RV Business

Jason Michael Obendorf, 42 of Bristol, Ind., passed away on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Elkhart General Hospital after a brief illness. The president of ObeCo Inc., an industrial sewing services and commercial sewing solutions provider serving the RV snd other industries, Jason was born on April 29, 1982 to David and Melinda Obendorf in Elkhart, Ind. 

Jason graduated from Memorial High School in Elkhart, Ind., and with honors from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, according to the obituary posted by Stemm Lawson Freeman Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Elkhart, Ind.

He was the owner of ObeCo, Inc. and was a partner of Modern Buggy. Jason enjoyed golfing with his friends, watching movies and weight training. He also enjoyed hosting events and cooking for them. He was an avid Michigan, Chicago Cubs and Colts fan. Jason had a love of fast cars, something he inherited from his father. He enjoyed coaching little league baseball and Barkley basketball and sponsoring several recreational sports teams. Jason was a philanthropist and was very generous about giving of his time, talents and donations. Most of all Jason loved to spend time with his family and friends.

Jason is survived by his fiancé Annie Hunsberger of Bristol, Ind., his father and step-mother, Dave (Tammy) Obendorf of Elkhart, Ind.; children Johonna Obendorf and Micah Obendorf; siblings, Christi (Erik) Smith of Granger, Ind., Jenna (Jordan) Mansfield of Goshen, Ind., and Chris (Kaylee) Obendorf of Ft. Wayne, Ind., and his grandma Marilee Obendorf of Butler, Ind. Surviving Jason are also 6 nieces and nephews, 2 dogs, Diesel and Dobby, and a cat Richard. Jason is preceded in death by his mom, Melinda Bair and his grandparents, Robert Obendorf and Joseph & Janeth Ball.

Arrangements are pending.

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Kyle Kwasny, president of Heartland, Cruiser, DRV, joins Rick Kessler and Sherm Goldenberg of RVBusiness for a capitol Talk discussion on the latest goings on at the THOR Industries subsidiaries.

The RVBusiness Capitol Talk video series is sponsored by Airxcel Inc.

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OCALA, Fla. – Optimum RV, a leading recreational vehicle retailer, today announced that it is set to acquire Oklahoma RV Center in Oklahoma City, marking a significant step in its geographic expansion strategy. The transaction is anticipated to close within 30 days and will increase the company’s nationwide location count to 12 across six states.

“We’re excited to welcome Oklahoma RV Center into the Optimum RV family,” said Denver Beck, Optimum RV Founder & CEO. “This acquisition reflects our commitment to geographic expansion and sustainable growth. We’re excited about the opportunity in the Oklahoma market, and look forward to announcing more geographic expansions in the near future.”

Individuals interested in applying for a position with Optimum RV may visit OptimumRV.com/Employment

About Optimum RV:

Optimum RV is a leading recreational vehicle retailer headquartered in Ocala, Florida. Founded by Denver Beck in 2006, Optimum RV has grown from a modest single-site dealership to a multi-state enterprise. For nearly 20 years, Optimum RV has helped thousands of families realize their dreams of outdoor adventure and travel.

With 11 locations across five states, Optimum RV offers RVers the lowest prices, top selection and best experience.

For more information about Optimum RV brands, services, and locations, visit www.optimumrv.com.

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is the latest list of RV recalls compiled by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Per strict NHTSA protocols, manufacturers will next notify its dealer partners of the recall notice. Each notice will include details of the affected vehicles as well as the appropriate remedy.

Airstream, Inc. (Airstream) is recalling 269 2024 Airstream Trade Wind travel trailers, equipped with certain GE air conditioners. The air conditioner soft start device may fail and overheat. The remedy is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 11. Owners may contact Airstream customer service at [email protected], 1-877-596-6505 or 1-937-596-611 ext. 7401.

The post NHTSA Releases its Most Recent Installment of RV Recalls first appeared on RVBusiness - Breaking RV Industry News.

ELKHART, Ind. – Ultra-Fab Products announced its leveling blocks now have a lifetime warranty.

“Ultra-Fab routinely says that we have the longest warranties and here is another example”, stated Raymond Padgett, the vice-president of sales & marketing for Ultra-Fab.  “We have long known that our blocks outperform all the competitive product on the market, but we have done a very poor job of communicating that.  We did a review and found that issues on Leveling Blocks are practically non-existent, so it made sense to back them with a Lifetime Warranty.  I believe that there are no other brands of Leveling Blocks backed by a Lifetime Warranty.”

