Holiday Rambler
Holiday Rambler Corporation is an American corporation which primarily manufactures recreational vehicles. It was founded in 1953. In 1961, Holiday Rambler's introduction of aluminum body framing ushered in a new era of lighter, stronger and more durable recreational vehicles. This aluminum frame became the standard for lighter and stronger RVs for 40 years. Holiday Rambler was also responsible for many firsts; built-in refrigerators, holding tanks and aerodynamic radiused corners. As Holiday Rambler moved into motorhomes, they were the first with tag axles and the kitchen slide-out revolutionized "interior engineering" in the field. Holiday Rambler was sold to Harley-Davidson in 1986 and later in 1996 to the Monaco Coach Corporation where its future, then under Navistar International Corp., was difficult in 2010 as it was for most motorhome manufacturers.
In May 2013, Holiday Rambler was sold by Navistar International Corp. to Allied Specialty Vehicles.
History
Company founder Richard Klingler started building trailer parts in a chicken coop and assembling the trailers outdoors in the 1950s in Wakarusa, Indiana. The Elkhart and Wakarusa area of Indiana became the recreational vehicle capital of the US after World War II. The first Holiday Rambler recreational vehicle was a travel trailer introduced to the public in 1953 by the Klingler Corporation. A fully restored example is in the RV museum in Elkhart, Indiana. There is a watercolor painting of it by artist Paige Bridges.Holiday Rambler Corporation and its subsidiaries was acquired by the Harley-Davidson, Inc. in December 1986. Holiday Rambler's Recreational Vehicle division competed primarily in the mid to premium segment of the recreational vehicle market.
On March 4, 1996, the Monaco Coach Corporation of Oregon acquired from Harley-Davidson, Inc. certain assets of Holiday Rambler in exchange for $21.5 million in cash, 65,217 shares of Redeemable Preferred Stock, and the assumption of most of the liabilities of Holiday Rambler. Concurrently, the company acquired ten Holiday World Dealerships for $13.0 million, including a $12.0 million subordinated.
On June 23, 2009, Judge Kevin Carey agreed to the Monaco Coach Corporation's request to convert its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to a Chapter 7 case so it could liquidate its remaining assets. The order converting the case to Chapter 7 was effective June 30. Monaco Coach Corporation sold its factories, inventory, brands and intellectual property to Navistar International Corp. earlier in June for $47 million. Once the remaining assets were liquidated under Chapter 7, "the entity ceases to exist," and effectively spelled the end of Monaco Coach Corporation.
On August 16, 2024, the founder of Holiday Rambler, Richard Klinger, died at 97.
Models
Holiday Rambler manufactures motorhomes, which travel on their own power, and towables, which are designed to be pulled by a motor vehicle. All of these recreational vehicles have toilets and facilities for cooking and sleeping.Motorhomes can be quite large and expensive. The Navigator prices start at US$495,000 Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price. The Navigator is a Class A motorhome.
Class A Motorhomes
- Traveler
- Navigator
- Imperial Holliday rambler 5th wheel
- Scepter
- Endeavor
- Ambassador
- Neptune
- Vacationer
- Admiral
- Arista
- Aluma-Lite
- Trip
- Limited
- Invicta
- Armada
Class B Motorhomes
- Augusta B+
Class C Motorhomes
- Atlantis
- Aluma-Lite
- Presidential
- Traveler 24
Fifth Wheel
- Presidential Suite
- Presidential
- Imperial
- Alumascape Suite
- Aluma-Lite
- Alumascape
- Next Level
- Savoy LX FW
- Savoy LE FW
Bumper Pull Travel Trailer
- Savoy LX TT
- Savoy LE TT
- Mintaro
- Black Diamond
- Campmaster
- Aluma-Lite
- Alumascape
- Presidential
- Rambler
- Traveler
- Statesman
- Monitor
- Vacationer
- Ramblette