Blue Ox’s TailGator Handles Heavy Pickup Loads

Blue Ox, Pender, Neb., has introduced the TailGator, allowing the transport of ATV’s, golf carts or other oversized vehicles without risking damage to the truck’s tailgate.

According to a press release, the TailGator was built to prevent damage and add support for the tailgate cables from undue stress.

It pins directly into any standard 2-inch receiver, eliminating the additional strain on the tailgate. Load capacity is rated at 1,000 pounds.

For more information on the TailGator and their complete line of towing and hitch systems contact Blue Ox, visit www.blueox.com.

 

 

 

Blue Ox Car #96 Primary Sponsor at Richmond

Killer Bees LLC and Blue Ox jointly announced that Blue Ox will serve as the primary sponsor of the #96 car driven by Ben Kennedy in the NASCAR K & N Pro Series East on Thursday (April 28) in Richmond International Speedway, Richmond, Va.

Blue Ox, of Pender, Neb., is a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicle and towing industry supplies and accessories.

“As the third generation owner of a family business, I am personally very excited to sponsor the #96 car this weekend,” Jay Hesse, president of Blue Ox, said in a news release. “Ben and his family’s time-honored foundation in NASCAR are a perfect reflection of Blue Ox’s respected tradition as the leader in the towing industry.”

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series features separate schedules and championships for the East and West, and makes up the top step of the NASCAR Home Tracks ladder. A launching pad for developmental drivers, as evidenced by the national series success of recent graduates Joey Logano, Trevor Bayne, Ricky Carmichael and Austin Dillon, the K&N Pro Series East has become the destination for the best up-and-coming prospects to launch their NASCAR careers, and the destination for fans to get a glimpse of the starts of tomorrow.

For more information on Blue Ox and the complete line of Blue Ox weight distribution and gooseneck hitches, towing and braking systems, steering controls systems, track bars, sport carriers and accessories contact Blue Ox, 1 Mill Road, Industrial Park, Pender, NE 68047; (402) 385-3051; fax (402) 385-3360; e-mail; info@blueox.com, website www.blueox.com.

Blue Ox 100 Helps Kick Off NASCAR’s Season

Blue Ox, a leader in the recreational vehicle and towing industry, has signed on as the official race entitlement sponsor of the opening event of the Spring NASCAR Weekend at Richmond International Raceway in Virginia. The Blue Ox 100 NASCAR K&N Pro Series East runs on Thursday (April 28), kicking off the action-packed weekend, according to a news release.

The NASCAR K&N Pro Series features separate schedules and championships for the East and West, and makes up the top step of the NASCAR Home Tracks ladder —a launching pad for developmental drivers and home for veterans of motorsports. In addition to producing NASCAR Sprint Cup Series drivers Joey Logano, Martin Truex Jr. and Kevin Harvick, the NASCAR K&N Pro Series has served as the starting point for some of the top up-and-coming talent now in NASCAR’s three national series, including Austin Dillon, Trevor Bayne and Ryan Truex.

For additional information on the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East, log on to www.NASCARHomeTracks.com – the ultimate online destination for fans of all of NASCAR’s developmental series.

Tickets for the Thursday Blue Ox 100 will be available for online purchase at www.rir.com or by calling (866) 455-7223. All seats are general admission and children 12 and under are admitted free with a ticketed adult.

The weekend continues on Friday with the BBA burger 250 NASCAR Nationwide Series race. Friday’s ticket includes Wawa Pole Qualifying and practice for the Sprint Cup Series, as well as NBC12 Pole Qualifying and practice for the Nationwide Series.

On Saturday night, the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series returns to Richmond International Raceway as Crown Royal Presents The Matthew & Daniel Hansen 400. Hometown hero Denny Hamlin will square off with defending series champion Jimmie Johnson, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and the rest of the Sprint Cup Series.

Blue Ox Broadens Towing Product Offerings

Blue Ox Signature Series Rotating Latch Bracket

Blue Ox is now offering a simple way to increase the ease of use on your current weight distribution hitch. The same Rotating Latch Brackets that are found on the Blue Ox SwayPro weight distributing and sway-control hitch are now available to separately to fit other weight distribution hitches, according to a news release. While most hitches on the market today utilize snap-up chain brackets which allow the chain to sway freely, the Signature Series Rotating Latch Bracket’s wrap-around design secures the chain thus reducing sway. The rotating latch enables you to hook up much quicker and with less hassle than traditional snap-up methods, and will improve the amount of clearance for enclosed trailer frames, propane bottles and battery compartments. Blue Ox Rotating Latch Brackets will be available in both clamp-on (84-0166) and bolt-on options (84-0167), and will fit any hitch that uses chains. For more information on the Blue Ox Rotating Latch Brackets and the complete line of Blue Ox towing and braking systems, steering controls systems, sport carriers and accessories contact Blue Ox, One Mill Road, Industrial Park, Pender, NE 68047; phone 402-385-3051; fax 402-385-3360; e-mail; info@blueox.us, website www.blueox.us.

