Jayco kills Starcrafts own models, and starts cloning Jaycos

[Mike Up]

They have killed all the previous Starcraft models and are cloning Jayco TTs and PUPs under the Starcraft name.

A sad day since Starcrafts build quality was great so it was nice having both differing Jayco and Starcraft to choose from. Now its from 2 to 1. Check RVDirect's Pop Up offers from the below link, there you see all the new Starcraft Pop Up model numbers, using the Jayco campers.
 
Starcraft has now changed their brand new, new to 2009 Autumn Ridge campers to Jayco models. They killed the real Autumn Ridge since Starcraft factory was closed and started rebadging the Jayco Jayflights as Autumn Ridges. My model Jay Flight 19BH is now a Starcraft Autumn Ridge 186BH. They killed the slightly longer  (8") 181 BH for the Jayco rebadge, clone.
 
BTW, the new Jayco clones are 2009s, so they replaced the previous Starcraft 2009s. You would had thought they'd wait until 2010, but I guess they'd lose money if they did that. See here and here.
 
They killed the previous 'true' Starcraft Autumn Ridges and replaced them with Jay Flight Clones. They did this with all of their different types of campers, as you can verify by checking that RVDirect link I posted.
 
I will bet this will be another Rockwood/Flagstaff or Coachmen/Viking deal so that the same trailer can be sold to 2 dealerships in the same market area since they can't be directly compared being 2 differing name plates.
 
Have a good one.

[WolfPack]

Its same thing Forrest River owns Coachmen/viking plus Rockwood so they well be the same the only different well be the name.

[Used 2B PopUPTimes]

I contacted Jayco about this and was assured that the Starcraft brand is still the 3rd largest selling brand of pop up campers and plans to introduce their 2010 models this July.

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway owns Forest River - makers of Rockwood and Flagstaff in Millersburg, IN.  BH purchased the Palomino factory several years ago which still operates in Colon, MI.  BH recently purchased Coachmen Industries which included Viking RV in Centreville, MI - makers of the Viking and Clipper brands of pop ups.

It makes sense for the mother companies to share some styles and features to keep purchasing & manufacturing costs down, but I think (hope) there will be some unique features in the models and brands in the years to come.

[Mike Up]

plans to introduce their 2010 models this July.
 
I think (hope) there will be some unique features in the models and brands in the years to come.

I hope, as these new Starcraft models are strictly just clones that Jayco already offers. Nothing different but clones. Perhaps after they get retooled, they'll offer different models. I can only hope. I actually felt that Starcraft offered a better quality Pop Up previously. The new Jayco '09s seem a bit better than Starcraft though. I was really impressed with the quality in all areas, especially the new tent design. I like it a lot more than the '07 I had. The interior is also nicer even though they still don't offer a permanent stove. The carry out now looks nicer and blends better with the galley than looking like a cheap portable stove, as before.
 
I always thought that Jayco TTs were better but was still impressed with Starcraft's XLT Travelstars. Not their NXP/XLT Sport series though, their quality was terrible.
 
Here's hoping for an actual separate model series from Starcraft in the future, not a mere clone.
 
Have a good one.

[Popupper]

I hope, as these new Starcraft models are strictly just clones that Jayco already offers. Nothing different but clones.  
Have a good one.

You might be right but, how do you know they're nothing but clones?

[Mike Up]

You might be right but, how do you know they're nothing but clones?

If you go to RVdirect and build one, they have the same features, standards, options, and nearly the price. To have a Starcraft Autumn Ridge 186BH (Jayco Jay Flight 19BH clone) delivered to NW Indiana, the Starcraft was $12300. There was no other delivery option. To have the Jayco Jay Flight 19BH, I'd pick up in Iowa, and it was $12600. There was no other delivery options other than NY pickup.
 
So I'm paying delivery to Iowa from Indiana for the Jayco, or I'm paying delivery from Middlebury Indiana to NW Indiana. The Jayco is most likely more money because of the delivery to Iowa. There is also no 2 year bumper to bumper warranty on the Starcraft either, as there is on the Jayco.
 
I'm sure colors are different and maybe little things, but the floorplan tells most of it.
 
Without pics, maybe there's little things here and there, but it's the same trailer floorplan, same body and structure. To me, the little things don't matter, it's the main things that do.
 
Have a good one.