From SylvanSport: Every VAST travel trailer is a hyper-engineered RV, offering luxurious residential spaces with integrated living systems and top-notch quality construction. SylvanSport’s roots are in the outdoor gear industry, giving us the perfect experience to create the ultimate outdoor adventure RV. At the heart of VAST is the ability to carry all of your toys without compromising comfort, amenities, or quality. And with innovative features not found anywhere else, VAST is resetting expectations of travel trailers. See specs, floor plans and more details: https://bit.ly/3wDGOBE
CALGARY, Alberta, – Origen RV Accessories, makers of RV SnapPad, announces the launch of its two latest products, which are now available to the public: SnapJack QD and StakPad.
SnapJack QD
SnapJack QD is the latest in the SnapJack line of products made by SnapPad, which includes enhanced replacement metal feet for scissor jacks and stabilizers, with many additional replacement options coming in the future under the SnapJack lineup, according to a release.
When discussing the future of SnapJack products and the launch of QD, Devon Wilson, CEO at RV SnapPad, said, “We’ve seen great success with our first SnapJack product, titled SnapJack SJ for scissor jacks, and are excited to release more products that allow SnapPads to be installed on leveling jacks or stabilizers that wouldn’t normally be compatible.”
StakPad
Along with the recent launch of SnapJack QD, SnapPad has also recently released their newest product, dubbed StakPad, a non-permanent jack pad; the first of its kind for the company.
Mark Selanders, R&D Lead at RV SnapPad, said, “We spent years designing the StakPad. Stacker design has not advanced in decades, and we wanted to change that with a product that could handle the conditions, situations, and loads that a modern RV can encounter. StakPad’s revolutionary hybrid construction combines our tried-and-true recycled crumb rubber for grip and durability and a highly engineered HDPE component for strength and weight reduction. It’s bigger, stronger and better overall.”
SnapPad has begun selling both products to the public on their website to US and Canadian customers and plans a retail expansion in early 2025. Dealers or distributors interested in carrying the products can contact SnapPad via their website or by calling 1-866-923-9538.
FAIRFAX, Va. – Ron Wheeler, CEO, and Annie Wheeler-Rusch, account and social media director of Wheeler Advertising will deliver education workshops aimed at making a good dealership even better at the 2024 RV Dealers Convention/Expo.
At noon on Nov. 12, Ron Wheeler will host “Leads, Leads, Leads: What You Need to Know to Create More Leads” in the business innovation track.
Learning objectives for this education workshop include:
What it takes to create a lead
Which activities deliver the best results
How to budget for the results you’d like
In this workshop, leaders of all sizes and types of dealerships will get a first-hand look at data provided from 50 dealerships on what it takes to generate a lead.
Then, at 10 a.m. on Nov. 13, Annie Wheeler-Rusch further assists the mom-and-pop shops as she hosts the workshop “How to Build the Perfect Family-Owned Dealership Brand” in the business innovation education track.
Learning objectives in this education workshop include:
How building a brand will maximize your advertising spent
How to bring it to life in all areas of your dealership
How each step builds upon the next step
The 16 steps to branding your dealership
Dealers will leave with a clear path on how to brand their dealership and maximize its exposure.
About the RV Dealers Convention/Expo
The convention allows North America’s top dealership personnel to forge valuable connections with peers, industry leaders, and potential business partners in the Expo.
Dealership professionals can expand their network and gain insights from the best in the RV industry.
The dealer-organized RVDA Convention will provide an in-depth look into the current sales landscape. Attendees will have access to valuable resources to optimize all departments within a dealership, including fixed operations.
To register for the 2024 RV Dealers Convention/Expo click here. Regular updates will be posted on the convention website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X.
The event is sponsored by RVDA of the U.S., RVDA of Canada, and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center.
Companies interested in partnership, sponsorship, exhibiting, and Vendor Training +Plus opportunities can contact Julie Newhouse at (703) 364-5518 or email [email protected].
