Features
-
Blog: Guarding Your Dealership During a Pandemic
Business owners around the world find themselves in an unprecedented situation with the current outbreak of COVID-19. Maybe you have…
Read More » -
REDARC Battery Chargers, the Easy Solution
Whether you’re heading off on a day trip or a long adventure off-grid, chances are you will need some form…
Read More » -
FCCC Ventures onto Electric Avenue
When Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. recently debuted a new production-ready version of its all-electric MT50e truck chassis, it was aimed…
Read More » -
Blog: A Soldier’s Perspective on Airdropping into the Unknown
In a night parachute jump, you cannot see the ground, you cannot see if you are over water, and you…
Read More » -
Bumps in the Bayou for Premiere RV
Louisiana saw its share of tough times over about a five-year period. And Billy Thibodeaux’s Premiere RV – like pretty…
Read More » -
Blog: How to Market a Dealership During a Pandemic
The coronavirus outbreak will not last forever. This is perhaps the most important thing to remember. There’s the tendency to…
Read More » -
General RV Gains Commanding Ground
Michigan-based and family-owned General RV Center recently opened a new RV supercenter facility in Ashland, Va., which is now one of…
Read More » -
What You Should Know About RV Pest Prevention
Spring is almost here! Unfortunately, so are the pests. No place is immune to pests, and being closer to nature makes…
Read More » -
Refining the Gold Standard
Companies often make radical changes because they’re failing – or wildly succeeding. At Gold Heat, success has been the fuel…
Read More » -
Is Your Dealership Prepared for CCPA Compliance?
The recent California Consumer Protection Act (CCPA) should have every dealership conducting an overall compliance audit to ensure their compliance…
Read More » -
Sprinter Platform On the Rise
Russ Garfin, director of product management for Class B and C motorhomes at Winnebago Industries, still vividly recalls back in 2006…
Read More » -
GE Appliances Makes Inroads in RV Segment
When consumers shop for new appliances, they often look for brands they already know, and many prefer buying ones that…
Read More » -
Dometic’s Redesigned Water Heater Has a New Gas Valve
Long, hot showers are a guilty pleasure that many of us rarely think about twice. For those who spend quite…
Read More » -
Longevity Empowers LaVanture Products
Many of the products that LaVanture Products sources to RV manufacturers and the aftermarket – including trims, sealants, foam tapes,…
Read More » -
Roadmaster Expansion to Be Complete in Two Years
A rolling stone gathers no moss, the old saying goes, and that’s definitely true for Roadmaster Inc. While the supplier…
Read More » -
Safer Braking Technology – A Match for Modern Vehicle Systems and Interiors
A match for modern vehicle systems With RVs increasing in size and mass it is common to see a 10,000-pound fifth…
Read More » -
East to West on Course for Growth
In about a year’s time, Elkhart, Ind.-based manufacturer East to West RV has bounded from being the 58th largest travel…
Read More » -
5 Business Pointers from the Military’s Special-Ops
The U.S. military’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) packs a formidable punch. High-tech equipment, silent weapons, dangerous scenarios, thrilling missions –…
Read More » -
Affordable RVs Engages Customers with Rental Program
About a half hour north of Sacramento, Calif., and a bit more than an hour west of the iconic Lake…
Read More » -
Why Smart Devices in an RV Matter
Today, RVing can be easier than ever before with all the technology that is at the fingertips of adventurers. Going…
Read More » -
How to Turn Prospects Into Customers
There is a magic formula for turning prospects into customers. It isn’t a well-kept secret, complicated potion, or hard-to-swallow pill.…
Read More » -
Antop Antenna Adapts to the Changing Market
Sometimes, there’s nothing better than the original. Antop Antenna is an original name in the antenna world, having manufactured antennas…
Read More » -
Progressive Dynamics to Debut Three Inverters
The mission of Progressive Dynamics as it relates to serving the company’s end users is remarkably straight- forward, according to…
Read More » -
Blog: Helpful Career Tips for 2020
The start of the New Year is always a great time to pause and look for career advice. Adapting your skills,…
Read More » -
Omnia’s Stovetop Dominates Europe, Expands to U.S.
