Saturday, April 14, 2007
RECALL
Make / Models : Model/Build Years:
CATERPILLAR / C7 9999
Manufacturer : CATERPILLAR INC.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07E024000 Mfr's Report Date : MAR 30, 2007
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 33
Summary:
CERTAIN CATERPILLAR C7 DIESEL ENGINES INSTALLED ON CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES USED ON 6 CYLINDER, 7L TURBOCHARGED AND AIR-TO-AIR AFTERCOOLED DIESEL ENGINES MAY MALFUNCTION RENDERING THE ENGINE INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING.
Consequence:
THE ECM MAY MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AND RENDER THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL WOULD NOT BE LOST. ONCE THE ENGINE BECOMES INOPERABLE, IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED WHICH MAY RESULT IN A SITUATION WHERE A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Remedy:
CATERPILLAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 800-447-4986.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
CATERPILLAR / C7 9999
Manufacturer : CATERPILLAR INC.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 07E024000 Mfr's Report Date : MAR 30, 2007
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 33
Summary:
CERTAIN CATERPILLAR C7 DIESEL ENGINES INSTALLED ON CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES USED ON 6 CYLINDER, 7L TURBOCHARGED AND AIR-TO-AIR AFTERCOOLED DIESEL ENGINES MAY MALFUNCTION RENDERING THE ENGINE INOPERABLE WITHOUT WARNING.
Consequence:
THE ECM MAY MALFUNCTION WITHOUT WARNING AND RENDER THE VEHICLE INOPERABLE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STEERING AND BRAKING CONTROL WOULD NOT BE LOST. ONCE THE ENGINE BECOMES INOPERABLE, IT CANNOT BE RESTARTED WHICH MAY RESULT IN A SITUATION WHERE A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Remedy:
CATERPILLAR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CATERPILLAR AT 800-447-4986.
Notes:
CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
Friday, April 13, 2007
THE QUESTION NOBODY IS ASKING: HOW MUCH MONEY IS THE GOVERNMENT GOING TO LOSE WHEN THEY AUCTION OFF THESE TRAILERS? (OUR TAX MONEY)
RV Business
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) recently met with key officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the agency’s sell-off of trailers procured for emergency housing following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.
The April 11 meeting in Washington, D.C., resulted from testimony RVDA President Mike Molino delivered to a congressional subcommittee on March 20, where he called for government procedures to minimize the impact that RV surplus trailer auctions will have on RV dealers and the RV market.
FEMA officials David Garratt of the recovery division and Maryanne Lyle of the logistics division told RVDA that they are trying to be extremely sensitive to local markets.
In addition to individual units that are auctioned for FEMA through the General Services Administration (GSA), Lyle told RVDA many of its surplus RVs are auctioned in lots and that a number of RV dealers are bidding through this process.
In his testimony, Molino asked that FEMA consider selling units in lots to make it more likely that dealers would participate and help restore the units before they reach end-use customers.
Garratt and Lyle also told RVDA that they are using various processes to place excess travel trailers with other federal agencies and state governments, which will help keep these units out of the normal stream of commerce. Garratt said FEMA intended to keep at least 13,500 emergency housing units in inventory for future disasters.
“It was a productive meeting and a good first step to improve the communication between RV dealers and FEMA,” said Molino. “FEMA officials said they will work to keep RVDA and RV dealers informed of their emergency housing processes, both before and after disasters.”
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) recently met with key officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to discuss the agency’s sell-off of trailers procured for emergency housing following the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes.
The April 11 meeting in Washington, D.C., resulted from testimony RVDA President Mike Molino delivered to a congressional subcommittee on March 20, where he called for government procedures to minimize the impact that RV surplus trailer auctions will have on RV dealers and the RV market.
FEMA officials David Garratt of the recovery division and Maryanne Lyle of the logistics division told RVDA that they are trying to be extremely sensitive to local markets.
In addition to individual units that are auctioned for FEMA through the General Services Administration (GSA), Lyle told RVDA many of its surplus RVs are auctioned in lots and that a number of RV dealers are bidding through this process.
In his testimony, Molino asked that FEMA consider selling units in lots to make it more likely that dealers would participate and help restore the units before they reach end-use customers.
Garratt and Lyle also told RVDA that they are using various processes to place excess travel trailers with other federal agencies and state governments, which will help keep these units out of the normal stream of commerce. Garratt said FEMA intended to keep at least 13,500 emergency housing units in inventory for future disasters.
“It was a productive meeting and a good first step to improve the communication between RV dealers and FEMA,” said Molino. “FEMA officials said they will work to keep RVDA and RV dealers informed of their emergency housing processes, both before and after disasters.”
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
ONE,TWO,THREE-IT'S ALWAYS THE QUALITY
RV Business
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Good Sam Club’s RV Owners’ Advisory Council (RVOAC) recently completed a survey that identifies and ranks issues of importance to the club’s million-plus membership.
