On today’s Driver’s Edition, Kenny’s wife, Sabrina, joins us to chat about their experience with van life. Kenny & Sabrina took a Winnebago Travato 59KL to product test it on a three-week trip. They covered about 3800 miles. They share the ups and downs of going small compared to their Class A RV and what it was like to use a wet bath for the first time. We also cover storage space, drivability, and the ease of finding parking for overnight stops.

We have all probably encountered severe weather of some kind while RVing. What happens when that bad weather hits while driving down the road? Well, that is precisely what happened to Sabrina and Kenny on a recent trip in their Class A, so Sabrina sticks around to chat with Kenny & Sean about tips on what to do in a weather emergency, especially while in motion, and ways to know before a storm hits, thanks to some advice from Julie Chickery.

Lazydays’ Q2 financial report reflects a sluggish market. I don’t think this surprises anyone as we come off the boom of RV sales from the last two years. Lazyday’s earnings show a net income for the first six months of 2023 to be $3.3 million. That is way down from last year when they reported a net income of $60.1 million. This is not to say that Lazydays is doing anything wrong or suffering. It is just what the RV market is becoming at the moment. The one good thing about this is that it can help RV buyers secure a great price at the dealership if they can pay in cash. Sean and Kenny discuss how money will be king because of how high current interest rates are.

The news of sales slowing has not slowed the plans for American Heartland Theme Park & Resort as they plan to build a 2 billion dollar campground and theme park on 1,000 acres of land in Oklahoma. This RV resort will offer 750 RV spaces and 300 cabins. The theme park will take up 125 acres of the property and include a 300-room hotel and indoor water park. The family attraction will consist of live shows, rides, restaurants, water rides, and top amenities at the RV Park. When the resort is completed, it is expected to employ over 4,300 people.

One RV manufacturer that does not appear to be slowing in production or orders is Cortes Campers. Cortes announced that it has signed up six new dealers for Cortes Campers in the U.S. These new dealers place purchase orders worth close to 1 million dollars. Kenny and Sean are now working to get Cortes Campers on the show to chat with them about their build process and the company’s growth.

Kenny will be at The Overland Expo in Boulder, Colorado August 25th to the 27th. You can find him working in the Winnebago booth.

Sean and Kenny will both be at the Hershey show from September 13th to the 17th

We will also both be at the Overland East show from October 6th to 8th

Come out and say hi to us in person!

Take care and safe travels. Please don’t forget to leave us a comment, review, or rating on your favorite podcast platform or our website.

Looking to get out there and stay out there? Battle Born’s lithium-ion batteries are here to power your RV, marine, and off-grid adventures. Designed as easy drop-in replacements for traditional lead acid, these reliable solutions have 2-3x the power, charge 5x faster, are 1/5th the weight, and last 10x longer. Offered in various models in unique sizes and shapes, ranging from 50Ah to a robust 270Ah, and backed by a 10-year warranty, Battle Born Batteries are built to fit your needs and power your experiences.  

On the road, on the water, and off the grid … Reliable power is here! Shop now!

Buying an RV is a huge investment, and you want it fully protected. But what if your RV breaks down? The cost of repairs can be incredibly high, and you may not have the money to cover it. Wholesale Warranties offers affordable policies for RVs up to 20 years old. This is a more age-lenient policy than most RV parks we have stayed in. They have a wide selection of plans and policies so that you can find the perfect fit for your needs. Their policies are backed by a team of experienced professionals dedicated to helping you maximize your investment. Get a free quote today!

Have comments? Reach out to us through our Contact Us page.

The post Winnebago Travato, Severe Weather, & RV News appeared first on Beyond The Wheel.