Allstate Advises Its Policyholders How to File Claims in the Wake of Hurricane Gustav

The Allstate Corporation Rich Halberg (847) 402-5600 Allstate (NYSE: ALL) today advised policyholders whose homes and cars have been damaged by Hurricane Gustav that claims can be filed by calling 1-800-54-STORM or visiting Allstate.com. In addition Allstate has dispatched Mobile Response Units (MRU) - specially equipped, self-contained motorhomes to help Allstate policyholders start the claims process from the field.

These units have been dispatched from their pre-positioning locations in the Gulf Coast into the areas directly impacted by Hurricane Gustav. Allstate expects some of the MRUs to be set up, operational and ready to assist policyholders with claims in areas deemed safely accessible by civil authorities as early as Wednesday morning.

Allstate is running a series of advertisements in the affected areas on radio, television and in local newspapers to inform its policyholders of their options for filing claims. The company also is advising its policyholders to consider the following when returning to a home that may have been damaged by Hurricane Gustav:

-- First and foremost, be safe. If your home has sustained serious structural damage, be extremely careful inside your home. Debris may be hazardous and the structure could be unstable.

-- Make reasonable temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Save the receipts for repairs as these expenses may be reimbursed as part of your homeowners policy. Call your Allstate agent if you have questions about your policy.

-- If your home is not habitable, find out what additional living expenses your insurance policy may provide.

-- Assist claims adjusters assigned to your claim by providing alternate contact numbers if necessary.

-- Prepare to file an insurance claim by gathering all relevant policy numbers.

-- Report possible claims to Allstate promptly. Be aware, if a widespread disaster has occurred, there may be damage to the local infrastructure causing telecommunications problems. Please continue your attempts to report your claim.

-- To speed your claim process, inventory your home for damaged or lost items before your adjuster arrives.

For additional disaster-related information, contact your local Allstate agent, visit our catastrophe information center at www.allstate.com/catastrophe/hurricane or visit our YouTube(TM) site at www.youtube.com/allstate. The sites contain useful information and tips on what to do before, during and after a catastrophe.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate is reinventing protection and retirement to help individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through approximately 14,700 exclusive Allstate agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(R) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers. Customers can also access information about Allstate Financial Group products and services at myallstatefinancial.com.

Great MPG With Those Fries

A travel trailer can be a very affordable means of travel to see the United States. Utilizing a fifth wheel can also enable you an enjoyable way of travel.

When New York resident Walter Little takes his family out fifth-wheeling, he sticks a little extra fuel in the cab of his truck: A couple of 35 gallon drums of vegatable oil. Little fires his Ford F250 with bio-diesel--and a fillup doesn’t mean a stop at the nearest fuel station, it means running a hose from barrel to tank.

Walt doesn’t just let bio-diesel affect his vacations--he builds, sells, and installs bio-diesel retrofit kits so other folks can run their rigs on this environmentally friendly fuel. How much does he pay for his fillups? So far he’s never had to pay a nickle for the Ford’s fillups--friendly restaurateurs are happy to have him haul off their old fryer oil for free.

What’ll it cost to convert your RV to run on french fry oil? Well, you can’t do it on a shoestring--Little charges between three and five thousand dollars. But if you can get your fuel for free, it may pay off in the long haul. Visit Little’s website for more information, or check out a story from The Journal News.

Take a Spin in the newest Luxury Motor Home

Monaco Motor Homes has recently unveiled their newest entry into the luxury motorhome division, the La Palma.

You can test drive the new Monaco Motor Homes at any number of dealers around the United States. You'll be sure to be impressed with these new luxury motorhomes.

Here is a detailed listing of standard and optional featres on the new La Palma:

Body Construction
Laminated Sidewall Construction
Steel Cage Cockpit Construction
Smooth Gel Coat Fiberglass Exterior Walls
Front and Rear Molded Fiberglass Caps
Front-Mounted Mirrors with Power Control Heads and Heat
One-Piece Generator Access Door
Rear Engine Doors
Fiberglass Engine Cover
Panaview™ 1-Piece Front Windshield
84” Interior Height
Side-Hinged Baggage Doors
Metal-Hinged Fuel Door with Lock
Pass-Through Storage Bays under Slide-Outs
One-Piece Polyethylene Storage Compartment
Deluxe Full-Body Paint
Rear Ladder
Carpeted Electric Flush-Floor Stepwell Cover
Interior Rubber Entry Step with Stepwell Storage Bucket
Exterior Single Entry Step
Undercoating

