SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)
                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
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                              Exchange Act of 1934

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                            COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC
                (NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
                   (NAME OF PERSON(S) FILING PROXY STATEMENT,
                            IF OTHER THAN REGISTRANT)

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                              THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.
      419 West Pike Street o P.O. Box 629 o Jackson Center, Ohio 45334-0629
                     Phone: 937-596-6849 o Fax: 937-596-6539

                             P R E S S R E L E A S E

Date:                      April 20, 2000
Contact:                   Wade F. B. Thompson or Peter B. Orthwein

Thor Industries, Inc. (NYSE:THO) announced today that it has released the
following letter to the shareholders of Coachmen Industries, Inc. (NYSE:COA)

FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS OF COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.:

PLEASE USE COACHMEN'S PROXY CARD FOR ITS SHAREHOLDER MEETING TO SEND A MESSAGE
THAT COACHMEN SHOULD AGREE TO A MERGER WITH THOR

Coachmen  shareholders  need to send a strong message to the Coachmen Board that
Coachmen  should agree to a merger with Thor.  The proxy card you have  received
from  Coachmen and their annual  meeting,  currently  scheduled for May 4, 2000,
present a timely  opportunity  for  shareholders  to send such a message  to the
Coachmen  Board.  Yesterday,  we asked Coachmen to promptly enter into a binding
agreement with Thor and to postpone the annual meeting of shareholders  while we
negotiate a transaction. We also asked them to waive the defensive provisions of
Coachmen's by-laws.

WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO:

*     WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL NAMED DIRECTOR NOMINEES, and

*     vote AGAINST approval of Coachmen's 2000 Omnibus Stock Incentive Program.

On April 17,  2000,  Thor,  which owns 466,300 or 3% of  Coachmen's  outstanding
shares,  made a proposal to Coachmen to acquire all of the outstanding  Coachmen
common stock for $18 per share. The proposed  consideration consists of 60% cash
and 40% Thor stock based upon Thor's closing price of $24 7/16 on April 14, 2000
(resulting in an exchange  ratio of 0.7366 Thor shares for each  Coachmen  share
exchanged  entirely  for Thor  stock).  Our offer is not  subject  to  financing
contingencies. The $18 offering price represents a 41.9% premium over Coachmen's
closing stock price of $12 11/16 on April 14, 2000.

The offer not only gives Coachmen  shareholders a substantial  premium, but also
permits them to continue as shareholders in the combined  enterprise,  providing
further opportunities for long term value enhancement.

We reluctantly  made our proposal public because of Coachmen's  unwillingness to
enter into discussions with us about a mutually  beneficial  merger. On February
21, 2000, we privately proposed a merger with Coachmen at $17 per share, only to
be told that Coachmen was not interested in discussing our proposal.

ADVANTAGES OF A MERGER WITH THOR
_________________________________

The advantages of a merger of Coachmen and Thor are significant.  We believe the
transaction would be immediately  accretive to pro-forma  earnings per share and
create additional opportunities to increase shareholder value as a result of:

*  cost savings from increased purchasing leverage in the RV industry, and

*  synergies due to the fit in products and geography between the two companies.




           COMPARE THOR'S STRONG PERFORMANCE TO COACHMEN'S PERFORMANCE

Since our founding 20 years ago, Thor has achieved an excellent record:

*        We have never had a year in which we lost money.

*        We have substantial cash and no debt. Despite our strong cash position,
         we  achieved  a return  on  beginning  stockholders  equity of 22.3% in
         fiscal 1999 versus Coachmen's 14.4% in fiscal 1999.

*        While our  diluted  earnings  per share have grown from $1.12 in fiscal
         1996 to $2.52 in fiscal 1999 (a compound  annual growth rate of 31.0%),
         Coachmen's  diluted  earnings  per share  have  declined  from $1.84 in
         fiscal  1996 to $1.80 in  fiscal  1999.  These  earnings  results  were
         achieved while both  companies had similar  revenue growth rates during
         the same periods.

*        During 1999, a year in which RV industry  shipments  were up nearly 10%
         to the highest unit sales in 20 years following a 15% increase in 1998,
         Coachmen's RV income  before taxes for the year was down 22.1%.  In the
         second  half of 1999,  its RV  income  dropped  32.8%  versus  1998 and
         declined 62.1% in the last quarter  alone.  Coachmen was the only major
         public manufacturer to show an RV earnings decline in 1999.

*        In contrast,  Thor's latest six months'  results show RV sales up 18.3%
         and RV income up 37.0%.

*        We  believe   our  stock   should  be  very   attractive   to  Coachmen
         shareholders,  since the ratio of Coachmen to Thor closing stock prices
         has declined during the last two years. On February 4, 1998, this ratio
         was 1.26x--its highest level in the past two years.  However,  by April
         14,  2000,  the ratio  declined  to .52x.  Thor's  closing  stock price
         increased  8.0% from $22 5/8 on March 31, 1999 to $24 7/16 on April 14,
         2000.  In contrast,  Coachmen's  closing stock price dropped 38.1% from
         $20 1/2 on March 31, 1999 to $12 11/16 on April 14, 2000. Between March
         31, 1999 and April 14, 2000,  Coachmen  shareholders lost approximately
         $120 million in market value.

