Provided by the by the Country Coach Technical support department -

Have you never tripped a breaker on shore or generator power? Do you believe it possible to run both roof air conditioners together on your older Intrigue while on generator power? Do you keep your coach plugged into a fifteen amp outlet while in storage knowing that all will be well and your batteries charged upon your return? If you answered yes to all the above then read no further, you clearly have a good understanding of the power management principles we shall be covering below. If however some or all of the above doesn’t quite make sense or perhaps you have some time to burn then please read on…

Voltage, Current, Power, Load & Battery Capacity,
Let’s start with a brief explanation for each of the above before we thoroughly confuse you with the remainder of the article. The first and easiest to explain is our old favorite, voltage (measured in volts). Volts are essentially a measurement of pressure, electrical pressure in this case. Tightly hold your thumb over the end of a garden hose and turn on the faucet. The pressure you feel against your thumb from the water is called voltage in the world of electricity.

Now fill a bucket with water using the hose. Once the bucket is full, turn off the hose and review what you have done in this step. You have before you a bucket of water and the question you have to answer now is simple. At what rate or speed did the water come out of the hose? Exciting isn’t it…If you didn’t monitor the time as you filled the bucket then you have no way of knowing how fast it was coming out of the hose. If the bucket holds five gallons and it took one minute to fill then the flow rate was five gallons per minute or 5gpm. If the bucket only took thirty seconds to fill then the flow rate must have been ten gallons per minute (10gpm) because the same amount of water filled the bucket in half the time. As you can see, water flow is a function of both quantity and time, and the same is true of current flow in the world of electricity which is measured in amps (short for amperes).

In simple terms we can think of current as the speed at which electricity is flowing through a wire but give some thought to the above and you will see that speed and flow are two completely different entities.

Power is a measurement of work done against time. If you burn off one hundred calories (or joules if you’re from Europe) to climb a hill in five minutes then you have used a certain amount of power. To run up this hill and burn off the same one hundred calories in just one minute will take five times as much power. I’ve forgotten much of what I learned in physics over the years so forgive me if I don’t calculate the actual numbers here but the power in question can be expressed in a variety of units including the very familiar watts (W) and horsepower (hp). It is interesting that we measure the power from an engine in horsepower yet we use a metric unit for power when looking at electricity. Remember this when you next shop for a microwave and tell the sales assistant you are looking for a model with at least 1.34hp (for which the metric equivalent is 1000W).

When used in the context of electricity, power is generally always expressed in watts and is quite simply a product of the aforementioned volts and amps. In other words, power = volts x amps or W = V x A. We shall return to this formula when we look at inverters a little later in this article.

Load is simply a generic term for any device or appliance that is consuming electricity. The roof air conditioners, refrigerator, washer/dryer, water heater and lights etc are all examples of electrical loads.

Last but not least is battery capacity which is measured in amp hours or Ah. (Note that amp/hours or A/h is incorrect). This is perhaps one of those measurements that are often difficult to understand because of their simplicity. Example: you turn on a light for four hours and the light consumes a constant one amp from the battery until it is turned off. You have used 1A x 4h = 4Ah from the batteries. Another example… Two fresh 8D wet cell batteries will have an advertised capacity of 220Ah each, or 440Ah total for the battery bank. How long can you operate this one light from the battery bank before they become fully discharged? Well, 440Ah means the battery bank can theoretically supply 440 amps for 1 hour, or 1 amp for 440 hours. The answer is a theoretical 440 hours in this example. The usable amp hours are much less in reality however due to limitations of the chemistry and construction of the battery. To complicate matters further, as you draw current from the battery faster, the total amp hours it produces before the battery does dead will sharply decrease.

Relationships…
There are two relationships to keep in mind when dealing with power management. The first is the relationship between voltage and current. In most cases, the voltage will drop as current increases and vice versa as power is consumed from a source. If you have a digital or analogue gauge package for your AC power, you might observe that the voltage from the generator drops down significantly when it is heavily loaded. The alternator on your engine is another good example. When the chassis or house batteries are low on charge, this alternator will produce a lot of current to charge them quickly. During this time when the alternator is putting out a lot of current, it is perfectly normal for the battery voltage to be low in the region of 13 volts. The message here is to never look at volts or amps in isolation of each other when trying to diagnose a problem. They are eternally interrelated so be wary of the technician that says your alternator is bad after having measured low battery voltage using only a voltmeter.  This of course never happens…

The second relationship we need to consider is the one that exists between power and load. Simply stated, as available power from the source and the load become evenly matched, the relationship between voltage and current will become more extreme. Let’s use shore power for an example, and let’s assume that the power lines that supply power to your shore hookup via a big transformer have the ability to carry a lowly one megawatt. Remember the W = V x A formula from above? If you plug a million watts and 240 volts into this formula you will see that the power line in this example can supply over 4000 amps to your coach. Your coach can only use 50 amps of course due to limitations in the sizing of the shore cord and transfer switch but even at maximum capacity, the 50 amps you might consume in your coach won’t make much of a dent in the 4000 amps that are available so don’t expect the voltage to drop much as you pile on the current.

Your generator is a different story however. Let’s say you have a 12.5KW generator and you have it fully loaded with air conditioning and lights etc inside the coach. Plugging 12,500 watts and 240 volts into our favorite formula shows that the generator can only produce a maximum of 53 amps. This will be rapidly consumed as you make the best use of your 50 amp service so expect to see a much sharper drop in voltage as current increases while running on generator power.

The engine alternator is of course another power source however at about 1900-2400 watts depending on the coach model, it pales into insignificance when compared to the 12,500 watts from generator power and the 1,000,000 watts that is used in the above example for the power line.

50A Service, 30A, 20A/15A. What is the Difference?
50A service has two power ‘legs’ and the voltage between each leg and ground or neutral is 120V. Additionally, each leg can supply 50A for a combined total of 100A.

The voltage from leg to leg is 240V which is necessary for some coaches that have a 240V electric barbeque or range installed. It is very important to keep your shore cord well maintained when connected to 50A service because a loose neutral wire can easily damage much of the 120V equipment in your coach including the inverter, microwave and entertainment system. The Surge Guard that is installed in current motorhomes protects against this scenario but owners of older coaches will want to periodically check the connections inside the shore cord plug that connects to their coach to ensure the wires are tight and secure. The plug that connects to the power pole should have no cracks or evidence of heat damage and the contacts should be straight and clean. Always use the breaker to disconnect power before inserting or removing this plug. If there is no breaker on the power pole then use the main breaker in the coach’s distribution power to protect your coach as you connect or disconnect from shore power.

30A service only has one power leg available so the maximum voltage in this case will be 120V and the maximum current is 30A unlike the above ‘50A’ service that actually supplies 100A. The good news here is that there is no risk of damage to coach equipment from an ‘open neutral’ while on 30A service so if you run into problems with your transfer switch or Surge Guard, consider using only 30A service until you get it repaired to avoid the risk of damage. Keep an eye on any adaptor that you may be using to connect your 50A shore cord to 30A service. These adapters are prone to loose or corroded connections and any evidence of heat damage around the contacts is a sure indication that replacement is necessary.

