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02-22-2013, 08:46 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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Prime Time factory tour - Crusader
Hello all,
I wanted to share our factory tour experience for those who can't do this easily.
We purchased our 325RES at the GR RV show in January and arranged for a tour last week to see it being built. Waukarusa, IN is only a 2 hour drive for us so I arranged for my DW and myself to visit.
The product manager was very accomodating and spent nearly two hours with us in the factory.
I'll do my best to do this in order, so bear with me. The factory was building Crusader and Sanibel models, so you may see several different models in process. We were pleased to see at least 6 325RES models on the line which had about 25 units in different stages of assembly, all under the same roof. The production line people were very kind and extremely hard working. We couldn't believe how fast they were all moving.
In all, they finish about 10 coaches per day and it takes about 2 days to get through the line.
There are a lot of pics, so I'll need to post multiple times. Only 4 pics per post allowed...
Here goes - Carpeted floor is first
then it's turned upside down for the axles, tanks and other undercarriage assy. The frame comes from Lippert complete with the slide room actuators and ground leveling system installed.
Hard flooring and the start of walls and cabinets
(yep, he's blurry because he's moving fast)
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:48 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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more walls and the universal docking station
slide room walls and exterior walls staged for assy
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:49 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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Wall installation
They use these huge side gantries to handle the big panels
Front assy before the nose installation
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:50 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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upstairs is where all the interior cabinets and roof assemblies are made
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:51 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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roof/ceiling assy - everything that goes inside - air conditioning ducts, wiring, etc.
from above - installing the roof assy
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:52 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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one piece rubber roof
up top stuff
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:55 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 08:56 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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Outside - graphics are applied - one person per side @ 45 minutes!
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 09:04 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 09:06 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Byron Center, MI
Posts: 430
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all lined up
Our coach!
That was everything the DW took. I was too busy asking questions.
I hope some found this interesting. There is so much to see, it's hard to get it all in in two hours.
__________________
2020 SOB - Jayco North Point 387RDFS
2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition - SOLD
TV: 2018 GMC Sierra Denali HD CC SRW L5P Duramax Curt Q20
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02-22-2013, 09:14 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Rutland, VT
Posts: 343
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Wow! Thank you so much for taking the time to post all this. I found it really interesting1
__________________
2016 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax LTZ Z71 Extended Cab, Long bed
2012 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7L Hemi (with K&N Air Intake) (traded)
2012 Rockwood 2109S (Sold)
2014 Cougar X-Lite 21RBS
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02-22-2013, 09:25 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Part Timing It Now
Posts: 3,454
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I love the pics. That was the first in such detail that I've seen. Hope to get there myself soon someday. Hopefully to see our Sanibel built. 
__________________
 "PT Crew Members Since 9/2010"
2011 RAM 2500 HD 6.7L CTD Crew
2014 Prime Time Sanibel 3250
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02-22-2013, 09:29 PM
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#13
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,175
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Thanks so much for posting. That's fantastic!
__________________
Dan n Dione
TV: 2012 Ram 3500 Laramie CC LB 4x4 DRW
RV: 2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition
Days Camped: 2012 (3) 2013 (22)
Next Trip: Mission Bay, CA 6/6 - 6/9
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02-22-2013, 10:22 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 3,570
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zs325RES
Hello all,
I wanted to share our factory tour experience for those who can't do this easily.
We purchased our 325RES at the GR RV show in January and arranged for a tour last week to see it being built. Waukarusa, IN is only a 2 hour drive for us so I arranged for my DW and myself to visit.
The product manager was very accomodating and spent nearly two hours with us in the factory.
I'll do my best to do this in order, so bear with me. The factory was building Crusader and Sanibel models, so you may see several different models in process. We were pleased to see at least 6 325RES models on the line which had about 25 units in different stages of assembly, all under the same roof. The production line people were very kind and extremely hard working. We couldn't believe how fast they were all moving.
In all, they finish about 10 coaches per day and it takes about 2 days to get through the line.
There are a lot of pics, so I'll need to post multiple times. Only 4 pics per post allowed...
Here goes - Carpeted floor is first
(yep, he's blurry because he's moving fast)
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Certainly one of the best posts I've seen! Nice Job!
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02-23-2013, 09:18 AM
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#15
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New to Forest River
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Kansas City, MO
Posts: 109
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Awesome info! Thank you.
__________________
Mike & Tracy Boyd
2013 LaCrosse 318BHS Touring Edition - Forest River - Prime Time
2006 Silverado 2500HD 4x4 Crewcab SB DMax/Allison
Graduated from 1999 Dodge Ram Extended 2wd 5.9L &
2005 Prowler Lynx Ultralite 29BHS
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02-23-2013, 10:04 AM
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#16
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Mount Pleasant, NC
Posts: 27
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Great post.
We, too, are awaiting delivery of a Crusader (330 MKS) and great to see how these are made. Thanks for taking the time to post the pics. Hope you enjoy your new coach!
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02-23-2013, 10:16 AM
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#17
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Phat Phrog Stunt Team
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 1,175
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tbonnett65
We, too, are awaiting delivery of a Crusader (330 MKS) and great to see how these are made. Thanks for taking the time to post the pics. Hope you enjoy your new coach! |
Congrats on your new 330 and welcome to the forum!
__________________
Dan n Dione
TV: 2012 Ram 3500 Laramie CC LB 4x4 DRW
RV: 2013 Crusader 325RES Touring Edition
Days Camped: 2012 (3) 2013 (22)
Next Trip: Mission Bay, CA 6/6 - 6/9
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02-23-2013, 10:32 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: CHATSWORTH, GA.
Posts: 1,121
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Factory tour
We are looking forward trip to Goshen in August and the factory tour and would love to see where out Crusader 270 RET was actually built..Did this several years back when my corvette was being built at Bowling Green..still have the photo's really can bond better if you see things actually built for you. Thanks for the photo's..
LKicklight
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02-23-2013, 10:43 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 515
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Thanks for the post !!!!
__________________
TV= 2012 F-150 FX4 Supercab
FW= 2011 270ret Crusader
Hitch= Reese Pro Series 16K Hitch
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02-23-2013, 11:59 AM
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#20
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William
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: South Louisiana
Posts: 560
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Awsome!
__________________
2012 Crusader 320RLT
2011 F250 Lariat 6.7L
2016 (19 Nights Camped/1348 Miles)
2015 (38 Nights Camped/3560 Miles)
2014 (28 Nights Camped/1980 Miles)
2013 (30 Nights Camped/1411 Miles)
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