Liberty Coach To Offer Dean Loucks Custom Exteriors
Frank Konigseder, vice president of Liberty Coach, announced that the company will team with well-known automotive and marine industry paint specialist Dean Loucks to offer innovative exterior designs on Liberty’s newly manufactured coaches beginning with the 2013 models.
The new designs were unveiled at the Florida RV SuperShow in Tampa, January 10-15, 2012. “People were blown away and couldn’t believe what they were seeing. Customers and even paint shop owners were coming over to our booth and were amazed by the technology we are using,” Mr. Konigseder said.
Liberty Coach has worked with Mr. Loucks for more than 20 years on specialty coaches with custom designs, including an adobe Aztec village scene for country-western musician Randy Travis; a baseball-themed design for J.W. Henry, a past owner of the Florida Marlins; and a Napa Valley-inspired vineyard theme for Brassfield Estate Winery.
Mr. Loucks will now be in charge of exterior design for all Liberty Coach motorhomes starting with the 2013 Verona Edition, which has been on display at the Liberty Coach showroom in Stuart, Florida.
Mr. Loucks’ innovative work can be viewed at www.libertycoach.com as well. To see a video of the Brassfield Winery’s coach and other designs, go to YouTube.com. For more information about Liberty Coach, visit the company’s Web site or call (800) 554-9877.
Pilot Flying J Adds Android App
Following the introduction of its MyPilot iPhone app in November 2011, Pilot Flying J recently added an Android version of the popular smartphone application, which is designed to assist professional drivers and motorists as they plan trips and stop to refuel and refresh while on the road.
Both versions of the MyPilot app provide location and trip features for all of the more than 550 travel centers and travel plazas across North America in the Pilot Flying J network.
“Pilot Flying J is the driver-driven company, so we designed the MyPilot app to serve as a one-stop solution for any road trip,” said Ken Parent, senior vice president of operations for Pilot Flying J. “We’ve gotten terrific feedback on the app’s new and improved features since the launch of the iPhone version, and we’re pleased to expand its availability to users of Android devices.”
Using the MyPilot app, customers can locate the closest Pilot or Flying J with a list of available amenities and fuel prices. The app provides a bird’s-eye view of all locations in the nearby area and allows users to set the locations in a traditional map, satellite, or hybrid view. Professional drivers and motorists also can plan a trip by entering the start and end points, and the app will show all of the Pilot and Flying J locations along the way.
The Android version includes all of the same features as the iPhone version, including contact information for all Pilot Flying J locations, a search function to locate facilities with specific amenities, a customer service link, and much more.
For more information about Pilot Flying J’s MyPilot apps, visit www.pilotflyingj.com/mypilot.
Tom Johnson Camping Center Assists TV Show
Tom Johnson Camping Center donated the use of 12 recreation vehicles to ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” cast and Bellamy Homes during a mid-December build in Lincolnton, North Carolina. A Type A motorhome and other RVs were utilized as office space by the designers and builders, which allowed them to remain on-site around-the-clock during the build, thus increasing their productivity.
“Tom Johnson Camping Center has continuously worked to better the community, and the help ‘Extreme Makeover: Home Edition’ provides aligns with that goal,” said Gary Stroud, vice president of Tom Johnson Camping Center.
This was the third “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” project that Tom Johnson Camping Center participated in during 2011. Previous builds included a project outside of Atlanta, Georgia, and one in Fayetteville, North Carolina; the latter featured First Lady Michelle Obama utilizing a Tom Johnson Camping Center motorhome as an office.
Although “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” has been cancelled by ABC (the final weekly episode aired on January 13), the show will continue with occasional specials. According to ABC affiliate WSOC Television in Charlotte, the Lincolnton episode will be part of a holiday special that will air in December 2012.
Tom Johnson Camping Center participates in a variety of philanthropic efforts, from event sponsorships to charitable auctions. For 10 years the company has hosted the Relay for Life. It also has supported the South Mountain Children’s Home, raising funds and being represented on the board of directors. In 2010, Tom Johnson Camping Center raised more than $12,000 for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. In addition, numerous employees support their local community in roles with volunteer firefighter organizations.
Cummins Introduces ISX12 Engine
Cummins Inc. recently unveiled its new ISX12 heavy-duty engine, which the company says will offer significant fuel economy improvements for a number of applications, including the recreation vehicle market. According to company information, the ISX12 leverages the strength and performance of its predecessor, the ISX11.9, and features improved product characteristics through optimized calibrations.
The ISX12 utilizes common components with the company’s big-bore ISX15 engine, including an enhanced cooled exhaust gas recirculation system, a single variable-geometry turbocharger, and the company’s proprietary XPI fuel system. As with Cummins’ complete lineup of on-highway heavy-duty and mid-range engines, the ISX12 utilizes Cummins Aftertreatment System with Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology.
The ISX12 was scheduled to be in full production in March 2012.