by Jessey Sanchez | Jun 26, 2025
Bob Tiedge has been instrumental in the success of not only Lippert Components, but as a true visionary for the RV industry in the field of hydraulics, product design and innovation. Bob has been a leader in every sense of the word. Bob has always been focused on continuous improvement, servicing our customers and making the experience of RVing the very best it could be for the retail consumers. A brilliant mind capable of developing patentable products to a servant leader, willing to drive thousands of miles at a minute’s notice to keep RV families on the road, For over ten years, Bob had developed hydraulics for Fleetwood, when Lippert asked if he’d leave his former company and work on Lippert’s slide out. He moved immediately to Syracuse, Indiana, and started work on the slide out project for Lippert Components. He parked his motorhome at the plant and stayed day and night working on new prototypes that are now main stream on all hydraulic slide-out units in the industry today. Bob started hydraulic landing gear for RVs that were more powerful, robust and faster than its electric counterpart. Bob took the landing gear a step further and started LCl’s leveling program and was responsible for why leveling is on every single high profile fifth wheel that is built today. Leveling a towable frame was quite an accomplishment. Bob Tiedge is a very valuable teammate and invaluable asset to LCI and the RV industry. He’s helped make LCI what it is today. He has been a wonderful mentor and champion of our industry.
by Jessey Sanchez | Jun 26, 2025
BIO
Perhaps a more difficult task than starting a company is moving the torch away from the founding father and keeping it lit. This task was given to L. Douglas Lippert in 1977 when his father, Larry, handed him the reigns of Lippert Components. Doug’s focus was to always make the manufacturing housing industry great. He kept LCI going through two recessions and grew the company from 5 million in 1977 to 100 million in 1997.
There were many suppliers, many different companies and a lot of instability. Doug combined all of the Lippert companies into one and established strong relationships with the manufacturers bringing stability to an industry that was going down the wrong path. Once combined, LCI was able to provide frames and parts through some pretty tough times, including Hurricane Andrew which caused many of LCI’s facilities to provide FEMA frames for over a year.
Without Doug’s guidance through tough times, LeI wouldn’t have survived to become what it is today and creating thousands a jobs along the way.
by Jessey Sanchez | Jun 26, 2025
BIO
Beginning his company in 1955 with two employees, he built it into the largest component supplier in the industry. He provides everything from frames and chassis to roof materials for both homes and RVs. He introduced the welded “I” beam to manufactured housing frames. His products have included axles, countertops, mattresses, draperies and furniture. Now the patriarch of a third generation family led company, he is recognized for building a generous corporate citizen employing over 4500 workers in 12 states.
