Readers’ top picks in our third annual RV poll
One of the great things about RVers is a nearly universal willingness to share hard-earned RV know-how. Visit any RV park, and chances are, it won’t take long before you’re exchanging tips on backing into a campsite with the couple next door. Wherever RVers meet, the conversation naturally turns from small talk to recommendations on everything from the best fuel stabilizer and fifth-wheel hitch to the most reliable trailer tires.
In 2012 we came up with a way to capitalize on Trailer Life readers’ collective RV intelligence and share it on a grand scale. Each year we conduct an online poll to find the places and brands readers rely on most during their RV travels. With last year’s results now in, we’re pleased to announce the 2014 Readers’ Choice Awards — gold, silver and bronze medalists in 28 RV-centric categories. And the winners are….
ENGINE OIL
Gold: Shell Rotella
Produced by the Shell Oil Company, Shell Rotella heavy-duty engine oils and synthetic lubricants control wear, buildup and emissions.
800-237-8645 | www.shell.com/rotella
Silver: Mobil 1
800-662-4525 | www.mobiloil.com
Bronze: Amsoil
800-956-5695 | www.amsoil.com
FIFTH-WHEEL HITCH
Gold: Reese
Reese has been in the business of making towing devices since 1952, now specializing in heavy-duty fifth-wheel hitches and weight-distribution systems.
800-632-3290 | www.reeseprod.com
Silver: B&W
800-810-4918 | www.turnoverball.com
Bronze: PullRite
800-443-2307 | www.pullrite.com
FIFTH-WHEEL TRAILER
Gold: Keystone
The number one manufacturer of RVs in North America, Keystone builds fifth-wheels, travel trailers, toy haulers and destination trailers.
866-425-4369 | www.keystonerv.com
Silver: Forest River
574-389-4600 | www.forestriverinc.com
Bronze: Heartland
877-262-8032 | www.heartlandrvs.com
FOLDING CAMPER
Gold: Starcraft
In business for five decades, Starcraft manufacturers RVs from entry-level folding campers and lightweight trailers to luxurious fifth-wheels.
800-945-4787 | www.starcraftrv.com
(Tie) TrailManor
TrailManor’s unique retractable hard-wall trailers fold down for easy towing, can be pulled by vans and SUVs, and fit in an average-size garage.
402-316-7288 | www.trailmanor.com
Silver: Chalet
541-791-4610 | www.chaletrv.com
(Tie) Forest River
574-389-4600 | www.forestriverinc.com
Bronze: Aliner
724-423-7440 | www.aliner.com
FUEL ADDITIVE
Gold: Lucas Oil
Lucas Oil provides premium oil, grease and additives, including Lucas Fuel Stabilizer for preventing gasoline breakdown during storage.
800-342-2512 | www.lucasoil.com
Silver: Amsoil
800-956-5695 | www.amsoil.com
Bronze: Sta-Bil
800-367-3245 | www.goldeagle.com
FUEL STATION
Gold: Pilot Flying J
The Pilot and Flying J chains merged in 2010 to form North America’s largest network of travel plazas with more than 650 RV-friendly locations.
877-866-7378 | www.pilotflyingj.com
Silver: Love’s Travel Stops
800-655- 6837 | www.loves.com
Bronze: Costco
800-774-2678 | www.costco.com
(Tie) Maverik
800-789-4455 | www.maverik.com
HOLDING-TANK CHEMICALS
Gold: Thetford
Thetford is the world’s leading manufacturer of mobile sanitation products for the RV, marine, camping and truck markets.
800-543-1219 | www.thetford.com
Silver: Dometic
800-544-4881 | www.dometic.com
Bronze: Camco
800-334-2004 | www.camco.net
(Tie) Odorlos
800-869-8764 | www.yara.us
PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING PRODUCT
Gold: Banks Power
Banks offers a range of emissions-legal products to improve power and fuel economy from cold-air intake kits to PowerPack Systems.
800-601-8072 | www.bankspower.com
Silver: Edge
888-360-3343 | www.edgeproducts.com
Bronze: Bully Dog
877-285-5936 | www.bullydog.com
REFRIGERATOR
Gold: Dometic
A leading supplier of RV refrigerators, Dometic also offers RV awnings, toilets, air conditioners, and portable refrigerators and freezers.
