RV Business

WAKE FOREST. N.C. – Integrated Dealer Systems (IDS), a leading provider of dealer management software for the RV, marine, and trailer industries, is proud to announce the launch of IDS Pay—a fully embedded payment solution that transforms how dealerships handle credit and debit transactions.

In fast-paced dealership environments, even small checkout errors, like manually entering the wrong total, can lead to costly mistakes. IDS Pay eliminates that risk by integrating payment processing directly into the IDS Astra G2 dealership management system (DMS) platform.

With IDS Pay, dealership staff can accept credit and debit card payments through smart terminals that automatically sync with their DMS. This seamless integration ensures accurate, real-time updates to accounting records—no rekeying amounts, no stapling receipts, and no manual reconciliation. What’s more, because this is an IDS product, dealers will benefit from one single, best-in-class support contact for all stages of their checkout process, from payments to software to terminals.[SM1] [CA2] [SM3] 

Key benefits of IDS Pay include:

• Faster, more secure checkouts with smart terminals you can use anywhere
• Simple, accurate reconciliation—no mistakes and no missed entries
• Better fraud protection to keep you and your customers safe
• Centralized transaction records for easy access and tracking
• One seamless system for everything payment-related

“We’re excited to offer an additional integrated payment option as part of our product offerings, continuing our commitment to delivering a variety of flexible, efficient options that meet the evolving needs of our customers,” says Josie Prosdocimo, Director of Product Management at IDS.

IDS customers [CA4] are already seeing the difference. “Now, there’s no more chasing down these mistakes because the amount isn’t manually keyed in,” says Carol Burridge, Office Manager at Chisolm Trail RV. “It’s all straight from the computer, completely taking away the human error.”

Interested in learning more about IDS’ integrated dealership management solutions? Contact the IDS Sales Team at (800) 769-7425 or email [email protected].

The post IDS Now Offering New DMS-Embedded Payment Solution first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve could keep its key rate unchanged for several more months as it evaluates the impact of President Donald Trump’s widespread tariffs on hiring and inflation, some economists say, even as the White House pushes for a rate cut, according to an Associated press report.

The Fed is nearly certain to keep its rate unchanged when it concludes its latest policy meeting Wednesday. Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials have signaled that they want to see how the duties — including 145% on all imports from China — impact consumer prices and the economy.

The central bank’s caution could lead to more conflict between the Fed and the Trump administration. On Sunday, Trump again urged the Fed to cut rates in a television interview and said Powell “just doesn’t like me because I think he’s a total stiff.” With inflation not far from the Fed’s 2% target for now, Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent argue that the Fed could reduce its rate. The Fed pushed it higher in 2022 and 2023 to fight inflation.

Trump also said Sunday he wouldn’t fire Powell because the chair’s term ends next May and he will be able to appoint a new chair then. Yet if the economy stumbles in the coming months, Trump could renew his threats to remove Powell.

A big issue facing the Fed is how tariffs will impact inflation. Nearly all economists and Fed officials expect the import taxes will lift prices, but it’s not clear by how much or for how long. Tariffs typically cause a one-time increase in prices, but not necessarily ongoing inflation. Yet if Trump announces further tariffs — as he has threatened to do on pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and copper — or if Americans worry that inflation will get worse, that could send prices higher in a more persistent way.

Click here to read the full Associated press report.

The post Fed Balancing Act: Fighting Inflation vs. Spurring Growth first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

NEW YORK — The U.S. trade deficit soared to a record $140.5 billion in March as consumers and businesses alike tried to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s latest and most sweeping tariffs — with federal data showing an enormous stockpiling of pharmaceutical products, according to an Associated Press report.

The deficit — which measures the gap between the value of goods and services the U.S. sells abroad against what it buys — has roughly doubled over the last year. In March 2024, Commerce Department records show, that gap was just under $68.6 billion.

According to federal data released on Tuesday, U.S. exports for goods and services totaled about $278.5 billion in March, while imports climbed to nearly $419 billion. That’s up $500 million and $17.8 billion, respectively, from February trade.

Consumer goods led the imports surge — increasing by $22.5 billion in March. And pharma products in particular climbed $20.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis noted, signaling that drugmakers sought to get ahead of Trump’s threats to slap tariffs on the sector.

Click here to read the full Associated Press report.

