New, innovative vehicles expand options for buyers of RVs

More fuel-efficient RVs are definitely in demand these days. Manufacturers are coming up with interesting new smaller motorized and towable options for those looking for something a bit different to fit today's economic sensibilities.

Winnebago Via

Motorhomes based on the Dodge Sprinter van, both the full van and cutaway chassis, are popular and commonplace today. Winnebago Industries (www.winnebagoind.com, 641-585-3535) has gone one step farther with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Via Class A motorhome.

The Via and its Itasca equivalent, the Reyo, are based on the Sprinter "cowl" chassis that's currently being imported exclusively by Winnebago. This chassis allows the company to design its entire coach from the ground up, as is typical for any Class A motorhome, instead of working with the Sprinter cab or body features used on the earlier models.

At 25 feet long, the Via is a compact vehicle yet it offers full-featured livability and comfort. At the same time its 154-horsepower, Mercedes-Benz, 3.0-L turbo-diesel, six-cylinder engine, delivers fuel economy numbers considerably higher than the average gas-powered Class A.

Sprinter-van-based Class B motorhomes are reported to achieve as much as 20-plus mpg. Winnebago hasn't released any fuel economy figures yet but it's reasonable to presume that the Via will achieve lower numbers than the smaller van-based rigs, but still better than a V-8-powered coach.

Contemporary body styling and graphics give the coach visual appeal, and the interior abounds with smooth, rounded surfaces and next-generation-looking cabinets. The Via starts at $135,132 base MSRP. That's not cheap, but long-term fuel savings make it a viable investment option.

The interest in downsized trailers means more RV manufacturers are treading the fine line between an RV and a simple enclosed place to sleep on wheels. Northwood Manufacturing, a company long known for building functional and high-quality RVs designed by outdoors enthusiasts, has developed a new, small trailer that fits a variety of recreation product niches.

The new Freelance Outdoor Support Vehicle (OSV) by Northwood's True North division (www.truenorth.me, 800-766-6274) is an exciting addition to the small RV market. It resembles one of the classic teardrop-style trailers on steroids and offers a variety of equipment and function options.

In essence, it's a 1,535-pound trailer with a sofa that folds down to a bed, a rear lift hatch that covers a kitchenette unit and several exterior-access storage compartments. Its rounded front and sloped aft end help with aerodynamics, and the unit's 16-foot 4-inch length means it can be stored in many garages. As with a teardrop-style, users need to bend over inside as the entire rig is just 6 feet 9 inches tall overall from ground to roofline. Inside, it's just the sofa/bed that folds down to 48 x 77 1/2 inches some mesh storage pockets and extra open storage space. A lower-level access hatch provides pass-through long item storage capability.

And that's still a lot more luxurious than the average tent. The Freelance OSV is aimed at those who want to make the leap from a tent into an RV without a lot of complications or cost. This rig retails for about $8,250 base MSRP, and heads up to closer to $13,100 fully equipped.

Users can opt for the base package or equip the Freelance OSV with a mix of options including a complete array of Thule rack-mount storage and sporting-toy-mount or camping accessories.

Chalet RV: Moving and shaking

The product designers at Chalet RV Inc. (www.chaletrv.com, 541-791-4610) have been busy with a new model aimed at the lightweight towable market. A company spokesman said the product would be ready for introduction very soon, pending some final detail touches on the first model.