Sick of always having to remember to put your TV antenna down?  Have you ever lost a TV antenna from forgetting to crank it back down before pulling away from your campsite?  How about having to spend an unnecessary amount of time blindly scanning in multiple directions to find the best signal when setting up?  Let me introduce you to the all-new King Controls JACK Digital HDTV Antenna with SureLock, used on all of your favorite Winnebago, Itasca and Winnebago Touring Coach motor homes! 

The JACK antenna is loaded with benefits for RVers to take advantage of.  Using the antenna effortless with the following features:

• Wider Reception Range
• Built-In Amplifier for maximum signal gain
• Easy to Install
• Effortless 360 degree Rotation
• Built-In LED Digital TV Signal Meter
• Fixed Height and No Crank Handle
• Compact, Aerodynamic Design
• Digital High Definition Signal

The JACK antenna, used by Winnebago Industries in their Winnebago, Itasca and Winnebago Touring Coach line-ups, measures 11.25 inches high, 16 inches wide by 12.5 inches long and weighs just slightly over 2 pounds.  This compact antenna is 70% smaller than the traditional Winegard crank-up TV antenna!

Not only is the King Controls JACK antenna easy to use, but it is also environmentally protected.  This means that there are no exposed coax cables or connections on your roof, keeping your signal from ever being effected by environmental elements like snow or ice build-up on the roof.

To make it even better, the King Controls JACK Digital HDTV Antenna can be retrofitted for your current RV to replace your Winegard crank-up antenna.  Winnebago Industries utilizes the white JACK HDTV Antenna (model 0A8200) and the same antenna in black (model A8201).   Contact our Parts and Service Departments today here at Lichtsinn Motors to order and install your King Controls JACK Digital HDTV Antenna with SureLock and upgrade the way you watch television in your motor home!

Forest City, Iowa – Lichtsinn Motors of Forest City recently donated $4,000 to Hospice of North Iowa through their We Care Charitable Giving program.

"The We Care Program allows us to direct our giving funds to those organizations that our customers tell us are important to them," said Ron Lichtsinn, owner of Lichtsinn Motors. "Our customers told us that Hospice of North Iowa was important to them, and we are excited to provide this donation on behalf of our customers.”

The We Care program began in October 2009 and it provides that Lichtsinn Motors will donate $50 to the customer’s choice of one of six pre-selected organizations for each new or pre-owned car or truck purchased at the Forest City dealership.

The six We Care organizations for 2013 are: Hospice of North Iowa, the American Cancer Society, the Forest City Community School District, the Lake Mills Community School District, the Forest City YMCA and the Forest City Emergency Services Center. Organizations have the opportunity to submit an application to be part of the next year’s list as well.

Customers purchasing a new or pre-owned car, van, SUV or truck retailing over $5,000 are able to select the organization which they would like their $50 donation to go to. This is an ongoing dealership program and donations will be made annually through this program. 

LICHTSINN MOTORS Earns 2013 Circle of Excellence Award from Winnebago Industries

(Forest City, Iowa) – Lichtsinn Motors of Forest City has earned its 19^th consecutive Circle of Excellence award from Winnebago Industries, receiving the customer satisfaction award at Winnebago’s Dealer Days event in Las Vegas, April 29–May 2.

Dealers were recognized for their excellence in customer satisfaction as it relates to the customers’ sales and service experience.

"We have the best dealer network in the industry, bar none," said Winnebago Vice President of Sales and Product Management Scott Degnan. "We are extremely pleased to recognize the 118 outstanding dealers that earned this year’s Circle of Excellence award. These dealers are the best of the best with a proven commitment to providing excellent customer service to our retail customers. They have knowledgeable sales personnel, qualified service technicians and quality warranty and after-market service support for customers. These dealers are the reason we finished calendar 2012 as the leader in the motorhome industry."

Circle of Excellence scoring is determined by rating dealers in four categories:

• A purchase and delivery satisfaction study which is direct customer feedback after the purchase of a motorhome

• A customer satisfaction study which surveys customers six months after their purchase

• A sales and marketing assessment that evaluates a dealership’s sales, market share, stocking levels and participation in product training and the Winnebago Itasca Travelers Club (WIT)

• A service/parts assessment that evaluates a dealership’s warranty/parts inventory, service training and certified technicians, and traveling customer care

Lichtsinn Motors carries the Winnebago, Itasca and Winnebago Touring Coach lines of motor homes from Winnebago Industries. 

