Community Forums

Bamaman · 01-08-2019, 10:39 PM

It would be safe to say that Camping World could be in a heap of trouble with their stock price diving. There's no telling how much money they have borrowed to purchase large, experienced dealerships that are no longer running as well as when the original owners had them.

We're seeing the industry slow down with the stock market drop since September, and RV manufacturers are seeing wholesale order drop substantially because dealer lots are already full of slow selling merchandise. This industry is on its knees to the Federal Reserve and their increase in interest rates.

We hear so much about Baby Boomers getting in to RVs for recreation, and there are often too many RVs on the road than there are spaces in nice RV campgrounds. It would be interesting to see the financial statements on premium RV parks like Anchor Down up in Dandridge, TN to see how well they're really doing.

I'm just glad to have my fifth wheel in a great member owned campground that has $450 per year service charges and $1 a day storage fees.

Houdoxi71 · 01-08-2019, 10:53 PM

I avoid cw at all costs (emergency stuff only). Their current mission statement reeks of 'synergy', and JD Byrider.

Yosemite77 · 01-09-2019, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Houdoxi71

I avoid cw at all costs (emergency stuff only). Their current mission statement reeks of 'synergy', and JD Byrider.

I also avoid Camping World, for multiple reasons. But then I don’t care for weasels or vultures either.
Could you clarify and expand on “synergy” and JD Byrider? I’m not familiar with those terms. Thanks.

Wundertaker · 01-09-2019, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TeJay

There are good reasons why the RV industry is soooo difficult to operate.

PARTS: If your car/truck breaks almost no matter what breaks you have dealers everywhere with manufacturer trained technicians who are paid well. If you are good at what you do you can make over $100,000 a year.

The dealer is a parts warehouse and they have access to specific manufactured parts. If the dealer doesn't have the parts there are scads of parts houses to supply most any parts.

If you need a door or window glass same thing. If you need a specific part like a fender, plastic front or rear light lens again readily available from many sources.

RV SYSTEMS: The RV is a home on wheels with all of the same household systems like furnaces, washer/dryer, plumbing both black and grey as well as A/C and hot water. They use propane and electricity both 12 V and 120 VAC.

An RV technician has to know the ins and outs of all those systems which by the way are getting very complicated. They are also dealing with a truck chassis, engine and transmission that is complicated computer controlled and very difficult to diagnose and troubleshoot.

The RV manufacturers especially the TT part of it does not provide very accurate books and or electrical schematics. Good luck finding an electrical problem without a schematic.

If you are a Ford technician working on the F-53 chassis you have access to all of Fords on-line technical help which the RV shops may or may not.

BACK TO PARTS: This is perhaps the most difficult aspect of RV repair. The RV industry is not as sophisticated as say a Ford or GM shop. They make replacement parts and they are available with maybe a 1 or 2 day wait in most cases. Lets just take one RV part.

You break a window on your RV and head to your RV dealer. Your unit is 2-3 years old. They call the manufacturer of your RV and find out the window maker they used is out of business. They call several other manufacturers or get in contact with their new supplier and give them the specs. You wait 2-4 months for the window and when it comes in you find out that the trim is the wrong color and it's tinted to dark. The process starts all over again.

That's just one example of how difficult it is to get specific parts for some RV's. Winnebago is one exception and there may be others. Every part that is specific to one of their RV's has a number on it. One can call anytime and get or have an exact replacement made.

Some of the RV manufacturers are what I'll kindly call, "Fly By Night" companies. I had a salesperson years ago tell us to become an RV dealer all you needed was a few pole barns and some parts to throw together an RV. This happened to us so we lived it. You can't on campers we owned have them stop the assembly line to make any changes to your TT. All we wanted was heavier axles and they said NO!!! We won't stop the line.

I don't believe the RV industry has much if any oversight on what they do. Few agencies are overseeing how safe the RV's are. The motor home is one exception because they are built on a truck chassis so at least there is some safety built into the RV chassis. That is not the case with any type of pull behind RV.

When you buy a TT that is rated for 7,000 lbs and it is supported by two 3,000 lb axles something is wrong!!!. The tires were rated to almost carry the 7,000 lbs with no margin for error. That is very common!!!!

TeJay · 01-09-2019, 10:14 AM

Here's a piece of factual information regarding what happened in the US right after the election back in November of 2016. These are success stories that you probably have not heard and you won't on 98% of the news (sorry!) opinion networks.

We have a company here in AR called Ranger boats. Right after the election and before December Ranger Boats realized a 30% increase in boat sales. These are high end fishing boats with a price starting at $70,000. Every boat we saw on our 3-hour tour of the factory is already sold and they ship 20 boats a day. The final destination was already listed on every boat we saw. They employ over 1,100 local folks.

The tour guide was reluctant to talk about what I just told you because a visitor complained about his comments. Once he started he also told us the same increase in sales was felt all across the board with small type companies that build water craft and or supply parts to the industry.

If you are ever in Flippin AR stop in for a tour. You'll enjoy it!!!

While you're in the area drive over to Berryville, AR (15 miles) and tour the Nighthawk gun factory (1-877-268-4867).

Yes their gun parts are CNC manufactured but all parts are made oversized and they employ 14 gun smiths who hand fit each and every part. Every gun is built by one gunsmith from start to finish. They are test fired (100 rounds) and when they meet the GS's standards they are signed (under the left hand grip) and have a lifetime guarantee.

Yet another cool tour to take!!!