Month: October 2024

GOSHEN, Ind. — Debuting in mid-September at America’s Largest RV Show, Keystone RV unveiled one of its new premium single-axle travel trailers. Later in the same month, the second premium single-axle travel trailer made its debut at THOR Industries’ Dealer Showcase in Elkhart, Ind.

Taking the industry by storm, Reign and Sprout elevate the camping experience with their compact layout and impressive amenities, according to a release. Both ergonomical designs feature an exclusive automotive-finished aluminum exterior, 100% composite flooring, and structurally composite experience shell, as well as Glow Edgeview exterior accent lighting. Equipped with Dexter’s Torflex torsion axles, campers will appreciate a smoother ride, minimizing road shock and vehicle damage over time.

Despite their size, these brands offer ample storage and space for all the necessities. Their effortless, ergonomic storage solutions create additional space in unexpected places, from underbed storage to unique shelving and cabinetry. Paired with European inspired interior design, Reign and Sprout bring a unique offering unlike anything else in the industry.

Damon DeJesus has been appointed the National Sales Manager for Reign and Sprout. DeJesus brings a valuable combination of RV industry creativity and experience to the role and will be responsible for leading the brand’s sales team and driving growth.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Reign and Sprout team and provide Keystone’s customers with a refreshing, new solution.” said DeJesus.

With Keystone’s history of providing significant value for the money, Reign and Sprout create a whole new avenue for our consumers to enjoy a fun, long lasting travel trailer that is extremely easy to camp in.

For more information, visit keystonerv.com to learn about Reign and Sprout. Dealers interested in stocking their lots with these brands can contact National Sales Manager, Damon DeJesus at [email protected].

The post Keystone Intros Premium Single-Axle Travel Trailer Brands first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

While the Southeast has been battered by a succession of hurricanes in recent weeks, RV parks across the region have been taking in evacuees and, in some cases, serving them hot meals.

One park where hurricane evacuees have found refuge is Twin Lakes Camp Resort in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., according to park co-owner Pat O’Neill.

“Where we are are located in northwest Florida, we experienced no damages whatsoever. We became a haven like many other parks outside the target areas,” O’Neill said. “We filled up for a few days each time and (my wife), Heather, made pots of homemade soups, including Conecuh sausage and bean and bacon/potato soup with grilled cheese sandwiches, for the evacuees.”

O’Neill said evacuees have been very appreciative of his park’s hospitality. “It was well received and guests were very grateful to have a safe and friendly place to (seek safe) haven and make new friends.  We even saw old friends rekindle to meet up here for a respite.”

Camp Delta RV Park in Stockton, Ala. offered free campsites to hurricane evacuees, according to a report by WKRG, a CBS affiliate in Mobile, Ala. “If they don’t have a place we will fill up the cabins and then if we run out then we’ll go get a bunch of tents. We’ll find somewhere for them. We are not going to leave them where they don’t have a place to stay,” said park owner Luke Carruth.

Maynor Creek Water Park in Wayne County, Miss. and seven other parks managed by Pat Harrison Waterway District were also said to be welcoming Hurricane Milton evacuees from Florida. “Any of those campsites will allow anyone evacuating because of Hurricane Milton with an RV or tent to stay free,” WDAM, the Channel 7 television station in Moselle, Miss., stated in an Oct. 9 report.

“Pat Harrison (Waterway District) wants to do what they can do, and this is what they can do,” Maynor Creek manager Michael Tarver said. “Just like everybody would like to be able to do more, but most people can’t. They’re in trouble down there. They’re heading out, getting away from this monster. And they come all, they come this way, too. Everybody needs help.”

Hoover Met RV Park in Hoover, Ala. also hosted Florida evacuees fleeing Hurricane Milton, according to an Oct. 9 report by WBRC Channel 6 in Birmingham, Ala.

Some Florida-based RVers fled as far away as the West Omaha / NE Lincoln KOA in Gretna, Neb. To escape Hurricane Milton, according to an Oct. 9 report by WOWT Channel 6 in Omaha.

The post Campgrounds Continue to Receive Hurricane Evacuees first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ELKHART, Ind. – Liquified RV, an aftermarket suppler of RV holding tank products, hosted an animal adoption event Sept. 28 at the Elkhart Humane Society. An impressive 23 dogs and cats found their forever homes, company officials said, marking this event as a major success.

New to the Elkhart area (See: “Liquified RV Opens Warehouse & Distribution Center in Elkhart”), Liquified RV aims to make a positive impact on the community and increase awareness of its brand, co-founders Matt Foxcroft and Will Knowles told RVBusiness. Teaming up with other local businesses, the two brought their vision to life.

