RV News & Notes: February 2004

Newport Dunes Sweetens Valentine’s Day For Married RVers

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort, C1731, located in Newport Beach, California, will offer married couples staying at the resort’s RV park on Valentine’s Day, February 14, a special discount based on the number of years that they’ve been married. For instance, a couple that’s been married 10 years will receive a 10 percent discount.

Motorhomers interested in taking advantage of the resort’s Valentine’s Day promotion simply need to state the number of years they’ve been married when making their reservation.

Newport Dunes’ 406-site RV park features double-wide spaces that are individually fenced for maximum privacy; cable TV outlets; and 20-, 30-, and 50-amp electrical service. On-site conveniences include a waterfront restaurant; a market/grocery store; a pool and spa; a game room; a fitness center; a waveless beach; and a 450-slip marina.

For more information, or to make reservations, call (949) 729-3863 or visit www.newportdunes.com.

The Go RVing advertising campaign will expand upon the success of 2003 with an aggressive 2004 media schedule involving TV, radio, print, and Internet ads to increase RV awareness. The campaign is in the second year of its third phase.

The $13.2 million 2004 media plan kicks off with television ads on ABC’s family-oriented primetime programming during the network’s “sweeps” in February. The high-impact launch by The Richards Group, the Dallas-based agency selected to develop this three-year phase of the campaign, builds on last year’s network foundation and appeals to Go RVing’s primary and secondary target markets: adults aged 30 to 49 with children and empty-nesters aged 50 to 64.

Advertising on cable TV and in national and regional magazines will continue to be the mainstay of the media plan. Beginning in March, Go RVing’s four 30-second TV ads and one 60-second spot will air nationally on numerous popular cable TV networks. For the first time, Go RVing will sponsor special outdoor-themed programming on the National Geographic Channel and will air spots during Major League Baseball broadcasts on ESPN and ESPN2. The campaign will continue to have a strong presence on NASCAR telecasts broadcast by FX and Speed Channel.

Also in March, five “Pursue Your Passions” print ads are scheduled to run through December in 28 national and regional publications. On the radio side, 60-second ads will begin airing in March and run through August. The radio spots will be heard on network programs hosted by popular personalities including Paul Harvey, Dick Clark, Casey Kasem, and Tony Kornheiser, and in formats that range from news and commentary to sports and Top 40 hits.

Internet advertising will be seen on 17 popular Web sites and search engines, including AOL, Google, Maps.com, Parents.com, Weather.com, and Yahoo.

The Go RVing Coalition, formed in 1994, consists of RV manufacturers, component suppliers, dealers, RV associations and clubs, and campgrounds. The goal of the campaign is to provide the public and media with pertinent information about the benefits of RV travel and to foster customer satisfaction with the RV experience.

RV Alliance America, C95, a leading specialty RV insurance agency, has added two new carriers to the group of insurance companies it represents. Foremost and National Interstate companies have joined American Modern Insurance Group and Progressive Insurance to double the options RVers now have when finding coverage with RVAA.

According to RVAA, the additional carriers will allow the company to find better rates and coverage for its customers by shopping among the four insurers. “With all the turmoil in the insurance industry today, it’s great we can offer our customers so many options,” said Kurt Meister, RVAA executive director. “Our new partners share our dedication to offering the best services to our policyholders.”

Each of the new carriers has indicated that it is willing to honor any earned credits toward RVAA clients’ disappearing deductibles. Any policyholders who choose to switch from their current carrier to one of the new carriers represented by RVAA will retain the benefits they have earned. Policyholders also will continue to have access to features such as Total Loss Replacement for newer RVs and Agreed Value Coverage for classic GMC or converted coaches.

Along with the new carriers, RVAA now offers stand-alone umbrella liability coverage from RLI Insurance, a company that specializes in these types of policies. Umbrella liability insurance covers policyholders in the event that coverage for their RV, homeowners, or auto insurance is insufficient. Many lawsuits currently result in legal fees and damage awards that far exceed the liability limits of basic coverage.

