New Fifth Wheel Manufacturer Means Jobs for Former Fleetwooders

The demise of Fleetwood Manufacturing's Canadian production facility in Lindsay, Ontario spelled bad news for hundreds of line workers. But the breach has been filled, a new upstart RV builder called Great Lakes Recreational Products says they'll reopen the former Fleetwood plant, hire back 300 of the former employees, and start churning out a new line of fifth wheels and travel trailers as early as next month.

The company's new president, Paul Perras told a group of media, "As Great Lakes RV we are moving forward as an all-Canadian company that promotes manufacturing and tourism not only in our region but all across Canada. We are very excited to start producing our product and to begin working with dealers all across Canada and the U.S."

Rather than having company employees punch a time clock, line workers will become salaried workers, and will have options at buying into the company. Union officials who represent the returning employees are excited with the prospects. Time will tell how this revised view of RV workers will turn out in terms of manufacturing quality. Plenty of RVers will tell you that an RV coming off the line without a full compliment of "bugs" requiring repeated trips back to the dealer for fixes would be a blessing.

We'll keep an eye on the new company and let readers know what new rigs will be available. Meantime for more information check out a "printer" version of the story on the Lindsay Post.

Bedroom Slide Out--Noise 'n Drafts?

OK, so we're still back in the stone-age. Our fulltime fifth wheel has NO slide outs. Not that we don't want slide outs--we're starting to get the cabin fever syndrome, and the distaff side REALLY wants to have room for company to come over. And when our 20 pound cat stretches out on the living room floor, well, there's just no room for the rest of us to put our feet.

So a question that puzzles us as we slowly make the rounds of dealers and curbstone lots: Is it noisy up in that there bedroom slide out? Is it cold in the winter, hot in the summer?

We saw a few comments from an RV forum who seemed to say, "Depends a lot on the quality of the builder," and "If you get a 'slide topper' it's a whole lot nicer." OK then, real world readers, what are your experiences with bedroom slide outs? And, if you had a slide out without the topper and then added one, did it make much difference? We'll look forward to your scholarly replies!

"Luv Shak" Takes 5th Wheel Graphics to New Extremes

Are they hippie throwbacks? Visionaries? Just plain crazy? You'll have to make the call for yourself. Vance and Kathleen Hamiliton decided to throw away the stix-n- brix lifestyle for a new fifth wheel. Not contented with the factory livery, they hired an artist who--not with an airbrush mind you, but with a plain old paintbrush--turned their new fifth wheel into a traffic stopping, hummingbird attracting, child enthralling, mobile work of art. Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder.

Maybe it's her background. Kathleen spent 30 years teaching middle school students. If that's not enough to addle your brain, well, anyway. The Landmark built fifth wheel now sports huge murals boasting nature in every mile traveled. Tree frogs, butterflies, even a castle make up the eye-popping designs that seem to practically grow out of the side of the 5er. You can only imagine the experiences this couple has had with their--shall we say, colorful--rig? Check out more photos and information here.

Photo: RV Trade Digest

Fifth Wheel with Full Wall Slideout

Slideouts in RVs are better than sliced bread, or so we've heard. We're still limping along with a no-slidem and wish we had the extra space. Our pocketbook probably won't allow it, but here's a new wrinkle: A fifth-wheel with a slideout the runs from the living room up and into the bedroom. Read that a 37' fifth wheel with a 30' slideout.

Sound crazy? These are hard times for RV builders, and being the first guy on the block with a new innovation appears to be the thing for manufacturers this year. The builder, Carriage Inc., has rolled out their new Carri-Light with this interesting approach. You won't find it to be a low-ender, however, along with the new slide comes Corrian countertops and leather furniture. For about $90K plus, you can be the first kid on your block to have one.

Photo: RV Business