I’m always amazed whenever I step inside a new RV. That might sound rather odd, coming from someone who has lived the RV lifestyle for more than 33 years, but it really is true. Just when you think the RV manufacturers have taken comfort and utility as far as they can possibly go, someone comes along and raises the bar higher.

When we launched RV Lifestyle magazine in 1971, RVs were nothing like the units you see on the road today. Looking beyond the 70s styling, even a top-of-the-line trailer or motorhome from back then looks primitive compared against even an entry-level RV of today. Over the years, RV manufacturers have integrated high-tech manufacturing techniques, space-age materials and refined designs to produce RVs with more space, more storage capacity, greater comfort, far more amenities and for motorized units, substantially improved power and fuel economy. Where wood paneling and curtains might have been a big feature in the 70s, now we have beautifully appointed designer interiors, some complete with big screen TVs, surround sound home theatre systems and stereos that sound so good you can close your eyes and feel you’re actually in the concert hall. The old manual gas camping stoves have given way to full-featured kitchens, with every modern convenience imaginable. Features like color back-up cameras, GPS navigation, electronic climate control or satellite TV were unheard of in the 70s.

Despite all those modern refinements (or perhaps, as a result of them) RVs have become more affordable than ever. As you leaf through this issue, you’ll find you can buy an RV for much less than you might think. Divide the price against many years of family vacations and weekend getaways, and the value in owning an RV is obvious. Regardless of whether your unit is fairly basic or opulent, it will allow you to escape more often, and in greater comfort and style, than ever before.

With full specifications and pricing on more than 200 new motorhomes, trailers and campers of every imaginable style, this issue represents the most comprehensive guide to RVs sold in Canada – each of them an engineering masterpiece of its own. Within these pages, you’ll find an RV that’s just right for you! (Top)