Exhibit 99.1

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Date:    October 7,  2003
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Contact: Leigh J. Abrams, President and CEO            INDUSTRIES INCORPORATED
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Phone:   (914) 428-9098 Fax: (914) 428-4581
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E Mail:  Drew@drewindustries.com
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                   Drew Industries Purchases Specialty Trailer
                       Components Maker ET&T Frames, Inc.

WHITE PLAINS, New York, October 7, 2003 - Drew Industries Incorporated (AMEX:DW)
today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Lippert Components, Inc., has
acquired certain business and assets of Elkhart, Ind.-based ET&T Frames, Inc.

ET&T Frames manufactures chassis primarily for specialty trailer units,
consisting of park models, office units, cargo trailers and, to a lesser extent,
chassis for towable recreational vehicles. This acquisition represents a
significant expansion of Drew's chassis manufacturing business into specialty
chassis.

Drew, a White Plains, N.Y.-based manufacturer of components for recreational
vehicles and manufactured homes, reported that the $3.6 million purchase price
includes the inventory, accounts receivable and certain fixed assets of ET&T.
Lippert Components is not purchasing the ET&T factory. ET&T's business will be
integrated into Lippert's existing factories. The former owner of ET&T and his
management team will not be employed by Lippert. The Company said this
acquisition was financed with available cash, and Drew still has no borrowings
under its $30 million line of credit.

ET&T generated revenues of approximately $7.0 million for its last fiscal year.
Drew said it expects the acquisition to be accretive to earnings, since Lippert
will manufacture the new products in its existing, highly efficient factories
without adding significant equipment or new supervisory personnel.

Jason Lippert, president and CEO of Lippert, said: "This acquisition continues
our expansion into new product distribution channels with high quality products
that we know how to produce efficiently. We hope to expand these new product
categories as we have done with most of our other product lines."

Leigh J. Abrams, president and CEO of Drew, continued: "We are excited about the
opportunity to use our strong balance sheet and management talent to continue
the expansion of our business on an accretive basis, while also presenting the
Company with the opportunity to realize even greater growth and profitability in
the future."

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About Drew Industries

Drew, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Kinro, Inc. and Lippert Components,
Inc., supplies a broad array of components for RVs and manufactured homes.
Manufactured products include aluminum and vinyl windows and screens, doors,
chassis, chassis parts, chassis slide-out systems, and bath and shower units.
From 40 factories located throughout the United States and one factory in
Canada, Drew serves most major national manufacturers of RVs and manufactured
homes in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Additional information about
Drew and its products can be found at www.drewindustries.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain statements, including the Company's plans
and expectations regarding its operating strategies, products and costs, and its
views of the prospects of the recreational vehicle and manufactured housing
industries, which are forward-looking statements and are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements reflect the Company's views, at the time such
statements were made, with respect to the Company's future plans, objectives,
events and financial results, such as revenues, expenses, income, earnings per
share, capital expenditures, and other financial items. Forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance; they are subject to risks
and uncertainties. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking
statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the
forward-looking statements are made.

There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control,
which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those
described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include pricing
pressures due to competition, raw material costs (particularly aluminum, vinyl,
steel, glass, and ABS resin), availability of retail and wholesale financing for
manufactured homes, availability and costs of labor, inventory levels of
retailers and manufacturers, the financial condition of our customers, interest
rates, and adverse weather conditions impacting retail sales. In addition,
general economic conditions and consumer confidence may affect the retail sale
of recreational vehicles and manufactured homes.

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