Bates International RV Blog

Our federal bureaucracy is finally coming to the end of a three-year process to decide what those little “RV Friendly” logos on highway signs will look like – and it doesn’t appear that the Federal Highway Administration (FHwA) is going to please the 15 states that have started up their own logo program while the feds dithered.

The existing logos – 12-inch yellow circles with the black letters “RV” inside them – appear along with logos for retailers and the blue highway signs that you see as you approach Interstate exits to indicate they can accommodate RVs in terms of parking, turning radius and vertical clearance. 

Fifteen states, including Oregon, Louisiana, Florida, California and Tennessee, have adopted the RV Friendly program while waiting for the FHwA to make a decision on where the logo should be placed on signs and how large it should be.

A number of clubs and organizations, including the Good Sam Club, Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), the Escapees RV club and the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), don’t like that the federal highway folks want to make the logo two inches smaller – and want to move it a few inches to be inside the box with the business advertising rather than more visibly overlapping its border.  That will require the retail logo inside the frame to be smaller.

It’s all very arcane, but RVIA has set up a “grassroots” website (www.ract.com) to engage RVers with the federal government in hopes consumers will use it to fire off e-mails to the FHwA objecting to the new placement.  “The hope is that we’ll get tens of thousands of RVers to do that,” said Matt Wald, RVIA director of government affairs.

And even if the FHwA’s proposed placement becomes final, it’s not likely that the signs already in place will be changed any time soon.  States will have 15 years to comply.

Leadership is highly valued in our society, with leaders usually reaping the greatest rewards in business.  However, while many aspire to the mantle of leadership, we too often confuse some of the perks and byproducts of leadership – social status, celebrity, wealth, visibility, management, or operational fame and fortune.  If you strip away the trappings, leadership boils down to one thing:  The ability to positively affect others, Simply put, in any given organization, community, social group, or field of endeavor, leaders don’t just make a difference; they are the difference.

Leaders don’t chase fortune and fame; they serve missions and are able to articulate a future for that mission in clear, simple language.  They understand that wealth and power are not primary objectives, but inevitable by products of fulfilling a need and making a consistent, positive investment in achieving a larger goal.  Leaders have vision.

Leaders are able to adapt, evolve, and expand to fit the times, without ever losing sight of their mission and core values.  They see change not as a threat, but as a natural part of their environment, and understand that what worked yesterday will not necessarily work today or tomorrow.  They are willing to strike out in new directions to get better results.  Leaders take risks.

Leaders make a tangible difference that goes beyond revenues and profits, measurably influencing and changing lives.   They understand what matters to people, including their workers, customers, and partners, and can get them to act to serve those interests.  Leaders motivate.

Leaders rarely need to actually declare that they are leaders; their work, products, services, personal conduct, and professional performance speak for themselves.  Leaders lead by example.

Leaders don’t do things to, with, or for people, they do things through people.  They are masters at communication the vision, inspiring and equipping their people to serve the mission, welcoming their ideas and contributions, and clearing they way for their success.  Leaders empower.

MATTOON — In light of high fuel prices, conventional wisdom would suggest RV and camper trailer sales — and usage, for that matter — would be taking a hit right now.

However, as camping enthusiasts decide to remain in the area rather than travel abroad, local RV campgrounds are thriving. Camper and RV dealerships, meanwhile, are finding ways to make ends meet, said officials.

“I think we’ll probably just ride it out,” said Becky Shockley, an official at Cross County RV Center in Mattoon. The fuel situation “hasn’t put the business at a standstill by any means. We’re still selling on a regular basis.”
More than half of Cross County’s sales are to out-of-state customers — especially “snowbirds”: people who travel in RVs to warmer climates in the fall and winter months, said Shockley.

“Motor homes and larger luxury fifth-wheel (trailers), those are not affected” by the gasoline prices, she said.

Cross County also continues to sell larger units to traveling workers — such as those installing oil pipelines or cell towers — who invest reimbursements from their employers in mobile homes rather than spend the money on hotels, said Shockley.

But sales of smaller “weekender” RVs and campers have declined, she added. “We can see a little slowdown there” because of the fuel crunch, Shockley said.

