Industry Perspectives
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ICE Detention Center Plan Abandoned
A prison management company has canceled plans to build a $100 million ICE detention center in Elkhart County, Ind., according…
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RV News
Council Adopts New Leadership, Goals
The Great Outdoors Month Council in January approved a new Executive Committee. Executive Committee members are: CHAIR: Frank Peterson –…
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2017 Boat Sales Could Top 269,000
Preliminary figures show that more than 263,000 new boats were sold in 32 early-reporting states in 2017 as the recreational…
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RV News
ORIR Targets Wildfire Fighting Costs
The Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable (ORIR) has expressed its strong support for the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act legislation introduced in…
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Indiana Cracks Top 10 in Forbes Best States
Forbes recently released its annual ranking of the best states for business. Indiana cracked the top 10 coming in at 10th…
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RV News
RVIA to Replace National RV Trade Show with New Event
During the 2018 RV Leadership Conference earlier this week, the RV Industry Association’s Board of Directors unanimously determined that a…
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RV News
RV Health Offers Virtual Clinic to Industry
RV Health is a telehealth program for RVers on the road meant to act as a primary care physician. Monthly…
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Michigan Jellystone Park Receives Highest Network Assessment Rating
The Frankenmuth Jellystone Park in Michigan has won a national award for achieving the highest assessment ratings in the 80-unit…
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Community: RV Show Raises Money for Homeless
The annual 2018 Camping and RV Show of the North recently took place in Gaylord, Mich. This story originally appeared…
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RV News
ORIR Meets to Discuss Policy Priorities
The Outdoor Recreation Industry Roundtable’s (ORIR) Government Affairs Committee met yesterday afternoon to discuss the coalition’s collective legislative priorities and…
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Trade Complaint Filed Against U.S.
Prepare for a tense moment in Canada-U.S. relations — with hard bargaining on NAFTA on the horizon prompting nervous glances at Donald…
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RV News
Leadership Conference Details Released
RV industry leaders are converging in Tampa, Fla., on Sunday to kick off the 2018 Annual RV Leadership Conference at…
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RV News
Longtime RV Executive Lovell Martz Dies at 80
Lovell K. Martz, 80, residing in South Bend, Ind., passed away peacefully at home at 12:25 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9,…
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Vehicle Sales in Mexico Take Huge Hit Due to NAFTA Uncertainty
Mexican auto sales cratered in December and ended 2017 down 4.6 percent from a year earlier as rising inflation and…
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RV News
Yamaha Marine University Initiatives Ramp Up
Yamaha Marine Group announced that it will put more resources behind Yamaha Marine University in 2018 with more programs focused…
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RV News
Frank Pontius of Forest River Cargo Division Dies at 59
Frank W. Pontius, 59, of Elkhart, passed away Monday, Jan. 8, at Elkhart General Hospital. This obituary appeared in the…
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Gov. Holcomb Details Education Goals
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said he wants to re-enroll 25,000 college dropouts in school, double the number of state apprenticeships…
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RV News
RV Trader’s Heather Chandler Makes ’40 Under 40′
At the National RV Trade Show, hosted in Louisville, Ky., the RV Industry Association released its inaugural “40 Under 40”…
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RV News
Peer-to-Peer RV Rental Company Enters U.S. Market
Campanda.com, a peer-to-peer RV rental company, recently set up its U.S. operations in Cambridge, Mass. Campanda offers RV owners to…
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Oak Hill Capital Partners to Acquire Safe Fleet
Safe Fleet Holdings has announced that it will be acquired by Oak Hill Capital Partners. Under the terms of the…
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Harvey Evacuees Eagerly Await FEMA Trailer Move-In
Thousands of families in need of temporary housing following Hurricane Harvey continue to face red tape and delays. This story by…
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RV News
Don McNamara of Giant Recreation World Dies at 75
Donald Lester McNamara, founder of Giant Recreation World, passed away Jan. 1. He is survived by his wife Barbara, his…
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RV News
Skyline and Champion Home Builders Combine
Skyline Corp. and Champion Enterprises Holdings, recently announced that they will combine their operations. Under the terms of the agreement,…
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RV News
RV Hall of Fame Names 2018 Inductees
The RV/MH Heritage Foundation board of directors has announced the names of those who will be honored and inducted into…
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RV News
Cummins Expands Reach of Tech Education