Options
Film Front Protection Mask
New Chrome Exterior Mirror; 17.5” Chrome Head Exterior Mirror with Power Control Heads and Heat (Required Option with 3-Camera Rear Vision System)
Standard Run Savings Package: Film Front Protection Mask, 3-Camera Rear Vision System, Home Theater System, Chrome Front-Mounted Mirrors with Power Control Heads and Heat, Six-Way Power Co-Pilot Seat, Central Vacuum System, 600-Watt Inverter, Manual Front Door Awning, 12V Heater in Wet Bay, RV Sani-Con 2 System


Chassis/Engine/Suspension
Roadmaster RSR Rail Chassis
Cummins® ISB-AD 340 HP Low-Torque Engine with Allison® 2100 MH 6-Speed World Transmission
Pushbutton Shift Pad
Torque: 660 lbs./ft. Max. Net at 1,600 RPM
75-Gallon Fuel Tank
156 Amp Alternator
Stainless Steel Wheel Simulators
Leaf Spring Suspension
Four Gas Shock Absorbers
Performance Suspension Package
Hydraulic Anti-Lock Braking System
Exhaust Brake VG Turbo with Engine
Prewire for Supplemental Braking System
Air Cleaner Restriction Indicator
Fully Automatic Hydraulic Leveling System
5,000 Lb. Hitch Receiver with Dual Connector 4-Pin or 7-Pin


Cockpit
Fiberglass Automotive Dash with Silver Graphite Instrumentation Panel
In-Dash AM/FM/CD Stereo Radio with Sirius-Ready Compatibility, iPod Control, Aux-in-Conn, SD Card Slot and Weather Band
Power Sunvisors
Rear Vision System with Audio and Adjustable Camera
Molded Pilot Side Console with Two-Tier Cup Holder and Control Pad for Transmission Shifter
Molded Co-Pilot Side Console with Two-Tier Cup Holder
Leatherette Pilot and Co-Pilot Cockpit Recliner Seats
Six-Way Power Pilot Seat
Carpeted Driver and Passenger Floor Mats

Options
Six-Way Power Co-Pilot Seat
Sirius Radio Tuner with Satellite System
3-Camera Rear Vision System with Audio and Adjustable Center Camera (Requires Selection of Chrome Mirrors)
Interior Solar Privacy Sunscreens
GPS Navigation System


Interior
Raised Panel Cabinet Doors
Black ABS Refrigerator Insert
Heavy-Duty Ball Bearing Drawer Guides
Wood Cabinet Drawer Boxes
Solid Surface Kitchen Countertop, Edge Treatment and Backsplash
Kitchen Countertop Extension with Two Drawers Below, 110V Outlet and Two Deep Drawers (N/A: 36SFD)
Kitchen Countertop End Splash near Sink (N/A: 36SFD)
Kitchen Countertop End Splash near Cooktop (36SFD)
Laminated Bath Lavatory Countertop, Solid Surface Edge Treatment, Stainless Steel Lavatory Bowl with Solid Surface Backsplash
Laminated Countertops with Solid Surface Edge Treatment
Kitchen Pantry next to Refrigerator with Full-Height Hardwood Roll-Out Storage (N/A with Four-Door Refrigerator Option) (N/A: 36SBD)
Kitchen Pantry next to Refrigerator with Full-Height Wire Roll-Out Storage (N/A with Four-Door Refrigerator Option) (36SBD)
Linoleum Flooring: Kitchen, Bath, Entry
Soft Touch Padded Vinyl Ceiling
Wood Grain Crown Molding in Bedroom and Living Area
New Wood Slide-Out Fascia with Wood Inserts
New Satin Nickel Cabinetry Hardware and Bath Accessories
Hardwood Framed Pocket Doors with Flat Panel Insert, Slide-Bolt Door Latch (N/A: 34SDD, 36SFD)
Blackout Day/Night Pleated Shades in Living Area and Bedroom

Options
New Decors: Urban Loft II, New Autumn Trail III and Vintage Gold
Wood Choice: Newport Cherry II, Champagne Select


