RV Weekly

A dealer recently brought to my attention an RVDA committee’s investigation into the issue of using forklifts to move travel trailers and 5th wheels. A survey conducted by RVDA in late 2006 determined that an estimated 50 percent of its members use a forklift for this purpose. The other 50 percent use tractors, trucks, spot movers or other improvised devices. Which method is safest and works best depends largely on who you ask.

In talking with dealers across the country, I’ve heard that some dealers feel using forklifts for this purpose is extremely dangerous and an incredible liability risk. Other dealers have used forklifts for decades and feel forklifts are not only safe but also the most effective way to move units around.

I’m told that one dealer in Connecticut had a terrible forklift towing accident 1-1/2-years ago. The trailer caused the forklift to overturn, causing the death of the employee. While not certain, the accident may have been caused by the forklift not having brakes beefy enough to stop the additional weight the forklift was pulling. When the government stepped in to investigate, some of the first questions they reportedly asked were:

1. When was the last time the forklift was serviced and is there documentation of this?
2. Was the operator certified to use the equipment? Do you have documentation of this?
3. Did the forklift manufacturer approve the equipment for this intended use?
4. Was there a letter from a state-certified engineer approving the attachment on the forklift for that intended use?

I don’t know all the details, but from what I hear, the dealer was ultimately fined and many surrounding dealerships were investigated as well for their forklift use. I’m also told that forklift manufacturers have said their vehicles are specifically designed for rising and lowering heavy loads, not for towing them as in a trailer-transport application. The lift rating of the forklift can also be deceiving because the weight is designed to be lifted “at the apron,” not the “fork-end.” As an example: a 8,000-pound-rated forklift could realistically only lift 3,300 pounds at the fork end. With hiring an engineer, I would think dealers would have no real way of knowing their personal forklift’s lifting capacity at the fork. Not knowing is another door for liability.

Forklift manufacturer’s stances on this most likely put any and all liability decisively on the dealer’s plate. Odds are good your insurance will not cover you if there is an accident because of this. Are you up-to-date on your particular forklift manufacturer’s stance on towing RVs and what your state laws say regarding insurance and liability?

One dealer in Wisconsin received approval from a major forklift manufacturer for his forklift attachment, but the company now says it will not approve future attachments on its products for this application. While there are a number of manufacturers that make attachments designed for this intended purpose, I haven’t heard of any that unequivocally stand behind their product when and if there is an accident. I certainly can’t say I know every company in the U.S. or the products they make, so if you know of one, please post it and we will get the word out.

The questions I have for the RV dealers are:

1. What do you feel the best practice is regarding moving trailers?
2. Is this even an important issue?
3. Do you feel there should there be some kind of standard for this or is it all much-to-do-about-nothing?
4. How do you move trailers at your dealership? Do you have an innovative method or product designed for transport that is both safe and releases the dealership from liability?

I’ll forward your comments and great ideas on to info@RVDA.org, so the committee can tap into dealer’s collective knowledge. Thanks for posting and Happy Holiday’s!

Dana Nelsen is the editor of RV Trade Digest and Light Truck and SUV magazines. He can be reached directly by e-mailing editor@RVTradeDigest.com.

In the last few months, Ford introduced and began an advertising campaign for its 2008 vehicle models, including the revamped 2008 Ford Escape SUV hybrid. The auto manufacturer boasts that next year’s model is “the most fuel efficient SUV on the planet,” with an estimated 34 miles per gallon.

But, what the new SUV models might make up for in fuel efficiency and environmental standards, they lack in power and towing capacity.

According to Cars.com, the new four-cylinder Escape hybrid tows a limit of 1,000 pounds, compared to its big brother, the 3,500-pound towing capacity, non-hybrid V-6 Escape.

RV manufacturer’s have just begun to tap into mini-van and SUV towing capabilities, but a hybrid Escape can’t tow too much more than the Aliner Alite, with a weight of 400 pounds.

With ever-growing concerns of fuel efficiency along with truck and SUV CAFÉ standards still debated, Chevrolet has also introduced its own version of a hybrid SUV.

The 2008 Chevy Tahoe might not have the same MPG standards as the Escape, but what it lacks in more fuel efficiency, it makes up for in more power.

With rave reviews, Edmunds.com voted the Tahoe one of the best hybrid vehicles for 2008. Cars.com also explains that the Tahoe still fits the description and criteria of a full-sized SUV, making it more suitable for outdoor enthusiasts versus commuters. One of the unique features being the V-8 engine, that when say, traveling on the highway, will deactivate four of the eight cylinders to preserve power. It’s also able to run solely on electric power.

Limited to a rated maximum of 22 mpg, the Tahoe can still tow much more than the Escape– a little over 6,000 pounds.

Hybrid sport utility vehicles will run consumers anywhere between $3,000-10,000 more, compared to their gasoline-only counterparts. Will they buy it?

And, will hybrid SUVs stick around, or will they still leave avid RVers scraping for more power and towing capacity (or even lighter trailers)?

