Dutchmen to Debut Front-Lounge Komfort Fiver

Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. will introduce a new Komfort fifth-wheel featuring a front lounge configuration during the Nov. 29-Dec. 1 National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky.

According to a press release, key features in the upper deck of the 3650FFL include 6-foot, 8-inch ceiling height, two sliderooms that are six inches taller than traditional extensions and an entertainment center with a fireplace. “This is an expansive living area that you have to see to believe,” said Rob Groover, general manager for Dutchmen’s Komfort and Infinity brands.

The unit also offers a standard 12-cubic-foot side-by-side refrigerator, hardwood cabinetry throughout, a king bed and nearly four times the exterior storage versus competitive models.

“A lot of potential buyers have always wanted a front lounge floor plan,” said Groover. “However, they just couldn’t or didn’t want to spend the amount of money that these floorplans usually dictate. The 3650FFL is the most aggressively priced five-slide, front lounge floorplan in the industry. This opens up a whole new opportunity for our customers to enjoy all of the advantages of a front lounge without breaking the bank.”

The new fifth-wheel will be shown at the Dutchmen display in Booth No. 1001 at the Kentucky Exposition Center (KEC). Dutchmen, based in Goshen, Ind., is a division of Thor Industries Inc.

 

 

 

Thor Appoints Cam Boyer Dutchmen President

“Cam Boyer is the right person to continue to lead Dutchmen’s resurgence in the towable RV industry and he has the endorsement of the Dutchmen team in this new position,” said Peter B. Orthwein, Chairman and CEO of Thor Industries. “Cam has demonstrated a great knowledge of the RV industry and has been one of the key drivers of Dutchmen’s success. He brings a strategic approach to the business, using his finance acumen and relationships both inside and outside the company to propel performance.”

Boyer joined Dutchmen in 2009, having held previous leadership and management positions with Starcraft RV and Starcraft Marine.

 

 

Thor Announces Don Clark Leaving Dutchmen

Thor Industries Inc. announced today (Nov. 10) that Don Clark, president of its Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. subsidiary that also includes Komfort and Breckenridge divisions, has decided to leave the company.

“Don previously played a major role in the growth of Keystone RV and most recently led the successful turnaround of Dutchmen,” said Peter Orthwein, chairman, president and CEO of Thor. “Although we are sorry to see Don leave, we are pleased that he will stay on during a transition period until his successor at Dutchmen is in place.”

“Thor has been a great company to work for,” said Clark. “I am thankful for the opportunities that I have been given over the years and wish Thor and the Thor dealers continued success in the future.”

Jackson Center, Ohio-based Thor is the world’s largest manufacturer of recreation vehicles and a major builder of commercial buses and ambulances

 

Dutchmen’s Thwaits Named Aspen/Kodiak GM

Goshen, Ind.-based towables builder Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. today (Sept. 9) announced the promotion of Ryan Thwaits to the position of general manager for the company’s Aspen Trail and Kodiak product lines.

“Ryan has had an immediate impact on our company from day one,” said Don Clark, president of Dutchmen, a Thor Industries Inc. company. “He has an eye for product with tremendous market knowledge, has great dealer relationships and is well deserving of his new position.

“Ryan has been instrumental in the revamping of the Kodiak product line as well as the introduction this year of the Aspen Trail entry-level travel trailer,” Clark added. “He has created products that are unique in the marketplace and has achieved tremendous growth with both lines.”

“I am excited for this opportunity to lead my team and to continue the growth of the Kodiak and Aspen trail products in the marketplace,” said Thwaits. “We are moving aggressively and with a great deal of enthusiasm to develop products that matter in the marketplace … We have some huge surprises in store for our dealers and will be unveiling an unbelievably cool new product at the upcoming open house in Elkhart at the RV Hall Fame.”

Dutchmen Earns Five DSI Awards from RVDA

Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. was honored with a company record five RV Dealer Satisfaction Index awards, a Dutchmen news release stated.

According to the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA), Dutchmen’s Kodiak, Coleman, Voltage, Rubicon and Aspen Trail brands were all recognized by the recreational dealers as products that have gone above and beyond as it relates to dealer satisfaction in the areas of vehicle design and reliability, competitive advantage, communications, sales and service support.

The awards will be presented to Dutchmen on Oct. 5 at a special ceremony as part of RVDA’s National Convention and Expo at the Rio All‐Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

“To have five of our brands honored is a great privilege and shows the confidence that our dealers are putting in our products, our company, and the direction we are headed,” said Don Clark, Dutchmen RV president. “We are excited about where we are going and are humbled by the overwhelming support we are receiving from our dealers. We take this responsibility seriously and will continue to provide our dealers and customers with exciting, innovative products that will help our dealers grow in the marketplace. I want to thank the Dutchmen dealers for making these prestigious awards possible.”

New Dutchmen products and industry firsts will be on display at the Thor Open House, Sept. 20‐22. “Discover the difference.”

