West Coast Firm Showing Gas Rail in Louisville

Union Gap, Wash.-based Jones & Sons Chassis is in development of what the company calls the “next generation” of front-engine gas chassis design, with the work in progress scheduled for an unveiling at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) 50th Annual National RV Trade Show, Nov. 27-29 in Louisville, Ky. Gary Jones, who founded the company in 2005, tells RVBUSINESS.com that this new platform is specifically designed and engineered for the RV body builder and will be... Read more

RVB/Blue Ox Poll: Romney Wins by 3-1 Margin!

If the rest of the United States mirrored the political opinions of those who work daily in the American recreational vehicle industry, the presidential election would be all but over today because GOP candidate Mitt Romney lambasted incumbent Democratic Chief Executive Barack Obama in the latest round of the RVB/Blue Ox Survey by a decisive 3-1 margin. The tally in our latest poll: 74.9% for Republican Mitt Romney (1,014 respondents), 23.8% for incumbent Democrat Barack Obama (322) and a statistically... Read more

KOA Expecting Record Turnout for Convention

Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) is expecting a record crowd of park operators, vendors, staff and industry friends when it convenes Nov. 15-18 for the Billings, Mont.-based, campground franchisor’s annual KOA Convention. The event, slated for the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., will mark the KOA system’s 50th year as a leader in the RV park and campground business. In fact, things couldn’t have been looking much better for 488-park KOA’s November birthday... Read more

Fenech Brothers, Don Clark ‘Back in Business’

Former Thor executives Don Clark, Ron Fenech and Bill Fenech After a one-year hiatus and a great deal of speculation over the past year, high-profile RV industry senior managers Don Clark, Ron Fenech and Bill Fenech tell RVBUSINESS.com that the three former Thor Industries Inc. executives are ready to re-enter the RV market. The three close friends report that they’ll be equal partners in a new travel trailer and fifth-wheel venture in northeastern Elkhart County, Ind., the name of which, along... Read more

Newmar Corp. Recognizes Top OEM Vendors

Front row (left): Industrial Finishes’ (IF) Mike Pratt & Newmar’s Matt Miller, Kevin Bogan, Richard Parks & Mike O'Connell; back row: Newmar’s Rich Diener and IF’s Rich Dotson and Glenn Duckworth. Newmar Corp. held its 2011 Vendor Appreciation Dinner Thursday night (Oct. 18) at Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury, Ind., in an unusual family-style dinner at which the Nappanee, Ind.-based motorhome builder took the time to recognize vendors from throughout the country who excel... Read more

Go RVing Canada is Opting for Own Ad Creative

Convinced that current lifestyle ads aren’t generating enough “recall” among Canadian consumers, the leadership of Go RVing Canada has informed the all-industry Go RVing Coalition that it will be developing its own ad creative for the next round of the Go RVing marketing campaign. After the most recent coalition meeting at the RVDA Con/Expo in Las Vegas, however, Go RVing Canada spokesmen were downplaying the long-term significance of the decision and any negative impacts it might have... Read more

RVB/Blue Ox Poll: ‘Thumbs Up’ on Open House

Judging from the results of the latest RVBusiness/Blue Ox All-Industry Poll, a lot of RV industry people have taken a real shine to Elkhart’s Annual RV Open House Week, the fifth round of which was held Sept. 17-21. They like the accessibility of products and factory people and the relaxed atmosphere in which the Open House, with OEM displays located all around the RV-building center of Elkhart, Ind., is held. On the other hand, a lot of people still see the downsides, particularly the proliferation... Read more

RVC Goal: ‘Hilton of the Campground Industry’

Andy Cates The following is a Q&A conducted by Woodall’s Campground Management with Memphis, Tenn.-based RVC Outdoor Destinations (RVC) CEO Andy Cates. RVC is an emerging provider of “high-quality U.S., outdoor vacation properties,” that was founded in 2006 with an eye toward redefining North America’s camping experience through an outdoor destination concept involving upgraded RV and marine resort properties offering travelers the benefit of camping “on their own terms” in RVs,... Read more

Winnebago Vista Leads Ultra-Affordable Wave

Considering the nature of the North American economy and RV market right now, it’s probably not a surprise to see a wave of new ultra-affordable motorhomes – like Jayco Inc.’s new Redhawk Class C and Roadtrek’s Ranger RT Class B — taking center stage in this fall’s new 2013 model debuts. And one of the most visible in the early fall shows is Winnebago Industries Inc.’s 26- to 35-foot 2013 Vista Class A. Winnebago District Sales Manager Bob Amonitti, contacted during the Pennsylvania... Read more

Thor Divisions Give Open House a ‘Thumbs Up’

Thor President and COO Bob Martin talks to dealers As the clock ran down Thursday (Sept. 20) on Elkhart County’s 5th Annual RV Open House Week in and around Elkhart, Ind., exhibiting RV manufacturers were assessing the results of a crazy week that drew thousands of U.S. and Canadian dealer personnel to Elkhart County’s boulevards and side streets for a taste of Indiana hospitality and a good look at the industry’s new 2013 models. And the initial Open House assessment over at Thor Industries... Read more

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