Holiday Rambler
Encyclopedia
Holiday Rambler Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles. It was founded in 1953. In 1961, Holiday Rambler’s introduction of aluminum body framing ushered in a new era of lighter, stronger and more durable recreational vehicles (RVs). This aluminum frame (Alumaframe) became the standard for lighter and stronger RVs for 40 years. Holiday Rambler was also responsible for many firsts; built-in refrigerators, holding tanks and aerodynamic radiused corners. As Holiday Rambler moved into motorhomes, they were the first with tag axles and the kitchen slide-out revolutionized "interior engineering" in the field. Holiday Rambler was sold to Harley-Davidson
in 1986 and later in 1996 to the Monaco Coach Corporation
where its future, now under Navistar International
Corp., is difficult in 2010 as it is for most motorhome manufacturers.
Holiday Rambler is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Navistar International
Corp.
Motorhomes can be quit large and expensive. The Navigator prices start at $495,000 USD Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The Navigator is a Class A motorhome.
A Class A motor home has a large frame similar to that of a bus, but is built on its own specialized chassis. These large Holiday Rambler motorhomes can be 45 feet (13.7 m) long and 12 and 1/2 feet high. They can carry as much as 100 gallons (378.5 l) of water and 100 gallons (378.5 l) of diesel fuel. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 50,000 pounds.
A Class B motorhome is usually built on a cargo van chassis. These Holiday Rambler vehicles can carry as much as 35 gallons (132.5 l) of water and 57 gallons (215.8 l) of gasoline. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 20,000 pounds.
A Class C motorhome is usually built on a truck chassis. These Holiday Rambler vehicles can carry as much as 29 gallons (109.8 l) of water and 57 gallons (215.8 l) of gasoline. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 14,000 pounds.
Fifth Wheel towables are trailers that are designed to connect to the towing vehicle between the front and rear axles. Usually these are towed by pickup trucks and the fifth wheel receiver is placed in the bed of the truck. These Holiday Rambler towables can carry as much as 70 gallons (265 l) of water. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 17,000 pounds.
Bumper Pull towables are designed to attach to the towing vehicle behind the rear axle on the bumper or on a receiver that is attached to the frame. These Holiday Rambler towables can carry as much as 50 gallons (189.3 l) of water. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 10,000 pounds. These towables start at $20,000 USD Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).
. There is a watercolor painting of it by artist Paige Bridges.
Holiday Rambler Corporation and its subsidiaries ("Holiday Rambler") was acquired by the Harley-Davidson
, Inc. in December 1986. Holiday Rambler's Recreational Vehicle division competed primarily in the mid to premium segment of the recreational vehicle market.
On March 4, 1996, the Monaco Coach Corporation
acquired from Harley-Davidson
, Inc. certain assets of Holiday Rambler (the "Holiday Acquisition") in exchange for $21.5 million in cash, 65,217 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock (which was subsequently converted into 230,767 shares of Common Stock), and the assumption of most of the liabilities of Holiday Rambler. Concurrently, the Company acquired ten Holiday World Dealerships for $13.0 million, including a $12.0 million subordinated.
On June 23, 2009, Judge Kevin Carey agreed to the Monaco Coach Corporation
's request to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to a Chapter 7 case so it could liquidate its remaining assets. The order converting the case to Chapter 7 was effective June 30. Monaco Coach Corporation
sold its factories, inventory, brands and intellectual property to Navistar International
Corp. earlier in June for $47 million. Once the remaining assets are liquidated under Chapter 7, “the entity ceases to exist,” and effectively spells the end of Monaco Coach Corporation
, said Andrea Coles-Bjerre, an assistant law professor at the University of Oregon
and a former bankruptcy lawyer in New York.
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
in 1986 and later in 1996 to the Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
where its future, now under Navistar International
Navistar International
Navistar International Corporation is a United States-based holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label...
Corp., is difficult in 2010 as it is for most motorhome manufacturers.
Holiday Rambler is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Navistar International
Navistar International
Navistar International Corporation is a United States-based holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label...
Corp.
Models
Holiday Rambler manufactures motorhomes which travel on their own power and they make towables which are designed to be pulled by a motor vehicle. All of these recreational vehicles have toilets and facilities for cooking and sleeping.Motorhomes can be quit large and expensive. The Navigator prices start at $495,000 USD Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The Navigator is a Class A motorhome.
