Saturday, February 22, 2014
THOR ACQUIRES HOLIDAY RAMBLER AND MONACO TOWABLE BRAND NAMES
Thor Acquires Some Legendary Towable Brands
February 20, 2014 by Sherman Goldenberg via RVBusiness.com
Along with the former Allied Specialty Vehicles Inc. (ASV) towable RV-manufacturing plant that it just purchased on Indiana 19 on the south side of Elkhart, Ind., Thor Industries Inc. also acquired a host of towable brand names once marketed by ASV and its predecessor, Monaco RV, from whom they were purchased last year.
Included are a host of legendary nameplates like Presidential, Aluma-Lite, Alumascape, Trail-Lite, R-Vision, Trail Cruiser and Trail Sport, Thor President and CEO Bob Martin confirms.
“We didn’t put it all in a press release because it was more than a mouthful and at the end of the day, right now, our biggest priority was that we needed production for motorized,” Martin said of Tuesday’s (Feb. 18) announcement that Elkhart-based Thor had acquired ASV’s 220,000-square-foot towable plant which served for a number of years prior to that as Monaco Coach Corp.’s motorized chassis plant.
And while Martin indicated that the newly acquired ASV plant will facilitate the continued expansion of his company’s Thor Motor Coach division, plans for those towable brands are still quite preliminary.
“I have a long list of brands that we now have at our disposal and basically I’ve opened them up to Keystone and to all of our companies (Thor divisions) that might have an interest in them,” said Martin. “You know, some of these are iconic brand names that we just don’t yet know how they’re going to be used, but we did get the names.”
Meanwhile, as part of the agreement to purchase the Indiana 19 plant, Thor is working with a variety of dealers – including its own Thor retailers – to unload some of the finished inventory on hand at the former ASV plant.
“So, we’re taking on that burden,” said Martin. “Dealers will be contacted by some people working for us through ASV and I’m trying to make sure that the dealers that need inventory are the ones that are getting it. You know, we’ve had dealers that weren’t even Monaco dealers call and say, ‘I’ll buy them all,’ just trying to get a deal. And we’re trying to do the right thing and make sure that retails are taken care of first and foremost and also dealers that need inventory, dealers that don’t have a line right away, So, I’m kind of behind the scenes helping with that.”
NHTSA RECALLS FOR DECEMBER 2013
NHTSA Update: RV-Related Recalls for December
January 21, 2014 by RVBusiness Leave a Comment
Editor’s Note: The following is a list of RV-related recalls for July compiled by the National Highway Transportation Safety Association (NHTSA).
• Starcraft RV Inc. is recalling certain model year 2014 16BH AR-ONE trailers manufactured between June 3, 2013, through September 30, 2013. The vehicles were built with tires of a lower load range than the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating requires. If the trailer is loaded to the gross vehicle weight rating that is listed on the label for the higher capacity tires, the tires may suddenly fail increasing the risk of a crash. Starcraft RV will notify owners and dealers will replace the tires and the spare tire with new ST175.80R13D tires and issue a correct tire label, free of charge. The recall began on January 8, 2014. Customers may contact Starcraft at 1-800-945-4787.
• Monaco RV LLC is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 recreational vehicles equipped with Fastec-brand door locks. It may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt. Monaco will notify owners, and Fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by mid-February 2014. Owners may contact Monaco at 1-877-466-6226 or Fastec at 1-800-837-2505.
• Airstream Inc. is recalling 2013-2014 Airstream Interstate recreational vehicles manufactured August 2012 through October 2013. In the affected vehicles, the installation of the propane tank and the regulator may damage the regulator, allowing propane to escape out of the safety release vent if it experiences an over pressurized condition. Airstream will notify owners, and dealers will replace the regulator on the propane tank, free of charge. The recall in expected to begin by early February 2014. Owners may contact the Airstream Warranty/Service Department by phone at 1-937-596-6111.
• Marathon Homes Corp. is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 towable and fifth-wheel travel trailers manufactured January 1, 2006, through April 25, 2013 and equipped with Fastec-brand door locks. It may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt. Marathon will notify owners, and Fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early February 2014. Owners may contact Marathon Homes at 1-574-294-6441 or Fastec at 1-800-837-2505.
• Tiffin Motorhomes Inc. is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Allegro 33AA motorhomes equipped with an electric fireplace. In the affected vehicles, the fireplace may ignite a piece of exposed wood inside the electric fireplace. Tiffin will notify owners, and dealers will install a heat shield to keep heat from the exposed wood, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Tiffin at 1-256-356-8661.
• Riverside Travel Trailer Inc. is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 travel trailers manufactured January 1, 2010, through April 30, 2013 and equipped with Fastec-brand door locks. It may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt. Riverside will notify owners, and Fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Owners may contact Riverside at 1-765-472-3920 or Fastec at 1-800-837-2505.
• Prevost Cars Inc. is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 X3-45 VIP motorhomes, H3 VIP motorhomes and XLII-45 Entertainers and model year 2012-2014 model year X3-45, H3-41, H3-45 coaches manufactured June 6, 2011, through May 17, 2013, equipped with JAKO windshield wiper motors, model
SWF403195. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper motor housing may crack resulting in a loss of windshield wiper function. Prevost will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles and any affected windshield wiper motor will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by the end of February 2014. Owners may contact Prevost at 1-418-883-2888. Prevost’s number for this recall is SR14-02.
• Skyline Corp. is recalling certain model year 2006-2013 recreational vehicle travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers manufactured January 1, 2006, through May, 31, 2013 and equipped with Fastec-brand door locks. It may be possible to remove the key from the lock in a way that potentially jams the deadbolt. Skyline will notify owners, and Fastec will coordinate the inspection and replacement of the cylinders, as needed, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin by early February 2014. Owners may contact Skyline at 1-800-755-6521 or Fastec at 1-800-837-2505.