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2003 Kit By Companion RV Trailer - $5,000 (Kelseyville)

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2003 Kit By Companion RV Trailer - trailers - by owner - vehicle...

Specifications ; RV Type: Travel Trailer Length: 20' x 7'11" Axles: 2 Weight: 3500 lbs videos inside/outside upon request.

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Kit Manufacturing Company – Long Beach California

Kit was founded in October 1945 in Long Beach, California. Its first product was a small “teardrop” trailer, so-called for its shape. It was to be sold as a kit, with its components assembled by buyers and attached to the rear of a motor vehicle. The manufacturing “plant” was a latticed-front fruit stand in Pico Rivera, and the original plan called for building 60 units. However, the kit proposal was soon dropped, and the company began manufacturing prefabricated but fully assembled trailers.

The company’s initial model, the Kit Kamper, made its debut in February 1946 at a trade show in Hollywood’s Gilmore Stadium. Because of a shortage of materials so soon after the end of World War II, the 12 show models had an unusual exterior combination of war-surplus aluminum and fiberglass fenders. Inside, the trailer included all the comforts of home, including an innerspring mattress and an all-aluminum kitchen with butane stove and icebox. The response exceeded all expectations, with nearly 500 orders booked. About 3,500 Kit Kampers were produced and delivered in 1946.

In January 1947 Kit moved to a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the harbor area of Long Beach. Shortly after, production began on a larger, 8-by-14-foot travel trailer. Demand for the two models exceeded production. Kit trailers were popularized through department stores and new and used car dealers and also received publicity as prizes in the annual Soap Box Derby and the “Queen for a Day” radio program. A number of units were flown into Buffalo and Detroit in the dead of winter.

By the end of 1947 production had jumped from the original two per week to 120, and sales had climbed from $1,000 to $50,000 weekly. A few years later Kit secured an order from the federal government, which needed trailers as temporary housing.

Pocapalia became president of Kit in 1956, and the company began producing mobile homes at a plant in Caldwell, Idaho, in 1958. A second Caldwell plant, for RVs, was opened in 1964. In fiscal 1968 (ending October 31, 1968), the last year before Kit became a public company, it earned net income of $688,000 on net sales of $22 million. Common stock was initially offered at $14.50 a share, but the majority of the outstanding shares remained in the hands of existing holders. Pocapalia, who assumed the position of chairman as well as president in 1971, retained about 30 percent of the stock. Arnold J. Romeyn, who joined the company in 1946 and was serving as secretary and treasurer, retained about 25 percent. The company’s long-term debt was $1.8 million in 1970.

Kit, at this time, was building mobile homes that retailed between $4,300 and $7,500, and manufactured housing from $8,150 and $12,000. Recreation vehicles offered were the truck-mounted Kit Kamper and Road Ranger models; the Kit Companion Vacation Trailer, top seller in the Pacific Northwest; and the recently introduced Sportsmaster travel trailer. Mobile homes and manufactured housing were accounting for about 70 percent of sales; recreational vehicles for the remainder. The company was selling its products through a network of 700 dealers in 30 states.

The early 1970s were a period of great expansion for the company. In fiscal 1972, when sales reached $47 million, Kit opened plants to manufacture Road Rangers in Chino, California, and in McPherson, Kansas; and a mobile-home facility in Duncanville, Texas. Kit was continuing to produce both mobile homes and RVs in Caldwell, and mobile homes in McPherson; Mount Vernon, Ohio; Forest Grove, Oregon; and Long Beach, Riverside, and Vacaville, California.

The 1973 Arab oil embargo and consequent economic recession struck a heavy blow to Kit’s business, with sales dropping from $54.2 million in fiscal 1973 to $32.5 million in fiscal 1974. The company lost $2.2 million in 1974 and $465,000 in 1975. Its stock, once trading as high as $25 a share, fell as low as $1 a share in 1974 and never topped $2.75 a share in 1975. The long-term debt widened to $3.2 million at the end of fiscal 1975. The company soon turned the corner, however, and earned $1.6 million in fiscal 1978 on record revenues of $61.9 million. Recreational vehicles now accounted for about 60 percent of sales.

