RV Pro Quiz 2-3-14

Notes: The sixth or seventh year at the location, RV Division Manager John Perron said the new element to this years show is paperless show ordering. “The dealer basically has a show book of all the pricing and items, fills that out, brings it to the vendor booth where the vendor electronically keys in all the orders,” Perron said. “Then the dealer can go to a kiosk at any time during the day and bring up his account and see the different orders he’s put in.”

Note: Victor Allred, vice president of sales for the RV division, said the company’s carpet and flooring are made entirely of woven vinyl with blown-vinyl backing, a process that Infinity Fabrics has a patent on. “It’s impervious to weather conditions. It won’t mold, mildew, or carry bacteria,” Allred said.

Allied Specialty Vehicles announced the formation of Allied Recreation Group Inc. last November, appointing John Draheim as CEO for the new group.

Note: General Motors Co. completed the sale of its 8.5 percent stake in Ally Financial Inc. for about $900 million as a move to sever ties from its former financing arm.

Note: A first for A-frame and folding travel trailers, Albany, Ore.-based Chalet RV has begun manufacturing the XL1936S, adding a slide-out to the popular XL series. “We’ve take one of our proven and best-selling floorplans and managed to add a slide-out to it,” said Tad Harrington, northwest regional manager for Chalet. “As a manufacturer, everybody wants to come up with something that’s not out there so you have a little bit of exclusivity on the market.

Note: LKQ Corp. recently reached an agreement to purchase Keystone Automotive Operations Inc. for $450 million, a move LKQ hopes will make it a top player in specialty auto aftermarket accessories and equipment.

Note: Flexsteel Industries paid $6.25 million to settle a lawsuit alleging it polluted the water wells of some Elkhart homes. The company admitted no wrongdoing in the settlement.

Note: Dicor Corp. introduced its Seal-Tite semi-automatic window sealing system at the Louisville show, saying a full-automated version will be coming this year.

Note: U.S. Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) introduced legislation on Dec. 3 to increase the federal gasoline tax by 15 cents from 18.4 cents to 33.4 cents per gallon. The bill, H.R. 3636, also known as the “Update, Promote, and Develop America’s Transportation Essentials (UPDATE) Act of 2013,” would phase in the increase throughout the next three years. The federal gas tax provides funding to the Highway Trust Fund, which underwrites the nation’s surface transportation program, providing billions of dollars annually for construction of roads and other infrastructure.

Note: Webinars to dealer members are provided through a strategic alliance between the RV Learning Center and KPA.