Sad News regarding NuWa

[RustyJC]

The following statement was recently released by Michael Mitchell, CEO of NuWa:

Limited Time To Order A New HitchHiker



The number of "build" orders being taken by NuWa is not supporting efficiency of the production department. Rather than continue to fund and operate the production department at a loss, I have made the decision to "not" accept "to build" orders after September 15th, 2012. The intent is to complete orders “in house” by Christmas, as the Winter months of January, February and March do not provide enough production activity to justify retaining production staff. Whether this termination of production is temporary or permanent, I do not yet know, but our experience so far is that we cannot generate enough new unit sales to support efficient or breakeven production. This decision goes against management’s desire to retain jobs for our dedicated employees and our community, but shareholders cannot continue to fund the production inefficiencies.

The full statement is available HERE.



I really hate to see this as the Hitchhikers were fine 5th wheels and certainly would have been on our short list to shop if the time came for us to replace our Mobile Suites. It's a shame that small, high quality manufacturers (ref. Carriage, among others) can't seem to make a go of it in today's business environment.





Rusty

 

[HBarlow]

That is personally sad news to me because I have met and casually know many of the people who have worked for NuWa most if not all of their adult lives. The impact on the staff and employees of NuWa will be very bad as will the economic impact on the small town of Chanute and southeastern Kansas.

I can't say I'm real surprised though. The economy is terrible and getting worse. RVs are a luxury and sales of luxury items have been badly harmed by the current administration. Only the cheapo brands have survived and are still producing. It was clear to me when I was in Chanute last to visit the factory service department that sales were slow and I wondered how Mike was keeping it going.

NuWa never fully recovered from the economic downturn now depression. He shut down production for awhile back in late '08 or early '09, don't remember now, but resumed production, consolidated lines into the old original building, and made a valiant effort.

CEO Mike Mitchell is probably saddest of all. His grandfather built it and I believe Mike worked at NuWa as a kid. He either inherited it or bought it from family and has nurtured it to the best of his ability for many years. He grew up in Chanute and many of his friends and family members have earned their livings at NuWa.

He has probably spent a small fortune of his own money keeping it open since the downturn but has finally had to accept reality. Mike has made a fortune with NuWa and in other business endeavors and he knows what he is doing.

The only good news in the article is the statement that the factory service department will remain open. NuWa's service department is the best in the nation.

 

[RustyJC]

Only the cheapo brands have survived and are still producing.

Some of the high dollar brands are still around - DRV Suites, Excel and New Horizons are three that come to mind. I don't know what their respective financial conditions are as I believe each of them is still privately held.



Rusty

 

[jeepit]

Keep this and other events like this in mind when voting this November.

 

[SHobbs]

Hate to see this happen, NuWa was my choice for an upgrade next year. They offer alot more standard features for the price you pay. Hopefully, they will still be around and I can get what I want the way I want it, if not then Mobile Suites could be the next choice. I see way too many issues with Excel and rotting slide out floors and New Horizons is way out of my price range.

 

[HBarlow]

Some of the high dollar brands are still around - DRV Suites, Excel and New Horizons are three that come to mind. I don't know what their respective financial conditions are as I believe each of them is still privately held.

Rusty

New Horizons is a very unique, extremely expensive trailer that is in a tiny niche of the market by itself. It is not an ordinary consumer product. I think all units are custom ordered.

Excel is built in a small town in Kansas not far from Chanute and is a very small player in the market. Their production scale may be so small they can afford to continue in the current economic disaster, I don't know much about the brand.

Mobile Suites may be a high priced brand but having looked at them I would not rank them among the old high quality manufacturers such as Alfa, Travel Supreme, Newmar, etc.

 

[Newt]

Hate to see this happen, NuWa was my choice for an upgrade next year. They offer alot more standard features for the price you pay. Hopefully, they will still be around and I can get what I want the way I want it, if not then Mobile Suites could be the next choice. I see way too many issues with Excel and rotting slide out floors and New Horizons is way out of my price range.

