Slade Rand
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Articles by Slade Rand
Washington Cap-and-Invest: After Splashy Debut, What’s Next?
Washington’s highly anticipated Cap-and-Invest Program is well underway and building momentum as the state’s carbon emitters gain clarity on market dynamics and prepare for the second auction at the end of May 2023. The program kicked off on Jan. 1, 2023, less than two years since the state legislature adopted new carbon emissions goals.
Anderson Brass Expands RV Water Service Panel Offerings
The Anderson Brass Company is expanding its water service panel line to meet increasing demand in the RV industry. According to the company, its brass valve system is a much longer-lasting product than other traditional plastic valves on water service panels. Anderson Brass Company’s water service panels are customizable to meet OEM needs and guaranteed with a five-year warranty, adding value to their units.
Industry Leaders Celebrate Great American Outdoors Act
Leaders from across the RV industry thanked Congress for passing the Great American Outdoors Act on Tuesday, and gave insight on the future success the new act allows for. Phil Ingrassia, president of the RV Dealers Association, pointed to the benefits dealerships and suppliers will see due to improved funding for federal camping areas and public lands.
Rollin’ On TV RV Show Taps New Partnership
RV-focused TV program Rollin’ On TV added its newest branded sponsor today, with the finalization of a partnership with Wholesale Warranties.
Breaking: Congress Passes Landmark Great American Outdoors Act
The U.S. House of Representatives took significant action to address campground modernization and deferred maintenance on public lands with the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) by a vote of 310-107 today, July 22. The bill, which will provide the largest investment in our iconic public lands in over a century, was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate last month.
Jayco Named Official RV of John Force Racing League
Jayco is now the official RV partner of a youth dragster racing league named the John Force Racing Jr. Dragsters. The John Force Racing Jr. Dragsters teams are headlined by sixteen-time Funny Car world champion John Force’s three grandchildren. Jayco announced the partnership with the dragster league today, July 22. “Jayco is extremely excited to be partnering with such a well-known and established racing team.
Outdoor Recreation Leader to Speak Before Senate Committee
This week, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Executive Director Jessica Turner will discuss broad impacts the COVID-19 pandemic has had on users of the nation’s public lands and outdoor recreation economy during a full committee Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing.
Liberty Trailers Announces Expansion and Updated Branding
Trailer manufacturer Liberty Trailers announced an 8,000 sq. ft. expansion of its Fillmore, Indiana facilities earlier this month. The company said the major project will not only improve upon its production process but also provide much-needed space for its Research & Development center. Additionally, the company launched a new logo that will modernize the company’s branding along with the new facilities.
Blue Dog RV to Open New Location in Anderson, CA
Blue Dog RV has broken ground on its newest 5.5 acre sales center, located in Anderson, Ca on ‘RV Dealer Row’. The dealership is anticipating the ‘Grand Opening’ for the this fall, but has plans to display or sell vehicles onsite within the next 30 days. Blue Dog RV announced the new location yesterday, July 21. The company also recently opened another dealership in Redmond, Oregon this month. Click here to read more coverage of Blue Dog RV.
ORR Names First 2020 Legends Award Winner
The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable will present Patti Williams with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 2020 Legends Award, ORR leaders announced today. Williams is being honored for “outstanding work to improve outdoor recreation experiences and opportunities for the American people.” The ORR will announce the full class of 2020 Legends Award winners throughout the rest of this month. Williams is the first recipient to be named.
RVIA: Go RVing Campaign Reaches 310 Million People With Wave One
The newest RVIA Go RVing campaign, Go On A Real Vacation, has reached nearly 310 million people through social media and radio since launching in early June. The series of ads serves as a reminder to people of the freedom that comes with traveling in an RV, driving the consumers to their nearest RV dealership where they can join the 46 million Americans planning an RV trip this year.
