Fleetwood RV Selects Goodyear as Preferred

Provider of RV Tires Fleetwood RV and The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today announced that Fleetwood will equip their RVs with Goodyear's extensive line of RV tires. The announcement was made to coincide with a joint appearance by Fleetwood and Goodyear at the 41st Annual National RVIA tradeshow in Louisville.

As a result of this relationship, Fleetwood will migrate its 2004 RV models to Goodyear RV tires. Goodyear currently supports the broadest range of RV tires designed specifically for the RV industry. Additionally, Goodyear has introduced a new Class A load range H tire in 22.5 sizes. This tire, the G670 RV is available in both 19.5 and 22.5 sizes. Additional sizes are planned for 2004 and beyond.

Coachmen Industries Reports Record Sales at Louisville Show Sales Up 75% From 2002

Coachmen Industries, Inc. (NYSE: COA) reported that its sales set new records at the National RV Trade Show. Dealer sales for the Coachmen RV Group totaled approximately 3,200 units or over $100 million during the annual three-day show, an increase of 75% over last year’s record sales.

Additional orders continue to be inputted from dealers attending the show, including a significant number of dealers who enrolled to carry products from Coachmen’s RV Group of Companies.

Michael R. Terlep, President of Coachmen’s RV Group as well as President of Coachmen RV Company, commented, “We’re extremely pleased with the results from the Louisville Show, where all three of our divisions experienced record setting sales.” Terlep noted that the dealers expressed great enthusiasm for the Company’s impressive lineup of RVs, praising their quality, designs and the variety of floor plans. He said their enthusiasm is a direct result of the high level of sales at the retail level that Coachmen products have been enjoying. “Our Company and our dealers are very optimistic about the coming year. We’re really hitting our stride right now with innovations in every product category, and as a result, in early 2004 we will again be increasing production rates in most facilities.”

Nearly half of the models in Coachmen Industries’ 40,000 square-foot display were new or improved.
 

Spartan Motors Introduces New Entry level Chassis

Spartan Brings a Commercial Drive Train to Diesel Pusher Market

For more than 15 years, Spartan Motors Chassis has lead the RV industry in developing diesel motorhome chassis that feature uncommon performance and innovation.

Spartan Motors Chassis Charlotte, Mich.-based subsidiary of Spartan Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq: SPAR) has utilized a Ford drive train to introduce the lowest cost entry-level diesel chassis on the market, further narrowing the price gap between gas and diesel alternatives without sacrificing performance. Spartan Chassis debuted the new Competitor concept chassis, the first-ever diesel motorhome chassis built on a commercial drive train, at the annual Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) trade show in Louisville, Ky.

Spartan said the new Competitor concept chassis utilizes the Ford 325hp 6.0L diesel engine, the same engine used on the Ford F250 pickup.

"Working with a Ford drive train on this unique configuration has allowed us to develop a very competitively priced diesel pusher chassis that's designed to be high quality, high performing and easy for OEMs to build on," said Richard Schalter, president of Spartan Chassis. "The Competitor is our response to an industry shift towards low- to medium-end Class A motorhomes. As the motorhome OEMs have gotten better and more efficient building motorhomes, there is a segment of buyers who are focused more on coach amenities and less on pure power. The Competitor fits the bill for these buyers."

Spartan said the introduction of the Competitor chassis, coupled with its new high-line K3 chassis, the most feature packed, premium diesel chassis on the market, gives Spartan Chassis the broadest selection of products in the diesel RV market. The Company expects to ship its first prototypes of the Competitor concept chassis to OEMs in the second quarter of 2004, with production scheduled to begin later in the third quarter.

The Competitor will feature exceptional performance, ride, handling and safety features at the lowest price point in the diesel market. The new chassis will also be easy to build on, and offer a better horsepower/GVW (gross vehicle weight) ratio. In addition to supporting the Ford diesel engine, providing a Valeo cooling system and a straight frame-rail construction, the Competitor also includes:

• A Ford TorqShift(™ 5-speed transmission, a newly designed 5-speed gearbox, and new control system that provides smoother shifts between gears. The TorqShift also features higher first- and second-gear ratios to launch a vehicle loaded with cargo more quickly and smoothly.
   
• Detroit Steel's Stabil-Ride™, an integral stabilizer system featuring a softer spring design for a better ride without sacrificing handling performance. The Stabil-Ride is featured on both the front and rear suspensions, providing 15,000 lbs. of GAWR (gross axle weight rating).
   
• The Competitor also features 25,750 lbs. of GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating)
   
• The rear-engine position on the Competitor provides a quieter ride in the cab.

The Competitor will help pave the way for more entry level products in the diesel pusher market by lowering the cost to OEMs - and RV end users - and offering them a viable, more comparable choice between gas and diesel powered engines," said John Sztykiel, Spartan Motors chief executive officer. "Innovations like the Competitor chassis represent Spartan's continued focus on becoming the most-desired brand and lowest total-cost producer in the markets we serve. Our commitment to operating efficiency and lean manufacturing were also critical elements that made it possible to bring this product to market."