Furniture
Queen Bed with Nightstands
Party Table behind Co-Pilot Seat (34PDD)
Arched Back Wood Booth Dinette with Side-Sliding Dinette Tabletop (N/A: 36SFD)
Freestanding Dinette with Two Freestanding Chairs and Two Folding Chairs (36SFD)
Roadside: Fabric Easy Bed Sofa
Curbside: Fabric Easy Bed Sofa (34SBD, 36SBD)
Curbside: Fabric Love Seat Sofa (36 SFD)
Curbside: Leatherette Swivel-Rocker Barrel Chair (34PDD)

Options
Roadside: New Style Fabric Hide-A-Bed Sofa with Air Mattress
Roadside: New Style Leatherette Hide-A-Bed Sofa with Air Mattress
Leatherette Euro-Recliner with Ottoman (34PDD)
Roadside: Leatherette Ensemble Booth Dinette Includes Leatherette Hide-A-Bed Sofa with Air Mattress (N/A: 36SFD)
Curbside: Leatherette Easy Bed Sofa (34SBD, 36SBD)
Curbside: Leatherette Love Seat Sofa (36SFD)
Curbside: One Leatherette Euro-Recliner with Ottoman, Wall-Mounted Table (N/A: 34PDD, 34SDD)
Freestanding Dinette with Two Freestanding Chairs and Two Folding Chairs (N/A: 36SFD)


Electrical System and lights
50 Amp 120V Distribution Panel and Cord
55 Amp Electronic 12V Power Converter
Onan® 6.0 kW Diesel Generator
Two 6V House Batteries
Two 12V Heavy-Duty Chassis Batteries
Battery Disconnect Switch at Front Door
Exterior Power Entry Step with Light
Interior Stepwell Entry Step Lights
Water Pump Switch in Service Bay Area and Convenience Center
Lights in Outside Storage Compartments
Underhood Utility Light
Two Recessed Ceiling Map Lights above Cockpit Seats
Hallway/Kitchen Convenience Center
New Decorative Lighting Fixtures

Options
600 Watt Inverter
50 Amp Energy Management System


Plumbing and LP Systems
Kitchen Stainless Steel Under-Mounted Sink with Single Lever Satin Nickel Faucet with Pullout Sprayer
Central Water Filtration System
Stainless Steel Bath Lavatory Bowl
Bath Lavatory Faucet Satin Nickel Finish
Demand Water System and Water Pump
10-Gallon LP Gas/Electric Water Heater with Electronic Ignition, DSI
Winterization Valving System
Water Heater Bypass Valve
China Toilet with Sprayer
Holding Tank Rinsing System
Insulated Systems Compartment with Easy Access to Hook-Up
Shower inside Wet Bay with Hot/Cold Water, Shower Head with Shut-Off
Pressurized Water Fill
Contained Storage Area for Sewer Hose
One-Piece Fiberglass Shower
Radius Satin Nickel Shower Door Frame with Obscured Glass (N/A: 34SBD)
Tri-Slide Shower Door with Rectangular Shower (34SBD)

Options
RV Sani-Con 2 System — Holding Tank Flush System with Hanging Bracket for Hose


Heating Vents and Air Conditioning
Dual 13.5M BTU Air Conditioners
Electronic Ignition Furnace 35M BTU
New Electronic Dash AC/Heat Climate Control System
Kitchen Powered Attic Fan with Wall Control of Automatic Dome and Fan Power
Bath Powered Attic Fan with Wall Control of Automatic Dome and Fan Power

Options
Dual 15M BTU Air Conditioner with Heat Pumps
12V Heater in Wet Bay


Windows Doors and Awnings
Radius Flush-Mounted Dual Pane Safety Glass Dark Tinted Slider Windows
Front Entry Door with Clear Glass, Removable Screen and Anti-Skid Steps
Patio Awning with Metal Cover
Topper Slide-Out Awnings Living Area and Bedroom
Tinted Skylight in Bathroom with Protecta Glaze

Options
Eclipse Automatic Patio Awning with Metal Covers
Front Door Awning with Metal Cover
Window Awnings Living Area Slide-Out House Windows (N/A with Kitchen Windows)


Safety
Fire Extinguisher
Deadbolt Lock on Entrance Door
120V GFI Protected Circuit, Kitchen, Bath and Exterior
LP Gas Detector
Smoke Detector
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Pilot and Co-Pilot Three-Point Seatbelts
Third Brake Safety Light

Lightweight Travel Trailers for the New Year

The trend this year is towards slimmer more streamlined models when it come to travel trailers and Fleetwood certainly steps up to the plate with the roll out of their all new 2009 Backpack and Compass Ultralite Travel Trailers. These ultra-light weight units are perfect for families on a budget and with today’s economy are easy on the pocket when it comes to pulling them. There are several options and extras to choose that will make these units a must have for any avid camper. Come check out what your local Indiana RV dealer has to offer at Lee’s Country RV in Batesville or Muncie Indiana.

