RVBusiness

To encourage dealership training, RVDA of Canada board has created a one-time dealership Education Grant. For all training conducted between May 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014, RVDA of Canada will award $1,000 to the dealership. We encourage all member dealers to apply as there is a limited number of grants available for each province [...]

Workers brave the cold and snow to build the steel frame of the new Camping World Inc. recreational vehicle store in Rossford, Ohio, which will be located next to Bass Pro Shops. According to a report by the Toledo Blade, the 30,000-square-foot store is to open in late spring. The $6 million project will include [...]

Jayco Inc. approved the launch of its new Jay Smart, a line of Euro-styled, ultra-lightweight RVs. According to a press release, the new line of towables is slated to be built on Jayco’s campus in Middlebury, Ind. Jayco displayed a prototype of the Jay Smart during the 2013 Louisville Show. The company reported that dealers’ [...]

Editor’s Note: The following article, authored by RVing Examiner reporter Julian Gothard, details the history and cult-like status of the GMC motorhome. For the full story click here. It’s been over four decades since the first Michael Lathers designed GMC motorhome rolled off the General Motors Truck and Coach Division production line in Pontiac, Mich., [...]

President Obama will announce today (Feb. 18) that the federal government will further tighten fuel efficiency for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, according to a White House official, as part of the president’s ongoing effort to use his executive authority to address climate change. The Washington Post reported that Obama’s directive to the Environmental Protection Agency [...]

Spartan Chassis Inc., a business unit of Spartan Motors Inc., announced the addition of Timothy Hamm as vice president, sales and business development, specialty vehicles. According to a press release, the hiring of Hamm demonstrates Spartan Chassis’s continued commitment to the recreational vehicle industry. “Spartan Chassis is fortunate to be able to welcome someone of Tim [...]

Editor’s Note: The following is the obituary for Jim Shields, owner of Pan Pacific RV Centers in northern California and a major figure in the RV retail sector. Shields served in several capacities for the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) while founding and serving as president of CalRVDA. James Freeman  “Jim”  Shields, longtime resident of [...]

Editor’s Note; The following opinion column comes was published by the Motley Fool analyzing Thor Industries Inc.’s preliminary 2Q report that sales would fall below expectations due to weather. Recreational vehicle manufacturers Thor Industries Inc., Winnebago Industries Inc., and Berkshire-Hathaway-owned Forest River Inc. have coexisted for many years earning overall fantastic profits. When one stumbles, it can be an easy [...]

Recreational Vehicle business owners interested in learning more about how to increase revenue by at least 25% within one year may register now for RV Camping Connect’s free webinar, “Four Proven Marketing Systems Every RV Camping Business Must Optimize.” According to a press release, the webinar will run Wednesday (Feb. 19) from 2-3 p.m. EDT, providing [...]

Pete Liegl, founder of Elkhart, Ind.-based Forest River Inc., donated $200,000 to a charity benefiting a local hospital at a recent fundraising event. The Elkhart Truth reported that Leigl was among numerous benefactors that generated an estimated $700,000 Friday (Feb. 14) with half of the money going to the Elkhart General Hospital Foundation and half [...]