Vol. 4 # 4 - Tiffin Motorhomes

t i f f i n m a n a g e m e n t t e a mAAs an independent businessman, HaroldKimbrough has become a very integralpart of the Tiffin Management Team.Motorhomes are non-functional withoutgenerators and Harold Kimbrough andhis team know how to maintain and repairthem and keep Tiffin coach owners happy.In business for 54 years, Kimbrough’sAutomotive & Power Services was startedby Harold’s father. Farmers used generatorsfor irrigation, hospitals used them forstandby power, and poultry farms ran coolingfans in hot weather. Selling and servicinggenerators in motorhomes was not inBill Kimbrough’s business plan when heopened his doors for business in 1953.As technology changed, Bill and Haroldadapted to serve new markets. They affiliatedwith Onan in the 1960s and became adealer in the 1970s. In the early 1980s BobTiffin learned that the Kimbroughs couldservice the generators being installed inevery motorhome built by TMH. On aregular basis, Allegro owners began visitingthe Tuscumbia shop for service and repair.Kimbrough also began sending techsto Red Bay to make it more convenient forTiffin’s customers to get service.“Bob realized the great potential forour business that the motorhome tradeoffered and asked us to attend a rallyat the plant to provide complementarygenerator oil changes,” Harold recalled.That event quickly expanded into Haroldand one of his employees attending Tiffinrallies throughout the country to provideservice free of charge.Customers remembered Harold Kimbroughwhen they came to Red Bay forHarold KimbroughAn Adaptable Businessmanby Fred Thompsonservice and usually made a stop in Tuscumbiato be sure their Onan generatorwas in top notch condition. “I have developedso many friendships with motorhomecustomers over the years. They area great group of people and it’s a pleasureto serve them,” he said.Knowing that many customers attendSaturday football games in their Allegromotorhomes, Bob invited Harold to be apart of Tiffin’s weekend customer servicein Tuscaloosa. “I took a grill and two newmotorhomes to an Alabama game. Wefixed generators and other equipment,”he remembered. “The whole idea kept expanding.Now the company takes four tosix coaches to Alabama games across theSoutheast. Terry Elliott takes a big grillmake our customers happy,” he said.“We were having a great rally in RenfroValley, Kentucky, when the power servicefor the whole county went out. But withall of the generators in the park, we didn’tmiss a stroke,” Harold recalled. “I reallyenjoy these rallies. I stay on the phone allof the time when I am in the office. Therallies give me a chance to get my handsdirty again.”“Six years ago I was doing an Onanseminar when a man in the audiencehad a heart attack and died. As soon asI could, I went to his wife and offered mycondolences. Her response really mademe choke up. She said, ‘He enjoyed beinghere with friends and people like you. Wejust appreciate all the good people wehave met over the years in RVing.’”Harold’s wife Debra serves as the company’saccountant. Whenever possibleshe travels to the rallies with Harold.“Several years ago I drove a motorhometo a rally in Oregon. I stopped at the topof a mountain to get a good signal to callthe office. While I was making the call,Debra got the two dogs out for a quickwalk. Thinking she was in the back ofthe motorhome, I took off. Several milesdown the road I called out to her and shedidn’t answer. Then I realized what hadhappened. I turned that coach aroundand scooted back to find her standing onthe side of the road with two dogs waitingfor me,” he smiled . “She told Judy Tiffinwhat happened and learned that Bob haddone the same thing with her.” MORALTO THE STORY: Ladies, leave a big noteon the steering wheel if you leave thecoach while your husband is distractedwith business!In 1980 Harold bought the businessfrom his dad. Since then, his son Philliphas joined the company. The Kimbrough’sother son, Trey, previously worked forCummins-Onan in Kenner, Louisiana.With Tiffin Motorhomes celebrating its35th anniversary this year, Onan wantedto do something special for the companyand its employees. It was also the 35thyear that Tiffin had been installing Onangenerators. If you’ve ever been to Red Bay,you’ve probably eaten the best plate ofcatfish and hush puppies in the Southat Swamp John’s. The little restaurantand does the cooking. David Sparks andRobert Gober from Red Bay bring a servicetrailer and fix generators, gas furnaces, airconditioners, whatever. We are there forour Tiffin owners. But if a guy with BrandX has a problem, we take care of him, too.He’ll buy a Tiffin next time,” he laughed.“Over the years we have had a lot of fun.But there have been sad times and tryingtimes, too,” Harold continued. “Severalyears ago we had a rally in McFarlandPark along the Tennessee River at Florence.Rain flooded the area and made thean Onan generator. For several years, heLeft: Harold Kimbrough checks the oil onground in our events tent pretty soggy. Ihas enjoyed traveling to rallies with Tiffintechnicians David Sparks and Robert Gober.ordered a load of plywood and fixed up aBelow: Harold thoroughly enjoys restoringtemporary floor so the show could go on.antique cars, and takes great pride in hisI didn’t even ask Bob if I could. We’re just1935 five-window coupe with its roll-downin the habit of doing whatever it takes to back window.Continued on page 60SportCarriersMotorcycles.Golf Carts.Mobility Carts.www.blueox.usPender, NE888-425-5382Ask for BaileySTRONG AS AN OX16 Roughing It SmoothlyTiffin Management Team 17