Issue 5 | September 2020
Adventures with Andy, the Tesla and a Tommy Bahama
In December we picked up a Tesla Model 3 to start experimenting with electric cars. My plan at the time was to use it to tow to the Rally in Denver and then do a trip a across Colorado but due to covid that could not happen. So hopefully next summer. 

This is an article I wrote for RV Lifestyle earlier this year that explains a fair bit about it and our rational for how it can work. 



Here is a summary of our first real world trip with the Tesla. 

In August I finally got a chance to take an actual real world trip with the Tesla and the 27’ Tommy Bahama we are customizing to mate with it. The roof is finished along with the tire and wheel change but we still have the awning arms, LP cover and undercarriage left to optimize. When Covid hit we pulled it out of the shop, customers units have been more urgent than mine. 
We took it on a trip 148 miles from home to a boondocking spot 70 miles from a supercharger. 
We left Saturday morning and headed east out of London into a 12 mph headwind driving 55 MPH I had an 80% charge since I was only going 78 miles to the supercharger. 25 miles out though the screen showed we would only have 10 mile reserve. No problem we stopped in Woodstock at the supercharger and in 12 minutes added 40 miles of reserve. 
In Waterloo we had stopped again. This was an expensive stop because there was a shoe store across the street and Heather has been on months of shopping withdrawal. 2 pairs of shoes later the car was charged and we headed north to our destination. 
There was no way I would make it to our destination and then back to Waterloo on a charge but part way there was a ChargePoint station where I planned to top up but alas it was out of order. So no problem 18 miles past our destination was another supercharger I would just run up there over the weekend and charge it. However we met the farmer across the road and he let me just plug it in there for a couple of days. So when we left to head back to Waterloo we had an 75% charge. 
Driving back to Waterloo we went through an hour of thunderstorms with lots of wind and heavy downpours. With the Tesla there is absolutely no feel like a gas engine as to how hard the car is working I was watching what I could see of the road not the screen. Between the wind and driving through the rain and running defogger we used more power than I expected but still made it to Waterloo with 15 miles of leeway. 
At Waterloo I thought I won’t make it 80 miles home in these conditions so I’ll just pop in 80% and plan to top up in Woodstock again. However the wind was calm and the 80% charge took us all the way home with 30 miles of range left over. 
This Tommy is considerably heavier than the 22’ Bambi we towed to shows in February but the weight difference is impossible to perceive towing. There is just so much power you simply can’t tell. 
Easily the most stable solid on the road vehicle I have towed just a delight to drive even in sideways rain, nothing just totally planted. 
I can’t get over how much I love this car. Hopefully we’ll get some more mods done to the trailer before a longer trip in September.
 
Andy Thomson

For more about the Tesla Experiment see our Hitch Hints blog
See it in action : See our test drive video

Question: When Is the best time to buy or sell an RV?
Answer: There is no better time than the present!
It is indeed the most perfect time to make the decision to trade or sell your RV. The season is almost over and we are low on inventory and high on demand. We would love to have your RV as a trade in. We can have your new travel trailer or motorhome ready to go for your spring adventure. And if you would rather consign your RV with us you can save having to put it away for winter storage and spend the next few months researching what will be your next rig.

We are currently maintaining our low interest rates and can put together a plan that is perfect for your particular needs.

Why Finance Your RV Purchase?

Can-Am RV Centre offers dealership financing to simplify your RV purchase. Over the decades we’ve developed long-standing relationships with some of the best finance companies: our experience enables us to negotiate the possible approval for you. Our professional Financial Services Managers represent Canada’s major lending institutions and can customize your RV loan to meet your needs. 
Why finance? Many of our customers choose to finance their purchase so that can start their RV lifestyle sooner. Others choose to take advantage of our competitive rates to avoid removing money from investments to pay for a consumer purchase. Either way, financing at Can-Am RV makes sense.
Did you know that RV loans can be amortized over 20 years? Recreational vehicles hold their value longer than other consumer products. Many of our customers are surprised at just how affordable it is to get into an RV.

If you’d like more information about our financing options or would like to get a pre-approval before you start shopping, email info@canamrv.ca.


Meet Our Staff

Monica Schebesch is our first entry in the " Meet Our Staff" feature. I hope you will get to know the Can-Am RV family of excellent employees through these articles.
Monica is part of our Financial Services Team and has been with Can-Am for 17 years. She works with our customers to offer them a variety of options when purchasing an RV and work on the buyers behalf to save them money. In addition to finding the best financial arrangements for customers she also represents the manufacturer and the warranties associated with the product being purchased. With her years of experience in vehicle finance, our customers are very glad to make her acquaintance.