Fifth Wheels: Built for the Modern Explorer.

Fifth Wheels, although not self contained like many other RV’s only needs a half ton truck to tow. The convenience of having a large slide-out that expands to deliver sizeable interior space will give anyone the room needed for family and friends. You can very easily take a trip to the most remote places and always have the conveniences of home right at your finger tips. To experience what a vehicle can do for you, visit your local Indiana RV dealer, Lee’s Country RV in Batesville or Muncie Indiana.

Monaco Motor Homes

Almost anywhere you may go in the US today, you can see the latest Monaco Motorhomes. The all new Monaco LaPalma 36DBD has been equipped with Monaco’s first floor plan that has a bathroom-and-a-half floor plan. This model has been engineered to sit on a workhorse chassis with extras included in the floor plan such as a full rear bath with shower, sink, and toilet as well as a mid-coach half-bath with sink and toilet. Come see all the latest Monaco Motorhomes and what this magnificent beast, the Monaco LaPalma 36DBD has to offer at one of the tri-state exclusive RV dealers Lee’s Country RV in Batesville or Muncie Indiana.

FEMA seeks immunity from suits over trailer fumes

Published: July 24, 2008 01:44 pm
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — The Federal Emergency Management Agency asked a federal judge Wednesday for immunity from lawsuits over potentially dangerous fumes in government-issued trailers that have housed tens of thousands of Gulf Coast hurricane victims.

Lawyers for victims of hurricanes Katrina and Rita accuse FEMA of negligence for sheltering them in trailers with elevated levels of formaldehyde, a preservative used in construction materials that can cause health problems.

A government attorney told U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt that the FEMA’s decisions in responding to a disaster, including its use of travel trailers after Katrina, are legally protected from “judicial second-guessing.”

“It is what the legislative branch is supposed to second guess, and they are doing that,” Department of Justice attorney Henry Miller said, referring to a series of congressional hearings on formaldehyde concerns.

Plaintiffs attorney Gerald Meunier said FEMA can be held liable for providing hurricane victims with trailers that didn’t meet federal safety standards and weren’t designed to be long-term housing.

“Some of these people are still living in these trailers almost three years later,” Meunier said.

Engelhardt took FEMA’s request for immunity under advisement and didn’t indicate how soon he will rule.

The judge is presiding over several consolidated cases filed against the federal government and the companies that supplied FEMA with tens of thousands of trailers after Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29, 2005, and Rita struck about a month later.

FEMA spent more than $2.5 billion to purchase more than 140,000 new trailers from recreational vehicle dealers and trailer manufacturers after the storms.

The lawsuits accuse trailer makers of providing FEMA with shoddily built units in a rush to meet the agency’s unprecedented demand for emergency housing. Plaintiffs lawyers also claim FEMA ignored concerns about formaldehyde levels in trailers for months after Katrina.

“At what point do you say, ‘We know there’s a crisis here, but there is a minimal standard where people have got to be protected against danger,’” Meunier said.

Earlier this year, federal officials announced that tests on hundreds of occupied FEMA trailers and mobile homes detected formaldehyde levels that were, on average, about five times higher than what people are exposed to in most modern homes.

Miller said FEMA fielded its first formaldehyde complaint from a trailer occupant in March 2006 and only had seven or eight complaints by June 2006.

“What was the alternative (to using trailers)?” Miller asked. “To move them to Baton Rouge, to move them to Arkansas, to move them to Texas?”

Lawyers for the plaintiffs want the cases certified as a class action on behalf of tens of thousands of current and former trailer occupants in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Engelhardt hasn’t ruled on that request yet.

Planning a family vacation? An RV might fit the budget

By TOM ZOCCOLO
For The Associated Press
Published on: 07/27/08

Holmdel, N.J. — If you've never vacationed in a recreational vehicle, your first reaction might be "I can't afford to rent an RV" or "They're too large to maneuver" or "I don't know how to work the septic tank."

But RV dealers and rental companies are not going to hand you the keys without some preparation. I rented an RV for the first time last summer, and I didn't head out on vacation not knowing what I was doing. A tutorial before you drive the RV off the lot is the norm.

