Baird: Healthier Levels for Dealer Inventories

Editor’s Note: Robert W. Baird & Co. issued a client newsletter following this week’s release of the year-end  wholesale RV shipments. Excerpts from the Baird newsletter follow. Action Strong December shipments close out solid 2010. Total RV shipments increased 24% in December (+48% in 2010), as motorhome shipments increased 20% (+97% in 2010), while towable shipments grew 24% (+44% in 2010). Shipments had slowed recently, but improved in December as dealers replenish inventory... Read more

SmarTrend Comments on Thor Stock Action

Thor Industries traded in a range Thursday (Jan. 27) that spanned from a low of $36.61 to a high of $37.22, SmarTrend reported. On Thursday, the shares gained 0.98%, which took the trading range above the three-day high of $36.97 on volume of 356,000 shares. Often times after large one-day gains, short term traders will seek to take profits and, as such, investors should be cautious. Shares of Thor Industries are currently trading above their 50-day moving average  of $33.76 and above their 200-day... Read more

Cummins Onan Hits RV Generator Milestone

Cummins Power Generation celebrated a significant milestone for its recreational vehicle business — the building of the two millionth Cummins Onan generator — with a gala event held in December at its Minneapolis headquarters. The company has been making RV generators for over 80 years, and has held a high market share ever since the dawn of the modern RV industry in the 1960s, according to a news release. As reported by RVBUSINESS.com in a story posted on Jan. 3, the event was an occasion... Read more

Tin Can Tourists Convene in Florida RV Park

Tim Heintz might still be looking for a wife, but in the meantime, he has given his heart — as well as his time and his cash — to Rosie the Riveted. “That’s what I call my 1950 Spartenette trailer,” said Heintz, from Tallahassee, Fla. “It was built by the Spartan Aircraft Co. like they build airplanes, so everything was riveted.” Heintz is one of the dozens of Tin Can Tourists who are pulling their vintage campers into Cedar Key, Fla., this weekend for their fifth... Read more

Nebraska RV Show Expands to Bigger Venue

The 34th Annual Mid-Nebraska RV and Boat Show has a new home this year in Grand Island, Neb. While the event will still be at Fonner Park, this year it will be in the Nebraska State Fair Exhibition Building, the Grand Island Independent reported. Tony Staab, owner of Rich and Sons RV of Grand Island, said the new location will allow exhibitors more floor space to show the public this year’s latest RV and boat offerings. Rich and Sons RV, along with Dykeman’s Camper Place of Hastings,... Read more

Michigan Happy with First Rec Passport Sales

Sales figures from the first three months of the new Michigan Recreation Passport show  increasing participation by motorists who are renewing their vehicle license plates through  the secretary of state, according to a news release from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Participation rates steadily increased from October 2010, when the Recreation Passport was first offered, through December. The Recreation Passport Program went into effect on Oct.1. Resident passenger vehicle... Read more

EnduraMAX Generates a Buzz at Tampa Show

Crowds walk through the EnduraMAX luxury toy hauler displayed this month at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa. EnduraMAX “created a sensation” with its redesigned luxury crossover toy hauler fifth-wheel display at the recent Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa, the Nappanee, Ind.-based company reports in a news release. “The reaction was overwhelming,” said Patrick White, sales manager for Suncoast RV’s Jacksonville location, who was representing the EnduraMAX product. “It felt like... Read more

Snowstorm Closes RVIA’s Reston, Va., Office

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) office in Reston, Va., was closed today due to the snowstorm that hit the capital city area on Wednesday. Snowfall totals ranged between 3 and 7 inches in the Washington, D.C., area, but this came on top of a heavy rainfall which made streets and highways almost impassable. RVIA staff members went home early on Wednesday to get a jump on the heavy traffic but still spent inordinate amounts of time in their commute home, according to reports given... Read more

Tom Raper RV Beefing Up Midwest Sales Staff

Tom Raper RV in Richmond, Ind. Tom Raper RV in Richmond, Ind., expects as many as 50 people to RSVP for a ”career night” Feb. 15 when the dealership anticipates hiring five new sales people. ”As the economy and our business is picking back up, we need some quality people on board,” said Eddie Unger, Raper general sales manager. ”It’s a no-strings-attached opportunity to show people what we offer and give them the possibility of having a sales career here.” The... Read more

48th Annual Seattle RV Show Opening Feb. 10

The 48th Annual Seattle RV Show will be held Feb. 10-13 at the Qwest Field Event Center in Seattle. Dave Helgeson, show director, is optimistic that 2011 will be a strong year for the industry as pent-up demand for RVs is reflected in increased shipments and attendance at shows nationwide. “Typically about 40% of our attendees are existing RV owners and 60% are people interested in buying or learning more about the RV lifestyle,” he said in a news release. Helgeson has been RVing his entire... Read more

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