20A or 15A service is simply a regular electrical outlet that we use everyday to power such mission critical equipment as the coffee maker, microwave and hair dryer. You can actually operate your coach from this limited service and it is very advisable to do so while your coach is in storage to prevent permanent damage to your batteries. If you’re not sure how to do this without tripping a breaker then please read on!

Running Loads on 50A Shore Power.
You shouldn’t have too much difficulty meeting your electrical needs while on 50A service but be aware that either leg will trip the breaker if it exceeds the breaker’s rated 50A. Watch out for cycling loads that are typically overlooked and may cause you to exceed 50A if you have been pushing the limit.

Let’s say it is a hot day and you have all three roof air conditioners running. Two of these at least will be powered from one leg and they consume about 15A each for a total of 30A. If you also have the coffeemaker running and are watching a movie then the current can quickly add up an additional 15A so now you are using a total of 45A on one leg. You are still below the 50A limit at which the breaker will trip so life is good right? Probably not… Cycling loads such as electric water heaters and refrigerators are often overlooked and these can each add an additional 10A on top of the 45A you are already squeezing out of the system. At 55A, the breaker will naturally trip.

The solution? Pay attention to the current on both legs and try to balance your loads across them so you don’t have a situation where you are drawing say 45A on one leg, and 10A on the other. If you have three roof air conditioners and you only have the front two running then try turning off the front unit and run the bedroom unit instead to keep your coach cool. This can help balance the loads by taking 15A away from the leg that is running at 45A, and transferring it to the other leg that is only running at 10A. If you have an all electric coach with two inverter/chargers, you can also use these to help balance the loads when needs dictate. Simply turn of the inverter/charger that is operating on the leg you wish to reduce current on and leave the remaining inverter/charger to charge the batteries on its own. Modified Sine Wave (MSW) inverter/charters such as the Heart/Xantrex Freedom series and the Trace RV series will consume about 20A – 25A of AC when heavily charging your batteries. The true sine wave inverter/chargers such as the Xantrex Prosine and RS2000 are much more efficient during charging consuming as little as 14A for an identical charge current to the batteries.

Running Loads on 30A Shore Power.
First the good news, you don’t have to worry about balancing your loads across both legs because there is only one with this service. Now the bad news, you only have 30A to work with as opposed to the luxury of 100A above. Not a problem you say? You want to run both your roof air conditioners on a very hot day to cool things down a little? Well yes, it is actually possible on most coaches with propane refrigerators and water heaters. The first thing you should realize is that each air conditioner will consume about 14A – 15A and both together will eat up just about all the 30A available to you. Start by setting your refrigerator and water heater to propane only (turn off the breaker labeled ‘water heater’ in the distribution panel). Next, turn off any other 120V loads that you might be running and then… turn off the battery charger at the remote panel. You should now be able to comfortably run both roof air conditioners without tripping a breaker.

The eagle eyed reader will notice that the batteries are not being charged during all of this which may be perfectly acceptable for the hour or more it takes to cool your coach down if you have been away from it for awhile. If you wish to get even more adventurous, you can reduce the fan speed on both roof air conditioners to their lowest setting which may free up the five or more amps you need to keep the batteries charged at a low setting and watch TV. If you were not aware that the charge rate from the inverter/charger can be adjusted to use less AC current while providing a slower charge rate then please read on…

Running Loads on 20A/15A Shore Power.
Believe it or not, by taking similar steps to operate two roof air conditioners on 30A, you can actually run a single roof air conditioner on 20A or even 15A service. Fortunately you shouldn’t encounter many occasions where you will need to do this but if you do, make sure you are using a beefy extension cord to hook your coach up to the outlet and uncoil it fully if it is on a reel to avoid a meltdown.

The main reason why you might want to power your coach from such a limited supply is to keep the batteries charged during storage. Even when disconnected, batteries will self discharge in as little as three weeks depending on their health and construction. Batteries that are left in the discharged state for more than eight weeks or so can become permanently damaged. Solar panels are a great solution to this problem because although they have a very limited output, it is just enough to keep your batteries topped off and fully charged even during extended periods of non use. The other solution is to first adjust your inverter/charger to a lower charge rate, turn off all other electrical loads such as water heaters and refrigerators etc then connect your coach to an outlet using a beefy extension cord. The easiest way to ensure all other loads are disabled is to turn off all the breakers in your distribution panel except for the main breaker and one of the inverter/charger breakers. Next, turn off the breakers for the inverter circuits which will either be mounted on the inverter itself, or in small load center in close proximity to it. Check the documentation for your inverter/charger to determine how to reduce the charge rate. This feature has various names depending on the make and model of the inverter/charger but look for instructions on setting shore power, power sharing or simply charge rate. For the first two, just select a number that is lower than your available service which in this case would be 5A, 10A or 15A. The 5A setting may actually prevent your charger from working at all if there are any other loads enabled so it is best avoided. Revert this setting back to 30A when taking your coach out of storage. If you have an option to reduce the charge rate, then simply lower it down to about 10A or 10% whichever is applicable.

Running Loads on Generator Power
Running loads on generator power is pretty much identical to what has previously been discussed for 30A or 50A service depending on the make, model and most importantly, size of your generator expressed in kilowatts or kW. There are however some important points to take into consideration. To begin with, the generator is a very limited power source so expect to see the voltage reading drop as the current reaches its limit. If you are nudging the current limit on one or both legs then don’t be too surprised if the generator shuts down when a cycling load such as the refrigerator or water heater comes on, or a surge load such as that required to start the motors in your roof air conditioners kicks in. Motors such as these typically require up to five times their normal running current to get them moving.

Larger generators above 8kW are typically configured for 240V across two legs similar to the 50A service discussed above. While keeping the loads balanced isn’t critical on shore power, it is important on generator power to avoid damage in some cases. Loads that are not balanced well between the two legs will also cause an imbalance in the voltage which may result in the Surge Guard disconnecting power from the coach due to over/under voltage protection in extreme cases.

Running Loads on Inverter Power.
Have you ever wondered why the lights dim in your coach when you fire up the microwave on inverter power? If you recall from our discussion on power above, watts = volts x amps. This can also be expressed as amps = watts/volts.

Let’s say the microwave is a 1200W model. How many amps will it consume while on shore power? The answer is 1200W/120V or 10A. This 10A current won’t present much of a challenge while on 50A service but how many amps will be consumed from the batteries to run the same load? Remembering that the batteries are 12V, not 120V, the answer is 1200W/12W or 100A. Factor in some efficiency losses especially for true sine wave inverters and that microwave could easily consume up to 120A from the batteries while it is running. This current draw will vary somewhat depending on the actual battery voltage but it will significantly discharge your batteries in a very short time frame. Many of you more than likely run the generator when you wish to use the microwave but don’t forget that any heat producing appliance will present a huge load on your batteries. Examples of such appliances are the aforementioned microwave, toasters, coffeemakers, curling irons and worst of all, that super heavy duty atomic powered 1500W hair dryer!

