Travel Channel spotlights Iona entrepreneur

A local entrepreneur is getting his share of the spotlight this week.

Filming an hour-long special, the Travel Channel is in eastern Idaho to feature Doug Tolbert of Iona and his souped-up RV’s made for the outdoor adventurer.

Reporter Jessica Crandall was with the production crew Tuesday as they filmed Tolbert in his native element — the St. Anthony sand dunes.

It’s pretty much every man’s dream. It’s the ultimate way to travel the country and take all your toys with you.

Doug Tolbert dreamed up the Powerhouse Coach 18 years ago.

“We were sitting around the campfire with my family and I kind of cooked up the idea. They pretty much all thought I was nuts,” said Tolbert.

That nutty idea took off into what is now a well-known business, attracting national attention from media like the Travel Channel, which was out filming Tolbert in the dunes Tuesday.

“When you search the words ‘mega RV’, guess what? Doug comes up,” said producer Graham Clarke.

That’s how he found Powerhouse Coaches.

He’ll feature Tolbert’s products as one of the top-10 mega RV’s in the country for several reasons.

“He’s got a little remote that can drive his trailer right up to the mothership and it hooks right on. It’s features like that and the overall size of it that make it special,” said Clarke.

Tolbert makes his coaches with just a regular semi truck body, then he sticks on a trailer and he can customize it in pretty much any way.

If someone wants to pop on a movie at a late night barbecue or cuddle up in a king sized bed, he can make it happen.

Tolbert said an RV is one of the best ways to spend time at the sand dunes.

“It’s one of the great things about Idaho to be able to come up here and enjoy what we take for granted,” said Tolbert.

“For Travel Channel viewers, they would love to come up to a place like this,” said Clarke.

Even the beautiful scenery and sunny weather couldn’t persuade Clarke to divulge where in the top-10 Powerhouse Coach will be.

“You’re going to have to watch the show to see where this one falls,” said Clarke.

The “Mega RV Countdown” does not have a scheduled air date yet on the Travel Channel.

Powerhouse Coaches run between $200,000 – $700,000 and take about six months to complete.

To check them out, follow this link.