China has emerged as the world’s fourth-largest market for recreational vehicles, after Australia, the European Union and North America, according to a report by Yicaiglobal.com. This growth is driven by the rising popularity of unique travel experiences, with glamping, or glamorous camping, becoming a significant trend.
Some 14,365 RVs were sold in China last year, according to the latest data.
“China’s RV industry is developing quickly as RV culture becomes more popular and consumer demand for personalized tourism grows,” Gao Wei, boss of a RV assembling company based in eastern Zhejiang province, told Yicai. “And it will also usher in broader development prospects.”
“To many people RVs are still a luxury and are out of reach,” Gao said. “But actually, there are quite a few affordable RVs on the market in China now.”
Priced at around CNY300,000 (USD42,135) each, Class C RVs, which come equipped with beds, ovens, refrigerators, sofas, bathrooms, televisions and stereo equipment, are the best-selling mobile homes on the Chinese market at present, Gao said. Class B RVs are cheaper at CNY200,000 each, and caravans with lower specifications cost even less.
But a lack of suitable campsites in China is holding back the development of the country’s RV market. Even Guangdong, the province with the most RV sales, only has around 20 decent campsites, which is not enough to meet the demand of RV travelers both in terms of numbers and quality.
From Aboutcamp BtoB, a trade media outfit that covers the RV industry in Europe:The new issue of Aboutcamp BtoB is online! Last week, issue 44 of Aboutcamp BtoB was delivered by mail to key players in the caravanning industry worldwide. Now, we are also making our renowned publication available online, free of charge, in anticipation of the Caravan Salon in Düsseldorf. In addition to the usual interviews and in-depth articles on markets and technologies, this issue features more than 50 pages dedicated to the latest innovations that component manufacturers and suppliers for motorhome and caravan builders will showcase at the world’s largest trade show in our industry.
OXNARD, Calif. – Bowlus, the world leader in performance luxury recreational vehicles, is thrilled to release the 95th Anniversary Edition of the new Endless Highways Series.
“The Endless Highways 95th Anniversary Edition celebrates the incredible history of the Bowlus brand – both modern and vintage – including the first riveted aluminum RV. Commemorating Hawley Bowlus’ vision of aerodynamic land travel is very special and close to our hearts. The Bowlus brand continues to ignite the spirit of adventure and deliver on our promise of being the ultimate in luxury land travel,” says CEO Geneva Long.
The Endless Highways 95th Anniversary Edition is limited to 25 exquisite RVs. It includes the following packages & options: Adventure Package, Luxe Package, Off-Grid Power Package II, and the stunning Bowlus screen door. The Bowlus screen door takes over 100 hours to build – almost double the time spent manufacturing an entire traditional RV – and is available exclusively on the 95th Anniversary Edition. Each 95th Anniversary Edition is badged, numbered, and signed by Long.
The Endless Highways 95th Anniversary Edition is available in two special interior decor packages called “Falcon” and “Osprey.” Falcon features a beautiful walnut and holly marine floor with mahogany seating. Osprey is a gorgeous oak and ivory marine flooring with cream seating—both color stories nod to Bowlus, one of the founding fathers of flight aerodynamics, who was inspired by birds that soar. The 95th Anniversary Edition starts at $235,000 after tax credits.*
The Endless Highways, first in production from 2016 – 2021, reframed lightweight luxury land travel upon its launch. The return of the Bowlus Endless Highways continues that legacy and can be optioned to suit every RVers needs. It has Bowlus’ most luxurious floor plan featuring elegant finishes, a large separate bedroom with convertible twins and king bed, a luxury ensuite bathroom, and a roomy living room and kitchen. For 2025, Bowlus is pleased to widen the size of the twin beds. The Endless Highways captures the bold new codes of luxury adventure and use cases established by Bowlus owners.