I believe there are 40 or more trailers in stock at NuWa and dealers plus what will be built before Christmas and not sold. Judging on past history, there will be some left over next year.

http://www.kansasrvcenter.com/nuwa-inventory.aspx

Newt

 

[SHobbs]

Newt,

I saw that but unfortunately I can't do anything until next year. I was wanting to order what I wanted as far as deleting a few windows if possible and a couple of other things. Hopefully next year.

 

[Grizzly]

That is sad news. Hichhiker invented the 5th wheel concept and the slide out idea and I believe a few other features. They never built a travel trailer nor motorhome. They are truly a pioneer in the industry. Correct me if I'm wrong Harvey. I wish they could ride out the low economic downturn. They could cut down their quility and make their 5th wheel cheaper, but for them, I'm sure that's not an option.

george

 

[HBarlow]

Grizzly,

I think the claim to being the inventor of the fifthwheel rv is unclear and perhaps contested. NuWa, in their literature, simply claims to be one of the first to build them. Personally, I don't know. When fifthwheels first appeared I owned smaller and simple conventional travel trailers without frills and wasn't paying attention to them.

If the nation continues on the path we're on the entire rv industry as well as the pleasure boat industry will be gone. I think the rv industry is largely being kept afloat by shipments to Canada.

 

[EGroeneveld]

That is interesting, with discussions with friends in the RV/camper industry and camping almost every weekend and talking to fellow campers, we are still seeing people purchasing new campers and RVs. The thing is there is a split. On one hand people are picking up small single axle bubble campers, pop-ups, A frams, ligheweight small trailers, van conversions, Sprinter style RVs, and truck campers in increasing numbers. They are concerned about fuel costs in the comming years. On the other hand you have many people who money is no object , don't give a rats nest about fuel prices so they are sticking with the 500K diesel pushers. The big spendy specialized custom fifth wheels is not in either camp.



No matter the situation it is always said to see business shut down and people loose their way of living.

 

[Newt]

That is sad news. Hichhiker invented the 5th wheel concept and the slide out idea and I believe a few other features. They never built a travel trailer nor motorhome. They are truly a pioneer in the industry. Correct me if I'm wrong Harvey. I wish they could ride out the low economic downturn. They could cut down their quility and make their 5th wheel cheaper, but for them, I'm sure that's not an option.

george

George

At one time NuWa made Class C MH's, Travel Trailers and I believe Truck Campers. They have only made fifth wheels for some time now.

Newt

 

[Grizzly]

If NuWa ever built Motor Homes and TT, I've never heard of it. I'm attaching history of NuWa, who have been around since 1969 and are credited with only 1 of 4 manufacture who created the 5th Wheel concept.



http://www.nuwa.com/company/

 

[BIGNASTY]

That is interesting, with discussions with friends in the RV/camper industry and camping almost every weekend and talking to fellow campers, we are still seeing people purchasing new campers and RVs. The thing is there is a split. On one hand people are picking up small single axle bubble campers, pop-ups, A frams, ligheweight small trailers, van conversions, Sprinter style RVs, and truck campers in increasing numbers. They are concerned about fuel costs in the comming years. On the other hand you have many people who money is no object , don't give a rats nest about fuel prices so they are sticking with the 500K diesel pushers. The big spendy specialized custom fifth wheels is not in either camp.



No matter the situation it is always said to see business shut down and people loose their way of living.

I think this would depend on the type of camping you would do with the trailers. If you intend to stay in the RV parks then size is not a problem. But with most of the National Parks they are going to the smaller size 27ft spots . Yes they can accommodate larger than that size but say 27ft because most have problems getting something that small into a spot getting something larger into a spot is entertainment. Lot of the parks are going to Pull Thru's because people dont take the time to learn to back up a trailer. Example this was listed as a 25ft spot in Havenlin lake Co the trailer is 32ft ball to bumper looks like it fits to me campground host said you'll never make it back there and then you wont fit. Took a walk and drove in and parked it Great campground if your in the Durango Co area by the way.



