Pete’s RV News

Welcome to our May e-newsletter!  As always we look forward to sharing recent news, events, information and tips with our dedicated community of campers and RVers.

Memorial Day Weekend is here and camping season is underway signaling summertime!  As you can see from the photo, the welcome warmth and sunshine also brings cool treats for the kids visiting us here at the dealership (we leave it up them to decide if mom and dad can have one!).

Here at Pete’s RV, we’ve been scurrying around getting the first wave of campers out for the long weekend.  Business will be steady now through Labor Day with another big rush right before the Fourth of July.

Speaking of scurrying around;  this month’s employee spotlight is on Lot Supervisor, Leo Duncan.  During busy season, hunting down, prepping, and moving hundreds of trailers on and off our lot is no easy task.  Leo handles it all in stride and logs several miles a day walking the lot and service area.  Keeping track of his mileage with a pedometer, his biggest day to date is 12 miles!

We hope you enjoy this edition of Pete’s RV eNewsletter and welcome your feedback.  Please tell us what’s great about it as well as suggestions on how we can make it even better.

Thanks for thinking Pete’s RV!

Recent Pete’s RV Bloglines

Customers Throughout Northeast U.S. and Canada Travel to Pete’s RV!

Pete’s Video pReView: Outback Sydney 320FDB Fifth Wheel

Pete’s RV Talks Inventory Management with “RV Executive Today”

Keystone RV’s Helium Technology Not Light on Features!

Product News:  Thinking Outside the Floorplan

There’s no doubt RV buyers zero in on specific floorplans when shopping for their new travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers or park models.  As dealers, we see this firsthand when analyzing sales data.  So why don’t we just stock up on the most popular ones?  Beyond the traditional bunkhouse or front bedroom layout, there are some truly innovative and well-planned floorplan options that we like to showcase at the dealership and on our website.  The Passport 3050BH, Outback Sydney 325FRE, Outback 301BQ, and Montana 3465SA shown above are just a few gems from Keystone RV to get you “thinking outside the floorplan”.

April Top Views on Pete’s RV Website

1. Cougar 302RLS Fifth Wheel
2. Montana 3750FL Fifth Wheel
3. Cougar 293SAB Fifth Wheel
4. Outback 250RS Travel Trailer
5. Outback 260FL Travel Trailer

Honorable Mention:  Outback Sydney 320FDB Fifth Wheel

Pete’s RV Store Feature:   Summer Sales Flier

Front page items in the Pete’s RV Parts and Accessories Store summer sales flier includes the Sony Rearview Monitoring System, Equal-i-zer Sway Control Hitch and RV Bumper Bike Carriers from Madison Corporation. Eye-catching store product of the month is the CarryOut MP1 Portable Satellite Antenna from Winegard.  With carry case and easy setup, you’ll be tuned into the game or favorite show in no time.  Stows nicely too!

This month’s Pete’s RV Store Gift Card drawing winner is Al R. from W.Rutland, VT.  Congrats!

RV Service Tips:  Determining Tow Ratings

Getting an accurate tow rating requires some research on your vehicle and the travel trailer or fifth wheel you are looking to buy.  Going this route versus an approximation helps ensure the safety of your family and mechanical health of your vehicle.  Here are a few key terms to become familiar with when determining tow rating:

CGWR (Combined Gross Weight Rating) - This is the combined gross weight rating. It is the maximum allowable weight your vehicle, with cargo and passengers, and a trailer can weigh.  The CGWR can be found labeled on the inside of the driver’s side door.
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) - The maximum permissible weight of the trailer when fully loaded.  It includes the maximum allowable weight at the
trailer axle(s) plus the hitch (tongue/pin) weight.  The GVWR is typically found labeled in pounds and kilograms on the driver’s side towards the front of a trailer.
UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight) - The weight of a trailer as manufactured at the factory.  Also known as “dry” or “shipping” weight.  It includes all weight at a trailer’s axle(s) and hitch.
CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity) - US-Equal is GVWR minus the UVW and LP gas weight (Water is considered a component of cargo).  Canada-Equal is GVWR minus the UVW, full fresh (potable) water weight (including the water heater) and full LP gas weight.  CCC information can be found labeled on the trailer in the same area as the GVWR.

