Monaco Coach looks to RV parks

COBURG, Ore. (AP) - With gas at more than $4 a gallon, will anybody show up at a new multimillion-dollar RV resort? Coburg-based Monaco Coach, a top manufacturer of motor homes, is banking on it.

Monaco recently announced it is forming Signature Resorts to manage and develop the company's RV resorts.

Monaco had developed RV resorts in places such as Indio, Calif. and Las Vegas. Signature Resorts will now act as an offshoot of the 40-year-old RV company.

Monaco's next two developments, in Harbor Bay, Mich. and Naples, Fla., will open under Signature Resorts' branding.

With a tennis court, a putting green, a clubhouse, an outdoor pool and a spa, Harbor Bay will open this summer, followed by the one in Naples.

Monaco hopes the resorts will help improve what has been a tarnished year so far. First-quarter figures show a company hit hard by high gas prices and weakened consumer confidence.

First-quarter revenue for the coach company in 2008 was $252 million compared to $322 million for the first quarter of 2007. Gross profit dropped from $36 million a year ago to $15 million this year. Read more about Monaco Coach...

RV Drivers Hit the Road Despite High Gas Prices

Soaring gasoline prices are painful for commuters, but imagine how the guy behind the wheel of a bus-sized motor home feels. The average big motor-home gets somewhere between 7 and 9 mpg, but RV drivers are staying on the road despite high gas prices.

Fuel prices slow RV sales, drive increase in camping

AUBURN/FREMONT, Ind. (WANE) - If you think filling up your car is expensive, try filling up an RV.

"They're 50 gallon tanks so it's about twice what it would cost you to fill up a full size sports utility," explains Ben Davis RV General Sales manager Joe Hysong.

The expense of higher gas prices is taking a toll on the RV industry as more people skip larger models in favor of smaller ones that use less fuel.

"The ‘Winnebago View', which is a smaller diesel engine, we've sold a few more of those," says Hysong.

But on the other hand he says, "We're seeing a slowdown on our class A and big heavy duty diesel pushers."

While high fuel prices may be hurting some RV sales, it's actually helping business at a number of area campgrounds. Read more...

RV Owners Seem To Be Toughing It Out

They're still packing campgrounds despite skyrocketing gas prices.

For Bill Loveland, enjoying a beautiful Sunday at Aces High RV Park in East Lyme, the joy of mobile home life far outweighs the price of gas - for now.

”When diesel hits $10 a gallon, I'll have to do some thinking, though,” he said. “Maybe at that point I'll have seen enough of the country I wanted to see.”

Loveland, a former manufacturing-company owner who lives in Durham, has been staying at various recreational vehicle parks around the country since his retirement, though this year he isn't wandering as far as he oversees the construction of a new home. He likes staying a while - a month or two at a time - to soak in the flavor of an area and enjoy a little peace and quiet.

”All the people are friendly,” Loveland said. “This is the way to go.” Read more...