Kit sold its Riverside and Duncanville plants in 1976. The following year it sold its idle Mount Vernon facility and opened a third McPherson plant. In 1979 the company was producing mobile homes in single, double, and triple width, ranging in length from 36 to 70 feet and in width from 14 to 40 feet, with floor area from less than 1,000 to more than 2,300 square feet. They retailed from under $15,000 to over $40,000. Travel trailers were designed to be towed behind passenger vehicles and campers to fit in pickup-truck beds. Fifth-wheel travel trailers, introduced in 1972 under the Mark V name, were intended to be towed behind and attached to special couplers in the beds of pickup trucks. Mini-motor homes, built on van truck chassis, were introduced in 1976. Kit products were being sold by 394 dealers in 25 states and three Canadian provinces.

The second energy crisis that followed the Iranian revolution of 1978 ended this brief period of prosperity. Net sales plummeted all the way to $28.8 million in fiscal 1980, during which the company, following a loss of $741,000 in fiscal 1979, incurred a deficit of $1.5 million. RV sales, badly hurt by gasoline shortages, fell to only 37 percent of the company total in 1980 from 60 percent in 1978. Mini-motor homes and Kit Kampers were discontinued, and the number of Kit dealers dropped to 208 in 22 states and two Canadian provinces. The company closed its RV plant in Chino and its mobile-home plant in Forest Grove. A Caldwell plant was converted from RVs to mobile homes, and in 1981 the company was operating facilities only in Caldwell and McPherson.

Kit returned to profitability in fiscal 1981. Recreational vehicles once again topped mobile homes in sales the following year. The company introduced a new line of lightweight travel trailers suitable for hauling by the current models of smaller, more fuel-efficient motor vehicles. Brand names for its RVs during this period included Royal Oaks, Oak Crest, Oak View, Fairview, Sea Crest, Golden Sunrise, Chateau, and Regal.

Kit’s sales, however, did not approach the record 1978 figure during the early 1980s. Profits were modest, and in fiscal 1983 the company actually lost $740,000. The culprit was the mobile-home business, which fell into deficit in fiscal 1982 and did not return to profitability until five years later. In January 1983 Kit announced that the manufactured-housing product line was being overhauled, aimed at accommodating demand for units that were lower priced and constructed more like site-built homes. During fiscal 1984 mobile homes accounted for only 27 percent of company sales.

In fiscal 1987 Kit topped its 1978 highs with sales of $68.1 million and net income of $1.8 million. Increased interest rates on conventional, site-built housing were said to have given manufactured houses a competitive advantage, resulting in an upturn of sales. The RV business was also doing well that year, with Royal Oaks, Oak Crest, Golden State, and Limited models selling for between $19,000 and $45,000.

After Kit reached a new sales record of $73.8 million in fiscal 1988, the mediocre economic climate of the following years took a toll on its business. Revenues declined each successive year through fiscal 1992, when they fell to $55.5 million. Although the company remained in the black, the RV sector lost money in 1991 and 1992, when a new management team was brought in. Its deficit widened in fiscal 1993, despite a sales gain of 11 percent to 3,335 units. The company as a whole lost $33,000 on sales of $59.1 million that year.

Kit’s McPherson manufactured-home plant was destroyed in a 1992 tornado. Production continued at Caldwell, where about 500 homes were produced in 1993, along with RVs. In 1993 the company began work on a second Caldwell facility–opened in 1994–behind the main building, in order to double its production of manufactured homes, most of which were being placed in the western states. In making the announcement, Kit spokesman Ed Tucker declared that “Public awareness and acceptance have increased year by year. … The majority of homes we sell go on private property available for 30-year land-home financing. The homes we build are an affordable value.” In 1994 they ranged in floor area from 1,100 to 2,500 square feet and were selling at $28,000 to $90,000.

Kit expanded its sales network for manufactured housing in 1995 to take in three more Western states: Wyoming, Colorado, and parts of northern Arizona. The company had been selling its homes in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Montana, with Utah and Idaho the biggest markets. About 1,400 manufactured homes were produced in 1994. Approximately 91 percent were double- and triple-wide homes, with the remaining nine percent single-wide models starting in size at about 700 square feet.

The company’s RV business turned around in 1994, when sales rose more than 50 percent, to 5,009 units, moving Kit into the top 10 in this field. Produced in Caldwell, the 35-foot-long Companion Cordova was its largest model, with living-room and bedroom walls that slid out by pressing a button. Produced in McPherson and selling for $21,000, the 33-foot-long Sportsmaster fifth-wheeler was a “toy hauler for the guys” with a 10-foot rear patio that could carry snow machines, golf carts, bicycles, motorcycles, Sea Doo watercraft, or all-terrain vehicles. A Kit executive said the market consisted of people age 45 to 65 who “sell their home and want to travel.” Selling for between $9,000 and $32,000, the company’s RV models had carpeted hardwood floors, kitchen skylights, solar panels, electric brakes, deluxe range/ovens, enlarged galleys, and power roof vents.