Monica remembers when she and her family first visited Can-Am in the 1970's as a child when her family was ready to purchase a travel trailer as her mother had put her foot down and was no longer willing to sleep on the ground in a tent!

" I still remember Andy Thomson Sr. showing us the model of the Airstream and a box trailer in a display with a fan and ribbons. It really made an impression on my father the engineer because of the aerodynamics of the Airstream. It got my attention because of the pretty purple ribbons flying in the wind!"

The Schebesch family did purchase their first trailer that season from Can-Am and remarkably Monica ended up returning as a dedicated employee years later after building a successful career in the world of automotive finance in a number of car dealerships in Southwestern Ontario. Make sure you stop by and say hello on your next visit to the dealership.

Parts Department Spotlight
The Andersen leveller works great on grass or on pavement.
It will work best with on set for each axle on your trailer.
Andersen Levellers and Wheel Chocks
ON SALE


$68.88
per single set

*mention that you saw this in the newsletter and get 10% off!


The Andersen Leveller is our most popular levelling and chocking system. Our customers rave about how easy it is to get the trailer level and safely chocked in one step. With the innovative Camper Leveller you can level your RV or trailer on the FIRST try - every single time! No more guesswork! No more hassle! Simply drive up until you are level and then chock - it's that simple. The Andersen Camper Leveler provides 'dead-on' leveling at any increment from 1/2" to 4" - no other leveler is this precise - or this easy to use!

The Andersen Leveller is built tough and built to last.
Each kit includes 1 leveller and 1 chock. We recommend 1 leveler per axle.

  • Level your trailer on the first try!
  • Precise levelling at any increment between 1/2 inch and 4 inches
  • Lifts up to 4 inches
  • Works great on trailers up to 30,000 lbs and with tires up to 32" diameter

Drop by the Can Am Parts department to see the wide selection of art prints, gift ideas, RV essentials and repair parts that we have on display.

Contact the Parts Department at partsb@canamrv.ca


Email your requests to: Can-Am RV Parts Department

Making Improvements Not Just Changes
"Make improvements not just changes "was the direction that Airstream founder Wally Byam spoke to his company since the very inception of the iconic Airstream travel trailer. And Airstream continues to do that with every model year. Customer and dealer feedback is very important to the design and production team in Jackson Centre, Ohio and the 2021 product line is no exception.

We are excited about so many things in the Airstream product line but I will only mention a few and then link you to the factory website for you to soak up all of the details.

The Classic model has long been the flagship of the Airstream fleet and with features like a 60" projection entertainment that drops down from the upper cabinets and window blinds that all close with the touch of a button and a Bose sound system it really is an atmosphere of total luxury. The Classic 33FB bathroom feels nothing like an RV bathroom. It’s a spacious, three-piece residential-style layout, with a large shower and a mirrored double-door wardrobe that makes getting ready a true pleasure. It also includes a heated shower floor to warm you up as soon as you step inside, and a heated towel bar to keep you warm when you step out. It’s those little things that completely change your morning, or your whole day.

Throughout the design the most up to date technology has been used and this is seen in the choice of appliances and with all-new Smart Control Technology where you can control and monitor your Classic’s most important features from anywhere. Turn the exterior and interior lights on and off, extend and retract the awning, adjust the air conditioner or heat pump, and monitor tank and battery levels, all from the app on your phone or device. Also new this year is the interior design colour selection now with six stunning combinations. The Comfort White with Earl Grey Ultraleather is my personal favourite and with Shaker style cabinetry and dark Corian countertop the feel is both spacious and luxurious.