You might find it interesting that the most popular inverters these days seem to be the 2000W and 3000W models yet to use all the current they can provide would discharge the batteries in a very short time-frame. We occasionally receive requests to add extra batteries to the battery bank but we caution against this because not only are you adding a significant amount of weight to the coach, the charge time required for these extra batteries is often prohibitive. Consider that your inverter can easily discharge two AGM batteries in less than an hour if you really wanted to but to recharge them fully from generator power can take up to six hours depending on coach model and year. You can add four batteries to the bank to increase the duration for which the inverter can supply a heavy load but how do you feel about running the generator for eighteen hours to recharge them?

Conservation of Battery Power during Dry-Camping
There are many tips and tricks to conserve your battery power when shore power is not an option. The simplest of course is to keep the various loads such as lights and the entertainment system turned off when not in use. Other savings are not so obvious however and a good example would be the inverter that can consume a constant six amps from the batteries even when all the loads on that circuit are turned off. The simple advice here is to keep the inverter turned off when you have no need for 120V power.

Automatic generator start systems are a popular addition if not already installed and are a great solution to keep your batteries charged while dry-camping. They are not recommend for use while your coach is in storage however because it is not advisable to have the generator running when nobody is around to keep an eye on it. If you do need to store your coach for extended periods then consider installing solar panels to keep your batteries charged and ready to go when you are.

That’s it for this article and hopefully we were able to help you with any questions you might have had. If not, or should you need further clarification on this article or others then send us an email to rvrx@countrycoach.com.

by: Kelsey Ivey
Lover of wine and waterfalls, Kelsey Ivey is a travel wine junkie with a buzz for the bountiful Pacific Northwest, which she happily calls home. Kelsey loves exploring the region’s many trails. Visit her blog at evergreenhiker.wordpress.com

As spring brings warmer weather, it’s the perfect time to start getting out for day trips and summer vacations. So dust off your hiking shoes and head out to explore more of Oregon with these eight must-hit trails!

Multnomah-Falls

Silver Falls Park
Wander through a temperate rain forest, lush with wildlife and trickling water at this beautiful state park. Follow the Canyon Trail along Silver Creek to take in 10 majestic waterfalls. Ranging from 27 to 177 feet, the waterfalls on this trail and the stunning beauty of the natural surroundings keeps you in awe of the Cascade foothills around each turn. Also with over 25 miles of trails, it’s an easy park to explore over and over.

Multnomah Falls
Tumbling an impressive 620 feet combined, Multnomah Falls is Oregon’s largest waterfall. With its white cascading waters against the evergreen forest, the falls shine as one of the iconic destinations along the Historic Columbia River Highway. Even though a frequently busy location during high season, the falls is worth the stop. Get out of the car and explore along the 1.2 mile hike to the top for great views of the waterfall and Columbia Gorge. If you’d like to extend your hike, continue another 6 miles to Larch Mountain.

Smith Rock State Park
There are several different trails of varying difficulty at this iconic central Oregon park. Enjoy bird watching and hiking along the river and don’t forget to take the short .5 mile hike along the Rim Rock Trail to take in the beautiful views from the park’s main lookout.

Tillamook Head
Rising 1000 feet from the ocean, this jagged cape offers three beautiful trails to explore its coast-swept sands. Not only a stunning sight today, this headland was also a part of the original route of Lewis and Clark. Stare out to the vast Pacific Ocean and take in the fantastic coastal wildlife that hugs this rugged stretch of the Oregon Coast.

Tillamook Head

Sweet Creek Falls
Follow this twinkling stream near Mapleton through a canopy of lush trees as it flows toward the Siuslaw River and out to the Ocean. An easy 1.1 mile hike along a dirt and grated platform trail leads you past a series of tiered falls to the main waterfall. This is great hike for kids! If you want to get a second view of the creek, continue from the Homestead Trailhead up the road to the Wagon Road Trailhead and take the .8 mile hike back down toward the falls on the other side of the bank.

Anthony Lake
Explore pristine alpine lakes surrounded by wildflowers and take in stunning views of the granite peaks of the Elkhorn Range with a day hike near Anthony Lake. Several trails make this mountainside paradise accessible for a wide range of hikers. Follow an easy 1-mile path looping the lake or tackle the 8.2 mile loop around Gunsight Mountain. Located in Eastern Oregon, Anthony Lake is about 20 miles north of Baker City.

Oregon Table Rocks
Jutting 800 feet above the Rogue River Valley, the Oregon Table Rocks are an iconic landmark in Southern Oregon. Created by lava flows filling ancient canyons, these vast mesas now are home to hundreds of acres of meadows and rock flats protected as a nature conservancy. Explore the spectacular diversity along the easy/moderate 2.8-mile hike to the Upper Table Rock; for a longer hike follow the 5.4-mile trail up Lower Table Rock. From the top enjoy beautiful views of the Rogue River Valley.

Steens Mountain
For amazing views of the arid eastern Oregon desert landscape, hike atop Steens Mountain. Drive the highest road in Oregon that follows the ridge of this mountain range and its mile-high cliffs. To stretch the legs, take the three short paths to various viewing stations of the canyon. If you are up for a challenge, take the 2.4 mile hike descending 1100 feet to Wildhorse Lake to take in the beautiful bowls of wildflowers lining the valley. TIP: Before heading to this remote area, fill up your gas tank in Burns, Oregon.

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content provided by: The Saubert Family & Sea Lion Caves

The Sea Lion Caves north of Florence is the largest sea grotto in the world as identified by the Guinness Book of World Records.

Formation of the cavern began about 25 million years ago. It is composed of basalt rock that has been gradually eroded away by the ocean. It now soars to the height of a 12-story building and stretches the length of a football field.

It is the year-round home of the Steller Sea Lion. Sea lions normally gather inside this natural amphitheater during fall and winter. In spring and summer, they breed and have their young on rock ledges just outside the cave

Care is taken not to disturb the natural habitat of the wild animals that dwell here. Since 2009, the Sea Lion Caves area is one of the few places along the west coast where the population of the Steller Sea Lion is increasing.

The Cave vicinity is home to several other animals other than Steller sea lions including bats, pigeon guillemots, cormorants, gulls, orcas, gray whales, humpback whales, harbor seals, California sea lions, bald eagles, mountain lions, black bear, elk, deer, chipmunks, gray squirrels, owls, common murre, tufted puffin, marbled murrelet, black oystercatcher, anklets, sandpiper, dunlin, whimbrel, snowy plover, osprey, killdeer, and numerous ducks and geese. Many seabird species are endemic and found nowhere else, except along the Oregon Coast.

The Cave system is at sea level and the ocean continually washes into the main cavern. This room has a floor area of about two acres and a vaulted rock dome about 125 feet high. Southward from the main chamber a low passage runs 1,000 feet to a sea level opening. This corridor is flooded at high tide and free of water a low tide.

The western entrance is a short, high passage also flooded at high tide and free of water at low tide. From the north, a third entrance opens into the main cave, about fifty feet above the ocean. This entrance serves as an elevated observation area from which one may view the entire underground cave system and its wildlife.

The sea level portion of this cave and the sea cliff rocks just outside the cave have become, over the centuries, the only know mainland rookery of the Steller sea lion, and to lesser extent, the California sea lion. The high vault is a natural resting place for fascinating sea birds.