The situation is almost the reverse at Owen Motor Sports near Charleston, where smaller units are selling better than larger RVs and fifth-wheel trailers. The gasoline hike “has slowed down everything, but it seems like the used units and small units are moving (because) people are staying closer to home,” said Jarrod Moran, general manager.

At the same time, Owen Motor Sports also deals in fuel-efficient motorcycles and scooters, sales of which “are up tremendously,” said Moran. Although motorcycle and scooter sales haven’t completely offset the RV/camper slump, he added, “It’s definitely helping out.”

And campgrounds that cater to RV and fifth-wheelers are busier than ever.

“To be honest, whenever the gas prices get bad, the camping gets good,” said Barb Galvin, co-owner of Robin Hood Woods Campground near Lake Shelbyville. “People are tending to stay closer to home, (so) camping really is helped by poor gas prices.”

Leases of sites for the entire season seem particularly popular, as renters would rather park their RVs and trailers for the whole summer and commute back and forth in more economical vehicles, said Galvin. “We have had a huge demand this year, to where I’ve got people on a waiting list,” she said.

“It’s a relatively very inexpensive way to vacation. It’s a lot cheaper than taking (the family) to Disneyworld.”

At the Casey KOA Campground, co-owner Cathy Clinkman said, “We feel that we’re probably a little bit up this year. We’re seeing more people who are camping closer to home.

“I think it’s (because of) the gas, from what I’ve heard from people.”

You’ll want to pack things according to their priority.  Pack the absolute necessities first.  The things you think you need next and so on.  The kitchen will probably be the busiest are of your RV.  Begin packing there first.  Put cooking and eating utensils where they make the most sense for convenient preparation and serving of meals.  Place some non-skid padding between Teflon pans to prevent scratching and minimize noise during traveling.  Dishwashing and kitchen cleaning materials should also be handy.

The bathroom is one of the easier storage tasks.  Obviously, you’ll want everyday toiletries well within reach.  Each individual’s toiletries can be packed in transparent plastic show boxes while at home, stored in the RV’s bathroom cabinet during the trip and moved back to the home bathroom upon your return. Daily medicines should be up front or at eye level in the medicine cabinet.  Seldom-used medications can be relegated to the harder to reach locations.  A plastic box can be used to hold soap and shampoo while traveling, and it should be easy to reach when needed.

Most of today’s RVs have a large storage space under the bed.  The space is usually accessible by lifting the bed platform.  This place is ideal for seldom-used, large or bulky items like ironing boards and vacuum cleaners.  Plastic storage boxes (with or without the lids) can make optimum use of this space.

Take only the clothes you’ll require for that trip.  Mix-and-match your outfits to minimize the number of clothes you need.  Pack no more than seven to 10 days’ worth of clothing and plan on doing laundry once a week.

Outside, begin packing the storage cabinets at the utility-hookup cabinet.  Leveling and hooking up the RV may take place as often as every day.  You’ll want the hookup and leveling equipment convenient and accessible.

Drinking water hose(s) and other water-hookup items should be stowed in a clean location in or near the utility-hookup cabinet.  Sewer hose(s) and connections, electrical adapters, TV cable and telephone cable should be stowed nearby but not so they can contaminate the drinking-water equipment.

Large, strong plastic boxes or tubs will provide maximum effective use of the exterior cabinets.

Tools may be more accessible to you if they are kept in the trailer’s tow vehicle or the motor home’s towed vehicle. 

Here are a few packing tips that may help you find a place for everything:

Things have a tendency to relocate themselves during travel.  Try placing non-skid material on the bottoms of cupboards to keep them from sliding around and breaking.  Another way to keep things from moving around is to keep them in containers like boxes, bins or bags.

Transparent plastic storage boxes of various sizes can be packed in your house and carried to the RV.  These containers can be stored in the RV’s overhead lockers, and you can see what’s inside and pull them out like a drawer when you need something.  At the end of the trip, the box can be brought into the house and unpacked.  Ziploc bags and transparent-plastic food containers are ideal for spill-proof, space-efficient refrigerator storage.  They also make efficient use of cupboard space.

You may be able to create more storage space by installing shelves and partitions inside cupboards.  Make them adjustable to accommodate any changes you may want to make later.  Add shelves, drawers or cabinets to the bottom of the wardrobe closet where the space for full-length clothes isn’t needed.  Place clothes hooks in corners or out-of-the-way spots.

