Community Forums

copilot · 04-10-2015, 03:55 PM

Page 17-May 2015: Refers to wholesale shipments via RVIA survey; reached 8 year best in 2014. This was 11% gain over 2013. They are speaking of wholesale not sold units the way I read it. They broke it down between towables & motorhomes. Don't know how much hype it is but just caught my eye under "our" circumstances.

Add info-we have RV in shop for replacement of the bumper around the big slide. They did have to order as its not standard. I asked about being an "orphan" & no problem unless we have an accident etc involving the end cap. My thought on that if its bad enough to need replaced, I hope its an insurance total out.

Everything else can be found one way or another.

chief02 · 04-10-2015, 05:27 PM

Excel did not build their own front or rear caps. There is a manufacturer in Kansas that produced them. Not sure who would know their name. I doubt they were only building for Excel but could probably reproduce one if needed but I bet very costly.

BLPTers · 04-10-2015, 06:39 PM

Ralph told me the week they shut down (I was in Smith Center) that the front and rear caps were made by a company right there in Smith Center. He mentioned the shower was as well. Not sure how much of the other fiberglass products were. He thought they may have tough time as well since Peterson was one of it's main customers. But I did see it's name on the Smith Center KS Chamber of Commerce website when I was researching my trip to SC. Just can't remember its name right now.

BLPTers · 04-10-2015, 06:43 PM

Found it again. Arlwin Manufacturing Co, Inc is the name of the fiberglass manufacturer.

chief02 · 04-10-2015, 10:46 PM

Great info! Thanks.

rockintom · 04-10-2015, 11:28 PM

I think folks would be surprised of the number of things that we built locally in KS for PI. I know I was. Most of the normal RV vendor stuff still comes mainly from the Elkhart, IN area. rockin'

BRS50 · 04-17-2015, 03:10 PM

That is a great find for all Excel owners. Body damage to the caps would be the biggest problem the demise of PI could present to an orphan owner. My wife stopped me from backing into a low hanging branch at Ft Clinch SP in Fla avoiding just the kind of mishap that could be a major issue to repair. Arlwin has an Excel on their home page but I sure hope I never need to contact them.
Arlwin Manufacturing, Inc

chief02 · 04-17-2015, 03:46 PM

A good fiberglass shop can do amazing work. I've seen many boats with bottoms tore out and were repaired. I'm not very worried about caps. More worried if I tore a compartment door off. But I bet someone out there that could build one.