RVs Getting Closer to Mainstream Acceptance

'Outlook 2001' Highlights Importance of
Kids and the Lifestyle Generation

By Bob Zagami
Contributing Editor

When I tell people in other industries that the RV industry can get over 1,000 people to get up in the wee hours of the morning to attend a 6:30AM breakfast meeting and presentation on the state-of-the-industry, they think I'm nuts.

I've been to a lot of trade shows and none of them can do what RVIA accomplishes each year at their Outlook presentation, and this year continued the tradition.

David Humphreys, RVIA president, says, "We are the envy of the business world. The danger is that we will take it for granted."

It was another full house when David Humphreys, RVIA president, went to the podium to address the suppliers, manufacturers and dealers who make the annual trek to Louisville, KY.

"We are the envy of the business world." Humphreys said. "The danger is that we will take it for granted."

The association is doing many things to help members, but he was most excited about the Long Term Strategic Planning initiative, the industry's first such effort in 30 years. He was quick to point out that the objective is not to have "the manufacturers outmaneuver dealers." This was one of many references to the ongoing efforts to improve relationships between manufacturers and dealers, which have caused some friction between RVIA and RVDA.

Humphreys noted that dealers and manufacturers were actually getting along better than their two trade associations. He was hopeful that the two groups could make better progress in understanding each other's position and ultimately reaching common ground.

The Vision 2000 committee continues its work on identifying the greatest growth opportunities available in all segments of the industry. "We have spent over $2 million a year for the last 12 years on our public relations efforts", Humphreys continued.

Humphreys also covered some of the exciting things happening with the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) that can impact the RV industry. This industry group is trying to establish a national system of scenic byways known as the National Recreational Lakes Initiative. This program will concentrate on a large number of lakes that were actually built to generate electric power. Most of these lakes have been ignored but provide an outstanding opportunity to expand RV use around these lakes. ARC is working with the Major General at the Army Corps of Engineers on this major boating and RV opportunity.

Humphreys discussed the ongoing negotiations with California regarding the infamous "40-foot law." He said, "We have 36 states that now allow motorhomes over 40-feet in length and expect to add 8 more this year."

He later jokingly bored the audience with his work on the Multi-States Certification Reglation that deals with friction between the chassis manufacturer and the final stage manufacturer. He's right -- it was boring.

"We are at a crossroads -- a critical time in our industry," Humphreys said, as he once again became very serious in his discussions concerning consumer expectations and how the ongoing dealer/manufacturer negotiations can impact the future of the industry.

Humphreys urged those in attendance to "think backwards." He urged the audience not to look for short term solutions to their current problems, urging them instead to look ten years into the future and ask themselves: "What will I wish I had done?"

He said, "Take a step back. What is really fair? What is the best way to get a win-win?"

He then urged everyone to "stop trying to out maneuver each other." "Find a solution that is really fair for everyone," he added.   continued