Comments on: Next time, let them use tents

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 22:00:41 +0000

Greg excellent job! I was in New Orleans in 2002 and I made the comment that this city needs a giant enema. Well I turned out to be a prophet. We flushed “the you know what” into our trailers. It’s unfortunate these low lifes are to lazy to move to Elkhart and Goshen and be a part of the American Dream. Instead they spent there last free nickel on alcohol, cigs, pull-tabs and the lottery and have no where else to turn. I am sure the legal leaches will make them our problem for a long time.

By: Bob Zagami

Bob Zagami — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 16:18:13 +0000

Well said Gene, and I couldn’t agree more. This is not a time for RVIA, RVDA, or the RV industry to sit idly by and hope that this issue quietly goes away. That simply isn’t going to happen when you have FEMA and lawyers taking shots at an industry that can ill afford any negative criticsm or lawsuits surrounding the industry’s response to a national emergency, and FEMA’s incompetence in dealing with that tragedy.

By: Gene Seider

Gene Seider — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 14:23:15 +0000

Thanks to all who have taken the time to express their feeling re: this issue. Nothing builds enthusiasm like a little controversy.

However, I have noticed one common thread in all of the responses and that is the lack of first hand knowledge by a contributor. I wonder if anyone has taken the time to actually go to the Gulf Coast and see how that TTs are set up (under FEMA’s guidance?)?

The conditions are pathetic. Not one of the areas where folks are living would pass for a Camp Ground. In fact, most of the areas where the TTs are parked are little more than soggy swamps.

I submit that very few, if any, of the folks living in a TT were ever advised as to what should be done to ensure that fresh air, etc. should be available.

Now this is not the fault or the TT manufacturers who furnished units in response to FEMA’s request. And further, I doubt that anyone, even FEMA, bothered to tell the RV industry that the units they built would be used for “extended” periods by individuals who did not know, or maybe care, how to take care of their new home.

In addition, I submit that now is the time for RVIA to get involved in full force. How about calling upon some of the RV Industry engineers, etc. and have them go to the Gulf Coast and perform a good technical survey of the TTs. If this were done pronto, we would all have some factual data to hang our collective hats on.

Without some back up data, we are all open to criticism that is not needed. What is needed at this time is a good offense.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:47:40 +0000

Your blog is right on target Greg. It is truly a sad senario when someone like the RV Industry steps up to the plate to help out the less fortunate in a desperate situation only to find themselves portrayed by the media as the villan in the end. My Question is this — Why is FEMA not named as a responsible party in this legal three ring circus? Did someone hold a gun to their head and and force them to take these trailers? As I look at it the RV Industry needs to prepare to be hit by a couple of “natural disasters” on the horizon —– greedy lawyers and a one sided media.

By: KATHY STEFANOWICZ

KATHY STEFANOWICZ — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 21:13:43 +0000

I AGREE, LET THE LAZY BUMS SLEEP IN TENTS. ALSO IN THE PAST 9 YEARS I’VE HAD BREAST CANCER AND LEUKEMIA. WHO CAN I SUE? WHAT’S TO SAY THOSE PEOPLE WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN SICK ANYWAY!

By: Ray Sayer

Ray Sayer — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 03:43:03 +0000

Could it be some of the dealers and manufactures eat from the trough that another S–t in. It seem’s that alot of blame for poor use of chemicals,are being directed to the lowest person on the RV sales food chain.
With the treatment I experenced on warrenty on a 2001 TT purchased in 2001 from one of the major manfactures,it might be time for some of those to get more than there snot in the trough.

By: Jim Rau

Jim Rau — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 01:16:21 +0000

As an R V Dealer selling R V for 45 years. I am appalled and mad as hell about the bashing that the the R V Industry is taking. Where is the R V D A when we need them? I am writing my congresman and senators about this matter and urge evey one involved in the R V Industy to do the same. If the SEMA trailers are so bad why are they being sold to Govt agencys in our area for emergency use? Those of us who make our living in the
R V Industry need to speak up and fight back and the sooner the better

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 03:44:08 +0000

Greg;

Once again, you’ve penned an outstanding article that hits the pulse of this issue directly on the head.

Do you happen to know if any of those people that are dealing with the formaldehyde issue, happen to smoke cigarettes (or any illegal substances) while inside those lethal units?

If those attorneys are really savvy, they can surely drag the tobacco companies in on this suit.

Did any of them spill any coffee on themselves while passing out from the lethal fumes?

Did any of them turn to alcohol to relieve the stress created by the fumes, only to fall out of a coach and incur bodily injury?

Did any of them fall out of the coach because it should have been equipped with an A.W.D. approved grab handle, but wasn’t?

Did any of this stress cause these people to abandon their normally healthy lifestyles and diets, only to consume so much greasy, unhealthy food that they are looking at new health problems?

Did any chiropractors get involved because they had inferior mattresses in these coaches?

Speaking of the bedroom, have any of them experienced any loss of companionship because the formaldehyde was more lethal than the stench of their mate(s), thereby making it impossible to procreate?

Any vision problems from watching a 72″ Plasma TV from just 36″ away?

Thank God none of these coaches were manufactured with the “deadly” gray water lines from years ago.

This whole thing makes me sick!!

By: Carl Rader

Carl Rader — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:51:49 +0000

Call me a hardnosed old reactionary, but why oh why is it government’s responsibility to bail everyone out? When I was growing up, the schools and my parents in particular stressed that it would be my job in life to take care of myself and handle any disasters to befall me. That’s why we buy insurance policies. If a tornado levels my home tonight, the last place I’ll look for help is the govt. Witness FEMA–they’d screw it up royally if I did. They didn’t even want to provide some of the 10,000 plus trailers they’ve been storing in Hope, AR, for two years at a cost of $25,000 per month when there was a tornado earlier this year about 50 miles from Hope.

I realize we can’t just throw people to the wolves; they’d just steal enough to survive anyway, but there ought to be some common sense involved. Like an as-is, where-is agreement when one signs up for a free trailer. I’ll agree with at least one thing you said, Greg, if someone doesn’t want a new stinky trailer, then give’em a tent to run with.

And it’s certainly no surprise some shyster lawyers are trying to jump aboard the gravy train.

By: Clancy Schmidt

Clancy Schmidt — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 14:44:30 +0000

Greg I certainly agree with the jest of your editorial….I’m from Kansas and the stories about how fast the Greensburg tornado victims cleaned up their own properties……without someone from Washington coming to help……is how things get done properly.

But there was one small sentence in your missive that I just can’t agree with…..claims against the tobacco industry are not bogus. They lied to us for years and they knew they were lying to us.

Other than that, keep up the good work.