‘The Great One’ — A.K.A. The Denali RV

February 24, 2016

Dutchmen Denali RV and Denali National Park facts

Mount McKinley has more in common with the Dutchmen Denali, our feature-packed travel trailer and our ever-popular fifth wheel, than most might realize. Cloaked in white, Alaska’s 20,310-square-foot mountain is the tallest in North America, living up to its native name — Denali — which means the “high one” in Koyukon, a subset of the Athabaskan language. Here’s a fun look at the many similarities we share with our namesake …

 DENALI NATIONAL PARK FACTS:

In 1896, a gold prospector renamed the mountain when he heard of William McKinley’s presidential nomination. McKinley went on to win the election, but the 25th President of the United States was assassinated in 1901. The Mount McKinley name became official in 1917. Then in 2015, President Barack Obama announced that he would use his executive power to restore the Alaska Native name, which also means “the great one.”

DUTCHMEN DENALI RV FACTS:

The Dutchmen Denali RV certainly lives up to this elite moniker as well. In fact, many owners look to the name as one of the most premier in the industry. The reason? Denali has a long list of features that elevate it above the competition. Take for instance, Denali’s pass-through basement storage, more than 25% larger than competing RVs thanks to Dutchmen’s angled design. Plus, the list of standard upgrades stretches high — a lot like Denali’s mountainous peaks.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK FACTS:

Denali can also be interpreted as “the tall one.”

DUTCHMEN DENALI RV FACTS:

With 5-inch barrel ceilings in the living room and a flush-floor master bedroom with an extra 5 inches of height, Denali boasts a sizable interior height that lives up to spacious expectations. Did we mention, most floorplans feature opposing slideouts that create wide-open spaces.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK FACTS:

There is a peculiar species of wood frog resident to the Denali National Park. The frog freezes solid during the harsh winter months, its heart ceasing to beat as its breathing stops during the brutal cold. Amazingly, when spring arrives, the frog thaws and hops away unharmed.

DUTCHMEN DENALI RV FACTS:

Like the wood frog, Denali is built to weather the seasons. In fact, the fifth wheel lineup features Max Thermal Insulation for the industry’s highest R value. Thanks to four layers of insulation — fiberglass batten, block foam, expandable foam and FlexFoil blanket insulation — Denali boasts an R-40 value, compared to typical R-25 insulation.

DENALI NATIONAL PARK FACTS:

Welcome to Interior Alaska (A.K.A. Denali National Park and Preserve), where the nearest grocery store is 130 miles away — unless, of course, you’re camping in a Denali fifth wheel …

DUTCHMEN DENALI RV FACTS:

Within Denali National Park and Preserve, there are six campgrounds for outdoor enthusiasts. Guests may camp a total of 14 days per year in Denali's campgrounds. Campsite sizes vary with a limited number of sites accommodating RVs up to 40 feet in length. (Denali measures under this.) But don’t worry, unlike Interior Alaska, you can camp feeling like your pantry is well stocked and your kitchen well equipped. (Few fifth wheels offer the same Denali kitchen standards, which include an 8 cu. ft. refrigerator and solid-surface countertops.)

DENALI NATIONAL PARK FACTS:

The number of Denali visitors has increased by almost 200 percent in 30 years.

DUTCHMEN DENALI RV FACTS:

Dutchmen’s Denali lineup is pretty popular, too, especially the 2611BH. This Denali Lite travel trailer features some of Dutchmen’s most innovative spaces, including a multi-purpose sleeping area with height-adjustable bunk beds that raise and lower to create a play area for the kids and cargo space for the road.

In the end, the term “Denali” — RV or mountain — has long been an icon that stands out in the most breathtaking of wilderness.