Uhlmann RV Adds Alpine Coach
Uhlmann RV in Chehalis, Washington, has bolstered its motorhome lineup with the addition of Alpine Coach, a premium, luxury brand of diesel motorcoa
ches manufactured by Western Recreational Vehicles, Inc., of Yakima, Washington
Western Recreational Vehicles, which also builds the popular Alpenlite travel trailers, fifth wheels and truck campers, is a family-owned company founded 35 years ago. Alpine coaches are constructed on the company’s Peak Custom Chassis, with a 400-horsepower Cummins diesel engine, Allison automatic transmission, and an air suspension system designed to create a vehicle that offers easy handling and a smooth ride.

Uhlmann RV, which has been a full-service RV dealer for more than 26 years, will carry both the Alpine Coach Limited and the Apex. Both feature luxury amenities like hardwood cabinetry, tile flooring and rich fabrics. The Apex offers additional standard features, such as satellite TV, an LCD flat screen high definition TV, and push-button exterior storage trays. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for Alpine coaches starts at $299,000.

Uhlmann RV is just off Interstate 5 exit 72 in Chehalis. For information, call (800) 245-53RV or visit www.uhlmannrv.com.

Monaco Links with Dodge
Soon you will be able to match your Dodge truck with a Dodge travel trailer, fifth wheel or toy hauler.

Monaco Coach Corporation of Coburg, Oregon, has signed an agreement for exclusive use of the Dodge logo and designs on travel trailers, fifth wheels and toy haulers built for the U.S. and Canadian markets.

The agreement will enable Monaco Coach to build Dodge trailers for the next three years. The first products will be available at the end of September.

Craig Wanichek, a Monaco spokesman, said Dodge truck owners have exceptional loyalty to the brand, and he believes that many will like the idea of having their Dodge truck pulling a Dodge trailer. “It’s another way for us to penetrate the market,” Wanichek said.

Dynamax Begins Owners Club
Dynamax Corporation of Elkhart, Indiana, has created ClubMax to provide Dynamax motorhome owners with an opportunity to interact with each other and to receive additional benefits. The new club’s inaugural event will be a rally in Elkhart Aug. 28 to Sept. 1 to celebrate the company’s tenth anniversary.

Buyers of Dynamax motorhomes will receive a free first-year membership. ClubMax benefits will include a roadside assistance program, discounted insurance, Family Motor Coach Association membership with mail forwarding service, and Camping World President’s Club membership. Dynamax owners interested in joining ClubMax may call (866) 490-3551 or visit www.myclub-max.com.

Norcold Stages Sweepstakes
A grand prize of $10,000 will be awarded to the winner of a sweepstakes open to RV owners who have a Norcold refrigerator built between 1989 and 2005. Norcold, a subsidiary of Thetford Corporation, is accepting entries through Dec. 31.

Information on entering the sweepstakes can be obtained on the Internet at www.norcold.com/sweepstakes or by visiting a Norcold dealer or service center.

Volunteers Improve Trails
The American Hiking Society is seeking volunteers to spend a week this summer building and maintaining hiking and backpacking trails on public lands in cooperation with federal, state and local agencies. Last year 800 volunteers participated.

The opportunities range from trail maintenance in easily accessible places like San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park to remote locations, such as a Minnesota wilderness area that volunteers will reach with a 12-mile canoe trip. A list of projects is available at the American Hiking Society’s website at www.AmericanHiking.org. Participants pay $130, which includes a one-year membership in the American Hiking Society and a T-shirt. Food and airport pickup is provided on most trips. Travel related expenses are tax deductible. For more information, call (800) 972-8608, extension 206.

Nevada Opens Golf Website
The Nevada Commission on Tourism has launched a new Internet service devoted to golf, listing details about more than 100 golf courses in Nevada. The site is available at www.golf.travelnevada.com.

Forest Center Reopens
Weyerhauser’s Forest Learning Center, located 12 miles from the crater of Mount St. Helens in southwest Washington, has reopened for the summer. Weyerhauser operates the center in partnership with the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The center offers views of the volcano, displays showing how the forest has recovered since the volcano erupted 26 years ago, picnic and playground areas, and a gift shop.

The center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. until Labor Day and then from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. until Oct. 15 before closing for the winter. The center can be reached from Interstate 5 by taking exit 49 to Highway 504 (Spirit Lake Memorial Highway) and continuing east to Milepost 33. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.TheForestReturns.com.

Monaco Offers New Financing
Monaco Coach Corporation has joined with GE Capital Solutions and GE Consumer Finance to create Monaco Financial Services to provide commercial financing for dealers and retail financing for consumers.

“By offering retail buyers a competitive financing resource through Monaco Financial Services and by presenting our dealers with an attractive combination of financial incentives, we believe Monaco has developed an unbeatable package for dealers in the RV marketplace,” said Kay Toolson, Monaco chairman and CEO. Monaco sells RVs under the Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Safari, Beaver, McKenzie and R-Vision brand names.

Winnebago Supplies Parts
Winnebago Industries supplied more than 60 original parts when a 1984 Winnebago Chieftain was refurbished for the RV Rescue makeover project shown on the “RVtoday” show on the Outdoor Life Network.

Winnebago officials said the company is consistently able to meet requests for parts from customers, no matter how old the motorhome, because it makes most of the parts for the motorhomes itself and also maintains an excellent parts database.

The Winnebago Chieftain, owned by Ed and Barb Tarconish of Pennsylvania, received a makeover at The Rally in Daytona, Florida.

RV Trips Promotes All Star Coach
Craig McHugh and Eddy Siroin, founders of RVFamilyfun.com, and the Newmar Corporation have inaugurated the All Star Road trip to promote Newmar’s All Star mid-engine motorhome and the RV Family Fun website. The McHugh and Siroin families have each bought an All Star motorhome and will spend two years traveling across the U.S.

The motorhomes are wrapped with graphics and decals to promote the trip and to highlight features of the motorhome, including bunk beds at the rear of the coach. The families will record their adventures on a website, www.allstarroadtrip.com.

Retailer Adds Park Models
Cabela’s Incorporated, a leading retailer of hunting, fishing and outdoor gear through catalogs, online sales and 14 retail stores, has entered the park model business with units built by Forest River to Cabela’s specifications. The new units cost just under $40,000 and come furnished with kitchen appliances, including a stove, refrigerator and microwave oven.

Cabela’s, which is headquartered in Sidney, Nebraska, opened a store in Lehi, Utah, last year and plans to open 10 more stores, including locations in Glendale, Arizona, this year and in Reno, Nevada, in 2007. The Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association said this is the first time park models have been marketed directly to hunting and fishing enthusiasts by a major retailer. Park models cabins are built on a chassis so they can be towed to a campsite and are designed for weekend or seasonal vacation use

Cummins Unites Brands
Cummins Inc., which builds engines, power generation systems, fuel systems, filters and other products, has moved to strengthen its brand by putting the Cummins name on all its businesses.

Under the new branding strategy, Fleetguard becomes Cummins Filtration, Newage becomes Cummins Generator Technologies and Holset become Cummins Turbo Technologies. Cummins, which is headquartered in Columbus, Indiana, operates worldwide and reported $9.9 billion in sales in 2005.

EPA Honors Xanterra
Xanterra Parks and Resorts, which operates concessions in national and state parks, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s designation as the 2006 Performance Track Corporate Leader. The award, given to only four companies since it was established in 2004, recognizes environmental achievements.

Xanterra has committed to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, has adopted solar and wind energy systems to help meet electricity demand, and has committed to a number of long-term goals, including a decrease in fossil fuel usage by 30 percent and a decrease in water usage by 25 percent.