Chassis Arrival At The Factory April 16, 2015, 07:45:30 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152280Hi folks. A little while back John (hope I have remembered his name correctly) from Oregon wrote that he had received a letter from Lazy Daze to inform him of his chassis arrival to the factory. That, to me, was significant news. He had placed his order at the beginning of September 2014. I do not believe he included his invoice number. The significance to me was huge. I placed my order on the 4th of September. I have been anxiously awaiting my daily mail delivery. Today, only minutes ago, I too received a letter from Lazy Daze informing me of my chassis arrival to the factory. I was thrilled to say the least. After months of waiting and wondering if they had forgotten about me (of course they'd never do that), I finally had verification that construction would soon begin. For those who also placed an order around the same time, my invoice number is 8865. It's for a 27' RB (I have read that the factory may build like models in groups) if that helps. What a fantastic day. Conception has begun. And now for the birth. My wife and I have already chosen a name. Yippee!Kent
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #1 – April 16, 2015, 07:53:23 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152282How many coaches does LD produce in a year?
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #2 – April 16, 2015, 08:21:49 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152285QuoteHow many coaches does LD produce in a year? I don't know how many, but there are some limiting factors: As I understand it, they need to limit production to stay under the EPA / CARB emission limits for the paint shop, otherwise they'd have to spend megabucks to upgrade it. They're also limited by the number of trucks they can get from Ford each year. Not to mention the desire to go home at a reasonable time each day instead of letting the business consume all their nights and weekends just keeping up with demand. If they decided for some reason to go all out and modernize the factory so they could push out as many coaches as the market will bear, I'm not sure customers would like the compromises in quality that would involve. Go on YouTube and watch the time-lapse videos from various RV factories (Winnebago, Foretravel, Tiffin are some I've watched recently) and see how they can put a coach together with relatively unskilled labor, and get it on the road in less than two weeks (and sometimes even one week). I got to see my own LD under construction, and observe the care and craftsmanship that went into the design and build process. The 13 month wait between order and delivery was agonizing, but I don't regret a minute of it now that it's mine.Fu
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #3 – April 16, 2015, 08:49:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152286Hi Dale,That's a good question. I've heard the number is somewhere around 200 units per year.While searching the forum "links" data for Lazy Daze owners choices for names, I found that the last name listed was for a unit constructed in mid 2013. The invoice number was somewhere around 8830.It makes one wonder how they "invoice" their units. Are like models (24', 27', 31') given invoice numbers from different invoice stacks? Unlikely, I think, but you never know.I had also read that production had been as high as 500 units per year. Others in the group may know better than I do. I only glean what I can as I read and learn. There's so much to learn. Kind of fun actually.Kent
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #4 – April 16, 2015, 09:06:37 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152287Hi Fu,I agree with you. I've seen a you tube video of a Thor Class A being built. I was taken aback when I saw the fibreglass wall being lowered into place and then screwed to the unit. Pretty sad actually.I also have pictures of the Lazy Daze frame work. Solid as a rock.In another picture I saw a Lazy Daze being T-Boned by a Simi. The truck didn't make it half way through the LD. Wouldn't surprise me if it was still drivable.The wait for the build is a bit rough, but like so many others I'll tuff it out for the craftsmanship. Plan to keep it for a very long time.Kent
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #5 – April 16, 2015, 09:18:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152288We dropped our LD off at the factory yesterday,(small accident that broke the rear window and bent the ladder), and I seen probably 6 or 8 new chassis's in the parking lot. They had 3- 27' models, 2 were finished, and 1 looked very very close to being finished. We're getting ready for about a 5 month trip in our LD towing our sailboat around the country, and had this little "incident". But they're taking care of our baby, and she'll be good as new next week. Interesting place, and like they said years ago, they didn't intend to make the most motorhomes, just the best. AMEN TO THAT!Don
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #6 – April 17, 2015, 01:43:29 am Yahoo Message Number: 152289"How many coaches does LD produce in a year?LD is limited to around 200 coaches a year. Their spray booth is very outdated and has been grandfathered in by the AQMD, with a set limit. A new booth is a huge investment, with SoCal's strict air quality regulations, and is beyond LD's ability to afford. With the financial downturn, it has been many years since LD hit the limit. Now, with an improving economy, and millions of baby boomers retiring and buying motorhomes, Ford is unable to produce enough cutaways to fill the demand. The bigger builders, such as Fleetwood, get preference. LD is a very small builder. Ford cut production back during the recession and doesn't seem able to increase the output quickly or at all. Considering the entire drivetrain is obsolete and only used in the E450s, this is a definite possibility.LD seems to be doing all right repairing the aging fleet of LDs. Appointments for major repairs require waiting several months. There may be more money in repairs, as opposed to selling coaches and may be Steve's exit strategy. Speculation on LD's future is a popular topic around campfires at Caravan Club GTGs.Larry
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #7 – April 17, 2015, 12:03:53 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152294I guess if one were to do the math, 58 years of production X 200 coaches per year = 11,600 coaches. It seems reasonable that in the early years they made less. In more prosperous and less regulated times they may have made more. So, the production number 8830 may represent the total coaches produced by LD over the last 58 years? Dale from Downey.
