Enhanced Service Pays Off for Customers of Cat® RV Center Network Number of Locations Grows 60 Percent in First Year

When you're traveling North America by motorhome, it's comforting to know that if you need service on the road, there's a place close by that can take care of your vehicle. Owners of motorhomes with Caterpillar® engines can rest easier than most: in the past year, the Cat® RV Center network has grown from 56 initial locations in North America to more than 100, with more joining the network every month.

"RV owners have different needs from truck drivers or other motorists—the growth of our Cat RV Center network indicates how important it is to make sure the services that meet these needs are readily available," said Tony Kapustka, Bus and Specialty Vehicle Group, Caterpillar On-Highway Engines. "We offer everything from comfortable waiting rooms with cable television to specially trained technicians and service bays dedicated to RV service at locations throughout the U.S. and Canada."br> A perfect example is Carolina Cat RV Center in Statesville, N.C. This location features a wide center bay reserved for RVs, mobile lifts designed for motorhomes, diagnostics and other specialized equipment for better servicing.

"We are currently adding four more bays to the Statesville location, while following the same basic floor plan at our other service centers," said Jeff Greenway, product support manager for Carolina Cat. "That floor plan includes a private lounge, satellite TV, refreshments and comfortable furnishings. We also treat each motorhome with kid gloves, particularly when we have to enter the interior of the vehicle to service it. We never forget that these are people's homes, and it's something we take very seriously."

Becoming certified as a Cat RV Center location involves a significant commitment in terms of training and resources from a Cat dealer, and all are audited annually to ensure quality of service, according to Kapustka. The certification process includes training for service personnel, as well as mandatory facility enhancements, such as the new lifts and building renovations at the Carolina Cat RV Center. Cat RV Centers certified through Level One are required to provide 24-hour, seven-day emergency service assistance, a clean bay and protection for the interior of the vehicle (including using drop cloths, booties and performing a condition assessment), a clean, comfortable waiting room with Internet access and cable television, and generator repair. Level Two includes all of the previous features, with the addition of chassis service and mobile lifts with a service pit. Level Three, the highest level attainable, includes all of these features plus technicians certified by the RVIA (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association), a house repairs system, complimentary potable water and electrical hookups, an LP station and a dump station. A 24-hour RV hotline (1-877-777-3126) and Web site (http://rv.cat.com) are available to help travelers find the nearest Cat RV Center when they're on the road.

All of these dedicated services result in an enhanced experience for customers. Just ask Bob and Paula Moore, members of the FMCA chapter of the Cat RV Engine Owner's Club and customers of Empire Cat in Kingman, Ariz.

"In March, our 1997 Safari motorhome had to be towed to the Empire Cat RV Center while we were on our way to a pre-paid RV rally. We arrived at Empire Cat around 6 p.m., expecting to have to wait until morning for service. Instead, the service manager and technician were waiting for us, and they had us back on the road by 8 p.m.," Bob Moore said. "This is above and beyond the call of duty to a customer-we are so grateful to know that there is a shop of this caliber in our area, servicing our rig and with such care to the customer."

For more than 80 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2005 sales and revenues of $36.339 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company is a technology leader in construction, transportation, mining, forestry, energy, logistics, financing and electric power generation. Caterpillar is the leading manufacturer and supplier of truck and bus engines in the combined medium and heavy duty categories in North America, holding the leading position in engine shipments to vehicle manufacturers since 1999. More information is available at http://www.cattruckengines.com.

Photos and Story By: Mike Pelchat

The Louisville RVIA Convention presented several differences in position regarding the implementation of the new Workhorse UFO. Just exactly which viewpoint will win in my opinion is obvious and I fail to see the logic where the UFO will not prevail as a clear winner at the end of day.

The biggest announcement was that Winnebago Industries introduced and is offering for sale by spring of 2007, 2 additional rear engined class A motorhome products. At the unveiling, Mr. Bruce Hertzke, Chairman and CEO of Winnebago Industries presented the RV Industry with its latest strategic move to capture more market share in rear engine powered motorhomes.


