RV Ownership Nears 8 Million
Nearly 8 million U.S. households now own at least one recreation vehicle, according to a new study by the University of Michigan’s Survey Research Center.

The study found that RV ownership has risen 58 percent since 1980. The highest rates of ownership are in the age range from 35 to 54, but the biggest gains over the past four years have been in the under-35 category.

Richard Curtin, director of the University of Michigan Survey Research Center, said the industry’s efforts to attract young families are having a noticeable impact on RV ownership. The industry’s Go RVing advertising campaign has been targeting adults 30 to 64.

The survey showed that the typical RV owner is 49, married, owns a home and has an annual household income of $68,000. The study was based on a telephone survey of 3,000 consumers from January through June of 2005.

RV Industry to Launch New Campaign
The Go RVing Coalition will begin its new ad campaign during television coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turino, Italy, starting Feb. 10. The new promotional effort from 2006 to 2008 will have a budget of $66 million and include television, print and online advertising.

Theme of the new campaign is “What will you discover? Go RVing.” Actor Tom Selleck narrates the television spots, which were directed by Scott Hicks, whose motion picture credits include Shine and Snow Falling on Cedars.

The campaign will target two groups: adults 30 to 49 with children, and empty nesters aged 50 to 64. The Go RVing Coalition, which was formed in 1994 to promote RVing, consists of RV manufacturers, suppliers, dealers and campgrounds.

RV Video Is Expanded
The Go RVing Coalition has expanded its free video designed to introduce newcomers to RVing and is producing the new version in DVD and CD-ROM formats. The original edition is also still available in the VHS format.

The new version offers expanded information, showing how families enjoy RVing and offering pointers on choosing an RV. It explains financing and renting options and shows the amenities offered at RV campgrounds and resorts. Consumers can order the DVD, CD-ROM or VHS video by calling (888) Go RVing or visiting www.GoRVing.com.

RV Dealers Honor Seven Companies
The National RV Dealers Association has presented its 2005 Quality Circle Award to seven companies: K-Z RV, Lance, Newmar, Nu Wa, Sunline, Tiffin and Winnebago Industries.

The awards are based on dealer evaluation of manufacturers in four categories: sales support, product competitiveness, service/warranty support and management. Winners are manufacturers who receive overall ratings of 80 percent or higher in the Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) survey. A total of 535 dealers participated in the 2005 survey.

All of the Quality Circle Award winners are previous winners of the award. Winnebago is the only company to receive the award every year since it was established a decade ago. TrailManor, a travel trailer manufacturer based in Tennessee, won a special recognition award for receiving high scores, but on fewer dealer evaluations than are required for the Quality Circle Award.

Super Steer Offers Free Upgrades
SuperSteer, a division of Henderson’s Line-up, Brake and RV, has announced a recommended upgrade for its SS302 and SS401 Rear Trac Bars. The upgrade is for motorhome owners who have installed the device on their W20/W22/W24 Workhorse chassis or on a Ford F-53 chassis with 20,000-22,000 GVW (with a Dana 135-150 differential).

Owners are asked to contact the service facility where the part was purchased and installed. SuperSteer will provide a differential bracket brace kit and labor dollars to install this strengthening brace at no charge to the customer. Customers who purchased and installed the part themselves, should contact SuperSteer directly at (888) 898-3281 to receive a free kit. The brace will be included with all future distributions of the SS302 and SS401 parts.

Park Model Builders Expand
Two Indiana-based builders of park models are expanding production to keep pace with growing demand for their products. Kropf Industries of Goshen, Indiana, announced it will add 8,000 square feet to its 52,000-square-foot plant to increase production by 25 percent. The Breckenridge Division of Damon Corporation, a Thor Company, announced plans to double its manufacturing capacity in the next 12 to 18 months. Breckenridge currently has 120,000 square feet of manufacturing space in Nappanee, Indiana.

Last year, another park model builder, Woodland Park of Middlebury, Indiana, built a 47,500-square-foot plant next to its existing 26,000-square-foot factory. William Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association, said the industry is experiencing its greatest growth ever, with strong demand from consumers and from campground operators, who are using the units to accommodate travelers who do not have RVs but want to enjoy the RV lifestyle.

Two Western Cities Win Awards
Whistler in British Columbia and Westminster in Colorado have been cited for their planning and environmental achievements by judges in the International Awards for Liveable Communities. The competition involved 53 finalists from 20 countries.

Whistler earned the top award for planning for the future and Westminster was honored for the best use of environmentally sensitive practices. The judges noted that Whistler’s planning has achieved a good balance between various components of the community. Westminster drew praise for its work to protect the bald eagle and its land usage and water and waste management practices. The international awards program is endorsed by the United Nations Environmental Program.

Exploring Ice Age Floods
The unusual geology of the Wenatchee Valley and central Washington was created near the end of the last Ice Age, about 17,000 years ago, when floodwaters studded with glacial icebergs broke loose enormous chunks of rock, and scattered 200-ton boulders and mountains of gravel across the landscape.

The floods occurred as ice dams were breached, creating a flow of water with incredible force. The process was repeated a number of times. Today, visitors can see remnants of the floods and observe how the landscape was shaped by taking a self-guided tour using a map developed by the Wenatchee Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Ice Age Floods Geological Trail Map offers two drives: one is a 30-mile loop around the Wenatchee Valley and the other is a 164-mile loop around central Washington. The map includes photos, driving directions and descriptions of each flood-related site. The map is available at Wenatchee Valley businesses and can be ordered online at www.wenatcheevalley.org or by calling (800) 572-7753.

Bob Gibson Wins RVing Honor
Bob Gibson, a baseball Hall of Fame pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, received a motorhome as a retirement gift from his team in 1975, and he and his wife, Wendy, have been RVing ever since.

Gibson received the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s Spirit Award at the recent National RV Trade Show for representing traditional values inherent in RV travel. Speaking at a breakfast opening the show in Louisville, Kentucky, Gibson said he has owned seven RVs over the past 30 years and traveled all across the country. “I enjoy the RV world,” he said. “I will have one until the day I die.”

He said RVing has been great for his marriage. “One of the nicest things about RVing is my wife actually smiles at me when we get inside,” he said. “She’s always in a good mood in our motorhome.” The Gibsons, who live in Omaha, Nebraska, currently own a 40-foot Itasca Horizon equipped with lots of amenities, including flat-screen TVs, surround-sound CD and DVD players, and satellite TV and radio.