Hey campers!  Less than 48 hours officially begins the 2011 camping season...Yeah!!!  The weather won't be the record-breaker it was last year but pretty good just the same and after the winter we've been through, who cares?  Anything above 60 degrees with sunshine will be a welcomed treat.  So let the grass get tall, housework fall a bit behind, stain the deck & paint the shutters NEXT weekend.  Get out there and have a great time.   Hope you all have a fabulous weekend wherever you are.  Happy camping from your #1 trailer dude!

Hey, campers!  Well, the miserable winter season is finally over, warmer weather is here and it's time to pull the RV covers off, fill the LP tanks, stock the camper cupboards and get ready for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend celebration to officially open the 2011 camping season.  Halleluia!!!  Hope you've made some reservations already because with the endless winter we just had, campgrounds will be filling up quickly.  Personally, I can't wait until Memorial Day so we're going down to Normandy Farms in Foxboro, MA on the 13th for 4 days...ahhh, indoor pool & jacuzzi, new playground for the grand kids, dog park for our dog (or me depending on how I behave between now & then), just what the doctor ordered!  So get out there and let the summer fun begin!  Very best wishes to all from the #1 trailer dude.

Hey campers!  Just getting back from the New Hampshire Camping & RV show at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, NH this past weekend and it was fantastic!  Attendance was up significantly from last year and the mood from both dealers and attendees was very upbeat.  Everyone is still talking about the ever-increasing cost of gas but very few people are willing or feel it necessary to give up their vacations.  Many folks have told me they may not travel as far or if they do they'll plan to stay longer and many folks are looking at seasonal options rather than travelling to a variety of campgrounds.  Truth be told, if you do the math, the higher gas prices won't affect your trip as much as you might think.  Example:  You live 100 miles from your favorite campground.  Your tow vehicle averages 9 mpg when towing your camper.  Last year gas prices averaged $2.50/gallon so a 200 mile round trip would have cost you about $55.00 in fuel.  This year with gas prices expected to hit $4.00/gallon by summer that same trip should cost you about $89.00 (assuming the same tow vehicle & camper).  Are you going to give up your vacation for $34.00?  Not me.  I understand these high gas prices are also affecting other things such as groceries, etc. so the bottom line added cost of last year's trip to Old Orchard Beach or wherever will be more than a flat $34.00 but not nearly as much as all the media hype makes us think.  After all, we're New Englanders!  We know how to stetch a buck when we have to and still provide a great time for our families.  We work hard all year and deserve our recreation.  Despite how aggravating it is to see gas prices go up for reasons most of us don't understand (or believe), if you're more than 12 years old you know these things have always been cyclical...prices will eventually drop back down to a level we think is acceptable.  Blame it on the unrest in the Middle East, tornadoes in the Gulf of Mexico, changing migration patterns of the Northwest spotted owl or simple corporate greed (that's the one I'm leaning toward) it is what it is and we have to adjust to it...not lose our perspective about it.  If it makes you feel any better our European friends are paying considerably more than $4.00/gallon and have been for quite some time and they still go "caravaning" as they call camping.  So cheer up my camping enthusiasts, dust off your lawn chairs, scrape last summer's burger residue off your grill and make ready for a wonderful, relaxing (although slightly more expensive) camping season!  My very best wishes for a super summer to all of you from your #1 trailer dude!