In Europe, Omnia Sweden’s Omnia recreational stovetop oven enjoys a strong reputation with RVers there for its ability to make…
Read More » -
Sonny’s RVs Set to Eclipse 2018 Sales
Mike Rone is quick to say that Sonny’s RVs in central Wyoming has a unique market that’s resistant to current…
Read More » -
Northern Lite Has Third Straight Year of Double-Digit Growth
If truck campers are the hidden jewels of the RV industry, then Northern Lite Mfg. could be described as one…
Read More » -
Furrion Pioneers Off-Grid Tech
Furrion always does things in a big way. So, perhaps it should not come as a surprise to anyone in…
Read More » -
Dealers Share the Benefits to Joining a 20 Group
No one will tell you running an RV dealership is easy. Unlike some other businesses, it can require major investments…
Read More » -
Broadmoor RV SuperStore Sees $50M in Annual Sales
Not every RV dealership can say it started its business in shipping containers. However, that was the case for family-owned…
Read More » -
How Rapido Plotted the Rebirth of Roadtrek
Rapido Group owners Pierre Rousseau and son Nicolas manned the Roadtrek display during September’s Elkhart Open House Week, meeting many…
Read More » -
Blog: Rules Leaders Need to Live By
We live in a jaded world when it comes to leadership. Someone might give incredible advice on leadership or recite…
Read More » -
Best of Show Winners – Part Four
ELKHART, Ind. – The sheer volume of new RVs on display combined with the dizzying array of special features and…
Read More » -
Best of Show Winners – Part Three
ELKHART, Ind. – The sheer volume of new RVs on display combined with the dizzying array of special features and…
Read More » -
Best of Show Winners – Part Two
ELKHART, Ind. – The sheer volume of new RVs on display combined with the dizzying array of special features and…
Read More » -
Best of Show Winners – Part One
ELKHART, Ind. – The sheer volume of new RVs on display at Open House combined with the dizzying array of…
Read More » -
Texas-based Vogt RV Eyes Fifth Location
In a tall glass, combine the following: manufacturer dedication and support, dealer best practices, a customer-first culture and a knack…
Read More » -
REDARC Electronics Celebrates 40 Years
Forty Years of Innovation Australian-based, advanced manufacturer, REDARC Electronics is widely recognized for its world-class range of electronic products, including…
Read More » -
Progressive Dynamics Developing New 2,000-Watt Inverter
When a company is rooted in quality engineering, many ideas, designs and prototypes come and go. “Since our founding, we’ve…
Read More » -
Cummins Celebrates 100 Years of Power Systems
Had Clessie Cummins, his partner, and their successors, merely thought they were selling diesel engines, Cummins Inc. probably wouldn’t have…
Read More » -
Canada’s Pleasure-Way Holds Nearly 40 Percent Market Share
Pop quiz: Which manufacturer below enjoyed the top spot in Class B sales in Canada during the first six months…
Read More » -
How to Leverage Sales Intelligence Tools in the RV Industry
It’s no secret that the sales cycle can be longer in the RV industry than in other, similar industries like…
Read More » -
Putting the “M” in TPMMS
Thousands of RV’ers hit the road every year to embark on memorable experiences and adventures. For many people, the RV…
Read More » -
Road to Open House
RV shipments this year might be down a bit from historic highs the past two years, but that doesn’t mean…
Read More » -
Road to Open House: Winnebago, Grand Design, Riverstone, and Thor Motor Coach
Editor’s note: This is the twelfth entry leading up to 2019’s Elkhart Open House. To read the last preview, click here. For the full…
Read More » -
Road to Open House: East to West, Shasta, Cardinal, and Prime Time
Editor’s note: This is the seventh entry leading up to 2019’s Elkhart Open House. To read the last preview, click here. For the…
Read More » -
Road to Open House: All About Jayco
