Brilliant Amish Craftsmanship
This week we’re in Shipshewana Indiana, for the annual Renegade Vienna/Villagio rally. This is a trip we started planning almost a year ago, immediately after the 2022 rally in Arkansas. Our four-night stay here in Shipshewana is packed full of educational sessions on aspects of our rig, social events with other Renegaders, and factory tours of Renegade’s suppliers. Shipshewana is the center of the Indiana Amish community, and we’re familiarizing ourselves with Amish and Mennonite culture and customs.
This morning’s agenda included a tour of “Double L Woodworking” in Goshen, IN. Double L is a Amish, family owned, cabinet maker, and sole provider of cabinets for Renegade RV. All cabinets and wood finishings in our rig were made by Double L. It was really cool to see how these cabinets, door & window frames, and trim, are made.
Our hosts on the tour were incredibly gracious and accommodating, giving us an up-close look into the manufacturing process. We were able to see their crew taking the raw materials (mainly Oak and Maple), and transforming them into the beautiful end product that adds to the luxury of our Vienna. We witnessed, first-hand, their attention to detail and pride in craftsmanship. These are family members working side by side, with the latest woodworking technologies and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machinery. In addition to the CNC technology, each piece gets individual, hands on, attention to ensure that it meets their, and Renegade’s, high standards.
As an Amish, family owned business, the staff includes teenagers as young as 15 performing duties that include hand sanding, and staining. When you’re a little older, you can run the CNC machines. What we witnessed was a well-oiled machine turning out a very upscale product. Probably most impressive is that the entire production plant is run off a diesel generator, since Amish customs do not allow them to use grid power.
Knowing very little about Amish culture, we came away thoroughly impressed with Double L Woodworking. They live their lifestyle to the fullest and provide a product of value to Renegade RV and its customers. We have a whole new appreciation for the cabinets and wood in our rig.