Cummins has announced that it will join forces with more than 10 Memphis-area education and industry partners to launch TEC: Technical Education…
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Firefighters Injured Battling Cana Cabinetry Fire
More than a dozen fire departments responded to a fire at a local manufacturing plant of Cana Cabinetry, sister company…
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RV News
nuCamp RV’s Cirrus 920 Wins ‘Truck Camper of the Year’
Readers of Truck Camper Magazine have selected nüCamp RV’s 2018 Cirrus 920 truck camper as the best truck camper of…
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RV News
Flexsteel CFO Plans Retirement
Flexsteel Industries has announced that Chief Financial Officer Timothy E. Hall will be retiring from Flexsteel Industries on June 30…
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Record Decline for Car Segment
This week’s Black Book Market Insights report shows cars overall dropping in value by a record of minus 0.78 percent.…
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RV News
Camping World to Acquire Outdoor Gear Retailer
Camping World Holdings has announced plans to purchase Erehwon Mountain Outfitter, a leading Midwest specialty retailer of outdoor gear and…
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RV News
RVshare Names Jon Gray as New CEO
RVshare, which was founded in 2013, recently announced that former HomeAway Chief Revenue Officer Jon Gray has joined the company as CEO.…
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California RV Bandits Arrested
Two Solano, Calif., men celebrated the new year in jail following arrests in connection with a stolen RV. On New…
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Without NAFTA, Analysts Fear Auto Disruption
A world without the North American Free Trade Agreement would be sure to disrupt the auto supply chain in Canada…
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Marine Manufacturers Rally Against Chinese Aluminum Import Duty
The National Marine Manufacturers Association was among the groups that testified against a proposal to impose a 60 percent import…
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RV News
GasBuddy Foresees Higher 2018 Gas Prices
Motorists will be digging a bit deeper for the second straight year as the yearly national average will rise 19…
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RV News
17 Percent Growth Expected for 2017 RV Shipments
After a record-setting 2016, with more than 430,000 units shipped, the industry is once again poised to break records for…
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Elkhart County Experiences Population Increase
There is a little less elbow room in Elkhart County this year, as the latest U.S. Census population projections indicate…
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Registration Fees Increase in Montana
Drivers registering their cars and renewing their licenses in Montana should expect to see an increase in price in 2018.…
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Florida Keys Campgrounds Slowly Reopen
Campgrounds in the Florida Keys are starting to reopen for RVs. Key Largo and Key West were least impacted by…
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Snowbirds Flock to Arizona RV Parks and Resorts
The snowbirds have come back to many of Arizona’s RV parks earlier and in larger numbers than last year, according…
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Unifor Leader Says NAFTA Deal Won’t Happen
The North American Free Trade Agreement “is going to blow up in 2018.” That blunt assessment comes from the equally…
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RV News
Rep. Ross Earns RVIA Award
Rep. Dennis A. Ross (FL-R-15), co-chair of the House RV Caucus, will be honored with RVIA’s National Legislative Award on…
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South, West Boost November Boat Sales
Helped by strong sales in California, Louisiana and Georgia, sales of new recreational boats rose 6 percent industrywide in November,…
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RV News
RVIA: Tax Reform Should Help Industry
On Wednesday the House and Senate gave final approval to a tax reform bill which, according to the RV Industry…
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High Interest in Boat Brand Sale
Brunswick Corp., parent company of distributor Land ‘N’ Seas, says it has had a “robust” response from strategic and financial…
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Ohio Park Honored by Jellystone
Richard and Nancy Felber’s campground has only been part of the Jellystone Park network for four years, but the Felbers…
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RV News
Christmas Gas Prices Highest Since ’13
GasBuddy is projecting that average Christmas Day gas prices will be their highest since 2013. However, there is some good…
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Arizona RV Park to Open in Fall 2018
Construction will begin in January on Gila Bend, Ariz.’s second RV park, a 70-site resort on 20 acres that will…
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RV News
Community: Spartan Donates $75,000 to Regional Health Park
Spartan Motors presented mid-Michigan regional health park, AL!VE, with a $75,000 donation yesterday to support its wellness programs. The donation, presented by Daryl Adams, Spartan…
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Community: Tents for Troops Seeks Donations
Charlie Curry of Tents for Troops reminds those in the RV industry that the Castle Rock, Wash., organization is accepting…
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VIDEO: Keystone RV’s CEO Matt Zimmerman
For episode four of ‘In the Know,’ we meet up with Keystone RV CEO Matt Zimmerman at the National RV…
