During the past year, Keystone Automotive Operations, partnered with DECKED, a manufacturer of in-vehicle storage systems for trucks and cargo vans, as their exclusive distributor in Canada and now is delivering to U.S. customers.

“We couldn't be more pleased to be expanding our relationship with Keystone into the US market. It's been a very productive and positive arrangement in Canada and the opportunity to grow our business with Keystone in the US is very exciting,” Vice President of Marketing Greg Randolph said.

Contractors, outdoorsmen and commercial fleet operators are the core customers of DECKED products, according to the release.

Demand for the product continues to rise. This is a testimony to the practicality of ergonomic storage and the quality of what we are making,” Randolph said. “Customers love this product, as it solves a real problem at an attractive price point. Keystone gives us broader distribution to more dealers and greatly improved logistics that makes our product available next day to most customers.”

Keystone RV has added solar-ready hookups to its Sprinter division, which now features a plug-and-play solar prep as standard equipment on all Sprinter travel trailers and fifth wheels.

The new feature readies the RVs for connection to solar panels.

“Getting off-the-grid is now a simple matter of plugging a Furrion solar panel and charger kit into the Sprinter’s solar port and enjoying free electricity from the sun,” the company said in a news release.

According to Sprinter General Manager Josh Miller, including plug-and-play solar prep fits Sprinter’s long-time mission to “make camping easy.” 

“Today’s Sprinter compared to the 1996 model is night and day,” Miller said. “For example, things like 18-cubic foot residential refrigerators, LED lighting, power awnings, flat-screen TVs and Bluetooth didn’t in all practicality exist back then.”

A consumer website tapped Rear View Safety as the “Best Backup Camera” in 2016.

In a review of a number of backup camera systems and other safety products, TopTenReviews.com selected the RVS-091406 for both the 2016 Gold Award and the Excellence Award.

The website examines all entries based on features, user friendliness, the ease of installation, the overall value for the money and the quality of service that an original equipment manufacturer provides after a purchase has been made.

“This model has a resolution of 582 x 500 pixels. While this resolution would be low for a camcorder, for a rear-view camera it is actually about average,” the website reported. “... The camera has a 130-degree field of view, which is one of the widest fields of view among cameras we reviewed. Most are around 100 degrees. The camera's infrared night-vision range is 50 feet, which is one of the best night-vision ranges among the backup cameras.”

Navistar International reported a first quarter 2016 net loss of $33 million.

The loss is an improvement of 21 percent, compared to a first quarter 2015 net loss of $42 million. The company’s revenues in the quarter were $1.8 billion, a decline of 27 percent compared to $2.4 billion in the first quarter last year.

According to the report, the decline reflects lower volumes in its Core U.S. and Canadian markets, due to softer industry conditions; lower volumes in Mexico and export markets, reflecting a stronger U.S. dollar; and, lower engine volumes in Brazil, due to ongoing weak economic conditions in that country. Additionally, one-quarter of the year-over-year decline was due to the discontinuation of the company's Blue Diamond Truck joint venture in mid-2015.

“This was a solid quarter in which we made real progress toward our 2016 targets,” said Walter G. Borst, Navistar executive vice president and chief financial officer. “We operated within our indicated cash range in what is seasonally our weakest revenue and most cash-intensive quarter, ending the first quarter 2016 with $673 million in manufacturing cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities.”

Technicians and dealerships hoping to take certification tests next week as part of RV Certification Week (March 13-19) should register this week to ensure testing is available and set up with the online testing service, according to RV Dealers Association Technical Consultant Tony Yerman.

“We’re working with ProctorU and NOCTI, so they do need to get in there early enough to test during the (Certification) Week,” Yerman said.

To promote Certification Week, the RV Learning Center and Society of Certified RV Professionals offered candidates who take and pass a certification test during the week, a one-year subscription to RV Technician Today, an online publication and resource for technicians.

Unlike previous Certification Weeks, this year’s test marks the first in which the tests are administered through online service ProctorU, which the Learning Center implemented recently, Yerman said.