Blue Ox Opens New Facility in Lincoln, Neb.

Blue Ox has opened a new engineering facility in Lincoln, Neb.

Located at 2331 Fairfield, the 4,400-square-foot facility will be devoted entirely to the design of new products and improvements to the company’s existing product line of towing products, hitches, braking systems, steering controls, carriers and fifth-wheel accessories, according to a news release.

“The new engineering office will be capitalizing on the fresh ideas and talents of interns from various local colleges and universities, in addition to experienced engineers from the Lincoln metro area,” said Dave Merchant, engineering manager

Blue Ox will maintain its Manufacturing and Product Support Department at its Pender, Neb., facility. “We will continue to lead the industry in the release of product specific applications such as baseplates, steering controls and gooseneck hitches in addition to current product line changes and supporting the Lincoln office”, said Armando Ambriz, operations manager.

For more information on Blue Ox Engineering and the complete line of Blue Ox tow bars, baseplates, hitches, braking systems, steering controls systems, sport carriers and accessories, contact Blue Ox, One Mill Road, Industrial Park, Pender, NE 68047; phone (402) 385-3051; fax (402) 385-3360; e-mail; info@blueox.us, website www.blueox.us.

Blue Ox Intros Class IV-Rated Allure Towbar

Blue Ox has introduced the new BX7455P Allure towbar. The Class IV-rated Allure towbar comes standard with a pintle hook connection. Additional options for a ball connection, receiver connection and clevis connection are also available to insure an application for all your towing needs. All models of Allure are self-aligning, self-locking and feature Blue Ox’s signature easy release locking handles and rubber boots to conceal the legs and protect from dirt and road grime. For more information on Blue Ox and their complete line of towing and hitch systems, contact Blue Ox, One Mill Road, Industrial Park, Pender, NE 68047; phone (402) 385-3051; fax (402) 385-3360; e-mail info@blueox.com; website www.blueox.com.

Blue Ox Expanding to Facebook and Twitter

The Blue Ox family of products has expanded its marketing and web presence to the social media networks of Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook is a free social networking service that works in connecting individuals to their friends and favorite brands. Twitter is also a free social networking service that allows members to “follow” their friends, favorite brands or public figures in a world dominated by updates in 160 characters or less.

“The new Blue Ox Facebook page provides us with a fantastic platform to update you on new and exciting developments,” Pender, Neb.-based Blue Ox said in a news release. “Almost everything that is available on our website, www.BlueOx.com, can be found on our Facebook Page. However, exclusive information, events and contests will be available for those who ‘Like’ our page, which is not available through our website. Those who ‘like’ our page will be able to contribute photos, ask questions and comment about products or events on our ‘Wall,’ ‘Photos’ and ‘Events’ tabs.”

“If any of our dealers, distributors or other RV market friends are already on Facebook and have the “Favorite Pages” application installed, let us know and we will add you to our ‘Favorite Pages’ box on our page,” the company added.

The new Blue Ox Twitter page provides viewers with up-to-the-second information pertaining to the RV market as a whole, new and exciting products, events it is hosting and attending and much more. All of these updates are made in 160 characters or less, meaning they are quick, to the point and easy to understand. Exciting new information, upcoming events and exclusive contests will be posted on Twitter.

To follow Blue Ox on Twitter, visit the Blue Ox Twitter Page, http://www.twitter.com/BlueOxProducts, and select the “Follow” button from the top left portion of the page.

RVBusiness Launches 3rd Top 50 Dealer Awards

RVBusiness magazine is launching the Third Annual RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards — a quality-focused program that sets the bar for best business practices in the RV industry. A gala reception and dinner at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas will announce the winners Oct. 6 during the annual RV Dealers International Convention/Expo.

This year, RVBusiness expanded the awards to include recreational park model manufacturers, reflecting how significant their contributions have become in a rapidly changing marketplace. The awards name 10 Blue Ribbon retailers, and one organization receives the Dave Altman Award, the equivalent of RVBusiness’ “Lifetime Achievement Award.”

