Big Rigs, Big Bucks Highlight Hershey Show

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following story ran in today’s (Sept. 29) New York Times, offering highlights from the 38th Annual Pennsylvania RV and Camping Show in Hershey, Pa., including a $2 million rig used by actor Robert De Niro. There was a child bawling in Robert De Niro’s rig. To be fair, the little guy had been patient up till now: the line he’d had to wait in to tour De Niro’s luxury RV was about 40 people deep. But the rest of the crowd huddling in the dressing room of the $2 million RV... Read more

Canadian RVers Enjoy Camping in Winter

Brian Callahoo says he is often a little bewildered when media reports talk about full RV parks in winter as if it were a social problem, according to the Daily Herald Tribune, Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada. As he plans to spend his fifth winter in his travel trailer at the Country Roads RV Park, the Edmonton resident and safety consultant for the oil and gas industry feels year-round camping is far from a crisis living situation. “There’s this concept that if it’s an RV and you’re... Read more

Consumer Spending Declines in August

Battered consumers, faced with weak income growth and rising inflation, trimmed their spending in August by the largest amount in nearly a year. The Associated Press reported that the Commerce Department said Friday (Sept. 29) that consumer spending, after adjusting for inflation, dropped by 0.1% last month, the first decline since a 0.3% fall in September 2005, a month when business activity was disrupted by Hurricane Katrina. Incomes, reflecting lackluster gains in employment, rose by just 0.3%... Read more

Survey Shows Sound RV Lenders’ Portfolios

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) newly released “2005 RVIA Survey of Lenders’ Experiences” reveals that the dollar volume for both wholesale and retail indirect loans remains strong. Large lenders reported outstanding retail portfolios at year-end 2005 exceeding $19 billion, or 42% greater than a year earlier. Further, the RV loan delinquency rate for new and used units was less than 1% and continued to be among the lowest among consumer loans tracked by the American Bankers... Read more

Country Coach Signs First Canadian Dealer

Country Coach Inc. reached an agreement with Westgate RV Centre Ltd., Kelowna, B.C., to sell its lineup of highline diesel coaches, representing the Junction City, Ore.-based company’s first Canadian retail outlet. In August, Country Coach received approvals from Transport Canada for import into Canadian provinces while also gaining certification from the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). According to a press release, Westgate, one of the largest RV dealers in Western Canada, will immediately... Read more

Keystone Adds Fuzion Fiver to SURV Line

Keystone RV Co. has raised its profile in the sport utility RV (SURV) market with the introduction of the Fuzion fifth-wheel toy hauler for 2007. The northern Indiana company also has revised its light-weight offerings with the ultra-lightweight Passport travel trailer series. “We believe towable SURVS and light-weight trailers will continue to be the fastest growing segments in our industry,” said Don Clark, executive vice president of the Goshen, Ind., Thor Industries Inc. subsidiary.... Read more

North American Traveler Set for Production

One of the nation’s newest RV manufacturers, North American Traveler LLC, was incorporated in August and plans on ramping up production in October of mid-profile travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers under the Glacier Bay brand name. Eric Tesman, formerly with SunnyBrook RV, is majority owner of the new company, which is operating from a 52,000-square-foot leased facility in Elkhart, Ind. Among the minority owners are Bill Humphrey, vice president of administration and another former SunnyBrook... Read more

Curomax Aligns with Two Utah Lenders

Curomax Limited today (Sept. 28) announced that two separate Utah-based lenders have selected the Canadian company’s Internet-based loan origination platform for its recreational vehicle and marine dealer clients. According to a press release, Medallion Bank and Merrick Bank will be able to use the Curomax platform to submit loans applications and complete the loan contract electronically. Medallion, which is owned by Medallion Financial Corp., is a specialty finance company servicing the RV and... Read more

Good Sam Offering Gas Savings at Petro

The Good Sam Club has aligned with Petro Stopping Centers, a nationwide travel plaza chain, allowing members to save 2 cents per gallon on gasoline and diesel purchases. According to a press release, Petro operates 65 facilities nationwide. “As much as we wish we could, the Good Sam Club has not been able to roll back gas prices to what they used to be a year ago,” said Sue Bray, executive director for the Good Sam Club. “However, we’re now able to provide a little relief to our members.” Good... Read more

Louisville Ranks Among Top Show Venues

Events held at the two major venues run by the Kentucky State Fair Board are paying large economic dividends, a new study has found, according to a report in the Louisville Courier Journal. Combined activity in 2005 at Louisville’s Kentucky Exposition Center – the annual venue for the National RV Trade Show, sponsored by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) – and the downtown Kentucky International Convention Center generated about $453 million for the local economy, a 6.4% increase... Read more

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