The post US Trade Deficit Hits Record High Ahead of Trump Tariffs first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

TROY, Mich. – Champion Homes, Inc. (NYSE: SKY) (“Champion Homes”) today announced in a press release that for the 11^th consecutive year, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has recognized the company with the prestigious Excellence in Manufactured Housing Award for home design.

MHI awarded Champion Homes with top honors in the Manufactured Home Design – Multi-Section and Manufactured Home Design – CrossMod® categories. With this announcement, Champion’s Excellence in Manufactured Housing Award total comes to 26 in the last 11 years.

“Champion Homes has an incredible team and an outstanding portfolio of brands and products,” said Champion Homes President and CEO Tim Larson. “We’re thrilled to receive industry recognition by winning the MHI Excellence in Manufactured Housing Award for the 11^th year in a row. It shows our dedication to providing our customers with high-quality, beautifully designed homes that are attainable and provide great value.”

The Ravenwood (Regional Builders Group, Winston, Ala.), won the Manufactured Home Design – Multi-Section category. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 2,216-square-foot home is truly one-of-a-kind. It features a set of large doors on the exterior of the home that open to reveal a bonus room, bringing outdoor living inside. This space is perfect for entertaining with bar seating and a wood-burning stove. A large back porch completes the standout exterior.

Inside, there’s a beautiful open concept living space that provides more options for entertaining. The kitchen boasts stainless steel KitchenAid® appliances, a painted marble tray ceiling, a large island and gorgeous light fixtures. Another special feature of the home is the utility room, which has a full-size dog washing station. Notably, the Ravenwood went viral on TikTok last year with more than four million views.

The Riverwalk (Skyline® Homes, Sugarcreek, Ohio) won the Manufactured Home Design – CrossMod® category. This three-bedroom, two-bathroom, 1,300-square-foot home is not only built to CrossMod® stands, but it is also a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Zero Energy Ready Home. A DOE Zero Energy Ready Home is a high-performance home that is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home’s annual energy use.

On the exterior, you’ll see elevated curb appeal as the Riverwalk has a gorgeous yellow exterior, a red door and a covered porch. As you enter, the nine-foot ceilings paired with an open-concept floor plan give this model a grand opening. The kitchen showcases a modern décor style with white cabinets, black hardware, white subway tile backsplash and a large island with a farmhouse sink. In the primary bathroom, you’ll find a dual vanity and contemporary black-wrapped mirrors.

MHI received 85 submissions across 18 categories for this year’s awards, which were announced at the MHI Congress & Expo in Orlando, Fla. MHI’s annual awards program honors those in the manufactured and modular housing industry who provide outstanding products, customer service, creative solutions and state-of-the-art homes.

CrossMod®, or crossover modern, homes combine the benefits and value of offsite-built homes with the features and aesthetics of site-built homes. They offer amenities typically found in site-built homes, such as garages, carports, pitched roofs and energy efficient features. A high quality and cost-effective housing solution, CrossMod® homes are built according to the HUD code and offer buyers the opportunity for traditional mortgage loan financing.

A DOE Zero Energy Ready Home is a high-performance home that is so energy efficient that a renewable energy system could offset most or all the home’s annual energy use. Each home is made up of components and building systems that are carefully designed, constructed and installed to allow the house to work together as one system, delivering superior performance, comfort, efficiency and durability. These homes meet rigorous efficiency and performance criteria and are verified by a qualified third-party as part of the certification process.

MHI is the national trade organization representing all segments of the factory-built housing industry. MHI serves its membership by providing industry research, promotion, education and government relations programs and by building and facilitating consensus within the industry.

Champion Homes, Inc. (NYSE: SKY) is a leading producer of factory-built housing in North America and employs more than 9,000 people. With more than 70 years of homebuilding experience and 48 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and western Canada, Champion Homes is well positioned with an innovative portfolio of manufactured and modular homes, ADUs, park-models and modular buildings for the single-family, multi-family and hospitality sectors.

In addition to its core home building business, Champion Homes provides construction services to install and set-up factory-built homes, operates a factory-direct retail business with 72 retail locations across the United States and operates Star Fleet Trucking, providing transportation services to the manufactured housing and other industries from several dispatch locations across the United States.

The post Champion Homes Wins MHI Excellence Award for 11th Year first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

FAIRFAX, Va. – With a rapidly evolving employment landscape and increasing regulatory demands, the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), in partnership with KPA, a leading provider of workforce risk management solutions, will host a free webinar on at 2 p.m. EDT May 21. EDT, according to a press release.