800-544-4881 | www.dometic.com
Silver: Norcold
800-543-1219 | www.norcold.com
Bronze: Samsung
800-726-7864 | www.samsung.com
RV AWNING
Gold: Dometic
Dometic’s wide selection of RV awning products includes patio, door and window awnings, slide toppers and screen rooms.
800-544-4881 | www.dometic.com
Silver: Carefree of Colorado
303-469-3324 | www.carefreeofcolorado.com
Bronze: Awnings by Zip Dee
800-338-2378 | www.awningsbyzipdee.com
RV CAMPGROUND/RESORT
Gold: Pechanga RV Resort, Temecula, California
With 168 full-hookup campsites and all the amenities, Pechanga RV Resort is a short walk or shuttle ride from California’s biggest casino.
877-997-8386 | www.pechanga.com
Silver: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Orlando, Florida
407-934-7639 | www.disneyworldcamping.com
Bronze: Billings KOA, Billings, Montana
406-252-3104 | www.koa.com/campgrounds/billings
(Tie) Ocean Lakes Family Campground, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
843-238-5532 | www.oceanlakes.com
RV CASINO RESORT
Gold: Pechanga Resort and Casino, Temecula, California
A 200,000-square-foot gaming floor makes this California’s largest casino, and Pechanga RV Resort is conveniently located next door.
951-693-1819 | www.pechanga.com
Silver: Laughlin/Avi Casino KOA, Laughlin, Nevada
702-535-5450 | koa.com/campgrounds/laughlin
(Tie) Seven Feathers Casino Resort, Canyonville, Oregon
800-548-8461 | www.sevenfeathers.com
Bronze: Coushatta Casino Resort, Kinder Louisiana
800-584-7263 | www.coushattacasinoresort.com
(Tie) Grand Casino Hinckley, Hinckley, Minnesota
800-472-6321 | www.grandcasinomn.com
Jackson Rancheria Casino Resort, Jackson, California
800-822-9466 | www.jacksoncasino.com
Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall, Las Vegas, Nevada
702-456-7777 | www.samstownlv.com
Turning Stone Resort Casino, Verona, New York
800-771-7711 | www.turningstone.com
RV CLEANING PRODUCT
Gold: Protect All
ProtectAll’s line of products includes polishes, washes, wheel and tire cleaner, rubber-roof treatment, slideout lubricants and black-streak removers.
800-322-4491 | www.protectall.com
Silver: Dometic
800-544-4881 | www.dometic.com
Bronze: Meguiar’s
800-347-5700 | www.meguiars.com
RV COVER
Gold: ADCO
Established in 1955, ADCO specializes in RV covers, as well as covers for RV tires, windshields, air-conditioning units and propane cylinders.
800-541-2326 | www.adcoprod.com
Silver: Calmark
800-838-7236 | www.calmarkcovers.com
Bronze: Classic Accessories
800-854-2315 | www.classicaccessories.com
RV GENERATOR
Gold: Honda
A manufacturer of long-lasting and quiet generators, Honda has portable power stations for RV use in a range of output levels.
770-497-6400 | www.powerequipment.honda.com
Silver: Yamaha
800-962-7926 | www.yamaha-motor.com
Bronze: Cummins
800-888-6626 | www.power.cummins.com
RV RETAILER
Gold: Camping World
Camping World is America’s largest retailer of RV supplies, accessories and new and used RVs, with more than 100 locations across the country.
888-626-7576 | www.campingworld.com
Silver: Local Dealer
Bronze: Walmart
800-925-6278 | www.walmart.com
RV TIRES
Gold: Goodyear
The number one tire maker in North America, Goodyear has been in the tire business since 1898 and continues to make tires for all kinds of vehicles.
800-321-2136 | goodyear.com
Silver: Michelin
866-866-6605 | www.michelinman.com
Bronze: Maxxis
800-462-9947 | www.mexxis.com
RV TOILET
Gold: Thetford
Thetford markets RV toilets under the Tecma, Aria and Aqua Magic brands, and offers toilet chemicals, cleaners, convenience products and portable toilets.
800-543-1219 | www.thetford.com
Silver: Dometic
800-544-4881 | www.dometic.com
Bronze: Fiamma
407-672-0091 | www.fiammausa.com
SATELLITE HARDWARE
Gold: Winegard
Winegard is a leader in the field of mobile television-reception products, from local broadcast TV antennas to portable and roof-mounted satellite systems.
