We found an interesting story on a professional fighter who has decided to live the RV lifestyle.

Clay Guida is a fighter with the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He’s been fighting professionally for years, a career that demands a lot of travel to train. Guida travels for his fights and travels to train. Instead of buying a house, which he figures he’d rarely get to use anyway, he bought a 40-foot RV with his winnings.

He’s currently at a training camp in New Mexico and he plans on driving his RV up to Colorado for his upcoming fight, even though the UFC offered to fly him in. Also, instead of using the hotel room the UFC offered, he plans on staying in his RV in the hotel parking lot during the week of the fight.

Guida also uses his RV for leisure. After his fight, he plans on driving down to Mexico for a little rest and relaxation. Check out the full story here.

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In a sign that the RV industry is beginning to rebound, Starcraft RV, a division of Jayco, Inc., announced that it will reopen its Topeka, Indiana manufacturing facilities in May.

The Starcraft RV plant has been closed since January, 2009 as part of the Jayco corporate efforts to trim costs and reduce production capacity. As you’d expect, this was done as a result of the stumbling economy.

According to Starcraft RV, production of Starcraft Autumn Ridge travel trailers will initially move from its Middlebury, Indiana complex, creating 50 jobs at the Topeka facility later this year. Over time, company officials anticipate that production of most, if not all, Starcraft RV product lines will be relocated back to the Topeka plants.

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Wholesale RV shipments in 2010 are expected to improve. According to Dr. Richard Curtin’s latest projection in the Spring 2010 issue of RV Roadsigns, the RVIA’s quarterly forecast of RV deliveries to RV retailers.

Curtin expects shipments to total approximately 215,900 units in 2010, which would be a 30 percent rise over the 2009 year end total of 165,700 units. It is also a gain of six percent over Curtin’s most recent forecast delivered in Winter, 2009. Curtin attributes the rising shipment totals seen in late 2009 and early 2010 to the restocking of dealer inventories as well as an improving trend in RV sales to consumers.

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It may not be quite like the glory days, but attendance at RV shows appears to be on the rise.

According to a report from Pedata RV Center, a number of RV shows across the United States have experienced significantly improved attendance, which hopefully indicates recovery for the industry.

Attendance was up at the following shows:

Florida RV Super Show in Tampa – attendance increased by 12% in comparison to 2009, more than 50,000 in attendance.

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Marion, Ind. has been chosen as the new home for RV startup Earthbound Recreational Vehicles, which could result in as many as 300 new jobs over the next few years.

“The confidence and embrace from the city of Marion for our technologically advanced product line and future endeavors has been unparalleled,” says Earthbound RV Co-founder, Chairman, and CEO C. David Hoefer.

Hoefer is referring to the $2 million economic development bond approved by the Marion City Council, which the company is responsible for repaying. The state of Indiana has committed an additional $1 million dollars in training grants for employees and corporate tax credits.

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Jayco, Inc. today announced changes in its senior management team. David Turner has been named director of corporate services and chief product engineer and Mark Fortney has been appointed general manager of the company’s JET transport division.

Turner has nearly 20 years experience in the RV industry. He joined Jayco in 2004 as chief corporate engineer. Prior to joining Jayco he was chief design engineer for Fleetwood Folding Trailers and had served in various engineering roles for Fruehauf Corporation and the Army Corps of Engineers. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, with degrees in Civil Engineering and Structural Analysis. As director of corporate services, he replaces Marc West, who was recently promoted to Vice President, Customer Service.

Fortney joins Jayco after a twenty year career in finance, planning and operations management with Onan Corporation and FMC Corporation. Most recently, he served as general manager of the Elkhart, IN operation of Onan Corporation. He is a graduate of Moorhead State University in Moorhead, MN with a BA degree in Accounting and Finance.

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Surely this isn’t for everybody – and maybe almost nobody – but we found an interesting video that describes what its like to live in a 150-square-foot RV.

A gentleman named Bakari Kafele walks you through his home. He sings the praises of RV living – mostly the low cost and sustainability. According to Kafele, his monthly electricity bills are less than $5, even though he runs his air conditioner when it gets too hot. He also talks about how little water he uses and how he keeps the radiant heat from entering his home through the windows.

Check out the video after the jump.

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Let’s face it; after a long trip in the hot summer, your RV can sometimes smell a little less than inviting. We recently found an article that offers some tips on how to keep your RV smelling as fresh as the day you bought it.

To get the stink out, the author suggests the old staples – baking soda and vinegar. Both are excellent at eliminating odors and cleaning up a mess.

Perhaps the most important tip, however, is to give your RV a good cleaning after each trip. Nobody wants to spend their time cleaning after a long trip, but it’s the best way to ensure a fresh smelling RV the next time you use it.

Click here to seethe article in its entirety.

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We stumbled on an interesting article from the Toronto Star which talks about parents trying to convince their daughters to spend their spring break in an RV. This is no doubt an experience many of you have faced and we thought you’d be interested in this humorous take on the situation.

It seems the parents wanted to test drive their retirement and they figured spending some time with their family while discovering New Mexico was a good start. Unfortunately, convincing a teenager who’s used to the luxuries of a well appointed, full-sized bathroom to rough it on the road was easier said than done.

Click here to check out the article.

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Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC announced that it has acquired the remaining active trademarks of the towable brands from Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. As one of the leading former manufacturers of towable RVs in North America, Fleetwood has some of the most recognized and iconic brands in the industry.

“This is an exciting transaction for Heartland. Fleetwood’s towable brands have long been among the most widely recognized names in the towable RV segment, with loyal customers and an extensive dealer network,” says Brian Brady, CEO of Heartland. “By acquiring the trademarks of Fleetwood’s towable products, we will enhance Heartland’s brand portfolio with industry leading names such as Prowler, Pioneer and Wilderness.

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