"On the Road" TV interview with Camille Pronovost

I was recently interviewed for a segment of "On the Road", a half-hour TV show sponsored by AAA and aired on Fox61 in Hartford, CT. It was filmed at Long View RV and while I drove a 2010 Coachmen Sportscoach, a new luxury 40' diesel pusher motor home. The segment was designed to promote RVing as an alternative to other types of family vacations and I was asked about different types of campers, fuel economy, and how difficult it is to drive a coach. To see my part, you have to sit tight through a short piece with Jim from AAA sharing tips about driving to save on gas. I appreciate the opportunity to share my passion for RV travel - that's the best part of my job!
 

2009 Sales Tax Deduction for New Motorhome Purchase

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act permits taxpayers to take a deduction for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of new cars, light trucks, motor homes and motorcycles. The deduction is available on new vehicles purchased from Feb. 17, 2009, through Dec. 31, 2009. In states that don't have a sales tax, the law provides a deduction for other taxes or fees paid. This deduction is available whether or not a taxpayer itemizes deductions on Schedule A.

The deduction is limited to the taxes and fees paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of an eligible vehicle. The deduction is reduced for joint filers with modified adjusted gross incomes (MAGI) between $250,000 and $260,000 and other taxpayers with MAGI between $125,000 and $135,000. Taxpayers with higher incomes do not qualify.

Taxpayers who make qualifying new vehicle purchases this year can estimate the deduction with the help of IRS Publication 919, How Do I Adjust My Withholding? Lines 10a to 10k on Worksheet 10 take into account purchases above the $49,500 limit, as well as the reduced deductions for taxpayers at higher income levels.

Visit the IRS web site for complete details.

See all of Long View RV Superstores' qualifying motorhomes at www.LongViewRV.com. Call Camille at 866-426-8513, toll-free, for more information on any of our coaches or write to c.pronovost@longviewrv.com.

Long View RV 4th of July Show at Aces High RV Park

I've set up an RV display for the 4th of July weekend at Aces High RV Park in East Lyme, CT. We served coffee and donuts this morning and I met a nice group of folks interested in looking at our motor homes.

From Four Winds, I'm showing a 36' Magellan with one-and-a-half baths; and also a 42' Presidio by Mandalay tag-axle diesel pusher with a full wall slide.



I also have a Gulfstream Crescendo 40K with a full wall slide and a 40' three slide Alpine with a 400hp Cummins diesel.



Aces High has a Hawaiian Luau planned for Saturday night. On Sunday at 11AM, I'll be raffling off some great door prizes. Stop by and visit or call me at 860-463-0875 for more information about these or our other coaches. Visit Long View RV on line for our complete inventory.

Long View RV Inventory Consolidation Sale

*******************SALE - June 5-June 15, 2009***********************
27 Lawnacre Rd. Windsor Locks, CT
Exit 42 from I-91N and Exit 41 from I-91S.

Long View RV is consolidating all inventory from our former location in Northampton, MA to Windsor Locks, CT. Blowout sale prices on every new & used pop-up, travel trailer, fifth wheel and motor home in stock. Join us from June 5 through June 15 to save big $$. Call Camille at 800-516-9058 Ext. 243 for complete details or email to c.pronovost@longviewrv.com for more information. Our complete inventory is available on line at www.longviewrv.com.

"Florida's Natural" Orange Juice Factory

The heart of the Florida orange juice industry is right here in central Florida. In fact, our subdivision was built on the site of a former orange grove. Although the industry is in decline due to competition from South America, a major brand of orange juice, Florida's Natural, is produced in the town of Lake Wales, about 20 min. away from where we live. Dad & I took a ride over to check it out.


Although we were hoping for a plant tour, the Visitor Center (built in the Florida Cracker style) t houses a museum that traces the history of the industry and the company. We learned that oranges are not native to Florida but were brought here by the Spaniards. Florida's Natural is a Growers Cooperative, a conglomerate of the local packing houses. The museum displayed some of the old labels to the left in this exhibit.

Of course, there is the requisite gift shop with all kinds of orange products for sale.

Dad selected a bag of orange-flavored popcorn, I chose chocolate-covered orange coconut bars, and I picked up some orange butter cookies for Ed. Didn't feel compelled to get a T-shirt!


The juice bar was refreshing and delicious. I tried a cranberry/ruby red grapefruit juice with no hint of bitterness. We bought organic orange-mango and orange-peach juices to take home.


Afterwards, we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for doughnuts and bagels to take home. Along with the juice, we're all set for breakfasts for awhile!

Long View RV Superstore Showcases New Models from Gulfstream

At the 2009 Tampa RV Super Show, Long View RV Superstores represented Gulfstream coach with Class A and Class C motorhomes. We introduced a new model in the popular SuperNova series on the International truck chassis. The model #6373 with a bath and a half floor plan - full bath in the rear and 1/2 bath mid-coach.

Look how the full wall slide just opens up the whole coach! No feeling like you're living in a shoe box.

In addition to International, Gulfstream has added the Dodge truck chassis to the line of Super C motorhomes. The new Supermax is built on the Dodge Ram 5500 (formerly Sterling) and is powered by a Cummins 305 hp engine paired with an Aisin transmission. Phenomenal towing capacity!


See the huge cabover section? That makes a loft bed area with enough room for cabinets across the front and windows on each end so it feels light and spacious.


This particular model is equipped with bunk beds - perfect for a large family!

But the most radical new design from Gulfstream is in the Class A segment. Check out the Montaj, pictured below.


This 30' double-slide low profile coach is built on a Ford chassis. Lightweight, composite materials, streamlined design, and expected fuel economy of 13mpg make this the "greenest" class A motorhome that I've ever seen.



How about an extra bunk over the front cab in a Class A? It folds up into the ceiling when not needed.

The bed in the master bedroom can be raised using an electric switch. When traveling, it allows for humongous storage underneath, accessible from the outside.


For more information on these or any Gulfstream products, write to c.pronovost@longviewrv.com or call toll-free 866-426-8513.

Fantasy Of Flight; Lakeland, Florida

Fantasy of Flight is the private collection of vintage aircraft belonging to a man named Kermit Weeks, who has opened it to the public. Since Dad is a lifelong aircraft buff, I thought he'd enjoy visiting this museum which is only a 10 min. drive from our home. Admission is $28.95 with a $10.00 discount for Florida residents.

The tour begins with a brief history of the development of aircraft from WWI and WWII, complete with dioramas and old black-and-white film footage. The scene is set for a tour of a B17 Flying Fortress named the Picadilly Princess. We actually climbed through the fuselage and imagined a dark night in WWII.

Other notable aircaft on display include the Short Sunderland Flying Boat, a 1918 Morane A-1, a 1929 mail plane. a 1938 Avro cadet, and a 1917 Fokker DR Tri-plane which was the plane the infamous Red Baron flew. Kermit Weeks credits Snoopy, of Charles Schultz's Peanuts cartoon fame who pretended to be the Red Baron, with sparking his interest as a child in airplanes and flying! There is even a replica of Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis. I've compiled some of my photos into the slideshow below.