Product launch announcement on Tuesday morning at the Winnebago Industries display

The 2008 Winnebago Destination and the 2008 Itasca Latitude both feature as standard equipment the 26K GVW Workhorse UFO chassis. The 28K GVW Freightliner XC is also offered as an optional package on both of the new class A offerings. What is remarkable is how quickly some manufacturers are willing to advance their product lines while others seem to be mired in the past. In this time of slow sales and uncertainty, it isn’t altogether unexpected that OEMs would have to move in a totally new direction and the visionaries in those companies saw that a change is needed.

Market research has clearly shown that the needs of the American buying public are clear and they are looking for real change in what they buy to meet their needs. OEM companies like Forest River, Monaco Coach & Holiday Rambler and now Winnebago Industries have placed themselves in the leading edge of motorhome technology and development. The product planning teams in these companies can see a clear future for their particular companies and they see benefit for both their operating interests and the fulfillment of their client’s expectations.


Bruce Hertzke speaks directly with customers

Greeting and shaking hands with customers inside the new Itasca Latitude, Mr. Hertzke took the time to speak with his clients and to show them the future in motorhome technology.

While working the convention floor I made my way over to the Fleetwood Industries display area to see what was new over there. In the iRV2 RV Industry News I put up a press release from Fleetwood about their new X2 product line including both press and live pictures. Visiting aboard the new X2 was unlike other motorhomes that I have gone through but this motorhome is task built for the toy hauler generation. While reviewing the coach I happened to hear a comment from a Fleetwood customer who asked a company representative “Is this available of the Workhorse UFO?” The immediate reply from Mr. Luc Van Herle was that, “It’s a very small niche” and that Fleetwood wasn’t building on the UFO.


2007 Fleetwood X2 “The Future” on a 07 Workhorse W24 with new cool pack and instrument panel

Meanwhile over at the Monaco and Holiday Rambler display, apparent were brochures and banners hailing the new floorplans that they would soon be offering to their buyers built on the Workhorse UFO. Monaco wasn’t able to bring their new 37 foot floorplan to the show but they are anxiously looking forward to an early 07 product viewing.

The Forest River display featuring the Georgetown SE UFO was crowded and Mr. Tom Lincoln the Workhorse Northeast Regional Sales Manager was present to answer questions about the Workhorse UFO. What was remarkable at this display was the price of the Georgetown SE UFO product. Leaving no doubt in a customer’s mind where the best price point in the RV Industry is, Forest River customers can buy into UFO technology very reasonably.


2007 Forest River Georgetown SE

On the Four Winds team, Jon Krider said that they had measured the chassis and they are considering the use of the UFO as soon as the conditions were right for them.

Obviously we can see where the two big dogs are at odds with one another about what’s going to work for the RV buying public given that both manufacturers build using Workhorse chassis products. I will say that at the end of the day that Mr. Van Herle’s comments will no doubt fall in line with the biggest 20th century blooper where the major headline of the day read, “Dewey WINS!”

-- End --

Bob Ashley
RV Business
Friday, November 17, 2006

Tampa-area Lazydays RV Center Inc. will participate for the first time in a decade in the Florida RV SuperShow, Jan. 16-21 at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa.

Lazydays, Seffner, Fla., and several of the brands it carries, haven’t been represented at the Florida show since 1996 when Lazydays moved to a new location three miles from the fairgrounds and instead held its own private show at the same time as the supershow.

“After a certain amount of time goes by, from a marketing point of view you want to try new things,” said Stewart Schaffer, Lazydays chief marketing officer. “This is new for us since we opened the supercenter 10 years ago.

“The show, sponsored by the Florida Recreation Vehicle Trade Association (FRVTA), is expected to draw about 45,000 people. Between 50 and 60 dealers will display about 1,400 RVs from 125 separate manufacturers who have booked a total of 853,000-square-feet of display space – most of it outdoors.”

Lazydays, the nation’s largest single-location RV dealership, will bring Monaco, Beaver, Holiday Rambler, Safari, Fleetwood, American Coach, Country Coach Damon, National and Tiffin motorized brands to the show along with Carriage towables.

All told, Lazydays will host nine displays with 100 units and about 40 sales people. Among the RV manufacturing products on display – supplier exhibitors are all inside – are just about every major OEM line and some not so well known, such as a new Elan line of minimotorhomes from Optima Industries LLC, Eastman, Ga.