Other exciting news from Airstream is that the rugged and nimble Basecamp is now available in a new longer 20 foot length with all the features that has made this adventuresome travel trailer a hit with campers fond of getting off the beaten path. With a shower a bathroom and a kitchen your adventures will always end with a happy ending.
See the Airstream website for more exciting news and videos of the complete product line.
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A Very Artistic Customer Tribute to Can-Am RV
by Susan Kelly
Ten years ago, I retired and took up a new hobby - stained glass - and I've been hooked from my very first piece. I love the challenge and doing panels for friends. Andy and Kirk Thomson and the Can-Am staff have been much more than an Airstream sales and service centre for my husband John and I over the past 20 years. - they are friends. We look forward to taking our Airstream to Can Am because we know that along with getting excellent service we’re going get smiles and greetings from everyone we see. Yes, everyone is always busy, but there’s always a moment available to chat and find out how we’re all doing. How you make a busy rv dealership have the feel of a friendly neighbourhood store is testament to the family culture that, initially their father, Andy Sr., and now Andy and Kirk have imbued in Can Am over the past fifty years. That in itself is worthy of an acknowledgement.
Six years en route to our snowbird destination in Arizona our Airstream and tow vehicle were decimated in a Oklahoma gale-force wind. Three thousand miles from home base we put in a rescue call into Andy and Kirk. And did they come to the rescue. All of Can Am went into a 24/7 “let’s get John and Susan back to normal" mode and arranged for a replacement Airstream for us. They sent one of their service crew from London to Guelph to pick up a replacement vehicle, bring it back to London. They hooked it up and aligned with our new Airstream for towing. Fortunately, Scott Woods, who we caravanned with on several occasions decided he needed a winter snowbird break volunteered to deliver it to us. Can Am made sure all was in order and sent him on his way. How can you thank Andy and Kirk for being who they are - wonderful people. 
This year, 2020, is CanAm’s 50th anniversary and I wanted to design a special stained glass panel that reflects how much CanAm and Airstreaming means to John and I. To start, I decided on a left to right tableau. On the left side, you buy your Airstream at CanAm and I used our 30 foot Airstream as the model. On the right side, you drive your car and trailer to your RV site (#1) & set up camp and a fire. Andy’s favourite 1970’s tow vehicle was the Chevrolet Caprice - it was 18’ long! Everything is made of glass and the sign, trailer and Caprice are 3D so they stand out. I can tell you that it was a lot of delicate grinding to get the lettering on the CanAm sign to look perfect!
This stained glass art work has been a pleasure to create and we were hoping to present it at the big CanAm birthday bash in September but Covid has nixed that plan. So John and I presented it to Andy and Kirk in July as our way of saying thank you as they celebrate their 50th anniversary. 
Service Spotlight: Thank You Customers!
And now for something completely different...WINTER!

To say it has been an unusually busy Spring and Summer season is actually quite an understatement. Can-Am RV Centre sold and delivered record numbers of trailers and motorhomes as folks sought out alternatives to overseas vacations, cruises and hotel stays. And this of course meant that RV's and tow vehicles all needed towing set ups and service visits like never before. So from our very dedicated service department, THANK YOU! to all of our customers for their patience and understanding during this four month "rush hour" that we are just nearing the end of.

As hard as it it to believe, it is already time to think about winterization and making arrangements for storage. Customers please call as soon as possible to schedule a drop off time for repairs, winterization and storage. With COVID 19 protocols still in place we need to control the number of people in the dealership at any given time and still require everyone to wear a mask. This year the Can-Am RV family of customers expanded greatly and many of these new owners will be needing our help getting ready for their first winter.
We expect to be VERY BUSY, VERY SOON. Please call the Service Department today to have your requests put into our schedule. Service: 1-866-226-2678



Ben's Detailing Tip

Ben Walker is a long time Can-Am RV employee who works in the Social Media Department. He has also spent years perfecting methods to detail our RVs to the highest standards so that they dazzle at conventions, trade shows and upon delivery to our customers. Ben has agreed to share some of his tips for our customers to use to keep those rigs looking like brand new!

Link to Part One: Washing An Airstream Awning
Our Customer Spotlight: Paul and Kathy Edge

I thought we would share a photo taken on our way to Kamloops when we stopped in Yoho National Park for a couple days.
I think you'll agree the view is outstanding! We had recently upgraded our travel trailer to a Grand Design 295RL 150 Reflection in June 2019. We spent last winter in Arizona and everything worked great.
Our daughter and son in law live in Kamloops. When they announced they were expecting our first grand child in April we planned a visit. We left in early July and returned mid August. We were easily able to adhere to Covid 19 social distancing protocols by having such a great self contained rig. We weren't able to spend as much time in places on way out and back as we would have liked but we did see some awesome sights along the way.


Thank you Paul and Kathy for sharing this photo of your RV adventure!

CAN-AM RV Customers! Send us photos of your RV travel experiences for our newsletter: We'd love to feature your unit and share with others your favourite travel destinations.
Send your photo and description to:
Can-Am RV and Social Media
We strive to stay connected to our customers and everyone who loves the outdoor lifestyle. To that end we maintain a Can-Am Blog, found on our website, as well as a Facebook page and an Instagram account.

We invite you to connect with us through any or all of these social media platforms.
For comments, feedback or for more information about the bi-monthly
Can-Am RV Centre e-newsletter contact Michael Lambert

Call us at: 519-652-3284 or toll-free 1-866-226-2678 Email: info@canamrv.ca