It is the 10th anniversary of Whited Motorhome and RV Center at 2160 Hotel Road in Auburn and Gary Mynahan, manager, has been seeing lots of interest in the newest units as warmer weather approaches. He said signs of an improving economy are evident. There is a trend to downsizing and he believes the lightweight, towable units will be most popular this year.

“We began to see a lot of customer interest in January and February,” Mynahan said. “Our lot is always cleared of snow and it made it easy to come here and check out all the vehicles, inside and out.”

A motor home or a towable RV is a sensible way to get a second home, Mynahan said. “It’s not necessary to have your own heavy-duty pick-up truck or SUV for towing,” he said. “We can tow it to a campground and set it up on a lot, ready to move in.”

Bill Strauss, sales professional at Whited’s spacious location near the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, likes to tell people who are considering purchasing an RV, “Wherever you are, you’re always at home.” He and sales professional Scott Lewis have a dozen years combined in RV sales at Whited in Auburn, and they agree that finding just the right fit in an RV for each customer is a rewarding goal for all.

“They are the nuts and bolts of this place,” said Mynahan, “I count on their expertise. We are a team and we get together all the time to brainstorm about things that can make this operation better.”

Mynahan, Lewis and Strauss are particularly pleased when they see RV buyers come back to Whited to upgrade their RV or trade for something a bit different once they have discovered what is right for them.

Lewis said, “In the past, it seemed that nobody under the age of 60 was looking at motor homes,” he said. “Now, couples in their 30s and 40s are buying moderate-size motor homes.” He agreed that lightweight, towable models are gaining favor all the time.

Lewis and Strauss have plenty of stories to tell. They recall a husband and wife whose first-time purchase was a Winnebago unit. They said they planned to place their unit at a campground where they would stay put for the season. But first, they decided to try a trip on the road. They wound up in New Mexico and Arizona, and they found that it had been so easy and enjoyable that they were in no hurry to come back to Maine.

Lewis emphasizes the importance of making the Whited RV experience an easy-going and productive relationship for customers. “We make long-lasting friendships with a lot of people,” Lewis said. “They stop in just to say ‘Hi’ and to tell us what they did on their vacations and trips. They tell me about parts of the country they have visited, but probably I will never get to visit.”

Some people want to be on the move, Lewis said. They will use their recreational vehicles to follow the NASCAR circuit or visit tourist destinations throughout the nation. It is also a popular way to travel for visits with friends or relatives.

Others like to stay put, and they enjoy getting to know their camping neighbors. Both Lewis and Strauss are well acquainted with the needs and benefits of campgrounds. They can deliver vehicles right to the campground site and place it on the lot. They also point out that campers like to help their neighbors, so new RV owners are never at a loss for help with equipment or camping tips. Strauss ran a campground in Western Maine not many years ago,

so he said he understands the RV

owner’s perspective.

Mynahan emphasized that product knowledge is very important. Mynahan, Strauss and Lewis stay up-to-date on all the latest makes and models. They know the Whited product lines and they know the competitors’ products, so they are well-equipped to help their customers make the right choices.

“It’s an educational process and the important thing to know is how well the units are made,” Mynahan said. The Whited team makes a particular effort to make just the right match between the buyer and unit depending on their wants and needs.

Mynahan said the Auburn facility has a big service shop at the adjacent truck center building. Four bays are dedicated to servicing RVs, there is a full-service parts department and the shop is open until midnight.

New vehicles are arriving all the time, Mynahan said. That means the line-up of used RVs on the lot is also changing often. He said lots of people make frequent visits to check out the latest arrivals at Whited. The Whited RV product lines include Forest River and its all-new Surveyor line, Winnebago, Keystone RV Company, Cruiser RV and others. Many details of each unit can be found online at their website at www.whitedrv.com. It is possible to see photos of each unit, specifications on all its features, and even a floor plan.

Mynahan, Lewis and Strauss can be reached at Whited’s large Auburn location by calling 800-235-3613 or 207-786-3673. They look forward to sharing their 10th anniversary celebration with new and past customers.

Whited Motorhome & RV

2160 Hotel Road, Auburn, ME

800-235-3613

www.whitedrv.com