Kit opened a new RV manufacturing facility in Caldwell in 1995, about three miles from the plant producing manufactured homes and the Road Ranger and Companion RVs. This new plant, aimed at meeting demand in the Northwest and Canada, initially produced the 33-foot Sportsman fifth-wheeler but eventually was to manufacture all 21 models in the Sportsmaster line, ranging up from a 19-foot trailer selling for $8,000. About 2,800 Sportsmasters a year were being produced in McPherson at this time. Kit’s RV production reached 5,516 in 1995.

Kit’s sales rose by about 50 percent to $89.7 million in fiscal 1994, and its net income reached a record $1.9 million. Sales increased to $101.5 million in fiscal 1995, but net income was only $1.3 million due to new-production and plant expansions and consolidations, and the company lost $53,000 on manufactured housing. There was no long-term debt in January 1996. Pocapalia increased his stake in Kit from 30 to 46 percent in 1994, when Romeyn sold his 25-percent holding back to the company, which retired the shares.

Recreational vehicles accounted for 73 percent of Kit’s sales in 1995. They measured from 16 to 36 feet in length and provided sleeping accommodations for two to 10 people, with over 50 different floor plans offered. Components and accessories included name-brand appliances, radial tires, rubber roofs, and fiberglass insulation throughout. Interior features included an entertainment center with AM/FM cassette stereo, skylights in the bath and living areas, queen-size bed, microwave oven, and ducted air conditioning and heating system. Several models had slide-out features for interior expansion of the living room and master bedroom. Awnings were available and could be converted into an enclosed patio.

The company’s RV product lines included Sportsmaster, Road Ranger, Companion, and Patio Hauler. Retail prices ranged between $9,500 and $45,000. Some 239 independent dealers were distributing the company’s RVs throughout the United States, 32 in Canada, and five in Japan.

Kit’s Manufactured Housing Division was producing homes in 40 available floor plans ranging from 750 to over 2,500 square feet, towed by truck to locations where they were set up and connected to utilities. Retail prices, exclusive of land costs, ranged from $25,000 to $115,000. Distribution was through a network of approximately 50 dealers in nine western states.

Most models included walk-in closets, spacious open areas, and Roman tubs with special showers. The Sea Crest was the smallest. Sierra models were double- and triple-wide, with an array of styles and custom features. The spacious Kit Special home was offered in a popular double-section configuration. The Golden State line was described as outstanding value for individuals placing a premium on comfort and luxury. Designed specifically with subdivision application in mind, the Briercrest came ready to attach a site-built garage.

Kit, at the end of fiscal 1995, owned production facilities in McPherson and Caldwell, where it also owned a warehouse and leased a production facility. It also owned an idle plant in Chino, available for lease, and was leasing its executive and administrative offices in Long Beach.

Years built

• Camper – 11 ft
• Sportsmaster – 11 ft
• Model 10 – 13 ft
• Companion – 16 ft
• Royal Chataeu – 23 ft
• Kamper – 12 ft
• Chateau – 23 ft
• Jetstream – 19.5 ft
• Companion Stowaway – 16 ft
• Companion 1500 – 15 ft
• Companion 1700 – 17 ft

Ash paneling and cabinets (Golden State)

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Drew and alicia keller coeur d alene, id —[email protected]— 1949 kit ten, 1967 15′ companion,

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Used 2002 KIT Manufacturing KIT Companion 25

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Description, companion 25 floorplan.

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• Kit Companion 24

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Price does not include Tax, License or Doc FeeConsignment - - - Stock #80338Step-up Queen Bed W/Side CabinetsSmall Under Bed StorageRear Double BunksRear Large Bathroom W/Shower & Tub Combo, Sink & ToiletDining Booth Converts to Sleeping AreaLiving room W/Cross Mounted SofaCross Mounted Sofa Converts to Jack Knife Sleeper3 Burner Atwood Stove W/16” StoveDometic 7.0 CU FT. RefrigeratorDometic 1.5 CU FT. MicrowaveFalcon Stero W/AM/FM Cassette PlayerSurround Sound Speakers Mounted in CeilingT/V Antenna W/BoosterDometic Ducted A/C Unit Duo-Therm Ducted Heater6 Gal. Suburban Gas/Electric Water HeaterBlue Interior Color17' A&E Awning(2) 7.0 Gal. Propane TanksBattery IncludedRear Leveling JackStabilizer JacksPower JacksOverall Length—26'11” Fresh Water—45 Gal. Grey Tank—30 Gal. Black Tank—30 Gal. GVWR—6,618 Lbs. UVW—4,870 Lbs. Sleeps 6

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Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Make Roadtrek

Model E-Trek

Category Class B

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New Lance Truck Camper 855S. NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED!!

