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CrossRoads RV has announced it will step up production to keep pace with consumer demand by re-opening an additional production plant and increasing its workforce.

“Our dealers are reporting strong retail sales over the last several months and positive results from Fall shows. Although the rest of the industry may be experiencing a seasonal slowdown, we’ve chosen not to participate,” states Mark Lucas, President of CrossRoads RV. Re-opening Plant #2 will enable the company to shorten lead times and provide faster delivery of its products.

Plant #2 will be used to manufacture CrossRoads’ re-designed SlingShot travel trailers, Sunset Trail Ultra Light travel trailers and the newly introduced expandable floor plans. The company also plans to hire an additional 125 workers.

“Both dealers and retail customers are noticing and responding to the changes we’ve made across all product lines. We currently operate six production facilities totaling over 400,000 square feet of manufacturing space and we will be using it all as dealers prepare for what should be a great spring selling season,” comments Nate Nickell, VP of Sales and Marketing.

Source: Crossroads RV

Fleetwood RV, Inc. has announced the launch of its limited edition 2010 Quest, a value-priced Class C diesel motor home built on the fuel-efficient Dodge Sprinter chassis. This limited production run of 150 units will be available at select Fleetwood RV dealers nationwide.

Photo Credit: Fleetwood RV

According to Fleetwood, the 2010 Quest is available in two 24-feet, single slide-out models: a rear bath floor plan with opposing sofa beds (24E); and a rear gaucho dinette with sofa sleeper and optional Queen air mattress sofa bed floor plan (24L). Low profile cap and overhead 26″LCD TVs are standard on both models. Customers can also select the optional cab-over bed with 19″ LCD TV and DVD player.

“The 2010 Quest combines the fuel-efficiency of our Icon and Pulse motor homes with the value pricing of our traditional Class C motor homes,” said John Draheim, president of Fleetwood RV, Inc. “The market’s response to Quest has been better than expected. Our entire production run sold out in two weeks, and dealers are retailing them as fast as we can deliver them.” “Our customers love the 2010 Quest,” said Loren Baidas, owner of General RV, located in Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Utah. “Both models are equipped with a multitude of standard features and increased sleeping capacities – even without the optional cabover bed, plus its price point makes it difficult to ignore.”

Source: Fleetwood RV, Inc.

Freightliner Custom Chassis wants to help out RVers who have waited out the bumpy road of a rough economy with some free fuel.

Called “Fueled By Us,” Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) is offering a $1,250 USD fuel card with the purchase of any qualifying new motorhome built on a Freightliner chassis from dealers in the United States and Canada. The Fueled By Us offer is available from Oct. 15 – Dec. 31.

According to Freightliner, the following manufacturers are participating in the Fueled By Us program: Damon, Entegra Coach, Forest River, Gulf Stream, Itasca, Jayco, Four Winds International (formerly known as Mandalay Coach), Newmar, Sportscoach, Tiffin, Triple E and Winnebago. FCCC’s Fueled By Us offer applies to new 2008, 2009 and 2010 model-year retail-sold motorhomes built by the aforementioned participating manufacturers on FCCC chassis.

FCCC manufactures diesel powered chassis and even offers the first-of-its-kind hybrid-electric version called ecoFRED, designed to increase fuel economy while delivering optimal power.

Qualified Fueled by Us participants receive a Visa debit card pre-loaded with $1,250 that can be used at any diesel fueling station across the country where Visa is accepted. For more information and details about the Fueled By Us offer, visit www.freightlinerchassis.com/fuel.

Source: Freightliner Custom Chassis

Airstream recently announced that it has increased production by 30 percent over the last six weeks to meet a growing wholesale and retail demand for its trailers.

Photo Credit: Airstream

According to Airstream, the RV industry has taken a major hit because of the economy. Airstream has not been immune from the downturn. However, in recent weeks the company has seen a strong uptick in retail and wholesale demand.

According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), overall RV sales in July ran at the strongest annual rate since October of 2008, signaling an overall industry turnaround. Airstream has grown its production backlog from an all-time low of three weeks to a high of 11 weeks, and as a result is expanding its staffing to support the production boost, something that the company has not done since late 2006.

Photo Credit: Airstream

“The RV industry tends to lead the general economy both in and out of recessions, so our growth spells good things for the economy as a whole” said Bob Wheeler, CEO of Airstream. “In the course of 78 years, Airstream has encountered numerous ups and downs, and as a result we feel that we are well-positioned to recover quickly. We are prepared to embrace what will hopefully be a very successful 2010.”

Airstream also reports that sales in its primary European markets of England, Germany and Holland are also experiencing a marked recovery.

Source: Airstream

Internet access is important to many RVers as having access to electricity, but how do you stay online as you travel across the country? RV campgrounds often have Wi-Fi services or network connections, but what about the great stretches of road between campgrounds?

A post on the site Slashdot.org asks the question of what is the best way for RVers to get roaming internet access.

The question comes from an RVer who runs a web-based business and needs a reliable service. Options for RV internet connections range from 3G data plans to satellite dish services. Which one is the best for RVers? The discussion reveals a number of options and their benefits and drawbacks.

