32nd Annual TJC Customer Appreciation BBQ

Another TJC Customer Appreciation BBQ has come and gone and it was great fun!  This year was the 32^nd year and it was certainly an exceptional one for a number of reasons.  First and most important, we were joined by so many of our TJC friends.  This year was one of the best attended events and the campground and rally park over-flowed with campers who were connected to power and water at the service buildings. 

This year also saw the first time we have tried some new events including an Outdoor Cinema in which we aired the movie RV on a huge screen in the pavilion.  RV is certainly a funny movie but there are also some deep elements to the movie.  Initially the character is trying to find a work life balance and also realizes that he needs to reconnect with his children and his wife.  Kids grow up fast and his were certainly moving along quickly.  And with the demands of the world, time to stop and connect with his wife, while managing a career and kids made this difficult.  Initially too he worked to do everything on his own, isolated from others around him.

Through the trials and tribulations they experienced on the road the main character, and those of his family as well, learned a lot about life and each other.  Everyone in the family learned a little more about themselves and each other and came to understand the importance of each one of them.  They learned that shared experiences are what create the cement that holds families together.  They learned that working together and with those around makes life easier and more enjoyable.  RV travel can have challenges at times, like any form of traveling.  But it also brings people together.

This past week when we held the TJC Customer Appreciation BBQ that spirit was out in full force.  Our customers are our friends.  They are people we have connected and bonded with and some of the folks there had been coming for all 32 years.  What makes the BBQ and TJC special is this bond that we have all cemented over the years.  Like the characters in the movies we have these shared experiences and that is what makes TJC so different.  We are not just a company but a collection of individuals working together towards a common goal.  And it’s that sharing of the experiences that has made the BBQ what it is today.  So as I watched the movie on the first ever Outdoor Cinema night what really struck me as the lesson to learn was not on screen  It was the hundreds of friends and TJC employees all hanging out together in the evening kicking off a weekend of fun.

Thanks to everyone for coming out to enjoy another year of the TJC Customer Appreciation BBQ.  I can’t wait to see you all next year and hear more stories about your travels all year! 

Pot of Gold Lands At Tom Johnson Camping Center

Tom Johnson Camping Center recently decided to expand our Class C motorhome line-up adding Coachmen brand motorhomes to our already great line-up which includes Fleetwood, Four Winds and Winnebago brands.  Our Concord store received their first model to sell the other day, a Leprechaun 320BH and it showed up just in time to take to an outdoor event at a Kannapolis Intimidators baseball game.  A Class C was the very first RV my wife and I ever owned so I was interested to see how this would be and boy was I amazed!

The first thing you notice is the striking full body paint on this version but when you get closer to it, you start to see the beauty is more than skin deep.  Starting from the front you notice the fiberglass front cap then your eyes are immediately drown to the front sides where you see side cameras.  Yes, side cameras on a Class C and they are integrated with the back-up monitor so you can see your sides and out back on the in-dash screen.   The next exciting feature is the outdoor entertainment and it is no ordinary am/fm player, there is also a TV and some serious outside speakers, all of which you can enjoy under the power awning.  Moving out to the back you also discover large storage areas and LED taillights. 

Now when you first walk in the Leprechaun you are immediately stuck by how luxurious it looks with sleek countertops, well laid out kitchen, slide-out drawers,  two toned driver and passenger seats and a wood grain look dash.  Functionally you have a large bed in the cab area, easy slide down conversion dinette and a large couch across the way which slides out with the kitchen.  Moving back there are twin bunks on the slideout that also houses an immense cabinet layout for the master bedroom.  Across from the twin bunks is a spacious bathroom with cabinets.  Out back in the master area is a large walk around queen bed, the aforementioned amazing cabinet storage, a flat panel tv and large window.

The real test was how would it drive and once again I was amazed.  After 8 miles driving on road construction in which 1/3 of my lane was a different height I could not believe how well this motorhome handle the inconsistencies.  Road manners were fantastic and when the road opened up again, 65 to 70mph was extremely easy to maintain.  The cameras worked well in passing situations, the ride was quiet for a Class C and everything about it was enjoyable.

I was excited when I learned we would be carrying Coachmen Class C models as they are currently the best selling Class C in the country.  Now all I can say is, Tom can I keep this one on a permanent loaner for the Marketing Department??

Spring Season!

Its spring break season across the country, which usually also means it’s right around
Easter. The two events go hand in hand and usually mean traveling. Getting together with family members and taking a break to make some memories together is what this spring season is for.

I listened today to my wife and neighbors talking about what to do with Spring Break this year and the trouble with traveling these days. Most folks are concerned with the cost of fuel and it is impacting travel to far away distances.

