™
A Division of Lippert Components Inc.
Vol. 1/Issue1
Dealer/Distributor Issue
Meet the Mobile Outfitters!
Lippert Components, Inc. recruited the finest team of RV and Specialty Trailer industry professionals to spearhead the creation
of The Mobile Outfitters—its newest division dedicated to serving the aftermarket product needs of both dealers and consumers.
The Mobile Outfitters has a two-pronged approach towards the goal of improving the mobile lifestyle for RV enthusiasts and
specialty trailer travelers. The first is to channel the vast array of unique products that LCI has developed over decades of serving
manufacturers in the RV and specialty trailer markets directly to dealers and consumers. The second is to create a new network
of RV accessory and safety innovations flowing from a hands-on, RV camping and field research resulting in new technologies
that consumers truly need and demand.
With these two goals solidly in place, The Mobile Outfitters team has the RV and specialty trailer background to accomplish
the tasks at hand. With close to 170 combined years of RV and specialty trailer industry experience, the four-man management team of The
Mobile Outfitters Division understand every aspect of the mobile lifestyle.
From founding and running RV dealerships, to manufacturing every known type of camper and trailer, parts logistics and lean manufacturing,
to research and development of some the most game changing products to ever hit the RV consumer, The Mobile Outfitters management team
is already creating new channels to consumers for LCI’s abundant, existing technologies and accessories. And when it comes to field work and
research and development of new products to further enhance the mobile lifestyle, this “Aftermarket A-Team” understands the demands of
today’s towing, camping and the big picture of the mobile lifestyle experience because they are campers and own RVs themselves!
Meet The “Aftermarket A-Team”
Steve Paul, General Manager
Steve Paul started working for an RV dealership in
North Dakota when he was in high school. He worked
full-time helping to run the dealership all through
college. Steve did it all at the dealership—from
selling new RVs and reconditioning the old, to selling
awnings, AC systems and other accessories.
John Stoffer, Operations Manager
When is comes to supply chain logistics and warehousing
and distribution for the RV and specialty trailer
industries, The Mobile Outfitters depends on
industry veteran John Stoffer. John has worked
in the RV and recreational products distribution
business for 33 years.
“The last two years of college I was full-time, General
Manager, of the dealership while I finished school. We built the dealership from
nothing up to something pretty nice. When I graduated from college, I got a call
from Fleetwood and they invited me out to California to continue my RV career.”
Starting with MHF Supply in 1979, John also worked
with Stag Parkway for nine years, Coast Distribution,
and most recently with Arrow Distribution, where he
rose to manager of the Elkhart facility.
Once with Fleetwood he worked the next 13 years in a wide variety of positions as
he moved around the country and experienced many geographic market areas.
John’s experience, dedication and loyalty, and deep understanding of what
distributors and dealers demand from their product suppliers, makes him an
invaluable asset to The Mobile Outfitters team.
“I was doing everything from regional sales manager, to district manager over
several manufacturing plants, to the RV group’s marketing manager for the
corporation,” he stated.
Steve then moved on to Thor Industries as a vice president for Dutchmen
Manufacturing from 1999 to 2012. He joined the Lippert Components team in
March of 2012, specifically to head up The Mobile Outfitters.
“When I was offered the opportunity to come and work for Lippert Components
and Mobile Outfitters, I jumped at the chance,” said Steve.
“We are extremely excited as we continue to innovate and serve our distributors
and their dealer networks with new products that are quickly catching on in the
field,” said John, who had just taken a break from the warehouse helping with
an order of 400 pieces of RV furniture headed to a major distributor. “As our
distributors increase the dealerships that carry our products, and the consumer
demand continue to rise, we are setting new sales and shipping records almost
weekly.”
Meet the rest of The Mobile Outfitters’ “Aftermarket A-Team” in
this issue on page five—On the Road with Bob and Sonny.
THE MOBILE OUTFITTER
Align Your Dealership with The Mobile Outfitters to Increase Profits,
Customer Loyalty and Satisfaction!
Become a Certified Mobile
Outfitters Safety Inspection and
Laser Alignment Center
Join over 250 dealers across North America
that are Certified Safety Inspection and
Laser Alignments Centers with The Mobile
Outfitters. These dealerships chose the high
road to safer, more satisfied customers while
increasing profits with added accessory, parts
and suspension upgrades and sales.
