RVIA: May Wholesale RV Deliveries Match April’s

Total RV deliveries to retailers were 13,300 units in May this year, the same total recorded one month earlier but off 46.8% from this same month last year, the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) reported today (June 26). Motorhome totals were slightly better than the previous month, while towables were slightly less.  On a seasonally adjusted basis, May’s total represented an annual rate of 141,000 units, an increase of 7.5% over last month. Year-to-date, totals have now reached... Read more

Madison, Wis., Hosts Wally Byam Caravan Club Rally

Hundreds of Airstream travel trailer owners cruised into Madison, Wis., this week, parking their shiny, tin trailers and joining in the 2009 Wally Byam Caravan Club International Rally  festivities. It’s the club’s 52nd annual convention, according to the Isthmus Daily Page, Madison. Somewhere in the midst of the Airstream maze on Monday, Don McKelvay tidied up his trailer. He and his wife, Kathy, represent the northeast United States branch of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International.... Read more

Blue Bird Coach Owners Gather at N.Y. Race Track

  1990 Blue Bird Wanderlodge "Blue Thunder" Blue Bird motorcoach owners and their coaches, similar to the one shown at left, are converging this weekend upon Vernon Downs in Vernon, N.Y., for the race track’s RV show. The show, which was organized by Tom Warner, of Vernon, commenced Thursday (June 25) and will continue throughout the weekend and into Monday, according to the Oneida Dispatch. “People from all across the social spectrum come together because of our common interest... Read more

RV Lifestyle Evolves into Mobile Repair Business

How many times have you thought about leaving a job, but hesitated out of fear of the unknown – or, simply, an aversion to change? Sally Bethea doesn’t know that fear. In her career, she’s been a medical librarian, a financial analyst, a sociology professor and – today – the president of a recreational vehicle repair business, according to the San Antonio (Texas) Express. Her secret? When a job gets stale, Bethea moves on. In her view, life is too short – and working... Read more

Fleetwood’s Smith Looks for ‘Smooth Transition’ to AIP

The principals of Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. and the buyer for its motorhome division, American Industrial Partners (AIP), each commented this afternoon on the bankruptcy court’s approval on Wednesday (June 24) to sell the division to AIP. The sale of Fleetwood’s motorhome assets to AIP for $53 million is subject to pre-closing conditions and post-closing adjustments, according to a news release. Fleetwood did not conduct an auction because no other qualified bids were received. “Fleetwood’s... Read more

FEMA Misspent $7M on Warehouses After Hurricanes

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ignored the law and misused millions of dollars to build two warehouses after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to government investigators. Some of the money FEMA misused should have gone toward Katrina victims in Louisiana, according to a Homeland Security Inspector General report obtained by The Associated Press. The report is expected to be released today (June 25). “FEMA had no authority to use appropriated funds to construct the two... Read more

Bank of America in RV Lending ‘For the Long Haul’

Ellsworth “Ellie” Clarke is president of Bank of America Dealer Financial Services. Based in Jacksonville, Fla., he heads a department including 1,300 associates involved with sales, underwriting and customer service for the auto, marine and RV industries. Clarke’s staff includes 100 sales associates scattered around the country, nationally supporting dealer floorplan, retail direct and indirect loan programs for the RV sector. Clarke provided an overview of Bank of America programs... Read more

RVRA Expects ’09 RV Rentals to Be Better Than ’08

A new survey of RV Rental Association (RVRA) members indicates RV rental companies anticipate 2009 will be better for RV rentals than 2008, despite a slow economy.  Those responding to the association’s annual survey report RV rental activity will be up an average of 12% this year, according to a news release.     “The survey results show that even in a tough economy, people still plan to go on RV vacations,” said RVRA Chairman Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance Inc. in Scottsdale,... Read more

New GoCampingAmerica Website to Launch Soon

The Go Camping America.com website sponsored by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) is undergoing a complete redesign and will be available soon. According to ARVC, the new version will be filled with many new features and functions such as:  A link to any online reservation system the campground uses. Instant updates from changes campground operators make on the ARVC gateway to the GCA website. Faster page loads. Interactive Google maps. Calendar of special events in each... Read more

New Hampshire Passes 9% Campground Tax

A new 9% room and meal tax on New Hampshire campgrounds was passed by the state on Wednesday afternoon (June 24).  WBZ-TV, Boston, visited a New Hampshire campground later in the day and found that this new tax could have some campers thinking twice about their trip.  Ron and Claire Bogan love the great outdoors. But, lately it’s not just the rain that’s put a damper on their summer camp experience.  “We are in a fixed income, yeah that (tax) is going to hurt,” Ron Bogan... Read more

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