When Jayco Inc. launches its new lines of Class A motorhomes, it will initially distribute them through a select team of Jayco dealers.

Wilbur Bontrager, chairman of Jayco, said, "We have an excellent network of dealers to sell our towable lines. One of our goals in selling Class A motorhomes is to develop an equally outstanding motorized dealer network."

This is why the company is carefully selecting a few qualified dealers to initiate distribution for its Class A coaches, particularly while supply is managed in the opening months of production. Bontrager said, "We are going to start with our 15-member Dealer Advisory Council and give them the opportunity to sell Jayco Class As. From there we are going to develop a network of dealers that will provide the type of service and support we feel is critical in today's marketplace. We are not just in the business of selling motorhomes; we are expecting to provide a better total motorhome experience that includes the product, the support, the lifestyle and the experience owners have with our dealers."

Bernie Lambright, president of Jayco, said there would be certain expectations placed on dealers who handle the Jayco motorhome lines. Among those expectations: They must be experienced in gasoline and diesel Class A's; they must offer a high level of service quality; and they must be able to inventory a reasonable number of coaches, depending on market size.

Steve Francis, general manager of Trailside RV Center in Grain Valley, MO., is one of the dealers who will be first to handle the new motorhome lines. He said, "Everyone has been waiting a long time for this. We will sell all they can build for the first two years, especially to existing Jayco owners who want to move up to a Class A."

Francis is a member of the Dealer Advisory Council, which has been instrumental in developing the Class A line. Jayco met with council members in December at the National RV Show in Louisville and gave them a preview of the models. Bontrager said, "They convinced us to rethink some of the features we were planning. We believe we have developed a better product because of their advice and expertise."

rancis likes that Jayco is being deliberate in its rollout. "Initially, it will be their existing dealer base getting behind the product," he said. "After that it will be the quality, the price and the market position of the product. But initially, you're just going to have Jayco dealers putting their reputations on the line to existing Jayco owners."

The AVATAR®, Jayco's diesel line, is expected to have a base retail price of $160,000 and sell for about $170,000 fully loaded. It will be built on the Freightliner XC chassis with the 300 hp Caterpillar engine and the Spartan Summit GTI with the 300 hp Cummins engine. A 330 hp engine also will be available.

Bill Prinz, vice president of sales and marketing for Jayco, said the AVATAR prototype was shown to members of the Dealers Advisory Council in Middlebury in mid-April. Prinz said, "They were very impressed with the coach. They liked the automotive looking front and rear caps and said the interior styling was exceptional. That is a concept we have followed throughout the coach. The vehicle elements are very automotive in design and function, while the rest of the coach has a very home-like feel."

Pricing for the gasoline Firenza^® line is still being developed. The Firenza brand initially will be built with two floor plans on the Workhorse W Series platform and the Ford chassis.

The AVATAR and Firenza represent Jayco's entry into the Class A motorhome market, making it a full-line producer of recreational vehicles. Jayco, headquartered in Middlebury, IN, is the largest privately owned manufacturer of RVs. The company also manufactures and markets camping trailers, travel trailers and Class C motorhomes under the Eagle, Qwest, Heritage, Designer and Kiwi brands.