RE: Bulldogs. They pretty much DID buy it for nothing - no one wanted it. There was nothing left of the dealer network - no exclusive products or technology, and what there was was impractical to use. They bought the brand names for the most part - and what's in a name?
Tiffin was in a growing mode when the recession hit - they held on for the ride - and survived.
Monaco was nearing death when the recession hit, and there was little there to save. What was there was smoke and mirrors that looked like a growing company.