“In the last six months, we’ve been trying to get this (ProctorU testing) together,” he said. “In the past, what we had were test centers where they could go – usually connected to a local community college – and they could take the test.”

The new system through the online service allows technicians to take certification tests with a computer that is equipped with a webcam, through which test officials can monitor the student.

“These guys literally watch them (through the webcam) to make sure they’re not reading books or asking their buddies, to keep it legitimate,” Yerman said.

Certified RV technicians are in strong demand, as the country’s labor pool of technicians has not kept pace with growing RV sales.

The shortage makes it difficult for many dealerships to keep their service departments running at full steam, said Camping World (Hanover, Pa.) General Manager Dan Saltzgiver.

Saltzgiver is currently seeking four technicians, certified or not, even though the dealership pays extra for certified techs.

“It’s very, very difficult to find anybody, and would be near impossible to find a certified technician. ... If I could find four of them, they’d be hired immediately, but I know I’m not going to find them.”

At Saltzgiver’s dealership, technicians receive a pay raise for completing certification courses, in addition to the company’s effort to pay for and send employees to training.

Last week, Saltzgiver sent a team of employees nearly 900 miles west to Elkhart, Ind., to receive training.

“Word has just not gotten out to people to let them know there is a very viable career in being an RV Technician, and it can pay very well,” he said.

For more information about Certification Week, visit the website. For information on technician training, click here. 

The North American Trailer Dealers Association (NATDA) announced the release of its annual buyer’s guide, which gives an overview of trailer and RV manufacturers.

NATDA releases the guide at the end of the month, according to a news release.

All segments of the trailer industry will be represented in the buyer’s guide, including: cargo, race, horse, livestock, enclosed, light utility, equipment, heavy utility, tilt, fifth wheel, gooseneck, towable RV, car hauler, ATV, motorcycle, snowmobile, living quarter, concession, truck beds, marine, dump, flatbed and toy hauler markets (26,000 pounds and under). 

“Our goal is to provide resources that benefit and connect our industry, which continues to be a top priority for NATDA,” NATDA Executive Director Jesse Battle said. 

An online interactive version also will be available with links to manufacturer’s website and/or social media sites. For or more information, contact Karen Anderson at 310-384-5385 or karena@natda.org.

Click here to view the 2015 Buyer’s Guide.

Chantal Hershberger has been named to Truma’s newly created position of customer care coordinator, the company said in a news release Wednesday (March 9).

Hershberger will be involved in all aspects of consumer and dealer customer care, including technical trouble-shooting and training and warranty processing. She is based in Elkhart, Ind.

With 11 years as a customer service supervisor and trainer in the RV industry, Hershberger first encountered Truma at the 2015 RVIA National RV Show in Louisville where her interest in the company began.

“I was immediately impressed with the obvious level of excellence that goes into their products,” she said. “I am very pleased to be part of the Truma team and look forward to the growth opportunities for Truma in the U.S. market.”

Hershberger is an Indiana native and began working in the RV industry right out of high school. She later attended Bible College in Elkhart and received her associates degree in biblical studies. She also attended business classes at Indiana University.

“Chantal has a great background in customer service that demonstrates commitment to ensuring the best support possible to those installing and using our products,” said Elden Wood, Truma vice president of sales and marketing. “We believe she is a great fit for who we are and for where we want to go.”

CellTuck released its newest updates to its web portal services earlier this week, adding the ability for dealers to add text message alerts and more quickly add links on their dealership site.

“These updates are easily controlled,” CellTuck Director Angela Cellucci said in a news release. “Most importantly our clients will make the choice whether or not they want to use them or not.  Entering a mobile number turns it on. Remove it, and it is turned off.  It is that simple.”

When visiting a client site, visitors have the option of clicking the “text us now” button and sending a message to the dealership.

To access the function, a dealer can log into the CellTuck website console and click onto the mobile management tool. There, the dealer can enter a cell phone number and create the button to read anything they like. The update allows the dealer to swap out the number quickly or even turn it off. 

