Ben Hirsch, Chief Operating Officer of Campers Inn RV, wrote a scathing op-ed piece for RVBusiness stating that the industry’s practice of building and shipping RVs based on dealers’ predictive orders rather than actual sales numbers is hurting the industry. A lot.
The RV industry commonly takes predictive orders from RV dealerships, which then leads to production. If the RVs they built aren’t selling, that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re lowering production. Not when there are orders.
That hurts dealerships that are bringing in new rigs through the back door but aren’t seeing them leaving through the front door. So they “fire sale” these RVs (not like in the next section!) during peak selling season rather than running normally profitable numbers.
The solution, said Hirsch, is to have a direct correlation between production numbers and actual sales in the field.
“As long as production is built to purchase orders, we’re building to a guess. The fix is to build to what’s actually retailing.”
According to Hirsch, this is a solved problem everywhere else. Walmart gave suppliers direct access to store-level sales so they could restock what was actually moving. Dell built to real orders and carried almost no finished inventory. The data already exists in our world, too. Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI) tracks retail, the RV Industry Association (RVIA) tracks shipments, and most of us know our own numbers cold. What we lack is the willingness to share it fast and the discipline to act on it.
“The win from getting this right should be impossible to ignore. A steadier channel serves everyone, starting with the customer. People stop getting trained to wait for the next fire sale and can buy when they’re ready, knowing the deal in front of them is fair.”
Source: Op-Ed piece in RVBusiness
RV fires
It’s hot. Obviously. But that also means we’re truly testing the appliances and components in our RVs.
There have been a number of reports of RV fires across the country, which triggers a reminder to check your RV’s appliances and electrical connections. Making sure the propane-powered appliances have clear ventilation, especially if you have a propane-powered RV refrigerator, can help reduce the risk of fire.
One main culprit is electrical fires. Many of the higher-draw appliances, like air conditioners, are connected to your RV’s main electrical panels with screws or lugs. These can get loose over time, and a loose connection becomes a hot connection. A hot connection can cause a fire, especially if you’re continually drawing power at a higher rate.
Every larger connection in the RV has a torque specification, which basically means that the screw or bolt holding that connection together has a specific amount of torque that it should be fastened with.
I can’t be more emphatic about recommending a torque wrench for the wheels and tires of your RV, but I also strongly encourage you to have a screwdriver set that can measure torque as well.
Of course, you’ll want to be very, very careful not to screw around, literally, with live connections. But it’s not a bad idea to check the connections on your electrical system now and then.
You may be shocked by how many loose connections you find. But, again, do so when there’s no power there. You don’t literally want to be shocked.
Overland Expo PNW
With an estimated 15,000 attendees over three days, Overland Expo Pacific Northwest wrapped up with participants learning new skills, seeing exciting products, and the Overland Expo Foundation having raised some $18,000 through a charity raffle.
Held at the Deschutes County Expo Center in Redmond, Oregon, the attendance at these events is growing. For anyone who has been to a typical RV show but not an Overland Expo event, try to change that. Why?
The OE events offer more than just tons of RVs with salespeople who have never RVed before hounding you. Instead, experienced campers, hikers, and other adventurers are there to answer questions about gear, RVs, tents, and an incredible diversity of products. There are workshops and seminars, and, even more, a real community feel to these events.
I particularly like the DIY showcase. But the cutting-edge tech and off-grid capability shown at these also really floats my boat.
Albuquerque RV park sees eviction notices
I have written in the past that a lot of people’s dander goes up when someone applies for a permit to open an RV park. While likely readers of RVtravel.com may be different, there are circumstances of RV parks that can cause concerns for passersby with RVs that have tarps on their roofs, junk strewn about, and other examples of clutter and disrepair.
For those who don’t know, my home base is near Albuquerque, so I have been hearing a lot about the Extend-A-Stay hotel and adjacent Palisades RV Park. At the last update, the City of Albuquerque has begun code enforcement on the property. Among the violations include, but are not limited to, violating zoning laws by allowing long-term stays despite being permitted for short-term stays.
At present, there have been 30-day eviction notices placed on the RVs, some of which are in no condition to run, with several occupants admitting that they have lived there for years. This clearly is a big concern for those who may live in financial hardship.
The park has earned a 1.2 out of five-star rating on TripAdvisor and a score of one out of five stars on RV LIFE’s campground reviews, where I got the photo for this section.
The point of sharing this is that this is not an isolated situation, and some cities are cracking down on this type of place. Unfortunately, the residents are the ones who suffer, so the word of caution is to know the rules surrounding your place of residence, if that is, in fact, an RV park.
Source: KOAT news
RV Industry releases promo video
Finally, the RV Industry Association released a feel-good video that included Toby O’Rourke, President and CEO of KOA; Bob Wheeler, President and CEO of Airstream; and Chad Reece, Vice President of Government and Industry Relations for Winnebago Industries.
It’s actually a nice video, and while we actual owners know that there are challenges with the RV lifestyle, this video really exemplifies the reason I believe many of us discovered RVing and stuck with it.
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RVT1269b
What a great video! I’m going to send it to all my friends who think I’m crazy to go on long RV trips. Thanks for sharing.
While I agree with Ben Hirch’s view of the RV supply chain, I know from personal experience that this is much easier said than done.
I am a Lifetime Certified Supply Chain professional (retired). I actually did what Ben suggests, on a W/W basis, in the large multi-national I worked for. I also advised other multi-nationals on implementing JIT systems.
In the end, someone holds inventory if everyone wants fast turns. Planning is still needed and plans are always wrong. He can’t compare Walmart to building RVs.
Thank you for all the effort that you put into these, Tony. They always are interesting, very good, and especially well-curated for RV travelers and RV Travel readers. Further, they are presented in your inimitable and entertaining style. Have a great weekend and safe travels!