The Jayco Family of Companies is an American manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RVs) and a subsidiary of Thor Industries.[1][2] The group operates through its brands, including Jayco RV, Entegra Coach, Highland Ridge RV, and Starcraft RV.[3] Based in Middlebury and Shipshewana, Indiana, the company has been a prominent player in the RV industry since its founding in 1968.[4]
The Jayco Family of Companies was founded in 1968 by Lloyd Bontrager,[5][6] who developed a unique lifter system for fold-down camping trailers.[7] The company began operations with 15 employees and sold 132 camping trailers in its first year. By 1971, the Jayco Family of Companies had entered the travel trailer market, producing 1,100 units in its debut year, followed by its expansion into the fifth-wheel trailer market in 1972.[8]
In 1985, Lloyd Bontrager died in a plane crash,[9] and leadership transitioned to other executives, including Al Yoder and Wilbur Bontrager.[10] The company reached milestones such as shipping its 100,000th unit and introducing new product lines,[11] including lightweight travel trailers like the Kiwi, which later evolved into the Jay Feather series.[12]
By the late 1990s, the Jayco Family of Companies opened a customer service center and established an online presence with the launch of its website. In 2016, the company was acquired by Thor Industries.[13][14]
Brands
The Jayco Family of Companies expanded its operation over the years through key brands including Jayco RV, Starcraft RV, Entegra Coach and Highland Ridge RV.[5]
Jayco RV
Jayco RV
Founded in 1968, Jayco RV is the flagship brand of the Jayco Family of Companies. It manufactures a wide range of recreational vehicles, including travel trailers, fifth wheels, toy haulers, and motorhomes (Class A, B, and C). Jayco RV is headquartered in Middlebury, Indiana, and employs a workforce that includes members of the local Amish and Mennonite communities.[15]
Starcraft RV (1991)
Starcraft RV
Starcraft RV is a subsidiary of the Jayco Family of Companies, headquartered in Shipshewana, Indiana. The company was founded in 1903 as a farm equipment manufacturer and later expanded into marine manufacturing before shifting its focus to recreational vehicles (RVs) in the 1960s.[16] Starcraft was acquired by Jayco in 1991 and continues to manufacture travel trailers and fifth wheels.[17]
Starcraft RV's product lineup includes models such as the Autumn Ridge, Super Lite, and GSL Travel Trailer, along with the GSL Light Duty and GSL Fifth Wheel series.[18] The company has received industry recognition, including the RV Pro Best New Model award (2022) and the Dealer Satisfaction Index Award (2023).[19][20]
Entegra Coach (2008)
Entegra Coach
Founded in 2008, Entegra Coach is based in Middlebury, Indiana, and specializes in manufacturing luxury diesel pushers, gas Class A motorhomes, Class C motorhomes, Super C motorhomes, and Class B motorhomes.[21] Entegra Coach expanded its product lineup in 2018 to include gas Class A and Class C motorhomes, followed by the introduction of the Class B Ethos in 2021.[22]
Highland Ridge RV (2014)
Highland Ridge RV
Headquartered in Shipshewana, Indiana, Highland Ridge was originally founded as Open Range RV in 2007 by Randy Graber, the company specialized in lightweight travel trailers and fifth wheels.[23] In 2014, Jayco acquired Open Range and rebranded it as Highland Ridge RV.[24] The company operates manufacturing facilities in Shipshewana, Indiana, and Twin Falls, Idaho, and continues to produce travel trailers and fifth wheels.[25]
Operations
The Jayco Family of Companies operates manufacturing facilities in Middlebury and Shipshewana, Indiana, employing approximately 4,000 people.[26] The company’s workforce includes a significant number of Amish and Mennonite craftspeople, reflecting its deep roots in Indiana’s local communities.[27]
References
↑ "Jayco, Inc. - CRVA". Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
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