RV'ing in Welches Oregon

So we took the RV to Welches Oregon this past weekend.  Stayed at Mount Hood Village RV park.  I finally got the 5th wheel tuned in for travel.  When I bought it from the dealer, it was not level when hooked up and I made the amateur mistake of not buying the upgraded pin box.  I ended up replacing it with a Glide Ride which made an unbelievable different in the towing.  I used to cringe going over bumps, but the Glide Ride has smoothed it all out.  In addition, I mounted it so I had only 6 inches of clearance between the truck rails and the 5th wheel.  This almost completely leveled the 5vr and the ride is now incredibly smooth.  I almost forgot I had a 40' 5th wheel behind me at time.  I suggest this pin box for anyone buying a new 5th wheel or running a standard pin box.  This is one step towards being High on the Hog...RV Style.

The Open Range 399 BHS

So I own an Open Range 399BHS 5th wheel.  This is what I thought was "stylish" in the "RV world" and serves my family of 3 kids, wife, and 2 large dogs really well.  The unit is ready for winter when we use it most and it is HUGE which is good for a trailer used while skiing.  Here lies the problem...  The RV industry as a whole is 10 years behind on so many fronts.

I opened my shiny new Apple TV product today.  Amazing in simplicity of design, style, and functionality.  Why do I bring this up in relation to the Open Range?  The entire industry lacks a sense of modern design across form factors.  There are companies that have more modern design in trailers, but not one of them is truly innovative and none of them would fit a family my size.  There are lower end trailers/RV's that would fit my family at a reasonable price...but every single one of them has the paisley/flower design my grandparents would love.  In comes the Open Range RV we bought.  Not quite as ugly, more expensive, but also not technologically advanced.

The entire industry needs a lesson from Steve Jobs.  In the world of trailers and 5th wheels there is a huge industry gap that could be filled by a well funded entrepreneur who thinks like Apple.  Some day people will recognize that the way you dump the black tank can doesn't have to be how it has always be done (if I am plugged in why not have a built in incinerator or something similar?  Motion activated exterior/interior lighting anyone?  Wireless Iphone connections?  How about a "technology package" upgrade?).  The design of these trailers should reflect modern architecture both in form and function.  The opportunity is huge for the right company with the right leaders...  I hope someone takes note of not just making them look fancy, but also making them work technically for the next generation of RV owners.

Given the world of 5th Wheels as it exists today...  The Open Range is a good first step to live High on the Hog... RV Style.

Time to start talking RV's...High on the Hog Style

The day has come for someone to talk RV's...the good, the bad, and those that should end up as Duck Blinds made by Jase and the boys from Duck Dynasty.  Most RV's are crap...the style and design is horrid.  All of them need upgraded to really serve the purposes of a recreational family.  A select few have started to not look like my grandma's kitchen on wheels and because it took me so long to get this blog setup, this will be left until tomorrow when I will discuss the decision making process behind my current Open Range 399BHS 5th wheel...