In addition, CellTuck also updated its portal to give dealers the option to add multiple links. 

“Whether third party or a link within the client site, it’s easy,” Cellucci said. “Some are using this new feature of third party financing and upcoming event links.”

The last update included the option of adding a trade form.  This also can be controlled along with the button text.

To learn more about this new update, click here. 

Organizers and attendees praised the 16th annual MBA RV Rental School March 1-3, calling the sold-out event a “huge success.”

Eighty-nine students attended the three-day course at the Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.  while 24 students filled a waitlist.

See photos below. 

The school’s founder Bert Alanko has said that he prefers to keep the course size smaller for an improved student-teacher ratio, allowing students to feel comfortable participating in the class.

“Been renting for 10 years; first year attending ... should have made it years ago,” a dealer wrote in his feedback for the event.

The course featured presentations from Barry Raye, Scott Krenek, Martin Onken and rental law expert Leslie Pujo, and Alanko reported that the discussions often ran over their allotted time.

“Each day the discussion goes so well that we end up in overtime,” he said. “This year the last day ran two hours over as there is such a thirst for the presenter’s knowledge and information.”

Next year’s event is slotted for the same location Feb. 7-9, 2017, and MBA plans to host a mini rental course at the RV Dealers Association Convention/Expo in Las Vegas later this year.

The Route 66 RV Network announced its 2016 Network Rally will take place Oct. 3-5 at Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Route 66 will provide additional details and registration information as the date approaches, according to a news release from the group.

For questions, contact Ann Kenny at 913-317-6678.

The RV Aftermarket Association has made changes to its Benefactor Program this year, according to a news release from the group. 

The Benefactor Program allows companies sponsorship offerings that include year-round exposure in RVAA electronic and print materials. It also benefits positioning at the RVAA Executive Conference, Aug. 15 through 19 in Chicago, according to a news release.

New benefits this year include:

• Recognition and brand placement throughout the Executive Conference in Chicago
• Opportunity to place advertisements in RVAA publications, including our monthly e-newsletter and bi-annual print newsletters
• Opportunity to present up to two training webinars to RVAA members
• Year-round recognition in all RVAA e-blasts and our official website

Randy Kelly recently joined Blue Ox as RV and truck accessories sales representative and will be serving customers in Texas and Oklahoma, according to a news release from the company.

Prior to joining the Blue Ox team, Kelly worked as parts specialist for H&W Marine in Marshall, Texas, and parts/warranty manager for Hopes Camper Corner in Monroe, La. 

"I'm really excited to be joining Blue Ox,” Kelly said. “I grew up around RVs, my parents always had a camper, and while in college I worked for Hope's Camper Corner in Monroe, La., as parts/warranty manager. As parts manager I was well aware of the quality and dependability of Blue Ox's line of RV and truck accessories.”

Kelly holds a bachelor of arts degree with a major in business operations and marketing from University of Louisiana at Monroe.

“Randy brings previous RV industry experience and the drive necessary to have success. He will be responsible for servicing our current dealers, working with our distributor partners and prospecting new accounts within his territory,” Blue Ox National Sales Manager Alex Walker said. Randy will bring hard work to the team that will show with growth in his territory and for Blue Ox.  We are very excited to have him on our team.”

An avid sportsman, Kelly received the Athletic Leadership Scholarship award three years in a row while coaching at ULM, University of Louisiana at Monroe.  He was also recognized for being in the NCAA National Athletic Who's Who while at ULM.

“Randy's experience will go a long way in building upon our mission to serve our existing RV and truck accessory customer base, as well as developing new customers in his territory,” President and CEO Ellen Kietzmann said. 

A backlog of orders for its TireMinder (A1A) product has led to a month-long stoppage of shipments from supplier Minder Research, according to a letter from the company to its customers Friday (March 11).

Minder officials expect deliveries to resume the week of April 11.

"We are so sorry that we are not able to ship any TireMinder A1As until next month," Minder Research CEO Chuck Fleischer said in the memo.