For more information, call RVAA at (800) 521-2942 or visit www.rvaa.com.

Joe Cahn, F202477, “The Commissioner of Tailgating,” received Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s (RVIA) 2003 Spirit of America Award at a special ceremony held December 2 during RVIA’s 41st National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky. The award honors efforts to promote recreation vehicle tailgating nationwide.

“Joe Cahn has demonstrated to millions that RVing is the best way to see America and tailgate in style,” said RVIA president David Humphreys. “We admire his charisma, remarkable spirit, and eloquence. His efforts have certainly captured the appeal and advantages of RV tailgating.”

Mr. Cahn was lauded for bringing RV tailgating into the national spotlight. A three-minute retrospective video was shown, featuring Cahn in several TV appearances ranging from CNN and CBS news broadcasts to a Food Network segment and a Coca-Cola commercial. As the self-appointed “commissioner of tailgating,” Mr. Cahn travels the United States by motorhome and tailgates with fellow RVers in the parking lots of sporting events.

Mr. Cahn is the second recipient of the newest RVIA award, which was presented last year to retired CBS News cameraman Isadore Bleckman.

On October 23, 2003, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation, C1905, celebrated a milestone when the 100,000th Freightliner chassis rolled off the company’s assembly line in Gaffney, South Carolina. Employees, customers, and local and state officials were on hand for the ceremony, plant tours, and a parade of Freightliner Custom Chassis products.

The Gaffney plant, which contains 255,000 square feet of manufacturing floor space, was purchased by Freightliner from Oshkosh Truck Corporation in 1995. In that first year, the company produced approximately 3,800 chassis, far below the number of chassis manufactured in recent years. Today, more than 800 people work at the Gaffney facility producing chassis for the motorhome, walk-in van, and school bus and shuttle bus markets. The facility also assembles the Sprinter van for Freightliner and Dodge.

Recently Freightliner also announced that it has joined with Spartanburg Technical College, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, to develop a specialized motorhome technician training program. The new program will focus on training technicians in all areas of motorhome service in preparation for ASE certification.

The goal of the program, according to Dave Hoover, manager of customer service at Freightliner Custom Chassis, is to elevate the level of knowledge and skills of technicians working on motorhome chassis at Freightliner dealerships and RV service centers across the United States and Canada.

After students have completed the program, they will be able to participate in internships through the Freightliner dealer network. “Students will have a great opportunity for jobs right out of school, and dealerships will have mechanics who are specialized in working on Freightliner motorhome chassis,” Mr. Hoover explained.

In addition to the training program, Freightliner Custom Chassis and Spartanburg Technical College are working together to build a college branch in Gaffney where students can receive on-the-job training. The campus, scheduled to open in mid-2004, also will become the new home of Freightliner Custom Chassis’ Factory Service Center. The joint location will provide students with hands-on access to the most current diesel chassis technology.

Freightliner Custom Chassis is a subsidiary of Freightliner LLC, a heavy-duty truck manufacturer. Freightliner LLC is a DaimlerChrysler company.

Dura-Bright aluminum wheels, patented by Alcoa Wheel & Forged Products, C9081, are now standard equipment on the outer wheel positions of Ford’s F-53 Super Duty type A motorhome chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 22,000 pounds.

Ford launched its redesigned gas-powered chassis as part of its 2004 model-year offering, which includes a change to larger 22.5-inch wheels.

Alcoa Dura-Bright wheels are designed to resist corrosion and eliminate the need for polishing. First made available in 1999, Dura-Bright wheels are said to offer a high-quality shine with only soap and water. In addition to easy cleaning, the aluminum wheels reportedly exhibit other advantages: one-piece, forged-in strength; better dimensional control for improved ride; better heat dissipation for extended tire and brake life; less weight; and higher resale value. Dura-Bright wheels are not coated, but have a patented treatment that penetrates the aluminum itself and lasts for years.

For more information about Alcoa Wheels, call (800) 242-9898 or visit www.dontpolish.com.