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RV News
Pioneer Supplier Robert Pickrell Dies at 80
Robert E. “Bob” Pickrell, longtime Elkhart, Ind., and Naples, Fla., resident, passed away at his home Tuesday, Dec. 12 after…
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RV News
AAA Predicts 107.3 Million Holiday Travelers
AAA forecasts 107.3 million Americans will take to planes, trains, automobiles and other modes of transportation during the year-end holiday…
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RV News
Community: FEMA to Help More Harvey Evacuees with RVs
Many storm victims are still without a home nearly three-and-a-half months out from Hurricane Harvey. But there are some positive…
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RV News
Community: EasyCare Supports Military Members
EasyCare has announced its support for Tents for Troops at the 2017 RV Dealers International Convention/Expo at Bally’s Las Vegas.…
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Videos
The Top Tech Challenge in Action
Watch three professional RV technicians battle it out for prestige and $10,000 at RVIA’s inaugural Top Tech Challenge. For more…
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RV News
Outdoorsy Expands to Canada
Peer-to-peer RV rental company Outdoorsy has launched in Canada, opening offices and employing Canadians in customer service, marketing and bilingual…
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Natural Fiber Composite Market Predicted to Grow
According to a new market report published by Lucintel, the future of the natural fiber composite (NFC) market looks attractive…
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RV News
Jellystone Parks Win Multiple National and Regional Awards
The Jellystone Park in Bremen, Ga., has received a national award for achieving the highest assessment scores in the 80-unit…
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Bernie Sanders Supports Trump in NAFTA Changes
Donald Trump is being encouraged to stay strong in NAFTA negotiations by people who aren’t normally his allies. This story by The…
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RV News
Community: Lazydays Employee Foundation Donates $18,000 to Local Children
The Lazydays Employee Foundation Tucson chapter recently awarded $18,000 in donations to five non-profit organizations that provide services to local…
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RV PRO Survey: RV Industry Overwhelmingly Upbeat on 2018
RV industry professionals had a great 2017 and are equally optimistic in their outlook for 2018, based upon a survey…
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RV News
Minnesota Opens First Rebranded Gander Outdoors
The Lakeville Gander Mountain location in Minnesota, which closed earlier this year, will reopen as the first Gander Outdoors store…
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Indiana Businesses Commit to Creating 30,000-Plus New Jobs
Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb recently announced the end of a record-breaking year for economic development with the Indiana Economic…
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LCI Plans to Add Wave of Robots
Lippert Components announced that it plans to add at least 100 additional robots to its factory floors over the next…
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RV News
Steve Holland Named Wilkins RV Rep of the Year
Steve Holland, of Forest River/Coachmen RV, has been selected by Wilkins RV’s sales team as the winner of its “Manufacturers…
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Campground Pioneer John Imler Dies at 84
John Imler, a pioneer in California’s private campground and RV park business who helped shape state laws governing RV parks…
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TrailersUSA.com Offers NATDA Members Two Deals
TrailersUSA.com has released details on exclusive deals for active North American Trailer Dealers Association Members (NATDA) who will be able…
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RV News
Community: NAE/NWAN Awarded for Community Service
National Automotive Experts (NAE/NWAN) was recently announced as a recipient of the Pillar Award. The Medical Mutual Pillar Award for…
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RV News
Cummins Exec to Retire in January
Cummins’ VP of strategic initiatives, Ed Pence, who played a key role in the company’s larger engine operations, is retiring…
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RV News
Morgan Stanley to Give Wealth Management and Business Valuation Webinar
The Mike Molino RV Learning Center will work with Morgan Stanley on a webinar series for dealer principals during December…
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RV News
RVDA of Alberta Revises Campground Grant
The RVDA of Alberta’s board of directors announced that revisions have been made to the Campground Education & Infrastructure Grant…
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Marine Dealer Optimism Wanes During Tax Reform
Marine dealers said government inaction was the single biggest factor in demand for new boats as the industry awaits tax…
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Community: Campgrounds and Vineyards House Fire Evacuees in RVs
The Alexander Valley RV Park & Campground in California is typically closed this time of the year, since no tourist…
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Campground Reports Another RV Break-In
Electronics were stolen from a recreational vehicle at Eby’s Pines RV Park and Campground in Bristol, Ind., according to the…
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FMCA Welcomes Owners Of All RVs
