It’s Official – We are a Thor Motor Coach Dealership

Pikes Peak Traveland is pleased to announce that we are now an official Thor Motor Coach dealership.  This is exciting news for us and for our customers in and around the greater Colorado Springs area as Thor manufactures beautiful motorhomes.  Our dealership will carry the Four Winds Chateau Class C and the Vegas RUV.  Over the next two blogs we will share some of the exceptional features that help to make a Thor Motor Coach one of the best on the road.

The Vegas RUV is a new class of vehicle recently introduced by Thor that is a recreational utility vehicle, hence the term RUV.  The Vegas comes fully equipped with all of the amenities to make traveling fun and easy and offers a smaller, more compact design. This also means it is a more fuel efficient motorhome. 

While the Vegas is somewhat like a Class C motorhome, it is technically considered a Class A and is built on a Ford E-350 chassis with a 6.8L Triton V10 engine.  It has a 5,000-lb towing capacity trailer hitch and a fully welded tubular steel floor system and fully welded tubular aluminum roof and sidewall cage construction to ensure durability.  With heated/remote exterior mirrors, reclining/swivel leatherette captain's chairs, integrated side view cameras and 16" tires with stainless steel wheels, just to name a few of the features, this is a premier motorhome that is built to ensure your upmost comfort while driving or relaxing in it.  

Although it is 25 ft. 6 in. - 26 ft. 6 in. in length, the Vegas boasts smartly-designed floor plans that feel very spacious and an exterior rear MEGA-Storage™ Compartment.  The motorhome comes standard with leatherette furniture, 3-burner gas cooktop and a convection microwave oven.  It is equipped with an LED TV and DVD player and offers an optional exterior 32” LED TV.  From its great looking exterior to a beautifully decorated interior, the new Vegas RUV is one you need to come in and take a look at.

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale.  

What to Look for When Buying a Used Travel Trailer

 

If you are thinking about purchasing a used travel trailer, there are several things you need to inspect to make sure you know what you are buying.  The good news is that it is easier to buy a used trailer than a used motorhome as you will not have to take into account the engine and drive train.

One of the first things to look for in a used travel trailer or fifth wheel is for any sign of water damage or leaks.  Visually inspect the trailer’s interior for water stains, soft spots or peeling wallpaper and focus on ceiling corners, around the windows and along the sides of the floor.  Open all of the closets, cabinets, and drawers to make sure they are free of dry rot.  Check windows to make sure they open and close properly as well as the door. 

Now get out and look at the siding for signs of any separation or loose panels and the roof for any obvious damage.  Examine the seals on the roof to make sure they are in good shape.  Take a look underneath the trailer to check out the condition of the frame.  You do not want to buy a trailer that has a badly rusted frame or cracks, broken welds or impact damage.  In fact once you buy, it is a good idea to have the wheel bearings inspected and repacked if it hasn’t been done recently, and while you are at it, have the electric brake system checked out. 

Another thing you want to look at in a used trailer is that the appliances are clean and in working order.  When you buy from a dealer, make sure it is part of your sales agreement that everything is in good working order including the water heater, water pump, water lines, furnace and A/C. 

Keep in mind that buying a used RV from a reputable dealer may be your best assurance that you are getting a quality travel trailer that has already been inspected and serviced.   A high-quality RV dealer should be staffed by RV certified and master certified technicians and will be able to provide any additional services you may require on the RV. 

Sources:

rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguide.com/2008/06/used_travel_trailer_fifth_whee.php,  rvforum.net/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=428:buying-used-trailer-or-fiver&catid=38:buying-an-rv

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale. 

History of the Travel Trailer

At Pikes Peak Traveland, we have served the greater Colorado Springs area since 1982 and have seen trends in the RV industry come and go.  It got us thinking about the history of travel trailers and the evolution of the “home on wheels” over the last hundred years.  

The travel trailer has its origins from the caravans of the Romani people, known as Gypsies that spent most of their lives traveling around Europe in horse drawn caravans.  In 1880 the first leisure trailer was built by the Bristol Carriage Company and was 18 feet long.  It was bought by a famous author of teenage fiction, Dr. William Gordon Stables, who traveled throughout England in it and later wrote a book detailing his travels. 

In America as cars became more affordable and more roads were built during the 1920’s, travel trailers were introduced to the public and their owners become known as ‘tin can tourists'.  The popularity of travel trailers continued to increase as they became better designed and more livable (now called house trailers) and partly due to the development of the National Parks system.  People now had a new destination to take their travel trailers.

For those interested in the history of the RV industry, you may want to consider a trip to The RV/MH Heritage Foundation’s RVs Founders Hall in Elkhart Indiana.  The Hall is open to the public and displays trailers, photos, and memorabilia dating back to the 1920's and 30's.  The museum takes you through the chronological and technological advancements of the industry from before WW I to the present day.

The RV/MH Heritage Foundation also maintains a library that archives thousands of volumes of periodicals, records, and photos of the history of the RV/MH industry.  It is the only library that is dedicated entirely to the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing industries.

Sources:  rvmhhalloffame.org/museuminv.cfm, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_trailer

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale. 

Safety Upgrades for Travel Trailers

 

If you own a travel trailer, there are some simple upgrades you can do to help ensure your valuables and trailer is protected from theft.   Thankfully it is not very common but trailers have been driven away by complete strangers as well as belongings stolen from storage compartments when a trailer is parked in a campground or even when stored for the winter. 

One of the things you may want to consider is a trailer hitch lock that is specifically designed to prevent theft.  The lock clamps into the coupler and prevents your hitch from going over any size ball.  If you buy one, make sure it completely covers the coupler so it cannot be lowered over a ball.  

