What Does The Future Hold For RVers

April Fool's Day is a good day to fool around with future RV ideas. I try to stay on the cutting edge of all things RV, but sometimes I just have to close my eyes and imagine what’s over the horizon for us. Science fiction writers have seen and written about future technology long before it became reality. I thought April first would be appropriate for me to try my hand at this. Here are some of the things I see happening in the near future:Smaller is better. RV enthusiasts who have been touring around in large motorhomes and 5th wheels will begin to downsize to smaller more fuel efficient units.

Hidden electronics. It’s a fact of life electronic devices are being integrated into RVs. Until recently the problem has been electronic clutter consisting of cables, boxes, power cords and the like. Increasingly you’ll see streamlined electronics that use wireless technologies like bluetooth that eliminate the clutter. How about an RV key fob that not only locks the door but extends and retracts the slides? Entertainment will “pop-up” or “pull-down” as televisions and multimedia devices will emerge from a cabinet or drop down from the ceiling. iPod type devices are already replacing old school CDs as the new RV sound system of choice. How about a central battery recharger that remotely recharges all your batteries on all your electronic gear, from your toothbrush to your cell phones and cameras? That would get rid of about eight charging cords in my RV.

Connected to the world. More campgrounds and RV parks will have wireless internet. Television programs you really want to view will be available for download via the internet onto your computer or TV for viewing whenever you wish.

Supercharged self-contained RVs. As the race for alternative fuel sources heats up, RVers will benefit from solar panels with a smaller footprint, super-batteries that have extended lifetimes and new charging systems managing power from multiple sources. New solar reflective paint and window treatments will keep the inside of your RV cooler. Solar paint will perform like a huge solar panel. You won’t need solar panels because the RV’s paint will be a solar collector turning sunlight into electricity. Even the transparent coating on your windows will be solar electric collectors.

Turn here dummy! Global Positioning Satellite system data will be conveniently located in a heads-up display like in the cockpits of modern fighter aircraft. Whoever is driving just plugs in their personal USB thumb drive and the heads-up display will be arranged just how they like it. It will also monitor your alertness and sound a warning if you close your eyes longer than it takes to blink. The windshield will completely block out the rising or setting sun by automatically checking your eye position in comparison with the sunlight and turn on reflector blockers embedded in the windshield glass. These modern sun shades will be just large enough to effectively block out the glare from the sun and will move and adjust automatically with the position of your eyes.

No more wet holding tanks for the toilet. RV’s will be equipped with space age solid waste management toilets that will employ vacuum assist and use lasers to decompose the waste to a small plastic bag full of ashes. Just toss the ashes in the dumpster when it’s full.

Minor medical care and lab work will be done over the computer without ever seeing a doctor. Small portable diagnostic equipment will be incorporated into your personal computer system so you can receive immediate feedback right in the comfort of your RV overlooking a secluded lake somewhere in Alaska. You’ll still need to make the trip to the drug store or have UPS deliver.

Diesel power will be replaced by jet engines on larger motorhomes. Alternative fuel burning efficient turbofan engines will power heavy motorhomes. A small but powerful jet engine will produce electric power that will in turn drive the electric motors on each wheel of the motorhome. The enormous amount of electric power generated will also charge the house batteries and be able to run every appliance in your RV at once.

Fleet maintenance will be the new approach to RV care. GPS systems will monitor every type of RV as they travel, keeping track of the mileage and generating automatic emails to the owner telling when maintenance is required. The fleet maintenance computer will also communicate with the RV onboard computer to monitor any problems as they arise while you drive down the road enjoying the scenery.

An onboard campground reservation system will tell you where all the campgrounds and RV parks are at your destination before you get there and will make a reservation for you. You will receive confirmation and the site number. It will automatically pay for the space with your credit card and all you have to do is pull into the space when you arrive. You don’t have to hunt down someone to assign you a space. If you’re not going to arrive at your destination because of delay, the onboard computer will use the current GPS information to recalculate and reserve a site at a different campground.

If you have more ideas like this, please click the comments link and tell us your thoughts.

Looking over the horizon - Jim Twamley, Professor of RVing