RVs for Less of Knoxville, TN Talks
About Correct Track™
Just ask your peers, Karen and Gordon
“Butch” Burson of RVs For Less in Knoxville,
Tennessee. www.rvsforless.net
“One of our aims as a dealership serving
luxury fifth wheel customers is to provide
every opportunity possible for a worry-free
RV experience,” says Butch Burson. “We
take note when we find a product that
helps complement this goal. One of those
products is the Correct Track by The Mobile
Outfitters. The ability to be able to correct
faulty alignments on-site has proven to
be a tremendous service we can offer our
customers.”
That’s why RVs for Less is a Certified Safety
Inspection and Laser Alignment Center
with The Mobile Outfitters. Karen and Butch
explained how this is important to his
dealership for four basic reasons.
1) An In-house Fix for Alignment Issues:
He explained that after Post Delivery
Inspection, (PDI), “We will discover an
alignment issue involving a unit that is as
much as 1/2 inch to an inch out of alignment.
Before Correct Track, one of our options was
to send it off-site for someone else to correct.
Now, in about two or three hours, we can have
the Correct Track installed and the problem
fixed. This saves us money and makes for a
safer RV.”
2) Correct Track Helps Create a More
Satisfied Customer: Karen explained that
a faulty alignment impacts the customer’s
tire wear, gas mileage, and potential risk
of blowouts. “All of the scenarios cost the
customer money,” she says. “For example,
we have never had a repair for a blowout
that cost less than $2,500. We also feel
safer when we send our people down the
road after installing Correct Track.”
3) Easier Alignment
Maintenance in the
Future: “If corrections are
necessary down the road,
our customers can go to multiple dealer
locations throughout the country creating a
more convenient solution than only taking it
back to the factory or having to pay a private
establishment for repair,” said Butch.
“We believe it is one of the best inventions
that has ever been made for the RV Industry,”
conclude the Bursons.
FOUR STEPS TO TURN YOUR
DEALERSHIP INTO A MOBILE
OUTFITTERS CERTIFIED
ALIGNMENT AND SAFETY
CENTER
Step One: Understand the Potential of
The Mobile Outfitters Program as a New
Profit Center.
Your favorite distributor or The Mobile
Outfitters service representatives can walk
you through the benefits and scope of this
retail program. You’ll quickly understand how
this investment can turn into a new profit
center for your dealership. The program is
driven off the Certified Safety Inspection of
your customer’s RV at your new Certified
Alignment and Safety Center. Your Mobile
Outfitter Distributor has various Profit Center
Plans to help guide your service department
with inventory choices, suggested retail
pricing, and suggested flat rate service hours,
so you can calculate your numbers and goals
based on your service records.
Step Two: Start Building Your Parts
Inventory.
Once the customer’s RV is in for a Safety
Inspection or service up on the lift, you’ll
need to have the inventory on hand to sell
suspension upgrades. The Mobile Outfitters
suggest having an assortment of upgrade
products in stock to close the deal.
“You need an assortment of upgrades, not just
the Correct Track, because when you have
that whole thing taken apart, that’s the time to
sell the upgrades,” says The Mobile Outfitters’
General Manager, Steve Paul. “This saves the
customer labor dollars, and when you do an
alignment, its likely the customer wants to invest
in getting his rig ready for travel. That’s the best
time to get a shock order, or upgrade to a higher
performance equalizer, or air ride system.”
Step Three: Take Advantage of The
Mobile Outfitters Support Program.
The Mobile Outfitters offer Mobile Outfitters
Support Training (M.O.S.T) field training on-site
(See On The Road with Bob and Sonny on page
five) as well as a variety of video training assets,
manuals and phone support to assure your
dealership provides successful installations
of its products. Set up training programs and
installation demonstrations to make sure
multiple service techs study and understand the
install. And when your people have a question,
The Mobile Outfitters field staff provides support
almost anytime via phone.
Step Four: Market Your New Profit
Center.
Depending on the level of your dealership’s
plan, sales support will be made available
to you in the form of brochures, hang tags,
point of purchase materials, banners, floor
displays and other marketing materials.
Take The Mobile Outfitters to RV shows and
special events—we’ve got the marketing and
merchandising support to help you succeed.
