N.Y. State Increases RV Length Limit

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my Daily RV Industry News Feed. Thanks for visiting, Sherman GoldenbergGov. George E. Pataki announced Friday (June 27) that New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Joseph H. Boardman and Thruway Authority Executive Director Michael R. Fleischer signed blanket waivers authorizing RVs up to 45 feet long to travel on highways operated by New York state, except state parkways. “Tourism comprises a significant part of New York... Read more

Idaho’s Bodily RV Building New Dealership

Construction has started on a long-planned Bodily RV dealership southwest of the Meridian Road interchange with I-84 between Boise and Caldwell, Idaho, according to the Idaho Business Review. The company will move its Meridian dealership from a South Main Street site, just north of the interchange, by early next year, owner Gary Bodily said. At more than 42,000 square feet, the two-story steel building under construction at the northeast corner of Linder and Overland roads will be about three times... Read more

Dealers Worried About Trailer Shortages?

Some dealers have shifted from being worried that their inventories are too big to worrying that they might run out of travel trailers, according to an article in today’s (June 30) Wall Street Journal. Redwood Camper & Trailer Sales, a Salt Lake City area dealer, is one of those worried about a possible travel-trailer shortage, the Journal reports. Doug Freckleton, co-owner of Redwood Camper & Trailer, told the Journal he expects to sell more than the dealership’s annual average of... Read more

Carriage Intros “Entry-level” Compass Series

In an effort to expand the number of potential buyers of Carriage Inc. products, the manufacturer of mid- to-highline towables introduced a new “more aggressive price point” series of travel trailers and fifth-wheels called the Compass. The Compass, which includes the only travel trailers built by Carriage, was introduced during the Millersburg, Ind. firm’s national dealer meeting in Indianapolis this past weekend (June 28-29). Except for the three Compass travel-trailer floorplans, Carriage... Read more

H-W Not Selling LaSalle Bristol, Bristolpipe

Although British firm Heywood Williams Group PLC recently sold its Creation Group subsidiary, the company is not looking to sell its two other RV industry-related firms, LaSalle Bristol Corp. and Bristolpipe, according to the Elkhart (Ind.) Truth. Last week, Heywood Williams announced it sold Elkhart-based windows and doors supplier Creation Group to DURA Automotive Systems, which also is the parent of RV industry supplier Atwood Mobile Products. DURA agreed to pay around $57 million for Creation. However,... Read more

RV Owners’ Satisfaction Ratings Strong

The RV industry is maintaining strong overall consumer satisfaction levels, reveals a recently released study of 8,300 RV owners commissioned by the Go RVing Coalition’s Committee on Excellence, according to a statement issued today (June 27) by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) and survey firm RoperASW. The 2003 RV Consumer Satisfaction Survey, conducted by RoperASW, updates similar studies completed in 1999 and 2001, providing baseline comparisons and valuable trend analysis... Read more

Gilman Resigns from Camping World

Mark Gilman has resigned his position as president of Camping World Inc. (CWI), the Bowling Green, Ky.-based retailer of RV-related aftermarket parts and accessories. CWI is a unit of Affinity Group Inc. (AGI), as is RV Business and RVBUSINESS.COM. Gilman worked for Blockbuster Inc. prior to joining CWI last year. “Mark, through his efforts, has made a great number of contributions and changes with the Camping World brand, merchandising and operations, all of which will assist in leveraging future... Read more

Big Turnout Seen for Tech. Certification Test

Some 500 students – a nearly fourfold increase over last year – are expected to take the RV technician certification test on July 27, which, for the first time, will include a practical hands-on section to allow techs to become certified more quickly. Technicians taking the new practical section are required to perform 14 hands-on procedures on an RV under supervision in their dealerships before completing a 53-question written practical test that supplements the standard 200-question certification... Read more

Rusk, Tex., Considers RV Rally Park

An executive from Nacogdoches, Tex.-based Foretravel Motorhomes Inc. proposed on Wednesday (June 25) the idea of an RV rally park to officials from the east Texas town of Rusk, according to the Jacksonville Daily Progress. Paul Tinkle, manager of manufacturing operations at highline motorcoach manufacturer Foretravel, said an RV park big enough to accommodate about 100 rigs would aid the economy of Rusk, which is about 30 miles northwest of Nacogdoches. So far, Rush officials are supportive of the... Read more

Henderson Resigns from Outdoor Resorts

Randall Henderson, a co-founder of luxury RV resorts firm Outdoor Resorts of America (ORA), will resign effective Friday (June 27). Henderson, 65, ORA’s president and COO, decided to leave the company he spent 34 years developing and managing so he could spend more time with his family and to pursue other interests. Replacing Henderson as president and COO will be Ron Petty, who has worked the last 32 years for ORA, according to R.A. Schoellhorn, ORA’s chairman and CEO. Henderson, a longtime... Read more

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