All Endless Highways can power all appliances, including the air-conditioning, uninterrupted off-grid thanks to the top-tier Bowlus Power Management System and optional AeroSolar technology. Bowlus builds the most aerodynamic RVs, and the Endless Highways is extraordinarily light at only 4,000 lbs. It enables the most extensive EV towing range and fuel efficiency of any full-size RV while easily traversing the country’s most dramatic and remote campsites. It is available in the Onyx color story. Should owners option with the Luxe Package – the color story is River Rock. The base Endless Highways starts at $173,000 after tax credits.*
Options & packages include:
Off-Grid Power Packages – up to 17,000 Wh of LiFePO4 batteries and AeroSolar®.
Adventure Package – three-inch lift kit, all-terrain tires that facilitate off-road access, and a cargo lashing system.
AeroMove – makes the Bowlus self-propelled, self-powered, and remote-controlled. AeroMove handles steep slopes, 360 degrees turns, and can maneuver into campsites, driveways, and parallel parking spaces.
Luxe Package – skylights, all-wood interior, upgraded plush seating and flooring reflecting the informal elegance of coastal California where all Bowlus are produced, water purification, HEPA filters, heated floors, continuous hot water, backup camera, Starlink capabilities, tablet mounts, and an indoor/outdoor table and more.
Smart Television.
Convection Oven Kitchen.
Customers can order their Endless Highways at www.bowlus.com exclusively through Bowlus of California, home to all things Bowlus and California coastal luxury.
Geneva Long
About Bowlus
Bowlus has the most iconic story in the RV industry as the original riveted aluminum travel trailer. Bowlus is California’s first ultra-luxury RV maker manufacturing electric RVs at its production facility in Oxnard, CA. 2025 marks Bowlus’ 95th anniversary. In 1930, Hawley Bowlus began designing and manufacturing trailers to support the emerging sailplane industry. In 1933, he developed the first aerodynamic canvas-covered travel trailer. Then, in 1934, Bowlus designed and produced the first riveted aluminum RV, which inspired all others. Bowlus travel trailers featured luxurious finishes and found homes with Hollywood and business elite, including Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. The original Bowlus RVs were so revolutionary that copycats followed with limited success, like the 1936 Airstream Clipper.
Bowlus’s legacy would have resided in the history books and in the hands of collectors had it not been for the vision—over a decade ago—of the ownership group led by Geneva Long. Long’s family personally restored a 1935 Bowlus, taking it on a cross-country trip in 2011.
Bowlus is entirely privately owned and has grown organically. For more information, visit: https://bowlus.com/
MIDDLEBURY, Ind. – Grand Design RV, a leader in the luxury recreational vehicle market, announces the integration of Ultrafabrics into its flagship Solitude fifth-wheel series. This collaboration brings together “the best of American craftsmanship and cutting-edge material technology, further solidifying Solitude’s position as the most luxurious and comfortable extended-stay fifth-wheel on the market,” according to a release.
“At Grand Design, we don’t just push the boundaries of what luxury in an RV can mean – we redefine them,” emphasized Rob Groover, general manager of Solitude, Influence and Momentum Brands at Grand Design. “Our exclusive partnership with Ultrafabrics highlights our dedication to providing our customers with the highest quality, most innovative materials available. This collaboration is more than an enhancement to the Solitude experience; it’s a transformation, ensuring that our customers enjoy comfort and style for years to come.”
The new Ultrafabrics upholstery, now standard in all Solitude models, offers exceptional hydrolysis performance with a 10-year warranty, superior stain protection, and advanced climate control features. Engineered to be skin-friendly and nonallergenic, this material ensures that every journey is as comfortable as it is stylish. Combined with Apex Custom Furniture, built in the USA, Solitude owners will experience a new level of luxury, durability, and design in their home away from home.
“Incorporating Ultrafabrics into our Solitude line has allowed us to elevate our interiors to a new level of comfort,” said Michelle Blosser, interior design manager. “Today’s RV owners demand more than just good looks—they want environments that enhance their lifestyle and contribute to their overall wellbeing. With Ultrafabrics, we’re able to offer interiors that are not only timeless and elegant but also designed to meet the highest standards of comfort and durability, perfectly aligned with the evolving needs of our customers.”
