Readers' Choice Awards Announced

Speaking of awards, MotorHome magazine just announced the winners in its first ever Readers' Choice Awards and we're excited to report that its readers named Winnebago Industries motorhomes #1 in Class A and Class C, and tied for second in Class B.  So thanks to all of our MotorHome readers who voted -- we appreciate your commendation!

See the complete list of Readers' Choice winners here.

Hidden Gem
Stadium Parking Lot on Game Day 

One of the great things about owning a motorhome is that it can serve as a self-contained, mobile headquarters for your favorite activities.  Take, for example, the time-honored American tradition of tailgating.  

With a motorhome, you can:

• drive to the game
• extend the awning
• fire up the barbeque
• kick back with your favorite food and beverages (responsibly, of course)

And best of all, no tickets, no problem: you can even watch the game in your coach!

Got an interesting use for your motorhome or towable?  Drop us a line!

Louisville Wrap-Up

Every year, the RV industry says "no" to a third helping of pie, pushes itself away from the Thanksgiving table and heads en masse to Louisville, Kentucky, where dealers, suppliers, manufacturers and media gather for the annual Recreation Vehicle Industry Association National Trade Show.

Winnebago Industries always has a strong presence at the show, and 2012 was no exception.  As Chairman of the Board, CEO and President Randy Potts put it, "Our motorized and towable lineups at this year's RVIA National Trade Show were phenomenal.  Not only did we show some of our hottest floorplans, but also a number of concepts were shown in order to gauge dealer response. What we heard was positive, and armed with this information we are going to continue to take Winnebago Industries in exciting new directions that will meet and exceed the needs and demands of today's RVers."

RVDA Quality Circle Award

The Quality Circle Award is awarded annually by the National RV Dealers Association based on overall dealer satisfaction.

At the Louisville Show, Winnebago Industries was recognized for the 17th straight year with this prestigious award; we are the only manufacturer to receive this honor every year since the program began.

So why should a typical RVer care what our dealers think of us?  We look at it as sort of a scorecard on the way we do business -- the products we build, the support we provide, and the way we conduct ourselves -- with our dealer partners.  The people who represent our company to our customers.  It's another way of seeing how well our walk matches our talk, if you will.

"We believe we have the best dealer network in the RV industry," Chairman, CEO and President Randy Potts commented at the time.  "The Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) Award is a valuable indicator of our dealers' perspective on the quality of our products and services."

Meet the 35G 

This new floorplan is the latest in the value-packed Winnebago Sightseer and Itasca Sunova lines.  Three slideouts provide plenty of room in this mid-sized coach, and the extendable sectional sofa and our new multi-function InTable help you make the most of all that room.

The versatile InTable can be 

configured in a variety of shapes and sizes, including end table, dining table, island, countertop extension, and desk. It also includes built-in storage, it's easily moved around the coach to meet your needs, and it folds up into a compact (and secured) end table for travel.

Add in premium features like Corian countertops, Ultraleather cab seats, Euro recliner and entertainment center with 46" LCD TV, plus available washer/dryer and electric fireplace, and you'll see why the attractive 35G offers an incredible value for those interested in a Class A gas coach.

See the 35G Sightseer here, and Sunova here.

From the Mailbox

Just a note to follow up on what Don Griffen did to his '03 Chieftain (editor's note: see Traveling Times volume II, number 2), we had our '02 Journey repainted in '06 and we are asked if we have a new motorhome many many times!

Then, two years ago, we decided to remodel the inside.  We liked our floor plan so much we wanted to stay with it - when you are in your 80's you get used to things!  So we interviewed three custom designers and decided to go with a company out of Elkhart, Indiana.  We changed out all the captains chairs (bought from Winnebago with "JOURNEY" on the backs of the seats) to bring them up to date, put in new tile flooring from front to bedroom, recarpeted the bedroom, installed all new MCD shades with cherry wood valances, and installed the motorized MCD front windshield shade.  The most important update was the new Samsung domestic fridge!  We also installed two new flat screen TV's. Along with the new "Jack's" TV antenna, so now we don't have to crank up and down like we did with the old type.  We really love the new updates.  We feel like we have a new coach inside and out.  We have 107,000 miles on the Journey and it still runs down the road with pride. This is our 4th Winnebago and we wouldn't have any other make of coach!

Jim & Deanna Darrah

Thanks for your note, Jim and Deanna.  A small token of gratitude is on its way to you with our compliments!