Flush King of Torrance, California provides the RVer with a quick and effective way to fill, rinse and remove residue after dumping their black or gray holding tanks. It has four locking hooks for a tighter seal to guard against leakage and a 360 degree handle to make hook-up easier. It isn’t a permanent attachment. You just twist it on and off. It fits most RVs.

Federal Government Predicts Gasoline Will Remain Cheap This Summer

The following is a reprint of an Associated Press story by Josef Hebert that was picked up and reprinted by newspapers and blogs across the country.

Despite the dismal economy, motorists may want to take to the road this summer. The federal government says gasoline prices are expected to stay relatively low.

The Energy Information Administration on Tuesday projected regular-grade gasoline to average $2.23 a gallon during the April-through-September driving season. The monthly average is likely to peak at $2.30 a gallon. That’s still a bargain compared to last summer, when gasoline cost an average of $3.81 a gallon and soared for a time past $4.

The report also said U.S. crude oil production declined by 110,000 barrels a day last year because of Gulf Coast hurricanes, but should rebound by an additional 440,000 barrels to 5.4 million barrels a day this year, the first increase in domestic production since 1991.

In recent weeks gas prices have edged higher from their lows in December. Last week gasoline average $2.05 a gallon. The energy agency attributed the increases to slightly higher crude oil costs and refiners trying to recoup some profits.

The EIA report projects crude oil prices to average $53 a barrel this year, but to increase by about $10 a barrel in 2010. But it said a stronger-than-expected economic recovery, lower global production or “more aggressive action to cut production” by the OPEC oil cartel “could lead to a faster and stronger rise in oil prices.”

Despite the drop in crude prices as well as cheaper gasoline, U.S. consumption of petroleum products, mainly gasoline and diesel, is forecast to decline for a second year in a row because of the economic downturn, the report said.

It said consumption declined by 6.1 percent last year, compared with 2007, in part because of the high cost of fuel in the first half of the year, and is expected to drop another 2.2 percent this year, or by 430,000 barrels a day. An expected economic upturn will increase demand in 2010 by 1.4 percent, the report said.

There should be plenty of gasoline available this summer. Refinery production is projected to increase by about 240,000 barrels a day compared with last summer. Total gasoline stocks as of April 1 were slightly less than last year at this time, but higher than the five-year average.

More ethanol will be blended with gasoline this year, as required by law. The EIA said an average of 670,000 barrels a day of ethanol to be blended, compared to 635,000 barrels a day last summer.

Still, the EIA said the growth of ethanol plant capacity will slow dramatically in 2009 as lower gasoline prices depress profits in ethanol production and the constraints in the financial markets curtail plant construction plans.

Over the years working here at Pete’s RV Center, I ‘am asked all the time by clients, “What should we buy. A fifth wheel or a travel trailer?”.  This is a very good question you should ask and the answer is going to be different for each individual person.

There are pros and cons to both styles of RVs.  Please remember that there is no such thing as the perfect RV.  No matter how much research you do, no matter how many different RVs you look at, you will never find an RV that has exactly everything you are looking for.  The trick is to figure out which style has the most features, conveniences and advantages for you and your family.

Let’s talk about some of the advantages of both styles of RVs.  First let’s talk about fifth wheels.

• Towability - Fifth wheels tow down the road better than travel trailers.  because the tongue weight is over the rear axle of your truck, you will get less bounce and sway.
• More Living Space - Foot for foot, fifth wheels will give you more interior living space.  RVs are typically measured from the point that sticks out furthest in the front to the point that sticks out furthest in the rear.  So what that means is that in a 34′ fifth wheel you are getting roughly 31′ - 32′ of interior living space.  In a 34′ travel trailer you will only be getting roughly 29′ - 30′ of interior living space.
• Easier to Hook-up to Tow Vehicle - With a fifth wheel you can watch the king pin engage the hitch while backing up.  In a travel trailer the ball is hidden so it is hard to tell when the ball is perfectly lined up with the trailer coupler.  this translates to either using two people or backing up multiple times to achieve the perfect alignment.
• Better Floor Plans - Because of the bigger box on fifth wheels as explained earlier, you will get a better selection of floor plans.
• More Slideouts - this is again because of bigger boxes.
• More Exterior Storage - Most fifth wheels have what they call a raised bath deck floors which allows for huge pass-thru storage compartments.

There are also many advantages of owning a travel trailer over a fifth wheel.

• Smaller Investment - Travel trailers typically are less money than a comparable fifth wheel.
• Hitches Cost Less - A hitch package will run you less money for a travel trailer than a fifth wheel.
• More Tow Vehicle Options - A fifth wheel trailer requires a pick-up truck while a travel trailer does not.
• Pick-up Truck Storage - If you do haul a travel trailer with a pick-up you have all the pick-up bed storage to use to haul bikes, grills, etc.  You lose all of that with a fifth wheel.
• Travel Trailers Weigh Less - You can haul more travel trailer than fifth wheel if you are limited by your tow vehicle.
• Easier More Comfortable Traveling with Multiple Travelers - Sometimes traveling in a truck may not be that comfortable for passengers.

