| Dolphin Motor Coach is the new name of what previously was Grand Coach, a Type B motorhome manufacturer based in Elkhart, Indiana.
The company has expanded its product offerings to include five models — Dolphin, CapeCod, DayTraveler, Signature Series, and National Traveller. Dolphin vehicles are built on either the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis or the Ram ProMaster chassis. For more information, visit www.dolphinmotorcoach.com. |
| RVs accounted for $30 billion in direct economic activity in 2016, the most recent year for which statistics are available, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Overall in 2016, outdoor recreation accounted for $373.7 billion, or 2 percent of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP), according to the commerce department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis. The outdoor recreation industry grew 3.8 percent in 2016, compared to 2.8 percent growth in the overall economy. The “motorized vehicles” category showed the largest activity among conventional outdoor recreation activities, accounting for $59.4 billion of gross output. That means RVs, with $30 billion in gross output, account for more than half that value. The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), composed of trade associations and other organizations with recreation interests, applauded the report for bringing attention to the outdoor recreation industry as a significant contributor to the United States’ GDP. The ORR also noted that the outdoor recreation industry’s GDP has increased an average of 4.4 percent since 2012, outpacing the 3.6 percent average increase in overall U.S. GDP. |
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October 2, 2018, will mark the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act and the National Trails System Act. The laws were enacted at a time when outdoor enthusiasts and members of Congress demanded free-flowing rivers to balance America’s policy of rampant dam building, as well as trails to connect people to the outdoors.
Today, there are 11 National Scenic Trails, 19 National Historic Trails, and more than 1,200 National Recreation Trails. In addition, the Wild and Scenic Rivers System protects 208 rivers encompassing more than 12,000 river miles. Many of the rivers and trails have campgrounds nearby. Events tied to the Wild and Scenic Rivers 50th anniversary are listed on a map at www.goo.gl/Sy4Wf1. In addition, the anniversary prompted federal agencies and nonprofit river partners to release a video in the #FindYourWay series. The series invites visitors to explore America’s rivers and trails. To view the video, visit www.doi.gov/video/makeyoursplash. |
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Children in hospital pediatric wards received stuffed animals. Police, fire, and public works departments enjoyed coffee and doughnuts. Public libraries were presented with books. Dog shelters were given food. Motorists had their gas tanks filled for free.
Those were among the 50 acts of kindness performed by Jayco Inc. employees on behalf of the company as the RV manufacturer kicked off its 50th anniversary celebration. The kind gestures happened on February 19, 2018 — the 50th day of Jayco’s 50th year in business — and involved employees from Jayco facilities in the Indiana cities of Middlebury, Topeka, and Shipshewana, as well as Twin Falls, Idaho, where the company plans a major expansion. It was Jayco’s way of thanking communities for their support. The company will celebrate its golden anniversary throughout 2018 with 2019 model-year products sporting special 50th anniversary badges. Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager founded Jayco in 1968 on their family farm in Middlebury. Today the company employs 4,100 workers. Thor Industries acquired Jayco in 2016. For more information about Jayco’s history, visit www.jayco.com/50th. |
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Amidst continued growth in the RV industry, several companies have announced expansion plans.
In February 2018, ground was broken on a 235,000-square-foot expansion of Jayco’s Twin Falls, Idaho, production facility. The plant primarily produces Jay Flight travel trailers. Last fall, ground was broken on the company’s Middlebury, Indiana, campus for a 237,000-square-foot facility that will house two new production lines for Jay Flight travel trailers. In 2017, two new facilities in Middlebury — each 128,000 square feet — began operating to meet increased demand for Jayco’s Eagle travel trailers and fifth-wheels.
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| Thor Industries has partnered with Tourism Holdings Ltd. on a joint venture called TH2, which will focus on enhancing the enjoyment and safety of RVers around the world by offering digital connections to the RV marketplace.
According to a news release, “This innovative and comprehensive platform will improve every aspect of RV ownership, with capabilities that include trip planning and booking, remote systems monitoring, roadside assistance, and peer-to-peer RV and campsite rental. The system also will streamline an owner’s record-keeping and enable dealers and manufacturers to provide such support as triggered service notifications, online vehicle manuals, and more.” TH2 has entered agreements to acquire digital road trip planning services Roadtrippers and Roadtrippers Australasia; Cosmos, a digital platform for RV customer relationship and fleet management, product pricing, and booking and rental management; Mighway, an online peer-to-peer RV rental service; and CamperMate, an Australia and New Zealand camping app. Equalizer Systems Obtains Laser-Cutting System
Equalizer Systems, which manufactures and installs electric and hydraulic power lifting and leveling systems for the RV industry and other markets, has added an Optiflex Nexus 3015 Fiber laser-cutting system to its fabrication shop. Equalizer officials said the system, from Mazak Optonics Corporation, will reduce costs and ensure that products are manufactured with more precision. Equalizer makes auto-leveling systems for Type A and Type C motorhomes, fifth-wheels, and travel trailers. The company also makes trailer jacks. |