Oregon Is Among Kings of the Road in RV Industry : Recreation: Camper and travel-trailer sales have soared as yuppies get back to nature--in style.

As the summer vacation season reaches its end and families squeeze one last adventure into the calendar, the effect of the RV industry is inescapable along the Oregon highways.

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Oregon is ranked as one of the largest producers of recreational vehicles, in large part because of the high interest in outdoor recreation in the Northwest.

Indiana is the capital of recreational production, but the Oregon outpost is the second-highest producer of fifth-wheel trailers and third in camper and travel-trailer production.

“It helps the process to have production plants where you see the usage,” said Bill Baker, a spokesman for Recreational Vehicle Industries of America, based in Reston, Va.

Nationally, production of RVs including campers, motor homes, fifth-wheels, vans, luxury coaches and travel trailers, has increased 50% in three years. Oregon has consistently accounted for 15% of the nation’s production, or 6,600 last year.

“The Northwest is a very recreational area,” said Patrick Lewis, who inspects RVs for Oregon’s Building Codes Division. “The industry has kind of evolved. It is going very strong.”

Technology and innovation have brought recreational vehicle owners nearly all the comforts of home. RVs are larger; often as big as 400 square feet, compared to the 1970s when 200 square feet was considered large. The designs and building materials have become more innovative, as have the expectations of consumers.

Skyline Corp. has responded to industry changes since it began producing recreational vehicles in McMinnville in 1969. The company, headquartered in Elkhart, Ind., is Oregon’s third largest RV producer.

“We do some things that are unique,” said Tom Martin, manager of the recreational vehicle division. “We have a reputation for building quality and comfort.”

Skyline employs about 120 people in its RV division in McMinnville, building 2,700 recreational vehicles each year. It also operates a manufactured home factory in McMinnville.

“We tell those guys that we have more fun than they do. They build homes. We build toys,” Martin said.

The RV end of Skyline’s business amounts to less than a quarter of its sales and includes five product lines. Skyline produces the Nomad, Aljo, Layton, Seaview and Boomer vehicles. They cost from $9,000 to $30,000.

Martin said he sees the popularity of recreational vehicles increasing with families and with older Americans who live in them full time, either for pleasure or the affordability.

“It’s like when the industry was in its heyday in the ‘70s,” Martin said. “Yuppies are starting to camp instead of work all the time. And they do like the smaller coaches, 23 feet and smaller.”

Microwaves, televisions, air conditioning and CD players are almost standard amenities. Skyline has seen “slide outs” soar in popularity since they were introduced about five years ago. Most consumers now want the living compartment that automatically slides out when a button is pushed, expanding the width of a trailer once it’s parked.

Oregon’s leading role in manufacturing luxury coaches has taken the state’s recreational vehicle business to a new level. Oregon’s coach-manufacturing industry has grown 400% in the past decade, reaching more than 1,000 employees with four of the largest companies clustered near Junction City.

One of the pioneers, Country Coach Inc., began 20 years ago in Junction City making campers. It now makes five luxury coach lines that start at $170,000 for an entry-level model, to a bus conversion that starts at $575,000.

Country Coach has tried to keep a broad price range to appeal to the broad base of consumers who want the luxury vehicles,” said Mary Phoenix, an advertising representative.

“Some people use them as a means to continue their businesses, but most of the time, it’s just people having a great time,” Phoenix said. “Most are older than 45. A lot of people pay cash.”

Country Coach introduced slide-outs to two of its coach lines this year, adding 36 or 40 feet of width to the living space.

Patricia and Bob Haindel of Keizer, Ore., refer to their Country Coach as the “love of their lives.” They bought their first even before he retired as a commercial fisherman. They are expecting delivery of their third later this month.

“We love them,” Pat Haindel said. “It spoils you. It’s a fabulous living, as least for us.”