Editor’s Note: This is the third in a three-part series looking at manufacturers that are displaying RVs for the first time at Open House Week, set for Sept. 24 to Sept. 27 in Elkhart, Ind. This article concludes the series.
By April 2017, the Fort Worth, Texas-based Regency RV had 10 dealers. Today, the manufacturer of plush Class B’s boasts 23, and ships out about 12 units per month from its close-knit operation. Joining them most recently was Leo’s Vacation Center in Gambrills, Md.
But now Regency is making the trek to Open House for the first time to find a few more dealers.
Built on a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter chassis, the manufacturer – known as Regency Van Conversions in the 1990s – is particular to which dealers it adds to its roster. The dealers need to be assured the demands of the manufacturer’s high-end clientele are met, which is understandable considering its parent company is the Wayne Davis Auto Group.
“You’re going to find that everything is made by craftsmen. Everything is unique,” says Dymon Farrer, until recently Regency RV’s national sales manager. “The wood’s all stained. It’s not a reproduced piece of wood, so it’s not going to have the same grains and lines every time. Same goes for our leather. So, you’re going to have a discerning buyer that understands custom, handmade stuff is each going to have its unique personality to it.”
For Open House, Regency will be displaying its Ultra Brougham Class B-plus motorhome, which has a slide-out and a queen-sized Murphy bed. Also on view will be its 2019 Xalta Class B with its V6 common rail direct injection turbo diesel engine. The motorhome’s interiors are crafted and assembled in-house.
“We’re a vertically integrated company,” Farrer says, referencing how being in Texas means not having the same supplier proximity as a manufacturer based in Elkhart, Ind.
That means assembling certain things in-house, bringing in raw wood and cutting, assembling and staining it. Paints are done under one roof, as well as Corian slabs that are cut on site, edged and polished. Same with the company’s own upholstery shop.
“What’s nice is that we’re not dependent on a container bin coming in from China this week or month,” says Farrer. “We have everything right there – pretty much a one-stop shop on our premises. It makes us a little different.”
Regency RV will be located at the Small Manufacturers display across from the RV Hall of Fame. It will have drinks and snacks available for visiting dealers.
