So, wary you better be or you'll find that glitter and glitz will steal your retirement money. With legitimate claims that the industry has proven resilient during this economic downturn bolstering their confidence, the executives of Thor, Gulf Stream, Winnebago, Coachmen, Forest River, and Fleetwood are specifically planning to hit you hard with more slideouts and more shine.

But it may not be as bad as it sounds. There are a few changes in the industry that just might benefit the consumer.

The biggest change that I see is the new surge of interest in bigger class C's. Because what was called the "chassis mount (built on a truck chassis) is now being called a class C, we will have more listings for those of you interested in a motorized RV with a "nose" because it offers much more protection in case of a head-on collision. This is a big plus. The Kodiak, by Chevrolet, with its 19,500-pound GVWR, is being offered as a cutaway chassis - which literally means it will become a class C. This will make class C's comparable in size and carrying capacity to class A's below 33 feet long. The Kodiak - available either as a light-duty class 4 or a medium-duty class 5 truck chassis - will open the door for bigger slideouts, more equipment, and giant storage compartments. If they don't get too long, they should allow plenty of room for passengers and supplies.

Then there are those manufacturers who are making their own cutaways from conventional truck chassis - primarily Freightliner. These should make extremely sturdy class C's in all sizes to 40 feet. Many of these will be custom - and thus expensive - but a few manufacturers' prices are right in line with the entry-level class A market. I really like this trend.

The biggest change in trailers that you're going to see is more slideouts of all types and sizes. You're particularly going to see more slideouts and pullouts in smaller trailers that are technically called expandables. Of course, we'll have weight issues with the multiple slideouts and leakage with the pullouts, but we can only hope that these problems won't permeate the industry.

There are a few changes in the accessory field that should make active snowbirds or full timers happy. One of these is the new side-by-side, self-defrosting refrigerator that will operate on LPG as well as AC. Another is a new line of Cat generators that might add some relief to one of the biggest problems for those of us who like to boondock - trouble-free longevity.

As a final note: If you are planning on buying or making a change, you need to keep in mind that the RV industry is a self-regulated industry. It is primarily concerned with the number of units built and sold - and not at all with consumer safety or economy. However, if the numbers start to drop because of safety or economy issues, they might make some corrections.

As I have told you many times in the past, only you can motivate the RV industry to produce better and safer products. As you start looking at new models, maybe you should start being a little more cautious. Remember, those of us who are retired will have a hard time replacing money thrown down the drain.

Be sure to avail yourself of the ratings shown in the RV Ratings Guide CD - if you don't search, you won't save.

JD Gallant