Tom Manning & Associates Adds Staff Member
Patterson joins the company with experience in cataloging, advertising and working with suppliers. She spent 30 years of her career working with Northwest Trailer Parts, NTP Distribution and Keystone Automotive. “Teresa has always been one of my favorites over the years,” said Tom Manning, president of Tom Manning & Associates. “Her work ethic, quality and attention to detail are phenomenal.
ARVC Shares Details on Free Hosted Buyer Expo Registration
Some RV park and campsite owners will be able to attend the virtual Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo this year for free. Registration for OHCE2020 started today, July 21, and the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds announced the opportunity for campground owners, operators and managers who are decision makers at their campground to RSVP for free.
Black Book: Big Spike in Wholesale RV Values This Month
Wholesale RV values hit an all time high this past month, according to Black Book’s monthly analysis of the used RV market. The average selling price for motorized units climbed to $51,574 in June, up more than 9.0% from the May mark. Motorhome value hit a similar peak in Dec. 2019, according to Black Book, but this June 2020 spike is the highest the analysts show since 2016.
Video: RVIA President Craig Kirby Calls for GAOA Support
RVIA President Craig Kirby shared his adamant support for the Great American Outdoors Act in a new video message to the industry today. The RV Industry Association circulated the video as a call to action for industry leaders to contact their representatives in support of the act. “We are in the final push for the Great American Outdoors Act,” Kirby said.
Video: Holiday Rambler Shares Walk-Through of 2021 Armada
Holiday Rambler joined the trend toward virtual dealer tactics and virtual sales with a video walk-through of its new 2021 Holiday Rambler Armada today. “Follow our factory rep around the all-new Holiday Rambler Armada 44LE. This flagship motorhome is feature packed and loaded with options,” Holiday Rambler announced. “The new Fossil painted cabinetry, and interior decor are stunning and the master bath at the rear of the coach is jaw dropping with the massive shower and ample storage.”
Hemmeler to Lead RVTI Dealer Webinar Tomorrow
The RV Technical Institute will host an RVTI dealer webinar tomorrow afternoon, July 21, with Executive Director Curtis Hemmeler. Hemmeler recently stepped into a new, broader role with the RV Industry Association and RVTI. He became the Senior Vice President of Standards for the RVIA at the start of this month in addition to his RVTI responsibilities. Tuesday’s webinar will feature an extended Q&A session with Hemmeler, his first since taking on the new job.
Registration Opens for ARVC Hospitality Conference With Free Option
Online registration for the 2020 Outdoor Hospitality Conference and Expo opens tomorrow morning, July 21, the ARVC announced today. The National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC) announced that because of the shift to a virtual event this year due to COVID-19, registration rates will be significantly reduced compared to the in-person event. The ARVC is also offering an option to attend for free, allowing even more individuals in the industry to experience the event.
Dometic Shares Q2 Earnings
Dometic shared a report on its earnings and other financials for Q2 2020 this week, showing the results of an “extraordinary” quarter under the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. “The second quarter was extraordinary in many ways,” President and CEO Juan Vargues said.
NHTSA Issues Recalls for Keystone, Forest River, Jayco Units
NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V400000 Manufacturer Forest River, Inc. Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Potential Number of Units Affected 62 Summary Forest River Inc. (Forest River) is recalling certain 2021 Riverstone trailers, models RSF37MRE, RSF381FB, RSF383MB, SF383MB-W, RSF39FK, RSF38FKTH, RSF39FKTH-W, RSF39FK-W, RSF39RBFL, RSF39KFB and RSF39RKFB-W, equipped with an optional generator prep package.
Exclusive: U.S./Canada Border Closure Likely Won’t Affect RV Trade
The Canadian government is moving to extend its U.S./Canada border closure, but the ban on non-essential travel to and from the U.S. shouldn’t affect supply or RV parts shipments. According to the Associated Press, the U.S., Canada and Mexico plan to extend agreements to keep their shared borders closed to only non-essential travel until Aug. 21. The potential extended closure, however, would not mean a ban on “essential cross-border workers” including truck drivers and airline crews.
