Thursday, July 15, 2010
THE THIRD RV PRODUCER TO FOLD THIS YEAR
From RV Pro
By BWorrell
Hi-Lo Trailer Co. of Bellville, Ohio, has ceased production, becoming the third North American RV manufacturer to shutter its doors so far this year.
Calls to Hi-Lo were not returned, but a dealer in Ohio confirmed to RV PRO the widely reported news that the company has ceased production of new units.
Hi-Lo is now the third company to cease operations in 2010. In early July, new manufacturer Heritage One RV closed its doors suddenly without notifying its dealer members. In January, Glendale International Corp. of Ontario, Canada, also closed its doors.
By BWorrell
Hi-Lo Trailer Co. of Bellville, Ohio, has ceased production, becoming the third North American RV manufacturer to shutter its doors so far this year.
Calls to Hi-Lo were not returned, but a dealer in Ohio confirmed to RV PRO the widely reported news that the company has ceased production of new units.
Hi-Lo is now the third company to cease operations in 2010. In early July, new manufacturer Heritage One RV closed its doors suddenly without notifying its dealer members. In January, Glendale International Corp. of Ontario, Canada, also closed its doors.
RECALL: 2010-2011 COACHMAN CATALINA TRAVEL TRAILERS: EMERGENCY WINDOW DIFFICULT TO OPEN
Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
COACHMEN / CATALINA 2010-2011
Manufacturer: COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC Mfr's Report Date: JUN 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V301000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2931
Summary:
COACHMEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 CATALINA TRAVEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2009 THROUGH JUNE 14, 2010. A FOAM SEAL WITH AN ADHESIVE WAS USED ON THE EGRESS (EMERGENCY) WINDOWS. AS A RESULT, THE EGRESS WINDOW MAY STICK OR MAY REQUIRE MORE THAN 20 POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO OPEN.
Consequence:
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN EGRESS WINDOW MAY BE DIFFICULT TO OPEN, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy:
COACHMEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COACHMEN RV CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-453-6064.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
COACHMEN / CATALINA 2010-2011
Manufacturer: COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC Mfr's Report Date: JUN 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V301000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY
Potential Number of Units Affected: 2931
Summary:
COACHMEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 CATALINA TRAVEL TRAILERS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2009 THROUGH JUNE 14, 2010. A FOAM SEAL WITH AN ADHESIVE WAS USED ON THE EGRESS (EMERGENCY) WINDOWS. AS A RESULT, THE EGRESS WINDOW MAY STICK OR MAY REQUIRE MORE THAN 20 POUNDS OF PRESSURE TO OPEN.
Consequence:
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN EGRESS WINDOW MAY BE DIFFICULT TO OPEN, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy:
COACHMEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COACHMEN RV CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-453-6064.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
MVP RV BUYING TWO FACTORIES IN RIVERSIDE, CA THAT USED TO BE OWNED BY FLEETWOOD
July 13, 2010 by RV Business
Moreno Valley, Calif.-based MVP RV has agreed to buy two factories once used by Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. for $18.6 million, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.
Fleetwood Enterprises filed for bankruptcy in March 2009. Since then, the company sold off its RV and manufactured housing divisions as well as factories it owned across the country. The company expects a final bankruptcy plan outlining what its creditors are owed to be approved before the end of July.
The two plants, located north of downtown Riverside off Market Street at 2350 Fleetwood Drive and 5300 Via Ricardo, sit on 36 acres and have 460,000 square feet of space.
According to a legal filing, the offer of $18.6 million, or about $40.43 a square foot, was Fleetwood’s best offer.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the sale to go forward earlier this month.
The property had been used as collateral to secure a $27.3 million loan from ISIS, a lender which will receive the proceeds from the sale.
The deal is expected to close before Aug. 1, according to a legal filing.
MVP RV had shut down its Moreno Valley plant in the middle of 2009 where it built travel trailers and reopened it in March after receiving funding from an overseas investor.
An agreement MVP RV had to build electric vehicles for South Korean firm CT&T stalled earlier this year.
Officials at MVP RV said negotiations are ongoing.