Editor’s note: This story is the second entry leading up to 2019’s Elkhart Open House. The first preview on TAXA Outdoors…
Read More » -
Suppliers Set Up Shop in New Venues
Given that suppliers only got actively involved in Open House Week in Elkhart, Ind., over the past few years, it…
Read More » -
ModVan Updates Camper Van Concept
Sometimes, the greatest innovations are born out of lessons learned – and that is certainly true for P.J. Tezza, creator…
Read More » -
Competitors Partner for County RV Service Center
Keith Foulds and Mike Vrzich went from being competitors to partners in a California RV endeavor almost accidentally. Each of…
Read More » -
Bio-Pak Offers a Powerful Biocide-Free, Environmentally Friendly Holding Tank Treatment
As the world becomes more conscientious about protecting the environment, it’s essential for RV dealers to offer environmentally friendly alternatives for…
Read More » -
Reflection Fuels Grand Design’s Growth
Since its inception in the summer of 2013, Grand RV’s easy-to-tow, luxury Reflection fifth wheel brand has methodically climbed market data…
Read More » -
Religious Colony Revives TrailManor
A unique experiment mixing capitalism within a religious and socialistic culture is unfolding on the plains of southeast South Dakota,…
Read More » -
How to Select the Right Refrigerator to Match the End Users’ Travel Habits
We believe the right refrigerator can make or break a camping experience. The most important question to ask when choosing…
Read More » -
Way Interglobal Expands, Introduces More Products
Even from its humble beginnings in an industrial area of Elkhart, Ind., Way Interglobal Network had visions of a bigger…
Read More » -
Considerations for Charging a Battery in a Trailer
There are endless ways to customize the setup in a trailer to ensure it will perform how your customers want…
Read More » -
Class B Startup Storyteller Overland Preps for Mid-Year Launch
A variety of vehicles – from rockets to commercial airliners – have been developed and built in Alabama over the…
Read More » -
5 Proven Strategies to Sell More RVs
How do we find ways to improve our methods and sell more RVs? Our RV Sales Survival Guide includes 5…
Read More » -
All in the Family, Part 2
Editor’s Note: Part 1 of our excerpt from July’s “All in the Family” special feature can be read here. Whether…
Read More » -
Blog: Five Military Lessons to Improve the Retail Customer Experience
Retailing is a business model that is challenged by e-retailers and customer expectations that demand an ever-improving customer experience. Despite the…
Read More » -
All in the Family, Part 1
Whether it’s families enjoying the great outdoors together thanks to an RV or families helping build our industry, there is…
Read More » -
Walex’s Commando Combats Waste Buildup
Imagine heading out on the road with the family for your annual vacation, or buying a used RV for your…
Read More » -
Go Power! Puts a Charge in RV Life
When Go Power! – a solar power solutions company based out of Victoria, Canada – decided to enter the U.S.…
Read More » -
A War Vet’s Insight Into Being a Leader, Pt. 2
Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in MyCentralJersey.com. This blog post is Part Two of a two-part story…
Read More » -
FCCC DriveTech Delivers an Automotive Experience
Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. has been on a roll in recent years, introducing one technological innovation after another. So perhaps…
Read More » -
A War Vet’s Insight Into Being a Leader, Pt. 1
Editor’s Note: A version of this story appeared in MyCentralJersey.com. This blog post is Part One of a two-part story…
Read More » -
ReRun Turns Heads with Its ’72 Chevy C30 Custom Camper
Invariably, a passion for custom builds most always comes down to one wildly varying but commonly shared experience: The cool…
Read More » -
Are Your Customers Calling You Back After You Leave a Voicemail?