Partnerships with the Elkhart Humane Society, Alliance RV, Tank Rangers and Lippert were instrumental in the event’s success. Through sales, financial support and physical volunteering, each organization played a vital role in the positive impact of the event, demonstrating their commitment to animal welfare and community well-being. This collaborative effort not only facilitated pet adoptions, they said, but strengthened community ties and emphasized the importance of local engagement.

In addition to achieving their adoption goals, Foxcroft and Knowles also saw an impressive turnout and enthusiastic support from the community. In bringing awareness to their business, they also highlighted the importance of animal welfare and the positive impact the shelter has on the community.

In preparation for the event, Liquified RV sold special edition three-pack treatments on the company’s website. By promoting it on social media and working with partners, they were able to raise $10,000. This funding was used to help cover the adoption fees for all the animals, lessening the burden for adopting families. The remaining balance went to the Elkhart Humane Society where it will help further support animal care and community outreach.

During the event, several people shared their personal stories of pet love and loss, making it an emotional experience for many. This united the community and strengthened connections, transforming it into something bigger than a sole adoption event.

Liquified RV wants to again thank its partners, customers, the Elkhart and RV community, and anyone else who helped make the event possible.

Looking ahead, Foxcroft and Knowles said Liquified RV is committed to broadening its community engagement efforts, with some future events already in the works. Keep an eye out for some possible collaborations with A Rosie Place, Habitat for Humanity, and more.

For more information on Liquified RV and upcoming events, visit www.liquifiedrv.com or follow the company on social media.

The post Liquified RV Celebrates Successful Pet Adoption Event first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The national average for a gallon of gas popped two pennies higher to $3.21 since last week as large swaths of the country deal with severe back-to-back storm damage. Like Hurricane Helene, Milton will not severely impact national gasoline supplies but will affect demand in areas with destroyed infrastructure, flooded roads, and power outages, according to AAA.

Overseas, the tension between Iran and Israel continues, which is causing a slow wobbling in the price of oil but no steady upward movement.

“All this terrible weather lately could cause regional prices to rise as drivers flock to the few open stations with gas,” said Andrew Gross, AAA spokesperson. “But as roads are cleared and power is restored, stations will be able to be re-supplied, so any upward pressure on prices should be fleeting.”

With an estimated 1.2 million AAA members living in households with one or more electric vehicles, AAA tracks the average kilowatt-per-hour cost for all levels of public charging by state. Today’s national average for a kilowatt of electricity at a public charging station is 35 cents.

According to new data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gas demand surged from 8.52 million b/d last week to 9.65. Meanwhile, total domestic gasoline stocks plunged from 221.2 million barrels to 214.9, while gasoline production increased last week, averaging 10.2 million barrels daily.    

Today’s national average for a gallon of gas is $3.21, 5 cents less than a month ago and 47 cents less than a year ago.

Oil Market Dynamics

At the close of Wednesday’s formal trading session, WTI fell by 33 cents to settle at $73.24 a barrel. The EIA reports that crude oil inventories increased by 5.8 million barrels from the previous week. At 422.7 million barrels, U.S. crude oil inventories are about 4% below the five-year average for this time of year.

Quick Gas and Electricity Stats

Gas

The nation’s top 10 most expensive gasoline markets are California ($4.67), Hawaii ($4.59), Washington ($4.05), Nevada ($3.91), Oregon ($3.67), Alaska ($3.65), Illinois ($3.50), Utah ($3.50), Idaho ($3.44), and Pennsylvania ($3.38).

The nation’s top 10 least expensive gasoline markets are Georgia ($2.72), Mississippi ($2.75), Texas ($2.80), Arkansas ($2.81), Oklahoma ($2.81), Louisiana ($2.83), Missouri ($2.84), Kansas ($2.84), Alabama ($2.86), and Tennessee ($2.86).

Electric

The nation’s top 10 least expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Kansas (22 cents), Missouri (24 cents), Delaware (26 cents), Nebraska (28 cents), Texas (29 cents), Vermont (30 cents), Michigan (30 cents,) Utah (30 cents),  Wisconsin (30 cents), and North Dakota (30 cents).

The nation’s top 10 most expensive states for public charging per kilowatt hour are Hawaii (55 cents), West Virginia (45 cents), Montana (43 cents), Arkansas (42 cents), Idaho (42 cents), New Hampshire (42 cents), South Carolina (42 cents), Kentucky (41 cents), South Dakota (41 cents), and Alaska (41 cents).

The AAA Fuel Report will take a vacation later this month and will not be posted on October 17th and 24th. However, it will return on the 31st in time for Halloween.

Drivers can find current gas and electric charging prices along their route using the AAA TripTik Travel planner.

The post AAA: Pump Prices Higher as Hurricane Milton Wreaks Havoc first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

Erich Keilich has taken over as CFO of the AL-KO Vehicle Technology Group in September 2024. The economics graduate was most recently CFO of the CPI Gruppe Deutschland in Ulm. He was previously responsible for pioneering projects corporate development, process optimization and cost efficiency as CFO of Bauknecht Hausgeräte GmbH. Before joining Bauknecht, he worked in a variety of international finance roles for General Motors.