The Mobile Outfitter
Enhancing the Mobile Lifestyle with Safety, Comfort, and Convenience
Correct Track II™
Out-of-alignment suspensions create excessive vibration
throughout the entire trailer and can cause premature failure
of appliances, electronics, gas and water lines—even the
actual fasteners holding a trailer together. Correct Track II™
bolt-on Trailer Alignment Systems are designed to significantly
reduce the cause of these problems, allowing a certified Mobile
Outfitters dealer or consumer to have the ability to correct the alignment of the suspension.
™
Additional benefits of correct alignment are reduced passenger fatigue, improved
gas mileage, dramatically improved tire life and a reduction of wear on suspension
components under the coach. Correct track is available for any trailer that has spring axles,
including travel trailers, fifth wheels, horse trailers, cargo, or specialty trailers.
™
Ground Control™ Automatic Leveling System
Two years ago, LCI brought Level Up® to the RV market, the first ever four and six-point
hydraulic automatic leveling system for larger towable RVs. Consumers with smaller, entrylevel fifth wheels, toy haulers, and travel trailers were asking for a similar, four-point system,
prompting LCI to introduce the new Ground Control™ Automatic Electric Leveling System
through The Mobile Outfitters network of dealers and distributors.
Ground Control is four times faster than any other electric jacking system—leveling
in just three to four minutes—and has a 5,000 pound per jack rating with an
automatic jacking feature, comes with a wireless remote control, and is available in
a four-point aftermarket version.
Never Fail Bushings™
Never Fail Bushings™ were designed to replace conventional trailer bushings and eliminate the need
for lubrication. Never Fail Bushings are designed to last, reduce maintenance, and will be replaced
free of charge by The Mobile Outfitters if they ever fail. These long lasting bushings are designed for travel
trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, as well as horse, cargo, marine and specialty trailers.
Standard nylon or plastic bushings that come installed on many RVs and trailers can wear out, allowing a
quarter of an inch to a half of an inch of play in the axles, springs, and the spring eyes. This play can cause
increased wear and severe damage to the trailer suspension over time.
Never Fail Bushings are less expensive and more durable than wet bolts with bronze bushings that can
become worn over time. Made of modified polyamide composites, Never Fail Bushings hold up to the constant
beating that road shock and vibrations cause between the springs and the frame.
Equa-Flex™
Equa-Flex™ is an aftermarket suspension product formulated to absorb road vibrations and protect your trailer, as
well as your trailer’s precious cargo. Equa-Flex also helps reduce fore to aft trailer movement, otherwise knows as
“chucking.”
There is no need for torsion axles, as Equa-Flex delivers a ride that is as smooth as a torsion axle, but at a
fraction of the cost. Available in single, double, and triple axle kits, Equa-Flex can also retrofit with existing cast
equalizer applications.
Independently tested and proven by Roush Industries through a subjective evaluation test between Equa-Flex
and a leading competitor, Equa-Flex tested 7.5 out of a scale of 10. The competition scored a 5.0. Equa-Flex
also showed up to a 60 percent reduction in road vibration. Results also showed that the rougher the road
conditions, the better the system performs.
™
Product Showcase
RV Lock™
RV Lock™ is an integrated keyless entry locking system for RV entry doors that is designed to be highly secure.
The system has over one million possible door locking combinations utilizing a wireless ten-digit keypad and
remote key fob. Additional key fobs can be purchased and up to ten devices can be synchronized to
an owner’s unique code. RV Lock’s battery powered system works independently of the RV’s power
™ source, reducing the possibility of campers being locked out of their RV.
Installation of RV Lock is comparable to conventional RV door locks. The heavyduty steel locking mechanism and wiring is consolidated directly into the door
handle, which makes installation easier for certified Mobile Outfitters
Dealers or consumers. A wireless key fob allows RV Lock to operate
just like the keyless entry system of an automobile. RV Lock’s sleek
and ergonomic design (available in black and white) makes it a
functional and attractive option for any RV, and increases camping
security at the same time.
Center Point™ Air-Ride Suspension System
The Center Point™ air-ride suspension system provides a smoother ride for your RV or
coach while protecting the investment in your RV by reducing potential damage caused
by road shock and vibrations. Center Point also adds safety by dramatically increasing
trailer braking when you need it most.
