On March 19-21, Pete’s RV split up two teams to exhibit at separate RV and camping shows.  General Manager Terry Shepard and RV Lifestyle Consultant Rick Campbell packed up and headed across the lake (literally!) for the 18th Annual Champlain Valley RV show in Plattsburgh, New York.

Although a cold and blustery couple of days, attendance was solid.  There was noted interest in used Class A motorhomes, and in trend with other shows so far this year, bunkhouses like the X-Lite 31SQB and Sprinter Select 311BH.

Sales manager Todd McGinnis and veteran RV Lifestyle Consultant Joe Vartuli took the longer road trip down to Massachusetts for the Worcester RV and Boat Show.

Even with it being the first beautiful post-winter weekend with temps in the 60’s, a robust crowd converged on the DCU Center in anticipation of the 2010 camping season.

Sounding like a broken record from previous show follow-up posts, the big draw was for the X-Lite 31SQB and Montana 3750FL.  They’ve been a clear favorite so far this year and both models are going to be enjoyed by several new owners via the Worcester show.

Our on location sales teams thanks everybody for coming out to the shows and thinking Pete’s RV!

The Worcester show winner of the Pete’s RV Store $100 Gift Card was James B. from Northborough, MA.

If your RV trip includes bicycling, Google has just made finding bike trails along the beach and through city streets that much easier!

Google Maps for U.S. destinations now includes an option to view available bike lanes and recommended routes.  There are currently hundreds of locations now mapped and growing.

In addition to the map view, you can plug in an address and get bike directions.  They guide you through designated bike trails, paths and lanes as well as streets recommended for cyclists to travel.

If you are not looking to break a sweat, you can even choose the path of least resistance and navigate around those steep hills!

For more information, check out the short video, “Biking Directions on Google Maps” posted by Google on YouTube.

Dare to dream about winning a brand new travel trailer or fifth wheel from Keystone RV!

The company recently announced that they will be giving away four RVs over the course of the next twelve months.  Lucky winners will be drawn at the the following RV shows:

• The Iowa RV & Travel Show, April 11, 2010
• The Rally 2010, July 25, 2010,
• The Atlantic City Fall RV Show, October 31, 2010
• The Colorado RV, Sports, Boat & Travel Show, March 6, 2011

And win one of these beauties:

• Keystone Hornet travel trailer model 28RLS
• Keystone Passport travel trailer model 280BH
• Keystone Sprinter travel trailer model 299BHS
• Keystone Montana Mountaineer fifth wheel model 326RLT

The most recent winner of the Live Your Dreams Sweepstakes was Richard Liberty of Oregon City, OR.  He is the proud new owner of a very, VERY nice Montana 3150RL like the one pictured on the left.

Dare to live your dreams and Enter to Win at the Keystone RV website.

Good luck from the Pete’s RV Team!

Pete’s RV News

Welcome to our very first e-newsletter! It’s the perfect way each month for us to share news, events, information and tips with our dedicated community of campers and RVers.

You’ll also notice that the newsletter is a hub for our social media outlets.  Along with the newsletter, we’ve been busy putting the final touches on our Pete’s RV Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages.  They’re packed with Pete’s RV, and industry-related updates, photos and video clips.  We’ve had a pulse on the RV business for more than 50 years, and with the help of internet technology, we can now share our knowledge with an even broader audience!

Speaking of the business, Pete’s RV Center is enjoying a very busy 2010 thus far.  The RV industry is bouncing back nicely from a challenging 2009.  More and more families are opting to camp or hit the open road as a vacation option in 2010, so we’ve prepared for the increase in sales and service.  Our inventory is well-stocked with everything from pop-ups to motorhomes, and our service department and parts store are looking better than ever!

We hope you enjoy the Pete’s RV eNewsletter and welcome your feedback.  Please tell us what’s great about it and what other information you would like to be included in future issues.

Thanks for thinking Pete’s RV!

Recent Pete’s RV Bloglines

Pete’s RV Parts & Acc. Store Geared Up for 3/6 VT Tax-Free Day

Pete’s RV Rocks the House at Vermont RV Show!

“Weekend Rescue” at Pete’s RV Saves the Day!