The shower is a handy place to keep your laundry bag, which can be moved temporarily while you shower.  Laundry supplies can be kept in a laundry basket in an outside storage cabinet. 

You can minimize packing and unpacking your RV between trips by permanently storing as much as possible in the RV.

Equip the RV kitchen’s storage areas with cooking and eating utensils, some appliances and non-perishable food items.

Equip the bathroom so each person has to bring only a minimum of personal toiletries and their medications.

Keep your RV stocked so you have to add only perishable foods and a few items of clothing before getting on the road.

Lists are especially helpful in organizing and prioritizing your packing.  Joe and I maintain a list of the things we routinely pack in our RV before departing for each trip.  As items are moved into the RV, they’re checked off on the list.  If we forget anything, we buy it along the way or, as it usually turns out, we do without.

If you’d like to rent an RV this summer for your big vacation, first take these questions for a spin:

How’s the gas mileage? It depends on the size of the RV and the driving conditions, but you can expect between 7 and 13 miles per gallon. (Additionally, some companies charge a fee per mile or offer mileage packages.) So a 652-mile trip between Tulsa and Albuquerque will run $522 round trip (fuel only), assuming 10 miles a gallon with gas at $4 a gallon.

What is the rent? In Tulsa, for instance, Cruise America charges around $721 for a one-week August rental of a standard-size RV that sleeps five people.

Do I need a special driver’s license? No, but for most rentals you must be 25 or older and hold a valid license.

Where can I go with an RV? Virtually anywhere. Tracks & Trails offers complete RV trip planning for the West, including rentals, reservations and itineraries.

Where can I rent one? Cruise America, Bates International Motor Home Rental Systems and El Monte RV have dealers throughout the country.

Winning Hands

A key difference between good leaders and great leaders is that the latter have the ability to see farther down the road:  to anticipated unasked questions, to recognize unidentified opportunities and to mold unproven talent.  None of these happen without the great leader taking time to weigh the variety of options under consideration.  As each turn of the cards reveals new possibilities, each step in the decision-making process plays an important role in the ultimate results.

“A strong leader needs to live in the future as much as they live in the present,” said Bette Fetter, founder of Young Rembrandts, a franchise that teaches drawing to young children.  “It is critical to have a keen awareness of the current strengths and needs of your system, while keeping a vigilant eye on future possibilities and opportunities.”

Never Discount Gut Instinct

Eyeing the future reveals options in the present that need to be properly considered.  Below are 10 areas to explore that help to tilt the odds in a leader’s favor.  Some are more detailed than others and won’t always apply.  However, look for situations during the year ahead to utilize them all:

1.  Put Sherlock on It.  Who’s that person in the organization who absolutely loves detective work?  Bring him into the loop early.  Once he’s aware the game is afoot, utilize his knowledge seeking skills to gather the critical information that helps to make a sound decision.  Remember, his legwork allows others more thinking time.

2.  Engage the Team.  Its’ important to solicit the thoughts of those who lead, and pulling them together for an old-fashioned brainstorming session will help clarify options.  Explain the opportunity, then sit back and listen to the feedback.  Avoid the temptation to judge comments or offer an opinion

3.   Ask “What’s the Opposite?”  Looking at the other side of issues provides clearer perspective.  For instance, a leader in a mobile photography franchise that’s considering printer suppliers would say to her team, “What if we outsourced all of our printing?”  Immediately, everyone pauses and sees things in a fresh way, which opens the door for new associations and creates lively discussion.

4.   Seek Expert Advice.  Turn to those influencers most trusted, both professionally and personally, for input on important decisions.  As one enjoys providing suggestions when others solicit that opinion, so will they appreciate being asked their viewpoints.  Tip:  out of respect for their time, wait until one has distilled much of the information before requesting guidance from confidants.

5.   Think Like a Third Grader.  Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is everything.  It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”  Unfortunately, as life comes, the pretend play of youth gets farther away.  Stepping back in time to when storytelling, dress-up and make-believe were everyday occurrences unleashes creativity.  So get out the crayons and allow your imagination to have fun again.  One will discover a clearer picture of what he truly desires.

