Maintenance & Restoration

billyreiner · 07-13-2015, 02:15 PM

Recently i purchased a Sidekick from Sterling RV in Winfield Al. I was informed they closed shop about 3 weeks ago.
Web site and Facebook pages are also gone
For what its worth I do like my trailer.

Byron Kinnaman · 07-13-2015, 02:48 PM

Does what you bought look something like this? It appears they're now Great Western Vans. Home - Great West Vans

billyreiner · 07-13-2015, 03:24 PM

Well. They were Great West Vans in Canada. Then relocated to Alabama as Sterling RV this past year. I guess we got the last one in mid May before they closed shop in late June 2015. I had a few questions and left emails for a few weeks while traveling then called the local Mayors office .

Byron Kinnaman · 07-13-2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyreiner

Well. They were Great West Vans in Canada. Then relocated to Alabama as Sterling RV this past year. I guess we got the last one in mid May before they closed shop in late June 2015. I had a few questions and left emails for a few weeks while traveling then called the local Mayors office .

Thanks for your reply. I'm wondering if they had trouble with the name Sterling. Sterling is the name of a heavy duty (Class 8) trucks, formally Ford Trucks. Ford sold to the heavy trucking business to Sterling quite a few years ago, and it appears that Sterling is still in the truck business and owned by Freightliner/Daimler Trucks North America.
If that's the case we might see them back with a different name. I hope so.

I feel that you'll enjoy your trailer. There's lots of trailer on the road built my manufacturers that are no longer in business.

Happy camping.

Glenn Baglo · 07-13-2015, 08:02 PM

I doubt the name is the issue.
I own an Escape trailer, but I don't tow it with a Ford Escape.

rbryan · 07-13-2015, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

I doubt the name is the issue.
I own an Escape trailer, but I don't tow it with a Ford Escape.

True enough. And although I'm an Escapee, I joined the Escapees club as well. Sometimes I just want to Escape, and I have an Escape, and I have a Ford, but not an Escape.

Byron Kinnaman · 07-14-2015, 12:11 AM

Sterling trucks is brand name not a model. Escape trailers are a brand name, Ford Escape is a Ford vehicle model name. Different animals.

Sometime trade mark suits are made with considerable distance between the two. Usually the larger more powerful company wins even if they've registered their trade mark years after the small guy's trade mark was in use. Example Star Bucks and Starla's coffee shop.
As noted above I stated that is was possibility that Sterling RV got a letter of cease and desist from Sterling Truck's lawyers. Further indication of that possibility is that Great West Van's web site and Facebook site are still active while the Sterling sites are not. Also Sterling truck have been in business since Ford spun then off in the mid to late 90s.

That's not to say that's the only possibility but knowing how some companies get with their trade marks, it's a real possibility.

Glenn Baglo · 07-14-2015, 12:18 AM

OK.
You win.

Alf S. · 07-14-2015, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billyreiner

Recently i purchased a Sidekick from Sterling RV in Winfield Al. I was informed they closed shop about 3 weeks ago.
Web site and Facebook pages are also gone
For what its worth I do like my trailer.

Hi: billyreiner... Looks as if they didn't do to well in Al. Possibly Great West Van can answer your ?'s.
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

rgrugg · 07-14-2015, 05:29 AM

Some of the Sterling light duty trucks were Dodge/Ram.

mary and bob · 07-14-2015, 06:14 AM

Sterling trucks were originally built back in the 40's. EDIT: the early models were chain drive

billyreiner · 07-17-2015, 04:08 PM

we do love the camper. But its just the little items would be nice to discuss with the manufacturer.
the roof top solar panel was wired incorrectly so I'm dealing with that item first..

Ken C · 07-17-2015, 04:33 PM

Kinda odd, "The company has been in business for over 37 years"..." Still family owned and operated" so what manuf number is this for Toms trillium molds, i've lost count. Is there such thing as a mold curse?

Byron Kinnaman · 07-17-2015, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgrugg

Some of the Sterling light duty trucks were Dodge/Ram.

Is that kind of like the early Sprinters had either a Dodge emblem, Ram emblem, Freightliner emblem, or a Mercedes emblem on this. The valve covers were also marked the same way.

David Tilston · 07-17-2015, 05:06 PM

I wonder what will become of the molds?

Byron Kinnaman · 07-17-2015, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Tilston

I wonder what will become of the molds?

I'm wondering if there was more than one set of molds.

David Tilston · 07-17-2015, 05:16 PM

Well, there seem to be several 1300 molds, (Trillium / Outback have at least one set) but Tom manufactured the 4500, (1500) molds by taking apart an old 4500.