Hey campers!  If you were able to attend the Springfield Camping & RV show I don't have to tell you it was a huge success.  Attendance surpassed last year significantly and folks were buying or at least making plans to do so in the very near future after comparing notes, floor plans, etc.  I personally have no doubt that we are well on our way down the road to recovery from the recession of the past couple years.  Campground bookings are up according to representatives I spoke with both for seasonal and transient reservations.  Consumer confidence seems to be dramatically improved and the lenders have loosened up a bit (but still have a ways to go).  Rising gas prices certainly have all of us concerned but most people I talked to said they would probably not travel as far this year to help compensate for higher fuel costs.  Our dealership has also noticed an increased interest in park model trailers jor larger campers (over 33 feet) that can be set up permanently on seasonal sights thereby eliminating the need to upgrade tow vehicles when upgrading to a larger, better equipped RV.  Makes sense to me!  The cost of a seasonal site at your favorite campground is a whole lot cheaper than trading in your minivan for an F250!  In any case, the 2011 camping season is looking better with every passing month.  We're almost out of February and that means the end of this long and difficult winter is well in sight.  If you haven't had a chance to attend an RV show yet, we'll be the Hampshire Hills Dome in Milford, NH on March 4,5 & 6.  Come on up & see me.  Until then, keep happy thoughts about camp fires, good food, warm nights and happy, busy kids!!  Later, from the #1 trailer dude.

Hey campers!  "WOW"  The Boston Camping & RV show this past weekend at the Seaport World Trade Center was a smashing success with attendance records broken from previous years and tremendous enthusiasm from both consumers and dealers.  Saturday ticket sales alone hit 10,000!!!  Every dealer I spoke to reported exceptionally heavy traffic through their respective booths, great sales results and excited buyers, be they immediate buyers or those making plans for the near future checking out what's new for 2011.  All indications are the "doom & gloom" of the previous couple years is quickly evaporating, lenders are loosening their terms to buyers a bit and the forecast for the upcoming camping season from RV dealers and campground owners is both strong and positive.  Now if we can just get all this white stuff to disappear won't life be grand.  The Springfield show is coming up on President's weekend, the 18th,19th,20th & 21st of February so if you missed Boston, don't miss this one...it's even bigger than Boston with 3 separate buildings to shop.  Go to Springfield RV Show.com for show times, admission fees, etc.  Stop by the Dufour's RV Center booth and say hello to the "Trailer Dude".  Hope to see you there. 

Hey, campers!  It's finally here, the first of several winter RV shows...February 3,4,5 & 6 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston.  Just what we need to take our minds off the nasty cold and ever-increasing piles of snow.  I may have to install a blinking light at the end of my driveway since I can't see over the snow banks anymore for on-coming traffic.  The good news is all this white stuff will eventually melt and the temperatures will climb or as Annie sang, "the sun will come out tomorrow"!  The RV shows are a great way to see what's new and exciting in the industry, check out some new floorplans, maybe talk to a few campground owners, pick up a few camping essentials, or just spend a relaxing day with the family in a comfortable "warm" setting.  Show hours are Thursday 1p-9p, Friday & Saturday 10a-9p and Sunday 10a-5p.  So take a break from Old Man Winter and come visit us at the show.  The #1 Trailer Dude looks forward to seeing you all there! 

Hey, campers...Happy New Year!!  Hope your holidays were the best ever with lots of quality family time, great food and all the fun things this time of year has to offer.  Now that the holiday rush is over, the new year has begun and our thoughts lean toward spring.  The RV manufacturers expo in Louisville, KY. in early December was a huge success with every indication that 2011 will be a super year for the RV industry.  The RV show season is upon us with the first show at the Boston Seaport World Trade Center February 3-6.  We at Dufours RV will be there with bells on and some great new products for your viewing.  Although there is still quite a bit of winter left to endure, these shows are a great way to check out what's new, evaluate what floor plan change might be right for your family and just take a break from the winter "blahs".  Stop by and chat with the "Dude"!  I hope to see you there.

