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We published a new camper announcement for the 2011 Hallmark Everest just days before attending the unveiling of the new model at the 2011 Denver International Sportsman’s Expo. As soon as we saw the shiny new camper, we wasted no time checking it out.
From the exterior, the first thing we noticed were the RotoPax, the expedition kit with shovel and axe, and the fiberglass propane tanks.
In a world that’s gone so safety crazy, it’s kind of funny to see an axe ready to go out in public. Then again, the Denver ISE is full of guns, ammo, bows, and razor sharp arrows. This axe is practically a toothpick in comparison, if you have really big teeth.
We enjoyed explaining to attendees the many options available for the RotoPax system including storage for water, gasoline, diesel, and first aid supplies. More than anything, the RotoPax just looks cool. I may have to put some on my Ford Focus.
The fiberglass propane tanks were a huge hit and and sparked lots of questions. The question I got again and again was, “What’s the advantage to fiberglass propane tanks?” To answer, I explained, “They’re lighter in weight and you can see the level of the liquid propane in the tank”. Immediately people said, “Oh, that is so cool”.
Cool again. I may have to put some fiberglass propane tanks on my Ford Focus, too. I’ll have the first Ford Focus Expedition Edition. Okay, maybe not.
Walking into the Hallmark Everest, it was impossible to not notice the 7” video monitors. What I like most about these little monitors is that they don’t need to be locked down for transport. Don’t tell the companies we’ve borrowed campers from, but we’ve forgotten to lock down the flat panel televisions now and again and they tend to sway and hit the walls if they’re not secured. This can’t be good.
With the built-in 7” monitors, they’re always secure. And I’m not convinced that we need big televisions in our campers. This is a trend I hope becomes, a trend. For now, Hallmark takes the lead.
The dinette is a comfortable face-to-face dinette. I’d like to see an option for a bigger table (we use two laptops) and would bet a box of delicious donuts that Hallmark would make one if you asked. It might not be a fancy fiberglass table, but I believe Oscar Garza, Hallmark’s resident cabinet wizard, could whip something up. He’s a “can do” kinda guy.
I also should point out that the fabric shown in these photos is just one option from a book of fabric options at Hallmark. You don’t like blue, fish, and trees? Well, Hallmark has lots of amazing options. Angela and I were particularly fond of Victor and Becky Carrillo’s choices in their 2010 Hallmark Guanella: click to see their Guanella.
Look up inside the 2011 Hallmark Everest and you see all the familiar Hallmark fiberglass storage compartments and options galore. The Everest at the ISE featured the full measure of Matt Ward’s LED lighting obsession, a microwave, and surround sound that Jody Boilin, Hallmark RV’s Production Manager, was very excited to show us.
Just to follow up on our relentless teasing of Matt regarding his well known LED compulsion, at one point I accidentally turned on the front exterior LED lights on the Everest and nearly blinded the poor folks at the next booth. They came over and nicely, yet sternly, asked Jody to turn the lights off. In a show full of deadly weaponry, Matt’s LED camper cannons were perhaps the most stunning.
The kitchen area in the Everest features Hallmark’s one-piece fiberglass counter and double sink, a three-burner range and oven, and lots of storage. On the front wall next to the counter is one of the two optional 7” monitors, the thermostat, and tank gauges. Under the counter is the upgraded stereo that Hallmark is using for 2011.
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the 2011 Hallmark Everest is how the rear space behind the dinette can be configured. For the Denver ISE, Hallmark configured the Everest with a hide-a-way cassette toilet and storage compartment. At the show, people were poking their heads into the camper and saying, “Look, there’s a toilet under there”. Yes, there is.
And what's that just above the cassette potty? Why it's an optional second 7" monitor. If you can contort yourself just so, you can watch a movie, while you go. Now that's progress!
For those who are not bathroom inclined, you can also opt for a double door storage area or space for two thirty pound propane tanks. Personally, I like the way Hallmark has integrated the cassette toilet option and believe it extends the functionality of the camper many fold. I guess I’m bathroom inclined.
We were very excited to see the positive reaction Hallmark RV received at the Denver ISE. The Everest was a hit and had plenty of folks amazed at how far pop-up truck campers have progressed. When I then pointed out the carbon fiber roof, they really flipped their lids.
For more information about Hallmark RV, visit their website at www.hallmarkrv.com. For more Truck Camper Magazine information on Hallmark RV, visit www.truckcampermagazine.com/hallmark.
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