By Marilyn Odendahl, Truth Staff
modendahl@etruth.com
ELKHART -- A full-page ad that appears in today's edition of The Truth is another salvo in the battle between the industry associations that represent recreational vehicles and park trailers.
The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association, which represents RV manufacturers, is set to allow the size of travel trailers to increase to 400 square feet, 80 square feet larger than the current limit, according to Bill Garpow, executive director of the Recreational Park Trailer Industry Association. Such a change could open consumers to lawsuits as well as raise insurance rates and tighten financing, he said.
"We had to do something to get attention," Garpow said of the ad. "We really feel what they're doing is going to be harmful to the industry at large."
The ad in The Truth is the only one being printed in the country. Elkhart was chosen for the announcement because it is the heart of both the park trailer and RV industries. Garpow hopes it will spark national interest.
Representatives from RVIA were not available for comment.
RV dealers have heard the units may become bigger but the issue is "not very high on dealers' radar." said Phil Ingrassia, spokesman for the Recreational Vehicle Dealers Association.
RVDA has not taken a position on the matter and Ingrassia could not say whether the organization will take a side at some point.
At a 40-foot length, the larger travel trailers will be too big to haul down the highway so, Garpow fears, consumers will leave the units at campgrounds and use them as park trailers.
Although the RVs could compete directly with park trailers, which cannot be larger than 400 square feet, Garpow said his primary concern is the larger trailers could cause problems that will hurt the credibility of the entire RV industry, including park trailers.
Specifically, the 400-square-foot travel trailers will not comply with federal and state laws, Garpow said, which could leave a consumer vulnerable to a civil lawsuit if an accident occurs while towing the unit.
Garpow also said that if the units are parked, consumers may become dissatisfied because the travel trailers will not have the features and amenities of park trailers -- so they may "bail out" or sell the units at a discount.
That could lead lending institutions to limit financing options for RVs and park trailers, Garpow said.
"We think they're making a big error," Garpow said. "Basically RVIA is shooting itself in the foot as far as we can see."
In another sign of the growing bitterness between the two industries, RVIA has informed Garpow that the RPTIA will no longer be able to display park trailers at the annual National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky.
"They're playing games," Garpow said.