Fiberglass Camper Production Volumes

[Thomas G.]

I don't recall ever seeing any figures on production volumes for current manufacturers like Scamp, Casita, Escape. Any figures, conjectures or WAGs?

[Cathy P.]

Here is thread where I asked something similar: http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...red-49824.html

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Cathy P.

Here is thread where I asked something similar: http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...red-49824.html

Thanks, Cathy, you are a better searcher than I. The numbers quoted in that thread are amazingly low. If Scamp is at 750 and Casita at 700, Escape at 100, that is less than 2000 new units per year. No wonder UHaul decided to build their own 2200 units in 1985. They would have overwhelmed any current producer.

[David Tilston]

Trillium claims that there are about 13000 trailers made by the Markham Ont. factory. Since they were in production for about 11 years, that is over 1000/year. Boler made more. I guess they were more popular back in the 70's.

[Steve Hammel]

Weren't a lot of Bolers ordered by the military?

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Steve Hammel

Weren't a lot of Bolers ordered by the military?

Are you thinking Bowler hats? British military?

[Steve Hammel]

I read somewhere that the Canadian military had ordered a bunch of them. Here is a "sparse" history that states that they actually sold 10k units annually for a short time.

Boler Camping Trailers

[Cathy P.]

Actually, I'm a terrible "searcher" but remembered I had asked that question so went to my profile which I love because if I forget an answer to a question I asked before, I can just go there rather than let everyone know I can't remember.

Loved the article on the Boler!

I can tell you that I grew up in MI in the 50's/60's, traveled around the US and didn't see a fiberglass trailer until the mid-90s, a 13 foot Scamp pulled by a Pinto, yes, Pinto. She said they didn't have any trouble. So I was just wondering how many were being made. Suppose if I were in Canada, I would see them all the time.

[Steve Hammel]

Another slightly different history stating that the total of all Bolers sold was 10k.

History of the Boler Trailer | Suite101

[Thomas G.]

Originally Posted by Steve Hammel

.......... Here is a "sparse" history that states that they actually sold 10k units annually for a short time.

Boler Camping Trailers

I see the reference to 10,000 units a year, but I'm skeptical. One thousand sounds believable.

[Donna D.]

I signed up for the Escape Trailer Industries production schedule, just in case I win the lottery and can have my 5.0 built.. RIGHT NOW. The first available slot for a 5.0 is August 29. The first available slot... period... is July 9 and that's for a 15 footer. All of mid October is for the 21 footer. Escape is building 2 or 3 trailers a week depending on size. So... that makes it 104 to less than 150 trailers a year.

[Steve Hammel]

Originally Posted by Thomas G.

I see the reference to 10,000 units a year, but I'm skeptical. One thousand sounds believable.

The second posting has a Boler history link that says Boler had a "total" of 10,000 in their entire history. That seems a bit low but probably closer than 10 k a year.

History of the Boler Trailer | Suite101

[David Tilston]

Wow, 10000? Could that be the production at Boler American? Weren’t there several factories that made the Boler?
Just watching the ad's, I get the impression that there are like two Bolers to every Trillium. This is totally subjective though.

[Cathy P.]

Originally Posted by Donna D.

I signed up for the Escape Trailer Industries production schedule, just in case I win the lottery and can have my 5.0 built.. RIGHT NOW. The first available slot for a 5.0 is August 29. The first available slot... period... is July 9 and that's for a 15 footer. All of mid October is for the 21 footer. Escape is building 2 or 3 trailers a week depending on size. So... that makes it 104 to less than 150 trailers a year.

I didn't sign up for the production schedule but always wondered how it works so that is interesting. And, Donna D., I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

I have always wanted to visit that RV Museum in Elkhart, IN about 30 miles from where I grew up. I just love everything RV and find the history so interesting because it so speaks of how society has changed and what is valued.