Rick Kessler

Serenaded by an impromptu bagpiper, a record crowd of 325 people was on hand last night (Aug. 3) as the RV and manufactured housing industries officially inducted 10 new members into the RV/MH Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Ind. The event also featured a State of the Hall of Fame address by President Darryl Searer, […]

As the Recreation Vehicle Aftermarket Association (RVAA) readies for its annual Executive Conference, which is Aug. 17-21 at the Pinnacle Hotel in Vancouver, its outgoing president, Jim Stark, paused to reflect on his tenure – including the pending consolidation of the RV industry’s three largest distributors of aftermarket parts and accessories. In July, LKQ Corp. […]

About 3,500 people and 1,400 motorhomes have descended upon Wisconsin’s capital city for the 92nd Family Reunion and Motorhome Showcase hosted by the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). Dubbed “Escape to Wisconsin,” the annual four-day event began Wednesday (July 29) and runs through Aug. 1 at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison. One of the rally’s […]

Forest River Inc.’s West Coast Operations is expecting between 150-200 dealership personnel to attend its upcoming West Coast Open House, set for Aug. 18-20 at its manufacturing plant in Harrisburg, Ore. Paul Eskritt, a general manager for Forest River, said the company would have as many as 100 units displayed during the three-day open house – mostly towables built by […]

Taking a candidate test is no longer a mandatory first step as part of the industry’s RV Service Technician Certification Program, according to Sharonne Lee, senior director of education for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA). In addition, the amount of education training hours required for recertification was reduced from 40 to 20 hours, provided the […]

RV One Superstores Inc., with five locations in Florida, New York and Iowa, has announced it will begin selling motorized products manufactured by Winnebago Industries Inc. According to a company announcement, RV One will offer 2016 Winnebago gas and diesel motorhomes beginning with the Largest Motor Home Show in New York State. The consumer show will […]

Lori Tews, executive director for the Michigan Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC Michigan), already has had one very busy summer – and it’s not even close to being done yet. Tews, who’s been in her position since 2013, spent several days in June and drove a little less than 1,200 miles while visiting […]

Windish RV Center, a full-service motorized and towables dealer, will open a third Colorado location sometime next summer. The new store will be located on an 11-acre parcel in Fountain, Colo., just south of Colorado Springs on Interstate 25 and next door to the Colorado Springs Kampgrounds of America (KOA) park. A recipient of a […]

In an effort to bolster its aftermarket business, Lippert Components Inc. (LCI) has published a consumer RV lifestyle magazine, which is being distributed free of charge via participating dealers. Called “RV Open Road,” the magazine features editorial content designed to help consumers better enjoy their RVing experience as well as advertisements showcasing a number of […]

Campers Inn RV, headquartered in Kingston, N.H., and one of the nation’s largest family-owned RV dealership, has acquired Media Camping Center in Hatfield, Pa. and Clem’s RV & Trailer Sales in Stafford, Va., and Ellwood City, Pa. In addition, Jeff Hirsch, president of Campers Inn RV, hinted that there could be more acquisitions to be announced […]