Winnebago Industries, the top selling motorhome manufacturer in the United States is set to receive their 13th consecutive Quality Circle Award from the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) at a ceremony on December 1, 2008 at the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Kentucky.

Winnebago has received the award every year since 1995, a feat not accomplished by any other manufacturer. Winnebago Industries Chairman, CEO, and President Bob Olson said, “We are extremely proud to receive the Quality Circle Award again this year. We are also very proud that Winnebago Industries has received the Quality Circle Award every year since 1995, an accomplishment no other motor home or travel trailer manufacturer in the industry has been able to attain.”

The winners of the quality circle awards are determined by a Dealer Satisfaction Survey conducted by the RVDA. It rates manufacturers’ performance in eight specific areas: sales support, sales territory, vehicle design, vehicle reliability/quality, competitive price/value, parts support, dealership warranty support and overall dealer communications.

While I personally never put too much stock into industry awards, I’m writing about this one because receiving a quality award for 13 consecutive years must mean a company is doing a pretty good job of putting out a quality product for consumers. Although I have never personally owned a Winnebago manufactured camper/RV, I’ve looked at lots of them over the years at camping/RV shows and at campgrounds when I chat with fellow campers where the conservation almost always turns to the type/brand of camping unit each of us has. And I have to say the Winnebago manufactured RV’s I’ve seen look like they are of good quality to me.

I am by no means an expert but I can spot shoddy workmanship and have unfortunately seen quite a bit of it in brand new camping units over the years. Winnebago products may be a little more expensive than some other brands out there but it’s like my Mom has always said “You get what you pay for.” But don’t get the idea that I crawl around under RV’s and rip apart walls just to see how they are put together. My “inspections” are on the surface only but when I see a countertop that was put on sloppily or an outlet that is crooked it makes me wonder what else wasn’t put together with care and pride. It’s kind of like when you go look at a house and it’s dirty or a window is cracked. It gets you thinking about what else the homeowner isn’t taking care of, whether or not you can see it.

To read the entire article, click here.

Congratulations to Winnebago Industries on their award and achievement!

I know this topic is not camping related but I think it is important so I wanted to share it with you. Many of us are now officially in “holiday mode.” Thanksgiving is just a few days away and Christmas is only a month away.

In the spirit of the holiday season of giving…………

When you are doing your Christmas or Hanukkah cards this year, please take a few minutes to send a card to a soldier at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. to let him or her know how much you appreciate the sacrifices they have made for the United States.

Here’s the address:
A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

UPDATE ON DECEMBER 7, 2008

For other ways to support our military personnel check out information on the U.S. Postal Website or visit the USO website for information on donating a package of needed items to our soldiers.

A big thank you to “c suton” for calling this to my attention; and again – my apologies.

Signs of the tough economic times are everywhere. There are stories every day of companies cutting jobs and we all probably know at least one person who has lost their job recently.

In the last week the only reports of increased sales I heard about were those at WalMart, McDonalds and for several distilleries. I guess some people are taking the phrase “drowning your sorrows in a glass of beer” literally.

Even the “smaller camping unit” segment of the RV industry is feeling the pinch. Jayco announced Monday that it is closing it Topeka, Indiana plant where Starcraft products were manufactured, resulting in a loss of over 200 jobs even though the manufacturing of the Starcraft products is going to be transferred to a plant less than 20 miles away.

Sid Johnson, the director of marketing for Jayco said “We plan to move as many people from Topkea to Middlebury as possible…..But right now, I think that would be very few.”

If you are not familiar with Starcraft, they manufactured popups, truck campers, travel trailers and fifth wheels.

For more information about the plant closure, click here.