Katy, Texas

Make Lance Truck Camper

Length 8' 11" Interior Floor Length

This is a brand new 2016 fully self contained Lance Truck Camper 855S. This unit is loaded! See specs below. We offer consumer friendly financing and extended warranties. PLEASE NOTE*NO REASONABLE OFFER REFUSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We also have other models of Lance truck campers and Lance travel trailers in stock RON ANDERSON (281)-787-5774 product specialist Please call me with any questions. I have been trained on the Lance products and know the different mounting options for your truck. I am here to help. SpecificationsFloor Length8'11" Overall Length17'11" Exterior Width96" Exterior Height9'5" Interior Height81" Dry Weight w/Std. Equipment2844 Lbs. Wet Weight w/Std. Equipment3032 Lbs.Center of Gravity Front38" Center of Gravity Rear40"Fresh Tank30 gallons Grey Tank20 gallons Black Tank25 gallons Refrigerator5 cubic feet Propane2-5 gallon tank Furnace20,000 BTU's Sleeping Capacity5 Optional Equipment Bathroom Removable Clothes Rod Cabover Bed Maid Day/Night Shades in Cabover/Dinette Insulated Bed Pad Colors - Interior Interior - Mohave Dunes Construction/Insulation Insulated Battery & LP Compartments Dinette Bunk Bed W/Child Restraint Electrical 12V/USB Outlet in Dinette A/C - Coleman 11 High Eff. Wall Control Backup Camera W/Monitor Wireless Battery Separator Docking Lights Fantastic Roof Vent Generator Onan 2500 Watt Propane LED Side Patio Lights - Switched Satellite Dish - Crank Up Second Battery Compartment Solar Panel - 95 Watt TV LED 24 Inch 12 Volt Wardrobe Light-LED Exterior Awning Rear Door Awning Slideout Cover Exterior Propane Connection Keyless Entry w/Key Fob Pass-Through Window (Removable) Roof Rack System Swing-out Entry Assist Handle Fresh & Waste Water Systems W/H Bypass & Winterizing Valve Galley/Appliances & Equipment Microwave Oven Sink Cover Interior/Decor Carpet Kit - Removable Entry Door Pull Shade Insulated Hatch Covers Magazine & Spice Racks - Wood CSA Transport Canada Standard EquipmentBathroom Black Tank Flush Ducted Heat Medicine Cabinet W/Mirror Door Skylight - Dual Pane Sliding Bath Door w/Mirror Towel RodCabover 60x80 Queen Pillow-Top Innerspring Bed & Bedspread Carpeted Under Bed Ducted Heat in Cab-Over LED Cab-Over Reading Lights Privacy CurtainConstruction/Insulation Aluminum Framed Wall, Floor, Bed and Ceiling Block Foam Insulation Throughout Laminated, Insulated Floor, Cabover Bed & Roof One-Piece TPO RoofDinette Dinette W/Reversible Cushions Roll-Out Storage Drawers in Dinette (2)Electrical 12V/USB Outlet in Cab-Over AM/FM/DVD Stereo w/Int & Ext Speakers w/Bluetooth Exterior 110V Patio Outlet EZ Charge Battery Charging Port Generator Ready w/Auto Transfer Switch LED Interior Lighting LED Patio Light - Switched LED Systems Monitor Panel w/Battery Indicator Power Roof Vent in Bath Pre-Wired for Fantastic Vent Pre-Wired for Roof AC/Wall T-Stat/Solar Panel Pre-Wired for TV Ant/Sat Dish/Park Cable Single Battery w/Push/Pull Disconnect TV Antenna HD Wireless Remote Slide-Out ControlExterior Aluminum Rear Bumper w/Step & Trim Electric Remote Ball Screw Camper Jacks Exterior Wash Station Heki Skylight Vent in Cab-Over Lamalux 4000 Fiberglass (High Gloss) Lance-Lok Lite-Ply Wings and Siderails LED Tail, Running & Backup Lighting One-Piece Formed TPO Cab-Over Front Cap Phat Ladder and Maggie Rack - Anodized Radius Cornered Storage Compartment Doors Radius Entry Door W/Window Radius Tinted Dualpane Sliding Windows Skylight - Dual Pane Over GalleyFresh and Waste Water Systems Enclosed, Insulated and Heated Holding Tanks Water Heater Gas/Electric/DSI Water Pump W/In-Line FilterGalley/Appliances & Equipment 3-Burner High Output Range W/16 Inch Oven and Cover Double Sink w/Pullout Faucet Furnace 20K BTU Forced Air Molded Galley Top Propane Tanks w/Single Gauge (2 Each/5 Gal) Refrigerator (5 Cu Ft) 3-Way 12V/110V/Propane Silverware OrganizerInterior/Decor Fingertip Positive Catch Cabinet Hardware Hardwood Raised Panel O'Head Cabinet Doors W/Glazing Lite-Ply Cabinet Construction Mini Blinds in Cabover/Dinette/Galley Wall Clock & Key HangerBuild Your Lance 855s First Name: BATHROOM - Please Select As Desired Removable Clothes Rod CABOVER - Please Select As Desired Bed