Welcome to a brand new and jam-packed episode of the Roadtreking RV Podcast. In this week's podcast, I have news and tips about a wide variety of topics related to RVers looking for places to go and things to do. And I reveal the best Christmas present ever, our brand new RV loaded with technology features so secret that if I told you about them, I'd have to .... well, you know.

Well, maybe not that secret. But pretty secret anyways.

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Here are the shownotes for this episode.

Our New RV and its Top Secret Features

Yes, we have a new RV - the Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL. But I can't tell you everything I'd like to about it just yet. That's because we're testing out certain features that will one day be options but for now, have to be kept under wraps. I’m asked to not publicize details as I am testing this out for them. Several features on our new unit are not yet available for production models.

Things like the air conditioning system. Yes, I do have one. No, it is not on the roof. It is somewhere else. Can't say more just yet. But not having the air conditioner topside means some valuable rooftop real estate has opened up and my roof is now totally covered with solar panels.

The same "no comment" rule must be followed regarding  details on the lithium-ion battery system I have. Here is all I can publicly say about the batteries: https://rvlifestyle.com/rv-lithium-batteries/

It's not that I am being deliberately coy. It's just that these features are not yet available.  What we're testing is a prototype. But just as solar power revolutionized RV technology a few years ago, lithium-ion batteries will soon be the next Big Thing for recreational vehicles.

Undoubtedly, the system I have will change and have different configurations available when it finally becomes available as an option. But because of rampant and erroneous speculation distributed on other boards and forums and because Roadtrek competitors rush to try and copy their technology, I have been asked to keep these details confidential from public disclosure until final details are decided.

As soon as I can say or show more, I will.

But that said, there is a lot we can say. Click the link to a post and video I did that shows off our new Roadtrek CS Adventurous XL

New National Historical Park Draws Controversy

A measure designating Samuel Colt's 19th-century gun factory in Connecticut as a national historical park has been signed into law by President Barack Obama. State elected officials have hailed the project as a way to boost one of Hartford's poorest neighborhoods and honor the revolver as a marvel of manufacturing.

But notably absent from the celebrating is Colt's Manufacturing Co. The company remains based in Connecticut, where it and other gun makers have said they were left feeling unwelcome by a strict gun control law adopted after of the 2012 Newtown elementary school shooting. A gun industry association withdrew its support for the park project. Executives at Colt have declined to discuss the project.

Why Diesel Fuel Costs More Than Gasoline

We had a listener question about why diesel fuel now costs more than gasoline. It's not always been that way. Turns out there are a variety of reasons, as explained by the National Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing.

A Great App for RVers Who Want the Latest News on a Variety of Topics

If you are a news junkie like me, you will love the SmartNews app - the fastest, most comprehensive, and always up-to-date news reader I’ve seen. It scours more than 10 million articles daily and delivers a customized reading list to your mobile device, categorized just the way you want them and easily stored for later reading or shared on social media. It works on Apple and Android devices.

Off the Beaten Path - The Gunflint Trail National Scenic Byway in Minnesota

Tom Hopkins from Davenport, Iowa, wins a Roadtreking hat for suggesting the Gunflint Trail along the Lake Superior north shore as our Off the ...