W
hen Forest River CEO Pete Liegl came up with the idea for what would eventually morph into the Elkhart RV Open House, it didn’t take long before other manufacturers recognized the wisdom of inviting their current and future dealer partners to their home turf. In the years since, the four-day event has blossomed into the largest RV trade show in North America.Not surprisingly, RV suppliers also saw the value in this audience. After numerous attempts to stage New Product Showcases around Elkhart, Indiana, the concept found a home at the Northern Indiana Event Center, part of the RV/MH Hall of Fame campus. During the most recent Open House program in late September, more than 160 suppliers of parts and accessories to the RV industry occupied 230 booths. Editors from RVBusiness and RV Enthusiast visited almost every one, talking to product design engineers about their newest components on exhibit. Some of these products are available to the aftermarket — meaning, you’ll be able to buy them at your favorite RV dealer or supply store — while others are intended for installation during the RV assembly process. All of them, along with a few others we’ve added, provide a window to the evolving technology embraced by the RV industry. And be sure to tune in next issue when we bring you Part Two of the hottest new parts and accessories for 2024!
J Wright Concepts Water Inlet
….Water is both life-giving — and the nemesis to an RV. With rot a constant threat, the best course of action is for an RV owner to “bulletproof” the water system to prevent leaks. According to the crew at J Wright Concepts, customers have been asking for a better water inlet for years — so they made one. The main body is machined out of 6061 aluminum and has a hard-anodized finish along with an aluminum flange for mounting. Compatible with the company’s patented Hose-Grip for fast and easy hose connections. Available in both male ($82.50) and female ($87.50) check valve (with ½-inch NPT connections). “The price may seem a bit high,” said a company rep, “until you look at the problem it solves.” Includes stainless-steel mounting hardware and a plug. jwrightconcepts.com
PullRite OEX Fifth Wheel Hitch
The PullRite OEX line of fifth-wheel hitches are made to drop into factory setups. Compared to other OEM hitches, the handles come completely out, which makes for a smooth hitch across the bottom. It’s designed to create 4 inches of offset for additional clearance in short bed trucks, and breaks down into two 70-pound components for easier installation and storage. MSRP is around $1,500. pullrite.com
GE Appliances Profile Series Black
GE Appliances launched its new Profile Series Black RV 12-volt refrigerator in the summer of 2023 according to Dusty Henderson, Recreational Living GE Appliances. It’s designed for zero clearance so it is vented out the front to pack it in tight spaces. It has a built-in fan that circulates the air, digital control and freezer with bins. It also has its own dedicated evaporator. This winter, GE launched black glass-door models — so the Profile Series Black now has a black hood, black microwave, black range, and other small appliances to match the new suite. MSRP on the Profile Black Series refrigerator is in the $1,200 to $1,500 range. geappliances.com
Cummins Onan CARB-Certified 4000i Generator
The new Cummins Onan generator is a 2024-and California-compliant inverter-based unit that features closed-loop fuel injection to allow it to meet CARB emission compliancy to run on gasoline. It provides OEMs the opportunity to offer a generator in all 50 states focusing on compliancy first according to Brian Greene. The new generator runs off a different power platform going from a carbureted conventional stack — which is an alternator, rotor/stator scenario — to an inverter PMA with fuel injection. cummins.com/generators/rv-generators
Eberspacher E-Airtronic
“With the movement towards electrical vehicles this new heater works off of 12-volt DC and is modular,” explained Ken Ritchie for Eberspacher about its new E-Airtronic cabin heating solution. OEMs can just insert pieces and parts for an air heater and there are also modular inserts for cooling and heating or heating hot water. The product is new and can handle multiple mounting locations in the RV. eberspaecher-climate.com
