KOG
Winterville GA
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Joined: 01/31/2001
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Article in Wall Street Journal about Fleetwood, Coachmen, Winnebago, gives an idea of what's going on overall. No real surprise, mostly suspicion confirmed. Market is not going strong.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121063559677886679.html?mod=rss_autoweek
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squadleader
Richmond, VA
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Joined: 02/21/2005
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Here's the article as a link
Click Here
2002 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40DST
Great wife and six kids (13 and under)
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SemperFiCop
USA
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Joined: 10/19/2007
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Interesting...
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flhtci-rider
Montreal, Canada
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Monaco is in the process of some major layoffs in both plants. But Elkhart will be hit harder I heard.
 2006 Scepter
2008 24' Haulmark EDGE
2003 Grand Vitara
My best friend DW
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And enough solar power so I never have to start the Genni
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Dick_B
Palos Heights, IL USA
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As with a lot of industries this one seems to have cycles. A bunch of years ago Winnebago was in trouble then they arose but now may be down again (remember dropping lake levels lowers all boats?). The lean and mean companies will survive but some will not.
Dick_B
2003 SunnyBrook 27FKS
2003 3/4 T Chevrolet Suburban
Equal-i-zer Hitch
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texasbaskets
Frisco, TX
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Joined: 10/06/2003
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Maybe these folks aren't so good at market forcasting .. eh?
"Most of the RV industry had banked on baby boomers preparing for their retirement years to fuel a new era of sales growth. That is what Robin Schwartz and her husband were expecting in 2005 when they sold off a gas station and bought Brien's RVa small RV dealership in Fairless Hills, Pa., about 20 miles north of Philadelphia. Mrs. Schwartz said customer traffic began flagging late last year."
 
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John S.
Northern Virginia
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This is a economic crunch magnified by a huge run up in fuel prices. THis is gong to hurt. CC has more than a full years inventory on dealers lots and at the factory. It can not be that different at other large manufacturers. I wills say that the custom builders are doing a bit better. I know Foretravel adn Newell are doing fine as they only build to order.
John
2001 42' Foretravel U320
2007 Bornfree 24 Painted
2001 Jeep Wrangler
2007 Burgman 650 Executive
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Dolly now in our hearts and thoughts 8-27-05
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Squealers
NW Arkansas
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As well the car and truck industry are not fairing too well in this economy either. I would think that any disposable income item will suffer during an economic downturn.
When you are in the business of producing recreation items, keep in mind that recreation often takes a back seat when people are watching their expenditures. It has less to do with forecasting and more to do with cyclical economics. An economic downturn is hard to anticipate and pinpoint during long range forecasting.
1999 Sea Breeze 33'
2002 PT Cruiser Toad
2006 Goldwing MotorTrike-Bushtec Trailer
& Other toys my wife finds amusing.
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Ames
South Central Florida
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Joined: 01/05/2001
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Luxury Items or non essentials are all having a tougher time as discretionary income declines because of the run up in energy, food and other necessities.
Lazy Days as an example shows over 1500 RV's on the lot which is close to 15% more than their average inventory.
The fiancially sound flexible companies are going to survive as usual and the highly leveraged ones are going to have a really tough time. Watch companies like Fleetwood as they have not shown a profit for several years and have a lot of short term debt.
Richard and Babs and a Bob Tail Cat
97 Beaver Patriot 40 Kitchen Slide
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Toad 04 Durango HEMI
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riggarob
Farmington, NH
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Squealers wrote:As well the car and truck industry are not fairing too well in this economy either. I would think that any disposable income item will suffer during an economic downturn.
When you are in the business of producing recreation items, keep in mind that recreation often takes a back seat when people are watching their expenditures. It has less to do with forecasting and more to do with cyclical economics. An economic downturn is hard to anticipate and pinpoint during long range forecasting.
I have a sayin' up he-ah, in Cowhampshire...When people stop buyin' lobstas, watch out, 'cause the rest of the world is gonna slow down. As the man says, the luxury items are the 1st to go.
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Beware of those who point their finger the LOUDEST !
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