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Almost anyone with knowledge of RVs has heard of Gulf Stream. Are you thinking of buying or renting a Gulf Stream Coach RV?
If so, you might want to know more about who owns Gulf Stream Coach and what RVs they offer.
In this article, we will explore the history of Gulf Stream Coach, who owns them, where the manufacturing operations are, and what RVs and models they sell.
Let’s take a closer look at the company that has been an industry standard for many years.
About Gulf Stream Coach
Gulf Stream Coach, Inc. is an American RV manufacturer in Nappanee, IN. In 1971, the company initially built manufactured homes under Fairmont Homes.
In 1983, Gulf Stream Coach began offering a wide range of RVs, including travel trailers, fifth-wheels, and motorhomes. They have become one of the leading RV manufacturers.
Over four decades, Gulf Stream has sold nearly 400,000 units. That’s primarily because it is a family-run business that prides itself on quality products.
With such attention to detail and customer and dealer requests, Gulf Stream is a multiple-award, multiple-year winner of the Quality Circle Award. The National RV Dealers Association bestows this award annually. It is like the “Academy Awards” of the industry.
Who Owns Gulf Stream Coach?
Gulf Stream Coach, Inc. is a family-owned business. It has been from the beginning, with its roots in Fairmont Homes.
Jim Shea Sr. started Fairmont Homes and headed that company until it morphed into Gulf Stream Coach, Inc. in 1983. That’s when they began building and selling RVs.
About the Shea Family
Jim Shea Sr. started by building manufactured homes under the Fairmont Homes name. He made and operated that company, and his three sons eventually joined him.
The Shea family applied its knowledge and experience of building manufactured homes to the RVs they began producing under the Gulf Stream Coach name. This allowed them to include things in their RV builds that other companies didn’t offer.
The Shea family continues to own Gulf Stream Coach. Family is an overarching idea at Gulf Stream, from the management team and the craftspeople that build the products to family-based RV dealerships across the United States and Canada.
People also know the Shea family for traveling to campgrounds, attending RV shows and rallies, and talking to RV owners and users to help shape the future of Gulf Stream’s products.
Where Are Gulf Stream Coach RVs Made?
Gulf Stream Coach still makes its RVs in the small Indiana city of Nappanee.
With more than 1,500 employees and numerous brands under its moniker, it should be no surprise that they have additional factories in the nearby Indiana cities of Goshen and Etna Green.
The Gulf Stream Coach Lineup
Having grown substantially, Gulf Stream Coach, Inc. has 22 brands and 140 models. They manufacture RVs ranging from motorhomes and travel trailers to fifth wheels and toy haulers.
Motorhomes
Gulf Stream manufactures two distinct brands of motorhomes: the BT Cruiser and the Conquest Class C.
The BT Cruiser is what Gulf Stream considers its “sports car” of motorhomes. With its low profile and relatively narrow width, the BT Cruiser can easily drive almost anywhere. It’s small enough for two but big enough for guests.
It also comes in six floorplans and lengths starting at 22 feet, 6 inches, and topping out at 28 feet, 9 inches, leaving plenty of options to suit your needs.
The Conquest Class C is still an easily drivable motorhome but focuses more on maximizing space than economizing size. While the BT Cruiser is more intimate, the Conquest is for folks who frequently travel with children or friends. It comes in lengths from 24 feet to 32 feet 11 inches. It offers ten standard floorplans and three limited edition floorplans.
Keep in Mind: Chances are, you already know your As, Bs, and Cs But have you heard of a Class E RV? Will It Ever Get to Market?
Conventional Trailers
Gulf Stream Coach’s reputation is mainly due to building some of the best travel trailers in the industry. It’s no wonder that conventional travel trailers account for a significant percentage of their products.
Their conventional trailers come in five models, but the number of floor plan options is mind-boggling. The Gold Edition sits at the top with one 33-foot 7-inch floorplan and one 34-foot 6-inch floorplan. The other four travel trailer models, Conquest, Innsbruck, Kingsport, and Trailmaster, are all 25 feet to 31 feet long and have 20 floorplans each.
Light Weight Travel Trailers
Continuing on the conventional travel trailer, Gulf Stream also carries many lightweight travel trailers. These trailers minimize weight and maximize fuel efficiency but come in all price ranges, sizes, and styles.
Gulf Stream carries 13 models in its lightweight travel trailer line-up. They range from 19 feet to 35 feet in length. Each comes in several floorplans, with the minimum being nine floorplans for the Envision and up to 21 floorplans for several models.
Destination Trailers
Looking to set up shop for the long term with the entire family? That’s what destination trailers were for, and Gulf Stream has several options.
These destination trailers span from 38 feet to 41 feet, 3 inches. The Conquest Lodge Series comes in five floorplans, while the Innsbruck, Kingsport, and Trailmaster have four floorplans each.
The lodge-style destination trailers all come with residential appliances, home-like floorplans, maximum interior space, and all the comforts of home.
Read More: Destination trailers are still homes on wheels like travel trailers and fifth wheels, but they don’t go from one location to another. So what’s the purpose of a destination trailer then?
Toy Haulers
If you like to travel with an off-highway vehicle or motorcycle or have a lot of excess cargo to lug around, a toy hauler is a way to go. Gulf Stream Coach carries two models with enough options to match almost anyone’s needs.
The GSX comes in lengths from 25 feet to 33 feet with three floorplans. The Track & Trail starts at 20 feet and notches up to 29 feet, 9 inches, with two floorplans.
Fifth Wheels
Fifth wheels are great easy-to-tow options when you want large amounts of living space. Gulf Stream doesn’t carry a broad line-up of fifth wheels, but what they offer covers various options.
The Gulf Stream fifth wheel brand is the Sedona. It comes in three floorplans ranging from 29 feet 1 inch upwards to 31 feet 6 inches. Their fifth-wheel designs are towable by a half-ton truck or larger.
Is Gulf Stream a Good Company?
Gulf Stream is a well-known, reliable name in the RV manufacturing industry. Their attention to detail, commitment to quality craftsmanship, and innovation in the industry have made them a respected brand.
With numerous awards under their belt and a loyal customer fan base, there is no doubt that Gulf Stream is a company on which RVers rely. If you value family and the personal touch that it embodies, you can’t deny that Gulf Stream is a good company.
Gulf Stream Coach Has Options for All Types of RVers
No matter what kind of RV you are looking for, Gulf Stream Coach probably has an option that will fit the bill. With so many brands and types of RVs to choose from, you are sure to find something that meets your needs.
If you want a quality RV that can last, Gulf Stream Coach is an excellent choice. So whether you are getting started in the RV world or are a seasoned veteran, Gulf Stream Coach is worth checking out. You might find your perfect RV match.
Which of the RVs on this list would work best for you?
I own a 2000 Gulf Stream ultra-supreme class-a motorhome. I find the quality of the build from that time to be excellent. I cannot speak of any quality now.
What people should know is that during the downturn in the economy GULFSTREAM stopped supporting their previous builds and hasn’t since. Leaving us out for parts or technical assistance.
May this ever happen again ?