And while gas prices have made it more expensive to take trips in any kind of vehicle, RVs do come in many different models and sizes — from truck campers and tow trailers to motor homes and even sport utility RVs. There's one for every budget and family type. Winnebago Industries Inc., the largest maker of motor homes, unveiled a 2009 ERA (a class-B motor home model) that gets 22 miles per gallon, while the largest motor homes get about eight mpg, according to industry data.

Courtney Robey, public relations manager for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, says RVs can also be a good deal for families. Despite gas costs, "a family of four can travel much more cheaply in an RV than by flying, where you'd have to buy four tickets. And you're not going to be eating out at restaurants three times a day. You're going to be cooking in the RV. You also don't have to pay for a hotel room. So a family can save money in the long run."

Cruise America (www.cruiseamerica.com, 1-800-671-8042) is the largest RV rental chain in the United States. Expect to pay $1,000 a week for a class-C motor home that sleeps seven. Class-C motor homes may also have a queen-size bunk over the cab that sleeps two more.

Luxury rigs run $90-$200 per day; more modest travel trailers run $28-$85. Multi-day deals are usually available. You pay for gas, plus a fee for the number of miles you drive (some companies sell miles as a package). Most rental companies also offer inexpensive packages with sheets, towels, dishes and pots and pans so you don't have to pack all that.

As with summer house rentals, RV rentals often go early. Many dealers have their fleet rented by early spring for summer travel, but you may find deals for late summer and fall. The RVIA (www.gorving.com, 1-888-467-8464) can help you find dealers, manufacturers, campgrounds and general information.

The tutorial you get before driving away will likely include how to use the generator, water pump, water heater, furnace and liquid-propane tank; how to fill the freshwater tanks, dump the black water (toilet) and gray water (sinks and shower tanks); when to start electricity and which modes (battery or AC) to use; and when to run the refrigerator on gas or electricity.

Bob Caldarone, a spokesman for Cruise America, says rentals do not usually include a test drive, but he stressed that if you've rented a U-Haul or something similar in the past, "driving a class-C motor home is no different since the truck chassis are the same, except all rental RVs have auto transmission."

I booked a Midwest trip through KOA (Kampgrounds of America, www.koa.com, 1-888-562-0000). Some RV camps charge a family overnight rate; others charge per person or per child. I found a campground in South Haven, Mich. (www.covert-southhavenkoa.com) near Lake Michigan. We paid $42 a night to stay there, and stored our RV at the campground for $5 a night, while taking a sightseeing trip by rental car in South Bend, Ind., and Chicago. We called the KOA campground with a return date and time, and the owners not only removed the RV from storage but set it up at a drive-up campsite complete with hookups, folding chairs and campfire ready to go.

There are more than 450 KOA franchises in the United States and Canada. Most sites cost $25-$40 per night. You can order a KOA Directory (P.O. Box 30558, Billings, Mont., 59114, $4 shipping, or online) or pick one up free at any KOA.

The KOA Value Kard Rewards program ($24 for a year) saves you 10 percent on KOA stays, provides a Web site where you can track your travels and rewards points and mails you a KOA directory each spring.

Other resources for finding RV campsites include Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts (www.campjellystone.com, 1-800-558-2594, $30-$50 a night, about 70 locations); www.reserveamerica.com, which lists private and government park campsites; and www.recreation.gov, which lists campsites in federal recreation areas. Camping in a national park typically costs less than $20 a night, not including park admission fees.

Woodall's North American Campground Directory (woodalls.com) lists more than 14,000 private, independent campgrounds, service centers and attractions, including maps and rules of the road for each state and Canadian province. Go Camping America (www.gocampingamerica.com) also lists private parks and campgrounds nationwide. A business called Tracks & Trails (www.tracks-trails.com) prepares customized self-drive itineraries for the Western United States and Canada that include RV rentals and reservations.

I also used the Automobile Club of America (www.aaa.com) for mapping my trip, and planned the least expensive gas stops through www.gasbuddy.com.

Shortened weeks turn into complete shutdown at Monaco

Published: 7/18/2008 12:00:00 AM
Last Updated: 7/18/2008 12:01:14 AM
By: Marilyn Odendahl


In a move that has knocked the wind out of Elkhart County, Monaco Coach Corp. announced the closure of plants in Elkhart, Nappanee and Wakarusa and job cuts impacting about 1,400 hourly and salaried workers.

It is also inducing many to call upon the federal government to do something to rein in rising fuel prices.