Center Point’s simple design cushions the RV against road shock and vibrations by adding an
air bag at the equalizer position between the leaf springs, providing a smooth, stable towing
experience. This single air bag absorbs opposing forces from two axles, both simultaneously and
instantaneously. This allows the air spring to dampen more effectively than a traditional trailing
beam suspension system that utilizes either air springs or torsolastic rubber. Center Point is easy
to install, adaptable to most trailer double eye leaf spring applications, and saves time and money on
costly repairs.
Level Up® Lite
Level Up® Lite is a cost-effective way to level your coach without having to purchase an expensive RV leveling
system. Level Up Lite is also an inexpensive upgrade to old-fashioned bubble levels.
Level Up Lite consists of two digital leveling devices that attach to the corners of the coach allowing you to level front to
back and side to side. When the light on the device turns green, your RV is level. The red light on either side of the device
tells users which direction to move the coach to achieve level. Level Up Lite’s battery powered system has ½ degree of
tolerance for accuracy, and is easy to install in minutes by a Mobile Outfitters Dealer or consumer.
Traveler’s Sleep Center Mattresses Collection from The Mobile Outfitters
Upgrade your basic RV mattress with one from the Traveler’s Sleep Center Collection because “What’s under the covers is important.”
From Bunk Mats to Hide-a-bed replacement mats, to mattress upgrades, we offer a complete package designed to meet all your
sleep needs.
• Bunk mats: High performance fiber with a super soft quilted top available in several sizes
•Hide-a-bed Mats: Upgraded foam base with memory foam topper available in several sizes
•Traveler’s Rest Mattress: Our economy mattress that is far better than just good. Fiber matrix foundation with a
super soft foam top giving you 8” of comfort for a great night’s rest.
•Traveler’s Select: Combines a foam foundation with two layers of Memory Foam capped with a luxurious pillow top
to give you 10” of support for a great night’s rest
•Traveler’s Ortho-Pedic: Combines two layers of upgraded foam support with two layers of upgraded memory foam to
give you 12” of comfort for a superior night’s rest.
All this packed into a great display that is available for your dealership parts showroom. See how you can take advantage of this great
profit center and upgrade your customers’ Mobile Lifestyle.
With Sonny and Bob
Look for Bob and Sonny at a Rally near you!
We told you earlier that The Mobile Outfiiters’
team understands RVs because they live the RV
lifestyle themselves. Well, meet Bob and Sonny.
The ultimate road warriors of the Mobile Outfitter’s
crew, these guys understand what you need on
the road because they are out there themselves—
in every way!
If you are out there too, on the road we mean,
you will be running into Bob and Sonny. From
tooling around big RV rallies in their golf cart
showcasing the cool stuff we make, to meeting
with dealership service departments for handson training of RV technicians, these guys really
get around.
Meet the Aftermarket A-Team’s
Traveling Squad
Bob Mater,
Director of Sales and Marketing
Bob Mater came to The Mobile Outfitters from
the tow vehicle side of the hitch industry. In 1992
Bob was recruited to become President of Reese,
the towing products manufacturer. Bob’s team
quickly returned the struggling manufacturer to
prominence, and by 1998 had increased Reese’s
sales by 500 percent. After Reese was involved
in a big merger, Bob decided to take a nice
retirement package and drive off into the sunset
– well that was the plan…
After five months, Bob decided retirement was
not for him. He and Sonny began working on new
product development ideas that Bob’s wife Bess
refers to as “money pits.” The first was Trailair™,
the first fifth wheel air-ride pin box, and the Trailair
Center Point™ air-ride suspension conversion.
The small start up needed a demonstration trailer,
so Bob fast-talked Bess into buying a big fifth
wheel.
After all those years in the hitch business, Bob
says he found out he didn’t know much about
actual towing and RVing. Several scrapes
and embarrassing repair experiences later,
he and Bess fell in love with the RV lifestyle.
More importantly, perhaps, Bob really began to
understand first-hand the needs and challenges
of his fellow RVers out there on the road.
Trailar was purchased by Lippert. Bob was
recruited to be president of Quest Technologies.
While there, Bob and Sonny continued their
interest in product development with the 5th
Airborne and Sidewinder pin boxes. Cequent
Towing Products acquired these products in 2007.
In 2008, Bob and Sonny formed a new product
development company and produced the exciting
Ground Control™ 12-volt electric, wireless
controlled leveling system, the revolutionary
Correct Track™ trailer alignment system, and
the maintenance free, Never Fail™ line of friction
control products. Lippert acquired licenses to
these products and employed Bob and Sonny
to start up The Mobile Outfitters aftermarket
division. Today, Bob and Sonny are a tour de force
behind many of the innovations campers love
best. It’s because they came from the road.