A manufacturer of motorized car haulers for the racing industry that its first foray into the more traditional RV sector, Optima’s Elan is built on Freightliner business class or Class 8 truck chassis with 300-hp and 450-hp Mercedes Benz MBE diesel engines, respectively. Base prices start at $280,000. All in all, show sponsors are pleased.

“The show is larger than it’s ever been before,” said Lance Wilson, executive director of the sponsoring Florida RV Trade Association (FRVTA). “The returning manufacturers mean that every major line that is available to the public will be available at the show.”

Wilson added that Camping World will feature a 6,000-square-foot retail store for the first time at the supershow. Meanwhile, early sales reports as snowbirds began heading to Florida for the winter were mixed, Wilson said. The regional Tampa Bay RV Show Nov. 9-12 had an excellent turnout, but sluggish sales, he reported. Another regional even in West Palm Beach during the same period had good sales, but didn’t live up to expectations.

“That may have been because expectations were too high,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that early predictions are for Florida RV dealers to have a good winter saleswise. “There’s a good influx of snowbirds in the campgrounds already,” he said. “People are traveling and the roads are full of RVs heading south. The expectations of having a good season is borne out by the space that the manufacturers have booked at the supershow.”

UFO Lands in Louisville.

Workhorse UFO™ — the chassis that is creating a
brand new category of Class A motor homes — will
touch down in several manufacturer booths at the
RVIA show in Louisville this year. The platform's
exclusive combination of features includes:
Gas or diesel rear engine, giving RVers a
Universal Fuel Option.

True flat floor, providing Universal Floorplan Options.
Same floorplans fit perfectly on gas or diesel platform
with the Universal Footprint Option.
Optimal ride and handling.

Experience-enhancing amenities for ultimate
performance, enjoyment and bragging rights.
Reviews from the industry media, consumers and dealers have been astounding:

"…the Next Big Thing in the motorhome industry." –MotorHome magazine
"…may well reinvent the Class A chassis business…" –RVBusiness magazine
"This is an ideal coach…I want one!" –Ron Seyfried, Jimthorpe, Pa.
"(The UFO) is going to impress a lot of customers." –Carl Fretz, Fretz Enterprises

Visit the Workhorse Custom Chassis Forum to find out for yourself about this revolutionary chassis. and ask your manufacturer if they're building on the Workhorse UFO™ or visit Workhorse.com for more information.

MIDDLEBURY, Ind. October 10, 2006 — The Captiva Ultra Lite™ by Coachmen RV is a travel trailer that makes everyone in the campground sit up and take notice. Its bold graphics and aerodynamic design shout out that this RV is designed for adventure.

"This is an ultra lite that gives you enormous space and many residential features," said Kevin McMahon, Coachmen's Capri and Captiva product and sales manager. "We designed Captiva so that many of today's SUVs and light-duty pickup trucks can easily tow it without giving up the benefits of storage and living space."

Captiva's laminated Alumicage ™ construction utilizes aircraft-grade tubular aluminum framing on all six sides — the roof, floor, sidewalls and end walls — for strength and light weight. All openings for doors, windows, storage and appliances also are framed in aluminum for additional quality construction. Even the bunk beds have aluminum framing, allowing them to take weights up to 220 pounds. The slick exterior fiberglass skin adds the finishing touch.

Coachmen kept a keen eye on details during construction. A triple seal is used on each slideroom to maximize leak protection, and each Captiva is rain booth tested to make sure there are no leaks before it leaves the factory. All electronic and LP appliances are also rigorously tested to ensure they are in top working order.

"We listened to our customers and dealers before we completely redesigned Captiva for 2007," said McMahon. "We created each of the eight floorplans — four completely new in 2007 — to be functional, innovative and user friendly designs." An example of functional design is positioning the water heater to the off-door side of every Captiva. Traditionally on the door side, the water heater emits heat into the patio area. By relocating to the off-door side, the patio stays cooler, making it more comfortable to use. Another thoughtful, family-friendly feature is locating the bunk beds to the off-door side. Owners can now sit outside and chat during the evening without disturbing the children's sleep.