"Despite having forecast a year-over-year increase of 50 percent, we have not been able to keep up with the demand. We feel the significant industry growth plus having won our 4th straight year of Reader’s Choice Gold Medal awards have played a significant role in creating this shortage. Again we apologize to those dealers who have customers waiting. We will do everything in our power not to have a repeat of this unacceptable
situation."

Joseph M. Shuster, who served on the Winnebago Board of Directors for a decade, died March 6 at age 83.

Proceeded in death by his three brothers, one sister and two grandsons, Martin Jacob Shuster and Elliot Kent Shuster.

Shuster was a chemical engineer and alumnus of the University of Minnesota, entrepreneur and businessman who spent his career in engineering and management roles in diverse technically oriented companies.

In addition to serving as a Winnebago board member, Shuster founded or co-founded 10 companies, including Minnesota Valley Engineering/Chart Industries, and Teltech Resource Network (now Sopheon), a technical knowledge consulting company.

Shuster is survived by his loving family, wife Patricia (Patsy) with whom he enjoyed many great adventures; children Susan and Lael King, Pete Shuster and Peg Witt, Siri and Tom Lehmann, Pauline and Steve Jennings, Sam and Sara Shuster; and grandchildren Margy, Simon & Seth Shuster, Luke (Celeste), Ben (Haley) & Jason Lehmann, Chris & Samantha Pahr, Josie, Zach and Sophia Shuster, and many loving extended family and friends.

He served on over 20 boards of directors of businesses, organizations and international firms, including Winnebago Industries from the years 1988 to 1998, and served as chairman of Minnesota High Technology Association.

Shuster was intensely interested in energy issues and wrote an energy alert paper for the U.S. Congress in 1971, accurately predicting the oil embargo of 1973. He gave testimony before the House and Senate Committees on a Technology Transfer Program that led to positive legislation. Later, disgusted with government inaction to create effective energy policies, Shuster wrote Beyond Fossil Fools (2008), a tutorial on energy sources and issues. He subsequently published a quantified energy plan for the U.S. to become independent of fossil fuels by 2040.

A celebration honoring Shuster will be held at 11 a.m. on April 9 at St Wenceslaus, 215 Main St E, New Prague, Minn. followed by a fellowship gathering at Lakeside Supper Club, 32298 State Hwy 13, Montgomery, Minn. 56069.

Please no flowers. Memorials preferred to Christian Brothers LaSalle Retreat Center, 2101 Rue De LaSalle, Glencoe, Minn. 63038 and Evans Scholar Foundation, One Briar Rd, Golf, IL 60029.

ASA Electronics is proud debuted its first sound bar recently, responding to customer requests, the company said in a news release.

The JENSEN JSB4000 adds to the company’s offering of at-home quality entertainment systems that are designed for the RV environment.

“This sound bar augments our line of AV (audio-video) products, and works seamlessly with JENSEN wall mount stereos, matching them in terms of power output. It follows our business model of designing specifically for the mobile application and addresses a multitude of considerations for RV entertainment,” ASA Electronics RV Industry Manager Jennifer King said.

Featuring a built in amp with an onboard crossover, the appropriate frequencies are delivered to each of the six drivers.

Travis Schochenmaier has joined Blue Ox as senior cost accountant and will be evaluating both the Blue Ox RV and truck accessories and Automatic Ag lines, the company said in a news release Tuesday (March 15).

"I am very happy to announce that Travis has accepted the position of senior cost accountant for our company,” Blue Ox President and CEO Ellen Kietzmann

said. “We are always looking for ways to produce our products more efficiently without sacrificing our high standards of quality.  Travis will be a key team member in helping achieve that goal."

Prior to joining the Automatic/Blue Ox team, Schochenmaier worked as senior cost accountant for Sioux Steel Company in Sioux Falls, S.D. He has also worked at Luverne, Minn.-based GNP company in the same position.

While at Sioux Steel Company Schochenmaier was responsible for developing reports to begin monitoring labor and overhead variances, monthly review and summarization of labor, overhead, and material variances, created standard margin report by product line as well as a standard margin on open orders by product line report.