RV manufacturers nominate the best and most professional dealers for aftermarket parts stores, sales lots, service work, F&I departments and personnel matters in addition to civic and charitable contributions. Affinity Group Inc. (AGI), the parent company of RVBusiness and the nation’s largest provider of outdoor clubs, services, media and events to the North American RV and outdoor enthusiast market, then invites nominated dealers to submit applications. Applications are independently reviewed by a panel of industry experts, none of whom are directly associated with RVBusiness or Affinity.

RVBusiness recognizes the Top 50 award winners in the October edition, on RVBUSINESS.com, and in dealers’ local and regional newspapers. Winners also receive RVBT50 window decals, rights to use the RVBT50 logo in their advertising, plus exposure to millions of active RV enthusiasts in the pages — and on the websites — of Affinity’s RV-focused consumer magazines, including Trailer Life, MotorHome, Highways, Coast to Coast and Camping Life.

Supporting the RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards this year are the following “Leadership Alliance” sponsors: ADP Lightspeed, Bank of the West, Blue Ox, Cummins Onan RV Generators, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp., RV America Insurance, RV Trader Online and Protective.

“We felt that the pursuit of professionalism and top-notch consumer care finds an even more receptive ear this year than it did during the dregs of the recession, and the Dealer Awards sets the bar for best business practices,” said RVBusiness magazine Publisher Sherman Goldenberg. “Looking around at the state of the industry, we realize just how much we have to be thankful for. The current upbeat atmosphere within the commercial sector beats the heck out of where we all were at this time last year.”

RVBusiness previously announced special celebrity guest, conservative Republican columnist and bestselling author, Ann Coulter, as the keynote speaker during the award ceremony. Coulter will talk about a variety of hot political topics including the “Tea Party” movement and related conservative themes.

The Con/Expo is sponsored by the U.S. Recreation Vehicle Dealer Association (RVDA) and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada (RVDA Canada). Tickets for the dinner are $139 ($119 for RVDA members, Con/Expo exhibitors and Top 50 dealer guests), and are available at the convention or at RVBusiness.com.

About the Top 50 RV Dealers Program:

The program’s purpose is to showcase credible role models and establish best business practices benchmarks at the retail level of the RV industry in terms of staff training, performing warranty and service work, managing aftermarket stores, superior consumer care and being good citizens of their respective communities. The dealerships were selected among those nominated as the best by the nation’s RV manufacturers. The program was founded and coordinated by RVBusiness magazine with additional support provided by the Leadership Alliance.

About Affinity:

Affinity, www.affinitygroup.com, is the nation’s largest provider of outdoor clubs, services, media and events that service the safety, security, comfort and convenience needs of the North American recreational vehicle (RV) and outdoor enthusiast market. By providing information, insights, and resources, the company champions the fun, freedom, and adventure of recreation in motion. The company works to enhance its customers’ recreational experiences and build the communities that share and promote their fun and adventurous lifestyles.

Coulter Headlines Annual RVB Dealer Awards

On the premise that the pursuit of professionalism and top-notch consumer care may find an even more receptive ear as the recession lifts, RVBusiness magazine is moving ahead with its 3rd Annual RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards — a quality-focused program culminating Oct. 6 at an upbeat reception and dinner at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas during the annual RV Dealers International Convention/Expo.

“While we realize that recognizing 50 U.S. and Canadian recreational vehicle dealerships above all the rest is a tough and highly subjective matter,” says RVBusiness Publisher Sherman Goldenberg, “we feel that the process of nominating, selecting, honoring and promoting those who generally do the best they can throughout North America is in itself a worthy exercise that brings to the forefront the quality themes outlined by the Go RVing Coalition’s Committee on Excellence.”

North American RV manufacturers have already completed their nominations for this year’s awards by forwarding the names of their best and most professional dealers with regard to aftermarket parts stores, sales lots, service work, F&I departments and personnel matters in addition to civic and charitable aspects.

“One key change for 2010,” said Goldenberg, “is that RVBusiness is expanding its program to include recreational park model manufacturers, realizing just how significant their contributions have become in a rapidly changing marketplace. Although their businesses haven’t fully recovered from the recession yet, the accommodations sector of the RV park and campground arena has been shifting somewhat to more destination-style cabins and lodges at parks throughout the U.S. and Canada. So, we thought it was time to include them.”

