Here is an article that came out yesterday about Navistar's plan to close part of Coburg, OR plant.  Hope that they continue to support us. The service center in Oregon is to remain open, and certain IT and support functions will remain in Coburg.



Navistar layoffs planned in RV, truck plants
August 2, 2011 7:14 PM ET
WARRENVILLE, Ill. (AP) - Truck-maker Navistar International Corp. said Tuesday that it will close two plants and cut jobs in the U.S. and Canada as it shifts production to other plants.

Navistar said it will close a Union City, Ind. plant run by its Workhorse Custom Chassis subsidiary, laying off about 225 workers.

It is also cutting 450 jobs in its Monaco recreational vehicle unit by scaling back operations at Monaco's headquarters and manufacturing plant in Coburg, Ore.

Motor coach production will shift to Monaco's plant in Wakarusa, Ind., with some of the headquarters work going to Navistar's corporate campus in Lisle, Ill. Adding the motor coach work in Wakarusa will add about 400 jobs there, the company said.

I really feel for all the workers who are losing their jobs. Sounds like the company is still doing very well but decided to move their operations. I know Coburg has been hit very hard since the downturn started. I will certainly be keeping these workers in my prayers. God bless them and their families.

Do you know if they do service work at the Indiana plant?

That may put the kibosh on any notion they'll produce Beavers again.

I agree with you Joel.  I just wish that someone could rescue Beaver from their jaws!

hmmmm.  Beaver made by Country Coach? just a thought.

Yes, the handwriting is on the wall isn't it? There are not enough buyers to support all the brands so consolidation is inevitable. Even if Monaco started building them again would they really be Beavers?

NOPE, a BEAVER, IS A BEAVER, IS A BEAVER!

They would probebly be a BINO(Beaver In Name Only). So sad...

Sme feel a true Beaver has not been built since 1993 when the original company wwent bankrupt. Some say when production was moved from bend. They have changed over the years but are still a Beaver if titled as one.

Just want to say we have a 1993 Beaver. We have what the reputation of Beaver was made on. If NAVISTAR wants to learn how to make a coach that will sell, look at the Classic Beavers and TALK to Beaver owners (of all kinds and manufacturers).  Management needs to look at ours, Mandy's and Schmidt's Beavers and TALK to Beavers (us) about what is so great about our coaches.

Beaver and even SMC had a committee of Beaver owners (see Mandy and Wally) to consult with them on what owners need and want in an RV.  

GEE !!!!!!!! WHAT A NOVEL IDEA, ASK THE CUSTOMER WHAT THEY WANT!!!!!!!

Sorry to get so wound up. BUT I have for so long tried to get the company (SMC or Monaco or Navistar) to LISTEN to us, the owners. All to no avail. So no wonder they are in trouble in sales.

Just give me an engineer and a designer and let me take them in a diesel pusher for 2 weeks to 4 weeks. They have to live in it and CAN'T go home. They have to LIVE in it with their spouse and kids. They have to move the RV, dump, cook, LIVE in it. We (Peter & I) will even stay with them, help them, move with them, ADVISE them.

Again sorry, but I try.  Hugs, Connie B.

WAY TO GO, YOU TELL EM GUYS.  Monaco/Navistar is shooting themselves in the foot and they are so numb they don't even know it.

I can't see a Beaver brand and if I was Monaco I wouldn't even consider it.  What I would do if I was CEO is have a Beaver Model under the Monaco badge.  The Beaver model could represent their high end coaches.  This would be no different than what others have done.  This allows a single brand to have distintive models for different markets.

Gil

I have read that back when the origional Beaver company was failing, there was a bid war going on between SMC and Country Coach. SMC won. The thought was that CC wanted to end the competition by downing Beaver, but moving the cabinet works to CC. Hear say on my part.

I sent an email to Monaco Technical support and found that Navistar will leave the Monaco Service Center and the Technical Support in Coburg.  They are moving only the production plant.

Hi ya'll...While we were at the Wisconsin Dells rally we had a chat session with Mike  Snell of Navistar.  Some of the questions you're asking we ask him also.  Mr. Osborne was scheduled to be there as well, but couldn't make it do to the changes taking place regarding Monaco products.  The Coburn facility will become primarily towables.  As stated Wakarusa will be the coach production facility.  Mike stated that basically at this time the coaches selling are at the "so called" lower end of pricing and the upper end quality coaches.  Navistar will be taking some of the quality people from Coburg to the Indiana facility, if those people want to relocate.  Mike did say that the new CEO was very open to ideas so us "Beaver Believers" should not through out the anchor just yet.  Keep the faith, baby!
Service Centers:  Mike stated that in the planning stage are four centers; one in Florida, one in Coburg, one in Indiana, and one in So. California.  When this will happen was not stated.
While at Madison there was some mention of the new Dynasty having the Marquis front cap.  I didn't see it but some of our group did mention it as they went through it.
Mr. Osborne plans to make an appearance at the Branson BAC business meeting.  We'll see how that goes.
Looking forward to seeing some of you in Branson.  As always, Keep the shiny side up.

