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

Forest River’s Upbeat on Open House and 2012

Pete Liegl at RV Open House Nowhere was the pulse of the industry more evident on Tuesday (Sept. 18), the first full day of Elkhart County’s Annual RV Open House Week, than Forest River Inc.’s teeming Dynamax facility on the north side of Elkhart, Ind., where lunch was being served to thousands of dealer personnel as members of the company’s senior management greeted the U.S. and Canadian retailers. “So far, it’s noon of the first day and it’s packed in here,” quipped Forest River President... Read more

Open House Projects an ‘Industry on the Mend’

Dealers enjoy casino night at Gulf Stream's opening night party Elkhart County’s 5th Annual RV Open House Week appears to be taking yet another step forward as a legitimate national industry trade event, judging by the number of companies and the expanded array of new model year RVs on display Monday (Sept. 17) prior to the more earnest Open House kickoff on Tuesday morning. All in all, it was a pretty positive picture in the RV-building center of Elkhart, Ind., offering another vignette of... Read more

RVB/Blue Ox Survey: Fix Model Year Approach

The jury’s in, so to speak, on the latest RVBusiness/Blue Ox Survey question, and industry respondents have returned their most lopsided decision to date on the question of whether the North American recreational vehicle industry, for a variety of reasons, should better coordinate its new model introductions. A commanding 88% of those posting their opinions say they’d prefer a more coordinated new model introduction cycle – something more akin to the auto industry where new releases all... Read more

Thor Divisions Focused on ‘Open House Week’

Thor's display at last year's Open House Jackson Center, Ohio-based Thor Industries Inc.’s RV-building divisions have been targeting Elkhart County’s 5th Annual RV Open House Week, which is set for Sept. 17-21 around the RV manufacturing hub of Elkhart, Ind., for a period of months, Thor President Bob Martin reports. In fact, Martin indicates that Thor’s Airstream, CrossRoads, Dutchmen, Heartland, Keystone, Redwood, Breckenridge and Thor Motor Coach divisions are taking a pretty... Read more

Forest River Expecting an Open House Replay

Dealers gather at last year's Forest River Open House Forest River Inc. President Pete Liegl indicates that his company, based on current registrations, is expecting to reach or exceed last year’s dealer count during what has become known as Elkhart County’s 4th Annual RV Open House. Forest River conceived the whole Open House concept in 2009 as a morale-booster for U.S. and Canadian dealers during the depths of the global recession. In fact, things are looking pretty good right now for Forest... Read more

RVB/Blue Ox Survey Looks at ’12 Open House

Thor's display at last year's Elkhart Open House Nobody ever knows exactly how many people are attending Elkhart’s Annual RV Open House Week because the Open House, now in its fourth year, has never had any sort of central registration. And that’s still the case for this year’s event, slated for Sept. 17-21 in and around the side streets, home offices, showrooms and varied open field exhibits around the RV-building hub of Elkhart County, Ind. Judging from responses to the latest round... Read more

Martin Promotion Serves Thor Succession Plan

Bob Martin Yesterday’s (July 18) announcement that Thor Industries Inc. RV Senior Group President Bob Martin is being promoted Aug. 1 to president and COO is being viewed by industry insiders as a natural move for the respected executive. Martin, 42, had worked his way up through the ranks at Coachmen Industries Inc. and Thor’s Keystone RV Co. subsidiary before assuming the senior group presidency in February. But many hadn’t expected it so soon for the 18-year industry veteran, an Elkhart,... Read more

Fleetwood Owners Converge on Elkhart County

Fleetwood owners enjoy this week's rally in Elkhart County Despite the oppressive heat, Fleetwood RV Inc.’s national “Back Home in Indiana” rally got off to a good start last night (June 28) with a large assemblage of 335 coaches at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen, Ind. This is the Decatur, Ind.-based company’s fourth national rally and is actually the second largest since Fleetwood, established in 2009 when American Industrial Partners Capital Fund IV LP of New York acquired... Read more

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