Perseverance should be written across the brow of Carl Ehry. The dedicated president of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation and Museum presented the Class of 2003 to industry executives and guests at the recent Hall of Fame dinner. Just a few years ago Carl showed up at the Matterhorn Restaurant with the artist’s renderings of the new building that would be built along the Interstate. The magnificent structure is still just a dream and a set of drawings.

Diversification Drives Dexter

Trailers have been riding smoothly on Dexter Axles for years. When the economy dipped a few years ago the company decided to diversify their product offerings and increase brand awareness with the consumer. Jon Root and Bruce Bailey were given the product development assignment to find new products that were worthy of the Dexter name. Read how the company has expanded their product offerings and how they plan to get the customer to Demand Dexter.

What Went Wrong in Buffalo?

Dealers and manufacturers probably spent more time talking to themselves and the press than they did with qualified prospects who really wanted to buy new motorhomes and busses at the FMCA Convention in Buffalo. Dave McMann of Meyers RV might as well have walked around with a bulls-eye on his back after his controversial comments caused confusion and threatened lawsuits over the sale of units in New York State by out-of-state dealers. This is an issue that has come up before, but reached the boiling point this time around.

The experiences and humility of the industry leaders who made up the Class of 2003, like those who have come before them, are precious. They are lessons in life that you do not learn from books or watching a video. It’s real life in real time. It’s enjoyable and exciting to see how they view the industry and the experiences they encountered along the journey. This annual gathering is the highlight of their careers and they get to share it with family, friends, and industry peers.

Opinion - Good Sam … Good for who?

Campground owners are getting their first look at the proposed 2005 Trailer Life/Good Sam points rating system and they don’t like it. Veteran campground owners who run outstanding facilities that always score at the highest levels of the rating system will now find themselves unable to retain their standing without significant capital expenditures to upgrade their facilities. The very people who have supported Trailer Life and Good Sam all these years, are now being told they don’t make the grade anymore. The people haven’t changed, the campgrounds and resorts haven’t changed, but somebody else thinks they should and it is going to cost them business.

RV Industry Heritage -
John A. Schroeder
The “Dean of the Trailer Industry"