Mandy

Interesting to hear Monaco Service Center and Tech Support are staying in Coburg. I can imagine the reasons include: their old time tech and knowledgeable people don't want to or would cost to much to move from Coburg, if Navistar tried to have a "new Service Center and Tech Support" in Indiana who would they hire? Few if any people would know about Monaco products and how to service them or find parts. But I can imagine that keeping the center in Coburg will only be for a few more years. As people in Indiana become knowledgeable on the newer units eventually it will all move to Indiana.

I do like the idea of having a "Beaver" model in the Monaco line. I do believe that Monaco spread itself too thin with so many makes and models. It also would be smart to build a Safari, Trek, Renegade, etc model within the Monaco line as well. That would at least give people who want another Beaver or whatever a chance to buy a new unit with the same title as the one they presently have.

A good possibility would be a 24 ft Renegade, a 28 ft (classic layout, drop down bed) Trek, a 34 or 36 ft Safari and a 40 ft Beaver model. Works for me.

But QUALITY QUALITY QUALITY needs to stay in the Beaver model. Navistar need to keep the quality woodwork, quality level of the model, quailty everything. Something to suggest to Osbourne when the BAC has it's meeting with him in Branson.  

Unfortunately Bill Osborne is committed to a Navistar event from September 13-19 and so will not be able to attend the rally in Branson.  At this time he is scheduled to spend a day with us at the International Rally in Las Vegas.

Mike

I tried to post this message yesterday but somehow it didn't post.
While our group was at the Wisconsin Dells rally we had a chat session with Mike Snell, of Navistar, as to the recent developments happening with Monaco.  He told of the movement of the coach building process to Wakarusa, IN and the towables at Coburg.  I didn't hear anything about Beavers being totally out of the picture.  I guess the trend of coach buying being mostly at the lower end of the price scale and the higher end coaches.  This kind of leaves the middle level cost of coaches less desirable.  Mike stated the Mr. Osborne, the new CEO, couldn't make our meeting due to the movement of the facilities.  Mr. Osborne is scheduled to be at our business meeting at Branson so hope to hear better news.  Mike also stated that Mr. Osborne is very open minded and all suggestions can be put on the table.

Service Centers:  Mike stated that there were plans to have four service centers around the country; one in Florida, one in Indiana, one in Coburg, and one in So. California.  

While at Madison some of our Beaver people looked at the new Dynasty which had evidence of our Beaver Marquis front cap.  Perhaps this is a tell-tale sign of the future.  One can only guess at this time.

Looking forward to seeing some new faces at Branson.  Above all keep the shiny side up.

Mandy

To Mike Collins,
Perhaps you could mention to Osbourne the concept of a model of Beaver, etc within the Monaco lineup when you do meet with him.

I also think that Navistar does not understand the concept of brand loyalty within the RV community. I once saw a survey that FMCA did and sent the results to their commercial members. Some of the questions were about buying a new RV, when would you be buying, what brand/model, etc. The results were interesting. Many people said that within 3 years they would be buying a new coach and it would almost certainly (80-90%) be the same brand they presently had. This was some years back before the financial difficulties of the past 5 years or so. However, I think the responses about brand/model loyalty are still valid however.

To Navistar I would say that each club has 100s to 1000s of members who are all possible customers for a model (named for a brand) within Monaco. We are at present an untapped market for Navistar. And I don't think they understand that most of us who are Beavers or Treks or whatever just don't want to buy a Monaco. It just not as simple as buying another brand, it's buying into another club, another lifestyle, another feeling. Navistar does not have this situation with professional truck drivers. While the truckers may be loyal to a brand, they aren't in clubs and mainly retired as we are. This is a business for an O/O (owner/operator) trucker not a lifestyle. RVers are very loyal to a good product and want to continue with them. Rabid might be a good word for this type of loyalty.

Just some thoughts.

PS. Still stuck in north Madison, Wisconsin. We are having our engine completely rebuilt (we are at 228,000 miles on engine). Roy M. you were right. Our number 4 cylinder had 2 piston rings broken on the piston. So while the engine is apart might as well do the complete in coach rebuild. Presently living in a Red Roof Inn room. Earliest estimate to finish rebuild next Wednesday afternoon. Hope to see everyone on the road soon.

Why does our mission statement say the following?



Beaver Ambassador Club Mission Statement
The Beaver Ambassador Club (BAC), a chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA), is an international motor home organization located throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico for owners of motor homes manufactured by the Beaver Motor Coaches division of Monaco RV, LLC.

Perhaps it should say ....Beaver Motor Coaches "presently" a division of Monaco RV, LLC. There aren't any BAC members with coaches built by Monaco RV, LLC. That company was formed after Monaco went bankrupt and was bought by Navistar. Only the two 2010 Contessas presently for sale at Beaver Coach Sales in Bend might be considered built by Monaco RV, LLC as they were on the line and not finished when Monaco stopped production. I understand they were finished and put up for sale in Canada by Monaco RV, LLC. They didn't sell and now are at Beaver Coach Sales.

I agree completely, I know it's a small detail, but it doesn't look like Monaco is going to do anything for us....