Originally the cave was entered by a trail and stairs. The quarter mile of steep trail and the 250 stairs were often a formidable climb for many visitors and impossibility for some.

The decision to install the elevator was almost public obligation although the construction promised to be an expensive, difficulty, and lengthy task.

The job was started in April of 1958. A ten by ten, 70 foot drift tunnel was blasted in the cave wall and then an eight by fifteen foot vertical shaft was excavated, ascending 215 feet. The blasting necessary to drive these two intersection shafts was confined to spring months when the sea lions were out of the caves. The engineers and construction workers used every possible precaution to insure that the wildlife would not be disturbed.

But a unique problem was encountered; the entire shaft was subject to water seepage. The water could not be controlled until a Gunnite lining was installed, and the lining could not be stable until the seepage was controlled.

What seemed to be a classic paradox was finally solved by an intricate system of small catch basins which collected the waster to be carried away in pipes.

During the fall and winter of 1960-61, the elevator building and the emergency staircase inside the shaft were completed, By June of 1961; the new method of reaching Sea Lion Caves was opened for public use.

The elevator has a capacity of twenty-three passengers, a decent of 208 feet, and a travel rate of 250 feet per minute. It will accommodate about 400 people per hour. Many of its parts and fittings were specifically fabricated to resist the corrosion of salt and moisture, and in the years since its completion the elevator has proved to be almost trouble free.

Sea Lion Caves History 1880 to the present

1880 – Sea Lion Caves was discovered by a local seaman, William Cox, who entered the grotto through the western channel in a small boat on a calm day. He reportedly returned to explore the caves a number of times and on one occasion was marooned for several days because of stormy weather and rough ocean. During this time he supposedly sustained himself by shooting a young sea lion and eating the meat of its flippers.

1887-1926 – Captain Cox purchased the land containing the sea lion Caves from the State of -Oregon. William Cox and his family owned the property until 1926.

1927-1930 – There were no roads in to the area that that time. The slopes of the rocky headlands were used for sheep pasture. Access to the caves from the hillside above was not even considered, until after the land was acquired by R.E. Clanton in 1927, with the specific intention of opening the Caves as a business. Clanton was joined by J.G. Houghton, and J.E. Jacobson in 1930.

1932 – When it became clear that U.S. Highway 101 would be completed, these three partners decided to risk all that they owned to build a safe access to the cave. Despite the difficulty and danger of the construction, a trail 1500 feet long, was excavated by the hand, into the face of the cliff. At the trail’s end a wooden tower was extended down to the north entrance of the caves, which housed the 135-step staircase into the cave. The trail and stairs provided safe access for visitors and the Sea Lion Caves was opened to the public by this route in August 1932.

1934-1942 – Traffic was light at first. The highway was only graveled until 1934. Even after paving, until 1937 there were just five ferry crossings within 100 miles. Despite the challenges just getting to the remote location, word of the amazing phenomenon spread, and the number people visiting Sea Lion Caves slowly grew until 1942, when virtually all such travel was halted by World War II. During this time, Clanton withdrew from the partnership and R.A. Saubert was admitted as part owner. Since 1942 the same three families have operated the Sea Lion Caves with ownership passing to the partners’ son after World War II.

1958-1961 – Elevator shaft was started in April of 1958 and completion of the Elevator shaft was met with a sharp rise in admissions as more people were able to easily access the caves. Eventually the gift shop and office headquarters building through which the cave is reached was added.

1982 – In Septembers of 1982 The Caves celebrated its 50 year anniversary with the addition of a bronze statue of a family of sea lions sculpted by Ken Scott.

2007 – In September of 2007 The Caves celebrated its 75th year anniversary with the addition of a Caves Totem Pole.

by: Lance Sparks

When, last month, the Oregon Legislature passed two bills, HB 3280 and SB 829 – together dubbed the “King Estate bills,” to be reconciled into one bill – it became clear that King Estate would retain its full-service, fine-dining restaurant at the winery, and would continue to serve thousands of visitors at the Estate. This came as good news to many of the businesses and towns along Territorial Road, from Cottage Grove to Monroe.

Tabitha Eck, co-owner, along with her parents, Tim and Catharine Perkins, of Veneta’s only fine-dining restaurant, Our Daily Bread, was delighted at the news of King’s success.

“Hey, wonderful! I think it would be sheer foolishness to shoot yourself in the foot when it comes to (wine) tourism. Everything they do there adds value to the valley as a whole. I profit from what they do there,” she said.

Eck and her parents have consciously positioned Our Daily Bread to take an active role in enveloping the growing wine-tourism businesses along the Territorial corridor. ODB is housed in a former church, remodeled and expanded but retaining some nice church-y touches, such as the Gothic-arched windows with stained glass, even what looks like the churches old upright piano. (But atop the piano sits a small sign bearing the distinctly secular homily “Dancing Allowed – Shoes Not Required.”)

The restaurant is open seven days, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. They have gained some fame for baking – ahem – their daily bread, plus pastries, focaccia, and a full range of desserts.

“It was very important for us to have an in-house product,” Eck said, noting that they also make their own sauces, dressings, gravies, while keeping close relationships with local growers and suppliers, especially wineries.

Tabitha Eck is young, only 28, but she has made some astute decisions about the family restaurant. Most notably, she has worked hard to make Our Daily Breads wine list the best in the south Willamette Valley for its inclusion of local wines. Nearly every winery in the southern part of the valley has a representative wine on ODBs list.

“Some are so new that we haven’t had a chance to interact with them yet,” Eck said, mentioning Sarver and J. Scott, “but we’re constantly reprinting our wine list,” broadening and updating to include such rarely found labels as Pfeiffer and HillCrest, which are only sold at the wineries.

Eck has seen what restaurateurs in California’s and Washington’s wine valleys have seen, that concentrating on local wines doesn’t imply any compromise on quality, and the mutual support that follows helps everyone.

“We have an amazing amount of variety around us, and it’s all so good. And we really enjoy the relationship aspect. Many of the vineyards are small and family-owned, like us. It’s just good for everybody.”

Our Daily Breads kitchen might be small, but the menu is eclectic and ambitious, plating a range from sandwiches and burgers, soups and salads, to pastas and prime rib, and local wines (microbrews, too) to match any dish. The list offers 28 white wines, four rosés, 37 reds (16 local pinot noirs), five sparkling and five dessert wines (including Chateau Loran’s Honey Mead). An additional six wines – three white, three red – are available by the glass (or bottle).

Total choices add up to around 85. Prices are moderate, ranging from a nice Emerson Chardonnay ($16) to King Estates blockbuster 2006 Domaine Pinot Noir ($86). Eck also reaches into Oregon’s southern wine valley to find some rather special bottling, like Agate Ridges 2007 Primitivo (a Zinfandel relative) from the Rogue, Spanglers 2007 Petite Sirah or Girardets 14 Vines from the Umpqua.

Eck stays busy with her family, (as we spoke, her husband, Marshall, waited tables while her three children – the youngest, Joshua, just 10 months – waited at home) her restaurant, and her extensive wine list, but apparently that’s not quite enough. She also maintains a small retail space where she sells ODB’s wines directly, plus Riedel glassware and assorted hand-crafted items related to the kitchen or to wine.