Blue Ox Fifth-Wheel Hitch
According to Blue Ox’s Curtis Carpenter, its new fifth wheel gooseneck ball system is rated for up to 21,000 pounds. It is designed for easy hookup for any ball-type set-up and has just two pins at the bottom, a bolt on the side, and a bolt on the top. It’s easier to operate because there is no adapter. It encapsulates the king pin at 360 degrees for no false hookups. It weighs 120 pounds (two 60 pound-sections) and a mat is provided to protect the truck bed. MSRP is $1,375. www.blueox.com
REDARC Alpha150 Lithium Battery System
Eric Ross with REDARC said the company’s new Alpha150 lithium battery system has a 150-amp hour rating and is 30% smaller than most batteries of this size. It will accept up to 135 amps of charging and it will still power up to a 2,000-watt inverter. The Alpha150 is said to provide 80% faster charging with a maximum charge rate of 135 amps, offers 70% higher power density and longer cycle life — more than 5,000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge. It also offers 2,560 watts (with a continuous discharge of 200 watts) with fully integrated and self-managed heating. MSRP is $2,300 with the built-in battery manager. redarcelectronics.com
ICON Modular Shower Kit
Harv Giesbrecht from ICON Direct showcased its new modular shower kit, which allows OEMs and dealers to put a shower into any sized space and adjust it for a better fit and finish in the production process. Adjustments can be made to accommodate spaces not perfectly square or plumb. It allows dealers in the aftermarket replacement process to adjust shower replacements to get a better fit. The systems work with corner panels fitted with interlocking panels to form a water-tight seal — no caulking needed. There are shelving units built into the corners. There is a number of configurations as well. MSRP for a basic RV shower is in the $500 range for a marine style shower/bath unit. icondirect.com
Lion Energy Safari Generator with XP Expansion Pack
Brian Nelson with Lion Energy explained its new Safari Portable Power unit at the show. This 3,000-watt portable generator, he told us, is able to run RV A/C units with continuous 3,000-watt output and will spike to 6,000 watts. The built-in battery on the base unit has a 1.6 kilowatt rating, and there’s a 2.6-kilowatt expansion battery that makes a combined power source to 4.3 kilowatt-hours. It has a 3,000-watt inverter and a built-in solar charger, to allow up to six 100-watt solar panels. MSRP is targeted at $3,000. The base unit without the expansion battery is $1,700. lionenergy.com
Vision Works Camera System with ReadyVision
Vision Works Camera System’s newest product is the ReadyVision camera that sends a signal to a monitor or directly to a cell phone or tablet. The company calls it a “Wi-Fi camera” because it creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot — no internet or cellular required. It has a built-in battery pack on a magnet base that connects it to the rear bumper. It’s portable and, said Vision Works’ Erik Franks, users place their phone on the dashboard of the vehicle and back the rig into place. Guidelines can be added to the view. MSRP is $249 with the booster, $199 without. visionworkscameras.com
KING Olympus Three-in-one Antenna
The new offering for the OEM side of the RV business is the KING Olympus Three-in-one Antenna in both black and white, according to Tom DeWaard of the firm. It is a three-in-one product with a TV antenna for all circuitry, an exterior 5G cell booster and a Wi-Fi extender. Everything is under one dome on the roof of the RV. It’s set up for TV but if the consumer wants to add Wi-Fi boosting or cellular boosting, it’s all pre-wired — making it true plug-and-play for camping. MSRP will be around $450 for the basic and around $900 for 5G and full Wi-Fi. kingconnect.com
Vitrifrigo Portable VFree Plus Refrigerator
Vitrifrigo has a new portable refrigerator cooler that comes in various sizes with an optional lithium battery feature with six hours of cooling time. It has a built-in serving tray and there is optional solar panel charging as well. These portable refrigerators are available in three different models and volumes. Made of high-strength polyethylene using a roto-molding system, they offer the best durability and efficiency. MSRP is between $500 and $700 depending on size. vitrifrigo.com
