Intro/Letter From the Editor - Ryan Main - Sales

This month's newsletter is coming to your inbox all the way from Louisville, Kentucky, home of the RVDA show each year.  This is where all the manufacturer's have displays under the same roof with all kinds of product represented.  Pik-A-Dilly has always had representation at these shows, and this year is no different as myself, Don and Dave will be spending the next few days pouring through what's new and what's hot for the coming season.

In this month's newsletter you'll find a wide variety of holiday gift idea's from every department from service work to parts and accessory items.  If there's an RV'er in your family or life, we've got something for you to wrap for them.

We hope you'll find an idea to help your holiday shopping get done a little quicker.  Maybe with enough time to bake up a batch of Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies (recipe below).  If you need someone to taste test them for you, we're open regular hours all winter!!  As always, should you have any questions or comments, please send them to me at rmain@pikadilly.com.  Until next month, enjoy the read.

Dealership News - Don Main - General Manager

There’s no time for a breather at Pik-A-Dilly. Thanks to the extraordinary fall weather, sales have been very steady. Virtually all of our hail-damaged units are sold. Thanks to all who recognized the opportunity to purchase a new unit with some cosmetic damage at a price that you couldn’t say no to. You have allowed us the time in our service department to concentrate on the repairs needed by others.

We have enough winter service work ahead of us to last nearly the entire winter. We also have a show to prepare for in early February and new 2010 units arriving almost every day, which require preparation work prior to displaying them. This translates to a need for more help! In recent weeks we’ve hired three new employees who are at various stages of an intensive training program to provide immediate relief!

For those unaware, our dealership is open and fully staffed 12 months of the year. So, if you have a need for warranty repair, collision damage repair, etc, call us now and avoid the spring rush. Also, if you are heading to a warmer climate soon and want a check-over, “just in case”, we can certainly respond to your needs! On another note, all RV’s should now be properly winterized. If you have neglected to do so, you want to call us immediately. It may be too late to avoid some damage, but may still be soon enough to avoid major damage. Don’t delay!

Thanks to the weather, we have been able to have our sales lot professionally refinished. This is a chore we must complete in the fall as we have a lot less inventory at that time and are able to move things around to accommodate the big machinery required. We are now ready for spring, which we hope is not far away!

Sales Department News - Dave Shepherd - Sales Manager

Now is the time of year that most of us start creating or putting the finishing touches on our ‘holiday wish lists’.  It has always been my opinion (although somewhat biased) that a new travel trailer or 5th wheel (from Pik-A-Dilly RV Centre) would make a great gift.  Of course, fitting it under the tree might present  some problems (unless your tree is somewhat on the extreme size), but think of the joy on the kid’s faces Christmas morning when they learn the family will be spending their next camping season in a new RV.  We'll even provide you with a nice picture of your new RV complete with a big red bow!!

Right now, shopping for a new travel trailer or 5th wheel might be a little lower on the priority list, but if it is in the plans for next spring, now is a great time to buy.  Current inventory must be moved to make way for the spring inventory.  Manufacturers are in full production for the spring rush so floor plan availability is not a problem.  Additionally, the strength of the Canadian dollar has lowered the pricing on RV’s across the board, giving us more value for every dollar spent.  Cold doesn’t have to be a concern because, with a bit of advanced warning, we will have the unit you want to buy brought inside our heated facility for your viewing comfort.

Of course there is the stress that the holidays put on finances.  Not a problem.  Zero down finance plans and no interest/no payments until May (O.A.C.), allows you to buy your new RV now and not have to worry about paying for it until after you have cleared up your holiday bills and are ready to start enjoying the RV lifestyle in the spring.  Make your plans early so you aren’t left out of next year’s camping season.

Service Department News - Heather Arthurson - Service Manager

Wheel bearing repacking is a necessary maintenance item when it comes to towing an RV. Problems that can occur without this maintenance include the bearings getting hot which can lead to a break down on the highway (and you know it will be in the middle of the night). Bearings that have been hot or heated should be replaced as well as the race for that bearing.

