When people think motor
homes, they think Winnebago Industries. One reason is our rich
history of innovation & quality. Another is our focus on creating
motor homes that better meet the needs of today's RVers. It’s the
reason we developed concepts like SmartSpace design, a way to
rethink the features and floorplan of each motor home to make the
most of the available space. See for yourself why Winnebago
Industries is the #1 selling motor home manufacturer.
The company was founded
in February 1958 by businessman John K. Hanson in Forest City, which
is located in Winnebago County, Iowa. At the time, the town was
undergoing an economic downturn, and Hanson and a group of community
leaders convinced a California firm, Modernistic Industries, to open
a travel trailer factory, in a bid to revive the local economy.
Surviving a rough beginning, the entire operation was purchased by
five Midwesterners, with Hanson serving as president. In 1960 the
name of the company was changed to Winnebago Industries.
To improve quality, Winnebago Industries manufactured furniture and
other components designed specifically for its travel trailers. One
such innovation was the "Thermo-Panel," which was a strong,
lightweight sidewall that was a characteristic of Winnebago
products.
In 1966 the first motor home rolled off the Winnebago Industries
assembly lines. These motor homes were sold at a price approximately
half of what was being charged for competitors’ models, which led to
its ubiquity and popularity in the RV community. The brand name has
become synonymous with "motor home" and is commonly used as a
generic term for such vehicles, whether they were produced by the
company or not. This phenomenon, the genericized trademark has
occurred with well-known trademarks for other products, such as
Kleenex (facial tissue), Tylenol (acetaminophen pain reliever) and
Coke (cola or soft drinks in general).
Through the 70's and into the 80's model names were influenced by
the Native American tribe of the same name and included the Brave,
Chief Black Hawk, the Indian, the Chieftan, and the Warrior.
Older Winnebago RV's are often recognizable by the painted "w" (also
called the "flying W") on the side of the vehicle, with a stripe
that connects the front and back of the camper.