Maid Day/Night Shades in Cabover/Dinette Insulated Bed Pad COLORS - INTERIOR - Please Select One * Interior - Arrowhead Interior - Mohave Dunes Interior - Palm Springs DINETTE - Please Select As Desired Bunk Bed W/Child Restraint ELECTRICAL - Please Select As Desired 12V/USB Outlet in Dinette A/C - Coleman 11 High Eff. Wall Control A/C - Coleman 9 Low Pro Ceiling Control Backup Camera W/Monitor Wireless Battery Separator Docking Lights Fantastic Roof Vent Generator Onan 2500 Watt Propane LED Side Patio Lights - Switched Satellite Dish - Auto Locating Satellite Dish - Crank Up Second Battery Compartment Solar Panel - 95 Watt TV LED 24 Inch 12 Volt Wardrobe Light-LED EXTERIOR- Please Select As Desired Awning Rear Door Awning Slideout Cover Exterior Propane Connection Jack Swingout Brackets - Dually Keyless Entry w/Key Fob Pass-Through Window (Removable) Roof Rack System Swing-out Entry Assist Handle FRESH & WASTE WATER SYSTEMS - Please Select As Desired W/H Bypass & Winterizing Valve GALLEY/APPLIANCES & EQUIPMENT - Please Select As Desired Microwave Oven Sink Cover INTERIOR/DECOR - Please Select As Desired Carpet Kit - Removable Entry Door Pull Shade Insulated Hatch Covers Magazine & Spice Racks - Wood Decor Personalize your Lance by selecting from one of three tasteful interiors, assembled by an interior design team to create both stunning and functional Lance interiors. You'll find beautiful woods, wall treatments, and fabric combinations with dinette cushions that feature reversible cushions, providing two different looks with each decor.Arrowhead Mojave Dunes Palm Springs Construction Lance Design and Construction. The Legacy of Quality Begins Here. 3D advanced CAD engineering creates precise plans that run CNC machinery. The result is that every part is the same and perfect every time. Keeping it all together are stainless steel fasteners. Unlike our competitors, this expensive hardware resists corrosion making for a lasting investment. When considering the purchase of any RV, you want to look beneath the surface. Of course our aerodynamic nose cap is both resiliant and attractive, the glossy fiberglass beautiful, and the new designer interiors luxurious, yet practical and liveable. But it's the things you don't see like stainless fasteners that don't rust, Azdel eliminates wood from the walls along with rot and mold and construction of interiors with Lite-ply - the same wood used in corporate jets for a good look and light weight. Once you look past our rugged, good looks - feel free to look where others hope you won't - and you'll see why a Lance will be your travel companion for many journeys to come. Click on the round flashing "hot spots" on the cut-away image below to learn more about our key components and Discover The Lance Difference for yourself! The slick high gloss fiberglass exterior walls are laminated under intense pressure with heat-setting adhesives for years of trouble-free service. The roof is made of energy-star rated TPO with vents that clamp into place eliminating screws and potential leaks. Integrated rain gutters and drip spouts keep the sides of your coach cleaner and prevent streaking with a roof strong enough to store ample gear. Lance uses more expensive Azdel™ in place of Luan wood virtually eliminating mold and mildew. It's also lighter, formaldehyde free and has a better "R" value for superior insulation. With an aluminum framed superstructure, the entire camper fits together like a perfect puzzle. "LanceLock™" features interlocking aluminum extrusions to connect all exterior panels. All seals use an anti-wicking material to prevent moisture from transferring into the laminate walls. Rigid block foam insulation fits tight to resist sagging and promotes structural strength. Interiors are constructed of Lite-Ply™ which Lance imports from Europe. This superior product is lighter, formaldehyde free and stronger providing both beauty and durability. Beautiful and aerodynamic, the nose cap is made of TPO, the same material used for bumpers on automobiles. Its high gloss finish is resilient and resistant to the abuses of the road. And it's slick surface makes it easier to clean. (Select Models)

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Kit manufacturing co..

