ervice has always been a vital part of RV ownership. But while most people love their RVs, they don’t necessarily know how to fix, maintain or upgrade them to suit their particular needs. As a result, the service bays of most RV dealerships and repair centers are often flooded with motorhomes and trailers in need of some attention, oftentimes creating a service backlog of a month or more. And as RV popularity continues to surge, this situation isn’t likely to change anytime soon.
At RV Enthusiast magazine, we have a better idea.
Fix it yourself.
Granted, not all RV owners possess the information and inclination needed to diagnose and repair an engine or transmission, but how many times do major components really break down, anyway? No, the service bays at RV dealerships are filled with vehicles housing refrigerators that don’t cool, electrical systems that don’t function and holding tanks that leak.
These things can be repaired by RV owners armed with a toolbox and accurate knowledge of exactly what the repair requires. Just as they can maintain their AC generator, replace a water heater, install an awning or upgrade the power converter.
That is what RV Enthusiast is all about. It is, from its very first issue, North America’s premier ‘how-to’ RV magazine.
Knowing how to present technical information to readers isn’t easy. To that end, we’ve assembled the most experienced group of technical writers and editors ever seen in the RV industry:
Bob Livingston — Perhaps the most experienced technical writer in the RV industry, Bob spent more than 40 years at Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines, overseeing the technical writing as he climbed the ladder, finishing his career there as Group Publisher. Bob is also the author of Trailer Life’s RV Repair & Maintenance Manual, long considered the authority on RV repair for the do-it-yourself crowd. Today, Bob and his wife, Lynne, are full-time RVers and spend the majority of each year traveling the country. He was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in 2014.
Bruce Hampson — A gearhead who grew up spinning wrenches on cars, Bruce took his knowledge and experience to the publishing field, where he oversaw a number of top automotive, marine and RV magazines during his 40-year career (including MotorHome). He also learned the inside of the industry firsthand as longtime editor of the premier trade magazine RVBusiness. His favorite RV memory revolves around a summer-long cross-country trip in a restored/modified Winnebago Brave motorhome with his son, Jeremy, and their Siberian Husky.
Bill Gehr, Technical Director — Bill started his 50-year career in the RV industry when he went to work for an Airstream dealership before eventually deciding to open his own business — Bill’s RV Service — in Ventura, California. He soon met Bob Livingston, and together they worked on hundreds of technical editorial projects at his shop. Bill also eventually joined Bob on the TV show “RVtoday,” filming a number of hands-on projects. After retiring, Bill headed out full-time in his fifth wheel and toured 39 states while writing technical articles for Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines.
The personalities behind RV Enthusiast also include Sue Seidlitz, who brings to the magazine a wealth of sales acumen honed during more than 35 years at Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines. While Sue recently traded her Jayco Eagle fifth wheel for a Sundowner horse trailer to transport her riding buddies Rio and Stetson, her knowledge of the industry and outgoing personality make her a perfect fit as Advertising Director.
This core group will ensure RV Enthusiast focuses on subjects that matter most to RVers — maintaining, repairing and upgrading their RVs and tow vehicles. Along the way, readers will also learn how to choose new vehicles, components and accessories; follow complete RV makeovers done the correct way; get much-needed information on the latest vehicles; read helpful reviews; and much, much more.
RV Enthusiast is an informative and entertaining source of knowledge that readers will refer to over and over again. By presenting technical and how-to articles in a friendly, conversational format, readers will know more about their RVs and feel more confident about working on them — which will continue to fuel the passion for RVing we’ve all enjoyed for decades.
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EDITOR: Bruce Hampson – (574) 584-4616
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TECHNICAL DIRECTOR: Bill Gehr – (805) 340-5015
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ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Sue Seidlitz – (805) 816-8759
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Non-bleed: 7-7/8” x 10-1/4”
Vertical: 5-3/16” x 7-3/8”
Vertical: 2-1/2” x 10-1/4”
Ad space reservations deadline: Feb. 12 / Materials due date: Feb. 16
MARCH/APRIL — RV RenoVations / Expert tips for upgrading and personalizing RV interiors, from prep and paint to new concepts in RV furniture and window coverings, and how to create the ‘ultimate’ galley with the latest appliances. Part 2 of our boondocking series focuses on power management, from solar panels and battery monitors to inverters and converters. We’ll also detail pickup truck suspension upgrades.
