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11-09-2022, 09:00 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2023 E19
Posts: 306
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ETI and Northern Lite No Longer Sister Companies
It looks like KV Capital has recently sold off Northern Lite and Off Grid Trailers, while retaining ownership of ETI and Campion (for now, at least).
https://sgbonline.com/triwest-capita...grid-trailers/
I found this interesting. Though both ETI and NL have been operated independently since being acquired by KV, I thought there would be enough benefit in terms of costs savings to maintain common ownership. IE: Improved supply chain purchasing power, shared engineering resources/manufacturing skillsets, etc.
I can only assume KV has concluded that NL's growth as a business has plateaued while they figure there is still more potential for ETI.
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11-09-2022, 09:16 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,052
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I remember reading that building truck campers is a more expensive business to own. It's due to the truck beds constantly changing. Shape, inside height, etc. That causes the camper molds needing to be remade/rebuilt.
I think we've all seen pickups carrying truck campers that don't fit and the hodge podge things folks have done to make it 'work.' A quality manufacturer won't sell something that merely... works.
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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11-09-2022, 09:53 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Very interesting!!!
Hi: All... I spotted this unit at a rally in Nova Scotia in 2019. About the same size as a 5.0TA but requires a one ton diesel dually and at todays prices expensive to keep moving. Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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11-09-2022, 03:07 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
Trailer: "Side Effect" 2022 21C
Posts: 1,376
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I would liked to have been a fly on the wall at KV during that decision. Interesting.
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11-09-2022, 06:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Kelowna, British Columbia
Trailer: 2018 Escape 19
Posts: 2,720
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This could be why the Fiberglass trailer planed to be built by Northern Lite is not on their web page anymore.
KV should have lots of funds now to build Escapes down south in a new facility…just like they moved Campion boats south for the cheap labour.
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11-09-2022, 06:46 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Madison area, Wisconsin
Trailer: 2016 Escape 19 Chevy 2012 Express 3500 Van
Posts: 1,763
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It's all about "MONEY, HONEY"
Not a lot of mystery here. A recession, in the near future, is likely. When, please don't ask me. Business is cyclical, and unpredictable. Somebody, somewhere, decided it is time to move on.
And so it goes.
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11-09-2022, 09:01 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Boulder, Colorado
Trailer: 2020 Escape 5.0TA "Zen"
Posts: 1,390
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How long before Escape goes up for sale?
Everything has a price.
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11-09-2022, 09:06 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Colfax, California
Trailer: 2024 Escape 23 on order, 2022 RAM 1500 5.7L Laramie
Posts: 586
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Saw a Northern Lights cab over camper on a RAM 2500 today. In the mirror, it looked like it was 15’ tall. I would rather drive an Army Deuce and a half.
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11-09-2022, 09:14 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Snohomish, Washington
Trailer: 2017 19 foot sold, 2022 21C
Posts: 659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by UncleTim
How long before Escape goes up for sale?
Everything has a price.
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I worked for a Fortune 500 company that bought and sold companies on a regular basis. If Escapes backlog dips and the margins fall below what is expected chances are they will be on the chopping block.
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11-10-2022, 07:41 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Kent, Ohio
Trailer: 2017 21c Sold, 2023 Bigfoot 25RQ
Posts: 1,393
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Given the massive price increases in Fiberglas trailers, I see them becoming unaffordable for many of the younger generation who are 10 years out from retirement. We are lucky to have decent resources between the two of us, but many people will not have the same resources that are 10 to 15 years younger. I expect KV looking at those demographics with a lot more information than I have. The initial niche that the original Escape founders was unique in the value proposition, a nicer product than the competitors for just a little more money. And the explosive growth did reflect that. Given the costs now I can’t but speculate the demand will diminish not because of quality but the economic resources of the intended audience. At the moment it’s great for Escape and all the other small trailers. Oliver and Bigfoot is on the high end though because they were always more expensive than Escapes, the price increase has been less drastic. Truck campers demand is unknown at this stage, ergo Nlite being shedded.
I don’t see as many on the road around here, but the target market is more over landing and backcountry I suspect which is widely popular for the well heeled. I wonder if the slow walk of the 23 has anything to do with their market research and how well it will do in the slightly higher market segment. Recessions always follow booms. The last one was brutal to the RV market Bigfoot was in the class C market and nearly went under as did Oliver stopped production for a while in that one.
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11-10-2022, 09:06 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Victoria, British Columbia
Trailer: 2016/ 5TA Spirit Bear
Posts: 322
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Everything Changes
Quote:
Originally Posted by Selkirk
It looks like KV Capital has recently sold off Northern Lite and Off Grid Trailers, while retaining ownership of ETI and Campion (for now, at least).
https://sgbonline.com/triwest-capita...grid-trailers/
I found this interesting. Though both ETI and NL have been operated independently since being acquired by KV, I thought there would be enough benefit in terms of costs savings to maintain common ownership. IE: Improved supply chain purchasing power, shared engineering resources/manufacturing skillsets, etc.