Logan McBride, product manager for Solitude and Influence, emphasized the significance of the partnership: “Solitude has earned its place as one of the top-selling luxury fifth wheels in the market, and our goal has always been to set new industry standards. Integrating Ultrafabrics is a bold step forward in that mission. This partnership not only reinforces our commitment to leading in luxury and innovation but also ensures that Solitude continues to set the benchmark for quality and comfort in the industry. I can’t wait for our customers to experience the look, feel, and comfort that comes with this partnership.”
Ultrafabrics, renowned for its high-performance materials featured in prestigious automotive brands such as Jaguar, McLaren, and Land Rover, is also available as an option in Grand Design’s new Lineage motorized product line, further extending this premium material’s influence across the Grand Design family.
EDITOR’S NOTE: RVBusiness is following up here on an initial (Aug. 21) RVBusiness.com article regarding the Aug. 16 passing in Naples, Fla., of 97-year-old industry pioneer Richard E. Klingler. Klingler launched the original Holiday Rambler line in his hometown of Wakarusa, Ind., 10 miles south of Elkhart, Ind., where he started building trailer parts in a chicken coop and assembling the trailers outdoors in the 1950s.
The first Holiday Rambler RV was a travel trailer introduced to the public in 1953 by the Klingler Corporation, a restored example of which is located today in the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum in Elkhart, Ind.
Among the “firsts” attributed to the Holiday Rambler brand name was the 1961 introduction of aluminum body framing, ushering in a new era of lighter, stronger and more durable recreational vehicles.
The company was sold in 1986 to Harley-Davidson, then Monaco Coach Corp., Navistar International Corp. and in 2010 to Allied Specialty Vehicles, which became the REV Group for which Holiday Rambler currently serves as a motorized RV brand based in Decatur, Ind.
Richard E. and Pauline P. Klingler
As the family-inspired obituary below from Elkhart’s Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home indicates, a visitation celebrating the lives of Richard and Pauline Klingler, who passed away in July of 2022, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 19, at the funeral home. Private family graveside services will convene at Rice Cemetery immediately following the visitation.
“The RV Industry Association mourns the passing of Dick Klingler,” stated the RV Industry Association (RVIA) in RVB’s previous posting. “He was an innovator and pioneer founding one of the industry’s iconic brands in Holiday Rambler. He was also a passionate advocate for the association and through his service on the executive committee, board of directors, and committees in the early years of the association, he helped build a foundation for the organization to grow and flourish. On behalf of our members, the RV Industry Association extends heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
“It is with great sadness, pride, and love that we as a family announce the passing of both of our wonderful parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and great-great grandparents — Pauline P. and Richard E. Klingler.
“Our mother, Pauline, passed at the age of 94 on July 24, 2022, and our father, Richard, passed at the age of 97 on August 16, 2024.
“Surviving family members include children Debra Rogan, Pamela Smith, Douglas (Sally) Klingler. Grandchildren Shannon Marshman, Heather Elswick, step-grandson David McNally, Thomas (Lora) Rogan, Jaime Klingler, Jenna (Thomas) Everts. Great grandchildren Shawn (Daisy) Marshman, Christian Elswick, Aubrey Hoon, Josh Marshman, Peyton Elswick, Oliver Everts, Reilly Everts, Mia Marshman, Sadie Rogan, and Millie Rogan. Great-great grandchildren Grayson Marshman and Griffin Marshman.
“The loved ones that preceded our parents in death include: our mother’s parents, Wilma and Albenia Huff, sister Jean Pellus, our father’s parents, Leota and Hughlin Klingler, brother Walter Klingler, grandson Zachary Klingler, and daughter-in-law Michele Klingler, step-grandson Michael McNalley.
