Category: Heartland Highlights Newsletter

RVDA Honors ‘Quality Circle Awards’ Recipients

RVDA Honors ‘Quality Circle Awards’ Recipients

November 29, 2016 by  RV Business News

The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) honored RV brands built by 15 manufacturers with its Quality Circle Award Monday (Nov. 28) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Louisville, Ky., preluding today’s opening of the RVIA National RV Trade Show. (To view a slideshow of the presentation along with other Monday night Louisville activities and today’s Outlook Breakfast scroll to the right side of the RVBUSINESS.com home page. Photos by Shawn Spence).

RVDA Chairman Darrel Friesen of All Season’s RV Center in Yuba City, Calif., said that the Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) initiative is another way the organization helps serve as “the voice of the dealer in industry relations, which are so important to the overall health of the RV business.” Continue reading “RVDA Honors ‘Quality Circle Awards’ Recipients”

‘Open House’ Delivers as Dealers Buy Up Product

‘Open House’ Delivers as Dealers Buy Up Product

September 21, 2016 by

The biggest event of the year for the largest recreational vehicle company in the world is off and running with new amenities as the top attractions.

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Dealers enjoy dinner at the RV Open House (Photo by Shawn Spence, RVBusiness Magazine)

As reported by the Elkhart Truth, Thor Industries Inc.’s 2016 Open House opened on Monday (Sept. 19) morning at the RV/MH Hall of Fame, giving dealers a good look at new models. By mid-morning a steady stream of dealers were going in and out of the more than 500 units on display.

“I come here every year,” said Doug Ross, who owns an RV dealership in Alberta, Canada. “Come here just to look around, buy some models for the coming year.”

That’s what the Open House is all about – making big sales so local RV manufacturers have orders to produce during the coming winter months. Between the open houses that Thor and rival Forest River Inc. are hosting this week in Elkhart, a projected $2 billion in sales could be completed.

For Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC, a subsidiary of Thor, the Open House sales can keep production lines busy until early spring.

“This is not only a big deal for the RV manufacturers. It is also a big deal for the suppliers and employees as well,” said Chris Hermon, president of Heartland.

Heartland’s Elkridge Fiver Intros ‘EuroLoft’ Bed Lift

Heartland’s Elkridge Fiver Intros ‘EuroLoft’ Bed Lift

September 20, 2016 by

Heartland RV’s upscale Elkridge fifth-wheel is debuting the smooth-gliding, suspended EuroLoft bed lift system during this week’s Elkhart RV Open House.

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Continue reading “Heartland’s Elkridge Fiver Intros ‘EuroLoft’ Bed Lift”

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Featured on Road Warrior

Dyson Cordless Vacuum Featured on Road Warrior

 September 20, 2016 by

Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC will be offering the new Dyson V6 Origin premium cordless vacuum as a standard feature in its lineup of Road Warrior toy haulers.

Continue reading “Dyson Cordless Vacuum Featured on Road Warrior”

Heartland Expands, Repositions Landmark Brand

Heartland Expands, Repositions Landmark Brand

September 6, 2016 by

 

Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC has expanded its Landmark 365 luxury fifth-wheel line with the launch of the four-slide Oshkosh floorplan while effectively repositioning the brand with lower, more aggressive price points coupled with 45 product upgrades for the 2017 model year.

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“Landmark is Heartland’s original brand and flagship line,” said Coley Brady, vice president of sales and marketing for the Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor Industries Inc. subsidiary. “We believed in the growth potential for luxury fifth-wheels 12 years ago when we launched Heartland and we are strengthening that position with an improved product at a price point that adds value and a competitive edge for our dealer partners.”

Continue reading “Heartland Expands, Repositions Landmark Brand”

OEMs Adopt Furrion’s Chef Collection Appliances

OEMs Adopt Furrion’s Chef Collection Appliances

September 6, 2016 by

 

Lippert Components Inc. (LCI), exclusive distribution partner of Furrion, announced that several major luxury fifth-wheel RV manufacturers, including Keystone RV Co., Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC, Jayco Inc. and Crossroads RV, have incorporated Furrion’s latest RV Chef Collection kitchen appliances in their 2017 model year.

