Cortes Campers, new company?

[Glenn Baglo]

Attachment 139232

Originally Posted by Alex Adams

I will concede Northern Lite. But I am sure Barefoot will do what most companies do when entering a market in a new country. They will form an entity entirely separated financially and legally from the parent company. In other words, a new company. I stand by my statement.

Well, they are taking their time. This post here is from March 2016.

[Jon in AZ]

Originally Posted by Glenn Baglo

Well, they are taking their time. This post here is from March 2016.

The failure of Nest surely gave them pause regarding the viability of a small, upscale composite trailer in the North American market. A little trailer with a high price tag is a hard sell when the F-150 is the most popular vehicle on the continent!

[WaltP]

Originally Posted by Rzrbrn

Here are a couple more interesting fiberglass trailer new comers; https://nucamprv.com/barefoot/ and the https://northern-lite.com/boreal-27fb-travel-trailer/

Also an interesting Youtube presentation: JDkLHA0Id5g

Northern Lite is far from a newcomer. They've been around a long time. They have made FG trailers but lately have been known more for super quality FG truck campers. They were bought out by the same outfit that bought Escape a few years ago.




Walt

[ACZ06]

Arent Northernight campers crazy expensive?? Crazy heavy??

[Rzrbrn]

Not sure about Norhternight...Northern Lite truck camper is about 3300 lbs, which mean at least a 1 ton dually is needed. Expense is relative to the person buying it.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Rzrbrn

Not sure about Norhternight...Northern Lite truck camper is about 3300 lbs, which mean at least a 1 ton dually is needed. Expense is relative to the person buying it.

Northern Lite builds 4-season luxury truck campers and has a 27' trailer in the works.
https://northern-lite.com/10-2ex-le-dry/

[Lee Senn]

No rivets and a flat door , they are off to a good start . Lee and Norma

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Lee Senn

No rivets and a flat door , they are off to a good start . Lee and Norma

Who they?

[Lee Senn]

Sorry , I thought since Cortes was the subject of the thread I just skipped over the "they" . Lee and Norma

[Rzrbrn]

It will be interesting to see how they (Cortes) fabricate the floor without using plywood.

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Lee Senn

Sorry , I thought since Cortes was the subject of the thread I just skipped over the "they" . Lee and Norma

Several other trailers discussed between the OP and your post. Not everybody starts at the beginning either. It just helps.

[Kevin A]

It’s interesting to review the Cortes website. They certainly have ambitious plans.

The selection of their name is interesting, too. They chose to use the name Cortes to “honor” the domination of the Spanish empire over the indigenous peoples of Central and South America, just like they are going to dominate the RV industry. Kind of insensitive view of history, in my opinion.

[WaltP]

Yep, I fully agree. Yuck!

[CindyL]

Originally Posted by Jon in AZ

The failure of Nest surely gave them pause regarding the viability of a small, upscale composite trailer in the North American market. A little trailer with a high price tag is a hard sell when the F-150 is the most popular vehicle on the continent!

Personally, I have thought Airstream was not smart in their entry into the small camper market. They were marketing a small regular Airstream, the Basecamp, and the Nest at the same time.

CindyL

[CindyL]

Originally Posted by WaltP

Yep, I fully agree. Yuck!

I have Native American in my background, and I am offended.

CindyL

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by CindyL

I have Native American in my background, and I am offended.

CindyL

You will likely find this podcast interesting, and revealing.
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/ideas/how-t...rica-1.5762273

[ZachO]

Well at the least I'd call their approach "tone deaf" to the current issues going on in our society. They're definitely playing up the "Cortes the conquerer" story in their stated plan to take over the RV industry, like Cortes took over the Aztecs. All found in their "about us" tab, a confusing mix of history and metaphor...

"Cortés led an expedition that caused the fall of the RV Empire and brought large portions of what is now mainland Mexico under the rule of the King of Castile in the early 16th century. Escorted by only 500 men using vastly superior technology, Hernán Cortés defeated 100,000 Aztecs in one historical event. Cortés was part of the generation of Spanish colonizers who began the first phase of the Spanish colonization of the Americas."

I don't get offended at this sort of thing, or I'd be constantly offended, as our current culture of outrage seems to want to make me...but I definitely question the wisdom of them taking this track..

[ACZ06]

There is a picture on their website of the floor material. They're using aluminized fiberglass and not that chopper gun stuff. They then core it with plastic honeycomb.


There is also a funny video of them making fun of Oliver campers on the gallery section...


I guess the guy that started this company was sick and tired of all the crap out in the marketplace and decided to make his own, but it appears that they are publicly held, so maybe I'm wrong. Ticker is USLG

[ACZ06]

I think the Cortes name comes from them planning on doing to the the RV manufacturers the same as Cortes did when he landed in Mexico. I googled it and found a YouTube video of someone interviewing Physicist Michio Kaku and they asked him what would happen if aliens landed, he responded by saying it would be the same as when Cortes landed in Mexico. That's what I'm guessing they got the name from...

[Defenestrator]

Originally Posted by ACZ06

Does anyone know what aluminized fiberglass is???

Pretty much what it sounds like. Seems like it's usually used to add heat resistance. It also looks cool, which may be why they're using it.

Interesting that they're using biaxial layup instead of chopped. Potentially stronger/lighter, but requires a lot more care in both assembly and design or it can have weak points.

The number of models and types is.. ambitious. Enough that I'd question if they had the capital and capacity for it, but I suspect only the 14', 17', and maybe 20' are truly in-progress and the rest are potential future designs.

They seem to be affiliated with MIG Marine (small, hard to find much on, but has been around a few years) and Intellitronix (has been around quite a while, but acquired in 2017). US Lighting Group seems to be the parent company of all of them, but it's a bit hard for me to trace.