*        Coachmen possesses a number of un-utilized and  under-utilized  assets,
         including  real estate and, we understand,  a corporate  jet.  Coachmen
         recently acquired a new corporate headquarters.

*        Coachmen has spent $13.3 million over the past 3 years on an Enterprise
         Resource   Planning   system.    These   costs   incurred   represented
         approximately  10% of the company's net income before taxes during this
         time. Coachmen's 1999 Annual Report to Shareholders  discloses that the
         system has resulted in "major operational  disruptions...,  significant
         material shortages..., high rework costs and missed sales that resulted
         in dramatically  reduced  profits." Plus, its 1999 Annual Report states
         that  "higher  costs  associated   with...the  underlying  system  will
         continue to impact profits in 2000."


                WHAT HAS THE COACHMEN BOARD BEEN DOING ABOUT IT?
     POISON PILLS, GOLDEN PARACHUTES, EXECUTIVE-FRIENDLY STOCK OPTION PLANS


While the  Coachmen  Board has (i)  rebuffed  our attempts to discuss a mutually
beneficial transaction that will increase shareholder value and (ii) watched the
decline of its earnings and share price, it:

*  has extended a "poison pill" that further entrenches the existing executives.

*  has approved  Change in Control  Agreements  offering  rich rewards to family
   members and others - golden parachutes.

*  now seeks your approval to adopt a stock  incentive plan that will reward the
   same family members and others and dilute current stockholders' interests.





POISON  PILL.  In  October  1999,   the  Coachmen  Board  replaced  an  expiring
- - ------------
shareholder  rights plan with one which became effective in January of this year
(the "poison pill"). If triggered, the rights plan would cause any person deemed
an "acquiring person" to suffer substantial dilution. It is troubling to us that
an  under-performing  Board  has so much  discretion  over  who  can and  cannot
participate in the process to increase  shareholder  value. We believe the Board
should  redeem  the  poison  pill  immediately,  in the  best  interests  of all
shareholders.

CHANGE IN CONTROL  AGREEMENTS.  As described on page 9 in  Coachmen's  March 27,
- - -----------------------------
2000 Proxy  Statement  delivered  to you,  Coachmen  has entered into "Change in
Control  Agreements" with certain  executive  officers and other  employees.  If
there is a change in control of Coachmen and these  employees  leave for certain
specified  reasons,   these  individuals  can  receive  a  huge,  and  we  think
unjustified,  financial  payment.  Based upon  information  in Coachmen's  Proxy
Statement,  we believe  that many  millions  of dollars  could be paid out under
these golden parachutes - and that  approximately  $3.0 million could be paid to
members of the Corson family.


EXECUTIVE-FRIENDLY STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN. On top of these golden parachutes,  the
- - ---------------------------------------
Coachmen  Board is now asking you to authorize an additional  1.0 million shares
in its 2000  Omnibus  Stock  Incentive  Plan.  We  believe  that this is another
attempt by executive  officers to increase their personal  compensation  without
making  a  reciprocal  increase  in  their   accountability  for  the  financial
performance (or under-performance) of Coachmen.  Some of the individuals who are
eligible for benefits under this plan include the very same  executives who have
continually refused to negotiate with us.


       AGAIN, PLEASE USE COACHMEN'S PROXY CARD FOR ITS SHAREHOLDER MEETING
       TO SEND A MESSAGE THAT COACHMEN SHOULD AGREE TO A MERGER WITH THOR

Coachmen  shareholders need to send a strong message to Coachmen executives that
Coachmen  should  agree to a merger with Thor.  The upcoming  annual  meeting of
Coachmen, currently scheduled for May 4, 2000, presents a timely opportunity for
shareholders to send a strong message to the Coachmen Board.

WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO:
- - -----------------------

*    WITHHOLD AUTHORITY TO VOTE FOR ALL NAMED DIRECTOR NOMINEES, and

*    vote AGAINST approval of Coachmen's 2000 Omnibus Stock Incentive Program.

By voting on the proxy card  provided by Coachmen to WITHHOLD  ALL  NOMINEES for
directors and voting  AGAINST the approval of the 2000 Omnibus  Stock  Incentive
Program,  you can encourage the Coachmen  Board to do what is right and maximize
your investment value. THIS IS YOUR LAST CHANCE THIS YEAR TO SEND THAT MESSAGE.

If you have  already  voted in any other way and now wish to change  your  vote,
please call D.F. King & Co. at (212) 493-6920 for  instructions on how to easily
change  your vote.  Likewise,  if you have any  questions  on these  procedures,
please also call D.F. King.

         Thank you for your support.
                                             Sincerely,
                                             THOR INDUSTRIES, INC.