Kit Manufacturing Co. designs, manufactures, and sells manufactured housing (mobile homes)--relocatable, factory-built dwellings constructed on wheel undercarriages--and recreational vehicles (RVs) designed as short-period accommodations for vacationers and travelers. The company ranked eighth in sales in 1994 among leading U.S. manufacturers of recreational trailers. Kit celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1995, with cofounder Dan Pocapalia still at the helm.

Trailers Only, 1945-58

Kit was founded in October 1945 in Long Beach, California. Its first product was a small "teardrop" trailer, so-called for its shape. It was to be sold as a kit, with its components assembled by buyers and attached to the rear of a motor vehicle. The manufacturing "plant" was a latticed-front fruit stand in Pico Rivera, and the original plan called for building 60 units. However, the kit proposal was soon dropped, and the company began manufacturing prefabricated but fully assembled trailers.

The company's initial model, the Kit Kamper, made its debut in February 1946 at a trade show in Hollywood's Gilmore Stadium. Because of a shortage of materials so soon after the end of World War II, the 12 show models had an unusual exterior combination of war-surplus aluminum and fiberglass fenders. Inside, the trailer included all the comforts of home, including an innerspring mattress and an all-aluminum kitchen with butane stove and icebox. The response exceeded all expectations, with nearly 500 orders booked. About 3,500 Kit Kampers were produced and delivered in 1946.

In January 1947 Kit moved to a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in the harbor area of Long Beach. Shortly after, production began on a larger, 8-by-14-foot travel trailer. Demand for the two models exceeded production. Kit trailers were popularized through department stores and new and used car dealers and also received publicity as prizes in the annual Soap Box Derby and the "Queen for a Day" radio program. A number of units were flown into Buffalo and Detroit in the dead of winter.

By the end of 1947 production had jumped from the original two per week to 120, and sales had climbed from $1,000 to $50,000 weekly. A few years later Kit secured an order from the federal government, which needed trailers as temporary housing.

Expanding Operations, 1958-73

Pocapalia became president of Kit in 1956, and the company began producing mobile homes at a plant in Caldwell, Idaho, in 1958. A second Caldwell plant, for RVs, was opened in 1964. In fiscal 1968 (ending October 31, 1968), the last year before Kit became a public company, it earned net income of $688,000 on net sales of $22 million. Common stock was initially offered at $14.50 a share, but the majority of the outstanding shares remained in the hands of existing holders. Pocapalia, who assumed the position of chairman as well as president in 1971, retained about 30 percent of the stock. Arnold J. Romeyn, who joined the company in 1946 and was serving as secretary and treasurer, retained about 25 percent. The company's long-term debt was $1.8 million in 1970.

Kit, at this time, was building mobile homes that retailed between $4,300 and $7,500, and manufactured housing from $8,150 and $12,000. Recreation vehicles offered were the truck-mounted Kit Kamper and Road Ranger models; the Kit Companion Vacation Trailer, top seller in the Pacific Northwest; and the recently introduced Sportsmaster travel trailer. Mobile homes and manufactured housing were accounting for about 70 percent of sales; recreational vehicles for the remainder. The company was selling its products through a network of 700 dealers in 30 states.

The early 1970s were a period of great expansion for the company. In fiscal 1972, when sales reached $47 million, Kit opened plants to manufacture Road Rangers in Chino, California, and in McPherson, Kansas; and a mobile-home facility in Duncanville, Texas. Kit was continuing to produce both mobile homes and RVs in Caldwell, and mobile homes in McPherson; Mount Vernon, Ohio; Forest Grove, Oregon; and Long Beach, Riverside, and Vacaville, California.

