newell`s news - Newell Coach

NEWELL’S NEWS
Summer 2013
Take the
GOOD LIFE
with you.
View from the Corner Office
C h a n g e s A d d S pa r k l e t o N e w e l l E x t e r i o r s
Greetings from Newell Coach!
As we head into late summer,
I hope you’re still getting a
chance to take to the road
for some adventures in your
Newell. Whether it’s a journey
to a favorite destination or
a visit to see friends and
family, I hope your trip is fun,
safe, and rewarding.
This issue of Newell’s News
presents information of interest
as well as necessity. It provides
tips that can help keep your coach generator in shape so
it will be ready and able to take you wherever you want
to go, any time of year. It also takes a nostalgic look back
at the Streamline Travel Home—the luxury coach of its
day and Newell’s direct predecessor. But first, I want to
tell you about some important changes we’ve recently
implemented at Newell.
Process improvements
Over the past year, we’ve been analyzing and improving our
processes to achieve higher quality results in our finished
product. In order to attain this goal, it isn’t enough to
simply inspect the end product. Rather, it’s by ensuring that
the correct approaches are used throughout the production
process that we can best achieve the outcomes we want.
First focus: exterior paint
Our exterior paint processes were one of the first areas we
focused on. Newell V.P. of Manufacturing Chuck Evans
and Paint Department Supervisor Jerry Allen managed this
project. Working closely with our painting team and a key
supplier, they analyzed every aspect of our paint process.
Based on what they found, we’ve made several major
modifications to our paint materials and procedures that are
producing some great results.
Changes for the better
One improvement was the addition of an anti-static prewash before painting begins. This keeps surfaces cleaner
while they’re being painted and reduces the risk of getting
dirt and debris in the finished product. We’re also using
new paint guns to apply the primer, paint, and clear coat.
Pumps that deliver paint to the guns at a consistent pressure
and in a more consistent spray pattern produce a much
smoother and more refined finish.
Another change is that we’re transitioning to primers, base
coats, and clear coats manufactured by Sikkens—the paint
products preferred by Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW.
When I asked one of my most knowledgeable contacts why
the “Big Three” German luxury car manufacturers all used
Sikkens, his answer was short and to the point: “Sikkens is
the best.” Our experience thus far confirms this conclusion.
One positive outcome of revising our paint materials and
processes has been a great improvement in efficiency. For
instance, the wait time between some painting steps has
been nearly eliminated. And because the new materials lay
down flatter, rework is reduced.
Thanks to all of these changes, our painting staff is less
rushed, our production schedule is more manageable, and
your next Newell will have a smoother, glassier exterior than
we were able to offer before.
Enjoy the rest of your summer!
Karl Blade
Newell Coach Corp. President and CEO
In This Issue...
U s e i t o r L o s e i t 3
F e at u r e d C o a c h : # 1 4 8 0 4
T h e S t r e a m l i n e t r av e l H o m e 6
L o w c o u n t r y Lu x u r y 7
Volume 34, Issue 3
Use It or Lose It!
K e e p i n g Y o u r G e n e r at o r R e a d y F o r Ac t i o n
Coach generators are like people: They need regular “exercise.”
And we all know that a quick trip to the refrigerator is not
sufficient exercise to stay in shape. Likewise, idling your
generator for a mere five minutes every other month or so
is not enough to keep it in good running order. If you don’t
run your generator long enough under sufficient load on a
regular basis, it may not be ready when you need it. But it’s
easy to keep your generator in shape if you follow a simple and
correct workout routine.
How much, how often?
One way to keep your generator in good running order is to
run it periodically under load for at least an hour. This allows
sufficient time to heat up the windings, lubricate the seals, and
drive out moisture buildup.
The best way to run your generator under load depends
on the season. In warm weather, running all of the coach’s
air conditioners with the thermostats set so all are cooling
will do the job. During the colder months, running the
electric Aqua-Hot in combination with the electric heaters
should be sufficient.
How often this should be done is a matter of some debate in
the RV industry. But many experts­—including the engineers at
Newell and Martin Diesel Generators—agree that running your
generator under a load at least quarterly will keep your generator
fit and ready for action.
Preventing strain on the alternator
I’m a big fan of using the generator when driving, especially
in warm weather. But some people think they can save
fuel by using an inverter/alternator combo to power their
110‑volt air conditioning.
I recommend against this practice for several reasons.
For one thing, it doesn’t save you anything. Whether you use
the main engine or the generator to produce the necessary
power, the net fuel usage is virtually the same because increasing
the load on the alternator causes the main engine to consume
more fuel. In addition, using an inverter to power your air
conditioners puts a heavy strain on your alternator, especially
when ambient temperatures are high. This is because, unlike
conventional trucks, where the alternator sits at the front of the
engine in free-flowing air, your coach alternator sits in the back
of the engine, where the heat is high and air flow is minimal.
Here’s another important issue: Where a truck has only two
batteries to charge, your coach alternator has to keep eight
batteries charged in addition to keeping the beer cold and the
lights on. Given that it can cost as much as $2,000 or more
to replace your alternator, I recommend that you use your
generator instead, especially in warm weather.