NTP-Stag, RVDA of Canada Name 2020 Bursary Recipients
NTP-Stag Canada and the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association of Canada announced the ten recipients of the annual NTP-Stag Canada RV Technician Bursary scholarships this week. Ten RV technicians across Canada who have enrolled in some form of RV apprenticeship training will receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $1,500 for their training this year.
RVDA Shares Free RV Learning Center Video About Furloughs
The RV Dealers Association shared a webinar about “when employees won’t come back to work” with the RV industry this week, free of charge. The free RVDA learning center video can be accessed here. The association has been partnering with KPA through the Mike Molino RV Learning Center to produce video sessions and webinars sharing information about best practices for the workplace under COVID-19. The RVDA shared a free, 15-minute sample from the series this week.
Prime Time Trailers Added to Country Roads Lineup
The founders of Country Roads RV Center in Lexington, North Carolina announced this week that they added two new travel trailers to their inventory: Prime Time’s Tracer Travel Trailer and LaCrosse Travel Trailer. According to RVShare.com, Country Roads RV Center is one of the largest dealerships in North Carolina. It’s a family-owned business that shifted from dealing auto products in the 1980s.
Elkhart County COVID-19 Reopening to Remain in Stage 4
Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the majority of the state will remain in Stage 4.5 of the Back On Track Indiana plan through at least July 31. Elkhart County will remain in Stage 4 as it has for the last two weeks. Local governments may impose more restrictive guidelines. “As we actively track our health indicators and monitor the data, we continue to see the need to maintain our current levels found on Indiana’s Back On Track roadmap,” Gov. Holcomb said.
Adventurer Manufacturing Introduces New Sales Team
Adventurer Manufacturing expanded its sales team in recent months, and shared an updated list of representatives with the RV industry today. According to the company, Adventure Manufacturing has experienced rapid and sustainable growth this year after introducing a new brand, Scout Campers, last spring. Adventure Manufacturing also announced in 2019 that it expanded its production site and increased operating capacity.
Blue Dog RV Opens of New Oregon Location
Blue Dog RV dealership opened its newest retail location this week in Redmond, Oregon. The company announced the recent opening of its newly acquired dealership on Tuesday. The Blue Dog RV staff completed the move-in process to the former Larry’s RV property this week, and is now open for business.
RVIA: RV Industry Provides Resources For First Time RVers
With 46 million Americans planning an RV trip this year, many for the first time ever, Go RVing has the resources to make sure these RV newbies have all they need to head out for the first time. Whether it is finding the right type of RV, locating a campground, knowing how to set up camp, or ideas for keeping the kids entertained on the road, Go RVing has it covered. Don’t take our word for it. Go RVing partners with real RVers who provide resources on how to get started.
USTR Announces New List 1, 4A Exclusions
Last week, USTR posted another round of List 1 exclusion extensions, this time for products and HTS subheadings with exclusions expiring on July 9, 2020. The extended exclusions cover twelve specially-prepared product descriptions. While USTR indicated that it would consider extensions of up to 12 months, these exclusions have been extended only through December 2020. The new expiration date for these exclusions is December 31, 2020.
Video: Winnebago ‘On The Road Again’ Campaign Goes Live
Winnebago owners came together, virtually, over the past month to share a song and celebrate the RV lifestyle under social distancing recommendations. The RV maker’s “On The Road Again” video premiered Monday, featuring Winnebago owners joining country music artist Stephanie Quayle in singing the Willie Nelson classic from remote locations.
Airstream Launches 2021 Basecamp 20 Trailer
Airstream, maker of the “silver bullet” fleet of Airstream travel trailers and touring coaches, today announced the launch of its newest addition to the brand’s travel trailer lineup. The 2021 Basecamp 20 and the 20X package offer off-road features, and are the newest trailer offerings from Airstream.
