All Star UTV

05/08

For about six months now, the Newmar All Star UTV has been making appearances in parking lots and at RV shows, and word of the mythic monster has spread through the tailgate community like legends told around a portable fire pit. With its four flat panel televisions, exterior Kicker sound system, pullout Jenn-Air grill, dual bathrooms and a full-size tailgate'’s kitchen roll-up door, stories of sightings are received with a mixture of disbelief and envy. Seemingly the product of a football fanatic's fever-induced fantasy, this 43' Ultimate Tailgate Vehicle is creating quite a sensation. It's been featured on television, in newspapers and magazines across the country, and was the centerpiece of Super 'Gate 08 at this year's Super Bowl in Phoenix.

Jay "The Tailgate Guy" DiEugenio was the unit's ambassador during its premiere tailgate season, and as his wife and partner I had the privilege of going out on several tailgate roads trips in the UTV. So, while others may have stories to share of their brief encounters with this Bigfoot of the Blacktop, or have their own ideas or opinions about what they like or don't like about it, I thought I would share with the readers of Tailgater Monthly my own "road- tested" take on the first motorhome designed specifically for tailgaters.

To establish my authority on the subject, let me start out by saying that in my three years as a professional tailgater, I’ve logged more than 60,000 miles traveling to and tailgating at every stadium in the NFL. This is the third RV we've lived in on the road, and while each had features that I loved (like the Sleep Number bed and full- wall slideout) the UTV is - without a doubt - a tailgater's dream come true.

While I did not have the nerve to take a turn behind the wheel, Jay insists that with Newmar's new Comfort Drive steering system, the thing practically drives itself. I can tell you that the mid-engine chassis makes for a much more stable ride (anyone who's bounced around in the back-end of a Front Engine Diesel knows what I am talking about) and it also makes room for the thing that really sets this motorhome apart - the tailgate kitchen.

This twelve foot galley features plenty of (Corian) counter space and cabinets, along with a double sink, Four-door Norcold freezer/ fridge, and microwave convection oven. A two-tiered stainless steel prep and serving counter provides pass-through access to your fellow tailgaters outside. One really nice touch is the commercial icemaker, which cranks out 30 pounds of ice in less than an hour. As every tailgater knows, you can never have enough ice out there in the lots!

The roll-up door opens with the push of a button, and a flat screen television pops-out from the wall and swivels so it can be viewed by the chef and/or his guests. The only thing I'd really want to add would be a gas burner for making soups and sauces, or cooking up a nice pot of chili. But of course, you can always rough it and set up your portable stove under the massive canopy outside. Speaking of outside, the culinary treats don't stop inside the tailgate kitchen. Just pop open the rear hatch and slide out the Jenn-Air grill that quick connects to the UTV's propane tank. It's very convenient, especially when you're doing multiple days at NASCAR, not worry about having to refill a little 20 pound tank. Exterior storage hatches provide plenty of room to haul around all your cooking and tailgating gear, including a hatch specifically designed to hold your folding tables. Jay carries four of the adjustable height, fold-in-half tables from Lifetime Products, as well as a solid six footer, with room to spare. They stay organized, snug, and clean. It’s a HUGE timesaver every time you set up, to not have to wipe road dirt off your tables before you use them. And, they stay scuff-free from not sliding around in a huge hatch with lots of other junk.

The side-by-side hatches next to the grill are big enough to hold two 100-cubic-foot coolers.

The rear door makes it so convenient to access the kitchen and the outside grill area, essentially creating one large kitchen with two separate work areas. It's great when you're cooking as a team. With the pass-through counter space, there is plenty of room and an easy flow from prep to cooking to serving. Nobody feels "stuck" inside the kitchen and away from the party. Like the kitchen of your home, it becomes the focal point of the party, and everyone is drawn into the action.

Unless, of course, they're drawn into the action on the 52" flat panel television built into the exterior of UTV. Satellite equipped and blasting through a Kicker sound system, if the food doesn't attract the neighbors the TV certainly will. We've shown movies on it, played video games, and yeah, even watched some sports. (Including thirty-six hours of Super Bowl pregame shows - or so it seemed!) It's a complete entertainment system, with radio, CD player and MP3 jacks. It's the perfect place to throw down your favorite tailgate tunes, or plug in a microphone and use it as a PA to make all your important tailgating announcements.

But the best thing about the UTV, for a girl who likes to tailgate, is that it comes with TWO bathrooms. What that meant for me was that when we went to tailgate with the Raider Nation and Jay and Kingsford Kirk decided to spend the night before in the cul-de-sac outside the tailgate lot roasting a pig all night, I could close the pocket door in the hallway and sleep soundly. The guys had access to the tailgate kitchen and the rear bathroom, without having to walk through the RV and disturb us. The kids and I were able to sleep in, use the small galley to grab ourselves some breakfast, and use the front bathroom to get ready for the day before facing the gathering crowd of tailgaters.

When he was traveling solo, Jay would mark one of the bathrooms for guys, and one for girls, and that worked out great, too. The ladies in the tailgate lots really appreciated not having to share with all the messy boys.

Other favorite features include the "marble" flooring throughout the main living area, which makes it so much easier to keep clean, and the expansive awnings that provide shade and protection along the entire length of the passenger side. Those awnings literally saved the weekend out at California Speedway. While rain showers delayed the races for three days, our party just kept going. We all hung out under the awnings late into the wet night, cooking and talking and watching the television, with plenty of room to welcome everyone. The UTV is definitely an All Star in my book, and it's nice to see manufacturers beginning to pay attention to the needs of the tailgaters. But, it's not just for tailgaters. This unit is a cook's dream. We took it out "winegating" and had a great time cooking up tasty snacks in the parking lots at local vineyards. It would be great for caterers, competition cooking teams, or even churches and clubs.

This RV is about what we are all about; it's about friends, family, food, and fun, and inspires the awe and envy of everyone that crosses its path.