To be completely accurate, there are several more factors involved when determining tow rating.  However, basic logic tells you if CGWR is less than the UVW, and especially the GVWR, it’s a sound bet your vehicle is not suited to tow the RV you want to buy.

Along with reviewing your towing vehicle owner’s manual, chapter 3 of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual does a nice job explaining load limits and towing considerations.  A PDF version of the Keystone RV Owner’s Manual is available on the Pete’s RV website.

RV Q and A:  Special License for Motorhomes

Question: Are you required to get a special license to drive a class A motorhome?

Answer: Federal regulations state that a commercial driver’s license is not required for vehicles up to 26,000 pounds.  In combination with federal regulations, some states do require special non-commercial licenses for vehicles (may even include travel trailers and fifth wheels) greater than 10,000 pounds or 45 feet in length.  Check with your local department of motor vehicles to confirm special requirements or exemptions.

Customer Feedback

“Let everyone at Pete’s RV know that we really do appreciate your service after the sale. That’s rare these days. Thanks again.”–Frank V. from Cape Coral, FL

Read more testimonials about Pete’s RV Center!

Pete’s RV Facebook Update

Phil Still MIA - Since nobody could find my photo in last month’s “Find Phil” contest, we’ll give it another go.  All you need to do is find my mug shot shown here on the left.  Hint: I am within the unit pictures of a specific NEW Outback RV. When you find me, send a message to our Pete’s RV Facebook Profile (don’t give away your answer and post it on our Wall!).  Include the Outback model and stock number you found me.  In June, I’ll pick one winner to receive a $100.00 Gift Card to the Pete’s RV Store. Good luck!

Share Your Camping Pics - With the 2010 camping season underway, we’re looking for Facebook friends to share a picture of the family hanging out around the RV at a favorite camping spot.  Post your photo and comment and/or park recommendation at the Pete’s RV GoRVing Group on Facebook!

RV Flashback:  The RV World of 1937

This vintage news reel distributed by Chevrolet reports on the growth of the RV world back in 1937.  It gives viewers a glimpse at the mobile residences of Trailer City, FL.  Park and hook up fees back then were $1.00 per week and $0.25 per day for electricity.  Not bad at all considering it was beachfront camping!

You can watch this interesting video clip and many others on the Pete’s RV YouTube Channel!

Campground News:   Best Mini Golf Courses

Along with camping, hot dogs and mosquitoes, mini golf ranks high on the “all things summer” list.  There’s nothing better than a family night out putting your way through castles, waterfalls and windmills.  A hole in one (or twenty shots, for that matter) awaits you at each tee.  And when the last ball disappears for good into the depths of the 18th hole, everybody shares match highlights over ice cream cones.  Good times, indeed!

RVParks.com posted a recent article on the best mini golf courses.  Mayday Golf in Myrtle Beach, SC is on the top of their list.  The theme of Mayday is a crash-landing on a tropical island.  You need to play your way through “Mayday Mountain” and “Rescue Falls” to find your way back to civilization.  Sounds like fun!

Go to RVParks.com’s Best Mini Golf Course article to find out what other places made their list!

Thanks to the boundless reach of the internet, the word is out about Pete’s RV Center’s excellent reputation for RV sales and service (extra thanks to Google, Bing and Yahoo search engines).

So much so, customers are traveling from near and far to the RV dealership to pick up their new Keystone RV fifth wheels, travel trailers and toy haulers.  In large demand, used RVs and class A motorhomes are also a big draw.

Along with getting the best deal, traveling to our Vermont RV dealership makes for a nice getaway and scenic ride from northern New York and other New England states; Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire.

Canadian customers from the provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario are also making the trek to Pete’s RV Center.

