Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC
Encyclopedia
Heartland RVs is a manufacturer of recreational vehicle
s located in Elkhart, Indiana
.
On March 17, 2010 it produced its 12,000th RV off the Bighorn assembly line.
under the Landmark brand name which was introduced in December 2004 at the Louisville Show. Landmark was introduced with industry first features such as a Universal Docking Center (UDC), Texas-sized unobstructed pass through storage, and a patent pending front cap design for an 88 degree turn with a short box truck. The first Landmark floorplan was the Golden Gate model (a 36’ 3-slide unit).
The founding partners that joined Brady were Tim Hoffman, VP of Sales; Douglas Lantz, VP Administration; John Rhymer, VP of Engineering; Scott Tuttle, VP of Marketing and Dealer Services.
As of 2010 Heartland has 1100 employees, and 11 facilities supporting customer service, subassembly, and full unit manufacturing. Total manufacturing capacity is 600000 square feet (55,741.8 m²). Presently, Heartland produces 20,000 units a year and is the 3rd largest 5th wheel
manufacturer and 5th largest travel trailer
manufacturer in the United States.
Catterton Partners, a Connecticut-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer business, made an equity investment in Heartland in February 2007.
On February 2, 2010 Heartland RV acquired the remaining active trademarks of the towable brands of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.
Fleetwood has some of the most recognized and iconic brands in the industry. The brand names include Prowler, Terry, Mallard, Pioneer, and Wilderness.
On September 17, 2010, Thor Industries, Inc.
(THO) acquired Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC.
Source: Statistical Surveys, Inc.; reports are subscription based
.
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
s located in Elkhart, Indiana
Elkhart, 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...
.
On March 17, 2010 it produced its 12,000th RV off the Bighorn assembly line.
Company history
Heartland RV was founded in December 2003 by a group of RV industry veterans led by Brian Brady, formerly President and CEO of Damon Corp. The company started production in March 2004 with a 5th wheelFifth wheel coupling
The fifth wheel coupling provides the link between a semi-trailer and the towing truck, tractor unit, leading trailer or dolly. Some recreational vehicles use a fifth wheel configuration, requiring the coupling to be installed in the bed of a pickup truck as a towing vehicle...
under the Landmark brand name which was introduced in December 2004 at the Louisville Show. Landmark was introduced with industry first features such as a Universal Docking Center (UDC), Texas-sized unobstructed pass through storage, and a patent pending front cap design for an 88 degree turn with a short box truck. The first Landmark floorplan was the Golden Gate model (a 36’ 3-slide unit).
The founding partners that joined Brady were Tim Hoffman, VP of Sales; Douglas Lantz, VP Administration; John Rhymer, VP of Engineering; Scott Tuttle, VP of Marketing and Dealer Services.
As of 2010 Heartland has 1100 employees, and 11 facilities supporting customer service, subassembly, and full unit manufacturing. Total manufacturing capacity is 600000 square feet (55,741.8 m²). Presently, Heartland produces 20,000 units a year and is the 3rd largest 5th wheel
Fifth wheel coupling
The fifth wheel coupling provides the link between a semi-trailer and the towing truck, tractor unit, leading trailer or dolly. Some recreational vehicles use a fifth wheel configuration, requiring the coupling to be installed in the bed of a pickup truck as a towing vehicle...
manufacturer and 5th largest travel trailer
Travel trailer
A travel trailer or caravan is towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent . It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places...
manufacturer in the United States.
Catterton Partners, a Connecticut-based private equity firm that focuses on consumer business, made an equity investment in Heartland in February 2007.
On February 2, 2010 Heartland RV acquired the remaining active trademarks of the towable brands of Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc.
Fleetwood Enterprises
Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. was a producer of motorhomes and manufactured housing. It was founded in 1950 by John Crean in Riverside, California....
Fleetwood has some of the most recognized and iconic brands in the industry. The brand names include Prowler, Terry, Mallard, Pioneer, and Wilderness.
On September 17, 2010, Thor Industries, Inc.
Thor Industries
Thor Industries, Inc. is a manufacturer of recreational vehicles and mid-sized commercial buses.-History:Thor Industries, Inc., was founded on August 29, 1980, when Wade F. B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein acquired Airstream. The name "Thor" combined the first two letters of each entrepreneur's...
(THO) acquired Heartland Recreational Vehicles, LLC.
Annual Sales in United States (units registered)
| Calendar Year | Travel Trailer | 5th Wheel |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 393 | 4,240 |
| 2008 | 1,399 | 5,364 |
| 2009 | 2,697 | 4,481 |
| 2010 | 4,659 | 5,775 |
Source: Statistical Surveys, Inc.; reports are subscription based
Heartland Owners Club
In November 2008, Heartland RVs formally launched an RV Lifestyle owners club called the "Heartland Owners Club". The club covers North America and has 24 chapters. The club is managed fully online. The club is currently headquartered 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...
.
Heartland Owners Forum
In October 2004, as brand enthusiasts, two Chicago-area Heartland RV product owners created an online community called the "Heartland Owners Forum". The forum listed 7,659 total members and over 117K posts as of April 12, 2010. The forum is now owned and operated by HEARTLAND RVs. Day to day management is done by volunteer moderators and is overseen by a system administrator.External links
- Heartland RVs company website
- Thor Industries company website
- Heartland Owners Forum
| Heartland RVs Model and Innovation Timeline | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 2010s | ||||||||
| 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5th Wheel Class | Landmark | ||||||||
| Bighorn | |||||||||
| Big Country | |||||||||
| ElkRidge | |||||||||
| Sundance | |||||||||
| Greystone | |||||||||
| Cyclone | |||||||||
| Road Warrior | |||||||||
| North Trail | |||||||||
| Travel trailer Travel trailer A travel trailer or caravan is towed behind a road vehicle to provide a place to sleep which is more comfortable and protected than a tent . It provides the means for people to have their own home on a journey or a vacation, without relying on a motel or hotel, and enables them to stay in places... s |
Edge | ||||||||
| MPG | |||||||||
| Focus | |||||||||
| North Country | |||||||||
| Country Ridge | |||||||||
| Original Trail Runner | Trail Runner Relaunched | ||||||||
| Caliber | |||||||||
| Prowler - best selling trailer of all time | |||||||||