The recreational vehicle manufacturer, headquartered in Coburg, Ore., told its employees of its decision and issued a press release Thursday. Operations are expected to permanently cease in the three cities by mid-September.

"We deeply regret the impact that shutting down these operations will have on our employees and their families as well as the communities in which they live and work," Kay Toolson, Monaco chairman and chief executive officer, stated in the announcement.

Shortened work weeks, reduced hours and layoffs have become a regular occurrence in the RV industry as the national economy appears headed toward recession but the Monaco layoff and closure will be the largest since the downturn began.

The news stunned even weathered RV businessmen.

Lawrence Thomas, president of JSI Corp., a supplier to the RV industry, was still a teenager when he began his career by sweeping floors and cleaning toilets in RV plants. He has seen the industry struggle during the recessions in the 1970s and early 1990s but this latest round of economic troubles is new territory.

"I've never seen our industry like it is right now," Thomas said. "I've been around a long, long time and this is the worst I've seen it."

The Monaco reorganization will be as follows:
* From the Wakarusa plant, the production of Class A diesel motorhomes will go to facilities in Oregon. The Class A gas-powered motorhomes and fifth wheels will be moved to the Warsaw plant.
* From the Elkhart plant, the joint venture production of diesel chassis with International Truck and Engine Corp. will be moved to Oregon.
* The Nappanee cabinetry shop will be closed.
* The Goshen plant, which makes Roadmaster brand utility trailers, and the Milford plant, which makes Bison brand horse trailers, will not be impacted.
These moves, once completed, are expected to reduce costs by more than $12 million per quarter, according to Monaco Coach. One-time costs associated with the reorganization will be about $7.5 million, including employee compensation expenses, and affect the third-quarter results.

In the meantime, production will continue for another 60 days in order to finish the units already on the line, said Craig Wanichek, spokesman for Monaco. When the operations finally do cease, the buildings in Wakarusa, Elkhart and Nappanee will be listed as for sale.

Wanichek stopped short of saying the closure would forever end Monaco's presence in the three cities. The RV maker believes the market will come back, Wanichek said, and when it does the company will "definitely consider building motorhomes again in Wakarusa but we have several plants available to do that."

Monaco blamed high fuel prices, declining consumer confidence and tightening credit markets for the consolidation. In the letter sent to employees, CEO Toolson wrote the government "can do more to facilitate a recovery in our nation's economy" and, in particular, he noted government officials "should be taking steps toward making our country energy self-reliant again through drilling for oil, building refineries and encouraging greater use of alternate energy."

He then encouraged his employees to write to their congressional representatives and ask them to "support legislation that will assist in returning our nation's economy to a position of strength."

Following Monaco's announcement, state Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Elkhart, sent a letter to Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, naming high fuel prices as the main contributor to the downsizing.
In an interview Thursday afternoon, Walorski said she was appalled neither of the presidential candidates nor members of Congress are addressing the pain at the pump and called for elimination of the state sales tax. She said she had talked to the state budget office about issuing an executive order to temporarily suspend the state sales tax on the purchase of RVs during the Elkhart County RV Show in August but was told such an action has to come from the Legislature. Consequently, she intends to propose a bill dealing with the sales tax when the Indiana General Assembly reconvenes in January.

Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore also pointed to the need to get gas prices under control.
"Until we do that," he said, "it's a pretty bleak future."

While $4 a gallon gas is making headlines, Thomas said he is worried about $5 a gallon gas. He also pointed out that at the time his business is feeling the downturn, property taxes on his plant rose from $10,000 in 2006 to $20,000 in 2007.

The rising costs of fuel and food, along with the mortgage crisis, call for government regulations or price controls to allow consumers to gain some confidence, Thomas said.
"It's out of everybody's hands," he said. "This is now something where our federal government needs to step in."

However, Mark Bowersox, director of Indiana Recreational Vehicle Council said while fuel prices are a large contributing factor, the current contraction in the RV industry is caused by a combination of things including the stock market, the housing market and the banking system.
Both Thomas and Bowersox predict the industry will not turn around for another 12 to 18 months. The RV industry is the first to feel a recession and the first out of a recession, Thomas said, but this time, the business will take longer to recover. Layoffs and closures will continue, Thomas predicted, so that when the economy does pick up, the RV industry will be smaller but stronger with fewer manufacturers meeting consumer demand.