The family recently added an event area and new parking lot, anticipating a summer of hosting wine garden parties featuring local wineries and live music.

How do the Veneta residents feel about all this activity?

“We have huge local support,” Eck said.

Mothers Day was booked with 400 reservations. The Wings and Wine Festival in May BRING’s bird-loving visitors in flocks. Note to other family members: Our Daily Bread also makes something special for Father’s Day, Labor Day and other special occasions. The quaint former church with modest blue trim adds to the bustle of Veneta’s downtown along Territorial Road.

“Locals appreciate it. And we have a unique ability to attract Eugenean’s out this way. There’s nothing in this immediate area, aside from a vineyard” – unnamed – “that can say they do that.”

One vineyard that can draw thousands – King Estate – is thriving, as is the business of viticulture in this part of the south Willamette Valley. Good food, superb wines and dazzling views; it’s really a simple formula with a country twist, very attractive.

In Tabitha Eck’s words, “It’s a unique experience out here.”

by: Rosemary Howe Camozzi (reprinted from The Register-Guard)

As a child, Julie Greenwald sewed her own doll clothes and loved to tinker with old radios and other small appliances. “I would take something apart and try to make it work, or turn it into something else,” she said.

In the past few years, that resourcefulness has been quite an asset for Greenwald, now 56, and her husband, Jeff. When the local recreational vehicle industry tanked five years ago, the couple gathered up the pieces of their business, Interior Creations, which had supplied fabric and finished fabric products to the RV factories, and used them, quite literally, to create something new.

The RV industry was once Lane County’s second largest industry. But, in 2007, when the recession hit, many consumers stopped buying high-ticket luxury items. In 2009, Junction City-based RV manufacturers Country Coach and Coburg-based Monaco Coach declared bankruptcy. Monaco was bought later in 2009 by Navistar International, which moved most of the jobs to Indiana. All told, Lane County’s RV industry has lost 3,200 jobs since 2007.

The decline of the RV industry was a heavy blow to Junction City, the RV epicenter. But rather than giving up, many of the people who were suppliers to, or employees of, the once bustling RV factories have reinvented themselves.

Some of the people who once made their living working for, or selling things to, the RV manufacturers took their knowledge of the RV industry and found new ways to use it. Some have started companies to sell, refurbish and repair high-end used coaches.

Others have created textiles and cabinets for people wanting to remodel their RVs. And others are using the skills they learned in the RV industry to branch out into other consumer products.

A number of these new companies continue to benefit from the reputation Junction City built as a center of RV manufacturing. They profit from clients who once bought their RVs here, and who return to the area to have work done on their RV or for rallies – such as this year’s sold-out Country Coach Friendship Rally in Harrisburg, attended by about 170 RVers.

While business is not necessarily booming for all of these companies, it’s steady, the owners say.

Interior Creations

The Greenwalds purchased Interior Creations in 1996, just as the RV industry was really taking off. The business grew from two employees to 20 over the next 10 years, and their 7,500-square-foot shop in Junction City was bustling as workers sewed bedding and pillows for 20 coaches a week for Monaco.

Marathon, which produces ultra-high-end custom RVs, also was giving them sewing jobs for four or five coaches each week. Then they started getting work from Country Coach, lots of work.

In 2006, the couple celebrated their first year of sales of close to $1 million. It was a short-lived celebration.

“In 2007, there was nothing left,” Julie Greenwald said. “It was an incredible nose dive.”

When the Greenwalds went to the Monaco bankruptcy sale and saw even the tiniest hand tools being liquidated, she said, they realized the ride was over.

But here’s where her resourcefulness kicked in. Greenwald had saved all the remnants and rolls of high-quality fabric from the work they had done for the big coach companies. She saved pieces of trim, extra buttons, welting, tassels and other items that were left over from big jobs.

“My employees laughed at me,” she said, “but I couldn’t see throwing such a nice resource away. I said, ‘Some day we might need these, if things go bad.’”

In 1999, the couple brought the rolls and remnants out of storage and turned half their facility in downtown Junction City, into a retail shop called Remains of the Day.

“As much as things get ugly, there are ways you can make it work,” Julie Greenwald said.

Now, about only a quarter of the building is devoted to sewing. Along two sides of a 60-foot interior wall, neatly folded remnants are stacked floor to ceiling, arranged by color. Another wall holds rolls of fabric.

Artfully displayed here and there are trims and buttons, spools of colorful thread, tassels and welting. Julie’s collectibles are sprinkled in. High-end rolls of fabric, left over from jobs or purchased at bargain prices when Country Coach went out of business, sell for about 50 percent of wholesale.

The store is frequented by crafters, interior decorators and of course, those looking to redecorate their RV. A new design center allows customers to look at sample books if they don’t find fabric they like.

The production area where actual sewing is done is down to 1,400 square feet, but that side of the business is picking up. Last week, Julie was busy sewing a duvet cover for a custom coach being built at Marathon.

“We haven’t seen a big job like this for a while,” she said. “Now I wish I still had my crew.”

She does most of the sewing herself these days, with the help of one part-time employee.

Interior Creations also is getting a lot of work from Premier RV, a two-year old company made up of people who used to work with at Country Coach, she said.

All in the family

When Country Coach closed its doors in November 2009, it left more than a few owners, managers and employees high and dry. But several companies have emerged from its ashes, selling used high-end RVs as well as doing repairs and renovations.

These include Premier RV; a revamped Country Coach, named Country Coach Corp., back in business under the direction of Ron Lee, brother of one of the founders of the original Country Coach; and Oregon Motorcoach, co-owned by Bob Lee (one of the founders of both Monaco Coach and Country Coach) and Pat Mason, his son-in-law who worked at Country Coach for 15 years.

Premier RV was started in June 2010 by Gary Obermire, previously senior vice president/operations at Country Coach, and Louie Courtemanche, the company’s regional sales manager.

The pair bought two unfinished motor homes in the Country Coach bankruptcy auction at a fire-sale price – $100,000 for both coaches – then rented one of the buildings on the shuttered Country Coach campus — also for a low price, they said, declining to give the figure. Then they finished the two RVs off.

“That gave us enough money to start the business, and off we went,” Obermire said.

Inside Premier RV’s hangar-like warehouse, once Plant 10 at Country Coach, rows of gleaming luxury RVs, wait on consignment for new owners. But they don’t wait for long.

“We sell about eight to 10 a month,” Obermire said. “People fly in from all over. The high-end RV business is a very small world. It’s all about reputation.”

A luxury Country Coach RV that once sold for $800,000 can now be obtained for $300,000 to $400,000, he said. Some of the older ones sell for as low as $120,000.

Premier has sold more than 70 high-end coaches since opening two years ago.

“On the used side, business is very good,” Obermire said. “A lot of people are looking to buy, and … there is nothing like a Country Coach being made any more.”

The company, which has seven full-time and one part-time employees, also is busy doing RV repairs and renovations. Obermire is optimistic about the future.

