The epicentre of RV manufacturing takes place in Elkhart, Indiana. So, most of the trailers you see on Canadian dealer lots started life in that state, but not all of them. The Canadian RV industry is smaller but somewhat more specialized. The following list is a roundup of companies building RVs in Canada.
Nomad Custom Trailers – Hamilton, Ontario
At Nomad Custom Trailers, old trailers are brought back to life. These folks realized that many types of RVs are built so well that it’s just the interiors and running gear that age. According to their website, they restore and convert Airstreams, Trilliums, Bolers and vintage campers! They say, “Whether you’re looking for a camper remodel or a full conversion into a food truck or mobile shop, we can help! We build new frames, install electrical and off-grid battery systems, paint trailers and build interiors.”
Roadtrek Inc. – Cambridge, Ontario
It all started with a man and a dream. Jac Hanemaayer first became interested in the RV business while designing his model with Home & Park Vehicles Limited in 1974. Combining the comforts of a larger motorhome into a compact and easy-to-drive van was such an enjoyable life experience for Hanemaayer that he decided to purchase the company. Being an innovator, the Roadtrek motorhome was born in 1980 when Hanemaayer redesigned the vehicle to have the now famous sweeping roofline, lowered floor and three-section floor plan. The Roadtrek brand was acquired by Groupe Rapido in 2019. This acquisition created Roadtrek Inc., still headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, focusing solely on building quality class B motorhomes for the North American market.
Pleasure-Way Industries Ltd. – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Another Class B manufacturer is Pleasure-Way Industries. They have been manufacturing Class B motorhomes out on the prairie since 1986. They say, “Since our beginning, we have remained a family-owned and operated business, placing relationships with our owners, dealers, and employees as a priority. All Pleasure-Way motorhomes are produced in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Here at Pleasure-Way, we do not mass-produce our motorhomes on assembly lines, as each motorhome is hand-crafted and custom-fit to exacting standards and quality inspections.”
Triple E & Leisure Travel Vans – Winkler, Manitoba
Triple E’s story is now 60 years long. Copied from their website, here is their backstory.
“Our story began in 1965 when P.W. Enns, who owned a plumbing and heating business in Winkler, Manitoba, took an interest in manufacturing travel trailers while visiting Elkhart, Indiana, on a volunteer trip. Arriving home with his newfound business venture, he enlisted the help of his two sons-in-law, Philipp R. Ens and Peter Elias. With enthusiasm and energy, Triple E was born. The three Es – Enns, Ens, and Elias became the components of our name, Triple E Recreational Vehicles. Together, they manufactured their first travel trailer, a 13-foot aerodynamic design called the “Compact.” In 1967, Triple E introduced the first Class A motorhome designed and manufactured in Canada. The Caravan was constructed on a salvaged Ford chassis with a six-cylinder engine and four-speed stick transmission. As the twentieth century drew to a close, Triple E continued introducing many successful models into the 2000s. These included the Class A Empress, Commander and Signature, the Class C Regency and Regency GT, and the Topaz line of fifth wheels and travel trailers that serve the towable market.”
Northern Lite – Kelowna, British Columbia
Northern Lite is well known in the world of truck campers. Today, they have over 35 years of experience building the lightest and highest quality true 4-season truck campers. Their story starts in 1989, when two entrepreneurs, Mac Donkin and Lloyd Gartrell, sold their successful businesses and decided to retire, they both purchased, with their wives, a Northern Lite Camper for a once-in-a-lifetime tour across Canada and the US and, after that, a tour to Alaska. After spending 7 months on the road travelling, these gentlemen were so impressed with the quality and workmanship of their Northern Lite Campers that they decided when they returned home, they would invest in this growing company. Northern Lite truck campers are built using a 2-piece fibreglass construction, eliminating unnecessary seams, even in extreme weather conditions. Every Northern Lite is built with comfort in mind. Their website states, “Our interiors feature durable hardwood cabinetry, plush seating area cushions, ample headroom throughout, top-end appliances, and a full-sized queen bed in the above cab sleeping area. When Mother Nature forces you to stay inside your Northern Lite camper, you won’t mind one bit! “Our two-piece fibreglass construction will keep you warm in the coldest Canadian winter and cool during an Arizona summer.”
Trillium Trailers – Rocky View County, Alberta
The founders of Outback Trailer Manufacturing each have more than 20 years of experience building and servicing trailers and RVs. Demand in the industry has moved them into manufacturing a trailer based on the popular Boler trailer of the 1970s, except with the latest technology. The new trailer is called the Outback. According to their website, “This is a family-run business, and we love to bring vacation dreams to life for other families!” The Trillium trailer, named after Ontario’s provincial flower, has an illustrious history and has long been a popular economical alternative to full-size recreational vehicles”. These trailers were first introduced in the early 1970s and were built by Trillium Recreational Vehicles Ltd. in Markham, Ontario. Many RVers were overjoyed to find a waterproof trailer that could be towed by a small or compact car, and legions of fans purchased the trailers in droves. The new Outback is a resurrection of that style and build philosophy.
Escape Trailers Ind. – Chilliwack, BC
Sometimes, you get into building RVs because people keep asking you to. Consider that in 1993, Reace and Tammy Harmatuik started purchasing older fibreglass trailers and repairing them. People kept stopping and asking if the trailers were for rent. So, Reace began an RV rental company in 2002 – Economy Travel Trailer Rentals – Reace says, “Our RV rental customers were asking for extra features in these fibreglass rental trailers, so we hired our first staff member and were officially in the fibreglass trailer industry, forming Escape Trailer Industries.” Initially, they could only build one trailer at a time and didn’t have a demonstration trailer to use for marketing purposes. Fortunately, they had that one special customer who let them use their trailer for marketing. To improve quality, they brought the fibreglass and welding shops on site so that we had more control of the product development. As business continued to increase, they started experimenting with methods to sell the Escape Trailer. As for selling, they say, “We quickly discovered that customer direct sales with our manufactured product was superior. A manufacturer with direct sales can afford to emphasize quality while maintaining a fair price for customers.”
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