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #8 – April 17, 2015, 01:01:55 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152295When we picked up our 1975 LD in January 1976, our unit serial number was 1537, and our Caravan number was 815. Not sure what you can deduct from that. That was 39 years ago.Dick
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #9 – April 17, 2015, 01:10:19 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152296"January 1976, our unit serial number was 1537.." ---- Another "marker" on the LD timeline:Serial number 4363, delivered November 12, 2003.Joan
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #10 – April 17, 2015, 01:25:04 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1522978617 delivered March 1, 2008.
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #11 – April 17, 2015, 04:15:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1523008843. Ordered Jan 2014, delivered Feb 2015.
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #12 – April 17, 2015, 04:47:43 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152302
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory & # of LDs built Reply #13 – April 17, 2015, 04:56:22 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152303If you do the math using the serial #s from 1979, it comes out around 180 something per year - if the serial # is an accurate count.Chris
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory & # of LDs built Reply #14 – April 17, 2015, 05:02:39 pm Yahoo Message Number: 1523048641 - Ordered 4/5/2008 - picked up 7/31/2008 - 24' FD with V10Larry & Kathy Jones Monument, CO
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #15 – April 17, 2015, 05:28:02 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152305Empyrean is 4301 delivered July '03. Comparing this to Joan, that averages to 15 or so per month. Probably the reason they are so well built. We're in NW NJ and my local dealer/shop sells SOB's. When I first took her in for service in '12, I'm the 3rd owner, they were in awe of the quality and condition. LD's are scarce as hen's teeth around here.Bob Kruppa 2003 - MB NE - 70
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #16 – April 17, 2015, 06:29:08 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152306In a message dated 4/17/2015 2:28:06 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com writes: Quote QuoteEmpyrean is 4301 delivered July '03. Comparing this to Joan, that averages to 15 or so per month. Probably the reason they are so well built. We're in NW NJ and my local dealer/shop sells SOB's. When I first took her in for service in '12, I'm the 3rd owner, they were in awe of the quality and condition. LD's are scarce as hen's teeth around here. Hey Bob and All, My 2003 MB 26.5 production number is 4315. Don't know when it was delivered as I am the 2nd owner. This LD is still just like brand new, with only 19,000 miles on the clock. These LD's are very nicely built and last a long time. Escondido, California John
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #17 – April 17, 2015, 07:53:38 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152308Hi folks, So now I am curious as to the difference between "invoice" numbers and "production " numbers. Are units given a production number that differs from the original purchase/invoice number once the build begins?Kent
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #18 – April 17, 2015, 08:42:33 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152310QuoteSo now I am curious as to the difference between "invoice" numbers and "production " numbers. Are units given a production number that differs from the original purchase/invoice number once the build begins? I'm curious about that too. My invoice number is 8843, the "serial number" on the coach body just behind the driver's door is 5555.Lazy Daze numerology!
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #19 – April 17, 2015, 09:00:16 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152311When we ordered our LD in 2013 I asked Todd why they still used a paper invoice. He told me they had boxes of them and would use then till they ran out. My guess is it just an paper number for tacking. I did comment that a computerized system would be faster and more accurate. I'm guessing the total cost of an computer upgrade would force LD to bring the mothership decor out of the 50's into the 21th century. If the truth be told I do love the retro look.AH this is better then the cold war Kremlinology. glen google.com/+grhafford
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #20 – April 18, 2015, 11:15:48 am Yahoo Message Number: 152315"When we ordered our LD in 2013 I asked Todd why they still used a paper invoice. He told me they had boxes of them and would use then till they ran out. My guess is it just an paper number for tacking. I did comment that a computerized system would be faster and more accurate"When the Web collapses and all our devices are dead, Lazy Daze will continue onward, totally unaware. Somehow, that's mildly reassuring.Larry
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #21 – April 18, 2015, 07:43:28 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152324In the database section of this group is a file called Delivery Times. A few years ago lots of folks used to post data about their purchase order and delivery dates. Over time it proved a reasonably good way to estimate how long you would have to wait for your new LD. Unfortunately not many folks have posted to the file, so it's not as useful as it once was. Perhaps y'all that have contributed to this thread would consider adding your info to the database.WxToad Back home today after almost 6 months on the road, seeing a grand total of TWO LD's along the way.Posted by: hosni7 Date: Fri Apr 17, 2015 3:29 pm ((PDT))In a message dated 4/17/2015 2:28:06 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, lifewithalazydazerv@yahoogroups.com writes: Empyrean is 4301 delivered July '03. Comparing this to Joan, that averages to 15 or so per month. Probably the reason they are so well built. We're in NW NJ and my local dealer/shop sells SOB's. When I first took her in for service in '12, I'm the 3rd owner, they were in awe of the quality and condition. LD's are scarce as hen's teeth around here.Hey Bob and All, My 2003 MB 26.5 production number is 4315. Don't know when it was delivered as I am the 2nd owner. This LD is still just like brand new, with only 19,000 miles on the clock. These LD's are very nicely built and last a long time. Escondido, California John
Re: Chassis Arrival At The Factory Reply #22 – April 18, 2015, 09:43:11 pm Yahoo Message Number: 152325We are sales order 8856, ordered on July 2, 2014 for a 27 MB. The chassis arrived in mid Feb. of 2015 and the estimated completion date is late June, 2015.Ian & Jean, Seattle
Topic: Chassis Arrival At The Factory (Read 56 times)
previous topic - next topic
Topic: Chassis Arrival At The Factory (Read 56 times)
previous topic - next topic