Forest River Debuts Upscale Trilogy Fifth-Wheel

According to Forest River Inc. General Manager Jeff Babcock, the company’s new Trilogy fifth-wheel is “the only fifth-wheel on the market with radius walls, windows, entry door and roof” — construction techniques that can be sourced to Forest River’s acquisition of Dynamax Corp. earlier this year. “It utilizes the same radius sidewalls and roof that (Dynamax) has used on its motorized product for 15 years,” said Dewayne Creighton, general manager of the Dynamax division. “The construction is basically the same — just on a fifth-wheel frame — so the work force knows how to build it.” The new unit also comes fully equipped. “The only choices are the bed, refrigerator and color you want,” added Babcock. “Everything else is standard.” Currently available in a 38-foot floorplan with two others in the works, the unit offers 8 feet, 5 inches of headroom in the living room and 6 feet, 7 inches in the upper deck. Interior features include hard cherry raised-panel cabinet doors, solid-surface countertops with mosaic tile on backsplashes, walk-in closet, padded ceiling and Forest River-designed sofa and chairs. Additional features include six-point hydraulic levelers, 97-pound LP-gas capacity (under floor with remote fill) and 250 square feet of basement storage. MSRP is expected to be in the mid- to high $70,000 range.

HGTV Show Features 20 Models on ‘RV 2011′

Chi-Lan Lieu

TV viewers watching ”RV 2011” on HGTV New Year’s day generally got glowing cable TV reviews of 20 motorhomes and towable RVs displayed last September at the Pennsylvania RV & Camping Show in Hershey, Pa.

Host Chi-Lan Lieu guided two families with children and a third couple through the maze of RVs at the Hershey Show on the grounds of Hersheypark.

Each family had different goals — the Herbst family was looking to upgrade while the Styles family sought their first RV, a high-end motorhome or towable and Lindsay and Chad Drvak were looking to accommodate rescued dogs.

Lieu, in turn, showed different RVs that she thought would meet their goals. Although none committed to buying an RV during the program, each chose one that they thought best suited their needs.

Among the units highlighted were Fleetwood RV Inc.’s high-end American Revolution and Tiffin Motor Home Inc.’s diminutive Allegro diesel pushers, Winnebago Industries Inc.’s Access minimotorhome, Prime Time Manufacturing’s Crusader fifth-wheel and Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc.’s SS Ideal van camper.

The Herbsts chose a Dynamax Dynaquest XV Class C motorhome; the Styles, a Dutchmen Voltage high-end sport utility fifth-wheel (SURV); and the Drvaks, an Earthbound travel trailer.

The hour-long program marks the 13th year that HGTV has highlighted new RV products, and will be rebroadcast at unspecified times during the year.

Producers of the program worked with the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and its agency, Barton Gilanelli, to put the program together.