Anyone who has purchased an RV knows that, like any home, it’s an investment – well, more like a commitment. Certainly, more money will go into the upkeep, upgrades, and maintenance than will ever be returned. Still, if you’re full-timers like us, your RV is your sanctuary, your happy place, the place you hang your hat. Upkeep is a must.

We own a Newmar, and that means a trip to the mothership. If you own a Newmar and you’ve never been to the factory, it’s quite the experience. Even in the midst of a pandemic (and maybe because of it), our visit was impressive. 

The Newmar factory is located at one end of town, surrounded by shops catering to the RV industry. With a full hook-up campground, a large and comfortable lounge – equipped with comfy chairs, work stations, and a fireplace – and a state of the art service center, the mothership really does make customers feel as if they are at home. Add to that a stellar customer service crew who are skilled experts in their respective areas, and you’ve really got a welcome sense of assurance in the work being performed.

Now, the Newmar Factory and Service Center is a busy place – all the time. Therefore, appointments are necessary and, understandably, the waitlist is rather long. For example, our appointment was six months out from the day we called. That said, once you are there, you are assigned a tech who meets with you to go over your work list. Work begins promptly at 6:00 a.m. on weekdays (the center is closed on weekends, but customers with appointments are allowed to stay onsite). Your assigned tech will come knock on your door, take your rig keys, direct you to the lounge, and drive to the end of the most efficiently choreographed parade of coaches I’ve ever seen.

At the end of each work day, your rig is returned to its site and hooked up by your tech. You’ll receive a briefing of the work performed, and your tech will have you inspect what has been done. This will continue until all work is completed and you check out with the cashier.

Just as impressive to me was the town of Nappanee, IN, where the Newmar plant is located. Before Mister and I made our appointment to have work done, we spoke with some fellow campers about their respective trips “up north.” Most talked about their experiences at the factory and adjacent campground or their encounters with the Amish folk who live and work in the area, but not many had much to say about the town itself. In fact, one neighbor told me there wasn’t “much to do there” and suggested a couple of places to get a good meal, but “that’s about it.” Now, maybe I grew up sheltered. Maybe my time in the desert Southwest, summer sun beating down on my head, prevented me from viewing beyond the distant horizon through half-closed, watery eyes. Whatever the reason, I fell in love with Nappanee! Small, yes, but oh so charming and so, so different than most anything I’d experienced. 

During our days at Newmar, while our coach was having work done, Mister and I explored this quaint town and all of its unexpected little treasures. We walked through downtown and admired the murals and art that adorned Main Street, had lunch at Main Street Roasters , explored The Barns at Nappanee, and wondered at the contrast of the Amish presence in a technologically advanced world. It was simply a joy being there.

At the end of our week-long stay, I was sorry to go – so pleasant was our stay in the Newmar campground, and so enjoyable our visit to Nappanee and the surrounding area. I told Mister, who acknowledged me with a chuckle, I would return one day, whether we needed rig work or not.