Our customers will be excited to be members of the strongest lineup in the RV industry.  Our dealer, Ron Lichtsinn, was in attendance as Winnebago unveiled Game Changers that will increase the lead in market share that the Winnebago team currently enjoys…  The freshest lineup in the RV industry is with Winnebago, Itasca, and Winnebago Touring Coach.

The complex – located adjacent to Winnebago’s Forest City, Iowa, headquarters and main manufacturing facility – is undergoing a series of planned renovations. Improvements include surface leveling of the original Rally Grounds, along with upgraded 50 amp electrical service.

The Rally Grounds were originally developed in the 1970s, Winnebago’s upgrades will provide more user-friendly accommodations for today’s RVer, according to the company. The entire facility also will receive a new WI-FI system enhancement to improve visitors’ access to Internet service. 

“Ongoing improvements make our Rally Grounds Activity Complex, which is already a uniquely premier location for RV related and other gatherings, even better,” said Chad Reece, director of marketing for Winnebago. “We look forward to showcasing these improvements when we host our annual WIT Club Grand National Rally July 21-26, and other events moving forward.”

Winnebago Industries’ Rally Grounds Activity Complex has electrical hookups for more than 1,300 RVs, and dry camping space to accommodate several hundred more. On-site amenities include sanitary dump stations, rest room/shower house facilities, a 3,000 seat outdoor amphitheater, an air conditioned 60 foot by 200 foot carpeted meeting facility with a hard surface dance floor area. A second air conditioned meeting facility that can accommodate up to 125 people and includes a bar/lounge area. Two covered pavilion areas provide additional outdoor meeting space . 

Forest City, Iowa -- Lichtsinn Motors in Forest City, Iowa, has entered into agreement with Kingland Construction to build an all new stand-alone RV facility that will house RV Sales, Service, and Parts for its customers at its current location.

“We are excited to embark on this next step in our commitment to the growth of the RV industry,” said Ron Lichtsinn. “This new facility will provide our RV customers with a more cohesive, best-of-class experience. It will also benefit our automotive customers, offering them a focused automotive experience not only in sales, but in parts and service where the two businesses have previously been combined. This expansion will benefit our customers, and also facilitate the need for additional employment within Lichtsinn Motors.”

Lichtsinn Motors has been recognized as the number one dealer of all motor homes in the state of Iowa for 12 consecutive years, by Statistical Surveys, Inc.  Lichtsinn Motors was also recognized in 2012 by Winnebago Industries as the 2^nd largest Winnebago and Itasca Dealer in the Eastern Division.

The new RV Facility will include additional service bays, an indoor parts store, spacious service check-in areas, a state of the art photo and video area, indoor delivery for its customers, as well as an all new technology focused customer lounge.  The Automotive General Motors facility will gain a focused customer lounge, additional service bays, an enlarged detailing area and a focused photo/video area.

The estimated completion date for this project is Fall 2013. 

For years Winnebago Industries has utilized Specific Climate Systems/Frigette as our primary automotive heat and air conditioning system.

Class A Motor Homes

Chassis supplied components on a Chevrolet, Ford and Workhorse gas powered chassis:

• Condensor

• Compressor and mounting hardware

• Receiver/Dryer

• High Pressure line from compressor to condenser

• Condensor fan and wiring (Chevrolet and Workhorse only)

Chassis supplied components on a Freightliner and Spartan diesel pusher:

• Compressor and mounting hardware, drivebelt

The remainder of each system is installed by Winnebago Industries, as provided by SCS.

Class C Motor Homes

The automotive air conditioner/heater is a chassis supplied system on Ford and Chevrolet Class C chassis. The exception is the Winnebago Rialta, which has both Volkswagen and Winnebago supplied components. Winnebago Industries installs the overhead evaporator assembly, the remainder of the system is Volkswagen installed. As a general rule, a 1994 chassis and newer would use the R134A refrigerant. Prior to the 1994 chassis, an R12 was used. These systems are not interchangeable.

If you are experiencing an auto air conditioning problem, you should contact us at 1-800-343-6255. 

Back in 1996, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) began requiring LP gas detectors be installed in new RVs.  The useful service life of LP detectors is five years.  Do you know if your detector has expired?  If your RV is 5 years or older, you should check the date code on the back of your detector and replace it if it is too old. 