Surviving the Energy Crisis, 1973-81

The 1973 Arab oil embargo and consequent economic recession struck a heavy blow to Kit's business, with sales dropping from $54.2 million in fiscal 1973 to $32.5 million in fiscal 1974. The company lost $2.2 million in 1974 and $465,000 in 1975. Its stock, once trading as high as $25 a share, fell as low as $1 a share in 1974 and never topped $2.75 a share in 1975. The long-term debt widened to $3.2 million at the end of fiscal 1975. The company soon turned the corner, however, and earned $1.6 million in fiscal 1978 on record revenues of $61.9 million. Recreational vehicles now accounted for about 60 percent of sales.

Kit sold its Riverside and Duncanville plants in 1976. The following year it sold its idle Mount Vernon facility and opened a third McPherson plant. In 1979 the company was producing mobile homes in single, double, and triple width, ranging in length from 36 to 70 feet and in width from 14 to 40 feet, with floor area from less than 1,000 to more than 2,300 square feet. They retailed from under $15,000 to over $40,000. Travel trailers were designed to be towed behind passenger vehicles and campers to fit in pickup-truck beds. Fifth-wheel travel trailers, introduced in 1972 under the Mark V name, were intended to be towed behind and attached to special couplers in the beds of pickup trucks. Mini-motor homes, built on van truck chassis, were introduced in 1976. Kit products were being sold by 394 dealers in 25 states and three Canadian provinces.

The second energy crisis that followed the Iranian revolution of 1978 ended this brief period of prosperity. Net sales plummeted all the way to $28.8 million in fiscal 1980, during which the company, following a loss of $741,000 in fiscal 1979, incurred a deficit of $1.5 million. RV sales, badly hurt by gasoline shortages, fell to only 37 percent of the company total in 1980 from 60 percent in 1978. Mini-motor homes and Kit Kampers were discontinued, and the number of Kit dealers dropped to 208 in 22 states and two Canadian provinces. The company closed its RV plant in Chino and its mobile-home plant in Forest Grove. A Caldwell plant was converted from RVs to mobile homes, and in 1981 the company was operating facilities only in Caldwell and McPherson.

Gradual Recovery, 1981-88

Kit returned to profitability in fiscal 1981. Recreational vehicles once again topped mobile homes in sales the following year. The company introduced a new line of lightweight travel trailers suitable for hauling by the current models of smaller, more fuel-efficient motor vehicles. Brand names for its RVs during this period included Royal Oaks, Oak Crest, Oak View, Fairview, Sea Crest, Golden Sunrise, Chateau, and Regal.

Kit's sales, however, did not approach the record 1978 figure during the early 1980s. Profits were modest, and in fiscal 1983 the company actually lost $740,000. The culprit was the mobile-home business, which fell into deficit in fiscal 1982 and did not return to profitability until five years later. In January 1983 Kit announced that the manufactured-housing product line was being overhauled, aimed at accommodating demand for units that were lower priced and constructed more like site-built homes. During fiscal 1984 mobile homes accounted for only 27 percent of company sales.

In fiscal 1987 Kit topped its 1978 highs with sales of $68.1 million and net income of $1.8 million. Increased interest rates on conventional, site-built housing were said to have given manufactured houses a competitive advantage, resulting in an upturn of sales. The RV business was also doing well that year, with Royal Oaks, Oak Crest, Golden State, and Limited models selling for between $19,000 and $45,000.

Slump, Then Resurgence, 1989-95

After Kit reached a new sales record of $73.8 million in fiscal 1988, the mediocre economic climate of the following years took a toll on its business. Revenues declined each successive year through fiscal 1992, when they fell to $55.5 million. Although the company remained in the black, the RV sector lost money in 1991 and 1992, when a new management team was brought in. Its deficit widened in fiscal 1993, despite a sales gain of 11 percent to 3,335 units. The company as a whole lost $33,000 on sales of $59.1 million that year.

Kit's McPherson manufactured-home plant was destroyed in a 1992 tornado. Production continued at Caldwell, where about 500 homes were produced in 1993, along with RVs. In 1993 the company began work on a second Caldwell facility--opened in 1994--behind the main building, in order to double its production of manufactured homes, most of which were being placed in the western states. In making the announcement, Kit spokesman Ed Tucker declared that "Public awareness and acceptance have increased year by year. ... The majority of homes we sell go on private property available for 30-year land-home financing. The homes we build are an affordable value." In 1994 they ranged in floor area from 1,100 to 2,500 square feet and were selling at $28,000 to $90,000.