“Now our hurdles are much like any business,” he said. “Make sure you’re profitable and manage your growth. I’m looking to hire more people, especially for the summer.”

Still going strong

Over at Guaranty RV, business is steady and the company has hired 16 new RV technicians this year. While sales are strong, buyers have shifted from the high-end coaches of years past to trailers and fifth wheels (which now comprise 60 percent of sales) and from new to used, general manager Shannon Nill said.

“People can see paying $200 a month for a trailer,” he said, “but they don’t want to spend $1,000 a month for a coach.”

The company also has started a rental sideline this year, and sees that side of the business increasing as people check out the RV lifestyle, he said.

“We were the largest RV dealer not to go bankrupt,” Nill said. “We reduced overhead, and went from having a presence in three states to just one. We brought the products home, tightened up and kept the good service.”

Guaranty has employed new marketing techniques that have been highly successful, Nill said, including twice-monthly seminars and a barbecue every Tuesday during the summer, which they promote by handing out fliers at RV campgrounds and service centers. At a recent gathering, 134 couples showed up.

Guaranty, which employs about 300 people on the RV side, is selling about 120 trailers and fifth wheels and 50 to 60 motor homes per month, Nill said. The service department is also doing steady volume.

“We’re back in the black,” he said, “and headed in the right direction.”

Looking afield

Shaun Davis of Davis Cabinets, a custom cabinetmaker and longtime supplier to the RV industry, said business is looking up. But he has taken a novel business approach, he said, because customers are not coming to Junction City in droves the way they used to. So now he goes to where the customers are.

While he used to go down to the Palm Springs area for a couple of weeks every winter for a trade show, he now spends several months down there in Oregon’s off-season, gathering customers.

“I take orders, hand-draw the plans on my iPad, and send it home to my guys who make the cabinets,” he said. “It’s been a revolution in how I’m doing business.”

by: Bradley T Waring

My name is Bradley Waring I am Executive Director of the Oregon RV Alliance, and I am a volunteer. I began the Alliance less than two years ago. The members represent some of the most successful, powerful and influential organizations and communities in Lane County and beyond.

We are a 501 C6, non-profit public/private partnership. Members are listed inside the front cover of the RV Resource Guide and on our website www.come 2oregon.com. Founding partners include Travel Lane County, Guaranty, Cottage Grove Chamber, Country Coach, South Willamette Wineries Association, Premier RV Resorts, Junction City Chamber, Les Schwab and the RV Dealers Assoc.(RVDA) to name a few. Our newest partners include Florence Chamber of Commerce, Sea Lion Caves, Coos Bay Chamber, Mill Casino, Redmond Chamber, Redmond Expo and Lane County Parks.

In these difficult times we are all trying to live within our means looking closely at your portfolio scrutinizing expenses and parsing the winners and losers. That is why we are here today to ensure that our resources are being wisely invested. But have you given any serious consideration to how to generate new revenues. What if you look in your portfolio and you discovered a perennially steady, dividend producing stock that you had forgotten about. A historically profitable blue chip stock that you did not even realize you had. Would you investigate further, or would you continue to ignore it? What if you found that this unpolished gem had been generating 15% of your revenue for years despite your lack of attention?

The RV Industry roots run especially deep in Lane County. Nearly every person I speak to knows of someone, or is related to someone, who was affected by the collapse of the RV Industry, during the Great Recession. There were no bailouts for the RV Industry. The RV Industry was once Lane County’s largest employer and one of the prime economic engines of the County and the state of Oregon, but the rumors of our demise have been greatly exaggerated.

Everyone knows that an existing customer is much easier to attract and retain than a new customer. RV Owners flocked here for years and number in the hundreds of thousands. These folks have been here before and may have already enjoyed some of our attractions. They simply need to be reminded to come back.

The ORVA mission is to expose RV Owners to the benefits of spending their Leisure and Recreation time here in Oregon. My purpose for starting the Alliance is to bring back the economic benefits of the RV Industry and put people back to work right here in Lane County. You see I had hundreds of friends employed in factories right here in Oregon, and someone needed to do something to bring the RV Industry back to the western RV Capital of the world, and I am uniquely qualified.

The RV Owner is so valuable to our community. The average age of 49 and the median income is 62k. RV ownership has increased since the recession and 8.5% of Americans with a car, own an RV too. You have all heard of the coveted baby boomers market so it should be no surprise that 21% of Americans recently expressed an interest in purchasing an RV in the future. Club members are even more affluent and they tend to gather in groups of 10 to 100 monthly and frequently thousands at a time. Currently the RV Industry is enjoying a record year in every category. RV businesses are thriving.

Manufacturing is up more than ten percent this year, Dealer Sales are up at shows and on the lots, and campgrounds are brimming with guests. RV Parks have been especially successful in both the Private and Public segments, some reporting 25% growth over last year. Even Warren Buffet is deeply invested in one of the biggest RV Companies(Keystone RV) with manufacturing operations here in Independence and Dallas.

For years Country Coach, Monaco and Guaranty were nationally recognized and admired brands, as well as some of the biggest and most successful companies in the RV Industry. Moreover that is still true today.

In fact Guaranty is the largest dealer in the country to survive the recession without filing for Bankruptcy, Monaco has recently opened new manufacturing facilities in Indiana, and Country Coach is planning to start building coaches again next year.

The Country Coach and Monaco brands have continued to be sought after in the used marketplace despite a sluggish economy. Junction City still continues to thrive in part due to the robust sales of these used brands, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of some of the Industry Stars who have started brand new service and sales businesses all around us. See the article reprinted from the Register Guard, in the RV Resource Guide.

I encourage you to look more closely at the RV Industry. Until recently the largest economic engine in this County and a perennially high performing investment. Reinvest TRT taxes in the Industry from which they came and raise your revenue now, while you continue to cut expenses. This could be the opportunity you have been waiting for, or the one you missed. The choice is yours.

by: Joseph McKinney of Oregon Roads

It is a pleasure to write about financing and leasing issues when rates are at historic lows. I have three decades of experience financing vehicles and a good understanding of the short history of financing prior to my career, and consumers have never before had such firepower.

Rates are historically low for the qualified, terms are generous, coach prices are modest, a few lenders still jockey for our business and most borrowers are using the interest payment as a tax deduction.

Coincidentally, there are ripe opportunities in real estate right now, for buyers with firepower. But in this unstable real estate market, I’m personally hesitant to act.

Is it time to act on an RV purchase? First, let’s consider the negatives:

1-The situation with RV’s is the same as with real estate. It is difficult today to get a loan (that’s “firepower”) if you have a bad credit history. That’s truer today than it has been for the last thirty years. The last four years have thinned the herd. Consumers who really didn’t have the staying power, the stability and ability to make steady payments even in difficult times, have lost their homes and their motorhomes. Some lenders have exited the business too.

Healthy lenders, including finance companies, banks and credit unions, returned to the market as soon as it stabilized. It’s ironic that when the banks were telling me that my applicants “didn’t have the liquidity and qualifications” for RV loans, my clients had better financial health than the banks.

2-If you are buying an RV at a discounted price due to market conditions; you must expect the value of your trade-in to be comparably impacted by market conditions. And now, just as it is with residential real estate and cars, it’s easier to trade up than down.

