Is Newmar building?

[Raca-roni]

Is Newmar building coaches? If so, what is their build status?

[RVDude]

Newmar IS and has always been building during these troubled times. Newmar ONLY builds to firm order - perhaps one of the many reasons they are surviving - slowed but seemingly doing well. Hence they operate as needed. They have had a few week or so shutdowns waiting for orders to accumulate, but it seems their primary intent is to keep their employees - which is a very good skill retention thing for them.

Can anyone at Camp Newmar update us on the current production schedules????

[racer0624]

We're here at Newmar now and are told that production will start again 4/15.

[K-Star]

My fear is that Newmar will soon follow the lead of Fleetwood and discontinue building towables and focus strictly on MH's. Last year 9 out of 10 coaches built were MH's.

I already have my next Newmar 5er picked out but will not be ready to buy for another few years. If my fear is realized I'll have to settle for another brand.

[becks]

K-star....You are not alone in that worry. Our friends have that same concern, 5er picked out to buy at retirement. Keep your fingers crossed.

[Jerseyman]

RV Dude.....I drove by Monday on my way home from Florida and they looked closed to me. Are they just building certain days a week?

[RVDude]

jerseyman - racer above indicates production restart 15Apr. Did not say what the run length was. Maybe other Camp Newmar'ites can chime in????

Newmar historically had 4 day build weeks (Fri closed) and 5 day service weeks. Certainly this has all fluctuated.

["007"]

Jerseyman, welcome to the Newmar Forum and irv2.
If you need any questions answered just ask away, enjoy your stay and post often you get more campfires that way.

[Raca-roni]

I heard that awhile ago Mr. Miller sold off some of the acreage at his farm to get money to put into the business. This does not sound like they are doing that good to start to do things like that. I hope they make it?

[Ronnie Bledsoe 2006 Dutchstar 43']

Newmar executives at the Tampa RV NKK get together explained many strategies. Among them are: Build when sufficient orders allow for workers to stay employed for a period of time and shutdown for a period that allows them to draw unemployment
Property and equpment sold by Mahlon Miller for two reasons; farming at his age not realistic and as a hedge in the event Dealers need support for their inventory on hand (including buybacks) not to support on going activities. They said that debt at that time was minimal and not a concern and support to outside activities has been cut back or eliminated to help support their employees. They did not underplay the economic challenges, but as a privately held company some of the riskier ventures of public held companies were avoided.

[Jerseyman]

Ronnie, I appreciate your explanation however, that doesn't sound very healthy to me. Have they kept their dealer base?

[RVDude]

Sounds to me like Mahlon is trying to *protect* the dealers by perhaps providing some bridge financing for lot inventory rigs if that dealer gets in trouble. Am I reading it wrong? Dealers are going to go belly-up in this environment, but the ones that Newmar wants to protect it seems they are setting up to do so. That sounds like a very solid and worthwhile plan. They are protecting that which needs protecting.

[Raca-roni]

The other thing that I am wondering about is that someone said that they only build when they get orders. I can understand that. If they haven't built anything since before the holidays it really doesn't look too promising. Is their business dropping off like alot of the other companies? I would say yes! There are a few companies that have never stopped building and still are and to orders as well.....Could this mean that Newmar is losing more market share? JM2CW !

[Route 66]

I recall Jetsmania had posted that production had restarted after the first of the year. If insufficient orders did not come in, they would halt production until more orders came in.