Hey, campers!  You've all heard that old saying, "it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings".  Well, the old girl is singing.  Most campgrounds closed over the Columbus Day weekend and a few are "pulling the plug" this weekend with a very few year-round parks in New England staying open through the winter with limited services.  So, for all intents and purposes, camping season 2010 is officially over.  It was truly a great summer and fall with so much gorgeous weather it was sometimes difficult to remember we were in New England.  Now it's time to get the RV ready for its long winter nap.  Whether you do it yourself or have your local dealer do it for you, that "pink" stuff is flying off the shelves everywhere.  I'm talking about anti-freeze of course.  Don't forget plenty of dryer sheets to keep those pesty rodents out of your rig.  Don't be stingy, put them "everywhere"!  If your RV is stored in a grassy area or near a woodline, it also helps to spread some moth balls or flakes under your camper right on the ground, behind the tires etc. just to discourage the little rascals from thinking about taking up residence.  Be sure to bring your batteries inside for the winter and store them in a dry spot, on a slab of plywood or something (not on the concrete floor of the basement or garage).  Most folks leave their refrigerator doors open to prevent mildew and such but I just crumple up a few sheets of non-glossy newspaper, put them in the frige and close the doors.  The carbon in the newsprint absorbs the moisture and keeps the compartments nice and dry.  A few pieces of charcoal will do the same thing and can be used in the storage compartments as well where things can get damp and musty.  I know they're a bit pricy but I'm a big fan of full RV covers, not the blue tarps from Home Depot but the genuine Tyvek covers that allow moisture out but not in.  They're available through any RV dealer and protect your camper from winter damage from ice build-up in the a/c cover grill, roof vents, around the windows and doors, etc.  Well worth the price to protect and extend the life of your recreation investment.  Please don't be sad, just like summer, winter will be over before we know it and camping season 2011 will be upon us.  Just think of that as you're shoveling your driveway and throwing another log in the fireplace.  Have a safe and happy holiday season everyone from your #1 trailer dude. 

Hey campers & non-campers.  If you've been watching the news lately there's at least one story that must be really "bugging" you.  It seems that there has been an epidemic of bed bug infestations across the country both in the big cities (no surprise there) as well as in the suburbs.  Hotels & motels nationwide are reporting a dramatic increase in customer complaints regarding these nasty, blood-sucking pests and it's making many travellers think twice before booking hotel rooms.  It was even reported today that many airlines are spending significant dollars to "de-bug" their planes.  Whodda thought it could get that bad?  Well, the good news is, for those of us wise enough to purchase an RV, we can bring our "hotel" with us wherever we go and not have to worry about those disgusting bugs.  Take it from me, a 35 year+ veteran of the RVing life style, no trip to Disney World, the Grand Canyon or a long weekend at Grandma's house is more relaxing and stress free than when you do it in the comfort of your own travel trailer, 5th wheel or motor home.  Your own bed linens, food, shower, bathroom...the works!  Sure, you can't make it through the drive thru at McD's or BK's but you know you shouldn't be eating that stuff anyway and you already have a frige & cupboards stocked with all your favorite meals and treats.  Maybe it takes a little longer to get there than a plane ride but have you ever been stuck at an airport looking at delayed/cancelled signs flashing across your flight with a couple of tired, hungry kids screaming in the background?  Remember, half the fun and excitement of any trip is getting there and you can't see much at 35,000 feet!  If you've seen one cloud you've seen them all.  So if you've been wondering if an RV would be a good investment for your family this might be a great time to do some shopping, talk with some RVers you know who I'm sure would love to share their experiences with you, or better yet, stop by Dufours' RV and chat with me, your #1 trailer dude.  Have I got some stories for you!  Hope to see you soon and give my regards to Grandma! 

WOW!  What a summer we've had.  A bit too hot for comfort a few days but otherwise plenty of sunshine for fun at the lakes, the beaches or just hanging out around the back yard pool.  Campgrounds all across the country posted record occupancy rates, especially on the holiday weekends like Memorial Day, 4th of July and this most recent Labor Day.  Although Labor Day is dubbed the unofficial end of summer with kids back to school I can't help but believe we still have a lot of great camping weather ahead of us through Columbus weekend in October.  So don't fold up your lawn chairs just yet...get out there and enjoy a few more campfires.  It could be a long cold winter and you're going to want plenty of fresh memories to keep you motivated until Spring when we can do it all over again!  Hope your summer was as great as mine was.  Keep in touch & happy camping from your #1 trailer dude at Dufours' RV