Once was/today/future
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05-10-2006, 15:32
Post: #1
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Once was/today/future
Once was:
Bluebird Wanderlodge: Starting in the 60's with a few other Manufacturers, a vision was perceived of the RV Industry becoming the gold rush of yesteryear. Bluebird, Newell, Barth and a couple of others went into competition for a market share of this boon. Bluebird Wanderlodge soon out distanced the others with innovation and "quality." Thus became the undisputed leaders in the industry of whom all others tried to copy. This went on through the mid 80's and started to become more and more competitive at the end of the 80's and gearing up for the 90's and beyond. The eldest of Bird's are still on the road, running strong,, who knew. Life was good. Today: Technology has caught up, and the RV industry, as a whole, are on a more level playing field. Cutting costs, but keeping the quality is a constant struggle in todays market. Some cut costs by lay off's, others by cutting employee benefits, yet others were using materials that were, perhaps not up to the standards of old, yet making the lighter weight materials "look" to be on a par with the higher end RV's. But there again the same technology is available to all and RV's are being built to the customer needs of more room via slides. Who cares if they work, they have more room. Innovation and foresight has given way to employing the "canned" technology made for everyone. Thus, quality tends to slip to the way side, as the coaches are not expected to last over the 10 year period anyway. Yes, we had better look like our competitors out on the road, in the campground, like stamped out models, one after the other. The RV industry is sliding on the back side of the curve of the long ago "gold rush." I often wonder what happened to the forward thinking, planning and invention of the systems going into todays RV's. What happened to "those who dared" to be different. What happened to "if I build quality, not quantity" "they will come and buy?" thinking? Now days it seems like just another remote button to be pushed to make this happen or that happen. Future: Who knows really? We can all speculate, arm chair guess and banter back and forth. But to what end really? The industry is going to go forth or slide back to the "once was" No matter what we input, todays technology is going to dictate what is to be. One thing that is a known as of today, of the "old" leaders in the Rv industry, Bluebird and Newell are still there and others have come on strong to capture the market share. The old saying, nothing lasts forever, may have truth, but darn, those 60's Birds are still on the road today, who knew. Let us not allow our passions to get us carried away to the point of pointing fingers, name calling or shouting matches. It matters not a whit. What does matter is that we are here to help one another with fixes, parts finds or up grades, and that we share them. THAT, makes us stronger and quite frankly gives us "bragging" rights," while we still respect those whom have made other choices, as is their right, and each having been in the Birds in the past, have gone through the "once was" and remembers the days of invention, innovation and takes the time to share those days with us all. George, stick around, many of us still need to "get knowed up" on many of those systems you fought to get running and how you did it. That is your job, you know and to be truthful, all things being equal, you like that job too. Toleration is one of the things that makes us all human. That can happen and still not lose the passion we have for our ideals or compromise our individual integrity. Lets talk upgrades, fixes and parts everyone. The future has not been written on all the other things as yet. Safe travels, Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm |
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05-11-2006, 01:38
Post: #2
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Once was/today/future
THANK GOD!!! Finally a sane voice crying in the wilderness. I just hope that
someone listens; there is a good chance that they will, given who is doing the talking. WELL SAID. Wallace "Ralph L. Fullenwider" Once was: Bluebird Wanderlodge: Starting in the 60's with a few other Manufacturers, a vision was perceived of the RV Industry becoming the gold rush of yesteryear. Bluebird, Newell, Barth and a couple of others went into competition for a market share of this boon. Bluebird Wanderlodge soon out distanced the others with innovation and "quality." Thus became the undisputed leaders in the industry of whom all others tried to copy. This went on through the mid 80's and started to become more and more competitive at the end of the 80's and gearing up for the 90's and beyond. The eldest of Bird's are still on the road, running strong,, who knew. Life was good. Today: Technology has caught up, and the RV industry, as a whole, are on a more level playing field. Cutting costs, but keeping the quality is a constant struggle in todays market. Some cut costs by lay off's, others by cutting employee benefits, yet others were using materials that were, perhaps not up to the standards of old, yet making the lighter weight materials "look" to be on a par with the higher end RV's. But there again the same technology is available to all and RV's are being built to the customer needs of more room via slides. Who cares if they work, they have more room. Innovation and foresight has given way to employing the "canned" technology made for everyone. Thus, quality tends to slip to the way side, as the coaches are not expected to last over the 10 year period anyway. Yes, we had better look like our competitors out on the road, in the campground, like stamped out models, one after the other. The RV industry is sliding on the back side of the curve of the long ago "gold rush." I often wonder what happened to the forward thinking, planning and invention of the systems going into todays RV's. What happened to "those who dared" to be different. What happened to "if I build quality, not quantity" "they will come and buy?" thinking? Now days it seems like just another remote button to be pushed to make this happen or that happen. Future: Who knows really? We can all speculate, arm chair guess and banter back and forth. But to what end really? The industry is going to go forth or slide back to the "once was" No matter what we input, todays technology is going to dictate what is to be. One thing that is a known as of today, of the "old" leaders in the Rv industry, Bluebird and Newell are still there and others have come on strong to capture the market share. The old saying, nothing lasts forever, may have truth, but darn, those 60's Birds are still on the road today, who knew. Let us not allow our passions to get us carried away to the point of pointing fingers, name calling or shouting matches. It matters not a whit. What does matter is that we are here to help one another with fixes, parts finds or up grades, and that we share them. THAT, makes us stronger and quite frankly gives us "bragging" rights," while we still respect those whom have made other choices, as is their right, and each having been in the Birds in the past, have gone through the "once was" and remembers the days of invention, innovation and takes the time to share those days with us all. George, stick around, many of us still need to "get knowed up" on many of those systems you fought to get running and how you did it. That is your job, you know and to be truthful, all things being equal, you like that job too. Toleration is one of the things that makes us all human. That can happen and still not lose the passion we have for our ideals or compromise our individual integrity. Lets talk upgrades, fixes and parts everyone. The future has not been written on all the other things as yet. Safe travels, Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm Yahoo! Groups Links Wallace Craig 95 WLWB 42 Azle, Texas --------------------------------- Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |
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05-11-2006, 02:42
Post: #3
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Once was/today/future
Ralph, Thanks for your post. Hope things get better for all of us.
Still working on ours and want to think the folks that have called and tried to help with (do not shift light). Also to let Bennie at Blue Bird know he has been a great help calling back and the follow-up phone calls that he has made to us. Kindest Regards, Rick Mcintire 86PT38 Patillo,Tx |
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