News

The Federal Trade Commission announced it is extending by six months the deadline for companies to comply with some of the changes the agency implemented to strengthen the data security safeguards financial institutions must put in place to protect their customers’ personal information. The deadline for complying with some of the updated requirements of the Safeguards Rule is now June 9, 2023. The Safeguards Rule requires non-banking financial institutions, [...]

By RVIA Staff from RVNews Vegar California 2015 RVIA’s latest 2023 wholesale shipment forecast projects an RV industry stepping back eight years to 2015. The Winter 2022 issue of RV RoadSigns, the quarterly forecast prepared by ITR Economics for RVIA, projects a wholesale RV shipment range of 379,200 RVs to 403,600 RVs. The most likely forecast total is 391,400, the RoadSigns issue reported. The RV industry has [...]

The national RV Dealers Association (RVDA) has filed comments highly critical of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) proposed Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule. In formal comments filed on September 12, RVDA noted that if adopted as proposed, the rule would increase sales transaction times for consumers and add to the cost of the RVs by adding unnecessary administrative overhead for dealers. The FTC’s proposed rule would significantly alter the [...]

Register today for the WRVDA 2022 Annual Conference! This year's annual conference has two parts to it with the addition of a week long Level 1 RVTI in-person training. WRVDA Annual Conference November 30 & December 1, 2022 Business Track includes industry finance panel, DOT requirements, OSHA safety, and discussion about the dealer protection legislation with much more. Plus Level 3 Technician Training from Lippert and Dometic, and F&I Training from Brown & [...]

The Mike Molino RV Learning Center has launched a brand-new online course for parts specialists. The new course will help front line dealership fixed operations professionals handle service after the sale as the industry deals with the record number of first-time buyers. The online course is priced at $150 per student and is an ideal way to prepare for parts specialist certification through the RV Learning Center, which is available [...]

The RVDA Board of Directors approved several programs to support the industry’s Repair Event Cycle Time (RECT) initiative during its meeting on June 7 in Washington, DC. RVDA is forming dealer task forces to provide feedback on RECT reporting features that are provided by Dealer Management Software (DMS) providers. RECT reporting provides information that can help dealers identify and remove bottlenecks in their service and parts departments. To improve [...]

There is a fundamental change happening in the way Americans travel, work, and live. More and more people are choosing RVs as their preferred option for travel as they prioritize spending time in the great outdoors and embracing the freedom that comes with RVing. Just how much the RV industry has grown is captured in the new RVs Move America Economic Impact Study, released today by the RV Industry Association. The [...]

The Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR), along with federal, state, private, and nonprofit partners, is celebrating June as Great Outdoors Month. On May 31, 2022, President Joe Biden issued the 25th consecutive presidential proclamation of Great Outdoors Month saying, “As part of my administration’s efforts to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion, we are committed to ensuring that everyone can access and enjoy America’s great outdoors. Outreach efforts — including the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation [...]

Noel Russell, California, Photo: Adam Clark/Brody LevenNoel Russell Faces of RVing In 2015, the RV Industry Association successfully petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for exemption from the Class A and B commercial driver’s license (CDL) requirements for the transport of newly produced RVs. The FMCSA renewed this exemption in 2017 until April 6, 2022. Today, the FMCSA published its notice renewing this exemption for another 5 [...]

Applauds Senate committee approval of first-ever recreation package that will improve outdoor access, experiences RV shoot, Lime Park, Coloradophoto:Adam Clark On the same day the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee passed the first-ever recreation package, Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) and its members released an energizing video highlighting myriad outdoor recreation activities, the $689 billion outdoor recreation economy, and the over 4.3 million jobs it supports while urging Americans to get outside [...]

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reminds the public that the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new equestrian campground at Governor Dodge State Park is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday, April 29. Located in Wisconsin's scenic driftless area, Governor Dodge State Park is one of the state's largest parks, with over 5,000 acres of steep hills, bluffs and deep valleys, plus two lakes and a waterfall. With over [...]

The application for the Mike Molino RV Learning Center College Scholarship Program is now available online. The scholarship is available for undergraduates currently employed in the RV industry, who are dependents of an RV industry employee, and to those seeking a career in the RV industry after graduating. The $2,500 award will be applied to the cost of tuition for the 2022-2023 school year. The deadline for submitting all required [...]