The event will focus on human resources’ best practices, onboarding strategies, and answers to common employment issues affecting RV dealerships. Registration is free and those interested may use this link.

What You Will Learn:

• How RV dealers can strengthen their workforce practices and reduce liability risks.
• Effective onboarding processes to improve retention.
• Navigating common HR compliance challenges
• How to handle terminations and disciplinary actions legally
• Best practices for maintaining employee records and policies.

The webinar will feature Russ Cole, SPHR, PHR-CA, an HR consultant with KPA since 2018. Russ brings 40 years of experience in human resources, workforce development, and corporate-university recruitment. His specialty and passion are for employee relations in which he draws from his earlier background in counseling, education administration and organization development.

“Hiring and retaining qualified employees is one of the top challenges for RV dealers today,” said RVDA President Phil Ingrassia. “This webinar with KPA is designed to give our members practical tools and insights they can use right away to improve their HR practices.”

“RV dealers are navigating an increasingly complex regulatory environment while also facing pressure to attract and retain top talent,” said KPA’s Russ Cole. “This webinar will offer practical, proven onboarding strategies with an educational focus to help dealerships reduce liability, strengthen compliance, and create a more stable, engaged workforce.”

About RVDA

RVDA, The National RV Dealers Association, is the only national association dedicated to advancing the RV retailer’s interests through education, member services, industry leadership, and market expansion programs that promote the increased sale and use of RVs and that enhance the positive image of the RV experience. For more information, please visit here.

About KPA

For over 35 years, KPA has helped dealerships achieve regulatory compliance, protect assets, and retain talent. KPA provides EHS, HR, advertising/sales/finance compliance consulting, software, and training for a wide range of RV dealerships and other industries and helps organizations minimize risk. For more information, visit here.

The post RVDA Webinar Eyes Employment Best Practices for Dealers first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

More than 90 percent of Biscayne National Park is underwater, so no one would miss it if it was dropped from the National Park System, right, asks writer Kurt Repanshek at NationalParksTraveler.org? You might say the same for Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout national seashores, which are located on barrier islands that sea-level rise eventually is going to submerge, so why should they remain in the system?

Bering Land Bridge National Preserve attracted fewer than 3,000 visitors last year, so why is the National Park Service paying staff to keep it open? Close it!

That just might be the thinking of President Donald Trump, whose fiscal 2026 budget proposal calls for a $900 million cut to the Park Service’s operations budget, a slash that the National Parks Conservation Association says would require about 350 parks to lose all of their funding.

“The president’s proposed budget plan is beyond extreme. It is catastrophic. Every action taken so far by this administration has chipped away at national parks and their staff, but this budget is the final blow. If enacted by Congress, our National Park System would be completely decimated,” said Theresa Pierno, who leads NPCA.

Trump just might be signaling that that’s his intent. Indeed, his budget proposal, which overall calls for more than $1 billion in cuts to the Park Service, suggested that some park units be pushed off to state management.

Click here to read the complete article at NationalParksTraveler.org.

The post NPCA: Trump Budget Would Close 300-Plus National Parks first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

NOVI, Mich. — Spartan RV Chassis, a go-to-market brand of The Shyft Group (NASDAQ: SHYF), a North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the commercial, retail and service markets, today (May 7) announced a strategic partnership with Rush Truck Centers, North America’s largest commercial vehicle dealership network.

The collaboration further strengthens Spartan RV Chassis’ nationwide support infrastructure, expanding access to expert service and repair capabilities for motorhome owners across the U.S. and Canada, according to a release.

“At Spartan RV Chassis, every decision we make — from engineering to partnerships — is driven by one goal: delivering a better experience for our owners,” said Doug Searles, VP & GM, Motorhome and Builtmore. “This partnership with Rush Truck Centers builds on a shared commitment to quality, service, and support. By strengthening our network with trusted, accessible service locations, we are helping ensure that our customers can travel with greater confidence, convenience, and peace of mind.”

Through the agreement, all 148 Rush Truck Centers service locations are now part of the Spartan RV Chassis authorized service network, offering motorhome owners access to a wide range of chassis maintenance and repair services. Select locations will also provide chassis alignment services for Class A motorhomes. Rush Truck Centers’ long-standing reputation for service excellence, combined with its strategically located facilities and factory-trained technicians, makes it a valuable addition to the Spartan RV Chassis authorized network, enhancing access to high-quality support wherever owners travel.