Winegard Smart RV Sensor Kit
The Winegard Smart RV Sensor Kit has an array of different sensors that transmit to phones or tablet devices to alert campers of temperature, water leaks and links to its Connect brand products for internet service. With Bluetooth, the sensor kit can connect to a device to provide temperature and a humidity readings to make sure the fridge is working as well as A/C units or heaters to safeguard pets or a water sensor to assure there are no leaks in the RV. It even comes with a motion detector. Installation is via hook-and-loop or peel-and-stick applications with no wires and seven-year batteries. MSRP starts at $199. winegard.com
Future Solutions TBB Power Lithium Battery
Future Solutions has exclusive rights to this 12-volt lithium battery that offers 400 amp hours of power. Built by TBB Power, a new company, the battery has internal heat controls and BMS and packs a lot of amp hours in a small package. Standard on some Grand Designs lines, two of these 400s offer 800 amp-hours straight out of the factory, reported Future Solutions’ Zack Nimtz. fsi-solutions.com
Magnadyne RV6400S
Magnadyne’s Michael Rydner showcased its new three zone receiver that allows three different entertainment platforms playing at once. Half the normal chassis depth allows for easy mounting in most any area of the RV. The radio also has independent zones for Bluetooth, the radio or different sources via HDMI connections in different areas of the RV. It’s all controlled either by remote, physically on the device itself, or an app. MSRP is around $220. magnadyne.com
Composite Solutions True Topper Awning Topper
Jeff Chase said Composite Solutions replaces conventional awning toppers with the True Topper. It cleans debris, water and ice off the top of the slideout as it opens and closes. It rides on a nylon roller so it won’t damage the roof of the slide and closes and locks tight for travel. It solves the flashing issues with slides to seal tighter and quieter as no air is passing through a topper roller. MSRP price range to outfit a full-sized Class A coach installed and painted is around $5,000. truetopperusa.com
Go Power! Power Board
Go Power! showcased its new Power Board, a complete power solution system built for OEMs. The base option has a 3,000-watt inverter/charger, three MPPT solar controllers and a built-in DC distribution center. It’s got all the breakers and disconnects built into one board. Go Power! will build to whatever size and power dimension the OEM requests. Advanced 300-amp power lithium batteries are included. Base MSRP starts at $12,000 per unit. GoPowersolar.com
MORryde AllTrek 4000
MORryde’s Gary Wheeler explained the AllTrek 4000 suspension augmentation system dissipates the energy from bumps in the road for mid-sized towables with up to 8,000-pound axles. The AllTrek 4000 provides an additional 2 inches of wheel travel to absorb this energy in addition to the factory leaf spring. MSRP is around $400 for a tandem axle. MORryde.com
Bauer ESS 5000 RV Power Distribution System
According to Robert Bos for the company, this Bauer Energy Solutions power distribution module delivers 400 amp-hours of battery power in a plug-and-play situation. It’s got a 3,000-watt inverter for A/C power and is equipped with an integrated transfer switch that auto switches to an inverter inside for full backup. An input when towing a trailer has a disconnect switch that feeds power for the brake and warns the driver of a breakaway lockup situation with notifications that vibrate on cell phones. The system is fully integrated with Bluetooth and housed in a modular box for ease of installation. The all in one system even has a GPS tracker for security. bauerenergysolutions.com
ARMIS RV Guardian Blowout Protection
This patent-pending tire blowout protection device is crafted of cold-rolled steel and hand-riveted to be a bolt-on product that does not void warranties, according to Derek Grant for the company. Partnering with SumoSpring on every install, the device encases the wheel and is independent to each tire. It’s coated with Rhino or LINE-X; after a blowout, pop the faceplate off with eight bolts, change the tire and head back on the road with no damage to the side or under the RV. MSRP for a tandem axle fifth wheel is around $3,000, triple axles just over $4,000. armisrvguardian.com
