Lucas Launches New Startup: Yellowstone RV

Mark Lucas inside a Canyon Trail Aztec Edition Former CrossRoads RV President Mark Lucas is establishing a new company under the revered 62-year-old Yellowstone RV brand name to build travel trailers and fifth-wheels. Yellowstone — a name dating back to 1948 — will unveil its first products during the 48th Annual National RV Trade Show, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. Lucas says the company, an outgrowth of Gulf Stream Coach Inc., is a stand-alone firm... Read more

Attendance Up 10% at RVDA Convention/Expo

Registrations for the 2010 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo are up about 10% overall and 12% for Canadian dealers, according to organizers of the event that runs through Friday (Oct. 8) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nev. ”Registrations look great,” said Eleonore Hamm, president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada (RVDA Canada). ”We have a few more dealerships than last year.” Some 500 people are expected to attend the con/expo... Read more

Park Models to Rebound ‘Slow and Gradual’

William Garpow, RPTIA The recreational park trailer segment of the RV industry took its hits just like traditional RV builders during the Great Recession. And its recovery may take a bit longer than the mainstream towable market. That’s according to William Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association (RPTIA), who says park models’ customer base is the cause. ”The reason is, our particular consumer is 55 to 70 years of age,” Garpow told... Read more

Thor Motorized: Consolidation Brings Focus

Bill Fenech, Thor Motor Coach The merger in early September of Thor Industries Inc.’s motorized subsidiaries — Damon Motor Coach and Four Winds International Corp. — into Thor Motor Coach was spurred by the realization that the two companies were competing for the same dealers in a smaller marketplace. More than 90% of today’s RV sales are towables. ”The motorhome market obviously is a fraction of what it was years ago,” said Bill Fenech, formerly president... Read more

Forest River Expects 2,800 at Dealer Meeting

Pete Liegl As Forest River Inc. marks its best sales year since being founded in 1995 by Peter J. Liegl, the multi-divisional company anticipates hosting 2,800 people at its third annual dealer meeting, Sept. 29-30, at its corporate headquarters in Elkhart, Ind. ”I guess we are going to have a 40% increase this year in attendance,” Liegl told RVBUSINESS.com. ”The response has been phenomenally good.” The show will feature Forest River, Coachmen, Palomino and Prime Time recreation... Read more

Go RVing Coalition Sees Budgets, Leads Improve

In what amounts to a gradual return to normalcy, the Go RVing Coalition is looking to incrementally increase spending on the Go RVing market expansion program while taking steps to refine leads that dealers receive. RVIA's Gary Labella addresses Committee Week audience. ”We are spending at a much better level in 2010 than we did in 2009, obviously,” said Gary LaBella, vice president and chief marketing officer of the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), following the coalition’s... Read more

KZRV Hosts 90 Dealers at Annual Open House

Daryl Zook, president of KZRV, chats with dealers during this week's open house. Daryl Zook, president of KZRV LP, fielded questions Tuesday afternoon (May 18) from some of the 90 RV dealers attending the KZ Dealer Open House May 16-18 at the towable manufacturer’s headquarters in Shipshewana, Ind. At the open house, KZ introduced the new, full-profile Durango 2500 fifth-wheel retailing for about $38,000 that is intended for towing behind 3/4-ton pickup trucks. ”We’ve done... Read more