On the Road Again!
Fellow Allies,
Spring is in full swing and that means that Yvonne & I have departed our wintering location in Florida and are heading North in time for the National Rally at the end of May. We can feel the uptick and excitement in our Allies as you prepare for the camping season. To that point, in this edition, I’d like to touch on bringing your coach out of hibernation, or if you are a Full-Timer, the things you should be considering this time of year. You all know the saying Happy Coach…Happy Life? While this is a play on an old saying, the point is the same. A well-maintained coach is a happy coach and will provide many great memories for you and your family. So, how can I make my coach happy? Like our loved ones, don’t take it for granted and give it the attention it needs when it’s due.
Your coach will benefit from some love after its long winter’s nap. Here are some things you should consider doing yourself or contacting a RV Technician professional to accomplish.
Running Gear:
- Inspect your tires for wear and ensure they have the proper inflation using the tire manufacturer’s inflation guidelines.
- Check the torque on the wheels lug nuts and associated running gear. See Chart here
- Inspect wheel bearing & re-pack annually or every 12K miles. Dexter Axle Guide
Water Heater:
- Drain tank and inspect anode rod. Instructional video from Alliancervowners.com
- Use water wand to clean out tank.
Exterior Surfaces:
- Slides - Inspect bulb & swipe seals for condition and clean. You can use lemon pledge. Care Guide.
- Roof - clean and check lap sealant to voids. Dicor cleaning tip sheet.
- Wash exterior and check sealant for condition/clean & reapply if needed. Sealant guide.
These are just some of the items that may need attention as you get ready for the season. I’ve also attached the recommended scheduled maintenance chart.
Most of your coach’s maintenance needs are not too different than your homes. For items that you’re unfamiliar with, these can learned through a multitude of resources. Places in which you’ll find help are our Alliance RV Owners Fourm, Alliance RV YouTube Channel where we have many Owner Empowerment videos, Alliance RV Facebook groups, and of course by contacting our service A-Team.
As I close my column this quarter, I’d like to tell you about an exciting opportunity for those who’d like to get some hands-on training to better learn how your RV systems work.
Fellow Allies, Charles & Leslie Tyer, proposed an all-Ally RV Fundamentals class at the National Recreational Vehicle Training Academy (NRVTA), and I’m happy to report that we will be supporting our Allies for this endeavor. The class is scheduled for Oct 31 – Nov 4, 2022, at NRVTA in Athens, Texas. If you’re interested in participating in this 1st Annual Owner Empowerment Rally click here for details.
Lastly, I’d like to say that we are looking forward to seeing everyone that can make our National Rally in May. We will have a lot of great learning opportunities and most of all, it will be great to get together with FamAlly!
As always, if you have ideas on topics you would like to highlight, please email me at rob.boyer@alliancerv.com with your suggestions.
Until next time, travel safe and we’ll see you out there!
- Rob Boyer, Service Liaison
National Ally Rally
The 2022 Alliance “Ally Rally” is just around the corner. Over 500 Allies, representing nearly 250 Alliance RVs, will be making their way to Elkhart for the rally taking place May 25 – 27.
The first Alliance rally was held in August of 2020. With 50 units and 100+ attendees in that first year, we were shown the magic that can happen when a group of Allies get together. Just two years later that magic continues as we have moved locations to the Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds where we can accommodate the rapidly growing number of Allies attending the rally.
We have an amazing week planned with great food, games, live music and entertainment, lifestyle and product workshops, and most importantly enjoying the company of fellow Allies from across North America. Click here to view the 2022 Alliance “Ally Rally” Agenda.
If you haven’t had the opportunity to attend an Alliance Rally before, it’s definitely something to put on your bucket list!
- Bill Martin, VP of Customer Experience
Product Development - Valor Travel Trailer
The Alliance product development team has been busy the last few months developing a Valor travel trailer. The first model will be a 33T13 (viewed below). The next several months will be spent rounding out this lineup. Garage sizes will range from 11’ to 18’ lengths. This is a very exciting step, not only for the Valor product team but also Alliance RV as it enters the ever-popular travel trailer market. Following suit with the Valor fifth wheel, the travel trailer will be top of the line and will share a lot of the same sought after features and aesthetics. The travel trailers will be hitting dealers lots in late summer.
As always, please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any comments or suggestions at Jeremiah.Dumka@Alliancerv.com.
- Jeremiah Dumka, General Manager - Paradigm and Valor
RALLIES!
Hello Allies!
Have you ever been to an RV rally? What are they, really?
Over the years, I’ve been to a number of RV rallies. Most of them were brand specific but some of them were for all brands.
What is a brand-specific RV rally, and what happens at them?
In my experience, they generally include the following:
- A gathering of RV owners of a specific brand
- Almost always held at a campground
- Often held over a weekend
- Often includes a meet-and-greet of some sort on the evening of the first day
- Often includes some sightseeing in the area of the rally
- Usually includes rig tours, show-and-tell / idea sharing on decorating, modifications, repairs, travel plans and planning etc.
- Often includes a potluck meal, campfires, story telling / sharing
- Most definitely results in new friendships being made, existing friendships strengthened, and a great sense of camaraderie being developed amongst the group
- In many cases, the RV manufacturer is asked to get involved in some manner (have a rep on-hand, sponsor a meal, supply swag, prizes etc)
- In some cases, a nearby RV dealership that carries the brand is asked to get involved in some manner (have a tech on-hand for minor repairs, sponsor a meal, supply prizes etc.)
In summary for brand-specific rallies, they tend to be more intimate and singular-focused on your brand. I feel this creates a special bond, not only between you and your manufacturer, but also between you and fellow rally attendees. After your first one, you’ll very much look forward to the next one. I would encourage all owners to take in as many rallies as they can. Once you attend a few, you’ll notice differences between them. These differences reflect the diversity of not only the rally hosts, but the area the rally is held in and the attendees at those rallies. I have found this diversity to be a real strength within a brand and amongst its owners.
How is a rally for all-brands different from a brand-specific rally?
In many ways, they are similar; however, here’s a few differences I’ve experienced:
- Less discussion and learning about specific RV brands, and more focus on RVs and RVing in general
- Less RV manufacturer support (reps, dealers, service, sponsorship, swag etc.)
- There’s usually a fee to attend
- They tend to be hosted by large clubs or organizations (Escapees, FMCA, Good Sam etc.)
- They tend to have large vendor displays and participation
And while all-brands rallies are different and may not be as intimate as brand-specific rallies, they should not be dismissed. They’re also fun and informative, and the differences can also enhance your RV lifestyle.
Speaking of rallies, how about some Alliance rallies? When and where are they?
Below is a list of upcoming 2022 Alliance RV related events of which we’re aware:
- Texas: Texas Ally Rally - Kerrville, Texas - April 29 - May 2 Facebook link / Forum link
- National: Alliance RV Ally Rally - Goshen, Indiana - May 25-27 Facebook link / Forum link
- Oregon: Pac NW Ally Rally - Baker City, Oregon - July 28-31 Facebook link / Forum link
- Michigan: Michigan Fall UP Rally - St. Ignace, Michigan - Sept 28 - Oct 1 Facebook link / Forum link
- Texas: Alliance RV FamAlly Cruise - Galveston, Texas to Western Caribbean - Oct 22-28 - Facebook link
Try to make it to one or more Alliance related events this year. Doing so may really enhance your RV lifestyle.
I look forward to meeting many of our Allies at this year’s Alliance RV Ally Rally in Goshen, Indiana in late May!
- Jim Beletti, Owner Experience Liaison