I can only assume KV has concluded that NL's growth as a business has plateaued while they figure there is still more potential for ETI.
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Suspect at some point ETI’s production will shift to the US or Mexico through either a sale or a physical move. Regardless it is still a great trailer which I hope will be around for many years to come. Nothing stays the same but I hope that they maintain at least some production in Chilliwack.
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11-10-2022, 10:00 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Snohomish, Washington
Trailer: 2017 19 foot sold, 2022 21C
Posts: 659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark James
Suspect at some point ETI’s production will shift to the US or Mexico through either a sale or a physical move. Regardless it is still a great trailer which I hope will be around for many years to come. Nothing stays the same but I hope that they maintain at least some production in Chilliwack.
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I think I read someplace that 80 percent of Escapes sales are from the US so moving production to a less expensive US state makes sense. The majority of the high end expensive components are imported from the the US currently adding to the build cost because of the exchange rate. Even though Mexico is part of NAFTA moving production there would most likely turn some potential buyers off. Being born and raised in Vancouver Canada before moving to the US in 1983 I'm hoping production stays in Chilliwack. Escape is such a home grown small company it would be so sad.
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11-13-2022, 01:01 PM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diannelgraham
I think I read someplace that 80 percent of Escapes sales are from the US...The majority of the high end expensive components are imported from the the US currently adding to the build cost because of the exchange rate. Even though Mexico is part of NAFTA moving production there would most likely turn some potential buyers off...I'm hoping production stays in Chilliwack. Escape is such a home grown small company it would be so sad.
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It would much more sad to see Escape go under like so many others (Parkliner, Lil' Snoozy, etc) and take the buyers that have already put down deposits and are still waiting on their delivery with them.
I would not want them to move to Mexico for production. If you want a Mexican built trailer, buy a Casita.
__________________
Steve and Tali plus Dogs: Reacher, Rocky and Lucy
2008 Outlaw Oliver Legacy Elite
2014 Outlaw Oliver Legacy Elite II
2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD Diesel 4x4
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11-13-2022, 01:12 PM
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#14
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 84
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Quote:
Originally Posted by oldwave
...Recessions always follow booms. The last one was brutal to the RV market Bigfoot was in the class C market and nearly went under as did Oliver stopped production for a while in that one.
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Oliver did not almost go under during the last recession. They are not just a trailer manufacturer. They also make hundreds of other fiberglass products, the most notable of which is the Safe-Step walk in tub. They shut down the trailer line in 2010 simply because, with the depressed economy, nobody was selling very many trailers especially at the higher end, cost wise. However, nobody at Oliver lost their job as there were no layoffs. They just transitioned into other areas of the business.
__________________
Steve and Tali plus Dogs: Reacher, Rocky and Lucy
2008 Outlaw Oliver Legacy Elite
2014 Outlaw Oliver Legacy Elite II
2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD Diesel 4x4
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11-13-2022, 07:32 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Lanesboro, MN, between Whalan and Fountain, Minnesota
Trailer: 2016 Bigfoot 25RQ - (2018 Escape 5.0 sold)
Posts: 2,174
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scubarx
I would not want them to move to Mexico for production. If you want a Mexican built trailer, buy a Casita.
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When did Casita move their production to Mexico?
Perry
__________________
Those who know everything use pens. Intelligent people use pencils.
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11-13-2022, 07:39 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Snohomish, Washington
Trailer: 2017 19 foot sold, 2022 21C
Posts: 659
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Perry Butler
When did Casita move their production to Mexico?
Perry
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I thought I missed something about Casita moving from Rice TX
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11-13-2022, 07:43 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 11,052
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Casita is still in Rice, TX. Please don't start rumors.... those live forever!
__________________
Donna D.
Ten Forward
2014 Escape 5.0TA
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11-13-2022, 07:50 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: n/a, Texas
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 729
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Quote:
Originally Posted by diannelgraham
I thought I missed something about Casita moving from Rice TX
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Scubarx might have been making an ethnic comment, not a geographic one.
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11-14-2022, 08:32 AM
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#19
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2021
Location: Framingham, Massachusetts
Trailer: 2019 Escape 21C, NTU April 2022
Posts: 1,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark James
Suspect at some point ETI’s production will shift to the US or Mexico through either a sale or a physical move. Regardless it is still a great trailer which I hope will be around for many years to come. Nothing stays the same but I hope that they maintain at least some production in Chilliwack.
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My impression from the discussion of the topic on the last Escape video report, Karl was talking about adding a production facility in Texas, not moving the whole company.
I'd like to see them add a factory here on the East. How about New Hampshire? No State income or sales taxes!
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11-14-2022, 12:35 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Cleburne, Texas
Trailer: 2021 Escape 5.0
Posts: 159
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrLynn
My impression from the discussion of the topic on the last Escape video report, Karl was talking about adding a production facility in Texas, not moving the whole company.
I'd like to see them add a factory here on the East. How about New Hampshire? No State income or sales taxes!
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How on earth does the state get revenue?
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