“Our mother was born in Lima, Ohio on August 28, 1927, and our father was born in Elkhart, Indiana on November 5, 1926. Both graduated from Elkhart High School in 1946. Mom and dad first met in school at a very young age. During high school our father played football as a running back while our mother marched in the band as a flutist. Our dad served in the US Army stationed at Camp Crowder in Missouri, Camp Atterbury in Indiana, and served in South Korea.
“During our father’s time of service, our mother was studying to become a Registered Nurse at St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in South Bend, Indiana. Following his return to the United States, our parents reconnected with the help of a friend and the two started dating.
“On October 14, 1950, our parents married in a small ceremony in Elkhart. This was the start of a 72-year partnership as husband and wife. At the time, little did they realize how their ambitions, hard work, and determination would take the two of them on a journey that led them to reach a level of success that has often been referred to as living the American dream.
“As a young couple, our mother worked as a Registered Nurse while our father was busy building their first home. It was a small, one-bedroom home in Elkhart where they brought all three of their babies home to begin life as a family of five.
“Our father enjoyed working with his hands and his mind was always filled with ideas of things he could make. In fact, he was still designing, creating, and working in his little wood shop at his home in Naples, Florida, right up until his passing.
“His first attempt at trying to sell items he built was with wooden toys that he created. Being nervous about selling, he took our mother with him to the first store. She held the door open for him as he walked in with his box of toys. She then shut the door behind him and waved at him through the glass. It was on this day that our parents’ business partnership began. Mom was always there to support him; she was the engine that could and would push him along to help in his achievement of their dreams.
“Following a time when our father worked in the cabinet shop at Richardson Mobile Homes, he soon discovered that he had a knack for understanding manufacturing. He felt he wanted to try to start his own business; so, our parents, along with our father’s parents, all participated in one aspect or another in starting a new company, Klingler Products.
“The very first travel trailer that the four of them built was constructed in his grandparent’s garage on Beardsley Street in Elkhart. Our father and grandfather built the trailer, and our mother and grandmother were in charge of sewing draperies. Eventually, the name of their business was changed to Holiday Rambler Corporation.
“As the years passed, their business grew and the company became more diversified with other businesses, including Utilimaster (commercial vehicles), Holiday World (retail RV sales outlet), Creative Dimensions (office, drafting furniture, and laminate kitchens), Nappanee Wood Products (kitchens), Harbor Craft Boats, Holiday House (park models), Parkway Distributors (RV parts), and B & B Molders (injection molding).
“After 33 years of nurturing their businesses, our parents decided to make a change to free up more time to spend with family and at their southern home in Naples, Florida. It was at this point that all their businesses were sold to Harley Davidson Corporation in December of 1986.
“Not long after the businesses were sold, our father, being a man that always had ambitions and dreams for other projects, began new businesses in Florida. Executive Development and Commercial Development were formed and were involved in building and managing several commercial properties in Collier County and Lee County, Florida.
“Our father has always had a wood shop where he would spend time working on many projects, some for fun and some to become future products to be marketed. That’s where the furniture line of Maple and Oak Street was started under the name of Klingler Products. This business remained in Elkhart.
“Well into his 90’s he continued building children’s wooden toys under his final business named Fun Wood Toys. He donated many of these toys to needy children, in addition to friends and family. Our parents always had a passion for traveling and were fortunate to have been able to travel to many countries and exotic corners of the world. The trips and experiences they embarked on together were true testaments to living life to the fullest.
“Boating was always a big part of our lives as a family – from our summers on Diamond Lake to adventures along the Florida coastline and trips to the Bahamas – some of our best memories include boating. Our parents completed the Great Loop from Florida up the east coast, into the Great Lakes and then south down the Mississippi River into the Tombigbee Waterway and back into the Gulf returning home to Naples. We all remember the grand boat trip to the Virgin Islands on one of their beloved Miss Pauline boats, lovingly named after our mother. They had several boats built over the years with both of our parent’s input influencing the design and construction.