“As the largest commercial vehicle dealership network in North America, we understand the importance of access to reliable, high-quality service wherever customers travel,” said Victor Cummings, VP, Service Operations, Rush Enterprises. “This partnership extends our reach into the RV industry, allowing us to support Spartan RV Chassis owners with expert service and technical knowledge. Whether it’s routine maintenance or warranty repair, we’re committed to helping keep them on the road with confidence.”

Spartan RV Chassis is engineered to deliver premium ride performance, with a focus on durability, stability, and advanced technology. Its expanding service network is backed by one of the most comprehensive warranty programs in the RV industry, including a 20-year transferable warranty on the frame and cross members, a five-year, 100,000-mile Cummins engine warranty, and a five-year, 200,000-mile Allison transmission warranty.

Owners can quickly find authorized service centers — including Rush Truck Centers — using the Spartan RV Chassis Connected Care App or the Service Locator at www.spartanrvchassis.com. The app also provides maintenance schedules, diagnostic tools, and direct access to support to help keep motorhomes road-ready.

For additional assistance, contact [email protected].

The post Spartan RV Chassis Partners with Rush Truck Centers first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

Initial groundwork has just gotten underway on an expansive new 230-site North Trace RV Resort LLC, an upscale development near northern Indiana’s Lake Wawasee spearheaded by Nappanee, Ind.-based RV dealer Steve Showalter in the nearby community of Syracuse.

As a matter of fact, inquiries are already being received from area RV builders regarding availability of the County Road #29 facilities for owner rallies, according to Showalter, who’s spearheading the project. He says the projected grand opening for the first 82-site phase is set for next spring while initial reservations are to be accepted this fall.

“I’m excited about it, even though it has taken a little bit longer than expected to get going,” said Showalter, owner of Showalter RV Sales & Rentals, who says the whole resort project is a byproduct of he and his wife Junell’s personal RV enjoyment.

“We’re big RV enthusiasts ourselves,” stated Showalter, who got his start in the RV rental business in 2015 and now sells towable and used motorized RV’s at his upscale dealership a few miles away. “We really like them. We became accustomed to them and enjoy resort-style parks even though there’s not any around here yet.”

Resort-style parks like you’d run across in northern Michigan tend to feature paved streets, concrete pads, pools, full hookup and gated, nice, safe, clean environments. “And there’s some beautiful places in Florida,” he said, “but just nothing really right around here. So, we just felt like it’s an opportunity for us to invest in our community.”

And it makes additional sense to be located in northern Indiana in that so many RV owners from around the country tend to visit the area near the RV-building center of Elkhart County for service. There’s also a pretty strong demand among consumers for enthusiast rallies for which North Trace will be incorporating an event center. “We’ve had several manufacturers reach out and said they wanted to have rallies at the resort,” added Showalter. “Well, for that, you need a nice event center. You need a place where you can bring 250 people and serve dinner.”

Plans call for the resort to be built in three phases, the first phase including an office, event center, fitness center, pickleball court, dog park, maintenance building, four of the 18 cabins and 82 sites in the southern portion of the resort’s 46 acres. Phase two will involve a pool and 89 additional sites while the final 59-site segment will be on the north side.

The concrete pads throughout will be 20-foot wide and 65-foot deep with 25 feet of grass between them, and there will be other landscaping throughout plus “buddy sites” where two RVs face each other for RVers and friends. Each site will have water, sewer and 50-amp hookups. There will also be pull-through sites for those hauling vehicles behind their units.

“We will have a sidewalk that runs into town so people can walk and ride their bikes to town,” added Showalter, noting that plans call for the park to open from April to October. “We want to promote the town of Syracuse to our visitors. We want them to go there and use the restaurants.”

There will be a privacy fence around the resort, which will be gated with a pass code for accessing the facilities, and there won’t be any permanent-style long-term campers, although visitors are welcome to spend a week, a month or whole season. “So, this is only going to be short-term RVing.,” he said. “We’re not going to be building sheds and decks and we’re not putting trailers there and leaving them all year. That’s not what we’re trying to do here.”