6.  Get a Good Night’s Rest.  The doctor’s cliché to “take two aspirins and call me in the morning” is sound advice.  As most challenges in life appear less overwhelming with the passing of time, most people will find sleeping on their decisions brings clarity in the morning.

7.  Measure Against the Plan.  Some opportunities that come along lead down “rabbit trails” and distract one from the intended path.  While it’s good to consider potential moves, it’s important to weigh the anticipated benefits against the overall intended direction.  If pursuing an alternative takes away from big- picture objectives, it might be a good idea to pass.  Decisions not made often turn out to be the right ones.

8.   Remember the Other Guys.  Lest it’s ever too far from mind, don’t forget competitors.  While people are trying to determine which option to pursue, they’re not sitting around idly, but weighing options and deciding things, too.  So take time to process, but be sure to beat them to the punch.

Making Solid Business Decisions is a Challenging Game. 

9.  Sit on a Rock.  Occasionally, pressures overwhelm logic and the thought process.  As it’s essential to have a clear head in decision-making, taking a walk, listening to your favorite music of finding a place to be alone will move you closer to the answer.  Since going to the library seems passé, finding a quiet corner at your local one might be the perfect setting.

10.  Learn From the Past.  The best thing about experience is it provides a foundation for making better decisions.  Wisdom comes from both enjoying success and enduring failure.  Never discount gut instinct in the decision-making process.  That voice inside one’s head is worth listening to before acting.

Making solid business decisions is a challenging game with many variables affecting the eventual result, and the mindset plays an important role in what happens.  Picture yourself as a professional poker player…remaining calm and in control no matter which card comes up.  It’s the ones who never show emotion that typically walk away with the chips.

“I process things without any reaction,” said Amy Nichols, founder of Dogtopia, a dog day care franchise.  “I let it sit for several hours or even a day or two.  The more I think on it, I come up with a non-emotional decision, and that has always ended with better results.  If you take off all your personal lenses that get in the way, you’ll see things as they really are.”

11.   Against All Odds.  That $7 million decision which critics panned in ’67 as “foolhardy” and buying a “worthless piece of real estate,” didn’t occur 40 years ago, but in 1867.  Adding fuel to the contrarian fire, the key negotiator exceeded the bidding authority granted him by Congress.  Yet with full faith in his decision-making ability, Secretary of State William Seward agreed to purchase a territory that legendary newspaper editor Horace Greeley wrote “lay away at an inconvenient and a dangerous distance.”

Of course, the “frozen waste land,” which for a time was facetiously referred to as “Seward’s Folly,” was renamed Alaska, and provides the United States with a wide array of natural resources, all for the price of two cents per acre.  Seward considered the risk of purchasing the vas Northwest region from an economically strained Russia, and determined the opportunities for expansion far outweighed to option of dropping out of the game as the wagering rose.  Taking a similar strategic approach to analyzing the potential of major decisions will lead one to achieve a greater destiny for franchising a business.

One admirable trait great leaders share is taking responsibility for their decisions.  In 1945, President Harry S. Truman made perhaps the most difficult one in history:  ordering atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki “to shorten the agony of war.”  Seven years later, he said:  “You know, it’s easy for the Monday morning quarterback to say what the coach should have done after the game is over.  But when the decision is up before you and on my desk I have a motto which says ‘The Buck Stops Here’ the decision has to be made.”  To inspire confidence in your decision-making, here are some additional thoughts from the nation’s 33^rd president:

 “All my life, whenever it comes time to make a decision, I make it and forget about it.”

“In periods where there is no leadership, society stands still.  Progress occurs when courageous, skillful leaders seize the opportunity to change things for the better.”

I never sit on a fence.  I am either on one side or another.”

“You can always amend a big plan, but you can never expand a little one.  I don’t believe in little plans.  I believe in plans big enough to meet a situation which we can’t possibly foresee now.”

“A president cannot always be popular.”

“It isn’t polls or public opinion of the moment that counts.  It is right and wrong and leadership – men with fortitude and honesty, and a belief in the right that makes epochs in the history of the world.” 

“The president –whoever he is –has to decide.  He can’t pass the buck to anybody.  No one else can do the deciding for him.  That’s his job.”

“Whenever I make a bum decision, I go out and make another one.”

And, finally, his most famous quote of all:

“If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.”