Whether traveling from Laval, QC, Nashua, NH, or Montpelier, VT, we put the welcome mat out for every customer, ensuring their RV buying experience goes as smoothly as possible.

So who is our farthest “local” customer?  To date, the Parsons family from St. John, Newfoundland journeyed 2380 kilometers (1479 miles) for their new Cougar Fifth Wheel.  Check out the route above that took them across 3 states, 3 provinces and an 8 hour ferry ride!

More RV purchasing info for Canadian customers can be found on our website.  Burlington, VT area visitor information is available at the Lake Champlain Chamber of Commerce.

Pete’s Video pReView let’s you take a quick peek at the Outback Sydney 320FDB Fifth Wheel from Keystone RV!

The spacious Outback Sydney Edition 320FDB floorplan has three slideouts and sleeps up to eight.  Along with the front master bedroom, the living/galley area contains an air sofa sleeper bed and convertible booth dinette.  The rear bunk area offers the comforts and convenience of an air sofa sleeper bed with overhead bunk, half-bath, and offside camper entry door.

In addition to viewing the Outback Sydney 320FDB video clip on our YouTube channel, detailed pictures, features and specifications can be found in the Outback Sydney section of the Pete’s RV Center website.

Feel free to contact us by email or phone at 1.888.738.3778 with further questions on this and other RVs for sale at Pete’s RV Center.

More Pete’s Video pReViews!

With the recent economic climate, RV dealers are paying focused attention on how they manage their inventory. Changes in the retail market, consumer buying habits and tighter financing have them weighing these and several other variables to ensure they buy and sell their inventory effectively.

In a recent article from RV Executive Today, Pete’s RV Center and several other dealers were asked what they do to ensure proper inventory management.  The following comments were excerpted from the article:

“Our dealership constantly monitors our inventory through our dealer management system, our sales, and what customers are looking at on the website,” says David McGinnis, treasurer of Pete’s RV Center in South Burlington, VT. “Inventory management is about forecasting, you can’t react. Timing is everything, because there is a selling season, and if you miss that window, you miss it. Poor inventory management can lead to serious issues in your dealership, including losing floor plan financing, which can put you out of business.”

Dave provides an account on how adhering to good inventory management practices benefited Pete’s RV:

“By monitoring our inventory turns, we made the decision to get out of the new motorized business before it had too big of an effect on our dealership,” says McGinnis. “Through our constant monitoring, we noticed that new motorhomes didn’t turn as fast as new towables a few years ago.  We continue to watch the trends in our area to see if they change, so we can adjust our inventory to fit the needs of our dealership and customers.”

While RV dealers offered different accounts on how they buy and keep inventory moving, they were all in agreement that RV inventory management is vital for the business, and ultimately their customers.  With proper inventory management, RV dealers are able to offer customers a wider selection of stock units to choose from at the best possible price.

You can read RV Inventory Management: Dealers Share Changes to This Critical Function in full at RVDA.org.

Back in December when Keystone RV unveiled the new High Country Fifth Wheel with Helium Technology, attendees were wowed by its eye-catching smoke gray exterior and finely-detailed interior. But what was really mind-blowing is it weighs 2000 pounds less than comparable units in its class!




So how did they do it without compromising on quality, safety and feature offerings? According to Keystone, Helium Technology uses advanced materials and manufacturing techniques to significantly lighten the fifth wheel without sacrificing the features that make Montana and Cougar so popular. You can get some additional information and views of High Country with Helium Technology from a YouTube clip by Keystone’s, “RV News Channel”.

After evaluating the first 333DBS High County units to roll into Pete’s RV Center, we like what we see! The Montana 333DBS has spacious living quarters and storage galore. There are several classy interior touches including Roman window applications and a glass bowl bath sink in the master suite.

The above images are just a few highlights from the many pictures we snapped of the Montana High Country 333DBS. You can view all the pictures by clicking on an available 333DBS unit on our Montana inventory page. Helium Technology is currently available in 3 Cougar and 2 Montana floorplans.

Feel free to contact us with further inquiries on either of the High Country lines.