by Yvonne Freiderich
GoNorth expands its car & RV rental business with RV service, repair and storage at its new location on Mt. Sima Road

“Summertime is RV time—for locals and tourists alike! Whether you want to rent an RV or you need your own unit repaired, GoNorth is proud to serve you,” said the new GoNorth branch manager, Keith Friendship.

In 2012, GoNorth opened its first car and RV rental station in Canada, which is located in the Centennial Motors building across from the airport. The company itself has been in business since 2001, operating rental stations in Fairbanks, Anchorage and Seattle. GoNorth Whitehorse just moved to a brand-new facility located at 115 Mt. Sima Road.

At the new location, Friendship proudly welcomes customers from Whitehorse and all over the world. “Many of our customers choose GoNorth because we rent 4×4 trucks, SUVs, motorhomes and truck campers with no road restrictions. Driving on gravel roads is permitted,” Friendship states. “One-way rentals from/to Anchorage, Fairbanks and Seattle are also a big plus.”

In addition to the existing rental business, GoNorth just started offering service and repairs. Alex Kohler, a Red Seal-certified RV technician at GoNorth, explains: “We offer de-winterizing, winterizing, seal and roof inspections, trailer bearing and brake inspections, pre-purchase inspections, and more. We can also diagnose and repair various types of problems in propane, heating, electrical, water and sewage systems, and more.” And for those who don’t have room to park their RV at home, GoNorth offers storage in their secure, fenced-in lot.

Friendship loves travelling and RVing. Originally from Quebec, work in the retail industry and for the Canadian Military allowed him to live in and travel to numerous places in Europe and all over Canada. Six years ago, he and his wife moved to Whitehorse to be close to their daughter and grandson. Friendship enjoyed working in the RV industry in the Yukon. His favourite part of living in the Yukon is the spectacular landscapes and the wildlife.

“One of my favorites is the drive to Kluane National Park and Reserve. Driving towards Haines Junction with the mountains in the distance, coming across wild horses grazing on the side of the road, brings a sense of calm and peace. Driving towards and through Kluane is so beautiful and peaceful, you want to stay longer than you can,” Friendship raves.

As an avid motorcyclist, one of his other favourite trips is driving the South Klondike Highway to Skagway. “Passing Emerald Lake, seeing the Carcross grizzlies (mama and three cubs) and the spectacular spring and fall colours makes the ride to Skagway an awesome adventure. Visiting Skagway is a trip back in time. With the wooden sidewalks and the frontier store fronts, [it] makes this a great day trip or stay for the weekend.”

In 2016, Friendship and his wife relocated to the Calgary area—but they were not gone for good. “We loved living in Whitehorse, and we were missing the lifestyle and our family. For me, returning to the Yukon and Whitehorse is a dream come true … not only for the lifestyle but to be back with good friends and family, and for the new friends to make.”

Keith Friendship looks forward to serving GoNorth customers at the new GoNorth facility on Mt. Sima Road.

Enjoy summer and remember: Home is where you park it!

Yvonne Friederich (previously Mueller) is a Communications & Marketing Specialist at GoNorth. She is based in Switzerland but she knows the North pretty well from her many visits to the Yukon and Alaska. In 2016, she and her husband lived in Whitehorse for a year.

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