“With our parents’ success came the ability for them to be able to help others. Following the loss of their grandson Zachary Klingler to childhood leukemia, they were able to form The Pauline and Richard E. Klingler Endowed Chair for Pediatric Research and The Zachary E. Klingler Endowed Chair for Pediatrics at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. They also helped to fund the construction of many homes for those in need through Habitat for Humanity of Collier County. Both of our parents have been honored with many awards over the years. Our father is known as one of the top ten most influential people in the RV industry and both were honored with the Sagamore of the Wabash award by the State of Indiana.
“Mom and Dad, we are all so grateful for the time we had with you both. We all love you and you will be missed greatly by your entire family and all the people whose lives you have touched with your friendship, kindness, and generosity.
“A visitation celebrating the lives of Pauline and Richard will be held from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2024, at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home. Private family graveside services will be held at Rice Cemetery immediately following the visitation.
“In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Richard E. and Pauline P. Klingler Chair, the Zachary E. Klingler Chair, or the Klingler Cancer Endowment at Riley Children’s Foundation, PO Box 3356, Indianapolis, IN 46206-3356 or can be made online at RileyKids.org Please note the name of the specific fund if making a gift.”
Women’s Equality Day commemorates the certification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This empowering day, celebrated annually on August 26th, marks a significant milestone in the ongoing journey toward gender equality. It serves as a reminder of the strides made in achieving women’s rights and underscores the continued efforts needed to ensure equal opportunities for all.
Photos by J. Tyler Klassen for RVBusiness.
Mary Pouliot, RVTI board chairwoman, speaks to the Recreational Vehicle Woman’s Alliance gathering, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 at the RV Technical Institute (RVTI).Curtis Hemmeler, executive director of the RVTI, speaks to the Recreational Vehicle Woman’s Alliance gathering, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 at the RV Technical Institute (RVTI).Trailblazer Award winner Tracy Anglemeyer addresses the Recreational Vehicle Woman’s Alliance gathering, Monday, Aug. 26, 2024 at the RV Technical Institute (RVTI).
The open road beckons with 27 million Americans planning to go RVing this fall and 7.3 million hitting the road over Labor Day weekend alone, according to a News & Insights report by the RV Industry Association (RVIA). The destination of choice for these RV travelers is the journey itself with 65% saying they are planning a road trip.
In a significant shift, RV camping has overtaken rental properties as the preferred accommodation for Labor Day vacationers, according to the latest Fall Travel Intentions survey conducted by Cairn Consulting for the RV Industry Association.
“The allure of the open road and the freedom of RV travel continues to resonate with travelers of all ages,” said RV Industry Association President & CEO Craig Kirby. “The fact that RVing has surpassed traditional rental properties for Labor Day weekend underscores the unique experiences and flexibility that RVing provides.”
Millennials and Gen Z are driving this surge in RV popularity. 33% of Millennial leisure travelers express a desire to take an RV trip in the coming year, with 32% even considering purchasing one. Gen Z isn’t far behind, emerging as the most active travelers with keen interests in food tourism and music festivals.
Key motivators for fall RVing among leisure travelers include escaping the daily grind (52%), enjoying destinations at their peak in the fall (48%), seeking less crowded experiences (47%), and embracing favorable weather (43%). The love of road trips, visiting family, exploring the outdoors, and traveling in comfort also resonates across all generations.
Millennials and Boomers favor fall RVing for the unique experiences the season offers, while Gen X seeks to escape the busyness of everyday life. Gen Z is drawn to the pleasant fall weather.
Tailgating remains a beloved fall tradition, with 3.5 million people planning to partake. RVing at festivals leads the tailgating scene (59%), closely followed by college football (58%), professional football (57%), and concerts (54%). While younger generations are more likely to tailgate overall, older generations maintain their enthusiasm for tailgating at high-level football games and concerts.
is the ability to carry all of your toys without compromising comfort, amenities, or quality. And with innovative features not found anywhere else, VAST