According to a press release, the latest products developed for Furrion’s RV Chef Collection include a stainless steel built-in oven, stainless steel gas cooktop, and single burner induction cooktops. Lippert Components will display these product innovations at the 2016 Elkhart County RV Open House.

Continue reading “OEMs Adopt Furrion’s Chef Collection Appliances”

Thor Team Rings N.Y. Stock Exchange Closing Bell

Thor Team Rings N.Y. Stock Exchange Closing Bell

August 30, 2016 by

Thor Industries Inc. engaged in a time-honored Wall Street tradition Monday (Aug. 29) by ringing the “Closing Bell” at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in Manhattan’s financial district.

Continue reading “Thor Team Rings N.Y. Stock Exchange Closing Bell”

Report: NHTSA Releases Latest RV Related Recalls List

NHTSA Releases Latest RV-Related Recalls List

June 27, 2016 by

Editor’s Note: The following is a list of recent RV-related recalls compiled by the U.S National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA).

* Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC is recalling 172 2016-2017 trailers manufactured Sept. 28, 2015, to April 30, 2016. The safety chains located on the A- frame are rated for 11,700 pounds instead of chains that are rated equal or greater than the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

* Forest River Inc.  is recalling 13 2016-2017 Forester and Sunseeker recreational vehicles manufactured from Feb. 29, 2016, through April 20, 2016. These vehicles are equipped with a shower door that may not meet the flammability standards. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 302, “Flammability of Interior Materials.”

* Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC is recalling 618 2017 trailers manufactured Feb. 29, 2016, to May 5, 2016. The certification labels have incorrect tire pressure information, failing to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, “Certification.”

* Forest River Inc. is recalling 68 2016 Stealth Evo recreational vehicle trailers, models CSJT280RKS and CSJT290QBS, manufactured Jan. 7, 2016, to March 18, 2016. The affected vehicles may have had tires of the wrong load range installed which may result in premature tire failure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, “Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds or less.”

* Jayco Inc. is recalling 26 2017 Jay Flight trailers manufactured May 6, 2016, to May 9, 2016. The weight ratings on the tire labels are incorrect. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 110, “Tire Selection and Rims.”

* Keystone RV Co. is recalling 402 2016-2017 Keystone Summerland recreational trailers, models 1700FQ, 1750RD and 1800BH, manufactured April 8, 2016, to April 20, 2016. The trailers may have been manufactured with ST215/75R14 Load Range C tires rated for 1, 870 pounds, when they should have been manufactured with ST215/75R14 Load Range D tires rated for 2,200 pounds.

* Thor Motor Coach is recalling 463 2014-2016 Tuscany motor homes manufactured Feb. 28, 2013, to Aug. 31, 2015 and built on chassis supplied by Daimler Trucks North America. On certain motorhome chassis built with a heavier, adjustable foot pedal, the brake activation signal to certain towed devices may not deactivate when the motorhome service brakes are released.

RV Business News: Heartland Adding Second Production Line in Idaho

Heartland Adding Second Production Line in Idaho

June 10, 2016

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Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC announced the planned Dec. 1 opening of a second assembly line at its Nampa, Idaho, manufacturing facility, positioning the company to better service current dealers while strategically growing its presence on the West Coast.

The 248,000-square-foot facility, situated on 25 acres in Nampa, officially launched production in April building Heartland’s aggressively priced Wilderness laminated travel trailer line. With the additional expansion this December, the company will add two travel trailer brands targeting key segments of the West Coast market, including Heartland’s lightweight laminated Sundance and Shadow Cruiser by sister company Cruiser RV.

