from the Wilmington Riverwalk to the Bellamy Mansion Museum, Cape Fear Club and Bellevue Cemetery, that have helped to make Wilmington famous with film fanatics.

In the market for a new tow vehicle for your travel trailer or fifth wheel? Respected automotive writer Scott Oldham took to the pages of Car and Driver magazine to look at the best trucks on the market for maximum towing capability — because, as he noted, “that’s what matters in the real world.”

“We’re in the age of the personal luxury pickup. Today’s trucks, big and small, are more luxurious, more comfortable, and feature more gizmos and fancy technology than ever. But none of that really matters when there’s a job that needs gettin’ done,” he wrote.

To read Car and Driver’s list of the top 20 new pickups with the highest towing capacity as measured by maximum conventional towing ratings (gooseneck or fifth wheels ratings are mentioned when appropriate), click here. Where did your favorite pickup rank?

Solar Team Eindhoven — a group of 22 students from Eindhoven University of Technology in Eindhoven, Netherlands — have created what’s said to be “the world’s first solar-powered mobile home.” Designed and built between November 2020 to July of this year, the vehicle generates enough solar energy to live and drive on — and, in September and early October, the students demonstrated the viability of their technology by driving nearly 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) across Europe without ever stopping for fuel or a charge.

Called a “self-sustaining house on wheels,” the vehicle employs enough roof-mounted solar panels to generate enough energy to drive, shower, watch TV, charge laptops and make coffee.

Stella Vita employs unique design features, including a roof that slides up when stationary, making it possible to stand inside the unit. And, while designed to be as light as possible, the solar cruiser is fully equipped with a double bed, sofa, kitchen area and bathroom with shower, toilet and sink and can accommodate two persons.

When the roof is raised, extra solar panels deploy to double the solar surface (from 8.8 square meters to 17.5 square meters). The panels charge a 60-kWh battery and the vehicle includes onboard technology to allow passengers to track energy consumption while stationary. It’s said that Stella Vita can travel up to 730 kilometers (453 miles) on a sunny day and has a top speed of 75 miles per hour.

While retail registrations fell off a bit during the summer — Grand Rapids, Michigan-based data analytical firm Statistical Surveys reported year-over-year registrations were down 12% in June, 25.3% in July and 24.87% in August — June and July numbers still ranked as second-best ever for their time periods (August 2021 data is fifth-best ever for the month).

The falloff, however, may just be a case of RV dealers not having enough stock on hand. According to a recent report from the RV Industry Association, manufacturers continue to ship record numbers of RVs to meet demand. Through September, OEMs have shipped more units to dealers than they did in every comparable month in 2020. In fact, through September, wholesale shipment numbers are up 50.8%, to 452,637 towable and motorized RVs. The September numbers — 55,014 — represent a historical high-water mark for monthly shipments.