Flag Pole Buddy
Owner and founder of Flag Pole Buddy, Dave Jahnz, displayed its flag systems that can be attached to the RV roof ladder or mounted independently in three different sizes – 12-, 16- or 22-foot models. The aluminum poles are also sturdy enough to handle Starlink satellite systems. MSRP is about $210. flagpolebuddy.com
Gen-Y Hitch New Snap Latch Coupler
The new GEN-Y Hitch Snap Latch Coupler has an auto-latching design that locks into place once the head lowers down on the goose ball, according to Luke Stump. When it unlocks, it automatically resets itself for the next hookup. No levers to flip. MSRP is $1,500 to $1,800. genyhitch.com
B&W Trailer Hitches Continuum Hitch
The B&W Continuum Hitch is a new weight distribution hitch that employs hydraulics in a pump rather than having to use equalizing bars. Pump it up with a lever and it distributes the weight to the vehicle’s front axle and trailer. Once properly set up, just use the gauge to get the right adjustment each time. MSRP is about $1,299. bwtrailerhitches.com
Dometic Outdoors FreshJet 3 Series AC
Dometic Product Manager Cassandra Teverbaugh showcased the company’s new FreshJet 3 Series air-conditioner as it phases out its Brisk II series. The new series has more cooling capacity, airflow and is quieter than its previous models. The redesign included much of the internal components that resulted in a 14% lighter weight. The use of EPP foam is a key weight reduction feature along with a composite base pan; it’s about an average of 64 pounds for the 13,500-Btu model. E-coated coils are said to last longer, as well. MSRP will run $1,100 to $1,500. dometic.com
WFCO Power Pro Controller
Bobby Raatz with WFCO showcased its Power Pro Digital Control System, a new product for RVs that’s upgraded from the Power Pro basic system WFCO unveiled last year. According to Raatz, it’s in the prototyping process with several customers. Additional features and benefits that were sought after include integrating climate control, connectivity of external devices and RGBW lighting. MSRP will be released later this year. wfcotech.com
Fogatti Portable On-Demand Water Heater
Michael Chan showed off Fogatti’s new portable on demand hot water heater that is rechargeable, has a pump inside to pull water from a bucket, lake, or stream to provide a hot shower anywhere there is water. Changeable shower heads include a sponge attachment or a high-spray to wash off Rover. The MSRP for the InstaShower GO Pro is $569 and will be available later this year. fogattiliving.com
RVMP Dual-Fuel Generators
The next generation of RV generators designed by RVMP are for permanent installation and include 4000i and 5500i models, according to Grant Gillis for the firm. The RV Mobile Power Flex Power 4000i runs on a flexible and reliable single-cylinder, 224cc OHV air-cooled engine with a digital governor and is designed to be compact, quiet, powerful and efficient for permanent installs. It will run an RV’s appliances directly or re-charge your battery banks for extended off-grid service. MSRP for the 4000i is $3,450. rvmp.co
Alphahive Fathom RV Tank Level Radar Sensor
Aphahive’s Daniel Sharp displayed a prototype for its new Fathom RV Tank Radar for water, gray and black tank readings in RVs. There is no internal tank mechanism or sensor to clog — the tank level sensor uses radar to sound the depth of the liquid in the tank. It mounts onto the top of the outside of the tank and transmits through the plastic to get a highly accurate and reliable tank level measurement. It will read out on an RV multiplex system such as Firefly, iN-Command and others. MSRP is yet to be determined. alphahive.com
Alphahive Fathom RV Tank Level Radar Sensor
Aphahive’s Daniel Sharp displayed a prototype for its new Fathom RV Tank Radar for water, gray and black tank readings in RVs. There is no internal tank mechanism or sensor to clog — the tank level sensor uses radar to sound the depth of the liquid in the tank. It mounts onto the top of the outside of the tank and transmits through the plastic to get a highly accurate and reliable tank level measurement. It will read out on an RV multiplex system such as Firefly, iN-Command and others. MSRP is yet to be determined. alphahive.com