Harald Hiller, President and CEO of AL-KO Vehicle Technology, commented: “I am delighted that we have gained Erich Keilich as a leader with transformational experience who will enrich our management team. With his wide-ranging experience in finance and his determination to optimize processes and results, he will make a valuable contribution to the further development of our company.”

The post New Chief Financial Officer for AL-KO Vehicle Technology first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

FAIRFAX, Va. – GE Appliances, a supplier of refrigerators, air conditioners, stoves washers and dryers for the RV industry, will return as a bronze partner for the 2024 RV Dealers Convention/Expo.

The Convention/Expo will take place Nov. 11-15, 2024, at Paris Las Vegas and is sponsored by RVDA of U.S., RVDA of Canada, and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center. 

“GE Appliances has increased the number of products it offers RVers dramatically over the past few years,” said Convention/Expo Committee Chair Chris Andro, Hemlock Hill RV Sales in Southington, CT. “We are grateful to have GE as one of our valuable partners.”

“As we have grown our offerings for RVs, we have continued to provide the type of quality products GE built its reputation upon,” said Attila Krizsan, senior director, recreational living for GE Appliances. “By backing the Convention/Expo, we hope to continue to show our commitment to our RV dealer partners.”

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.  

Companies interested in partnership or sponsorship opportunities can contact Julie Newhouse at (703) 364-5518 or email [email protected].  

The post GE Appliances a Bronze Partner for RVDA Convention/Expo first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: During the recent Glamping Show Americas, Woodall’s Campground Magazine (WCM) Editor Ben Quiggle conducted several interviews with people at the show to give everyone a chance to learn more about the variety of accommodation units that were displayed. Over the next few weeks, WCM – a sister publication to RVBusiness – will highlight these videos and the companies that are manufacturing these units in an effort to show off the innovation in the glamping sector. In this first video, Quiggle chats with Zach Stoltenberg, the outdoor hospitality director for architecture firm Clockwork, about the partnership the company has developed with Mscapes. Mscapes was highlighting its new NOMAD cabin. 

The RVBusiness Featured Video is sponsored by CURT, a Lippert towing brand.

The post Video: Mscapes Shows Off ‘NOMAD’ at Glamping Show first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ESSLINGEN, Germany – The growing number of electrical functions in modern vehicles is reducing the installation space according to a press release from Eberspaecher.

Reliability and monitoring of vehicle electric systems are also becoming increasingly important – especially for autonomous driving. Eberspaecher is rising to these challenges with the extremely powerful and compact PowerSentinel Advanced Switching Solution (PASS). The new semiconductor switch carries and safeguards high currents in various environments in low-voltage networks up to safety integrity level ASIL D.

Whether it’s in redundant vehicle electric systems for autonomous driving, for critical safety loads such as electric brakes and controls (“X‑by‑wire”) or as an electronic semiconductor-based fuse (e-fuse)—the PowerSentinel protects subnetworks and isolates them from the vehicle electric system in case of an emergency. This feature is essential, for example, in the case of short circuits, cable breaks and overvoltage events. The semiconductor switch can carry currents of up to 2000 A for a short time and 200 A continuously. The low quiescent current of less than 100 µA with an active disconnector prevents discharge of the battery. The semiconductor switch was initially designed for 12 V, but the option of a 24 V or 48 V variant will be available in the future.

Optimized geometry and needs-based configuration
The growing number of electrical functions is increasing the demand for control units in modern vehicles—and therefore space is becoming ever tighter. Moreover, every gram of weight saved plays its part in extending the range of electric engines. With dimensions of 14.76 by 10.8 by 2.19 cm, the PowerSentinel makes installation in the vehicle very easy. In addition, the modular concept behind the configuration of the switch offers the customer maximum flexibility in terms of both hardware and software. For example, there is a choice between various safety levels up to ASIL D in accordance with ISO 26262 and a variety of diagnostic requirements can be met. The PowerSentinel comes with a LIN bus connection to the vehicle electric system as standard. CAN is also available as an alternative. The PowerSentinel was designed in-house by Eberspaecher and its specifications have been drawn up on the basis of intensive discussions with customers and market analyses. It will be available from the end of 2024.

Patents for lower power loss and smaller space requirements
In the PowerSentinel, Eberspaecher brings together its expertise and experience from more than 20 years of development in automotive electronics. The patented current measurement with no shunt resistor reduces power loss and waste heat. This means there is no need for a heat sink even at continuously high currents, which in turn reduces the installation space required. The optimized busbar concept is also a patented approach that makes transport of the current through the printed circuit board as efficient as possible and generates less waste heat. Extensive knowledge of semiconductor-based switches in modern vehicle electric systems is also evident in the equally innovative diagnostic capabilities. It is possible to test the switch continuously in closed and conducting state without opening it—even while driving. The PowerSentinel is a flexible component that can be used in various circuit configurations to protect the low-voltage electric system of modern vehicles.