The RV industry is a tricky one. On one hand, you have an incredibly traditional market offering that delivers consumers…
Read More » -
Folsom Lake RV Took a $1M Step Into Going Green
Having been in the RV business for 36 years, Charles Langdon, president and co-owner of Rancho Cordova, Calif.-based Folsom Lake…
Read More » -
Welcome to One Control RVs
Sure, Lippert Components OneControl Smart RV Technology will let the RV’s owner control his lights or awning or a host…
Read More » -
The Argument for Chat Rooms
Customer service is the backbone for a successful business. Sometimes owners and executives in the RV industry understand this is…
Read More » -
Continuous Progress
Doing one thing well may seem straightforward enough, but it’s the rare company that can stick to such a viewpoint…
Read More » -
Manteca is Master of Towables
Bucking trends and a keen eye for innovation are Manteca Trailer & Motorhome’s calling cards. As the RV retail market…
Read More » -
The Leadership Factories, Part 2
Editor’s note: The CEOs of the two largest RV manufacturers in the U.S. – Thor’s Bob Martin and Forest River’s…
Read More » -
How to Upgrade Your Patio Space
One thing almost all RVers have in common is that they enjoy spending time outdoors. Having a dedicated patio space…
Read More » -
How Government Regulations Changed the World of Manufacturing
Editor’s Note: To read more in this series on by Mike Keller, click here and here. Growing up in a…
Read More » -
How Texting Saves Time in Service and Parts Departments
When it comes to RV transactions, most customers make one or two major purchases from a dealership. What keeps them…
Read More » -
Mericle of Miracles
“Location, location, location,” at least among dealers in the RV industry, often translates to “freeway, freeway, freeway.” Yet one Colorado…
Read More » -
Class C’s Important to Rental Market
As more North Americans gravitate toward the RVing lifestyle, the desire to test the waters often materializes by renting an…
Read More » -
Taking Braking Safety to a New Level
Components like RV electronic stability control have come a long way in ensuring that the trailer brakes bring the trailer…
Read More » -
Customer Loyalty, the Most Important Metric, Part 2
Editor’s Note: This is Part Two of a two-part column. For Part One, click here. Business is besieged with metrics. Return…
Read More » -
Spark of Innovation
The late Bob Mackie was an electronics engineer whose passion for innovation led to the founding of REDARC, an Australian…
Read More » -
The Leadership Factories, Part 1
Editor’s note: The CEOs of the two largest RV manufacturers in the U.S. – Thor’s Bob Martin and Forest River’s…
Read More » -
How Online Reviews Can Grow your RV Dealership
The RV industry has always been an interesting one. On one hand, it’s an incredibly traditional industry that targets a…
Read More » -
4 Keys to Write-Up Success
1. Work only one RO at a time. All ROs/job sheets should come back to a central repository, whatever the…
Read More » -
Customer Loyalty, the Most Important Metric, Pt. 1
Editor’s Note: This is Part One of a two-part column. Business is besieged with metrics. Return on investment, website visits,…
Read More » -
What You Can Learn from Your ELR, Pt. 2
Editor’s Note: This is Part Two of a two-part column by Don Reed that appeared in the March 2019 issue…
Read More » -
Dometic Keeps it Cool (and Hot)
Just about everyone in the RV industry recognizes the name Dometic. However, a name that to one person may represent…
Read More » -
Gallery: RVX Readies for Dealers
SALT LAKE CITY — RVX The RV Experience doesn’t start in earnest until this morning, but the Salt Palace convention…
Read More » -
5 Methods to Establish an Advertising Budget
For more than 50 years, businesses of all sizes have assigned an advertising/marketing budget to promote their services and products.…
Read More » -
What You Can Learn from Your ELR, Part One
Editor’s Note: This is Part One of a two-part column by Don Reed that appeared in the March 2019 issue…
Read More » -
How to Craft an Internal Memo
Ideally each department would work together for common dealership goals. But conflict arises when we are trying to do our…
Read More » -
Great Recession Survivors, Pt. 2
Editor’s note: This article marks the second installment of a two-part series looking back at the 2008-09 Great Recession’s impact upon…
Read More » -
Upsell by Helping Customers
Upsell, upsell, upsell. Work in retail long enough and someone in charge will loudly beat the “upsell” drum. It’s presented…
Read More » -
3 Key Strategies to Close the 198-Day Gap
198 days. This is the magic number that RV sales teams need to keep in mind as they plan an…
Read More » -
The Threat of Chinese Tariffs on the Aftermarket
When President Donald Trump first announced the 10 percent tariff in September 2018, the reaction was far from uniform in…
Read More » -
In Search of Happy Customers, Pt. 2
Editor’s Note: Part One of this column by Chuck Marzahn can be found here. Customer satisfaction. It’s like the Holy…
Read More » -
Entegra Coach Expands Footprint
Expanding a highline motorhome brand – even in upbeat economic times – can be a challenge. The number of customers…
Read More » -
Managing Power Supplies
Storing power in auxiliary batteries is the most common way to ensure a reliable power source for using the appliances…
Read More » -
How Call Tracking Can Benefit RV Dealers
Imagine: An employee answers the phone and talks to a caller for a few minutes. Moments later they’ve hung up and…
Read More »