The RVOC was formed in December 2006 to evaluate and make recommendations to Good Sam management regarding RV-related issues of major concern to members.
The poll asked respondents to weigh in on nine specific topics. Results, ranked from first to ninth, include:
1. Quality of RV manufacturing (98%)
2. Availability of competent RV service (93%)
3. Existence of adequate lemon law protection (87%)
4. High fuel costs (86%)
5. Protection from local parking ordinances (79%)
6. Availability of suitable commercial RV parks (65%)
7. Federal access user fees (80% retained by federal facility) (63%)
8. Decreased availability/high cost of RV storage yards (52%)
9. Uniform state special RV drivers licensing (33%)
The RVOC survey also solicited write-in comments, which indicated fuel cost was the biggest concern to members. Good Sam reported that costs in general – fuel, campground fees, repairs – elicited the highest number of comments.
Other matters of concern based on the write-in responses include:
• RVers are increasingly concerned about local restrictions on where they can park their RVs.
• There are a number of issues relating to “big rigs”, including campgrounds that do not adequately provide for them, fuel stations that don’t have adequate room to maneuver (or have steep curbs), and a general desire for RV-friendly highway signage.
• Poll participants expressed an interest in “no frills” campground options, and in having federal state and local parks provide an adequate percentage of non-reservable sites.
“Most notably, the rather startling result is the 1-2-3 place finish of RV quality, RV service, and Lemon Laws,” said Tom Gonser, chairman of RVOAC. “As the council said in its report, it's as if RVers were saying ‘build it right’ and if you don't, get it fixed the first time. And if you fail on the first two, I want lemon law protection.”
Gonser added, "RVers would not be at all surprised at the high rankings of these three items. The real surprise is that RV owners now have a forum through the Good Sam Club to express their concerns, and potentially have them represented in meaningful discussions with industry leaders. RVOAC members intend to use the survey as a means to bring constructive focus on the issues pertaining to RV quality and service.”
Gonser, a retired attorney and former executive director of the American Bar Association who founded the popular website www.rversonline.org, chairs the council. Other members include: Jan McNeil, a retired realtor and full-time RVer; Leo Everitt, a former executive with engine builder Cummins Inc. and RV maker FMC; and Bill Estes, who recently retired after 38 years with Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
The Good Sam Club’s RV Owners’ Advisory Council (RVOAC) recently completed a survey that identifies and ranks issues of importance to the club’s million-plus membership.
The RVOC was formed in December 2006 to evaluate and make recommendations to Good Sam management regarding RV-related issues of major concern to members.
The poll asked respondents to weigh in on nine specific topics. Results, ranked from first to ninth, include:
1. Quality of RV manufacturing (98%)
2. Availability of competent RV service (93%)
3. Existence of adequate lemon law protection (87%)
4. High fuel costs (86%)
5. Protection from local parking ordinances (79%)
6. Availability of suitable commercial RV parks (65%)
7. Federal access user fees (80% retained by federal facility) (63%)
8. Decreased availability/high cost of RV storage yards (52%)
9. Uniform state special RV drivers licensing (33%)
The RVOC survey also solicited write-in comments, which indicated fuel cost was the biggest concern to members. Good Sam reported that costs in general – fuel, campground fees, repairs – elicited the highest number of comments.
Other matters of concern based on the write-in responses include:
• RVers are increasingly concerned about local restrictions on where they can park their RVs.
• There are a number of issues relating to “big rigs”, including campgrounds that do not adequately provide for them, fuel stations that don’t have adequate room to maneuver (or have steep curbs), and a general desire for RV-friendly highway signage.
• Poll participants expressed an interest in “no frills” campground options, and in having federal state and local parks provide an adequate percentage of non-reservable sites.
“Most notably, the rather startling result is the 1-2-3 place finish of RV quality, RV service, and Lemon Laws,” said Tom Gonser, chairman of RVOAC. “As the council said in its report, it's as if RVers were saying ‘build it right’ and if you don't, get it fixed the first time. And if you fail on the first two, I want lemon law protection.”
Gonser added, "RVers would not be at all surprised at the high rankings of these three items. The real surprise is that RV owners now have a forum through the Good Sam Club to express their concerns, and potentially have them represented in meaningful discussions with industry leaders. RVOAC members intend to use the survey as a means to bring constructive focus on the issues pertaining to RV quality and service.”
Gonser, a retired attorney and former executive director of the American Bar Association who founded the popular website www.rversonline.org, chairs the council. Other members include: Jan McNeil, a retired realtor and full-time RVer; Leo Everitt, a former executive with engine builder Cummins Inc. and RV maker FMC; and Bill Estes, who recently retired after 38 years with Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines.