A wheel bearing repack includes:
- Remove and check tires, dust caps, spindle nuts/washers, and hubs
- Remove and replace cotter pins, and wheel seals
- Remove and check/clean (replace if necessary, including race) outer bearings
- Clean and inspect hubs, drums, brake shoes, brake magnets, springs and adjusters (replace if necessary)
- Repack wheel bearings and apply a coat of grease to race/cup
- Install inner bearing into hub and install new seal
- Assemble hub back over spindle and install outer bearing, washer and nut
- Tighten and torque spindle nut while spinning the hub
- Install new cotter pins
- Reinstall dust caps, tires and torque lug nuts
- Check and adjust tire pressure as needed
Price - $100/axle plus parts

Disinfecting your water system is recommended if your trailer has been in storage for long periods of time or if your trailer hasn’t been used for a while.
There are different products that can be used when disinfecting your tank. Chlorine bleach is a household product that can be used as well.
Mix a solution of water and bleach and pour into the potable tank and pump through the complete water system. When running the faucets, one should be able to smell the bleach once it gets up to each point (hot & cold). Allow the bleach to stand for a length of time comparable to the solution of bleach and water mixed. Drain and flush with fresh water.
Price $100

We will provide you with gift certificate's for either or both of these services if you would like to give them as gifts to the RV'er in your life. If you choose both of these specials at the same time we will reduce the price even further by 10%! Call or stop in today to make arrangements.

Parts Department News - Shannon Davis - Parts

Only a few short weeks until the holidays are here!!!  If you're looking for some gift ideas for the RV'er in your life we have plenty of items that we've marked down for the month of December while supplies last.  Stop in and check it out.

RV GROUND MATS
8X14  REG. $129.50 - NOW $103.60
8X18  REG. $155.75 - NOW $124.60

STRING LIGHTS
REG. $177.95 - NOW $142.36

HEAVY DUTY 30 AMP EXT. CORDS
REG. $69.95 - NOW $55.96

SIDEWINDER HOSE SUPPORTS
10' REG. $42.05 - NOW $33.64
15' REG. $51.15 - NOW $40.92
20' REG. $64.78 - NOW $51.82

KIPOR 3000 WATT GENERATORS
REG. $1975.00 - NOW $1777.50

BARKER POWER JACKS
REG. $349.0 - NOW $279.20

OLYMPIAN PORTABLE GRILL TABLES
REG. $189.59 - NOW $151.68

LOCK ALARMS
REG. $72.95 - NOW $54.68

LEND-A-HAND ASSIST HANDLES
REG. $59.00 - NOW $47.20

TELESCOPING WASH BRUSHES
REG. $40.95 - NOW $32.76

LEVELING BLOCKS
REG. $71.91 - NOW $57.53

WINDOW THERMOMETERS
REG. $18.99 - NOW $15.69
 
ALL FAULKNER CHAIR ACCESSORIES 20% OFF
 
ALL TOYS 20% OFF
 
*while supplies last*

Holiday Recipe

Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies

Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 17 tablespoons sugar, divided
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup baking cocoa
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans, divided
- 1 (13 ounce) package Rolo candies
- 4 (1 ounce) squares white chocolate, melted

Directions
- In a large mixing bowl, cream butter, 1 cup sugar and brown sugar
- Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition
- Beat in vanilla
- Combine the flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to the creamed mixture, beating just until combined
- Stir in 1/2 cup pecans
- Shape a tablespoonful of dough around each candy, forming a ball
- In a small bowl, combine the remaining sugar and pecans; dip each cookie halfway
- Place nut side up 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets
- Bake at 375 degrees F for 7-10 minutes or until tops are slightly cracked
- Cool for 3 minutes before removing to wire racks to cool completely
- Drizzle with melted white chocolate

December Calendar of Events

Simply too many different things to cover in December so we'll leave it to the holiday dates this month.

December 11 - Hanukkah
December 21 - Winter Solstice
December 24 - Christmas Eve
December 25 - Christmas Day
December 26 - Kwanzaa
December 26 - Boxing Day
December 31 - New Year's Eve