Class A Motorhomes
- Navigator
- Imperial
- Scepter
- Endeavor
- Ambassador
- Neptune
- Vacationer
- Admiral
- Arista
- Aluma-Lite
A Class A motor home has a large frame similar to that of a bus, but is built on its own specialized chassis. These large Holiday Rambler motorhomes can be 45 feet (13.7 m) long and 12 and 1/2 feet high. They can carry as much as 100 gallons (378.5 l) of water and 100 gallons (378.5 l) of diesel fuel. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 50,000 pounds.
Class B Motorhomes
- Augusta B+
A Class B motorhome is usually built on a cargo van chassis. These Holiday Rambler vehicles can carry as much as 35 gallons (132.5 l) of water and 57 gallons (215.8 l) of gasoline. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 20,000 pounds.
Class C Motorhomes
- Traveler
- Atlantis
A Class C motorhome is usually built on a truck chassis. These Holiday Rambler vehicles can carry as much as 29 gallons (109.8 l) of water and 57 gallons (215.8 l) of gasoline. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 14,000 pounds.
Fifth Wheel Towables
- Presidential Suite
- Presidential
- Alumascape Suite
- Alumascape
- Next Level
- Savoy LX FW
- Savoy LE FW
Fifth Wheel towables are trailers that are designed to connect to the towing vehicle between the front and rear axles. Usually these are towed by pickup trucks and the fifth wheel receiver is placed in the bed of the truck. These Holiday Rambler towables can carry as much as 70 gallons (265 l) of water. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 17,000 pounds.
Bumper Pull Towables
- Savoy LX TT
- Savoy LE TT
- Mintaro
- Black Diamond
- Campmaster
Bumper Pull towables are designed to attach to the towing vehicle behind the rear axle on the bumper or on a receiver that is attached to the frame. These Holiday Rambler towables can carry as much as 50 gallons (189.3 l) of water. When fully loaded, these vehicles can weigh as much as 10,000 pounds. These towables start at $20,000 USD Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP).
History
RV building started out in Wakarusa, Indiana in the 1950s with the Holiday Rambler Company, founded by Richard Klinger. Wakarusa is ten miles (16 km) south of Elkhart, Indiana. Richard Klinger started building trailer parts in a chicken coop and assembling the trailers outdoors in the 1950s. The first Holiday Rambler recreational vehicle was a travel trailer introduced to the public in 1953 by the Klingler Corporation. A fully restored example is in the RV museum in Elkhart, IndianaElkhart, Indiana
Elkhart is a city in Elkhart County, Indiana, United States. The city is located east of South Bend, northwest of Fort Wayne, east of Chicago, and north of Indianapolis...
. There is a watercolor painting of it by artist Paige Bridges.
Holiday Rambler Corporation and its subsidiaries ("Holiday Rambler") was acquired by the Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
, Inc. in December 1986. Holiday Rambler's Recreational Vehicle division competed primarily in the mid to premium segment of the recreational vehicle market.
On March 4, 1996, the Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
acquired from Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson , often abbreviated H-D or Harley, is an American motorcycle manufacturer. Founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, during the first decade of the 20th century, it was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression...
, Inc. certain assets of Holiday Rambler (the "Holiday Acquisition") in exchange for $21.5 million in cash, 65,217 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock (which was subsequently converted into 230,767 shares of Common Stock), and the assumption of most of the liabilities of Holiday Rambler. Concurrently, the Company acquired ten Holiday World Dealerships for $13.0 million, including a $12.0 million subordinated.
On June 23, 2009, Judge Kevin Carey agreed to the Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
's request to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to a Chapter 7 case so it could liquidate its remaining assets. The order converting the case to Chapter 7 was effective June 30. Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
sold its factories, inventory, brands and intellectual property to Navistar International
Navistar International
Navistar International Corporation is a United States-based holding company that owns the manufacturer of International brand commercial trucks, MaxxForce brand diesel engines, IC Bus school and commercial buses, Workhorse brand chassis for motor homes and step vans, and is a private label...
Corp. earlier in June for $47 million. Once the remaining assets are liquidated under Chapter 7, “the entity ceases to exist,” and effectively spells the end of Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation
Monaco Coach Corporation was an American corporation which primarily manufactured recreational vehicles and RV chassis. The company was headquartered in Coburg, Oregon, and maintained significant manufacturing operations in various locations in Indiana....
, said Andrea Coles-Bjerre, an assistant law professor at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
and a former bankruptcy lawyer in New York.