What I think is that there is no better time than now to own an RV. RVs can take you across the country or across town and either way you will feel a million miles away. In the Carolina’s there are hundreds of campgrounds. My introduction to RVs occurred when I was 6 or 7 years old and my family rented a folding trailer. The day we picked it up it was late and did not leave us enough time to hit the road. So we parked it in the driveway of our home and my brothers and I camped out in it, feeling like we were already on the road having a big adventure.

RV travel is still less expensive than other forms of traveling. And there are an amazing variety of RVs available. There are travel trailers that can be towed with vehicles as small as a minivan. There are fifth wheels that can be towed with a half-ton pickup. And there are
motorhomes that can get 20 miles per gallon which is better than most minivans. And there are RVs out there that you can own for less than the average family cell phone plan. Now that’s a real unlimited family share plan if you ask me. And they are all available right now on the lot at Tom Johnson Camping Center.

This spring season; don’t give in to all the doom and gloom of fuel prices. Get out and get educated about the options available to you. Come see us at Tom Johnson Camping Center and see how affordable this RV lifestyle really is. Start making memories today!

Handicap Access RVs

We recently received in our first handicap accessible V-Cross travel trailer and it has been a big event here at the dealership. It has also been an eye opening event for some of us. One of the best parts to being a TJC employee is meeting so many of our customers at the annual customer appreciation BBQ. It allows us to spend more time getting to know our customers and learn about their lives.

None of us are getting any younger as each day passes. And as we age sometimes we need a little help with mobility. What is unfortunate is when these mobility issues begin to effect the enjoyment we can derive from the world around us. People who are handicapped and need
assistance in mobility, be it a wheel chair or even a scooter, face obstacles every day. RV owners love the outdoors and being out and about – it’s just part of RVing. In the past that has of ten meant expensive modifications or the use of more expensive motorhomes to travel in an RV.

This V-Cross now allows us to provide to our customers a much more affordable means to
continuing to enjoy the lifestyle they love. It is always gratifying to send a new owner off on their way to making memories with their loved ones. But when you can give back to someone a lifestyle they loved and thought they lost, it’s really special. We have already had customers in tears as they have found a way to enjoy the RV experience with loved ones restricted to wheelchairs or have found a way back to the life they love. There really is nothing more
rewarding than that.

If you know of someone who could benefit from this type of RV, please let them know it’s now available to them and just wait to see how good that feels!! Thanks Forest River for making this amazing new handicap accessible RV.

The Best RV Deal

As we approach a new season of RV shows a lot of talk is about show deals. Consumers looking for the best opportunity come to shows to see new models but also to get the best deal they can on a new RV. And during other times of the year they often wondering, am I getting a good deal. So what makes up a good deal? There are many elements to a good deal and it can be as individual to every customer. However, there are some things only a dealer like Tom Johnson Camping Center can provide.

In my opinion a good deal begins with ensuring you are shopping for the right product for your needs. If the product is not right for you, no matter how little you pay for it, it’s not a good deal. As of this morning’s review, Tom Johnson Camping Center has over 800 RVs to choose from which means we will have the product for your needs. Building a relationship with a customer and asking you about your lifestyles and desires are the way our sales staff narrows down the RVs available for you to browse. Understanding your needs aids in picking the RV that will give you the most enjoyment delivering on the best experience and making the memories of a lifetime.

Of course all parts of getting a good deal include price to value equations. Everyone wants to get the most for the least amount of money. Tom Johnson Camping Center is a volume dealer and that allows us to pass on savings of volume buying to you. Another aspect of this is the breadth of the models available on our lots. With more brands and styles to shop from, we have multiple price points in similar models. This ensures that not only are we placing you in the right RV, but we are also placing you in the right RV for your budget.

Then there are the less commonly thought of parts of a good deal. Not all dealerships are equal. Tom Johnson Camping Center offers many benefits you will not find in other dealerships that can add up to a better deal. You will not pay Doc Fees or Prep Fees when you buy an RV from Tom Johnson Camping Center. This can be a potential savings of hundreds of dollars over other dealers.

When you take delivery of your RV, first you receive a walk-thru from our technicians who show you how all the systems work. You will receive a gift certificate to apply to purchases in our parts and accessories stores where everything is 10% off on your purchase day. If your schedule permits we like to have you stay overnight with us in the campground for free on your first night to familiarize yourself with your new addition. This allows you to be close to us in case you need assistance getting accustomed to your new RV. We also provide you with up to 5 nights of free camping (# of nights depends on RV purchased) at the Tom Johnson Campground in Marion, NC. So now you have up to 6 nights of free camping as well as having used a gift certificate and savings in our parts/accessories stores.

We invite all of our customers to our complimentary Annual Customer Appreciation BBQ which includes 3 free nights of camping, live bands, seminars, entertainment for all ages and free breakfast and dinner on Saturday. That’s more free stuff from TJC!!