An illuminated stepwell provides for safe entering and exiting at night, and the patio light has an amber lens, which won't attract bugs in the evening. Another nice touch — a front mounted hitch light illuminates the front of the Captiva, making it easier to hitch up your vehicle or check LP bottles after nightfall. Hooking up the optional exterior stainless steel grill is easy with the standard quick connect LP hookup.

The underbelly of Captiva is fully enclosed for smoother towing and protection from the elements. As an added standard feature, all holding tanks are heated making the trailer a multi-season camper.

"We designed Captiva to have residential appeal with details such as ample counter space and plenty of storage," said McMahon. "The seamless countertops have a designer look and are easy to keep clean." Contributing to the spacious feel, Captiva also boasts a 78-inch interior height, compared with 76 inches for many competitors.

Captiva offers three designer decors — Cove Springs, Canyon Redrock and Catalina Coast — a color scheme for every taste. The thermofoiled cabinetry has a durable, scratch resistant surface that is easy to clean. The interior comes standard in Summit Maple cabinetry, light maple linoleum flooring and maple accents. Optional is the Camp White cabinetry, which yields a modern look with dark oak linoleum and cherry accents. Coachmen is unique in offering two cabinet selections for a trailer in this class.

Storage is a theme for Coachmen with its Captiva. For 2007, all of the shirt closets in the bedrooms were converted into full-length wardrobes. Select models with 81- by 51-inch U-shaped dinette booths have storage bays with large side access doors on the booths. Even the plumbing and wiring is designed to be out of the way for maximum cabinet storage. All models feature a galley pantry for additional storage. Rather than traditional drawers, Captiva has pull out tubs. This convenient feature allows the owner to take the tubs into his house, fill it with supplies and return it to the trailer. These tubs are easily cleaned with a simple rinsing.


"Several models have an optional bedroom lounge where the master bed converts to a sofa during the day," said McMahon. "We also introduced one of the first two-bedroom ultra lites with our Model 270 RS." The mats used on the kid-friendly bunk beds are wet proof. If one of the kids has an accident with a soft drink, the liquid beads for easy clean up.

Captiva Ultra Lite is big on space, yet its light weight makes it easy to tow with most of today's SUVs and light-duty trucks.

The manufacturer's suggested retail price for Captiva ranges from $17,500 to $24,700.

Coachmen Industries, Inc., through its prominent industry subsidiaries, is one of America’s leading manufacturers of recreational vehicles, systems-built homes and commercial buildings. The Company’s well-known RV brand names include COACHMEN, GEORGIE BOY™, SPORTSCOACH and VIKING. Coachmen’s ALL AMERICAN HOMES® subsidiary is one of the nation’s largest producers of systems-built homes, and also a major builder of multi-family residential and commercial structures with its ALL AMERICAN BUILDING SYSTEMS™ products. Coachmen Industries, Inc. is a publicly held company with stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker COA.

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain. Actual results may differ materially from that projected or suggested due to certain risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the potential fluctuations in the Company’s operating results, the availability for floorplan financing for the Company’s recreational vehicle dealers and corresponding availability of cash to Company, rapidly increasing costs of product components and raw materials that may not be able to be passed through to buyers, uncertainties and timing with respect to sales resulting from recovery efforts in the Gulf Coast, uncertainties regarding the impact on sales of the disclosed restructuring steps in both the recreational vehicle and housing and building segments, the ability to sell and close the operations for sale as described, the accuracy of the estimates of the costs to remedy the disclosed recreational vehicle warranty issues, the availability and the price of gasoline, price volatility of raw materials used in production, the Company’s dependence on chassis and other suppliers, interest rates, the availability and cost of real estate for residential housing, the ability of the Housing and Building segment to perform in new market segments where it has limited experience, adverse weather conditions affecting home deliveries, competition, government regulations, legislation governing the relationships of the Company with its recreational vehicle dealers, consolidation of distribution channels in the recreational vehicle industry, consumer confidence, uncertainties of matters in litigation, further developments in the war on terrorism and related international crises, oil supplies, and other risks identified in the Company’s SEC filings.