The 2022 RV Dealers Convention/Expo is set for November 7-11 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. The event is presented by RVDA of U.S., RVDA of Canada, and the Mike Molino RV Learning Center. Just as dealerships strive for continuous improvement the RVDA Convention/Expo Committee is using the same principle when it comes to the RVDA Convention. The education program will provide segmented content based on dealership size, management structure, and [...]

Although college enrollment has been declining since 2012, it’s clear that the pandemic has intensified the trend. Undergraduate enrollment has decreased by 6.6% since the start of the pandemic, equating to more than one million students skipping out on undergrad, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. This downward trend has been continuing for a decade, one that’s driven in part by changing demographic patterns. As more young adults [...]

The RV industry set a new record for retail sales last year as 567,079 registrations were recorded across North America in 2021. That’s an 8.4% increase – 43,981 units – better than the previous record of 523,098 set in 2020, according to Statistical Surveys Inc., the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based supplier of RV industry retail and consumer demographic data. Nearly every segment also saw a year-over-year increase, with the exceptions [...]

The National Park Service (NPS) has created a National Campground Office. This new program will be responsible for boosting visitor experiences across NPS’s more than 1,400 campgrounds by improving coordination and facilitating technical assistance to parks and regions on campground-related issues and services. "This initiative is great news for RV travelers and everyone who enjoys camping in our National Parks," said Phil Ingrassia, president of the National RV Dealers Association and past ORR [...]

The Federal Trade Commission announced a newly updated rule that strengthens the data security safeguards that financial institutions are required to put in place to protect their customers’ financial information. In recent years, widespread data breaches and cyberattacks have resulted in significant harms to consumers, including monetary loss, identity theft, and other forms of financial distress. The FTC’s updated Safeguards Rule requires non-banking financial institutions, such as mortgage brokers, [...]

The board of directors of the RV/MH Heritage Foundation (Foundation) has announced the names of those who will be inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame (Hall) as members of the Class of 2022. Foundation President Darryl Searer said, “Congratulations to the ten new honorees. All of them have had or are having outstanding careers and are richly deserving of this high honor. The Hall of Fame could not [...]

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced year-round camping reservations are now available at more than 20 state parks and forests. Temperatures may be dropping, but that doesn’t mean the end of camping for anyone looking for a winter adventure. With 100% reservable campsites, visitors can plan ahead and have peace of mind before hitting the road knowing that a site is waiting for them. Campers will no [...]

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced new initiatives that will increase access, support jobs, and enhance the transportation experience on public lands across the country. At an event in Washington, D.C., the two Secretaries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will strengthen the Departments’ coordination regarding infrastructure investments and the deployment of innovative technologies at National Park Service-managed sites. The MOU outlines priority initiatives – [...]

Since the onset of the pandemic, the outdoor industry has been able find the so-called silver linings in what has been an unprecedented situation. Positive outlooks and creative innovations allowed companies and organizations to pivot around obstacles and keep things moving forward, welcoming more and more new people into the outdoors. While supply chain issues are still present, the industry has met this challenge head on and been credited [...]

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that Steven Schmelzer is the department’s new Parks Director. He started his new role July 19. Managed by the DNR, the Wisconsin State Park system boasts 49 state parks, more than 500 boat launches, 15 state forests, 44 state biking trails, over 5,000 campsites, plus thousands of acres for adventures. The DNR has logged more than 9.6 million visits to [...]

A Senate companion bill to H.R. 3552 – The Travel Trailer and Camper Tax Parity Act – was introduced last month by U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Angus King (I-ME). Earlier this year, U.S. Representatives Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced legislation to fix a provision in the tax code so all types of RVs, including travel trailers, are treated equally. The bill has the strong [...]

A new competitor in northern Indiana’s vast recreational vehicle industry has announced plans to invest $4 million to grow operations in the Elkhart County town of Bristol and add 150 jobs by the end of 2023. Ember Recreational Vehicles Inc., a startup RV manufacturer, is entering the marketplace with lightweight travel trailers for off-road and off-grid capabilities. The company says it is building an 88,000 square foot plant, an upgrade [...]

For the very first time, the outdoor recreation industry is united by a single comprehensive directory. The new Outdoor Business Directory exists to connect outdoor recreation-related businesses, manufacturers, organizations, agencies, and entities who make up the outdoor recreation industry in Wisconsin. Highlighting Wisconsin’s large and diverse outdoor industry, the directory aims to strengthen the network by facilitating relationships between industry leaders and organizations. Please help us grow the Outdoor Business Directory. Search [...]