3-Expect to make a down payment or apply equity from your trade-in. With rates this low, there’s no room for error. Banks can no longer afford mistakes. They want to see “skin in the game”, because borrowers are less likely to walk-away from equity. The days of 100% financing are over. Ultimately that’s good for stability, and benefits those who keep their promises.

Now let’s look at the good news: things have stabilized with favorable conditions.

Compare the RV market to the auto market today. There’s been a bubble in the used car market. Used car sales have been on fire since late 2009. New car sales are finally taking off because used cars are priced almost as high as the new models. Demand finally caught up with supply. Could that be the future of the market for RV’s? The number of retiring baby boomers suggests consistent demand will return the RV market to its former vitality. The limited supply in recent years, due to reduced production, has also helped the market. That helps the consumer.

Why are so many recreational vehicles financed in Oregon? Have you discussed financing across the United States? It’s not exactly a level playing field. Oregon has the lowest transfer fees, and that makes a small difference, a small benefit to the consumer. But savvy consumers understand that not all contracts are created equal.

Finance contracts from Oregon finance companies, credit unions, banks and dealers have been agreed to by the Oregon Attorney General. Here we have distinct advantages. For example, early termination clauses and penalties are not allowed on retail contracts to consumers, and we use
simple interest financing. The net effect is a comparatively reduced payoff when you sell or trade your RV.

Now, looking down the road, I see opportunities ahead and I can’t help but feel bullish.

Rates drive sales as much as price. We all have our personal affordability index, our financial comfort zone. So when I look at how much I can now afford, at a certain monthly payment, and combine that with how much RV I can buy for today’s dollar, there is a compelling argument to make my move and soon.

Ben Bernanke, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, says he will hold interest rates at this zero level for at least the next year. Know what that means to me? If I’m going to buy real estate, a vehicle and/or a motor home, I’m going to do it this year.

“Inflation, like the tide, lifts all boats”. If my purchases are subject to inflation, but my rates are fixed, my assets will perform while my costs are fixed low. So even if the worst case scenario occurs, price inflation, I’m covered. Because I locked in the historic low rates of 2012, risked little but gained plenty, I believe I’ve recovered from my relative losses in 2008.

Oh, did I tell you I’m the President of the Northwest’s largest leasing and finance company? I deal with these issues daily. Please call me with questions about financing your next or re-financing your existing coach or vehicles. Oregon Roads has partnered with underwriters representing the most consumer oriented banks and credit unions. We customize leases for our commercial clients, consult with consumers till things make sense, and deliver it all with that relaxed, Oregon style.

Yes, it’s easy and a sincere pleasure to write about good news, and that’s what I see when I look down the road today. Happy trails to you.

Joseph McKinney has been the President of Oregon Roads, headquartered in Eugene, since 1989. To reach Mr. McKinney, call 800-944-0227 or email him at jm@oregonroads.com.

by Brad Waring, ORVA Executive Director

Although we did not actually win, the 2012 Eugene, Cascades & Coast Partnership Award from Travel Lane County this year, all the members and supporters of Oregon RV Alliance were big winners!!! A custom video featuring ORVA, and our mission, was projected on the giant screens of the University of Oregon Ford Alumni Center, for all of the dignitaries in attendance to see, acknowledge, and recognize, our amazing success, in our brief existence. This truly is one of those awards for which it is an honor just to be nominated. The contributions to our county from the efforts of Travel Lane County, and the Tourism Industry in general, are estimated at more than 500 million dollars annually!!! To be recognized by this important and influential Industry, is an amazing accomplishment in itself. The nomination this year is even more impressive, when you consider the actual winners are all icons in Lane County (the University of Oregon, Track Town USA, Marché, A. Helfrich Outfitters, Bike Friday, Sea Lion Caves, to name a few). As I sat at our elegant table adorned with art, created especially for the evening, by the finest local artists, I looked around in awe, at the many celebrities and dignitaries. I became even more humbled, throughout the evening, as I learned of the accomplishments of the prospective and eventual winners.

Being on the University of Oregon campus, it was fitting that the U of O a capella group, On The Rocks (as seen on NBC’s The Sing Off), began the evening, and U of O Track Coach, Vin Lananna, accepted the final award on behalf of Track Town USA. In his closing remarks he gave credit to his partnerships, with all of the attendees, to bring the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field to Eugene again this year. Successful collaboration was the theme of his message and the evening in whole.

The awards portion of the evening began with an introduction of dignitaries in the room, which included Mayors, County and City Councilors, numerous City executives, and representatives, from the Chambers of Commerce, of Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Junction City, and Florence that I can recall. The University of Oregon was represented in force with teams from their Marketing and Brand Management departments (a fellow nominee for the partnership award), Government and Community Relations, and of course Track and Field. The event was actually catered by the U of O too (YUMMY). Also in attendance were executives from The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, The Hult Center for the Performing Arts, The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts, Florence Events Center, Cottage Theatre and numerous other dignitaries from the Arts and Humanities. Hotel and Restaurant Executives dominated the attendees, including managers and executives from the Hilton Eugene and Conference Center, Valley River Inn, the new Inn at Fifth Street and Marche’ (also a winner!).

The exposure from this event already generated several inquires of partnership from some of the other attendees. The nomination has also served as a great ice breaker and door opener, as I recruit new members throughout Lane County and beyond. I would like to thank Travel Lane County for the gracious acknowledgement of our Partnership and our collaborative success. I would also like to thank my guests for the evening, Jerry Rust (former Lane County Commissioner/ORVA Board of Directors), Steve Rowland (Tribune News/ORVA Board), Deloris Hanlon (Premier RV Resorts), Steve Skiller & Josh Skiller (Countryside Interiors), Terry Morrison(ORVA volunteer administrator). It was a fun and exciting evening, and I am looking forward to what we can accomplish in the coming years, as we grow and evolve.

Thanks for your continued support.

by Sherry Fanning, ORVA founding member

In 2005, there were nearly 4,500 workers in Lane County’s RV industry according to the state’s employment department. By 2009 the financial crisis, credit lock down, escalating fuel prices created a perfect storm which saw the local RV industry shrinking drastically. The demise of Country Coach, LLC and the purchase of Monaco out of bankruptcy by Navistar (and its subsequent relocation of many jobs to Indiana) found Lane Country dealing with the fall-out. Many fringe businesses who had served these RV manufacturers closed their doors as well. Thousands of RV related jobs went away. Resiliency, however, is firmly rooted in the men and women of the great northwest. Richard Coon of Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) said a few years ago, “RVs are woven into the fabric of America.” And it is true. Over the past months, there has been a steady rebuilding of momentum as a “new” RV industry has risen from the ashes in a Phoenix-like rebirth in this county. Nationwide as aging baby boomers begin to again give themselves permission to spend their discretionary money, Oregon RV Alliance’s message of the benefits of spending your leisure time (and dollars) in Oregon is more timely than ever.

