Jayco Campers: A Story Of Success

Jayco Campers is one of United States' largest manufacturers of recreational vehicles. It is nestled in the Amish country of Middlebury, Indiana. It develops a comprehensive selection of camping trailers, travel trailers, fifth wheels, class C, motorhomes and sport utility automobiles. All of those are under the brand names of Jay Flight, Eagle, Designer, Jay Feather EXP, Jay Feather LGT, Talon ZX, Greyhawk, Granite Ridge, Seneca HD and Escapade.

The wide selection of recreational vehicles from Jayco Campers are marketed and serviced through a nationwide network of nearly 300 dealers in every state of America and even in the provinces of Canada.

Its goal in Jayco Campers is to be a company that operates according to the Golden Rules. It searches for fresh ideas and new ways to ensure customer satisfaction before and after sale. Its computer- aided design capabilities and state- of- the- art equipment have enabled Jayco Campers to achieve one product breakthrough after another, simplifying and enhancing RV- living.

Before the company reached the zenith of their success, it also had its own share of humble beginnings. Jayco Campers was founded in 1968 by the late Lloyd Bontrager, both a family- man and inventor who felt that he could build the world a better recreational vehicle. From then on, he was longing to put up a company that clearly reflected hi ideals.

With much pat at the back by his wife Bertha, Lloyd started Jayco Campers on their farm with two chicken houses and a barn. He developed his own prototype camping trailer and a unique lifter system for fold-down campers, the basic design of which is patented and still in use today. By the end of 1968, his fledgling company of 15 employees had sold 132 fold-down camping trailers. Today, Jayco's "family" of employees has grown to nearly 1,500 people, while more than 25,000 people join their "extended family" of customers each year.

Jayco Campers never tire in generating a novel line of recreational vehicles. As of 2006, there are three models of camping trailers under the names of Baja, Select and Jay Series. Two for travel trailers under Eagle and Jay Flight. Fifth Wheels won't allow to be left behind with three more under Jay Flight, Eagle and Designer. Class C motorhomes definitely have a lot with six additions under Escapade, Greyhawk, Granite Ridge, Seneca HD, Seneca ZX and Seneca HG. On the road sport utility trailers have three with Talon ZX travel trailer, Talon ZX fifth wheel and Octane ZX travel trailer brands. Expandable travel trailers only have one under Jay Feather EXP and two for lightweight travel trailers under Jay Feather LGT and Jay Feather Sport.

Due to Lloyd Bontrager's aim of a family- oriented company, Jayco Campers launched their Travel Club. It promotes family camping and the active use of the recreational vehicles with others who have similar interests in the RV lifestyle. Each year, it has several activities of sponsoring international caravan trips and rallies. Members get to receive for free "Hitch", the Travel Club's newsletter published four times per year.