Five crucial questions to consider

If you’d like to rent an RV this summer for your big vacation, first take these questions for a spin:

How’s the gas mileage? It depends on the size of the RV and the driving conditions, but you can expect between 7 and 13 miles per gallon. (Additionally, some companies charge a fee per mile or offer mileage packages.) So a 652-mile trip between Tulsa and Albuquerque will run $522 round trip (fuel only), assuming 10 miles a gallon with gas at $4 a gallon.

What is the rent? In Tulsa, for instance, Cruise America charges around $721 for a one-week August rental of a standard-size RV that sleeps five people.

Do I need a special driver’s license? No, but for most rentals you must be 25 or older and hold a valid license.

Where can I go with an RV? Virtually anywhere. Tracks & Trails offers complete RV trip planning for the West, including rentals, reservations and itineraries.

Where can I rent one? Cruise America, Bates International Motor Home Rental Systems and El Monte RV have dealers throughout the country.

For more, visit the Recreational Vehicle Rental Association’s website, www.rvra.org.

By Everett Potter

TUCSON, Ariz.

The event at the Beaudry RV Resort and Rally Park in Tucson drew a great number of first-time attendees. “I would bet this was the first rally for nearly half of them,” said Club President Ed Gray.

“A lot of people in the last six months have joined the club specifically so they could attend this rally,” said Gray. The 400-site resort at Beaudry RV includes campsite patios with wrought iron furniture and other resort amenities. Also, the Workhorse seminars are a big draw, said Gray.

Seminars by Workhorse personnel, Redlands Truck and RV Performance Center of Redlands, Calif., Alcoa Wheels and Michelin Tires were well attended. Kongsberg Automotive, a supplier for Workhorse’s WISE multiplexing system and adjustable pedals, made its first appearance at a WCMC rally. Kongsberg representatives explained their work and current advancements in chassis technology.

Rally goers were also among the first to see the new Winnebago model built on the Workhorse UFO rear engine gas chassis — the Adventurer Limited, which was supplied by nearby La Mesa RV and purchased at the rally by one of the club members. Ride and drives on a Winnebago Destination demo coach built on the Workhorse UFO chassis were conducted over two of the days.

In official business, Ed Hessemer was named the club’s new vice president for rallies — west. He replaces outgoing Vice President Dan Moynahan. Moynahan and his wife Sue were the rally masters. The club, which is a chapter of FMCA, also heard from Jay Blumenthal, president of INTO (International) Area of FMCA, who updated members about FMCA benefits.

Fall Rally

Club members are now looking forward to the fall rally in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The “Sun and Surf Rally” will be Oct. 6 to 10 at the Ocean Lakes Family Campground.

At FMCA Convention 

Workhorse personnel will exhibit a UFO chassis and a W24 platform in Booth No. 2904 in the outside exhibit area.

Robert Zulian will conduct a service seminar in Seminar Building No. 3 (the Sheep & Poultry Building) from 9:45 to 11 .m. Wednesday, June 16.

MANTECA, Calif. — Thirty-two of the 41 complaints relating to code enforcement in Manteca in the first five days of June were related to illegally parked recreational vehicles and trailers.

That’s what the city’s lone code enforcement officer Greg Baird — who describes himself as the most hated man in Manteca — told Rotarians at their noon luncheon on Thursday.

The code enforcement officer said there is a divided camp among residents. There are those who want to show off their vehicles and others who don’t want their street to look like an RV storage yard.

“No one is happy when you go out on a call” he said of the parking restrictions. That is, until you tell one party, “You can’t do that any more.” Then the person complaining is satisfied.

Nothing can be in the front yard set back - that’s usually 20 feet. Once you get beyond that 20 feet residents are allowed to have one RV on the property.

He said there is a proposed new regulation that RVs will have to have a three-foot clearance from the house as well as three feet from the fence. If that goes through it will inhibit the parking of large vehicles in the side yards of homes, he noted.

The proposed ordinance may require any recreational vehicles to be parked on a paved surface eliminating storing anything on grass.

Baird said he deals chiefly with code violations and the 700 pages of rules and regulations that he has to enforce. He said that staff has now recommended the City Council hiring a second officer to monitor code violations in the city using redevelopment agency funds in the upcoming budget cycle.