Even as he, too, noted the RV industry is cyclical and will swing back up, Wanichek conceded Monaco's realignment is an indication of the condition of the market and the length of time expected before the recovery.

"Our take is," Wanichek said, "this is such a major step. If we thought it was going to turn around in the near term, we wouldn't have done it."

Past Monaco headlines:
Rumors of layoffs had been rampant at Monaco plants, July 18, 2008
Effects of Monaco closings will ripple, July 18, 2008
Monaco cuts 300 jobs in area facilities, April 25, 2008
Elkhart County RV industry feeling downturn?, January 29, 2008
Monaco report reflects changes, Nov. 1, 2007
Monaco closes Elkhart operation, June 15, 2007
Monaco: More Wakarusa production, April 2006
Monaco closes production line, Feb. 9, 2006
Monaco cuts 225 jobs, Oct. 19, 2005
Monaco closing luxury bus plant, July 14, 2005
Monaco has record sales during 2004, May, 19, 2005

Monaco plant closings latest sign of slow economy

Published: 7/19/2008 12:00:00 AM
Last Updated: 7/18/2008 11:42:43 PM
By: Marilyn Odendahl


Thursday's announcement by Monaco Coach Corp. that it will close three plants in Elkhart County and cut its payroll by 1,400 workers is the latest example of downsizing in the RV industry because of the national economic downturn.

Monaco's production will be shifted by mid-September to plants in Goshen, Warsaw and Oregon, where the company is headquartered. Plants being closed are in Wakarusa, Elkhart and Nappanee.

The realignment is in response to the slumping RV market, which is recording a 14 percent drop in motorhome and towable shipments through May 2008. Rising fuel and food prices, along with tightening credit, are curbing consumers' ability to buy discretionary items such as RVs.
Still, two of the larger suppliers to RV manufacturers do not expect the Monaco closures to impact their business much.

Workhorse Custom Chassis, with a plant in Union City, will feel minimal impact because, said Tony Monda, vice president of marketing and product planning, Monaco is adjusting capacity of its operations, not the volume of production.

Dometic USA already is shipping refrigerators to Monaco's plants in Oregon and likely will have to shift more inventory to a different warehouse in the western part of the United States, said Brad Sargent, vice president of marketing. Monaco's 60-day notice is giving Dometic plenty of time to adjust.

To date, the supplier has not had to lay off any workers, primarily because some workers have been shifted around and others have chosen to leave the organization, Sargent said.
Calling the Monaco downsizing a "very difficult situation," Sargent said the manufacturer is aligning operations to meet demand.

However, the impact from Monaco could ripple into the retail, service and social segments of the economies of Elkhart and the surrounding counties. Even those not employed in the RV industry may feel the consequences.

Citing employment statistics, economist Grant Black said the Monaco layoffs are especially significant because those workers represent about 4.5 percent of the 31,300 employed in the transportation segment, which includes RVs, of Elkhart County's economy.

June figures released Friday by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development show Elkhart County's unemployment rate jumped to 7 percent from 5.9 percent in May. Black, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at Indiana University South Bend, predicted the Monaco cutback will bring more than another rise in jobless numbers.

"It's not a pretty picture," he said. "I don't think we have any really good prospects. I think people will become much more cautious, much less certain."

The spillover effect includes less money spent at restaurants and shopping malls as well as for everything from haircuts to lawn services, Black said. The need for government assistance could rise and more houses might be lost to foreclosure. Local residents will become more anxious and less likely to support community projects.

At Rollie Williams Paint Spot in Elkhart, Rich Lutz, vice president and general manager, anticipates fewer customers will come into the store's showroom.

"Obviously the loss of business is very real," he said, "and when people are out of work, they don't have the money to paint their homes."

Retail sales are difficult to control but Lutz expects the company's commercial sales to withstand the Monaco situation because of its diversified client base. Although the Paint Spot supplied stain to Monaco's Nappanee wood shop and will feel the loss, Lutz said, the company is supplying different industries and continuing to look for new businesses to serve.

RV manufacturers also are exploring new product lines to meet consumer demand, specifically for lighter-weight units that can be towed with smaller vehicles.

Carriage Inc., a maker of luxury fifth wheels in Millersburg, has been producing a line of lighter fifth wheels and in May 2007 introduced a lightweight line of travel trailers.

The company is maintaining its niche as a producer of high-end models, said Mark Colglazier, chief operations officer, but is adjusting to consumer demand.

Innovation through smaller, lighter units could be part of the future as the industry continues to work to meet changes in the marketplace.