If you don’t want to bother to get a trailer hitch lock, you should at least run a cable lock system through the wheels on one side in order to lock them together.  Once you have prevented the wheels from moving, no one is going to be able to move your trailer either.   

Another thing you may not be aware of is that the valuables in your storage container might not be as safe from theft as you think.  Many storage containers have a generic lock and key system that is used on up to 75% of the travel trailers on the road.  Add to that fact, master keys for the units are easy to obtain at dealerships.  To find out if you have one of these commonly keyed storage compartments, check to see if your locks and keys have CH751 printed on them.  If they do, think about replacing the locks. 

The good news is that several manufacturers have addressed the problem with a wide variety of high-quality locks.  The new locks are fairly easy to install or you could have it done by your dealer.  In addition you can find them at most RV dealerships’ parts and accessories store or online. 

Source:  rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguide.com/2011/02/rv_locks.php

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale. 

Why Get a Travel Trailer?

We understand that a RV is a large investment so you want to make sure you get it right.  Although according a recent study conducted by the University of Michigan, “Seventy percent of current RV owners plan to purchase another RV to replace their current unit in the future”.  So while it is probably true that this will not be your last RV, you will still want to find the perfect fit for your needs right now and a travel trailer may be it.  They make up an impressive 80% of all towable RV sales. 

While each style of RV has pros and cons, the travel trailer has its advantages.  To start with, a travel trailer is typically less expensive and requires less costly maintenance and upkeep than a motorhome.  In addition many of today’s trailers can be towed with a SUV or van but you do need to buy a trailer in the weight range of your tow vehicle unless you have decided to purchase a new vehicle.  Keep in mind many larger travel trailers will require a truck to tow. 

A lot of what determines the RV you buy should be the type of activities you intend to do with it.  For families that want to purchase a RV to use for camping trips, a travel trailer makes a lot of sense.  You can just pull them into a campground, park it, and then enjoy all the amenities of your “home”. 

The tow vehicle is easily unhooked and now provides a convenient way to get around.   With a motorhome, if you are not going to just park your RV and stay put, you will need to pull a vehicle behind for the times when you want to get out and sightsee or run to the store for supplies.  Additionally a typical tow vehicle and travel trailer will get better gas mileage than a motorhome. 

Source:

rvia.org/?ESID=trends

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale.  

A Top Name in Travel Trailers

Even though we have sold the best names in new and used RVs to the Colorado Springs area since 1982, we are really excited about some of the new travel trailers we have recently added to our inventory.  Early last year we partnered with KZ Recreational Vehicles to become a dealer and continue to carry a good selection of their top-quality KZ travel trailers.

So what helps to set KZ travel trailers apart from some of the other names in travel trailers?  The KZ Company, which is located in Indiana, has every part of their RVs built by regional craftsmen or carefully selected from a reliable source.  The company’s philosophy is to build each RV as if it was being built for their own families. Benefits such as easy to buy replacement parts and good warranties have helped the company to acquire a group of loyal customers and repeat buyers.

Currently at Pikes Peak Traveland we carry the KZ Sportsmen Show Stopper, the Spree, the Spree Connect and the Spree Escape.  The Spree and the Spree Connect are both backed by KZ’s two-year warranty.  To give you an idea of the quality, the Spree Connect has amenities such as a comfortable queen-size bed, extra-large bunk beds, a great kitchen design with plenty of storage, and beautifully glazed hardwood cabinet doors.  The trailers range in sizes from 23’ 7” to 35’ 6”, and with 13 floor plans to choose from, you are sure to find one that works for your family.  Also the contrasting wood plank flooring makes this an extremely well-designed unit.

Another model we are pleased to carry is the KZ Sportsmen Show Stopper.  This trailer is a tremendous value in overall quality, price, and innovative features, and also offers the big bunks that sleep up to eight comfortably.  The living area in the trailer is enhanced by large slide-outs to create the perfect entertainment space for family and friends.

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale.  

New Trends in Travel Trailers

 

 

For those that have never shopped for a travel trailer or if it has been some time ago, you will be glad to hear they just keep getting better.  Today’s travel trailers offer more amenities than ever and continue to make better use of the available space while adding many practical, money-saving features. 

One of the latest trends displayed at a recent RV trade show in Louisville, Kentucky was an outdoor kitchen designed primarily for travel trailers and fifth wheels.  The kitchens were fully equipped with a sink, small refrigerator and stove top or grill.  Believe it or not, a few models even came with a flat screen TV.

Another new trend found at the show was an add-on outdoor deck made from interlocking flooring of laminate or teak.  Similar models had a retractable mat that was used to make a patio floor.  Both options came with a convenient storage container.  In addition several companies featured porches that are attached to the side of a trailer and accessed through a door wall in the master bedroom. 

If you are in the market for a new travel trailer and think there is a good chance you will upgrade it in a few years, keep in mind that several features can add to the resale value down the road.  Slideouts are one example of this as they may bring a higher resale price than trailers without one, and even though they cost more initially, they generally are worth the investment. 

 

Also you will find that green technologies such as solar panels, RV wind turbine-powered electrical systems, and other energy-efficient components are increasing in their popularity.  There is even a travel trailer designed with a radiant heat system to name but a few of the latest, innovative trends in the RV industry.  

Sources:

theseattlervshow.com/blog/trends-for-2014/

Pikes Peak Traveland has been one of the top Colorado Springs RV dealers since 1982 and a partner in the national Route 66 RV Network. Whether you are in the market for a new or used RV, want to consign one, or need parts or service, we can help.  We only sell the top names in RVs and offer some of the best prices around.  Please come out and take a look at our extensive inventory of quality RVs for sale.