Dutchmen RV is aThor Industries Inc. company. Dutchmen RV produces various brands of towable recreational vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Dutchmen RV brands include the Denali, Komfort, Infinity, Aspen Trail, Kodiak, Voltage, Rubicon, Aerolite, Coleman and Dutchmen brands. For more information on Dutchmen RV and its brands visit www.dutchmen.com or call (574) 537‐0600.

VIDEO #2: Dutchmen 315BHDS Travel Trailer

Today’s Video #2 comes from Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. offering an in-depth tour of the company’s Dutchmen 315BHDS travel trailer.

Dutchmen RV’s Voltage Cracks Top 25 in U.S.

In less than four months from its introduction, Voltage luxury toy haulers from Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. have entered the top 25 retail sales for fifth-wheels in the United States, the company reported in a news release.

Voltage is ranked No. 24 according to the January 2011 Statistical Surveys Inc. (SSI) Market report.

Tom Walworth, SSI’s general manager, commented, “This accomplishment is unprecedented in the history of luxury toy haulers. Retail sales are showing a significant increase in the $50,000 plus prince point. Voltage is performing very well in this segment.”

Nate Goldenberg, general manager of Dutchmen RV’s Denali, Voltage and Rubicon product lines, credits the success of the brand to the innovative product design and the quality of dealers Voltage has attracted to Dutchmen.

“When we developed Voltage, we knew that the product had to be simply better than the competition,” he said. “There are a lot of “cookie cutter” toy haulers in the market today. Voltage had to offer unique product advantages and offer the most features and value in the toy hauler segment.”

“Since Voltage was an entirely new product line to Dutchmen, we had a clean slate when it came to selecting dealers to market the brand. We identified the best “A-Dealers” in each of the major markets and targeted them to sell the product line. We showed these dealers the prototypes and included their feedback and suggestions into the design before Voltage was launched.”

Voltage currently offers four 102-inch wide high profile fifth-wheel floorplans from 35 feet to 42 feet and retails for $54,000 to $68,000. Floorplans feature 7-foot, 6-inch tall super slides in the main living area, innovative side aisle bathrooms, and exclusive bedroom designs with either a huge wardrobe slide or a king bed slide with a front walk in closet. Voltage offers floorplans with garages from 10 feet to 14 feet feet and is available in five different exterior paint packages.

Don Clark, president of Dutchmen RV, said, “One of Mr. Goldenberg’s goals, when coming to Dutchmen, was to cut his own path and create something meaningful for the industry. I’m pleased to say that Nate and his sales team have accomplished this with Voltage.”

Goldenberg said, “We are very pleased with the enthusiastic response we have received from retail consumers on the product line. It’s the hit of the shows. At many dealerships Voltage is retailing as soon as it is received on the lot. With more floorplans coming soon, we are looking forward to a successful spring and summer selling season and for Voltage to continue to climb up the retail rankings.

Dutchmen RV is a division of Thor industries Inc. Dutchmen RV produces several brands of towable recreational vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Dutchmen RV brands include the Denali, Komfort, Infinity, Aspen Trail, Kodiak, Voltage, Rubicon, Aerolite, Coleman and Dutchmen brands. For more information on Dutchmen RV and its brands visit www.dutchmen.com or call (574) 537-0600.

Gary Stanley Joins Dutchmen RV’s Sales Team

Gary Stanley has been appointed to represent Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc.’s Denali, Voltage and Rubicon products in the Midwestern U.S., according to Nate Goldenberg, general manager of those three product lines for the Goshen, Ind.-based RV manufacturer.

Stanley, an 18-year veteran of the RV industry, most recently served as national sales manager for another RV manufacturer before joining Dutchmen, a division of Thor Industries Inc. Previously, he was the general manager for one of the largest RV dealerships in Oklahoma.

“We are very excited about having Gary join our team,” said Goldenberg. “His experience in both the wholesale and retail side of our business will prove to be invaluable to his dealers. He understands the complexities of running a retail RV dealership. This experience in the wholesale and retail sides of the business will allow him to partner with his dealers and create a relationship that extends well past the point of  delivery.”

Stanley is a resident of Elkhart, Ind. His office is located at Dutchmen’s offices in Goshen.

Stanley said, “I am looking forward to helping my dealers be very successful with the products and helping Dutchmen continue its incredible growth in the market. The Denali, Voltage and Rubicon product lines are the best in the industry. I am honored to be given the opportunity to become a part of the ‘New’ Dutchmen.”

Gary Stanley can be contacted by calling his office (574) 537-0600, cell (574) 538-7265 or by e-mailing gstanley@dutchmen.com

Dutchmen RV produces several brands of towable recreational vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Dutchmen RV brands include the Denali, Komfort, Infinity, Aspen Trail, Kodiak, Voltage, Rubicon, Aerolite, Coleman and Dutchmen brands. For more information on Dutchmen RV and its brands visit www.dutchmen.com or call (574) 537-0600.

Dutchmen Debuts 1st Indiana-Built Komfort

Rob Groover, general manager of Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc.’s Komfort and Infinity divisions, announced today (Jan. 19) that General RV Center of Akron, Ohio, received delivery of the first Komfort fifth-wheel produced in Indiana.

