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.

Fort Wilderness - Disney's Friendly RV Resort!

Fort Wilderness – Disney World’s friendly RV Resort!

We are off to “Disney World” for Vacation! Hooray! I hope we won’t have any mistakes in all the pre-planning that we named “Enjoying the Anticipation”! After arriving at Disney’s Fort Wilderness, We pulled into the “Toll Booth” style Entrance and were pleasantly surprised when they had all our reservations, RV site number, and Special requests waiting for us in a Disney Packet. The check in process took less the 5 minutes while they gave us our personalized ID cards, Disney Park Tickets, maps, and Dinner reservation confirmations. Our site was amazingly roomy and had easy access. Each site gives you a feeling of privacy with all the moss draped trees and we even had the native wildlife (Deer and Owls) visit us regularly.

Fort Wilderness has a 3 route internal bus system which picks you up near your campsite and takes you to any of the Fort Wilderness Outposts where there are restaurants, supply stores, pools, and connections to the Boats or Buses to all of the Disney Parks and Downtown Disney. We never had to move our RV during the whole weeks stay!



We travel with our 10 year old Maltese and pre-planned a daily stay for her at “Best Friends” Doggie Daycare. We were able to make these arrangements on their website and with the Fort Wilderness Concierge’s desk to have us picked up each morning, transported to Best Friends (about 2 miles away) and returned to Fort Wilderness to board the Transportation System Buses. Each night, we would return to Fort Wilderness and the Concierge service would take us back to pick up our pet and return us to our campsite! What a great service they provide and a wonderful way for our pet to enjoy her vacation and not be left inside our RV for the Day.

Camping in Fort Wilderness during the Holiday Season is also a special Treat. Many of the RVers decorate their sites for everyone’s enjoyment. Our vacation time came during Halloween week and we were amazed at the creative ideas and lighted inflatables that many campsites displayed.
If you are planning your vacation to Disney World, make sure Fort Wilderness is your RV Resort of Choice!

Franklin - Cherokee Loop into History

There is an adventure back into history as you travel deep into Western North Carolina. We started with a campsite on the Callasaja River with a view of the mountain trout just lazily swimming in the cool water. I sure wish I had packed my Fly Rod! Franklin is the home of the "Gem and Mineral Museum" which houses specimens from all over the world as well as a 2 1/4 pound Ruby found in "these her' mountains". We also found our families' historical Tartan pattern at the "Scottish Tartans Museum" and brought home our Family patterned scarf.

One of best journeys back in time was at the "Whistle Stop Antique Mall" where collectors and kids can find "Gems" and "Toys" from decades ago. We finished off our day in Franklin at the "Smoky Mountain Center for the Performing Arts" with a concert from Lee Greenwood and Louise Mandrel. Just when you think you are out in the back country of western North Carolina, you are amazed at the variety of entertainment available!

Heading North takes you to the little town of Dillsboro. You might think that all the craft shops and restaurants are all there is to see, or the riverfront Dillsboro Inn might just be a great place for an Invigorating swim in the Tuckasegee River, but the Highlight for me was a ride back into history on the "Great Smoky Mountain Railroad" with daily excursion rides along the Tuckasegee River, Nantahala Gorge, and by Fontana Lake.

Arriving in Cherokee, history became alive as we walked through the "Oconaluftee Indian Village" as our guides demonstrated the culture and crafts of their ancestors. Their beautiful handmade crafts are for sale at the "Qualla Arts and Crafts Exchange" allowed you to bring home a peice of American History.

Jumping back into the 21st Century, our next stop was the Huge "Harrahs" Casino and Hotel! I strongly suggest having a meal at the "Paula Dean's Kitchen", or enjoy a Concert at their "Cherokee Events Center", or take a chance in the Casino. You will now find that your trip through history has come full circle. Welcome back to 2011

Efficiency

The new buzzword seems to be efficiency and it covers all things like cost cutting, trimming the fat, austerity etc etc. Its no secret that the world has been challenged the past couple years and the good news is that challenge breeds advancements.

This is very true in the RV industry where challenges have led to advancements in production methods, materials and quality.

We see evidence of this on a daily basis on our lots. This year we introduced to our customers many new brands which were chosen based on the materials and efficiency of the RVs.

Koala is a great example. Lightweight by design, this brand of RV is noted for extremely stylish interiors, advanced lightweight woods and high quality construction. They purposely studied different types of woods to go into the models so they could achieve superior levels of building results while also reducing weights. The benefit is obvious for consumers. High quality travels with lightweight models that save on fuel while delivering the living experience they want. They even offer a 27’ double slide fifth wheel that weighs in less than 5,000lbs!!

Nomad is another brand we brought in to respond to the current economy. With many floorplans these trailers come in extremely lightweight plans, towable by even mini-vans. Bunkhouse models under 3,000lbs and retailing for around $10,000 provide our customers with a full trailer experience for the price point and weight of a folding trailer.

Wildcat has implemented tankless water heaters on their travel trailers and fifth wheels. By having a tankless water heater you are not constantly burning propane to keep water hot even when you are not using it. A great savings for consumers and a system that also delivers longer hot showers!!

New emissions engines in motorhomes. The new engines that we are seeing from Cummins benefit consumers in a number of areas. They are delivering greater fuel economy than previous engines which adds up over the long haul. They are lighter weight which means you are making more effective use of your horsepower and torque. And they are delivering exhaust that is actually cleaner than the air going into the system which is good for the environment and future generations of RVers.

The RV lifestyle is a lifestyle that no one wants to give up. Thankfully the manufacturers continue to deliver with new efficient means for us to travel economically. We at Tom Johnson Camping Center will continue to do all we can to provide our customers with the latest products in the plans and weights they are looking for at the best value we can. That’s a pretty efficient way for us to sell to you the best possible camping experience.