Product News:  Montana Fifth Wheels Outfitted with “Triple P”

For those of you familiar with Montana Fifth Wheels, you know that inside and out, they are a thing of beauty!  Whether displaying them in our showroom or at a trade show, visitors are immediately drawn to their sleek appearance and finely-detailed interiors.   As if you couldn’t make Montana’s Hickory Edition already complete package any more…well, “complete”, we outfit the majority of our units with Pete’s Premium Package (”Triple P” for short).

The following custom-chosen features provides our Montana’s with an added touch of convenience, efficiency and class:

• Mor/Ryde Hitch Pin reduces chucking, providing clunk-free towing

• Dual Pane, Tinted Safety Glass Windows for increased warmth/cooling efficiency

• Hi-Gloss Gel Coated Fiberglass Exterior wears longer and maintains a “showroom” appearance

• 12 Cubic Foot, 4-Door Refrigerator equals even more storage space for entertaining family and friends

February Top Views on Pete’s RV Website

1.  Cougar 318SAB Fifth Wheel
2.  Cougar 298BHS Travel Trailer
3.  Montana 3750FL Fifth Wheel
4.  Cougar 326MKS Fifth Wheel
5.  Passport 2910BH Travel Trailer
Honorable Mention:  Outback 295RE

Pete’s RV Store Featured Product:  Trailer Star 18″ Electric Tongue Jack

The saying goes, “Save your back and use a jack.”  And let it be an electric one at that!  Trailer Star offers a 12 volt DC electric tongue jack with 3,500 pounds of lifting capacity.  It’s constructed with hardened steel gears and long-lasting durability.  Other nice features of this product include dual night lights for night hitching, and a built-in level strategically placed for convenient viewing.

Regularly priced at $179.99, the Trailer Star 18″ Electric Tongue Jack is specially-priced at $135.22.  Stop by Pete’s RV Store or contact us via email or 1-800-639-5093.

RV Service Tips:  Lug Nut Tightening

RV tires and axles experience considerable stress called “side load”.  It is critical that tire lug nuts on RVs are checked and properly torqued before each and every trip.  Keystone RV provides an excellent instructional video on proper lug tightening technique.  We encourage you to watch this ten minute video at the Pete’s RV TV page on YouTube.

RV Q and A:  Battery Life

Question: How long will a 12V battery last when I am camping without electrical hook-up?

Answer: The size and number of amenities requiring electricity on your camper play a large influence on the life of a battery when dry camping.  A fully-charged battery that is not aged, and holds a good charge, will generally last a weekend in travel trailers and fifth wheels, and a few extra days in a pop-up camper.  Large appliances such as microwaves, air conditioners and televisions (unless AC/DC) must be plugged in to an electrical service to operate, so no worries in monitoring their use.  However, lights, heater, small electronics and appliances need to be used on an as needed basis to preserve battery life for the refrigerator and water pump.  It’s never a bad idea to carry a second battery if you have the extra room.  There are cable units available to “trickle charge” from your towing vehicle’s battery, but the process is slow and not recommended when dry camping.

Customer Feedback

“Thank you so much for the work you performed on our camper. You guys went out of your way to replace our shower unit. All of you went “above and beyond” to take care of us! We will always remember the excellent care and concern that was shown to us. We will recommend Pete’s RV Center to anyone we hear of that is interested in camping. Thank you again for everything! You are a great group of people.”– Ken and Deb Y. from W. Chazy, NY

More Pete’s RV Center Testimonials

Pete’s RV “What is it?” Facebook Contest

Name this campfire circle essential correctly and you may win one!

Go to the Pete’s RV Facebook Page, add us as a friend and post your answer as a comment on the wall entry bearing this photo.

A winner will be chosen on 3/15.  Good luck!

RV Flashback: 1922 Zagelmeyer Tent Trailer

Patented and manufactured by the Zagelmeyer Auto Camp Company in Bay City, MI, they contained many of the standard as well as unique features found in camp trailers of the 1920’s.

As listed in the original patent document from 1927, it included a “hinged entrance door”, “foldable berths” and a “table pivotally connected to kitchenette”.  What further separated Zagelmeyers from the competition was their claim to be the lightest one made, as well as a permanently attached canvas covering, and hard-topped roof.  This made for quick setup and breakdown.

