Forest River’s Columbus, River Ranch and PUMA brands are introducing RoadTech Connect, a platform designed to give owners more insight into their RVs and help the people who sell and build them provide better support after delivery.
Developed by RoadTech by EDS for RVs and light-duty trailers, RoadTech Connect uses telematics to monitor supported vehicle systems and deliver information through connected tools. The platform is designed to offer system alerts and location services. With an owner’s consent, relevant vehicle information can also be shared with dealers and manufacturers.
“Owners expect more from their RVs, and they should expect more from us after the sale, too,” said Will Miller, general manager of Columbus. “RoadTech Connect gives us an opportunity to build a better connection with our customers and the dealers who support them. Our goal is to make ownership easier, give people more confidence on the road and learn from the information that can help us keep improving.”
For an owner, the benefit is practical, with more insight into what is happening with the RV, whether it is on the road or parked between trips, Forest River said. Alerts about supported systems may help owners spot a concern earlier. If they need service, vehicle information could give them and their dealer a more useful starting point for the conversation.
“When a customer calls with a question, the first challenge is often figuring out what’s happening with the RV,” said Mike Benson of RoadTech Connect. “RoadTech Connect is designed to give owners and dealers better information to start those conversations. That can make the experience less frustrating for the owner, and it helps the dealer focus on the customer’s needs.”
RoadTech Connect is also designed to offer dealers inventory analytics and customer engagement tools. For Forest River’s participating brands, insights from RVs in use could help teams identify recurring needs and apply what they learn to future products and support.
“RoadTech Connect brings onboard health sensors and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot as part of the fifth wheel, and it ties together how the owner uses it, how the dealer services it and how the OEM builds and supports it. Now is the time to connect the RV ecosystem,” said Jonathan Gravell of RoadTech.
“Connected technology has the most value when it helps people make a decision or solve a problem,” said Bear Musgrave of RoadTech. “Working with Columbus, River Ranch and PUMA gives us an opportunity to put that idea to work across the ownership experience, from the factory to the dealer and ultimately to the customer out on the road.”
“Building a great fifth wheel is only part of the job,” Miller said. “We want to keep finding better ways to support the people who sell them and the people who take them out on the road.”
RoadTech says RoadTech Connect is launching in the RV market for model year 2027. Forest River and RoadTech will announce which features will be offered on Columbus, River Ranch and PUMA RVs, eligible models and availability as those details are finalized, Forest River said.
Miller discusses the partnership in a new video, “Introducing RoadTech Connect | Smarter, More Connected RVing with Columbus.”
For more information, visit forestriverinc.com/rvs/columbus, forestriverinc.com/rvs/river-ranch and forestriverinc.com/rvs/puma.
