It's official, the Alfa Leisure website opens with a letter from the owner indicating they have closed up shop for good. http://alfaleisure.com/ It's too bad, I've always felt Alfa produced one of the best RVs for the money. Their RV designs provided a lot of high end features and amenities for medium to low prices. We've had our Alfa See-Ya 5th wheel for about 14 years, we watched it being built at the factory. There were the usual new rig problems, but were fixed to our satifaction with just a few visits to the factory repair facility. All along it has been and still is a great RV and we haven't found anything we like better as a replacement. I'm sorry to see any business go under.... after all it started as someone's dream. On one of the visits to the Alfa factory we had a chance to sit and talk with the founder, Johnnie Crean (his dad was John Crean, founder of Fleetwood). He talked about how he decided to break away from Fleetwood, start Alfa and build a better RV. Unfortunately, these economic times are tough for consumers and businesses. You have to wonder if a global economy is a good thing or are we beginning to see how bad it will be. I saw an ad recently for a travel trailer imported to the US from China.....want a little lead with your cheap RV.

Yes, it is official. We bought our DP May 19, 2007, with full confidence of a great product. Regardless of what is happening to Alfa Leisure, we still believe we have one of the best products available. We just hope their problems can somehow be resolved in a manner that continues to give us the superb service that we have had in the past.

How sad, I hate to say this but I believe this global economy will be very bad for America. Yes, we are just getting a taste now. Look at England, they are going through the same thing and have been since they joined the global economy. I say all this because I fear the RV lifestyle will change some due to the cost of everything going up. OK - enough bad news by the end of this year I will have my expenses down to the point where I can do more travelling in spite of the cost of fuel. Just not as much as I had hoped. I currently own a MH but, have been looking at some alfas because they have sooo - much room in them. I hate feeling cooped up. My current MH has no slides. Next one will have at least two. Hope to buy an alfa by January - 09.  I'm anticipating a much needed trip as I'll be going to the Rv-dreams rally in June and get to meet some of the Rv-dreams family!!!  

Bago, I agree that America is in transition, however, Americans have always found ways to turn hardships into opportunities. We have always been on the cutting edge of invention and I believe that we will continue to be. The news organizations are scaring the h--- out of the general public but the facts don't entirely bare out their "Chicken Little" predictions. For instance, the stock market is almost at its highest levels. The "global economy" is what lays many new opportunities at America's doorstep but it will take a little time sort them out and react to them, however, you can be well assured that our country will do just that. The biggest issue that us "older" citizens will face is how to live on a fixed income as prices continue to increase. We may have to take on more workamping assignments and/or part time J-O-Bs to make ends meet. I'm not sure how we are going to accomplish it but I know that we will as we have always risen to the task. The cost of fulltiming is 50% of what it was costing us to live in stix and brixs and allows many more options. We can go where the cost of living is lower or where there are more J-O-B opportunities. We can travel less by staying longer at each stop and our ERPU lot at Rainbow Plantation will help cut campground costs. In any event, we will continue to live fulltime and "see the USA in our Chevrolet" (or, in our case, our diesel gussling tow vehicle and fifthwheel). But, even still, it is sad to see RV manufacturers closing their doors (Nationsl, Alpine Coach, Travel Supreme, and now Alpha).

Tim, I picked up the news regarding Travel Supreme on the Escapees Forum. Travel Supreme was an excellent coach and I agree that they should have been on anyone's short list. Another one that I just saw in Grand Rapids this past week is Landmark by Heartland. It is an well built coach for fulltiming and is in the mid price range. Also, I heard about Americana which is built for fulltimers. The sell factory direct and put things on the coach such as disc brackes, inverters, etc. I have never seen one but look forward to "kicking the tires" as soon as an opportunity arises.

Jayco bought the defunct Travel Supreme facilities and all indications are Jayco will start a new high-line product using those facilities. The even retained the TS CEO, I guess they figure he learned his lesson.....

-- Edited by RVDude at 17:47, 2008-05-04

One interesting thing about America is that it is always changing. We as full timers are in the fore front of one of those changes. Some changes are good and some are bad. If companies don't change they stand a good chance of dying whether their product is a good one or not. It is truly unfortunate that the companies listed here have died. I wish it weren't happening but whether these changes are good or bad is yet to be seen. Some times it is good for poorly managed companies to pass on and make room for better ones. I don't know whether that is the case with these companies or not. I know I sure don't like to hear of their passing though!

JMO

-- Edited by ahoweth at 09:12, 2008-05-05

If you want to know what is going on in the industry go to www.rvindustrynews.com I review this daily and it is very informative on what the latest is nation wide. Sherri

The RV industry is down right now, like many other industries. 

Even NuWa who has been making HitchHiker 5th wheels for 40+ years is cutting back.  They have consolidated their HHII plant into the main plant that makes the Discover America and Champagne models.  The HHII will now been known as HH LS.  They are also dropping some models, but are actively researching new floor plans as well.  They are also taking a rather substantial price increase on 2009 models.  Hopefully they will survive as we would like to own one someday!

Regarding Americana, they are actually made by Forest River and then Americana adds some components and sells them direct without any dealers involved.  We looked at one and while it looked well built I was a little dubious about the weight carrying capacity.  They are heavy trailers, but don't seem to have enough CCC, especially for fulltimers.