Kit expanded its sales network for manufactured housing in 1995 to take in three more Western states: Wyoming, Colorado, and parts of northern Arizona. The company had been selling its homes in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, and Montana, with Utah and Idaho the biggest markets. About 1,400 manufactured homes were produced in 1994. Approximately 91 percent were double- and triple-wide homes, with the remaining nine percent single-wide models starting in size at about 700 square feet.

The company's RV business turned around in 1994, when sales rose more than 50 percent, to 5,009 units, moving Kit into the top 10 in this field. Produced in Caldwell, the 35-foot-long Companion Cordova was its largest model, with living-room and bedroom walls that slid out by pressing a button. Produced in McPherson and selling for $21,000, the 33-foot-long Sportsmaster fifth-wheeler was a "toy hauler for the guys" with a 10-foot rear patio that could carry snow machines, golf carts, bicycles, motorcycles, Sea Doo watercraft, or all-terrain vehicles. A Kit executive said the market consisted of people age 45 to 65 who "sell their home and want to travel." Selling for between $9,000 and $32,000, the company's RV models had carpeted hardwood floors, kitchen skylights, solar panels, electric brakes, deluxe range/ovens, enlarged galleys, and power roof vents.

Kit opened a new RV manufacturing facility in Caldwell in 1995, about three miles from the plant producing manufactured homes and the Road Ranger and Companion RVs. This new plant, aimed at meeting demand in the Northwest and Canada, initially produced the 33-foot Sportsman fifth-wheeler but eventually was to manufacture all 21 models in the Sportsmaster line, ranging up from a 19-foot trailer selling for $8,000. About 2,800 Sportsmasters a year were being produced in McPherson at this time. Kit's RV production reached 5,516 in 1995.

Kit's sales rose by about 50 percent to $89.7 million in fiscal 1994, and its net income reached a record $1.9 million. Sales increased to $101.5 million in fiscal 1995, but net income was only $1.3 million due to new-production and plant expansions and consolidations, and the company lost $53,000 on manufactured housing. There was no long-term debt in January 1996. Pocapalia increased his stake in Kit from 30 to 46 percent in 1994, when Romeyn sold his 25-percent holding back to the company, which retired the shares.

Kit's Operations in the Mid-1990s

Recreational vehicles accounted for 73 percent of Kit's sales in 1995. They measured from 16 to 36 feet in length and provided sleeping accommodations for two to 10 people, with over 50 different floor plans offered. Components and accessories included name-brand appliances, radial tires, rubber roofs, and fiberglass insulation throughout. Interior features included an entertainment center with AM/FM cassette stereo, skylights in the bath and living areas, queen-size bed, microwave oven, and ducted air conditioning and heating system. Several models had slide-out features for interior expansion of the living room and master bedroom. Awnings were available and could be converted into an enclosed patio.

The company's RV product lines included Sportsmaster, Road Ranger, Companion, and Patio Hauler. Retail prices ranged between $9,500 and $45,000. Some 239 independent dealers were distributing the company's RVs throughout the United States, 32 in Canada, and five in Japan.

Kit's Manufactured Housing Division was producing homes in 40 available floor plans ranging from 750 to over 2,500 square feet, towed by truck to locations where they were set up and connected to utilities. Retail prices, exclusive of land costs, ranged from $25,000 to $115,000. Distribution was through a network of approximately 50 dealers in nine western states.

Most models included walk-in closets, spacious open areas, and Roman tubs with special showers. The Sea Crest was the smallest. Sierra models were double- and triple-wide, with an array of styles and custom features. The spacious Kit Special home was offered in a popular double-section configuration. The Golden State line was described as outstanding value for individuals placing a premium on comfort and luxury. Designed specifically with subdivision application in mind, the Briercrest came ready to attach a site-built garage.

Kit, at the end of fiscal 1995, owned production facilities in McPherson and Caldwell, where it also owned a warehouse and leased a production facility. It also owned an idle plant in Chino, available for lease, and was leasing its executive and administrative offices in Long Beach.

Source: International Directory of Company Histories , Vol. 18. St. James Press, 1997.

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• RVing In Class

1988 kit companion travel trailer

• Thread starter Lovesron
• Start date Jul 7, 2021
• Jul 7, 2021

Does anyone have the owners manual or know we're to find one for a 1988 kit companion travel trailer.  

• Oct 7, 2022

I find that these trailers are very efficient when traveling. They are very comfortable to ride, but parts can break down, you have to be prepared in advance. I would advise you to buy a new trailer. I often fly to different countries, like Romania, for a very good price, read more . I bought myself some trailers and ride them in certain places, it's very cool, thanks!