The Oregon RV Alliance, founded in December 2010, now numbers sixty members, including RV manufacturers, dealerships, service centers, suppliers, local chambers of commerce, community festival organizers, RV resorts, and others. This core group of “cheerleaders” is busy promoting Lane County, its many services, resources and attractions. Shannon Nill of Guaranty RV Center in Junction City has noted, “I thought it was tremendous that Brad Waring, Executive Director of ORVA, would take it upon himself to gather up all the quality elements and put a shine on it and find ways to further network and make sure people know we are open for business in Junction City for motor home sales, service and accessories.” Customers from across the nation are visiting Guaranty in Junction City for attention to their service and sales needs.

Many other businesses happily welcomed RVers back to Oregon this past year.
Motorcoach owners are a loyal group preferring to return to their service center of choice for routine service and maintenance, or for those more involved renovation projects. Oregon Motorcoach Center (OMC), a full service and renovations company in Eugene, finds that the majority of their customers come from out of the area. The business is co-owned by Bob Lee, original founder of Country Coach, Inc. and son-in-law Patrick Mason. Bob Lee is something of a local RV industry icon, co-founding the company that became Monaco Coach in 1968, and starting Country Coach (then Country Campers) in 1973, and an inductee into the RV industry’s RV/MH Hall of Fame. OMC has successfully created a Camp OMC atmosphere at their service facility on Airport Road in Eugene for returning customers and new clients, visiting the area for coach service. Californians John and Barb Grogan have noted they always look forward to catching up with their OMC friends when they make their annual visit back to the service center.

Service business is brisk at Country Coach Corporation (CCC) in Junction City, OR as well. The company keeps a robust inventory of Country Coach parts and fabricates parts on site. CCC owns all intellectual property of the former Country Coach, LLC which closed in bankruptcy in late 2009 and provides invaluable support to Country Coach owners nationwide via telephone technical support. CCC offers a selection of quality consignment motor homes for sale. Situated on several acres of the former Country Coach, LLC manufacturing campus, CCC company owner Ron Lee hopes to one day build Country Coach brand motor homes. (Marathon Coach in Coburg still builds million dollar bus conversions, albeit on a much smaller scale than before the economic downturn. Monaco is manufacturing towables in Coburg and elsewhere across the state several other manufacturers are building towables.)

Premier RV Services, a full service center, pre-owned coach sales facility and indoor storage facility, is also located on several acres of the former Country Coach, LLC campus. Co-owner and Service Manager Gary Obermire noted, “Our customers come to Premier knowing they’ll receive the same level of quality service as when their coach was originally built. House and Chassis service, paint or body repair, or larger renovation projects, whatever is needed, we’re here to serve our motorcoaching friends. While we specialize in Country Coach, all brands are welcomed.” The Premier pre-owned coach sales division has been extremely busy this past year. “With the largest inventory of pre-owned Country Coaches in the U.S., we’re seeing buyers coming in from coast to coast to purchase a well-maintained, hand selected pre-owned Premier motorcoach, or to consign their motorcoach,” Louie Courtemanche, co-owner said.

ORVA member Rob Dickman, owner of the Les Schwab/Bob Dickman Tire Center in Junction City, is a long-time supplier to the RV industry. The business is well known as a highly valued friend of motorcoachers. Rob is an enthusiastic promoter of the many recreation opportunities and the plethora of RV specialists to be found in this area. When motorcoachers are in the area for coach service, they’re visiting Dickman Tire Center to purchase tires and batteries.

Carr Industries, a Veneta company serving RVers cabinetry and countertops needs, recently reported a 40% increase in business year over year. Matt Carr, owner (and former Country Coach, LLC cabinet shop production manager), celebrated 25 years in the industry last year specializing in custom cabinetry and countertops, modifications and upgrades.

Oregon’s Willamette Valley is a great place to rally, too. Each year there are numerous rally opportunities in Oregon where one can meet old friends and make new friends in a rally setting. For example in July there is a Country Coach Friends Incorporated Club rally scheduled in Harrisburg. 170 motorcoachers are invited to attend a four day event (www.countrycoachfriendsincorporated.com) and to arrive early and linger on after rally’s end exploring in Lane County. Rally organizers will utilize local caterers, wineries, event rental and party stores, coach washing businesses, and a myriad assortment of other RV rally specific vendors. Many ORVA members will be on hand offering service and seminar support at the event. Rally attendees inject the local economy with discretionary spending. Local restaurants, wineries, grocery stores, fuel stations, pet stores and veterinarians, beauty salons and barber shops, art galleries, hardware stores, theaters, large national chain stores, shopping centers, and small boutiques and shops all benefit from RVers coming to Oregon for rally fun, leisure activities and coach care. Visiting RVers restock their motorcoachs with supplies, dine out, attend the theaters, and tour local sites and attractions at great length while in the area. It’s a win-win for both the visiting recreation enthusiasts and the local businesses.

We hope you’ll find the RV Resource Guide a valuable travel companion. ORVA has gathered a comprehensive list of RV related businesses, service providers, area sights and attractions all within the resource guide. Keep it handy in your RV or tow car and consult it often. When you visit the places of business or attractions listed, be sure to tell them you saw them in the ORVA Oregon RV Resource Guide! If you have suggestions regarding what you’d like to see added to our next issue, be sure to let us know by emailing oregonrvalliance@gmail.com.

Oregon RV Alliance is a non-profit, all-volunteer group whose funding is provided through advertising in the Oregon RV Resource Guide and annual membership dues: $600 for charter members and $200 for associate members. Anyone interested in joining ORVA or learning more about the organization may do so by calling Bradley Waring at 541-521-4277 or by visiting online at www.come2oregon.com.

The Rally Around… is a brand new and unique concept in RV Rallies. The conventional RV rally is held in a single location such as a Fairground or RV Resort. Participants are typically in that location for several days, and are limited to the activities and events provided by the promoter.

The Rally Around offers a new twist, exclusive to the Oregon RV Alliance(ORVA). ORVA members are in the unique position of having all the services required for a fun and exciting Rally right here at home. The extraordinary aspect of the Rally Around.. is that all of our members will participate by inviting RV Owners and prospective customers to our unique regional Festivals, to enjoy the events and celebrations created for each special occasion. We can “Rally Around…” the Scandinavian Festival, Oregon Country Fair or the Olympic Trials. ORVA members and partners will “Rally Around…” each celebration, with special activities, discounts and information, featuring their most desirable products and services. RV Owners will take advantage of the full compliment of services and showrooms here at home, while staying in the comfort of RV Parks and Resorts in the area.

The first ever “Rally Around…” The Oregon Covered Bridge Festival was held October 6th – 9th in Lane County, Oregon. The ORVA Rally Around… provided luxury bus service from each of our member parks to a diverse offering of member businesses and fun activities like wineries, and covered bridges. Oregon RV Alliance member parks provided Covered Bridge Festival discounts, and sponsored complimentary tickets for the bus tours around the valley. There were special maps made for those who choose the self-guided option. All of the activities were centered within a few miles of the Oregon Covered Bridge Festival and Northwest Harvest Gift Baskets were raffled as prizes for the RV’ers who visited the most member partners. For pictures and information regarding the first ever Rally Around… the Oregon Covered Bridge Festival, see the pictures here.