This month (July 2021) marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Mike Molino RV Learning Center’s Service Writer/Advisor online course. The program provides training on managing service appointments, generating additional revenue, coordinating with technicians and other departments, and more. Modules cover 43 key competency areas and prepare front-line employees with the knowledge required to meet and exceed customer expectations. Multiple sections on customer service reinforce the top [...]

The Dealer and Agent Section (DAS) is now offering a voluntary dealer training program to dealer owners and their representatives interested in expanding their knowledge of dealer business practices. The program covers all aspects of dealer business with a focus on DAS’s  mission of “Keeping dealers in business, doing business right”. During training, attendees can expect to learn how to: reassign titles and complete odometer disclosures complete the Wisconsin [...]

At Go RVing, we are always looking for new ways to engage with the RVing community and provide resources, expert advice, how-tos, and inspirational content. Keeping new and potential RVers engaged is top of mind as the supply chain issues persist and manufacturers work to fulfill the needs of dealers who are seeing RVs flying off their lots at an unprecedented pace. When RV interest is this high, it [...]

The RV Technical Institute is offering Level Two courses both online and in-person at its campus in Elkhart, Indiana. This four-week course, which takes place August 2-27, 2021, is for RV technicians seeking Level 2 certification. Subjects covered will include electric, water, appliances, propane tank, generators, and chassis. There are two ways to complete the course. The first option is to attend all four weeks in-person at RVTI, which includes classroom instruction [...]

In response to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau report anticipating that the State of Wisconsin will end its’ fiscal year with a significant surplus, The Coalition to Repeal Wisconsin’s Personal Property Tax is asking the Governor and the Legislature to return a small portion of the surplus dollars to the business community by fully repealing the personal property tax. The coalition wants to applaud Speaker Vos and Majority Leader LeMahieu [...]

Registration for the 2021 RV Dealers Convention/Expo, set for November 8-12 at Paris Las Vegas, is now open. The convention/expo will be returning to an in-person format and bring together dealers, manufacturers, and RV industry business partners for the premier dealer education and networking event of the year. Click here to register. The RVDA Convention/Expo Committee and staff are working hard to bring dealers relevant educational content and new speakers. Updates [...]

Written By: RV News June kicks off summer 2021 with Great Outdoors Month. The National Park Service (NPS) provided a top-10 list of visitation tips to encourage the public to “Plan Like a Park Ranger” this summer. National park visitation is increasing and expected to grow through the season, NPS stated. Amid the pandemic’s recovery, many parks and local businesses are operating with reduced or limited services, schedules and staff. [...]

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is hosting the 9th annual Free Fun Weekend June 5-6. Park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes will be waived for Wisconsinites to find their adventure outdoors. "We truly have something special here in Wisconsin, especially when it comes to outdoor recreation opportunities," said DNR Secretary Preston Cole. “Explore a state park, hit the trails or try your hand at [...]

Office of Outdoor Recreation Website A new online home, the Office of Outdoor Recreation website is full of resources for you, including the Outdoor Business Directory. Find research, educational webinars, the popular Outdoors COVID-19 Toolkit, and ways to engage with the Office. Find us now at: outdoorrecreation.wi.gov. Outdoor Business Directory For the very first time, the outdoor recreation industry is united by a single comprehensive directory. The new Outdoor [...]

By RV News Staff Kampgrounds of America (KOA) sent its President and CEO Toby O’Rourke on a satellite media tour to share findings from the 2021 North American Camping Report and talk continuing camping popularity. O’Rourke’s journey completed April 21. Appearing live from the Greensborough KOA Holiday at Lake Oconee near Atlanta, she kicked off the camping season by participating in 29 interviews with U.S. media outlets. “Camping saw [...]

By: RV Industry Association Staff New data into the motivation and trip preferences of people who purchased RVs since the onset of the pandemic reveal trends towards shorter trips and a preference for state parks. Less than one-third of new RV owners took trips more than 300 miles in length. Rather, the majority of new buyers (54%) opted to stay closer to home with trips under 200 miles. With [...]

“Dealer advertising” is a broad term, and it includes any messages presented to the public promoting a product or a service. This means that messages posted to public social media accounts—Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and others—face the same scrutiny as print or website advertising.   Required Disclosures Social media focuses on using short messages to grab consumers’ attention, but you still need to provide proper disclosures and avoid crafting your [...]