Source: Slashdot.org

Photo Credit: Contoure

Contoure has introduced a microwave for Boat and RV owners designed to maximize kitchen space without sacrificing style. Complementing any design, the new, black CM11040BKT Spacesaver Microwave Oven with Trim Kit from Contoure increases counter space with a convenient, flush-mounted, built-in option.

Providing a streamlined appearance, the state-of-the-art, 900W Spacesaver Microwave Oven offers a generous 1 cu. ft. of cooking space, digital interactive display, electronic control and 10 power levels. Eight touch menu buttons automatically set the correct cooking times for certain foods, such as popcorn, soup and vegetables. Other features include jet defrost by weight and time, a handy kitchen timer and a +30 seconds selection.

Source: Contoure

The University of Alabama homepage reports on the work of a father-son engineering duo with a passion for RV travel and their idea for a hybrid dinghy pusher after the cost of fuel curtailed both families’ traveling plans.

Photo Credit: University of Alabama

According to the University homepage, Dr. Steve Shepard Jr., associate professor of mechanical engineering at The University of Alabama, and his father, Dr. Steve Shepard Sr., a former faculty member and researcher at Mississippi State University, have created a concept for an electric-hybrid passenger vehicle with the ability to improve fuel economy and increase the acceleration of the motor home towing it.

In this concept, the dinghy consists of a hybrid SUV towed by the RV. When driven as a standard automobile, the SUV operates as a fully-functional hybrid vehicle. When towed behind a RV, the SUV switches into the hybrid dinghy pusher mode, where only the electrical portion of the hybrid-SUV is utilized. The hybrid dinghy pusher, known as a HDP, works by going into generator mode and storing energy when going downhill, and energy previously stored in the batteries is used to help push the motor home up-hill.

The previously stored electrical energy in the hybrid dinghy pusher can also be used to help accelerate the motor home more quickly from a stop or while just driving down the road. A conventional hybrid SUV is adapted to utilize its electric system to recycle energy when being towed.

The HDP’s on board motors provide propulsion during acceleration and act as electric generators during braking. The assistance provided to the motor home by the HDP is not meant to replace the propulsion provided by the motor home engine; it simply supplements it to improve acceleration and reduces wear on the RV engine. Unlike typical towed dinghies, motor homes towing an HDP would experience a decrease in fuel consumption and an increase in acceleration performance. According to Shepard, hybrid motor homes are just now coming onto the market, and they are expensive.

Besides being a cheaper alternative to a hybrid motor home, the greatest advantage of this new concept is that the HDP not only assists the motor home in transit, but it also provides the motor home owners with a hybrid vehicle to drive after arriving at their destination. Other advantages of implementing such a system are improved gas mileage, reduced rate of wear on brake components, and improved mobility for users of RVs and the dinghy.

Working with UA’s Office for Technology Transfer, the Shepards are in the process of securing a development partner to bring this cutting-edge technology to the market. UA originally filed a U.S. provisional patent application, which has since been converted to a full utility patent application.

Source: University of Alabama

The Dow Chemical Company has introduced an enhanced seasonal water system winterization product for recreational vehicles, vacation cottages, boats, pools and spas that is readily biodegradable, blended with renewable ingredients, and packaged in a container produced using proprietary Dow technology.

Dowfrost RVR seasonal freeze protection fluid is a ready-to-use solution that provides protection against bursting of potable water systems when exposed to freezing temperatures and contains proprietary corrosion inhibitors to help prevent rusting and corrosion of plumbing system components in seasonal equipment. It will be available on store shelves beginning September 2009.

Dow also features a webpage on how to safely winterize your RV water system.

Source: Dow Chemical Company

Winnebago Industries has begun shipments of the Company’s new 2010 Winnebago Via and Itasca Reyo have now begun with initial deliveries arriving at select dealers throughout the U.S.

Photo Credit: Winnebago

“The culmination of an extensive development process, the all-new Winnebago Via and Itasca Reyo are ground-breaking motor homes in every way,” said Winnebago Industries’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing Roger Martin. “With innovative new features and construction, contemporary design, and record-breaking fuel economy, the new Via and Reyo are truly motor homes for the future.”

The first Class A diesel motor homes built on the fuel efficient Dodge/Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, the Via and Reyo are 25-foot, fresh, innovative and fully equipped motor homes that are slated to provide the highest fuel efficiency currently available in a Class A motor home, along with superior handling and maneuverability.

Source: Winnebago

As the economy show signs of recovery, the RV industry appears to be making a modest comeback.

The Southbend Tribune reports on RV manufacturers expanding production and how startup RV companies are offering new models. RV industry workers hope to find new opportunities with the rebound.

According to story, the RVIA reports RV shipments for June were the highest since August 2008 with shipments for 2010 predicted to increase as high as 24 percent.

The recovery of RV sales seems to be strongest for manufacturers of towable RVs. One example is Evergreen Recreational Vehicles, a company that offers environment-friendly towable RVs.

Photo Courtesy of Evergreen RV

Source: The Southbend Tribune