The major RV News of the week is the acquisition of Roadtrek Motorhomes by Europe’s gigantic Erwin Hymer Group, the largest motorhome manufacturer in the world. I was on hand in Kitchener, Ontario and Roadtrek headquarters this week when the deal was announced and have in depth interviews with the principals. Bottom line is that while Roadtrek is now owned by the newly formed Erwin Hammer Group of North America, it’s top management team is the same as its been and the company wll continue to aggressively buoid its award winning and best selling Class B motorhomes…. BUT it is now part of the newly formed Erwin Hymer Group of North America which will soon be introducing some amazingly innvatiive new products, like ultra light weight towables and even larger Class C and Class A motorhomes. You’ll get all the details, in depth, in the news of the week segment of the podcast. But there's even more in this episode! [spp-player] Shownotes for episode 76 of Roadtreking: The RV Lifestyle Podcast. Clock the time link to jump directly to that part of the podcast. MIKE AND JEN'S UPDATE Mike and Jennifer update listeners on their progress in training their new puppy, Bo [spp-timestamp time="3:30"], and some big RV shows to take note of - one in Phoenix, AZ where LeMesa RV will hold a huge small motorhome show in the University of Phoenix Dstadium and one in Perry, GA where the Family Motorhome Association will have it's annual reunion in Perry, GA. Both will be March 17-20 [spp-timestamp time="5:00"] JENNIFER'S TIP OF THE WEEK - Water filters for RVers I’m a fanatic about clean water. Clean drinking water. Filtered drinking water. It amazes me how many RVs I see that hook up directly to campground water spigots without using a filter. [spp-timestamp time="7:00"] They say one filter lasts an entre season. We use the Camco TastePURE Water Filter. You can pick them up at most RV dealers, Walmart or Amazon for about $15. You do want a fresh one each year. These filters reduce bad taste, ordors, chlorine and sediment in drinking water. They have a carbon filter and come with a short flexible hose connection. Here’s a hint, when you first hook it up r to your water source, allow the water to run free for a few minutes to flush the initial loose carbon out of the filter. When the water runs clear, the filter is ready for use. But please… use a filter when you connect water to your RV. And by the way, these filters aren’t restricted to RV use. Use it in the garden for reduced-chlorine watering when watering your plants and when washing your car to reduce mineral deposit spots. LISTENER QUESTIONS Anew RVer asks our recommendations about mail forwarding while on extended trips. We refer him to Episode 58, where we talk with people from DakotaPost, a mail forwarding company based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, that works with the Family Motorcoach Association in handling mail forwarding and offering virtual mailboxes. [spp-timestamp time="8:24"] We talk about food storage and safety in bear country and also receive a listener tip about health care while on the RV and traveling when you're not feeling well. RV NEWS OF THE WEEK: Roadtrek's new owners This week we interview in depth: [spp-timestamp time="20:55"] Jim Hammill, President and CEO of Roadtrek and the newly formed Erwin Hymer Group North America, Inc., which will continue producing Roadtrek motorhomes and introduce some new Hymer models over the next three years Martin Brandt, the CEO of the Erwin Hymer Group, who discusses the product line up, plans for Roadtrek and the drive for innovation and consumer-oriented RV products. Jim Hammil (left), new President and CEO of the new Erwin Hymer Group of North America, and Martin Brandt, CEO and Chairman of the Erwin Hymer Group Brandt said the Hymer Group has wanted to get deeply involved in North America since 2013 and has been unable to find the right partner – until they met Roadtrek and started talking to Hammill and his team...