I’ve been involved with Livin’ Lite since the beginning, so I’m pretty comfortable filling you in on our company’s highlights.
Scott Tuttle created Livin’ Lite in 2003. The original QuickSilver tow hauler was one of our mainstay product lines. We also built trailers to transport snowmobiles, para-planes, motorcycles, and racecars, along with mobile offices and toy haulers. Most of these were custom builds. In 2009, the first Livin’ Lite 10-foot travel trailer was produced under the CampLite name, and featured aluminum laminated interior walls.
2011 brought about LP appliances, including an electric water heater, furnace and the replacement of the hand pump with an actual water tank and pump. The optional porta-potty was replaced with a cassette toilet.
Azdel became available shortly after CampLite’s introduction, and replaced the cold look of the interior aluminum sidewalls. We had a huge Yahoo group following at that time (before Facebook), and the change from aluminum interior walls to Azdel was a big hit, allowing us to soften up the interior by offering wood-look cabinetry while staying away from wood products. We started offering two different colors of wood-look Azdel, and were able to maintain the same aluminum-framed cabinetry construction we use today.
In 2012, we redesigned the Camplite travel trailer front profile to be more aerodynamic.
In 2013, Livin’ Lite was acquired by Thor (
http://ir.thorindustries.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2013/Thor-Acquires-Innovative-RV-Maker-Livin-Lite/default.aspx). In 2014, the production facility was moved from its original location to a larger facility across town. The move allowed us to acquire a new lamination machine (being used today), capable of laminating all of our products in our own facility. Scott Tuttle remained president after the acquisition, until he retired in 2015 to pursue other interests.
In 2015, CrossRoads RV assumed the management of Livin Lite, and we relocated to the CrossRoads RV facility in Topeka, Indiana. In 2016, management was transferred to KZ RV, and Livin’ Lite was moved one final time to our home on the K-Z campus in Shipshewana, Indiana.
Today, Livin Lite RVs are built in a state-of-the-art aluminum manufacturing facility dedicated to producing the quality and workmanship Livin Lite owners expect. Keeping true to Livin’ Lite’s brand and DNA, K-Z brought back the all-aluminum interior door package, and is focused on the basics, such as customer support, product development and quality.
-Dan