He went on to say “There will be no changes to pricing, item numbers or UPCs.  Shortly all our packaging will show the Lifetime Warranty.  All product currently being shipped from our facility have a “Lifetime Warranty” sticker affixed over the previous warranty’s graphic.  If anyone needs a few of these for their current stock, please let us know.”

He concluded “Ultra-Fab is known for quality products and having the longest warranty.  This is a prime example of us applying that standard.”

For more information on Ultra-Fab Leveling Block or any other Ultra-Fab products, Raymond invites you to email him at [email protected] and he will supply detailed information as well as recommending sources to purchase your supply today.  Also, you can download a Profit Information Sheet from their website by going to https://ultra-fab.com/product-information-sheet-leveling-blocks-2024-09-16/.

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ELKHART, Ind. – Forest River officials are pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Jacobs to the position of Sales Manager, North America, for its Columbus/River Ranch brand. Jacobs brings more than 30 years of RV industry experience to his new role, having worked with multiple organizations in different roles throughout his career.

Jacobs’ role is part of a new sales strategy developed by William Miller, the newly appointed GM at Plant 410. “At Columbus, we are building on the solid product and processes implemented before my arrival in May.” said Miller. “We understand that the landscape of sales and the channel-to-market is changing and now, more than ever, we needed to change and set a new standard of how we serve.”

“OEMs have historically relied on market share growth and brand exposure from the efforts of dealer groups throughout North America,” continued Miller. “Today, we must take more responsibility to build our own brand and value proposition direct to prospective customers. In his new role, Steve will work with our dealers to deliver more direct consumer engagement as they begin their buying journey.”

Columbus/River Ranch manufactures luxury fifth wheels and distributes them exclusively through leading dealers throughout North America.

About Forest River, Inc.

Founded in 1996 by Pete Liegl, Forest River, Inc. has evolved into North America’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles, cargo trailers, pontoon boats, and commercial vehicles including buses, vans, and trucks. Its portfolio includes market share leaders in every category, and it is the country’s leading manufacturer of buses and vans for both the private and public sectors. Based in Elkhart, Indiana, Forest River employs 14,000+ employees in 100+ facilities in more than a half dozen states. With a commitment to excellence and a focus on customer satisfaction, Forest River is proud to be a Berkshire Hathaway company.

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

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FAIRVAX, Va. – The Mike Molino RV Learning Center has extended the application for the 2025-2026 Duane Spader Leadership Development Scholarship to Sept. 27, 2024. This scholarship honors the RV industry service of Duane Spader, a past chairman of RVDA, and a champion of life-long learning. To be eligible for this unique opportunity, an applicant must be an employee of an RVDA dealer member.

Through the Mike Molino RV Learning Center and NCM Associates leadership development partnership, a scholarship is awarded annually to give one current or future leader the opportunity to participate in the program tuition-free. To learn more about the Leadership Development Program, view this video from lead instructor Bob Clark.

The deadline for scholarship applications is September 27, 2024. The recipient receives full tuition valued at $9,975 to attend the 12 to 18-month Leadership Development Program (LDP). The recipient will only be responsible for travel expenses. In addition, an applicant must be an employee of an RVDA of U.S. dealer member. Learn more and apply at the RV Learning Center website.

The NCM LDP consists of six, 3.5-day sessions over an 11-month period. In between sessions, participants are tasked with putting what they’ve learned to work in their dealership and tracking the results of those efforts through assignments and one -on-one sessions with an NCM coach. The recipient will be selected shortly after the application deadline in ample time to prepare for the first session scheduled for early 2025.

Upon graduating from the program, participants will know how to:

• Lead their organization’s culture and strategy
• Improve their leadership and management effectiveness
• Coach their team to higher performance
• Effectively understand and manage each area of North Star Model
• Hire the best candidates for each position
• Deliver world-class customer service
• Assess and improve their dealership’s organizational and financial health

Go to ncmassociates.com/product/leadership-development-program for additional details about the Leadership Development Program. 

The Mike Molino RV Learning Center is supported by dealers, manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, and other RV industry members who are committed to dealership education and the high levels of customer service that is provided by educated employees. Certification programs, readiness testing, webinars, audio presentations, live workshops, and a wide variety of specialty publications are all part of the RV Learning Center’s offerings. 