The one pictured here is located in the showroom at Pete’s RV Center and may be one of the oldest RVs found in New England.

Campground Recipe:  Breakfast Burrito

Ingredients: Eggs, Hash Browns, Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Salsa, Flour Tortilla Shells, Sour Cream, Tomatoes, Olives, Green Onions, Avocado

Directions: Ahead of time you can chop up the tomatoes, olives, green onions and avocado. Cook the bacon and crumble. Cook the southern style hash browns in a frying pan with salt, pepper and oil until browned. Mix together and put in a container or zip lock bag and refrigerate until needed. Grate cheddar cheese (store in container or zip lock bag). On the morning you will cook these, take out mixture and place in large frying pan and heat. Scramble the eggs, add to warm mixture and cook. This is an ideal way to have breakfast while camping because each person can make their own burrito the way they like it.

This and even more delicious campground recipes can be found at KOA.com!

In anticipation of a busy Vermont Sales Tax Independence Day, Pete’s RV Parts and Accessories Store is fully stocked and ready to handle the increase in customers.

Taking place on Saturday, March 6th, the holiday lifts Vermont’s 6% state sales tax on all retail items less than $2,000 (excluding vehicles and business purchases).

With spring camping right around the corner, the tax holiday is a perfect opportunity for RVers to purchase and save on everything they need for the season.  Be it rubber roof cleaner, wax compounds, slide out lubricant, or replacing that cracked light cover, we’ve got it!

There’s also a nice selection of popular accessories like solar patio lights, Equal-i-zer hitches, and camping furniture.  Sale items include the Vitco Outside Mountable Cook Stove (Now $125.00) and Trailer Star 18″ Electric Tongue Jack (Now $135.22).

When visiting us, be sure to enter the Pete’s RV Store $100.00 Gift Card Drawing!

Pete’s RV Store hours on Tax Independence Day will be 9am-4pm. If you’ve never visited Pete’s RV Center, please click here for directions.

If your not in the Burlington, VT area but interested in placing an order (we ship throughout North America), feel free to call us at 1.800.639.5093 or contact via email.

To view additional photos of our store, check out the Pete’s RV Center Facebook Page and Add Us as a Friend!

For details and news about Pete’s RV Center, sign up for our e-newsletter.

Pulling out all the stops, it was hard for Pete’s RV not leave an impression at the 11th Annual Vermont RV and Camping Show 2/26 - 2/28 held at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction.

Pete’s exhibited RVs in four separate display areas including the main hall, a room with Coleman Pop-Ups, another packed with mostly travel trailers and a few fifth wheels, and still another hall for private viewing of four premium units.

It was all hands on deck at Pete’s RV with everybody working hard to transport the 36 units to the event venue and prep them for the thousands of people passing through the turnstiles during the weekend show.  The gargantuan task was completed with great success (including post-show, when everything needed to be broken down and transported back to the dealership!).

The heavy foot traffic through the weekend was a positive sign that RVing will be alive and well for the 2010 camping season.  With families leading the way on this movement, there was no surprise bunkhouse units received tons of attention.

Top honors for the weekend go to the Outback 250RS and X-Lite 31SQB.  Attendees looking for non-bunk units raved about the Sprinter 318FLS, Outback 295RE, and the always popular Montana 3750FL.

Honorable mention goes to Passport Ultra-Light travel trailers.  They offer those with limited towing capacity a lighter, yet nicely equipped option and several floorplans to choose from.

One more honorable mention goes to the Coleman Niagara pop-up trailer.  Very sharp and about as close as you’ll get to a hard-walled travel trailer!

Pete’s RV greatly appreciates all of the folks that came by to visit us from all over New England, Northern New York and Quebec.  Further thanks and congrats to all of our new RV owners.  Happy camping!

The winner of the $100.00 Pete’s RV Gift Store goes to Karoline F. from Enosburg Falls, VT.

To view additional photos from the VT RV Show, check out the Pete’s RV Center Facebook Page and Add Us as a Friend!

For details and news about Pete’s RV Center, sign up for our e-newsletter.