I’ve heard people say that the operation of the RV industry is about ten years behind its automobile counterpart. Some examples are the functionality and maintenance of dealership Web sites, personnel training, customer service, consumer interest of products – the list goes on and on. I think ten years might be an exaggeration; but right now, we can only look forward to other industries’ examples.

So when I was checking the millions of news releases I receive each day, this one in particular caught my eye.

A reminder was issued last week by the RVIA stating that the provision on the California franchise law will become effective January 1. The law will require manufacturers to offer the option of a written agreement between themselves and the dealers with which they conduct business. According to the release issued by RVIA, the agreement must at least include:

“…Provisions regarding dealership transfer, dealership termination, sales territory, and reimbursement for costs incurred by the dealer for work related to the manufacturer’s warranty for each line-make of recreational vehicle covered by the agreement as required in the California RV franchise law.”

You can also take a look at the California RV franchise law document by clicking here.

Many dealers already have written agreements with their manufacturers. Although some businesses still operate under a “handshake agreement,” and California dealers have a right to refuse the written contract, this law can offer dealers protection and an opportunity to have legal documentation for questions or problems they might run into.

In the long run, dealers could have more protection against manufacturer issues, including warranty compliance. But right now, their may also be issues with the initial written agreement, including refusals or revisions.

Will the details and legalities bog down business owners, or help point in the direction of a more professional attitude for the industry?

And, is this a California fad or will other states follow suit?

By: Bob Zagami

Once again dealers and manufacturers are back at their desks after the industry’s premier marketing and sales event held annually in Louisville, Kentucky.

One of the most amazing things to me in the RV industry is the ability to attract thousands of professionals to a breakfast meeting at 6:30AM on the opening day of the show. The staff at RVIA does an incredible job of providing an interesting and motivational program to launch the big event. I know of no other industry that can pull off a similar type of meeting and get the top corporate executives, and their customers, all in one room as the sun is just coming over the horizon! Did you attend the meeting this year? What did you think of it?

On the show floor, the traffic appeared lighter than in recent years and I’m guessing that many dealerships cut back on the number of people they allowed to attend the show this year. I have not seen attendance figures yet, but would be surprised if attendance actually increased this year over the 2006 show.

Most of the industry veterans that I spoke with in the press room also felt traffic was lighter. However, traffic doesn’t always equate into dollars so it may not have any bearing on the amount of new business manufacturer’s wrote or the number of new dealerships they signed up to carry their products. Even when dealerships cut back on people, the owners are there with the checkbook and they are buying. Most reports were positive, although many preferred to say they were cautiously optimistic with their purchase decisions as they wait to see what the economy does during the holiday season. They purchased plenty of stock for their winter and spring shows and rallies and are hoping that will be the springboard for a reversal of fortunes in 2008 that will send RV statistics in an upward direction once again.

Some highlights from the show are noted below, but the real input should come from the readership of this blog. Collectively, all of you have more eyes and talked to more people than all the trade press in attendance at the show. So we are counting on you to provide us with your comments, good or bad, about what you liked about the show, what you didn’t like about the show, and what new products really caught your attention – so don’t be bashful, let us hear from you now!

Some highlights and lowlights from Louisville:

• A lot of great new products built on the Sprinter chassis showed up on the floor. This has got to be one of the hottest products that consumers will be looking at in 2008, whether they are first time buyers or veterans that are ready to downsize.
• The most innovative technology I saw at the show was the Winnebago double-slide (on the outside) that gives you a full-wall slide appearance on the inside. This wins the creativity and great engineering award in my book!
• I was impressed with the Dura-Hull design introduced by National RV on the new Riptide and Nautica models introduced at the show. The company may disappear but somebody is going to want to pick up the assets that include many devoted employees and some interesting technology that other motorhome manufacturers could use.
• The Keystone Loft was an excellent use of upward mobility with an additional room at roof level, accessed through internal stairs.
• Host Campers, following in the footsteps of their fathers (Hogue and Storch) that founded Beaver, showcased a quality four-wheel drive Type C motorhome (four seats and four doors upfront) and a three-slideout truck camper that attracted a lot of attention back in Broadbend Arena.
• Speaking of Broadbend, did you happen to see the architectural masterpiece, The Cottage, which was introduced by Breckenridge as an ultra-modern park model? That has a lot of potential in our industry, and may also to get the attention of real estate developers looking for the next big thing in vacation homes.
• The new American Coach Allegiance was the hottest thing in the Fleetwood display, giving their dealers a new entry level luxury motorhome – if you can call $340,000 an entry level unit!
• Late to the table, but worth the wait, was the new front kitchen motorcoach unveiled by Country Coach – an outstanding addition to their luxury lineup.
• Pop-ups keep popping up. The rumors of their demise are obviously false. This category of RV continues to show its staying power and may even show increased sales this year as consumers still want to enjoy the lifestyle, even if they have to do it on a reduced budget.

I could go on and on but a blog is supposed to entertain you and inform you and the most important part of this blog will be your comments about your show experiences this year and what caught your attention. Let’s see what you have to offer for the readers of the blog.

Go at it!