“The opening of the second production line keeps us firmly on schedule for the timetable we envisioned when Heartland announced construction plans in Nampa last September,” said Coley Brady, vice president of sales for the Elkhart, Ind.-based Thor Industries Inc. subsidiary, in a press release. “It also confirms that we truly listened to our dealer partners and are bringing in product that is in step with the West Coast consumer. The result has been that demand for our brands has exceeded our original expectations, and this second production line will allow us to continue to meet our dealers’ needs.”

The move also extends the reach for Howe, Ind.-based Cruiser RV, acquired by Thor in January of 2015 with Hermon overseeing operations.

“I am very excited as we are able to bring Cruiser’s Shadow Cruiser line closer to our West Coast dealers,” said Kyle Miller, senior general manager for Cruiser RV, noting, “It’s a big move for Cruiser RV since we became part of Thor. It’s been impressive to watch them take us from a smaller player in the market to a company that dealers are really excited about.”

Chris Hermon, president of Heartland, Cruiser RV, DRV and Bison, added, “I believe what makes Thor great is their ability to let us all be independent companies while still maintaining a structure and support that really sets the tone for the future of our industry. The business we all love continues to evolve quickly and those companies that change some of the ways of the past will be the leaders of tomorrow.”

“The West Coast is a very important market to Heartland and I believe our moves in Idaho show that commitment to our West Coast dealer partners.”

RV Business News – Growing Heartland Restructuring Operations

Growing Heartland Restructuring Operations

May 17, 2016 by RV Business

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Heartland Recreational Vehicles LLC has instituted a series of organizational changes to better manage the company’s growing portfolio of companies while also setting the groundwork for further expansion.

“For the past four-plus years, some of my major goals to better anchor and support the companies that we manage under the Thor Industries Inc. umbrella are in place and it’s time to restructure our team to take full advantage of the opportunities in front of us,” said Chris Hermon, president of Elkhart, Ind.-based Heartland which now has oversight of Cruiser RV, DRV, Breckenridge and Bison operations. “We have successfully leveraged our key management to achieve that goal, but we have reached a point where we need to fine-tune and restructure our operations, particularly with the growth of our company this year and with some of the additional opportunities on the West Coast.”

According to release, changes will include:

• Joel Eberlein will serve as senior general manager responsible for overseeing the Big Country, Elk Ridge, Landmark, Road Warrior and Edge brands. Andy Westorp will continue as general manager for Landmark while assuming day-to-day responsibility of managing Road Warrior and Edge. Brent Hamood has been named product manager for Big Country and Elk Ridge.

• AJ Jones has been named senior general manager responsible for overseeing the Cyclone, Torque, Gateway and Sundance brands. He will also be responsible for the Sundance lines at Heartland’s Nampa, Idaho, facility. General Manager Paul Craven will continue to handle day-to-day operations of Sundance and Gateway. Chris Hahaj will become product manager for Cyclone and Torque.

• Kyle Miller has been named senior general manger responsible for overseeing all Cruiser RV and DRV products.

• Jay Mohamed will be general manager of Shadow Cruiser, Fun Finder and Stryker. He will also have responsibilities at the Nampa facility.

• Jeff Fought will be general manager over DRV including the Mobile Suites, Elite Suites and Full House brands.

• John Jones will be product manager over the MPG, Radiance and Boss lines of Cruiser RV.

“Heartland has seen tremendous growth, and we continue to strive for not only progressive, cutting-edge product design and development, but also for a 24-7 commitment to customer service,” Hermon said. “We have built a reputation for delivering product that stays in step with an increasingly discerning consumer base while also providing value and profitability for our dealer partners. This restructuring ensures that we will continue to deliver that same caliber of service in the future.”

Coley Brady, vice president of sales, noted, “Heartland has always relied on a strong stable of managers, and this realignment reinforces our faith in their abilities. Our sales and product teams have formed an incredible bond and we are excited about what they can achieve in the future both in Elkhart County and in the western states through our Idaho facility.”