Fleetwood files for Chapter 11

[-Gramps-]

Once again I hate to be the first to post this.

Fleetwood has filed for chapter 11 reorganization. They have shut down the trailer division and hope to sell the Coach and Home division to some entity.

Here is the entire article, as of 9:33 this morning.

http://www.reuters.com/article/bonds...50995120090310

[becks]

Boy it seems every week brings another loss. Won't be many makers left in the RV industry a year or two from now.

[-Gramps-]

It's going to take some real creative thinking for the industry to regain its health. Like the rv industry forming its own bank along with consolidation.

[tmar10]

They said they are going too continue operations while seeking buyers for the MH division...I wonder who is able to make a move for the RV unit out of the remaining manufacturers?

[Doug Sage]

Only $23 million left in cash. I wonder how fast they are burning cash? Things don't look good for Fleetwood. It seems to me that they need to close a sale quick or close down operations so that there is still something left to buy.

[Northern-Canadian]

It is very dispiriting to constantly hear of these company’s and the people that they employ failing at this alarming rate. I have had work done on my coach at the Decatur facility and am looking forward to travelling there again this summer. I hope the company can restructure itself and come out stronger when this economic crisis is over. Too many good hard working people and their families have been affected by these times. My prayers go out to those who are struggling and hope for a quick economic turnaround.

[-Gramps-]

The economy is trying to turn around, Stock market is up close to 300 points based on financial sector reports. (certain people in Wash DC may not think that means anything) price of gold is dropping, and the price of oil is up. The last is not always good but in this case it is. So maybe this may help to not lose anymore manufacturers to chapter 11.

[tmar10]

Everything is based on the plan submitted by Fleetwood to bankruptcy judge and the willingness of creditors to work with a trimmed down operation. The TT division is gone and they have the capacity to blend some of the MH product lines and reduce floorplans. With the current level of failures, any manufacturer who can overcome the next 2 to 3 quarters will have more potential market share. We are now going though a thinning of the heard and the ones who survive will see better days ahead.

[Monty W S]

I truely believe it is shame that Fleetwood is closing it's travel trailer division. I have been RVing for more than 35 years. My father owned a RV repair business for many years and I have helped him work on many units and most of the Fleetwood products were pretty well built.

I have owned many TTs (about 9 in all) along with three truck campers and a pop-up and now I am on my second motohome. Seven of the TTs were Fleetwoods and with the exception of a 1986 28' all were very satifactory units. And when the 86 unit proved to be a true "lemon", Fleetwood stepped up to plate and completely refunded our purchase price on a new unit.

Again, it is sad to see what the economy is doing to companies and there employees. I hope they have a solid plan for the motorhome division. It would truely be a shame to completely lose the Fleetwood name in the industry.

Just my two cents.

[NLOVNIT]

Fleetwood really needs to pare down it's model lines. I mean, come on, who needs 3 different Fiestas or 3 different Terras. And has anyone done the website comparison between the Excursion & the Providence? The only difference between the 2 is the Excursion has 5 different exterior graphics colorways - all the other comparison checkboxes match box for box... even the base prices are exactly the same. Talk about redundancy in models!

Get leaner or ya won't be one of the few still standing when all is said & done.

Lori-

[Monty W S]

In their heyday the many similar models with differnt names allowed for several dealerships in same area. They did it in TTs as well with Terry, Wilderness and Prowler just to name a few. I think this economy will do away with many of boarder line dealerships as well and that should put an end for the need of similar units with different brands.

[Superslif]

A few years back I was disappointed that Fleetwood sold the Coleman / Fleetwood Folding Trailers line. I would think as people buy and sell trailers on their move up in size, Fleetwood would want an entry level trailer. In my opinion Fleetwood made some wrong designs in the Caravan line which were too heavy and very $$$. Same thing in the hybrid line that came out a few years after hybrid's became hot. Those too had very heavy (hitch weights) and very few dealers carried them. We were one of those people that had a Coleman pop-up and wanted to move up to something larger after 6 seasons. I had liked the quality in the Fleetwood Colemans and waited an extra year for their hybrids to make it from design stage to the finished product. My parents have an Excursion which has been their best MH over the years.

[JOMARFL (FMCA 401058)]

We are hoping and praying that Fleetwood stays alive whether trailers or motorhomes. We've never had any issues with a Fleetwood product and hope they come out of this unfortunate turn of events.

Our prayers are with all of the manufacturers, their employees and well especially Fleetwood since we've owned numerous models.