Brad Williams, CEO of MVP RV, wouldn’t say why his company is interested in buying the plants or if the purchase would affect MVP’s operations in Moreno Valley.
“We can’t comment on it right now,” Williams said by phone.
American Industrial Partners, a New York equity firm which bought Fleetwood’s RV division for $33.2 million in mid-2009, had rented the Riverside manufacturing facilities through November of that year, said Amy Coleman, a spokeswoman for Fleetwood RV, now based in Decatur, Ind.
The new company, known as Fleetwood RV, moved all of its operations to Indiana except for an office it leases in Corona for the company’s chief financial officer, accounting staff and marketing employees, she said.
Moreno Valley, Calif.-based MVP RV has agreed to buy two factories once used by Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. for $18.6 million, the Riverside Press-Enterprise reported.
Fleetwood Enterprises filed for bankruptcy in March 2009. Since then, the company sold off its RV and manufactured housing divisions as well as factories it owned across the country. The company expects a final bankruptcy plan outlining what its creditors are owed to be approved before the end of July.
The two plants, located north of downtown Riverside off Market Street at 2350 Fleetwood Drive and 5300 Via Ricardo, sit on 36 acres and have 460,000 square feet of space.
According to a legal filing, the offer of $18.6 million, or about $40.43 a square foot, was Fleetwood’s best offer.
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court approved the sale to go forward earlier this month.
The property had been used as collateral to secure a $27.3 million loan from ISIS, a lender which will receive the proceeds from the sale.
The deal is expected to close before Aug. 1, according to a legal filing.
MVP RV had shut down its Moreno Valley plant in the middle of 2009 where it built travel trailers and reopened it in March after receiving funding from an overseas investor.
An agreement MVP RV had to build electric vehicles for South Korean firm CT&T stalled earlier this year.
Officials at MVP RV said negotiations are ongoing.
Brad Williams, CEO of MVP RV, wouldn’t say why his company is interested in buying the plants or if the purchase would affect MVP’s operations in Moreno Valley.
“We can’t comment on it right now,” Williams said by phone.
American Industrial Partners, a New York equity firm which bought Fleetwood’s RV division for $33.2 million in mid-2009, had rented the Riverside manufacturing facilities through November of that year, said Amy Coleman, a spokeswoman for Fleetwood RV, now based in Decatur, Ind.
The new company, known as Fleetwood RV, moved all of its operations to Indiana except for an office it leases in Corona for the company’s chief financial officer, accounting staff and marketing employees, she said.
Monday, July 12, 2010
HI-LO TRAILERS NOW A PART OF RV HISTORY
Greg Gerber of RV D@ily Report posted on July 12
BELLVILLE, Ohio -- Hi-Lo Manufacturing company has stopped manufacturing its unique brand of fold out trailers, RV Daily Report learned today.
The company notified dealers that it would no longer manufacture the trailers, but one dealer said she was still able to order parts from the company.
The announcement came late last week and the company's sales representatives were terminated, one rep told RV Daily Report today.
The company was launched in 1955. The trailers are unique to the RV industry because they fold down for towing and fold out into full-size travel trailer at the campsite.
Callers to the corporate office hear a voice message saying the firm is only open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, a schedule that was put into effect a few months ago.
One source familiar with the decision said the company was slow to respond to a changing market, and their post-recession sales reflected that fact.
Dealers are to receive a letter early this week alerting them to the closer, one source said.
BELLVILLE, Ohio -- Hi-Lo Manufacturing company has stopped manufacturing its unique brand of fold out trailers, RV Daily Report learned today.
The company notified dealers that it would no longer manufacture the trailers, but one dealer said she was still able to order parts from the company.
The announcement came late last week and the company's sales representatives were terminated, one rep told RV Daily Report today.
The company was launched in 1955. The trailers are unique to the RV industry because they fold down for towing and fold out into full-size travel trailer at the campsite.
Callers to the corporate office hear a voice message saying the firm is only open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday through Friday, a schedule that was put into effect a few months ago.
One source familiar with the decision said the company was slow to respond to a changing market, and their post-recession sales reflected that fact.
Dealers are to receive a letter early this week alerting them to the closer, one source said.
