<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000940397-03-000151
<TYPE>8-K
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>2
<PERIOD>20031003
<ITEMS>12
<ITEMS>7
<ITEMS>9
<FILING-DATE>20031010
<FILER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COACHMEN INDUSTRIES INC
<CIK>0000021212
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3716
<IRS-NUMBER>351101097
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>IN
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>8-K
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-07160
<FILM-NUMBER>03936104
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>2831 DEXTER DRIVE
<CITY>ELKHART
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46514
<PHONE>5742620123
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>PO BOX 3300
<STREET2>2831 DEXTER DRIVE
<CITY>ELKHART
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46515
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</FILER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>coach8koct10.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE FOR THIRD QUARTER IMPROVEMENT
<TEXT>

<PAGE>  1

                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


         DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): OCTOBER 10, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

   INDIANA                         1-7160                  35-1101097
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(State or other                 (Commission File          (IRS Employer
 jurisdiction                       Number)             Identification No.)
of incorporation)

2831 Dexter Drive
ELKHART, INDIANA                                                 46514
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)


       REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (574) 262-0123
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



                                 NOT APPLICABLE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)



<PAGE>  2


ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

         (c) The following exhibits are filed as a part of this Report:

         99.1 Press Release dated October 10, 2003  announcing an expectation of
improved financial results for the third quarter.

ITEM 9.  REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE.

         See Item 12 below which is incorporated in this Item 9 by reference.

ITEM 12. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

         On October 10, 2003,  the Company filed a press release  announcing the
expectation of improved  financial results for the third quarter ended September
30, 2003.  A copy of the press  release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Form
8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

                                        2

<PAGE>  3

                                    SIGNATURE


         Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                  COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.



                                  By:  /s/ ELLEN PADESKY
                                      Ellen Padesky, Assistant Secretary



Date: October 10, 2003

                                        3


<PAGE>  4


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


EXHIBIT                                                         SEQUENTIALLY
NUMBER                       DESCRIPTION                       NUMBERED PAGE
------                       -----------                       -------------
99.1                  Press Release dated October 10, 2003           5






                                        4


</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.1
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>coach8koctpr.txt
<DESCRIPTION>PRESS RELEASE
<TEXT>
<PAGE> 5

                                                                EXHIBIT 99.1


                            COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC.
           2831 Dexter Drive o P.O. Box 3300 o Elkhart, Indiana 46515
                       o 574/262-0123 o Fax 574/262-8823


                                  NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release Friday, October 10, 2003

COACHMEN  INDUSTRIES,   INC.  EXPECTS   SIGNIFICANTLY   IMPROVED  THIRD  QUARTER
PERFORMANCE

        o Anticipated third quarter profit exceeds market consensus estimate by
          32% to 40%
        o Company expects highest earnings level in 16 quarters: $0.33 to $0.35
          per share.
        o Sales increase expected to be 13% over last year.

ELKHART, IND. - Coachmen Industries, Inc. (NYSE: COA) today announced it expects
improved  financial  results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003. The
Company  expects  net income of between  $0.33 and $0.35 per share  compared  to
$0.18 per share in the second quarter, a loss of $0.18 in the first quarter, and
income of $0.27 per share in the third quarter of 2002.  Coachmen also expects a
13% increase in sales for the third quarter compared with the year-ago  quarter.
These anticipated third quarter results exceed the market consensus  estimate of
$0.25 per share,  and are consistent  with the Company's  forecast for full-year
results.  Earnings  of $0.33 to $0.35 per share  would be the  highest  level of
quarterly earnings in the last 16 quarters.

These results are preliminary and subject to final review.  Coachmen will report
full  third  quarter  financial  results  after  close of the  market on Monday,
October 27, 2003 and hold a conference  call to discuss  these  results at 10:00
a.m. Eastern time on Tuesday, October 28, 2003.

Coachmen  Industries,  Inc.,  founded in 1964,  is one of the  nation's  leading
manufacturers  of recreational  vehicles with  well-known  brand names including
COACHMEN(R),  GEORGIE BOY(R),  SHASTA(R) and VIKING(R).  Coachmen  Industries is
also one of the largest  systems-built home producers in the nation with its ALL
AMERICAN HOMES(R)  subsidiaries.  Modular commercial structures are manufactured
by  the  Company's  Miller  Building  Systems  subsidiary.  Prodesign,  LLC is a
subsidiary that produces  custom

                                     -MORE-

                    Dedicated to the Enrichment of Your Life



<PAGE>  6


Coachmen Industries, Inc. Expects Improved Third Quarter Results
Page 2
October 10, 2003
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
composite  and  thermoformed  plastic  parts for numerous  industries  under the
PRODESIGN(R) brand.  Coachmen  Industries,  Inc. is a publicly held company with
stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the COA ticker symbol.

THIS  RELEASE  CONTAINS  FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS  WITHIN THE  MEANING OF THE
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995. INVESTORS ARE CAUTIONED NOT TO
PLACE  UNDUE  RELIANCE  ON  FORWARD-LOOKING  STATEMENTS,  WHICH  ARE  INHERENTLY
UNCERTAIN. ACTUAL RESULTS MAY DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THAT PROJECTED OR SUGGESTED
DUE TO  CERTAIN  RISKS AND  UNCERTAINTIES  INCLUDING,  BUT NOT  LIMITED  TO, THE
POTENTIAL  FLUCTUATIONS IN THE COMPANY'S OPERATING RESULTS, THE CONDITION OF THE
TELECOMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRY WHICH PURCHASES MODULAR STRUCTURES, THE AVAILABILITY
AND THE PRICE OF  GASOLINE,  THE  COMPANY'S  DEPENDENCE  ON  CHASSIS  SUPPLIERS,
INTEREST  RATES,  THE  AVAILABILITY  AND  COST OF REAL  ESTATE  FOR  RESIDENTIAL
HOUSING,  THE  ABILITY OF THE  HOUSING  AND  BUILDING  SEGMENT TO PERFORM IN NEW
MARKET  SEGMENTS  WHERE  IT  HAS  LIMITED  EXPERIENCE,  COMPETITION,  GOVERNMENT
REGULATIONS,  LEGISLATION  GOVERNING THE  RELATIONSHIPS  OF THE COMPANY WITH ITS
RECREATIONAL  VEHICLE  DEALERS,  THE IMPACT OF CONSUMER  CONFIDENCE AND ECONOMIC
UNCERTAINTY ON HIGH-COST  DISCRETIONARY PRODUCT PURCHASES,  FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS
IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM AND RELATED  INTERNATIONAL  CRISES,  OIL  SUPPLIES,  AND
OTHER RISKS IDENTIFIED IN THE COMPANY'S SEC FILINGS.

For more information:
     Joseph P. Tomczak
     Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
     574-262-0123

                                     - END -

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