Lastly, a good deal has to remain a good deal. You need to be taken care of after you purchase your RV and the Tom Johnson Camping Center philosophy is to always work hard to take care of you. Tom Johnson Camping Center has invested millions of dollars to construct the largest RV service center in the region and one of the largest in the nation. In addition, we are continuously training our staff to service your RV properly. And with two locations, we can get you scheduled for service quickly and keep you on the road enjoying your RV. We also stock our Parts and Accessories stores with thousands of parts at each location to ensure you can find the products you need to enhance your RV experience.

When you head out to the RV show this season, ensure the dealership you are looking at can compete in all these areas. At Tom Johnson Camping Center we are working hard to earn your business and ensure our customers remain our customers. As you shop for your best deal, work with Tom Johnson Camping Center and see for yourself; there is a difference when working with the Nation’s Number 1 RV dealer.

RV Traveling Brings Growth

The majority of RV owners responded to a survey indicating that families bonds were increased and children who travel in an RV showed higher levels of confidence and responsibility. I can tell you first hand that all of that is true. But what is interesting is how convoluted a process that can actually be as I learned recently from my son Nic.

This summer we took a trip in a motorhome to the Blue Ridge Mountains in Western NC. While there we decided to visit Sliding Rock, a large natural rock formation in a river where people can walk up a rock slope in the river, walk out to the middle and slide down into a deep basin at the bottom. Very cool idea but with a 7 and a 4 year old I was not too sure how well they would handle this as the rock looks a little intimidating from the bottom, more so from the top looking down before you slide.

Upon arrival we learned that the water was extremely cold that day as it was early in the season but that did not deter the kids from wanting to check it out anyway. Walking down the stone path to the bottom you get glimpses of the climb and the descent and the views were enough to put off my 4 year old. Upon reaching the bottom my 7 yr old Nic was a little unsure at first then something clicked and off he went, faster than we could even say, wait, be careful!

He climbed out to the middle of the river and looked a little unsure of himself. Then with a big push, off he went breaking into a huge grin halfway down and plunging into the pool at the bottom with a big shout of joy and probably triumph too. That was enough to convince my youngest son he wanted to go too. It was a great day of triumphs and confidence building, but it didn’t stop there…

Nic is fortunate to have landed in a 2^nd grade class with a teacher who challenges her students to expand their horizons and one opportunity came in the form of a story contest. Nic recently has become a voracious reader often needing us to turn off his lights at night because it’s too late to be up reading still, is not necessarily so energetic when it comes to writing or story-telling. But he decided to have a go at the contest which had to be based on a NC Treasure. He picked the RV trip to base his story on and in particular his jaunt to Sliding Rock.

He worked hard on the story and submitted it and then it kind of left our minds. A month later we were overjoyed to learn that his story had been among the finalists from his school to move on in the competition. This week we were ecstatic to learn that his story won countywide and is being submitted against other stories in the state level competition. Nic has grown more confident in his writing abilities and perhaps more importantly learned that it pays to put in some effort on a project and that sometimes you need to refine things a few times to achieve the results you hope for. And topping it all off, our 4 year old Alex also learned to tackle challenges like Sliding Rock. On that trip he also learned to fish and cast with a “big boy” fishing rod, that he can hike for miles and that he can help build and cook out over a campfire.

One RV trip with so many memories shared, lessons learned and little lives being launched the right way. Imagine what lives can be like with regular RV travel added to the mix…. Write to us and tell us your stories, maybe we can all learn a little and grow a little closer.

Holiday Memories with the RV

The holiday travel season can always be a challenge faced with crowded flights, bed bug infested hotels that are over-priced and even the need to travel to remote locations. The RV lifestyle offers a unique brand of freedom from those worries as we discovered one Thanksgiving.

We were traveling to visit relatives in a rural setting in Virginia. The closest hotel was 20 miles away from our relatives’ home and their home was already full with family members. Sleeping on the floor or a couch was an option, just not a very attractive option.

This was our first year owning an RV which was a gas Class A motorhome. Our relatives suggested we just drive it on down and park in the front of their home where there was a lot of space in their drive. It turned out to be the perfect solution.

We plugged into their home with a regular extension cord and adapter and had all the power we needed. It was like traveling with our own home as we had all our regular stuff with us and it turned into a great experience. We ended up hanging out in the RV with the family playing video games with the kids on the entertainment system and chatting with family members. When it started to rain we moved the deep fryer for the turkey under the awning where we cooked enjoyed a cocktail and listed to music. That evening when the older members were falling asleep the younger crowd moved out to the RV to watch movies and continue the party.

Traveling in an RV allowed us to all be more comfortable, share time together and provide for a more enjoyable time for everyone. This was the first great use of an RV during the holidays but it was just the tip of the iceberg in sharing family time in an RV, holidays or not. We all had such a great time that weekend that shortly after our visit the relatives we joined purchased an RV and started making memories of their own.