But why would a company change their product if they have no competition? Why is it that they have no competition?
The other product examples you give have other factors forcing their evolution. Cars and trucks are heavily mandated by the government for safety and emissions. All of those products have much more consumer marketplace competition. You are correct, they have to evolve to compete. I guess no ones come out with a better camper yet? Maybe it is perfect!
Is FWC still using the same sink, stove, furnace, windows, doors, insulation, and interior fabrics from the 70s? I didn't think so. They have been evolving. I'm sure they've even made many improvements in the frames over the years as they hear about problems. Their down right progressive if you actually think about! I mean you have 3 different interior layouts you can choose from, as well as a production flatbed model. Does Lance, Capri, Hallmark or Palomino offer that? Nope.
If they were to go to a composite shell structure that's not a small change, its a huge leap to do it right. It would have to be engineered correctly which costs time and money, the engineering and design would have to be vetted and tested, even more time and money, workers would have to be retrained, etc....... In the end they'd be staking a 46yr reputation on it working out well. Once again all to fix an issue that not everyone seems to experience and because you don't like they way they look. This makes no sense.
Your are correct that products should improve over time, but why would they change what works well and is apparently what the people want. No business just changes products to change them.
Kevin
You know I don't really have an issue with FWC. I'm actually glad they exist. I think they have filled a very valuable role in the off roading community. They've earned the respect they receive from their customers.
To answer your question as to why improve or change a product for the sake of change? I guess is more of a design philosophy I follow than rather than one that FWC needs to follow.
You innovate and improve because you can. Engineering is all about improvement, utilizing new and emerging technologies where applicable to make a product better. FWC has enjoyed a nice niche for a long time. With new businesses popping up offering new alternatives, inevitably FWC's market share will shrink.
If someone considering FWC's camper instead buys XYZ campers design, offering new materials, along with reliability - there is immediate lost market share. With on-line forums and a growing over-landing community of people networking about their experiences, this can snowball very quickly and FWC can find itself on the outside looking in. Use Sears as an example, if you don't adapt you become an afterthought.
I wouldn't want to see that happen to FWC. With their name and their existing market share, infrastructure, etc. they could out maneuver potential competitors.
Resting on your laurels catches up to everyone sooner or later. If you're not working to build a better mouse trap, you can bet someone else is. Honestly where would we be if other industries worked from the position of "this is good enough" was the prevailing philosophy? Advances in automobiles and automotive safety, medicine, construction materials, electronics, camping gear, just to name a few are all areas in which we all benefit.
Think about it - cars had no seatbelts, then lap belts, then 3 point seatbelts, then steering wheel airbags, then full frontal airbags, then side curtain air bags, and now a car will actually stop for you if you're not paying attention! That's innovation. It benefits everyone.
This is my personal philosophy and also the philosophy of most successful companies. I don't see why it would any different for FWC.
That said, there's something for everyone out there. 5 years ago I would've be an FWC customer, but not anymore. I see many alternatives that didn't exist 5 years ago that are maturing and share a philosophy similar to mine.