At NCM Associates, our business is knowledge. We proudly serve thousands of business owners throughout the United States and Canada. From in-depth management and leadership training to customized business consulting, we deliver the knowledge owners and managers need to take their operations to the next level. In addition to being the largest 20 Group provider in the United States and Canada, we offer software solutions to help business owners review and analyze critical financial data to make informed decisions for their operations. 

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WHEELING, Ill. – RV Designer announces the introduction of a focused range of RV Trailer Connections. This 11-SKU assortment features the most popular plugs, sockets and adapters for towable replacement applications, according to a release. 

“This program reflects market trend toward providing retailers and consumers with a tight assortment of the right Trailer Connections for replacement. The product line features do-it-yourself installation so consumers can install quickly and easily,” RV Designer President John Tinghitella stated.

RV Designer delivers best-in-class merchandising and packaging for an efficient, attractive and productive category, the release continued. These products are neatly packaged for easy visual access, simple explanation, wiring diagrams and RV Designer’s exclusive lifetime commitment. RV Designer will display the range in a tight 21-inch by 36-inch PlanoGram for use in RV Dealer Parts & Accessory departments. Product is available Oct. 1 through your preferred RV distributor.

For more information contact Sales & Marketing Manager Melissa Revlett at [email protected]

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New Dealer-Direct Distribution Improves Bottom Line for Dealers

NSA RV Products, an innovative manufacturer of creative towing products, is revamping its distribution by shifting to a dealer-direct strategy, allowing its hard working dealers to earn a larger slice of the profits, according to a release. Under the new program, all dealer partners will enjoy a substantial 25% gross profit margin. What’s more, all dealer orders are shipped out within one or two working days from the company’s centralized Kansas headquarters and shipping hub. This central shipping location means dealers receive NSA products within three days of ordering through UPS.

What’s more, by eliminating distributors, NSA’s dealers do not have to pay distributor markups, increasing dealer profitability, the release continued. Through this strategy, officials said, NSA dealers can sell at lower prices and enjoy higher profit margins.

Dealers can visit Booth #22 during the Elkhart Dealer Open House for more detailed information.

New fifth-wheel hitches to be unveiled at Elkhart Open House

According to Tod Westervelt, owner of NSA RV Products, the company is also introducing three new models to the company’s innovative line of ZEUS fifth-wheel hitches at the Open House.

Joining the company’s uniquely designed 22,500-pound capacity ZEUS fifth-wheel hitch are three new models; the 28,000-pound capacity ZEUS 5000 HD, the 28,000-pound Z-6000 HD and the super lightweight ZEUS Z-7000. All ZEUS hitches are backed up with a lifetime warranty.

The 28,000-pound ZEUS Z-5000 HD is the first hitch ever that can be used on both short bed and long bed trucks, as the innovative design allows 22-inches of movement for the 2-5/16-inch ball. This extremely sturdy hitch weighs only 58 pounds and boasts an 8,000-pound tongue weight.

This hitch also includes a king-pin adaptor, allowing king-pins to safely connect with 2-5/16 inch balls.

The ZEUS Z-6,000 HD offers a beefy 28,000-pound towing capability and 8,000-pound tongue weight, while only weighing 55 pounds As with the Z-5000, this hitch fits onto any turn-over ball and can accommodate both short-bed and long-bed trucks by allowing 22-inches of ball movement. Like the ZEUS Z-5000, this hitch includes a king pin adaptor.

The super-light ZEUS Z-7000 hitch weighs only 39 pounds, but offers a hefty 20,000-pound towing capability and a 6,000-pound tongue load. It also includes a King Pin Adaptor, allowing the king pin to hook up to a 2-5/16-in. ball.

The new ZEUS hitches give dealers a full-line of uniquely designed and featured products to offer to fifth-wheel trailer owners along with a higher profit margin thanks to NSA’s new dealer direct distribution program.

As with all of NSA’s innovative towing products, the fifth-wheel hitches are now selling direct from NSA to its dealer partners, for a more profitable retailer experience.

Show-goers can see and learn more about the dealer direct program and NSA’s new feature-friendly products at booth #22 in the Hall of Fame Museum building during the RV Open House.

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