Breaking news!

[mike4947]

Fleetwood's selling off the folding trailer division:
 
http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=63938&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1136245&highlight=
 

ANTICIPATED DIVESTITURE OF FOLDING TRAILER SUBSIDIARY
 
Fleetwood further announced that it has signed a definitive agreement for the sale of Fleetwood Folding Trailers, Inc., located in Somerset, Pa. The sale is subject to customary closing conditions including bank approval, with a substantial part of the proceeds expected to be used to partially pay down the existing real estate term loan. The Company emphasized that no further disclosure will be provided until either the sale closes or the transaction is terminated.
 
"The folding trailer division has not proven to be particularly synergistic with the rest of our RV businesses," Smith said. "Going forward, we intend to direct our focus to the remaining higher-volume RV and Housing businesses, with a particular emphasis on completing the turnaround of our travel trailer division. The successful closure of the folding trailer transaction will contribute significantly to our goal of focusing on core businesses and adjusting to changing markets."

Maybe they're selling to American Home who they own the millions in the lawsuit settlement to and since AH owns the Coleman name we might have Coleman trailers back again.

[CajunCamper]

This is interesting. I would think that with gas prices like they are, some folks may downsize both tow vehicles and camping rigs making the pop up a very attractive option again. I would love to see fewer big rigs and more pop ups in campgrounds.

CajunCamper

[beacher]

Perhaps Coleman will purchase the division?  Or maybe Coachmen will finally have their Coleman trailers?  Hmmm?

[spearmint]

Perhaps Coleman will purchase the division?  Or maybe Coachmen will finally have their Coleman trailers?  Hmmm?

Well, it might be a good thing if Coleman buys it. I've seen some photos of 2008 Fleetwood pups, and I am far from impressed at the quality. I am ever so glad I am buying a spotless 1998 pup!

[GeneF]

I would love to see fewer big rigs and more pop ups in campgrounds.

CajunCamper

I think you might see some downsizing but those that have the big Class A's have the money to keep them.

With the way the economy is going, I would venture to say that you may see fewer popups or hybrids.  For some, getting rid of the popup may be a way to pay the mortgage or for gas.

From income polls done here and on other forums, many popup owners are in the middle economic class and that is the class that is getting zonked.

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

I've made a few calls and I know who isn't buying FFT.  The purchasing company obviously projects a rebound in pop up sales and I hope they're right. When I started PUT in 1998 the industry was selling 63,000 pop ups annually; they're only projecting ~25,000 units this year.

D.

[naganthunter]

I've made a few calls and I know who isn't buying FFT.  The purchasing company obviously projects a rebound in pop up sales and I hope they're right. When I started PUT in 1998 the industry was selling 63,000 pop ups annually; they're only projecting ~25,000 units this year.

D.

...that's just a shame.  It probably also explains why I can't find a dealer that's local to service my PU under warranty....

[AZsix]

All right folks lets start pooling our money now. We can be the new owners of the folding trailer division. We just have to pick someone to be in charge. Then again if I win Powerball tonight maybe I can make them an offer.  :-()

[WolfPack]

Maybe coachman or colmen well buy ffd, i don't what fleetwood is think but its not good think.i would be cutting back on the making of big RV do to high gas price and keep making popup.

[ilovecamping]

I guess I don't understand pup's being the ones to sell less of.  We have a TT and we have put it on a seasonal site about 30 min from home.  There is no way we could afford to camp very often if we had to tow it around with the price of gas like it is.  We have actually been considering getting a used pup to go a few places that we won't otherwise be able to do this year.  We have our eye on one but it is out of our price range.  That being said it has also been for sale since last year and is just sitting in a shed.  We will just wait and see if it comes down in price or if anything else in our price range comes up.  I would think that the bigger rv's would take a beating but not the pups.