Roadtrek Touring Series
Roadtrek Motorhomes Inc. has launched its new Touring Series coach, the TS Adventurous.
The coach, built on the Mercedes-Benz chassis, continues Roadtrek’s trend of clean and sleek exterior lines. On the interior, exclusive to the TS Adventurous, are charcoal cabinets with subtle hints of gray throughout and chrome accents.
Other features include true granite countertops, LED strip lighting with dimming control, a power awning with outdoor lights, a heated floor, a built-in workstation, an induction cooktop, an optional drawer-style microwave, an 11,500-Btu air conditioner, and rear electrical and water hookups.
The TS Adventurous contains Roadtrek’s interactive Coach-Connect system, which allows a user to connect via any desktop, tablet, or cell phone and remotely monitor tank fluid levels, lighting, air conditioning and heating, awning, battery power, and more.
For more information, contact Roadtrek at (510) 745-0711 or visit www.roadtrek.com.
Spartan CEO Retires, Successor Named
John Sztykiel will retire as president and chief executive officer of Spartan Motors Inc. effective February 19, the company announced. He will be succeeded by Spartan chief operating officer Daryl Adams.
Mr. Sztykiel, 57, joined Spartan in 1985. He became president in 1991 and CEO in 2002. He will serve on the company’s board of directors until his term expires in May 2015, and he will be a consultant for the company until August 31, 2016.
Hugh Sloan, chairman of Spartan’s board of directors, credited Mr. Sztykiel with leading the company’s growth and transformation from a fire truck chassis maker into a diversified and increasingly global manufacturer of emergency response apparatus, delivery and service vehicles, and motorhome chassis. During Mr. Sztykiel’s tenure, Spartan’s revenues increased from $9.9 million to a projected $500 million-plus in 2014. The company also has a 21-year history of paying dividends.
Mr. Sztykiel said he is proud of Spartan’s accomplishments. “The time is now right to ensure a smooth transition,” he said, noting the company’s “improving operations, a strong balance sheet, solid order backlog, and growing revenue.”
Mr. Adams, 52, joined Spartan Motors as COO in August 2014. Before that, he was CEO of Midway Products Group, a privately held automotive supplier. He previously held management positions with global automotive supplier Lear Corporation.
Dometic Acquires Atwood
Dometic Group, which produces leisure products for the RV, marine, truck, and automotive industries, has completed its acquisition of Elkhart, Indiana-based Atwood Mobile Products LLC. Terms were not disclosed.
Atwood designs, engineers, and manufactures appliances and hardware for the RV, on/off-highway, and marine industries. The acquisition further diversifies Dometic’s existing product offerings and strengthens the company’s global reach. Still pending at press time: the completion of Dometic’s acquisition of Atwood’s Australian business, which is subject to an Australian regulator’s review.
Georgia Parks Offer Snowbird Rate
Through February, seven Georgia State Parks have cut the price of RV and tent camping by 50 percent for those who stay 30 nights or more. Regular campsite rates are $20 to $32 a night. Many of the RV sites have water, sewer, and electric hookups. Participating parks are Florence Marina, Kolomoki Mounds, Magnolia Springs, Reed Bingham, Seminole, Stephen C. Foster, and Chattahoochee Bend. To take advantage of the offer, use promotional code Snowbird50% when visiting www.gastateparks.org/reservations or when calling (800) 864-7275. For more information about the participating parks, visit www.gastateparks.org/snowbird.
Motorhomes Shine In Vacation Cost Study
Motorhome vacations cost substantially less than other forms of vacation travel, even when factoring in fuel prices and the cost of RV ownership, according to a study commissioned by the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.
PKF Consulting USA conducted the research by performing a cost analysis using two sets of hypothetical travel parties: one with two adults and two children, and one with two adults. PKF analyzed major costs these hypothetical travelers would incur while taking nine different types of vacations to nine popular destinations. For each destination, researchers analyzed vacations lasting three, seven, and 14 days.