Built to be used
If you’re worried that using your generator as I’ve suggested
might wear it out, don’t be. During a service seminar I
conducted at our recent Newell rally in Fort Worth, Texas, I
asked seminar attendees whether any of them had ever seen a
worn-out RV generator. The answer was a unanimous no. That
corroborates my experience. In the Newell Service Department,
we’ve seen coach generators with over 19,000 hours still going
strong. And we’ve heard reports of generators with over 30,000
hours still operating. That’s equivalent to traveling about 1.6
million miles at 55 M.P.H.
The upshot
You own one of the finest generator systems on the market. So
why not use it for the tasks it was intended rather than lose it
due to underuse or neglect? And if you can’t use it frequently
enough, giving it a proper workout on a regular basis in a
well‑ventilated area should keep it in fighting shape.
Happy driving!
John Clark
Newell V.P. of Customer Service
P.S. Remember to enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
Half the fun is getting there—especially in a Newell!
Featured Coach 1480:
M a k i n g t h e G o o d L i f e K i d F r i e n d ly
At Newell Coach, we love spending time with our families,
and we know you do too. That’s why we offer options
for your coach that help make your coach the perfect
travelling habitat for the entire family.
Our double-bunk and triple-bunk set-ups give your
kids a cozy place to get a good night’s sleep after a long
day of adventures. Each bunk includes a reading light,
drop‑down DVD player, privacy curtain, and outlets for
all of your family’s electronic devices.
Featured Coach 1480 is the perfect example of a
family‑friendly coach. A 2014 quad-slide, it includes
a triple-bunk set-up, dual sofas in the salon, and a
bath‑and‑a-half that’s perfect for washing off beach sand or
trail dust. Our new iPad control system gives you control
over most of the coach’s entertainment and living systems
from anywhere in the vehicle.
For more information about Coach 1480 and other
available coaches, visit our website at:
www.newellcoach.com/the-coaches.
The Streamline Travel Home
T h e C o a c h t h at B e c a m e t h e N e w e l l
Recently, Newell president and CEO, Karl Blade received an
interesting email from Tom Patterson, an expert in vintage travel
trailers and motorhomes. Tom’s email included a forwarded
2001 Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) magazine article
that is an even farther look back at the Newell before it was a
Newell. Below, a slightly edited version of the article originally
written by Steve Ault offers an interesting glimpse into the
materials that made up the Newell’s direct predecessor—the
Streamline Travel Home. It’s a reminder that, like other highly
sophisticated organisms and machines, the Newell motorcoach
of today is a product of evolution.
Memory Lane
By Steve Ault
The Streamline Travel Home built in El Monte, California,
in the 1960s was the luxury motorcoach of its day. It was
a lightweight, aluminum-skinned coach that featured both
side and rear doors and a rear “porch.”
In those days, the use of lightweight alloys and plastic was
still in its infancy; today’s motorhomes are constructed
of better-quality aluminum and steel alloys that provide
strength without the weight of older materials. Indeed, the
plastics, fiberglass, and vinyl that highlight coach exteriors
and interiors are durable, lightweight and strong. Can you
imagine an automobile or RV without these products today?
At 32 feet long, the Streamline was a monster for its time.
Powered by a 390-horsepower Ford engine, it could motor
down the road at a reasonable speed and do well on hills,
depending on gearing. The modified Streamline I recently
inspected had a Ford 460 engine with headers, dual
exhaust, and a Gear Vendor Under/Overdrive. The owner
was not certain of the rear-axle ratio, but seemed pleased
with its performance on California highways.
One of the best features I saw on the Streamline was a set
of wheels custom built to accommodate 33x12.50x16.5
radials (singles at the rear versus duals). I suspect this
modification had a tremendous impact on ride and handling.
On the front of the coach is an inverted 1960 Ford pickup
grille. The coach is equipped with 10 flood-type lights
(two backup lights and eight yard lights, four per side
at window height).
The owner told me that Robert Kennedy once spoke
from the “rear porch” of this particular coach. The same
loudspeakers used for the speech were still in place at the
time the owner purchased it. A generator and propane
bottles were mounted in the rear “boxes” on the porch.
What a feat for 1964—a motorhome more than 30 feet long
that weighed only 10,000 pounds!
Apparently, Streamline officials felt that Americans weren’t
ready for a motorhome with a $15,000 price tag. The
company ceased production shortly after it started and sold
the motorhome division to Newell Coach Corporation in
1967*. Both coaches were built on Ford platforms; however,
by mid-1967, Newell was building its own proprietary
chassis, available with a choice of engines, including
Ford. In 1969 Newell came out with a 534-cu. in. Ford
V8 gasoline-powered rear-engine chassis, and in 1971
introduced the adventuresome diesel pusher. Both the rear
engine location and diesel power were industry firsts.
*For the colorful story of how L.K. Newell ended up
purchasing the motorhome division of Streamline, see
Our History at the Newell Coach website
(www.newellcoach.com/about-us/our‑history/).
Spring 2014 Rally:
Lowcountry
Photo courtesy of the Hilton Head Island-Bluffington Chamber of Commerce.
Luxury
Mark Your Calendars!
South Carolina Lowcountry Rally, Spring 2014
Many of you have asked that we notify you about upcoming rallies
as early as possible so you can plan for them. Here’s the first announcement
of our 2014 spring rally. Stay tuned for details.
Lowcountry Luxury in Spring Newell Rally, Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort
Hilton Head, South Carolina, May 12–16, 2014
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