FMA National Rally Location Announced

[NLOVNIT]

Fleetwood Motorhome Association National Rally
June 8 -12, 2016
Bellmont High School
Decatur

Learn More/Register

[Bompa13]

We went to last years rally in Decatur.
We didn't stay in the area that was reserved for us as it was
at the factory parking lot and wasn't a good place to stay
with our Dog as she like grass.
The Rally was great though with a large display of new coaches.
We have already reserved and paid for this years and look
forward to the Rally and the other nice attractions in and around
Decatur.
Except for inside of the school much of the grounds were pet
friendly which we liked.
Rt 30 Across OH to Decatur is a nice remote area to allow my wife
to practice driving this coach which is a bonus.
The dog and I just hide under the bed until she stops to switch.

[Rooster54]

Made my reservations and I am excited to go. Never been to rally as this only the second year I have the coach

Rooster54
2008 Fleetwood Discover 40X
1991 Mazda Miata toad

[NLOVNIT]

So far, the weather has been cooperating, unlike my internet connection, so we'll see if I get this post through. It took me 5-8 minutes to upload just 1 photo to my album last night so I had to limit what pictures I posted. I'll just mention a few highlights.

The main news came from Fleetwood management on Thursday with several exciting announcements....

Production of RV's will be split out of Plant 44 to 2 other local facilities. American Coach & high end Monaco will be manufactured in a plant across town. FW diesel & most of the gas coaches will be produced at Plant 44. The Flair & Jamboree (Class C) will be manufactured at yet another plant in town. The reasoning behind the move is to get away from all models coming off the lines at one plant. This causes the workers to constantly have to adjust for the different models, from entry level gas to high end diesel, & mistakes can be made. Moving the different models to different plants will stabilize the manufacturing of RV's at each facility, meaning the production workers won't have to constantly be switching build of which model coach is coming down the assembly line. Less errors are anticipated & better QC inspection since the 3 locations will be concentrating on what they do best rather than 1 location trying to do it all.

Mfg of models has been reduced to better streamline production. Going forward the models will be:

AC:
Eagle
Dream
Revolution

FW Diesel:
Discovery LXE
Discovery
Pace Arrow LXE
Pace Arrow

FW Gas:
Southwind (A)
Bounder (A)
Storm (A)
Flair (A)
Jamboree (C)

For models having the optional exit door in the rear bath, that rear door is now reusable. When the rear exit door was 1st introduced, it was only a one use feature & if used, the owner would have to take the coach back to the factory to have it reinstalled. FW mgmt told us since then it was redesigned to be a multi-use door.

Other exciting news is the expansion of service facilities across the country. Of course, there's the top notch facility in Decatur many of us are familiar with. With the purchase of Monaco/HR division, that opened up a service facility in the Pacific NW. A smaller facility is open in southern CA. Another facility is on board in the Dallas/FW area. A recent purchase of land in Mesquite, NV will allow a ground up build of a state-of-the-art facility with ground breaking sometime in 2017. Mgmt is also looking at locating a service facility in the SE - maybe in the GA/FL area, although that is just in the idea phase.

The local, most exciting news, is an expansion of the Patterson Street plant here in Decatur that will have a brand new Visitor/Service center with a new campground for those coming to town for factory service. A rendering of which as well as a current construction photo can be found in MY ALBUM. I'll get more photos posted after we're home since my Mi-Fi isn't liking me uploading a bunch of photos. The new center will have more service bays, a paved-pad/electric hook up campground with landscaped/grass areas between sites (a HUGE improvement from the gravel lot there now, that turns to mud when it rains), Wi-Fi, 2-story atrium, customer lounge, laundry, showers & an outdoor patio area with gas firepits. It's slated to be in operation later this year. This center will be a welcome oasis for those coming to Decatur for factory service. The forementioned Mesquite center will be likewise.

I'm pleased FW & REV have decided to undertake these projects. THANK YOU for listening to the suggestions from the people who buy your RV's. These improvements will go a long way to keeping us as loyal & happy FW owners.

Lori-

[CLIFFTALL]

Thanks Lori for the FW updates. It sounds great. Hope you're enjoying the rally
Cliff

[NLOVNIT]

Lunch in the hospitality tent was yummy! Roasted chicken, ham, potato salad, veggies & chocolate cake.

Lori-

[NLOVNIT]

Pat (& Roger, not pictured) from Magne Shade says to all their friends at iRV2.

Lori-

[NLOVNIT]

For our final night's entertainment, we danced,sang & rocked to the 50's & 60's music of the Bulldogs. Their encore was a crowd request "Wipeout" featuring their awesome drummer.

Lori-

[gMw]

Lori, thanks for the FW updates and pictures!!!

[NLOVNIT]

This was the sunset the last night we were there.

Lori-

[NLOVNIT]

FW 2017 Sneak Peek floorplans available on the website.

Lori-

[tim myers]

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

This was the sunset the last night we were there.

Lori-

I really wanted to go this year. I had even contacted the team that was performing coach weights to have my Storm weighed on Sunday.

Alas, wife was supposed to work and ended up sick, so I cancelled out to stay home with her. Did get some work done on the storm however and will be there 7/11 for Mx.

Our paths will cross at some point.

[wayno347]

While awaiting service at the Decatur Service Facility during the 2016 rally, snapped a few pix of the new Visitor Center now under construction in Decatur.

[wayno347]

Interesting cloud formations on Day 2 of the Decatur rally. Passed to the east, no rain.