The study compared various methods of travel, including Type A and Type C motorhomes. The Type A motorhome was used for comparison versus first-class travel options such as flying first class, renting a premium car, staying in upscale accommodations, and eating meals in restaurants.
The research showed a four-person travel party could expect to save 38 percent on vacation costs in a Type A motorhome, and 28 to 48 percent in a Type C motorhome. Savings for a two-person travel party were 14 percent in a Type A motorhome and 15 to 28 percent in a Type C.
The study indicated that fuel prices would have to reach more than $12 a gallon for a four-person travel party, and $6 per gallon for a two-person party, before RVing would begin to lose its economic advantage over other forms of travel.
Lazydays Donates To Military Families
Lazydays announced that its Military Appreciation fundraiser in November 2014 generated $16,837. The company’s Tampa, Florida, and Tucson, Arizona, locations participated in the monthlong initiative aimed at honoring and thanking America’s veterans and active and injured military personnel.
In Tampa, the funds will benefit Operation Helping Hand, a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to wounded and injured active-duty military (and their families) who are being treated at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital. In Tucson, the funds raised will be used to help build a new Fisher House, a “home away from home” for families of patients receiving medical care at a major military or VA medical center.
Federal Agencies Offer Fee-Free Days
A number of federal public lands agencies will offer free admission to visitors on certain days in 2015. The remaining dates and participating agencies are as follows:
February 14-16: Presidents Day weekend (U.S. Forest Service, February 16 only; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; National Park Service; Bureau of Land Management)
April 18-19: National Park Week’s opening weekend (National Park Service)
June 13: National Get Outdoors Day (U.S. Forest Service)
August 25: National Park Service’s 99th birthday (National Park Service)
September 26: National Public Lands Day (U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; National Park Service; Bureau of Land Management)
October 11: First Sunday of National Wildlife Refuge Week (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service)
November 11: Veterans Day. (U.S. Forest Service; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; National Park Service; Bureau of Land Management)
The National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Forest Service also participate in the America the Beautiful National Parks Pass and Federal Recreational Lands Pass programs. These passes provide access to more than 2,000 national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, grasslands, and other federal lands. Four passes are available:
- Free annual pass to current military members and their dependents.
- Free lifetime pass for U.S. citizens with permanent disabilities.
- $10 lifetime senior pass for U.S. citizens age 62 and over.
- $80 annual pass for the general public.
2015 RV/MH Hall Of Fame Inducteees Announced
The board of directors of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation announced the names of those who will be inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame on August 3 as the Class of 2015. Five people each from the RV and manufactured housing industries were chosen. The RV inductees include:
- Sherman Goldenberg, co-owner and publisher of RV Business and Woodall’s Campground Management magazines. Known for his journalistic honesty and integrity, the former Family Motor Coaching magazine contributor is the only RV trade journalist to receive Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s David J. Humphreys RV Industry Unity Award and the Distinguished Achievement in RV Journalism Award. He has been the driving force of the successful RV Industry Power Breakfast, and he helped to create the RVBusiness Top 50 Dealer Awards program, which recognizes the nation’s best RV dealers.
- Paul Hanser, founder of HWH Corporation, C731. An engineer, inventor, innovator, and manufacturer of quality RV products, Mr. Hanser pioneered the use of computerized hydraulics to level RVs, and he has developed many more products since 1967. He holds more than 56 patents. His volunteer work includes writing and editing a hydraulics manual for RVIA, and he was instrumental in helping RVIA develop the Control Area Network (CAN) specifications and language. He also provided training for thousands of technicians in basic and advanced hydraulics as well as electronics.
- Marlene Sine of Marlene Sine & Associates Inc., C2568. Ms. Sine, the RV industry’s first female manufacturer’s agent, has introduced thousands of products to the industry by educating and training people on how to promote to distributors, dealers, and consumers. In her more than 50-year career, she volunteered thousands of hours to serve and support many industry associations. She is also an aftermarket parts and accessories store owner, and she developed new products for the industry as a supplier.
The other RV inductees are Bert Alanko of MBA Insurance of Arizona Inc., and Bill Thomas of Bill Thomas Camper Sales.