"I'm really excited to be joining the Automatic/Blue Ox team,” Schochenmaier said. “I confident that I can make a significant contribution to the company and help them meet their goals."

Following the recent announcement by HSM Transportation Solutions to split from Lippert Components as the company’s exclusive distribution outlet for its Hickory Step, Lippert is hoping to change its customer base to its hybrid Alumi-Tread Step, the company said in a news release Tuesday (March 15).

“In the end, we believe this move better serves our OEM and aftermarket customers,” LCI’s Chief Executive Officer Jason Lippert said int he release. “We want to make sure that LCI can continue to grow and innovate at the rapid pace that the industry is known for.”

LCI Vice President of RV Sales Andy Murray says this development makes the company more nimble.

“By no longer being tied to an exclusive agreement, we believe we can respond more quickly to customer requirements,” said Murray. “Our Alumi-Tread Step is a great example of this – customers requested a more attractive entry step at a competitive price, and we were able to quickly develop and launch the product.”

For information, manufacturers can contact Brian Hess at bhess@lci1.com. Aftermarket dealers, retailers and distributers can contact aftermarketsales@lci1.com for more information.

Arrow Distributing has added Dura Faucet to the company’s lineup, according to a  news release from the wholesale distributor.

The move came at the company’s exhibitors showcase in Las Vegas in February.

With more than 350 faucet styles and finishes, Dura Faucet is a 15-year supplier to RV OEMs, including: Jayco, Dutchman, Forest River, Coachman, Fleetwood, Thor, Keystone and many more.

Nathan Tullier reported in the release that Dura Facet had a strong outing at Arrow’s recent 2016 Exhibitor’s showcase in Las Vegas. 

Aqua-Hot Heating Systems celebrated a milestone in its founders’ charitable organization, which passed the $1 million mark in grants recently.

Harold “Hap” Enander’s Enander Family Foundation Fund first gave a grant to Young Life, a Christian organization that serves children and young adults, and most recently awarded a $5,000 grant to a startup ministry in Michigan, allowing the Foundation to surpass the $1 million mark, according to a news release from Aqua-Hot.

“In every aspect of his life, Hap was a forward thinker," Aqua-Hot President and CEO Paul Harter said. “He was a pioneer in hydronic heating, an inveterate inventor and tinkerer, had the foresight to protect his company, and could see the positive impact that his kindness and generosity could have by creating the foundation.”

The first donations to the Foundation came when Enander transferred ownership of Aqua-Hot to the Enander Family Foundation through stock dividends. 

Harter serves as the foundation's chairman, while Aqua-Hot colleagues Troy Bell and Jeremiah Bustamante are on the board. The seed money used to start the charitable endeavor came from Aqua-Hot stock dividends.

The Enander Family Foundation Fund is established as a donor advised fund. It is managed and administered by the Community Foundation of Northern Colorado. For a video on the fund, click here.

The RV Industry Association’s Nominating Committee has issued a call for candidates from the association’s membership to run in this year’s Board of Directors election.

There are eight positions up for election this year, including seats for three supplier representatives; two manufacturer representatives, two At-Large representatives and one Park Model RV representative.

The RVIA Board has the highest level of authority in the association’s organizational structure. It is responsible for association affairs on a broad policy basis. The Board meets three times per year: in March, during Committee Week in June, and in mid-September.

Each RVIA manufacturer and supplier member company is afforded a single vote in the association elections, scheduled to take place electronically in August. Newly elected board members will begin serving their terms on Oct. 1.

Those interested in becoming a candidate for the RVIA Board elections should contact RVIA’s Mac Bryan at 703-620-6003, ext. 334 or mbryan@rvia.org for consideration by the RVIA Nominating Committee, which includes Chairman Jack Cole of Lance Camper Manufacturing Corp. and members Jim Jacobs, REV Group; Jeff Rutherford, Airxcel; and, Tim Tiffin, Tiffin Motorhomes.