Ad space reservations deadline: April 10 / Materials due date: April 16
MAY/JUNE — Hitching a Ride / Improving towing stability and safety is an ever-changing landscape, and this issue focuses on the latest technology upgrades for fifth wheels and travel trailers. Our “deep cleaning” exercise helps RVers get ready for the road, and Part 3 of our boondocking series looks at overlooked necessities, from water bladders and portable coolers to upgrading tow vehicle fuel capacity with ancillary tanks.
Ad space reservations deadline: June 4 / Materials due date: June 10
JULY/AUGUST — Homegrown Upgrades / RV Enthusiast contacted an array of RV owners to find out what their rig was lacking — and how they solved it. To this, we’ll add the latest connectivity solutions — from Wi-Fi devices that allow streaming without slowdowns to connected systems and appliances — plus how to recognize and rectify common RV problems and how to protect your RV while on the road by using camera systems.
Ad space reservations deadline: July 26 / Materials due date: July 31
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER — Light ‘Em Up / Retrofitting an older RV with LED fixtures increases lighting longevity and lowers power usage, and we’ll show how to replace these fixtures, add sensor lights and dimmer switches and how to gauge light temperature. Readers will also learn how to inspect and repair leakage problems, effect minor exterior body repairs and perform tow vehicle and motorhome drivetrain maintenance.
Ad space reservations deadline: September 13 / Materials due date: September 20
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER — Weathering the Elements / Our look at winter camping includes how to equip an RV for cold-weather use, while winterizing rigs not on the road. We’ll also address common plumbing problems, provide insight to security systems for an RV and show how to maintain and repair galley appliances. This issue also will feature the newest RVs and accessories from the Elkhart RV Open House.
Ad space reservations deadline: November 4 / Materials due date: November 8
Submission instructions: Upload to wetransfer.com or email to: [email protected]
- Client to provide materials in two sizes: 970×250, plus 300×250 for our mobile users
- Supply URL
- Accepted file type: jpeg / Max size: 200kb
- Banner + 600-900 words of content and 2-3 images
- Your Annual Spotlight Company Profile resides on magazine.RVEnthusiast.com for a full year. It includes video, scrollable company information, product features and photos, plus dealer locator if applicable. Implemented as a high value digital brochure landing page for the advertiser, this page is optimized for SEO and lead generation or traffic handoff to the advertiser website. This spotlight also provides the advertiser an additional conversion button to double click-through results on all ads appearing in the issue.
- RV Enthusiast podcasts are created by the staff and feature educational, informative, and entertaining content for all RVers. Podcasts can be interview style online, or in-person videos and demonstrations. Podcast resides on RVEnthusiast.com for one year.
- Pro Tip Sponsored Banner Your 970×250 or 300×250 Banner is placed along with the Pro Tip of your choice. $350/issue
- Social Media Package 970×250 Banner + Content (image and 600-900 words) + Facebook Post(s) $1500/issue*
- RVExpert Issue Sponsorship Your sponsorship of the entire issue includes a 970×250 Banner + Content (image and 600-900 words). $1250/issue*
- Sponsored Video Package Image + 600-900 words linked to customer-supplied video $1250/issue*
- Sponsored Podcast RV Enthusiast podcasts are created by the staff and feature educational, informative, and entertaining content for all RVers. Podcasts can be interview style online, or in-person videos and demonstrations. $1500/issue*
*Content, video, podcast must be for a different product/topic for each Newsletter issue.
The RVExpert Weekly Newsletter deploys every Friday and closes for space and materials 10 days before deployment date.
Basic Animation/Effect $195
Add/Rotate Images $295
Include video and audio $395
Digital Edition Custom Landing Page Sponsor $495
The digital edition will have a custom landing page separate from the publishers issue index featuring your company as the edition host linking to open the main issue. You can embed audio or video (enhanced units) on this landing page. Plus add a welcome message, “Enjoy this direct digital access by COMPANY NAME & don’t miss our ad inside this issue promoting NAME OF HIGHLIGHT”
