A bit disappointed

ItsyRV wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
There is a parking lot for those on tour, but it is too small for a 40' with towed.

You have touched on a situation that is becoming more and more common. Since your experience was at a location where RV's should be expected as a normal course of visiting operation, not to provide any guidance on parking just shows someone is asleep. It's not like we're talking some art museum in an inner city surrounded by skyscrapers and traffic; this is an RV focused operation. No matter how much one can say you should have done this or that, it was the business that failed to take care of their guest in a manner they should have expected that guest to arrive.

Another angle, and a friend who owns a new car dealership deals with this every day;

First the OP admits he didn't call and/or ask for assistance. It's hard for someone within the factory walls to read the mind of everyone who stops and/or passes by.

Second, many of these factories have grown to the point where real estate has become a premium. (This is my buddies case) Every available inch has been used/devoloped/taken in an effort to accommodate both customers coming through and the day-to-day needs of normal business. Existing customers, suppliers, and employees aldo need places to park and/or deliver goods.

With that said, and I've never been there so I could be wrong, it does seem there was ample parking available had the OP chosen to unhook his towed. I have been to more than a few campgrounds that were impossible to navigate until I unhooked the towed. A 40+' motorhome pulling a 20' towed is not the most nimble combination on the road. It happens.

I wonder where Trump parked his plane when he toured?

https://www.goshennews.com/news/local_news/trump-pence-tour-newmar-motorhome/collection_bf1cf6d8-8ebd-11e8-b1aa-1f0d884670ab.html

Newmar has approx. 75 RV spaces for parking both west and east sides of the factory. They are not pull-throughs so yes, you'd have to unhook. That's all that's parked there.... big RVs so you'd fit.... if you had unhooked. Sorry you didn't take the tour.

Tom/Barb wrote:
There is a parking lot for those on tour, but it is too small for a 40' with towed.

You have touched on a situation that is becoming more and more common. Since your experience was at a location where RV's should be expected as a normal course of visiting operation, not to provide any guidance on parking just shows someone is asleep. It's not like we're talking some art museum in an inner city surrounded by skyscrapers and traffic; this is an RV focused operation. No matter how much one can say you should have done this or that, it was the business that failed to take care of their guest in a manner they should have expected that guest to arrive.

DutchmenSport wrote:
Well, IF anyone does take the secondary roads, I can certainly understand why it took an hour to drive that distance. Lots of Amish horse and buggies on those roads to slow down and dodge. Not to mention dodging horse poo paddies everywhere. That does require slower driving! It's almost as bad as rush hour in the big cities!

Never saw a buggy, but did see a lot of traffic, and construction.

larry cad wrote:

Tom/Barb wrote:
Yes I should have called.. ! But it wouldn't hurt Newmar to put out a sign either.
Yes I could have unhooked the jeep. But where would you park to do that?
The Service lot looked pretty full to us. and if you read their web page that is by appointment.
There is a parking lot for those on tour, but it is too small for a 40' with towed.

Well, I drove my 40' diesel motorhome, with toad attached to Newmar a couple of years ago. There seemed like a whole bunch of parking to me. No problem at all.

Were we just looking for a reason not to go, or looking for the sympathy here on RV.net!

In your haste to criticize, you missed the point of making a statement so others would know and not make the same mistake.

Ever stop to think, things change, specially at any evolving factory?

jplante4 wrote:
Tough crowd here Tom. I had a similar disappointment on our last trip. We made a jog south to Cape Girardeau MO so I could have a meal at Lambert's Cafe in Sikeston (home of the throwed rolls - google it). I had flown out there once but didn't go to Sikeston because a pilot friend invited me to an chili cookoff at Cape G. We drove right by the one in Branson MO because I wanted to go to the original.

So we jump if the toad on a Saturday afternoon figuring on beating the dinner crowd. Wrong. It was an hour and a half wait, which I probably would have done if it wasn't 90° and muggy.

So I took a pic in front of the place, crossed it off the bucket list and had a nice dinner at a Texas Roadhouse.



BTW if this is on anyone else's bucket list, there's an RV park nearby (not sure which one) where Lambert's will come and pick you up and take you in the back door and seat you immediately. Of course, I found this out afterwards. They will do the same if you fly into the Sikeston general aviation airport.

You are lucky, you crossed an item off your list that wasn't worth the effort. You likely had a much better meal without the silliness of this place at Texas Roadhouse. It's amazing what some folks find entertaining, but I like to go to a restaurant to eat good food and this is not their priority.

Tom/Barb wrote:
Yes I should have called.. ! But it wouldn't hurt Newmar to put out a sign either.
Yes I could have unhooked the jeep. But where would you park to do that?
The Service lot looked pretty full to us. and if you read their web page that is by appointment.
There is a parking lot for those on tour, but it is too small for a 40' with towed.

Well, I drove my 40' diesel motorhome, with toad attached to Newmar a couple of years ago. There seemed like a whole bunch of parking to me. No problem at all.

Were we just looking for a reason not to go, or looking for the sympathy here on RV.net!

dougrainer wrote:
I guess the problem is, Newmar, being in Amish/Mennonite country has NO PHONES. So the OP was at a disadvantage since they could not call to inquire about parking and Tours:R Doug

PS, It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to go from 80 to hi-way 6 in Nappanee. Unless you try at rush hour. If coming from Chicago, you get off at South Bend(hiway 31 exit) and take the BYPASS. then take hiway 19 south, very quick and NO secondary roads.

Living close by I was puzzled by that comment as well. Maybe they stopped at Essen Haus for dinner on the way....:D

Wow, seems like a lot of posters must have looked in the mirror before posting. Just because we look funny, doesn't mean we are funny.

Yes I should have called.. ! But it wouldn't hurt Newmar to put out a sign either.
Yes I could have unhooked the jeep. But where would you park to do that?
The Service lot looked pretty full to us. and if you read their web page that is by appointment.
There is a parking lot for those on tour, but it is too small for a 40' with towed.