Sonny Dismuke,
Director of Product Development
Sonny Dismuke’s co-workers at Mobile Outfitters
will tell you he spends so much time on the
phone that he often runs the battery dead. That’s
because he’s always talking to customers and
installers about their unique RV issues and
helping to solve them.
His long-time friend and fellow Mobile Outfitter
staffer Bob Mater said,
“I’ll watch him on the phone with a technician
trying to figure out a problem that someone is
having and there will be that ‘Eureka!’ moment
when the solution comes to him. I’ve seen him
have that look on his face a bunch of times.”
Sonny and Bob first worked together in the RV
industry at Reese Hitch. “I recruited him out of
Valley to come to Reese to install the Toyota
production system, because he was an expert,”
said Mater. Later, Sonny worked in product
development at Reese.
Dismuke has several years of design and
engineering experience, including running the
manufacturing facility at New Horizons building
custom fifth wheels. He also worked for Wells
Cargo trailers and Banks. Later in his career
he joined Mater again and started Trail-Air,
a product that was later absorbed into The
Mobile Outfitters family of products. His other
experience includes work with Bob at Quest ,
Cequent, and BBS.
Sonny will describe himself as a “product
developer.” He is even what some would call a
“tinkerer.” Case in point: Correct Track II was
developed as a bolt-on system after Sonny tore
apart his own trailer suspension and adjusted the
cams after measuring them with a plumb-bob.
If you have a question about RV alignment,
suspensions, or just about anything else, he’s the
guy to call. “Last year I put 73,000 miles on my
RV—I travel a lot,” said Dismuke. This experience
translates into new products and on the road
testing for Mobile Outfitters customers.
THE MOBILE OUTFITTER
Dealers and Distributors
Sign up to be a certified Mobile Outfitters dealer or distributor and become part of a network selling the hottest RV and trailer aftermarket
products in the industry. There are already more than 250 dealers in North America and the network is growing weekly.
Mobile Outfitters has a tremendous dealer and distributor support program that includes a website (www.themobileoutfitters.com), filled with
downloadable literature on all of their products, along with photos, research and testing data. Another information packed portion of the website
contains highly-detailed instructional videos that educate and inform installers and consumers about all of the Mobile Outfitters products
Click on your favorite distributor and sign up today!
Mission Statement
The Mobile Outfitters is who we are, as well as what we do. Our goal is to listen first to what recreational vehicle and trailer
owners want, and then enhance their mobile lifestyle through the creation of new and exciting RV and trailer components.
We accomplish this by using our RV industry experience, product knowledge and imagination, from our team of industry
professionals, to create, market and distribute the most innovative and unique RV and trailer products to our aftermarket
customers—the RV consumer, dealer and distributor.
We promise to look at everything we create from the viewpoint of the RV or trailer owner, because we are RV and trailer
owners. This inspires us to create products that not only our customers want, but what we desire on our RVs as well.
Our approach is to start the product push from the highways, back roads, and campgrounds with products and concepts
from both our customers’ and our own field experience. We use this experience to perfect our products through intensive
testing, field research, training and the manufacturing strength of our company.
Our mission is to always move forward with a sincere desire to provide what RV enthusiasts need to increase safety and
enhance a lifetime of camping enjoyment.
About Lippert Components
Established in 1956 in rural Michigan as a small steel fabrication shop by Lawrence (Larry) Lippert, LCI has grown
over the last 50+ years to be a leading supplier to the recreational vehicle (RV) and manufactured housing (MH)
industries. Larry’s son, Doug, took over LCI in 1978 and Larry’s grandson, Jason, has led LCI since 2003. Because
of its three generations of family leadership, LCI has a deep appreciation for the history of where it’s been, and
where it’s going. For the last 50 years, LCI has been dedicated to strengthening its position as a leading supplier
to its industries through strategic acquisitions and new product innovation, and will continue to do so for the next
50 years and beyond.
The Mobile Outfitters
52941 Glenview Drive
Elkhart, Indiana 46514 USA
(574) 312-6654 • www.themobileoutfitters.com
Coming In the Next Issue:
• Slide Toppers, new awnings, and Radius Steps
• Welcome to Lippert University
• Training Videos