Nominated dealers are invited to submit applications by mid-July to BJ Thompson Associates, a northern Indiana agency that oversees an independent review of those applications by a panel of industry “experts,” none of whom are directly associated with RV Business or its parent company, Affinity Group Inc. (AGI).

Multi-store operations are again limited to one award, regardless of how many outlets they have, and the Top 50 dealers will not be ranked, although ten Blue Ribbon retailers will be named and one individual will be singled out for the Dave Altman Award, the equivalent of RVB’s “Lifetime Achievement Award.”

In addition to the recognition offered at the October dinner during this year’s RV Dealers International Con/Expo, sponsored by the U.S. Recreation Vehicle Dealer Association (RVDA) and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada (RVDA Canada), those selections ultimately will be announced in the pages of RVBusiness and on RVBUSINESS.com, both of which are owned by Affinity Group Inc.

Again this year, RVBusiness has invited a special celebrity guest to dinner to provide some thought-provoking table talk: Conservative Republican columnist Ann Coulter. An author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including “Guilty: Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America” (January 2009) and “If Democrats Had Any Brains, They’d Be Republicans” (October, 2007), Coulter more than likely will focus in her remarks on the nation’s anticipated, off-year electoral shift to the political right, including the “Tea Party” movement and related conservative themes.

A lawyer and frequent guest on ”Hannity” and ”The O’Reilly Factor” on the Fox News cable channel, Coulter will field audience questions after her remarks. Meanwhile, her appearance, along with that of former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne, keynote speaker at RVDA’s Tuesday (Oct. 5) general session, should lend a crowd-inducing national spotlight to this year’s Con/Expo.

“We chose Ann Coulter not because we endorse any one political viewpoint, “ said Mike Schneider, AGI president and CEO, “but because we wanted to bring a thought-provoking speaker to the podium in Las Vegas who might give us all – left, center or right – a chance to think and an opportunity again this year to enjoy a dinner with friends and industry peers along with a high-profile national celebrity.”

After the Con/Expo, RVB will promote the Top 50 award winners within the industry and in dealers’ local and regional newspapers. They’ll get RVBT50 window decals, rights to use the RVBT50 logo in their advertising plus exposure to millions of active RV enthusiasts in the pages – and on the websites – of AGI’s RV-related consumer magazines – Trailer Life, MotorHome, Highways, Coast to Coast and Camping Life.“

Supporting the RV Business Top 50 Dealer Awards this year are the following “Leadership Alliance” sponsors:

ADP Lightspeed : With ADP Lightspeed, dealers can steer their businesses with more precision than ever before. The integrated modules in the Salt Lake City, Utah, company’s LightspeedEVO RV dealer management system include comprehensive sales and F&I tools, real-time accounting functions, service tracking, automated parts inventory management and rental unit management. For more information, visit http://www.adplighspeed.com/rv/index.phpwww.adplighspeed.com/rv/index.php.

Bank of the West: Bank of the West, with more than $60 billion in assets and community bank roots dating back more than 135 years, has more than 700 commercial and retail banking locations throughout 19 Western and Midwestern states. Headquartered in San Francisco, Bank of the West originates commercial, small business and consumer loans and leases and provides a range of other individual and commercial deposit, cash management, trust, and investment products. For more information contact a Bank of the West account manager or look on the web at www.bankofthewest.com.

Blue Ox: Blue Ox, a leading manufacturer of towing and hitching products, attributes its success to its dealer partners and the vital interest this Nebraska company takes in their success by providing education, innovative new products and support that’s invested in serving dealers’ needs long after the sale. This approach has been paramount in developing the strong partnerships that have made the company’s dealers “True Blue.” For more information, visit www.blueox.us.

Cummins Onan RV Generators: Cummins Onan RV Generators are built by Cummins Power Generation, Minneapolis, Minn., the global leader in generator design and construction. For nearly 80 years, Onan generators have been providing reliable stationary and portable power for cities, hospitals, shopping centers, military vehicles and fire engines around the world, as well as for the U.S. RV industry. For more information, visit www.cumminsonan.com.

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp.: Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) manufactures diesel chassis for walk-in vans, motorhomes, school buses, and commercial buses and enjoys market share leadership in all addressable industries. Established in 1995 in Gaffney, S.C., FCCC chassis provide customers with exceptional performance and reliability. More than 400 dealers in the U.S. and Canada provide sales and service, and FCCC offers 24/7 customer support at 800-FTL-HELP.

