Renegade Direct

The Renegade Motorhome and Renegade Trailer project from Trailers of the East Coast that resulted in the Oakley Rolling O put on an incredible bash. The best part was this little bash took place on board an aircraft carrier out in California! I wanted to share the pictures from the event with everyone as I think they tell the story. Notice the crane that was used to lift the Renegade Motorhome that weights roughly 25,000 lbs! What an amazing party but would you expect anything less coming from Oakley?

Enjoy the photos!

Trailers of the East Coast - America’s oldest Renegade Dealer demonstrates that the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing a Renegade Motorhome, Renegade Toterhome, or a Renegade Trailer. Oakley worked with Trailers of the East Coast through the purchase and customization of their new Rolling O Lab that hit the streets the first of the year. If you get the chance to see this unit at events throughout the United States, it’s truly amazing. Below is the press release from Oakley:

Oakley Deploys Rolling O Lab to Bring High Definition Optics to the Masses
Foothill Ranch, CA January 30th, 2007

Mobile Facility Educates Public about Companys Optics Superiority

Oakley, Inc. (NYSE: OO) today announced the deployment of the Rolling O Lab, a mobile demonstration unit that will travel the nation to educate consumers about the companys superior High Definition Optics(®) (HDO(®)) technology. Built as a 40-foot motor coach, the fully self-contained facility will offer live demonstrations of the companys optical performance and protection at retail locations, sport venues and other select public events.

“Consumers need to open their eyes to the fact that not all sunglasses are created equal, said Colin Baden, president of Oakley, Inc. We developed the Rolling O Lab to educate people about the truth of todays eyewear and to show firsthand how Oakleys HDO(®) sunglasses provide the best optical clarity, impact resistance and UV protection in the industry. By taking our science to the street, we can reach out to those who might not have an opportunity to learn about the quality and performance of our eyewear.”

“In educating the public, the Rolling O Lab will also serve as a mobile marketing unit that entertains and enlightens, maintaining a positive and powerful brand presence. It presents a high-quality image of the company by utilizing a comprehensive and meticulously crafted audio/visual package,” continued Baden . “Scheduled to be on the road more than 300 days a year, it offers a brand emersion experience that tells the Oakley story, one of technical innovation, inspiration and optical superiority.” - Source: Oakley.com

BRISTOL — Rumbling into Louisville, Ky., in 1997, Chuck McKibbin and his crew were banned from showing their unit at the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association’s national convention because they were not members. So they displayed their RV in the parking lot and called themselves the renegades.

The name stuck and now, 10 years later, Renegade/Kibbi LLC has grown to 105 employees and, this summer, hit production milestones with the 2,000th motorhome and the 1,500th trailer rolling off the assembly line.
“It worked like it’s supposed to,” McKibbin said of his company. “I wanted this to be the kind of place I want to work at.”

For the past couple of years, the curly topped, easy-smiling owner has been stepping back from daily operations and last week he turned in his office keys for good.

By retiring, the 50-year-old McKibbin explained, his staff will be able to make decisions without having to get input from him although he hopes the employees will consider “What would Chuck do?” before they finalize any plan of action.

He started building RVs with the intent of just making a living. He did not envision the company would blossom as it has but he did see a need in the marketplace for trailers that could haul racing cars.

Although a few trailers have been built for NASCAR drivers like Mark Martin, Tony Stewart and Dale Earnhardt Jr., drag racers are the primary customers. The company has just started branching into new markets, creating trailers to haul horses or outfitted with kennels for dogs.

The motorhomes that Renegade puts its name on are built on Freightliner chassis that can tow a 35,000- to 40,000-pound trailer.

In addition, Renegade also makes specialty vehicles such as emergency response units and mobile banking centers and is finishing a motorized command center designed for use by the president of the United States.
Early on, McKibbin struck a profit-sharing agreement with his employees and another deal about his role on the factory floor.

“I can go back and look at things and make suggestions,” McKibbin explained, “but I’m not allowed to touch any tools.”

Tim Randall, a partner in the company along with Jeff Mudge, Jack Sadden and Frank Vite, will manage daily operations and take McKibbin’s place.

“I’m looking forward to it and I’m excited,” Randall said. “Chuck obviously had a vision for what obviously could be done with this type of product.

At his retirement party, the employees presented Mc-Kibbin with a specially-made Gibson guitar adorned with all their signatures. McKibbin’s wife, Andrea, said the gleaming white instrument may be too special for him to ever strum.

“For Andrea and I,” McKibbin said, “Renegade is still going to be in our heart.”