800-288-8094 | www.winegard.com
Silver: Dish Tailgater
888-656-2461 | www.dish.com/technology/tv-outdoors
Bronze: King
952-922-6889 | www.kingcontrols.com
SATELLITE PROVIDER
Gold: Dish
Dish provides 14 million direct-broadcast satellite-TV subscribers with 200 high-definition U.S. channels and many international channels.
800-823-4929 | www.dish.com
Silver: DirecTV
888-777-2454 | www.directv.com
Bronze: Shaw
888-472-2222 | www.shaw.ca
SIT-DOWN RESTAURANT
Gold: Cracker Barrel
With more than 600 U.S. locations, Cracker Barrel welcomes RVers to friendly homes-away-from-home that include free overnight RV parking.
800-333-9566 | www.crackerbarrel.com
Silver: Denny’s
800-733-6697 | www.dennys.com
Bronze: Applebee’s
888-592-7753 | www.applebees.com
STATE TO RV IN
Gold: Utah
With five national parks, seven national monuments, two national recreation areas and one national historic site, Utah is a must-see destination for RVers.
800-200-1160 | www.visitutah.com
Silver: Colorado
800-265-6723 | www.colorado.com
(Tie) Oregon
800-547-7842 | www.traveloregon.com
Bronze: Michigan
888-784-7328 | www.michigan.org
TIRE-MONITORING SYSTEM
Gold: TireMinder
TireMinder’s tire-pressure monitoring systems and components keep tabs on tire pressure for greater peace of mind on the road.
772-463-6522 | www.minderresearch.com
Silver: HawksHead
888-321-8767 | www.tpms.ca
(Tie) Truck System Technologies
770-889-9102
Bronze: Pressure Pro
800-959-3505 | www.advantagepressurepro.com
(Tie) RVibrake
800-815-2159 | www.rvibrake.com
TRAILER HITCH
Gold: Equal-i-zer
Made in America for nearly 60 years, the Equal-i-zer hitch combines weight distribution with sway control for a smoother, safer ride.
800-478-5578 | www.equalizerhitch.com
Silver: Blue Ox SwayPro
800-228-9289 | www.blueox.com
Bronze: Hensley
800-410-6580 | www.hensleymfg.com
TRAVEL TRAILER
Gold: Forest River
Launched in 1996, Forest River is now one of America’s largest RV manufacturers, with a wide range of towable and motorized RVs.
574-389-4600 | www.forestriverinc.com
Silver: Jayco
574-825-5861 | www.jayco.com
Bronze: Keystone
866-425-4369 | www.keystonerv.com
TRUCK BED LINER
Gold: Line-X
Line-X fast-curing spray-on bedliners offer tough protection with long-lasting polymer coatings that keep truck beds looking good.
877-330-1331 | www.linex.com
Silver: Rhino Linings
800-422-2603 | www.rhinolinings.com
Bronze: BedRug
800-462-8435 | www.bedrug.com
TRUCK CAMPER
Gold: Lance
Awarded the highest rating from Consumers Digest, Lance makes America’s most popular truck campers as well as a new line of travel trailers.
661-949-3322 | www.lancecamper.com
Silver: Alaskan Campers
360-748-6494 | www.alaskancamper.com
(Tie) Bigfoot
250-546-2155 | www.bigfootrv.com
Bronze: Chalet
541-791-4610 | www.chaletrv.com
(Tie) Four Wheel Campers
800-242-1442 | www.fourwheelcampers.com
Hallmark
877-659-5753 | www.hallmarkrv.com
Host
541-330-2328 | www.hostcampers.com
Northern Lite
250-765-3702 | www.northern-lite.com
Northstar Campers
319-233-3461 | www.northstarcampers.com
Northwood
800-766-6274 | www.northwoodmfg.com
TRUCK FOR TOWING
Gold: Ford
Ford’s popular F-Series truck lineup includes the ubiquitous F-150, America’s best-selling truck for 37 years and best-selling vehicle for 32 years.
800-392-3673 | www.ford.com
Silver: Ram
800-423-6343 | www.ramtrucks.com
Bronze: Chevy
800-222-1020 | www.chevrolet.com