These are just a few of the things you should consider when deciding whether to invest in a fifth wheel or a travel trailer.  Surely there are other things to consider but these are the big ones.  Ultimately what is right for you and your family is known only by you.  A knoweledgable RV dealer should be able to help you along the way and assist you in finding the right style of RV that will give you years of family fun and enjoyment.  If you have specific questions regarding this, please don’t hesitate to call us here at Pete’s RV Center at 1-800-639-5093.

Some of the best camping my wife and I have done is in up-state New York, along the St. Lawrence Seaway.  the Seaway runs from the Atlantic Ocean, inland past Montreal and runs along the Canadian, USA border all the way to lake Ontario.  There is some of the best scenery you will ever see along the seaway.  If you like seeing the large inland ships go by or just watching all the water craft using it for enjoyment.  You can see the locks raising and lowering the watercraft as you get to each dam along the route.  The most popular is the Eisenhower Lock in Massena, New York.  You can cross under the lock through a tunnel and enter the national park.  It is where the large dams are, that produce electricity.  There is camping, a mariner, picnic areas and an overlook of the Dams with full story of the building of the St. Lawrence Seaway.

If you travel along the seaway you will reach Alexandria Bay or better known as the Thousand Islands.  There is so much to do from water sports, boat rides by all the islands.  There is a main street with all little shops and lots of things to do.  If you leave this area and continue along the seaway you will eventually get to Cape Vincent, which is where the seaway enters Lake Ontario.  All along the way is very scenic for you and your passengers.  You will pass all along this trip many private and State campgrounds.  If you travel another 30 miles along Lake Ontario, to the south, in Henderson Harbor, New York you will come across a campground called, ASSOCIATION ISLAND.  It is an Island with a causeway to it so you can get your camper out to it and the campground is the only thing on the Island.  It has lots of wild life to watch and a marina to keep your boat, and some of the best fishing around.  There is a restaurant and adult room, full hook-ups, and a swimming pool.  It is a really nice campground to stay at and relax for a period of time.

Everyone has their favorites so send back a note and let us all know about them

Louie, Sales

False holding tank readings are a common problem with RVs.  Horst Dynamics has introduced its Miracle  Probes for gray and black holding tanks that will solve this situation. The shafts are now coated with Teflon. Because Teflon is virtually self-cleaning, residue will not stick to the probes, therefore eliminating probes from failure. They can be purchased in 4-packs.  Please contact Pete’s RV Center for odering info at 1-800-639-5093

We are excited to announce that our spring shipment of 11 foot wide Canterbury park models have arrived.  The 1st model is the 1137-CK.  This model features a super big living room with lots of glass windows for that perfect view.  The Chef’s Gourmet kitchen showcases lots of counter space and ample storage.  The loft area is perfect for grandchildren and storage alike.

The 1137-FL2 model is a Client favorite over the last couple of seasons.  This model is one the most open style floor plans offered by Canterbury.  Again this model is graced with plenty of big windows for your viewing pleasure.  The master bedroom is large and spacious while at the same time private.  The loft will surely be a hit with the kids as it will provide enough room for sleeping and playing.

Both models are bulging at the seams with extras and are tastefully decorated with the lastest styles and trends.

To schedule a private tour please contact us at 1-888-738-3778 or visit us on the web at www.petesrv.com

Keystone’s Cougar brand was recently awarded the number one spot in retail sales for laminated travel trailers and fifth wheels, according to Statistical Surveys, Inc., Grand Rapids, Michigan. In addition to the number one ranking, Cougar travel trailers and fifth wheels also experienced 2008 market share growth in excess of 20%, outpacing all other brands nationally in total sales.

Cougar General Manager Chris Hermon credited great product and great dealers for the brand’s success. Says Hermon, “Every person in our Cougar organization and especially our product development team is committed to being the very best at their particular area of expertise. We all understand we have to work very hard to keep dominating and leading the way. As a group we are all on the same page. This award shows that we have a real pulse on what customers want.”

Among the product innovations that keep Cougar on top is a “never before” seen side-aisle bath fifth wheel floorplan with a huge linen closet slideout in the bathroom. Five additional new Cougar models have also been introduced along with debut of the customer-friendly iPod-sized Cougar Remote that controls the operation of slide out rooms, landing gear, as well as docking lights.

“We understand we need to continue to hit the sweet spot between great looks and features and a great price,” says Cougar Product Manager Jeff Runels. “Dealers and customers continue to look at Cougar as an exceptional travel trailer and fifth wheel brand. This environment continues to draw more people our way.”

Adds Hermon, we understand that exciting product keeps salespeople and dealers excited. We continue to be very committed to being that type of brand for our dealers.

Please visit Pete’s RV Center’s entire Invetory of Cougars today!