                                             Wade F.B. Thompson, Chairman


          IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR VOICE BE HEARD BY COACHMEN'S BOARD
          ____________________________________________________________




                                      * * *

         This press release includes  "forward looking  statements" that involve
uncertainties and risks.  There can be no assurance that actual results will not
differ from Thor's expectations.  Factors which could cause materially different
results include,  among others,  the success of new product  introductions,  the
pace of acquisitions  and cost structure  improvements,  competitive and general
economic  conditions,  and the other risks set forth in Thor's  filings with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission.   In  some  cases,  such  forward-looking
statements  may be identified by  terminology  such as "may,"  "will,"  "could,"
"should,"  "expects,"  "intends" or  "believes" or the negative of such terms or
other comparable terminology.

         This press  release  and  certain  other  communications  made by or on
behalf of Thor may constitute a solicitation. Thor intends to make a preliminary
filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission of proxy materials.  Thor has
not yet  filed  such  materials.  Shareholders  are  advised  to read the  proxy
statement and other  documents  related to any proxy  solicitation  by Thor when
they become  available  because they will contain  important  information.  When
completed,  a definitive  proxy  statement and related proxy  materials  will be
mailed to  shareholders  of Coachmen  and will be  available at no charge on the
Securities   and   Exchange   Commission's   website   at    http://www.sec.gov.

         Thor  and  certain  other  persons  named  below  may be  deemed  to be
"participants"  (as such term is defined in Schedule 14A  promulgated  under the
Securities   Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended   ("Schedule  14A"))  in  any
solicitation.  The  participants in this  solicitation may include the following
executive officers of Thor: Wade Thompson and Peter Orthwein.  As of the date of
this  communication,  Thor and Peter Orthwein may be deemed the beneficial owner
of 466,300 and 300 shares of common  stock of  Coachmen,  respectively,  and Mr.
Thompson  and Mr.  Orthwein  may be deemed  to  beneficially  own  approximately
4,535,930 and 639,100 shares of Thor common stock, respectively.

         In  addition  to  any  solicitations  that  may be  made  by any of the
above-referenced  persons, Thor has retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. ("D.F. King &
Co."),  BMO Nesbitt Burns Corp.  ("BMO Nesbitt Burns") and Barry Vogel to act as
advisors.

         D.F.  King & Co. is a proxy  solicitor  that may  provide  solicitation
services with respect to banks, brokers,  institutional investors and individual
shareholders for which it will receive customary compensation. Employees of D.F.
King & Co. may communicate in person, by telephone or otherwise with persons who
are shareholders of Coachmen.

         BMO Nesbitt Burns is an  investment  banking firm that provides a range
of financial  services for institutional and individual  clients.  In connection
with the  engagement of BMO Nesbitt Burns as a financial  advisor to Thor,  Thor
anticipates that with respect to any solicitation the following  employee of BMO
Nesbitt  Burns may  communicate  in person,  by telephone  or  otherwise  with a
limited number of institutions, brokers or other persons who are shareholders of
Coachmen  for the purpose of  assisting in such  proposed  solicitation:  Steven
Knoop.  BMO  Nesbitt  Burns does not  believe  that it or any of its  directors,
officers,  employees or affiliates is a "participant" as defined in Schedule 14A
or  that  Schedule  14A  requires  the  disclosure  of  participant  information
regarding BMO Nesbitt Burns.  BMO Nesbitt Burns will not receive any fee for, or
in connection with, such solicitation  activities,  apart from the fees to which
they are otherwise entitled under the terms of their engagement. Thor has agreed
to pay BMO Nesbitt Burns customary  compensation for acting as financial advisor
to Thor in this  transaction  and has agreed to provide  BMO  Nesbitt  Burns and
certain  persons  related to BMO Nesbitt  Burns with  customary  indemnification
against certain  liabilities,  including  certain  liabilities under the federal
securities  laws,  arising out of this  engagement.  An affiliate of BMO Nesbitt
Burns provides  commercial  lending  services to Thor. In the ordinary course of
its business, BMO Nesbitt Burns may trade securities of Coachmen or Thor for its
own account and the accounts of its customers, and accordingly,  may at any time
hold a long or short position in such securities. BMO Nesbitt Burns has informed
Thor that, as of the date hereof, it does not hold any shares of common stock of
Coachmen for its own account. BMO Nesbitt Burns and/or certain of its affiliates
may have voting and  dispositive  power with respect to certain shares of common
stock of Coachmen held in asset  management,  brokerage and other accounts.  BMO
Nesbitt Burns and each of its affiliates disclaim  beneficial  ownership of such
shares.

         In  addition  to  any  solicitations  that  may be  made  by any of the
above-referenced  persons,  Thor  has  retained  Mr.  Vogel  as an  advisor.  In
connection with his engagement,  Thor anticipates that Mr. Vogel may communicate
in person,  by  telephone or otherwise  with a limited  number of  institutions,
brokers or other  persons who are  shareholders  of Coachmen  for the purpose of
assisting in the proposed solicitation.  Mr. Vogel will not receive any fee for,
or in connection  with,  such  solicitation  activities,  apart from the fees to
which he is  otherwise  entitled  under  the terms of his  engagement.  Thor has
agreed to pay Mr. Vogel a fee as  compensation  for acting as an advisor to Thor
in this transaction.  Mr. Vogel and members of his immediate family beneficially
own 14,400 shares of common stock of Coachmen.