"All this adversity is opportunity," said Monda of Workhorse Custom Chassis. "Now's the time to do things differently and creatively and do thing to change the industry."
Contact Marilyn Odendahl at modendahl@etruth.com.

The Windshield Curtain Solution

When my husband Paul and I purchased our current RV, we were not overly impressed with the interior decorator's vision. The colors were actually quite attractive; however the furniture and fabric patterns were not in our taste. We had made several decisions about this particular RV as it had the basics we wanted at just the right price. I didn't worry about the decor; I knew that I could add my own personal touches to make this "our" coach. We were not yet living in the rig as fulltimers, so I had some time to work on my own decorating scheme.

The first addition was the front window drapes. The coach, like most motorhomes, had pleated window drapes that run along a track at the top of the windshield. Fitting together from either side of the coach the drapes vertically attach in the center of the windshield with Velcro. These types of window coverings, especially in the front window, help to maintain privacy and keep out the glare from a hot sun and also help retain heat in chillier weather. They do not, however, let you look out onto the landscape. Our television is above the windshield at the front of the coach, and while sitting in the rig, we couldn’t look out or see anything except the pleated drapes. One of our favorite aspects of Rving is to see the trees, water, wildlife and perhaps some of the campground activity. We do like our privacy however, so to solve the problem of letting in the sun, allow us to have a windshield view, and yet keep folks from watching one of us walking around in our pajama’s, I came up with a great compromise. I purchased an expandable window curtain rod in the necessary length at the local big box store. Paul removed two padded caps at either end of the windshield approximately halfway up from the dashboard. These are the caps that cover the attachment screws; he then proceeded to place closet pole hanging cups using the same predrilled holes and the existing screws. I purchased three sets of café curtains in a neutral cream color, again from the same big box store as I purchased the rod. The curtains, 24” cafés, fit across the windshield perfectly. Due to the shape of the dashboard above the steering wheel, the curtains at that end of the rod hang a bit longer, but they nicely cover this problem and it is not noticeable from the outside.

I now have the ability to open the café curtains and look out and see our natural surroundings. If we are parked south or west, we merely pull the curtains together to block most of the sun’s afternoon heat and glare; yet we still enjoy the sunlight. The height of the curtain rod is perfect also; when the curtains are drawn, no one can see in as we sit watching TV in the evening or eating breakfast in our pajamas in the morning. Works for me!

Every Time We Stay at an RV Resort We Want a New Motorhome

Shiny, New, Luxurious, and Oh so Expensive

By Curtis Carper, published Jul 25, 2008

Another weekend getaway. With today's cost of travel a big spendy outing for use is heading out to an Indian Casino about 75 miles from home for two nights in their RV Resort combined with a one time trip through their Prime Rib Buffet.

Oh this isn't a small deal for us as the cost involved for this two day adventure will run about :

Gas- 20 gal. $80
Buffet 2 people $33 (including tip)
2 nights stay $41
snacks in town $15

Total: $169

Yes, this is something we can only afford to do a couple times a year. Obviously gambling isn't in our game plan, it's just a nice little getaway that lets us feel special with our piped in cable TV and wireless Internet courtesy of the campground. There is only one negative side affect of this type of excursion.

My wife and I have been full time RV'ers in the past, some of our rigs were fairly high test (By Our Standards at least). Time has rolled on, circumstances changed. Now we lead what many call normal lives and only enjoy our RVing on weekends.

Every time we find ourselves surrounded by luxury motorhomes and huge fifth wheel rolling apartments we can't help our self. The urge to hit the road returns stronger then ever. We too should be sitting in our rolling mansion, after all doesn't everyone have the better part of a half million dollars to spend on their rigs. You would think so with the huge quantity of pricey recreational vehicles positioned around us.

Gulf Stream, Country Coach, Alergo Bay, those and many more have their representatives camped near by. Bounder, Holiday Rambler, even Beaver and Safari are present and accounted for. So what I ask are we doing sitting hear amongst such heavy hitters with our little Dutchman Travel Trailer. The sum total value of our rig can be matched with a hub cap or two from these castles of the highway.

It's not that anyone has treated us like anything less then an equal, everyone involved in the world of RVing will welcome their neighbor as family. It's not even a matter of feeling inadequate. Mine is bigger then yours means little in this arena. No it's strictly my own weakness that is at issue here. Pure envy, that desire to have what can not be obtained.