By Deb Patterson, Editor-in-Chief. The Papers Incorporated

The post Showalter RV to Open Upscale Indiana Resort Next Spring first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

PORTLAND, Ore. –The topic of camping usually evokes images of campfires and tents, but new data shows that most campers are partial to keys and a set of wheels, according to a release. The Dyrt – a camping app that includes state and national park campgrounds, RV parks, glamping and free campsites, along with millions of user-generated campground reviews — has found that three out of four campers have camped in or next to their vehicle at some point in their camping journey, proving that vehicles are central to camping.

These statistics are from the 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks, the most comprehensive look at the latest trends, topics and figures for the U.S. camping industry, the release continued. The latest version of The Dyrt’s annual report is compiled from the results of surveys conducted with three groups — thousands of members of The Dyrt camper community, a representative sample of U.S. residents, and camping property managers across all 50 states.

According to the survey results, 53.4% of campers say their preferred type of camping involves a vehicle such as an RV, trailer or camper van. Half of all campers have owned a trailer (49.6%) at some point in their lives, 32.2% have owned an RV and 20.3% have owned a camper van. Slightly more than half of respondents (50.6%) say they bought a camper van, RV or trailer within the last five years. Additionally, when survey respondents were asked how much they were willing to spend on a new rig, the average dollar amount was $58,331.

“Look around any campground and you’ll see a wide price range and variety of sizes of camping vehicle,” The Dyrt founder Sarah Smith wrote in the report. “Camper vans are increasingly decked out with amenities that provide an RV-like experience that can fit in a traditional parking spot. Our van has been back and forth across the country many times since 2021!”

Vehicle campers have a specific list of priorities for what they look for in a campsite. Electric hookups are easily at the top, with 52.3% indicating that is the most important amenity. Next up is a water station (13.2%), sewer hookup (10.3%) and knowing the pull-thru length (8.9%).

For RVers, it’s important to know that roughly one in five camping properties (18.7%) has an age limitation on the RVs allowed on premises. Of those with restrictions, the average age limit for an RV is 12 years old.

When it comes to passenger vehicles primarily tasked with the function of transportation to and from the campground, 53.3% of campers say a truck is the ideal vehicle for camping. That was followed by an SUV at 38.6%. More than half of campers surveyed said they planned to buy a vehicle in the next five years, and 10.3% are planning to buy one by the end of 2025.

Farm campers are the group that is most likely to identify vehicle camping as their primary camping type: 51.4% of people who camp at farms prefer RVs and trailers compared to 45.1% of campers overall; that ratio is 13.6% to 8.3% for camper vans.

About The Dyrt

The Dyrt is the only camping app that has it all: state and national park campgrounds, RV parks, glamping, and free campsites, along with millions of user-generated campground reviews. With The Dyrt PRO, campers get comprehensive free camping tools, reservations at sold-out campgrounds, advanced route planning and maps, as well as discounts on camping. The Dyrt’s 2025 Camping Report Presented by Toyota Trucks and informed by the largest online camping community is the leading source of information for the camping industry.

The post Three Out of Four Campers have Camped with their Vehicle first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Carefree Covered RV Storage announces its inaugural celebration in the city of Surprise, Ariz., on June 9. The event will take place at 18415 W. Deer Valley Road, from 11 am to 1 pm, and is open to the public. This special occasion celebrates Carefree’s journey in offering covered RV storage to the local community of Surprise, the company’s first location in the northwestern Phoenix metropolitan area.

The Surprise facility marks Carefree Covered RV’s seventh location in the company’s portfolio across Arizona and Texas. The 14-acre project offers over 600 spaces of covered parking. In addition to high quality covered parking, the Carefree Surprise location features 24-hour security, a branded dog park, and a customer welcome center. Amenities free to customers include charging outlets, self RV wash/vacuum/water/air, sewer dump, Wi-Fi access, and ice.

The celebration will feature raffles, complimentary lunch and giveaways, ensuring a memorable experience for all attendees. Guests will have the chance to meet the Carefree team, learn more about the business, and explore the spaces and amenities available. A ribbon cutting ceremony with special guest Mayor Kevin Sartor will take place at 11:30 am.

“We cannot wait to celebrate this milestone with our new customers and the community,” said Barry Raber, Carefree’s president. “This event commemorates our commitment to providing top-quality RV storage and being an active part of this thriving community.”

Details:

• Date: Monday, June 9th
• Time: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Location: Carefree Covered RV Storage, 18415 W. Deer Valley Road, Surprise, AZ
• RSVP: [email protected]

The post Carefree Covered RV Storage to Open New Arizona Location first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.