OK, up-front confession: this is an un-solicited, un-paid, unabashed plug for my friend Robert’s RV-service business. But the reason I started writing this post is that I’ve calculated that we have “camped” at Henderson’s Lineup (in total) longer than any other camp we’ve ever stayed at.

This time, Camp Henderson is our last stop before returning home from a 4+ month trip to Canada and Alaska.

Why this fascination with parking Howie on a dirt lot across from an RV service shop? Simple, really. With 30+ years of expertise and focus on all types of RV chassis and drivelines, Henderson’s tried-and-true modifications have turned Howie’s poor old Chevy P32 pig of a chassis into a near sports-car, in terms of RV handling.

The Chevy Workhorse chassis was never known for its handling, except perhaps in a pejorative sense. The big draw for the Chevy was the impressive 8.1L V8 Vortec engine, the ultimate evolution of the legendary 454 big-block. The Vortec was tweaked out to 496 cubic inches, a truly huge gasoline engine (Ford’s competitive V10 is a ‘mere’ 6.7L or 402 cubic inches). In some ways the engines are similar, producing RV-class horsepower and torque with great reliability and at an affordable wholesale pricing point. Some say the Chevy will out-torque the Ford, but it’s kind of moot at this point. Chevy got out-regulated by the EPA, couldn’t meet the government-required fleet-mileage rating, and decided to completely discontinue the monster 8.1L engine and Workhorse chassis line. Ford ended up with the whole enchilada for RV gasoline chassis, and is the only choice on newer vehicles.

Meanwhile, there are tens of thousands of the Chevy chassis out in the RV population, hauling big motorhomes up big hills every day. The powerful drivetrain is, sadly, supported by somewhat wimpy and under-designed chassis frames and suspension components. Enter Henderson’s Lineup (and their subsidiary Super-Steer).

I won’t bore you with the details, but I will say that Howie, “out of the box” so to speak, was an evil-handling churl. Tail-wag, body-roll, porpoise-bounce, and pothole-jounce were only some of the perils we experienced in our early journeys. It was just a bit too exciting to drive him on anything except a smooth straight highway – – – slowly.

But with each chassis modification, the nasty wild mustang became more of a gentle riding pony. Shocks, springs, track bar, sway bars, steering components and other tweaks have turned Howie into one of the best-handling motorhomes to be found on the road. Even towing Ralph’s two tons behind the long-overhang chassis design has not soured Howie’s new disposition. We drove him (and Ralph) all the way to the Arctic Ocean, through Canada and Alaska, on literally thousands of miles of dirt/gravel roads, with never a single bad-handling moment.

With all of these plaudits, I do have to say, Henderson’s Campground does leave something to be desired for aesthetics. The view is not of mountains and streams and trees, but of industrial buildings and highway 199. Sounds are not those of a babbling brook and the wind in the forest, but the hustle and bustle of city folks going about their workdays. And although there’s a nice walking trail down by the Rogue River nearby, in all fairness it’s clearly not what you’d call a “wilderness experience”.  But camp there we have, and will continue to do, as Robert and I perform maintenance and make further improvements to Howie – – – seeking, refining, searching for that mystical RV masterpiece.

Right now, Howie is waiting, across the street from the shop with his faithful companion Ranger Ralph. He’s traveled over 10,000 miles through Canada and Alaska, and Howie is a combination of excited and anxious, like a dog at the Veterinarian clinic. Are my ball joints okay? Do I need new A-arm bushings? Am I going to have to get shots?

No worries, Howie. All will be well, and you will come away a finer and more robust fellow, as always.

That night, we all waited and watched for the rare eclipse of a “blood moon”. Challenged by my camera setup, I was able to get only this blurry image, but I had to share.

The next day, Howie stripped down, stuck out his tongue and said “Ahhhhh”, turned his head to the right and coughed, and bent over for all the proper inspections. He got his loose muffler tightened, ball joints repaired and lubed, oil and filter changed, and some cracked shock brackets repaired. One of the rear shocks actually blew out its seal and needed replacement. Howie was very brave and didn’t cry.

A few other odds and ends and Howie will be ready and able to hit the highway again. Meanwhile, the first day’s evening dims the skies as we keep company with a bunch of other RV-ers, all of us camped shoulder-to-shoulder in Grants Pass on Henderson Lane. Tonight in the large driveway area there are seven sets of dinette table lights in the gathering dusk, seven of Henderson’s customers from all over the U.S.

Henderson’s Lineup is about 500 miles from our home in California. Whenever possible, we try to “stop by” as part of a larger journey. But if necessary, I will drive (and have done so) up to Oregon just to take advantage of the finest RV care that can be had.

Thanks, Robert.