Bill Plemmons RV World Building for the Future

Gas prices might be surging and the economy might be tanking, but Bill Plemmons RV World plans to travel in a different direction. Scripps News reported that the recreational vehicle dealership wants to expand its operations in Rural Hall, N.C., and build on to an existing customer base that extends throughout the country. Owner Steve Plemmons recently purchased 34 acres behind his dealership, bringing his complex to about 50 acres. He wants to use the additional land to construct a service building... Read more

Coleman Brand Returns on Switchback Popup

The Coleman name has re-emerged on folding camping trailers such as this lightweight Switchback prototype at PRVCA’s Pennsylvania RV and Camping Show Sept. 8-14 in Hershey. “Coleman is our heritage,” said Allan Reeping, national sales manager for FTCA Inc., a subsidiary of Blackstreet Capital Management LLC, which in May purchased the Fleetwood Enterprises Inc.’s folding camping trailer operation in Somerset, Pa. The brightly colored Switchback will be available in one 6-foot floorplan... Read more

Fleetwood Shares Fall Below $1, Moved to Arca

Trading of Riverside, Calif.-based Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. shares came to a temporary halt Monday (Sept. 29), as the company was moved from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to another board owned by the exchange. The move to the Arca electronic market came after shares of the recreational vehicle manufacturer fell below $1, according to a report in the Press-Enterprise, Riverside. Fleetwood spokeswoman Kathy Munson said the shares will go back onto the main exchange once the price is above $1.10... Read more

Thor Industries 4Q Earnings Down Nearly 90%

Recreational vehicle maker Thor Industries Inc. said late Monday (Sept. 29) its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings plunged almost 90% as it continued to weather a tough RV market. The Associated Press reported that in a regulatory filing, Thor said earnings for the quarter ended July 31 slumped to $5 million, or 9 cents per share, from $50.3 million, or 90 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. “In the quarter, we accrued $5.4 million in costs related to the sale in June of Thor California,... Read more

Côté Elected New President for RVDA of Canada

Michel Côté, owner of M.A.C. Caravane Inc., Laval, Quebec, has been elected as the new president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) of Canada. RVDA of Canada said that Côté, a past president of the RVDA of Quebec, has been very involved in association activities at both provincial and national levels. “It is a sincere honour and pleasure to be elected as the new president of the RVDA of Canada,” said Côté. “I am very excited about the direction and growth the association... Read more

Range Named RVDA 2008 Top Quality Dealer

Joe Range, owner of Range RV, Hesperia, Calif., was recognized as the 2008 Top Quality Dealer of the Year during the Sept. 23-26 Dealers International Convention/Expo at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas hosted by the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA). Range accepted the award with his wife, Cherie, on behalf of the dealership as part of the Sept. 24 RVDA annual meeting. Range is a past RVDA chairman and former member of the RV Assistance Corp. (RVAC) board. Range is also... Read more

Loan Package May Help Jumpstart Automakers

If credit remains locked up and auto sales continue to slump, the federal government’s $25 billion loan package for the auto industry could be a huge help in keeping Detroit’s downtrodden automakers afloat, according to lawmakers and industry analysts. As reported by the Associated Press, Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp., which likely will get the bulk of the loans, are losing billions and facing huge debts already as they try to remake their lineups from predominantly trucks... Read more

Baird Issues Downgrade on Three RV Builders

Robert W. Baird & Co. downgraded three recreational vehicle makers, including Coburg, Ore.-based Monaco Coach Corp., saying falling oil prices and early investment in cyclicals has boosted valuations, but fundamentals remain “dreadful.” Reuters reported that the brokerage cut Monaco to “neutral” from “outperform,” while Thor Industries Inc. and Winnebago Industries Inc. were downgraded to “underperform” from “neutral.” A rash of problems,... Read more

Veteran Dealer Troutt Elected RVDA Chairman

Members of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) elected Larry Troutt, Topper’s Camping Center, Waller, Texas, as chairman during the Sept. 23-26 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Troutt, who previously served in all officer positions on the RVDA board, noted the “brilliant strategies” implemented by the association while addressing convention attendees. “Consider the new dealer-initiated Brand Committees, which began... Read more

Monaco’s April Klein Appointed COE Co-Chair

April Klein, vice president of Customer Support Services for Monaco Coach Corp., has been appointed as co-chair of the Committee on Excellence (COE), replacing Jim Sheldon. Klein will team with Marty Shea, owner of Madison RV, Huntsville, Ala., and former chairman of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), in leading the industry group while ensuring that dealer and manufacturer views are equally represented. Shea has served as co-chair with Sheldon since 2005. Sheldon, special assistant... Read more

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