The unit arrived earlier this month and was debuted at the recent Cleveland RV show.

According to Groover, “We are extremely excited to welcome General RV to the Komfort dealer group. General RV Center is one of the nation’s premier RV dealerships. We are honored to be able to present the Komfort line to their generations of loyal customers.”

Loren Baidas, president of General RV Center, said, “After reviewing the all new Komfort travel trailer and fifth-wheel product at the Louisville RV show, we were so confident that Dutchmen nailed it with Komfort, we added the line at all 10 of our dealerships. We were impressed with the contemporary design of the product, the beautiful decors and innovative floor plans. There is nothing like it in the marketplace. The product is priced right and will be a terrific addition to the product lines we represent.”

Baidas added, “We took our first 38-foot bunk house unit to the Cleveland show and were very pleased with response from customers. We sold 10 coaches with only one floorplan in the show. We knew the Komfort brand was going to do well, but these results exceeded our expectations.”

According to Groover, “The Komfort name is known for quality, innovation, and customer service. We are proud to play a role in growing this highly respected brand name. We look forward to serving the current Komfort dealers and new dealers across North America.

Dutchmen RV is a division of Thor industries. Dutchmen RV produces several brands of towable recreational vehicles that are sold throughout the United States and Canada. Dutchmen RV brands include the Denali, Komfort, Grand Junction, Aspen Trail, Kodiak, Voltage, Rubicon, Aerolite, Coleman and Dutchmen brands. For more information on Dutchmen RV and its brands visit www.dutchmen.com or 574-537-0600.

RV Dealers/Manufacturers Bullish on 2011

It’s going to be a good year for recreational vehicle sales, say RV dealers and manufacturers and the RV trade organization.

“We had an excellent year in RV sales in 2010. We feel that 2011 is going to be the best year we have ever seen in the RV industry,” Gary Miller, owner of Wana RV in Shipshewana, Ind., told The Goshen (Ind.) News.

Miller’s expectations are for his growing RV sales business. As a whole, the industry is expecting an increase of 3.9%. That number is based on a consumer survey by Richard Curtain of the University of Michigan. Curtain has been an analyst from the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) for many years.

After three years of declines, the RV industry rebounded in 2010 with a 47.7% gain in shipments. As of November, the year’s total shipments reached 224,000 units.

This month, retail shows are beginning across the country and manufacturers and dealers are trying to gauge if Curtain’s prediction for another year of gains will come true.

“… If I can go by my two days of sales, we are up compared to last year,” said Joe Weider, operations manager for General RV Center in North Canton, Ohio. Weider’s sales staff was at the RV show in Cleveland, the biggest indoor sales event in the country. “My crystal ball says we should have a pretty good year.”

Weider said his sales center is the largest motorhome dealership in Ohio and also sells fifth-wheels and travel trailers. They have added some new manufacturers and products this year. But Weider said the sales year is too young to gauge if there will be any trends this year.

Phil Sarvari, executive vice president of Gulf Stream Coach Inc. in Nappanee, Ind., said the year’s sales will depend on consumers’s attitudes.

“As long as people feel good and they know they are going to have jobs, they will be willing to spend,” Sarvari said.

Americans have embraced RVs, he said, and want to continue camping and using that outdoor experience to bond with their family and friends. “It is a way of life. It is relaxing. They support each other, they tell stories and play games. You know, that is important,” Sarvari said.

At Jayco Inc. in Middlebury, the storage lots have many newly made units ready to be shipped.

“We’ve garnered a lot of momentum with the introduction of new products,” said Jim Jacobs, a vice president at Jayco.

Jacobs said the company has added new products and new price points to generate business. “That is what is going to carry our momentum. You have to be innovative to survive in this industry,” he said.

Motorhome sales dipped drastically when the recession began, and since it has ended the RV segment has continued to struggle. In 2010, Class A luxury motorcoaches averaged around 1,000 units shipped each month. The Class C motorhomes averaged even less.

But if manufacturers offer a quality product, Jacobs said there are buyers wanting them.

“In the Class A line, we have been extremely happy with the performance of the Entegra line,” Jacobs said. “Not only from the response from the dealer network, but the response from the consumer network. There are a lot of consumers out there still buying high-end diesel products. That customer is still there.”

To the east of Jayco’s Middlebury complex, Miller is getting ready for the upcoming RV show at the Century Center in South Bend. He plans to take 24 units and his son Justin will help with sales.

Miller has added units from Forest River Inc.’s Rockwood line made in Millersburg. He also has Dutchmen Manufacturing Inc. and CrossRoads RV products.

He expects a good show in South Bend as financing is more available for buyers this year.

“As far as retail financing RVs, it definitely has gotten better than it was a year ago,” Miller said. But financing has changed. He said two years ago buyers could make a purchase without a down payment. Now a 10% down payment is standard practice.

“It really is a good thing because people will pay that 10% so when they are ready to sell it or trade it in they are not upside down on the unit. They don’t feel like they are taking such a loss,” Miller said.

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