RVIA: Auto Expert Mike Caudill Joins Go RVing Virtual Media Tour
Go RVing has partnered with renowned auto expert Mike Caudill for a summer-long virtual media tour where he’s sharing the story of the RV industry’s surge in sales, rentals and first-timer RVers. Mike worked around the fact that satellite trucks aren’t available due to Covid-19 by using SKYPE and his own editing equipment to make the tour possible. He set up a campsite at his home on Old Hickory Lake in Tennessee as the backdrop to broadcast interviews.
Exclusive: Canadian Border Closure Likely Won’t Affect RV Trade
The Canadian government is moving to extend its U.S. border closure, but the ban on non-essential travel to and from the U.S. shouldn’t affect supply or RV parts shipments. According to the Associated Press, the U.S., Canada and Mexico plan to extend agreements to keep their shared borders closed to only non-essential travel until Aug. 21. The extended closure, however, does not mean a ban on “essential cross-border workers” including truck drivers and airline crews.
JR Products Rolls Out Dealership Loyalty Program
JR Products launched a new dealership loyalty program this week called JR Products Rolling Rewards. The company announced the new rewards initiative Tuesday, July 14, after developing the new loyalty program over the past few months.
Lippert Components Reports Sales Affected by Pandemic
LCI Industries, which, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Lippert Components, supplies, domestically and internationally, a broad array of highly engineered components for the leading original equipment manufacturers in the recreation and transportation product markets, and the related aftermarkets of those industries, today announced preliminary second quarter 2020 sales results. For the second quarter 2020, the Company expects net sales in a range of $515 million to $530 million.
2020 Elkhart Open House Canceled, Expected to Resume in 2021
The Elkhart Open House/Product Expo will not happen this year, organizers said Tuesday. The major RV manufacturers that host the annual event moved to cancel the 2020 Open House due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, according to sources. Forest River and Thor Industries told industry partners Tuesday evening they would not hold the event this year. The 2020 Open House was to take place Sept. 21-25 in Elkhart, Indiana.
Breakaway Wireless Adapter Improves RVibrake3 from RVi
RVi launched a new product today meant to make installation and use of breakaway systems easier for RVers. The new Breakaway Wireless Adapter from RVi pairs with its RVibrake3 system, connecting the breakaway and alert system via WiFi. According to the company, the wireless connection removes the need to plug in the breakaway into RVibrake3 for every trip. “The first time you plug it in is the last,” RVi announced.
Survey Shows Optimism About COVID-19 in Elkhart, IMA Reports
As a part of an ongoing effort to gauge the needs of the Indiana manufacturing community, the Indiana Manufacturers Association (IMA) has been conducting periodic surveys regarding how COVID-19 is affecting all areas of manufacturing, Indiana’s largest economic sector. The latest survey, conducted in June, measured the trends in manufacturers’ outlook and focused on the various methods employed by manufacturers to protect workers and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
Alliance RV Hires New Regional Sales Manager
Alliance RV has hired Max Villa as regional sales manager, the company announced Monday. Villa will handle sales responsibilities for the Western U.S. and Canada for Alliance RV’s Paradigm luxury fifth wheel, and its soon to launch Valor toy hauler fifth wheel. “Max has a proven track record of developing strong relationships while providing exceptional service and sales support to his dealer partners and retail customers,” said Jeremiah Dumka, Alliance general manager.
RV Care Selects Don Main as Board Chairman
RV Care, Canada’s Largest RV Dealer Network, recently tapped Don Main as its newly appointed Chairman of Board. The RV Care Board of Directors unanimously approved Main as the third Chairman in the company’s 20-year history. Main has been the President of Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre in Brandon Manitoba since 1978 and has served the Canadian RV industry in many capacities over the last 40+ years.
