Teton Foreclousure Question

[Peabody]

Teton was one of the 5er's I have been looking at, this one is a used 1999 Prestige Santa Fe.Very nice but with the plant closing should I look else where? Should I need them could I still get parts? This has me a little concerned certainly don't want to get stuck with a 5er that can't be fixed if and when I need to. Thank-You and Big Hugs, Peabody

[Peabody]

Teton was one of the 5er's I have been looking at, this one is a used 1999 Prestige Santa Fe.Very nice but with the plant closing should I look else where? Should I need them could I still get parts? This has me a little concerned certainly don't want to get stuck with a 5er that can't be fixed if and when I need to. Thank-You and Big Hugs, Peabody

[Hitchhiker]

You might want to take a look at this article from yesterday's online edition of the Casper Star-Tribune:

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Official: Teton Homes layoff rumors are untrue

By JARED MILLER
Star-Tribune staff writer

Teton Homes in Casper is contemplating a "substantial restructuring" but no layoffs are expected, according to the investment firm that owns the luxury travel-trailer builder.

"I don't expect this to translate into anything but a healthy, more viable business, and don't contemplate layoffs," said Charlie Larkin of Massachusetts-based Webster Capital Investment Co.

Larkin said recent rumors that the 41-year-old Casper business is shutting its doors are not true.

He said tough economic times sometimes generate speculation about the worst possible outcome, but in this case the speculation is inaccurate.

"We've heard the same ugly rumors," he said.

Teton Homes is not the only RV builder in America facing tough times.

Many plants are restructuring, slowing down or closing all together, according to Kevin Broom, spokesman for the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association.

Broom said the chief factor is the national credit crunch, which is making it harder for people who want to buy RVs to qualify for credit.

"The biggest thing is the banks," Broom said. "There are plenty of people who would like to buy RVs, but because of the mortgage meltdown, lending standards have tightened across the board."

Founded in the late 1960s by Robert Ingram, Teton Homes specializes in upper-end fifth-wheel trailers, some of which have been used on set by Hollywood stars.

In 2005, Ingram sold a controlling share of the company to Boston-based Webster Capital.

Teton Homes employs about 150 workers, according to statements a company official made to the Casper Area Economic Development Alliance this summer.

Contact Jared Miller at (307) 632-1244 or at jared.miller@trib.com.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Ann n Gene]

If it is good shape and what you want, I would go for it and not worry about parts. Most parts are not made in house and come from suppliers. Those parts will be available for a long time to come and there is a surplus warehouse in Elkhart that gets a LOT of the obsolete parts. Many parts can be substituted without a problem. with so many manufactures of rvs shutting their doors or cutting way back you can not eliminate the problem by buying one that is still in business,they may be gone next. Besides most of the better built, high end trailers are the ones gone, do not limit your search by eliminating them. Jusy my 2 cents. Gene

[Peabody]

Thank-You Tetons are one of my top choices,I will be full timing so I want to be comfy. Also looking for used in good shape don't want any payments if I can help it. Big Hugs Peabody

[Steve Rankin]

Our Beaver Patriot was a pseudo-orphan in that it was designed before Safari bought Beaver and long before Monaco bought Safari/Beaver. No real problem regarding parts, although Monaco support was minimal. One of our neighbors has an true orphan; an Overland on an Oshkosh chassis. No problem getting any parts he needs.

Almost all components of an RV are the same from brand to brand; appliances, plumbing systems, chassis parts are all readily available. Only those items unique to manufacturer are potential problems, and even many of those are still available via salvage outfits and fabrication.

I might be somewhat concerned about an orphan coach if the coach was newer and the resale was seriously affected by the orphan status. But it would not be even the slightest concern on a 1999 model. Even less so because (a) the Teton is a quality brand in the first place, and (b) we believe the mid to late 90's were the pinnacle of RV quality.