RV America Insurance: RV America, headquartered in Simi Valley, Calif., has provided some of the lowest rates for specialized recreational vehicle insurance for more than two decades, and each of its companies is rated “A, Excellent” or higher by A.M. Best Company. The company works hard to find clients the best rate and coverage for their travel trailer and motorhome insurance needs. For more information, visit www.RVAinsurance.com.

RV Trader Online: Available at RVTraderOnline.com is an extensive selection of classified ads, with more than 60,000 recreational vehicles to choose from and more than 800 dealership listings. More than 640,000 serious buyers visit RVTraderOnline.com — more than any other source – each month, company officials state. RVTraderOnline.com, Norfolk, Va., also offers video advertising, web services, lead management, mobile search and several new tools and lead-generating opportunities. Whether you are looking to buy, sell or research recreational vehicles, RVTraderOnline.com is the No. 1 resource for all RV enthusiasts, manufacturers and dealers.

Protective: Chesterfield, Mo.-based Protective offers XtraRide RV extended protection programs exclusively endorsed by RVDA and designed to meet recreational vehicle dealership needs. Building customer loyalty, increasing repeat business and generating customer referrals are among the added benefits XtraRide brings to its dealership partners. For more information, visit www.protective.com.

For more information, contact BJ Thompson Associates Account Executive Barb Riley by phone at (574) 674-6300 or by email at briley@bjta.com. Goldenberg can be reached at (574) 457-3370 or at goldenberg@kconline.com.

Wallace/Team Blue Ox Place 16th at Daytona

Editor’s Note: The following report comes from Mathew Krzesinski and chronicles a portion of NASCAR driver Kenny Wallace’s recent performance at Daytona. RV supplier Blue Ox of Pender, Neb., is one of the car’s sponsors.

For Kenny Wallace and the No. 28 Blue Ox last Saturday’s Nationwide Series event was a true test of our will to compete and a first for Kenny behind the wheel.

Due to inclement weather, the Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD qualifying was canceled on Friday (Feb. 19), putting the JRR No. 28 Blue Ox Chevy in the 19th starting position based on 2009 owner points.

Saturday, in front of over 80,000 fans, on a sunny, clear and crisp afternoon in Daytona, the green flag was about to drop. Shortly after the green, a couple of cars were involved in an early-race incident, giving the team a much-needed caution to take care of some serious communication concerns.

Kenny could not be heard!

We had no communication from him at all and Jay had the No. 28 Blue Ox Chevy come in to the pits to change helmets. Kenny took the chance to tell Jay that the car was mad loose. The net went down, the window was out and the team hustled to complete the switch, but the change did not help; we still could not hear any chatter over the radio from Kenny. Once back on the track and out of the draft, the No. 28 Blue Ox Chevy quickly fell a lap behind with just over 30 laps in the books.

Kenny was able to keep the car only one lap down while fighting some loose conditions. As always in Daytona, wrecks are a plenty. Owner Jay Robinson came over the radio and stated with confidence,“Don’t worry, Kenny, we are going to get the car right and get this lap back. We have a long way to go and the cautions will come!”

Then, coming out of turn 4 on the Daytona SuperSpeedway and down toward the front stretch came cars a flying.

“They are wrecking out of turn 4 – whoa up! Get low – get low – good job! Go on right through pit road,” said spotter of the No. 28 Blue Ox Chevy, Curtis Aldridge. The carnage ate up a handful of cars including heralded rookie Danica Patrick. As NASCAR cleared the track, the JRR Team was given the OK to take the wave around, putting us back on the lead lap and back in contention after a challenging start.

As the race continued and the crew made the proper adjustments, it was apparent Wallace had a strong-handling car capable of securing a top-20 result. Through the second half of the event, the No. 28 Blue Ox Chevy was consistently running some of the fastest laps in the field.

Another big wreck on the back stretch almost collected Kenny, but the No. 28 charged through the wreckage as spotter C. Aldridge guided Kenny through – “Go low – keep coming – they are coming up behind you – go go go!”

Kenny stated after the race that, “There were cars all around me. Parts and pieces flying over top the hood. I don’t know how we made it through that one.”

That incident put us up in the Top 15 for the last restart, but some front-end damage affecting the air flow and left side affected the down force of the car. Wallace and Team Blue Ox motored hard in the final laps to get their No. 28 up as far as possible and ultimately to a great finish in 16th place.

“I have never completed a race start to finish without communication to my team. That was a first for my career and I am proud of the whole Blue Ox Team,” Wallace said afterward.

The next event for Wallace, Team Blue Ox and the rest of the Nationwide Series will be this Saturday’s race in Fontana at Auto Club Speedway

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