New Product: ESCORT MAX 3 Radar Detection
ESCORT introduced the ESCORT MAX 3 today, a connected driver alert system with new features and access to the ESCORT driving community. It’s the newest product in ESCORT’s line of radar and laser detection and driver awareness technology.
Video: Dirty Jobs Star Takes His RV on the Road
Mike Rowe, star of Discovery Channel’s “Dirty Jobs,” set out on his own RV road trip this month. Instead of focusing on tough jobs no one wants to do, this time Rowe wants to give viewers a look at the great outdoors across America. Dubbed a “Rowe’d Trip,” the journey will take Rowe down a memory lane of sorts, visiting old job sites and reminiscing about the “Dirty Jobs” era, all while experiencing cross-country RV travel.
Lippert Components Volunteer Week Underway
Lippert Components’ first-ever LCI Volunteer Week began Sunday and will continue through the end of this week, July 18.
Indiana Manufacturers Association Accepting Nominations for 2020 Awards
The Indiana Manufacturers Association’s 2020 Manufacturing Excellence Awards nominations are now open for RV industry professionals. The awards highlight Indiana companies and individuals for the outstanding work they do, exceptional contributions made to the industry, and their impact on the future of manufacturing in Indiana. This year, the Indiana Manufacturers Association awards include a special award for those manufacturers who have responded to the call during the COVID-19 pandemic.
RVIA: RV Industry Continues Seeing Positive Press
Over the past several months not a day has gone by without a news story highlighting how RVs have become the ideal way to travel this summer. During this time, the RV Industry Association’s PR team has been proactively managing press inquiries from dozens and dozens of local and national outlets, pushing out positive messages portraying RVs as the way to travel in a responsible and socially distant way, while also having control over your environment and how you interact with people around you.
RV, Outdoor Recreation Businesses Urge House to Pass GAOA
More than 120 outdoor businesses sent a letter to House leadership today urging passage of the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). According to the 127 companies that signed the letter, the GAOA would stimulate the outdoor recreation industry and the thousands of small and large businesses that comprise the growing industry. GAOA would also create more safe and sustainable recreation access while improving infrastructure for all Americans.
Airstream Names Top Dealers For 2020
Airstream, maker of the “silver bullet” fleet of Airstream travel trailers and touring coaches, today announced its top dealer rankings based on retail units sold between May 13, 2019 and June 30, 2020. “I’d like to congratulate all of our top dealers on a job well-done over the course of this turbulent year,” said Justin Humphreys, VP of Sales at Airstream. “Our top dealers’ performance has been exceptional, and we understand the incredible effort it takes to earn these coveted awards.
LazyDays RV Sales, Earnings Spike in Q2 2020
Lazydays RV sales and total revenue increased dramatically this June compared to the same month last year, according to preliminary financial results for the quarter ending June 30, 2020. The RV dealer took a hit in April due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but saw its sales climb much higher than pre-pandemic levels during the next two months. RV unit sales increased 55% from May 2019 to May 2020, and in June further spiked to 88% higher than the previous year.
NHTSA Posts New Recalls Affecting RV Units
The National Highway Travel Safety Administration released new recalls for RV parts affecting units by Forest River, Airstream and Jayco today. Read below for a list of NHTSA recalls for RV units issued this week: Airstream Bolts Securing Suspension Spring May Be Too Long If the bolts carry the load rather than the bracket, it can cause them to break, affecting the vehicle handling and increasing the risk of a crash. NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V391000 Manufacturer: Airstream, Inc.
Webinar on Dealership Reputation Coming Next Week
The Mike Molino RV Learning Center and strategic partner KPA will host a free webinar on Thursday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern entitled ‘Protect Your Employees, Customers, and Dealership’s Reputation During COVID-19.’ Attendees will learn about strategies to prevent regulatory penalties and lawsuits while also protecting employees, customers, and ultimately your dealership’s reputation. Join experts from KPA as they explore longer-term challenges dealerships will face due to the coronavirus.
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