BIG

 

[BIGNASTY]

Another at Black Canyon National Park the Camp host said NO WAY!!!! Had to get park ranger to tell Host let him try its his tow bill :-laf This was listed at a 21ft spot I had another 12 ft behind me and it was a little short in width but it opened up to a small secluded fire ring and picnic table just thru the hedges 10ft away behind the truck.

 

[moparguy]

Big, while I haven't camped in Black Canyon, I hunt the Uncompahgre and have driven thru that camp ground several times when I just had to see a big deer. Will be in the area in about 7 weeks and can hardly wait!

We elk camp at 9,400 feet in a customized hunting trailer. Was at one time a 4 horse slant load gooseneck horse trailer but my brother and I re-purposed it a few years ago.

 

[Newt]

If NuWa ever built Motor Homes and TT, I've never heard of it. I'm attaching history of NuWa, who have been around since 1969 and are credited with only 1 of 4 manufacture who created the 5th Wheel concept.

http://www.nuwa.com/company/

Well, there's a lot you've never heard of. :-laf

http://nuwaowners.org/forum/index.php/topic,10235.0.html

Newt

 

[Grizzly]

All I get is this:



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I pride myself in knowing more than most people about RV's.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Big, while I haven't camped in Black Canyon, I hunt the Uncompahgre and have driven thru that camp ground several times when I just had to see a big deer. Will be in the area in about 7 weeks and can hardly wait!



We elk camp at 9,400 feet in a customized hunting trailer. Was at one time a 4 horse slant load gooseneck horse trailer but my brother and I re-purposed it a few years ago.

Morarguy



That's a fact when we went to Black Canyon Nat Park seeing wildlife was NOT A PROBLEM!!! Im up in the AM to get coffee on and watch the sunrise (Fantastic in that neck of the woods) sitting there quietly I had no less than 5 deer and 1 was a good sized buck they didn't even fear me they did their thing around me and walked off so close I could have reached out and touched them. We went to another part of the park between Gunnison and Crested Butte that got us down on the river in the canyon if you get the chance we highly recommend it. But the area around there looked like a sure thing for Elk the beauty was just great well worth the drive to see the place. Good luck on your hunt we start in a little under a month first hunt were taking mostly friends so good times will be had im sure. The pictures are on the boat trip at Black Canyon Nat Park like I said if you miss this your missing something.

 

[Newt]

All I get is this:

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I pride myself in knowing more than most people about RV's.

This is a copy of a post by Mike Mitchel CEO/OWNER of NuWa Industries on the NuWa Owners Forum May 26, 2008.

OK, here is Chapter two of History. Before I went to College, NuWa was building "chassis mounts" which were the "original Class C minihome in the early sixties. The industry purchased a one ton flat bed truck, cut the back of the cab out of it and then built a "large truck camper" which was bolted to the truck frame. It had a crawl through that allowed the passenger to access the living area from the cab. Really very nice for it's day, and NuWa was one of the few Midwest manufacturers of this "west coast" design. While in Vietnam NuWa built 24 or 26 Winnebago style Class A motorhomes. Glad I wasn't there for this effort, as I don't believe we were overly proud of this product and decided to leave it to Winnebago. In the 70's NuWa built truck campers and travel trailers and in the late seventies we developed Class C mini motorhomes on Ford and GMC chassis. Built these for many years and the only reasons we got out was my desire to focus on 5th wheels entirely. I did not like to be at the mercy of Detroit for the supply of chassis, which you either couldn't get enough of or wish you did have so many of. When one "estimated" need six months out as required you could easily guess wrong, and you didn't cancel your order with Detroit. (Bet there are some folks today that wish they could reduce their order) Didn't help one sleep at night. But our mini motorhomes were well received and respected by those who owned them. As usual we created some unique designs, the most unusual being a rear "living room" concept that had a sofa and two chairs. We ceased production before the glide room was considered for motorized products. But I see our 80's minis quite often still in use. MIKE

Newt