A recent vote of Family Motor Coach Association members of this Cincinnati, Ohio-based international organization for motorhome enthusiasts has resulted…
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Man Wins Winnebago in Florida Lottery
James Bocchini, of Miramar Beach, Fla., is the Grand Prize winner of a 2018 Winnebago Motorhome. The motorhome, provided by…
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Community: Campground Opens to Wildfire Victims
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will open a campground at Lake Mendocino in California for up to 70 temporary…
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Canada Can’t Make Sense of NAFTA Proposals
Canada’s chief NAFTA negotiator delivered a stark warning to MPs on Monday, telling them that changes proposed by the U.S.…
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RV News
RVIA Outlines Industry Benefits in New Tax Bill
Early Saturday morning, the Senate passed its tax reform bill on a 51-49 vote. The Senate and House must now…
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RV News
RVnGO Launches Peer-to-Peer Rental Platform
RVnGO has launched its new website, and the service of RV Rentals are now available nationwide. The peer-to-peer RV rental…
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RV News
KPA to Host HR Webinar for 2018 Planning
Human resources specialists Christina Johnson and Kelly Pinkerton will be hosting a webinar at 1 p.m. EST on Thursday, Dec.…
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Kozy Rest Wins ‘Park of the Year,’ Plans to Add 50-Amp Upgrades
For the fourth time in seven years, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park at Kozy Rest has won the “Park of the…
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RV News
Trends: Teens Spend One Hour Outdoors Per School Day, Survey
On a typical school day, teenagers spend just one hour outdoors, according to a new survey from the National Environmental…
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RV News
Trends: Elkhart Looks to Internet to Solve Its ‘Problem,’ Seeks Recruits Worldwide
Editor’s Note: This article was authored by Taig Marks, which is an Elkhart-based PR firm. An area that was formerly…
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Report Shows Shopper Interest in Pickups Rise
Jumpstart Automotive Media, a leading media, insights, and marketing solutions company, released its monthly path to purchase report with a…
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13-Acre RV Park Proposed for Montana
A proposal to build a 77-lot RV park near Columbia Falls in Montana goes before the Flathead County Planning Board…
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NAFTA Proposal Frustrates Mexico and Canada
Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said demands by the Trump administration for a U.S.-specific automotive content requirement in NAFTA was…
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RV News
18 Elkhart-Area Employees Named ’40 Under 40′
The RVIA honored up-and-coming leaders of the fast-growing industry with its first annual “40 Under 40” list announced at its…
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Jellystone Sees 11.4 Percent Revenue Increase
Revenues were up 11.4 percent from January through September at Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts across the U.S. and Canada, compared to…
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Jennie Garth: ‘I’m Your Target Buyer’
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Go RVing campaign’s whole mission is to get new people into the RVing lifestyle. Hiring a…
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RV News
Alabama Man Wins ‘Top Tech Challenge’
The First Annual Top Tech Challenge wrapped up Wednesday night with a victory for Brandon Galbreath from Alabama-based D&N RV…
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RV News
RVshare Unlocks Canada With RVezy Support
RVshare recently announced its peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace is expanding to Canada with insurance, a dedicated Canadian partner, and bilingual…
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Thor CEO Appears on ‘Mad Money’
After shares of Thor Industries surged over 13 percent on Tuesday off a strong earnings report, President and CEO Bob Martin broke…
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RV News
Packed House Gathers for Prayer Breakfast
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Davey Blackburn knows a little about heartache and tragedy. But he also knows something of God’s grace…
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RV News
RV Shipments Expected to Reach New Heights
RVIA recently reported that the industry’s RV shipments will top a staggering half a million units in 2017 with expectations…
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Recall for Fire Extinguisher on Some RVs
Two Elkhart area RV industry businesses are customers of a company recalling millions of fire extinguishers nationwide. This story by…
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New Luxury RV Resort Taking Reservations
RV travelers can now make reservations for a new luxury resort in Paso Robles, Calif. Cava Robles RV Resort, a high-end…
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RV News
Lance Earns 16th DSI Quality Circle Award
The RVDA has announced Lance Campers as an annual Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Quality Circle award recipient for all three…
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NetworkRV Launches RV Accessory Info Website
NetworkRV has launched a mobile-friendly, new product resource information website. This publishing-marketing platform for RV accessory manufacturers, dealers and consumers…
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