RVBusiness, March/April 2020

This TV was built with outdoor and off the grid living in mind It was made to handle the bumps vibrations and extreme temperatures that the average TV cant handle making it very functional for use in RVs Power Watchdog Surge Protector by Hughes Autoformers Available in portable and hardwired 30 and 50 amp models the next generation of the Power Watchdog Surge Protector combines its patent pending Bluetooth functionality with Emergency Power Off EPO protection Hughes is the first company to use Bluetooth and phone app technology on a surge protector mentioned one judge I have worked with every other reputable surge protector product and the one thing that needed innovation was not having to go outside to read the LED display The capability to monitor 12 volt power from your phone is very innovative Picking up on that another judge said the Power Watchdog Surge Protector provides the kind of data todays connected RVers seem to desire in their RVs CombiMaster Inverter Charger by Mastervolt The most compact lightweight inverter charger on the market today according to company officials the Combi Master combines delivers pure sine wave inverter power and multichemistry 40 RVBusiness M A R C H A P R I L 2 0 2 0 battery charging plus the ability to integrate into a comprehensive power conversion system This is an excellent product that sets itself apart from many of the similar products used in RVs today one judge mentioned With its small footprint various mounting configurations stable power source and the ability to be integrated into almost any network it is an extremely functional product The consumer doesnt always recognize the behind the scenes products that make the RV work but if they did they would choose products like the CombiMaster SureShade ATF Automated RV Shade by Lippert Components Inc Introduced to the RV industry at the RVX show the SureShade features Sunbrella marine fabrics for optimal outdoor performance no vertical support poles to disrupt head clearance and patented cambered roller and cross bar components for aesthetics and rain run off Operating with silent glide technology SureShade ATF Automated RV Shade can extend up to 10 feet in length for sun protection Judges cited SureShades flexibility in that it can be fully integrated as a factory accessory or as an aftermarket installation on nearly any RV size or class from conventional travel trailers to Class A motorhomes and specialty vehicles One judge noted the SureShades patented electric power driven retractable awning system and its heavy duty stainless steel telescoping framework that is able to withstand winds up to 55 mph Special Mention Judges singled out for special mention IDS as it has taken the lead to develop a RECT reporting function into its DMS Reducing the Repair Event Cycle Time is a crucial issue for the industry they said and the potential impact of measuring such essential data cannot be overestimated More than 180 dealers are allowing IDS access to their repair order data In turn IDS is providing them with monthly reports about their RECT performance which helps dealers pinpoint their biggest bottlenecks and provide them with a clear path toward improvements Another advantage of IDS RECT data is that it allows RV dealers to anonymously compare their service department data to that of other dealers across North America almost 20000 work orders are analyzed each month in that regard This in turn enables them to see where they stand in relation to their industry partners and to bettter understand the impact of key bottlenecks such as parts availability and warranty coverage on their repair time IDS worked closely with National RV Dealers Association and RV Industry Association to develop the RECT standards and IDS General Manager Sean Raynor was the recipient of the RVDA Chairmans Service Award for his work on RECT While judges in the OEM category will remain anonymous as they are high ranking managers from a crosssection of manufacturers the panelists in the aftermarket category are familiar names to the RV industry They are as follows Bill Gehr a Master RV Technician and contributor to and technical adviser for Trailer Life and MotorHome magazines Jeff Johnston former technical editor at and current contributor to Trailer Life and MotorHome and most recently a producer and contributor for Rollin on TV Bob Livingston publisher emeritus of Trailer Life and MotorHome and a RV MH Hall of Fame inductee and Mark Polk of RV Education 101 a consumer facing RV lifestyle and maintenance multi media firm RVB