The post Eberspaecher PowerSentinel Offers Safety for High Currents first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ATHENS, Texas — The National RV Training Academy (NRVTA) announces an expanded class schedule for the first quarter of 2025, doubling available seats to meet the overwhelming demand for its hands-on training programs.

As one of the highest-rated RV technician and inspector training facilities in the nation, according to a release, NRVTA offers comprehensive five-week courses that promote entrepreneurship while equipping students with the skills needed to succeed in the rapidly growing RV industry.

With elective courses such as solar installation and generator repair, NRVTA continues to address the evolving needs of RV owners who rely on certified technicians to keep their vehicles in top condition. The increased availability of these specialized courses is a direct response to the rising popularity of mobile RV tech services across the country, driven by the success of RVTAA-certified technicians, many of whom are found through the RVTAA Tech Locator.

“With thousands of certified technicians already on the road, there is still a pressing need for even more to keep up with the demand,” Kelly Bradley, COO at NRVTA. “The expansion of our class schedule is essential to meet this growing demand and ensure that technicians are fully prepared to enter the field with confidence and expertise.”

The NRVTA’s unique hands-on approach is what sets it apart from other training institutions. Through repetition and muscle memory, students gain real-world experience by working with the very equipment they’ll encounter on the job. NRVTA has invested millions of dollars in equipment, allowing students to practice and refine their skills in a controlled, hands-on environment. This focus on practical experience ensures that graduates are prepared for the demands of the field from day one.

In five weeks, NRVTA students develop the knowledge and proficiency required to launch their own mobile RV businesses or join established teams. The academy’s programs are designed to not only teach the technical skills but also foster entrepreneurship, empowering graduates to take control of their careers and thrive in a booming market.

As a leading provider of RV technician and inspector training, NRVTA is committed to supporting the industry by equipping its graduates with years of hands-on experience in a matter of weeks. With the expansion of the 2025 class schedule, NRVTA is well-positioned to continue developing the next generation of skilled RV professionals ready to meet the needs of the growing RV community.

For more information or to enroll in NRVTA’s courses, visit www.nrvta.com.

The post NRVTA Adds Classes to Meet Demand for Mobile RV Techs first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was written before hurricanes Helene and Milton made landfall. Since then, the OHI Foundation has created a $75,000 fundraising goal to support parks impacted by Helene. To learn more, click here. 

The OHI Foundation is seeking further help to support its disaster relief efforts as requests for such support continues to rise due to the increasing number of natural disasters occurring.

Recently, the Foundation had to pause distributing disaster relief support due to a lack of funds.

“We’ve exceeded our budget for the second year in a row,” noted Terry Munoz, chairman of the foundation. “We have the money that is earmarked for the school through the George O’Leary fund and then we have our unrestricted funds or donations that we use for disaster relief. It has been an unprecedented year for disasters and we have received numerous requests that we have funded this year.”

Munoz noted that the foundation has had to have some tough conversations recently with park owners seeking help that the Foundation couldn’t give aid to at the moment.

Disaster Relief support is funded 100% through donations from park owners/operators across the country, and some industry suppliers, like Tengo Internet, have given thousands over the past several years.

Krystine Harris, vice president of finance for OHI, noted that both 2023 and 2024 have been “significantly over budget.”

• Fiscal Year 2024 (ends 9/30) – Disbursed $31,500 — these figures were gathered near the end of August
• Fiscal Year 2023 – Disbursed $34,500

Type of Support Provided

Parks may apply for any, or all, of the following:

• Up to $1,000 Grant For Interim Relief For Personal Use
• Up to $3,000 Grant for Interim Relief for Business Use
• Up to $1,000 Grant For Providing Shelter, Food, Clothing, etc., to Victims of a Natural Disaster, including Park Staff

* Parks must apply for Disaster Relief Funds within 60 days of experiencing a disaster.

Munoz said he hopes to highlight all of the work that the Foundation does to support the industry.

“We want to make sure that we’re getting the word out of who we are and what we do,” he noted. “Our tagline says, ‘It’s in our nature to help,’ and that’s what we do. We want people to know that and how we do that, whether it’s through disaster relief or scholarships, which help people improve their businesses by attending OHI’s national school.”

To donate to the fund, click here. 

If your park experiences damage from any natural disaster, you are eligible for funds from the OHI Foundation’s Disaster Relief Fund. 

Click here to apply for assistance. 

You DO NOT need to be an OHI member to apply.

The post OHI Foundation Seeks Relief Donations as Need Skyrockets first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.