Winnebago Industries’ LP gas detector supplier was CCI Controls who ceased operations in 2009.  Since then most Winnebagos have a flush mount MTI Industries’ Safe-T-Alert LP gas detector installed at the factory.  Replacement CCI controls detectors are not available but can be directly replaced with the Safe-T-Alert model.  MTI Industries’ Safe-T-Alert LP gas detector fits most Winnebago and Itasca motorhomes without needing to make any changes to the cut-out.  These detectors also fit many Fleetwood motorhomes as well.

Potential sources of LP gas leaks include RV refrigerators, oven, stovetop burners, furnace, water heater, and other propane appliances.  Also, the source of the leak could be a defect or loose connection in the LP gas system and possibly the regulator.  Propane gas leaks can occur anywhere in the gas distribution system.  Propane gas leaks are serious and can lead to fire or explosion.

Pure LP gas is odorless, colorless, and tasteless.  An odorant is added to LP gas when it is manufactured to assist in detecting a leak.  As we age many of us will lose some portion of our ability to smell, so people should not rely solely on smelling a leak.

From now until September 30, 2013, MTI Industries’ Safe-T-Alert is offering a $10 rebate on these LP gas alarms.  You can download the rebate form at www.SafeTAlertRebate.com. Take advantage of the rebate offered by Safe-T-Alert and make it a safe trip.  Replace your outdated LP gas alarm today!

Keep cool and go green!

Maybe it’s a nice 75 degree summer day outside but the beaming sun can cause temps to rise inside your RV.  It’s easy to flip on your RV air conditioner and have it run all day long to stay cool.  You probably say, “Why not? Electricity at my campground is free.” 

That may be true but a high-powered vent, like those offered by Atwood Fan-Tastic Vent, could easily move 1,000 cubic feet of air per minute while only using 1-3 amps of 12-volt power.  The high volume of air movement can drop the temperature inside your RV to the outside ambient temperature in a couple of minutes while being environmentally conscious at the same time.

Most air conditioners are limited to a 20 degree drop in temperature and don’t bring in fresh outside air like a vent.  They continuously recirculate the air in your RV.  This can be very annoying if there is stale air or cooking odor inside.  It is very beneficial to first run a 12-volt fan to get the interior temperature down to the outside ambient temperature as well as bring in fresh air.  This cuts down on how hard the air conditioner has to work and saves electricity!

Winnebago Industries uses Fan-Tastic Vents made by Atwood Mobile Products, LLC in their Winnebago, Itasca and Era motorhomes.  There are a wide range of models available so that you can be sure to have a vent that will accomplish exactly what you’re looking for.  Here are some of the features offered on the various Fan-Tastic Vent models which include the 6600R/417, 6000RBTA, 5000RBT, 4000R, 8000 Create-A-Breeze, 800 and 900:

• 14 fixed or automatic thermostat actuated speed settings
• Three fan blade speeds (low, medium, high)
• Reverse airflow by setting the blade direction (OUT – exhaust or IN – intake)
• Thermostatically controlled: the fan blade motor operates when the thermostat calls for cooler air.  Once the thermostat is satisfied the fan automatically shuts off, maintaining a consistent temperature inside your coach.
• Automatic Opening: Powered dome lid that lifts by a 12 Volt DC motor
• Rain Sensor: When moisture contacts the built-in rain sensor, the dome will close, turn the fan blade off and then reopens and turns the fan blade back on once the sensor is dry.
• Hand-Held Remote: Control the operation of the fan from anywhere inside or outside your coach!
• Non-Powered Vent

Many RV manufacturers do include high-powered vents in many of their coaches.  However, to save money, they only include one high-powered vent in one location and they may include an additional static, non-powered vent.  These non-powered vents provide limited benefit versus a high-powered unit so replacing them will allow the RV to effectively ventilate and cool while only using the fraction of the electricity of an air conditioner.  Using a little more electricity (1-2 amps) for a vent is a far cry from the 36 amps required to run two, 15,000 BTU air conditioners.

While air conditioners have their place in an RV, using high-powered vents in conjunction with those air conditioners can dramatically decrease the use of 110-volt power.  Adding high-powered vents cannot only help you cut electricity costs but is just one additional step to “going green” and helping the environment.