Lloyd and Bertha Bontrager started Jayco Inc. when Lloyd crafted a prototype camping trailer on their Middlebury, Indiana, farm in 1968. The name is inspired by his middle name Jay and the near-universal desire to be as free as a bird. Today, the company also manufactures fifth wheels, toy haulers, and Type A, B and C motorhomes and is run by Chief Operating Officer Derald Bontrager, Lloyd and Bertha’s son.
A subsidiary of Thor Industries, Inc. since 2016, Jayco has manufactured more than one million units since its inception. The company’s Jay Flight model has been the best-selling travel trailer in North America since 2005. Jayco also boasts more than a quarter century of selling the Eagle, the industry’s longest-running trailer brand. Today, the manufacturer oversees four divisions: Jayco, Entegra, Highland Ridge RV and Starcraft.
