Coachmen Recreational Vehicles history

Also based in Elkhart, the company was founded by Otto Miller, who in 1967 had cofounded Cliff Industries, which grew into one of the country's largest modular home manufacturers.

In fact, when Coachmen Industries, Inc. acquired Viking in 1968 it was not known as Viking RV. Rather, the company's name was Viking Boat Company.

In July 1969 it completed a pair of acquisitions: Space Age Camper and Enterprises Inc.

During 1970 the production line was expanded to include fold-down camping trailers.

As a result, in 1974 the fold-down camper manufacturing facility was moved from Middlebury, Indiana to its present location in Centreville, Michigan occupying Wheel Camper’s old facilities.

In 1976 the Viking Recreational Vehicle division was technically established; its purpose was to manufacture lightweight, durable fold-down camping trailers and truck campers.

Both failed, and in 1978 Coachmen closed its only manufactured housing plant after a decade of trying because Tom Corson believed that the operation was too small to compete effectively.

After Steury Boat Company's operations were shut down in 1979 the Viking Boat Company's operations were moved to Goshen, Indiana occupying Steury's manufacturing facilities.

In November 1980 Coachmen acquired C/P Products Corp. to build a major RV parts-and-accessories business, including thousands of items, such as sun roofs and tire carriers.

Viking added a new line of truck campers in 1981, and Coachmen opened a new plant in Angel, Oregon.

Viking Boat Company was retained as a separate division until it was sold to Murray Chris-Craft in 1982.

In 1996 All American contributed $98.7 million in sales, or 16 percent of the company's $606.4 million total revenues, and a sizable portion of Coachmen's more than $29.6 million in net income.

1997 Cofounder Tom Corson is succeeded as chairman and CEO by daughter Claire Skinner.

In December of 2008, Coachmen RV became a proud brand of Forest River, Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company.