Copyright by J R Consumer Resources Inc.

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2 Published and distributed by J R Consumer Resources Inc Nicklaus Drive, Clarkston, WA Phone: (509) Fax: (866) info@jrconsumer.com J R Consumer Resources Inc. is a consumer based company that offers rating guides for recreation vehicles, modular homes and manufactured homes in North America. We remain committed to our readers by offering unbiased information about the RV industry. We have NO hidden agendas. We receive NO commissions or advertising kickbacks. We have not accepted any payments to promote one company over another. We can assure you that all of the information contained in this guide is based on independent research and countless interviews and is from an objective point of view. Copyright by J R Consumer Resources Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from J R Consumer Resources Inc. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors and omissions. The author and publisher disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book. Cover design: Greg Ryan 2

3 RV Comparison Guide Plus...Important Buying Tips! By Randall Eaton Featuring: Class A Motorhomes, Class C Motorhomes, Fifth Wheels & Travel Trailers A Comprehensive Rating Guide Comparing Over 98% of RV Manufacturers in North America Get the facts before you buy save time & money! 3

4 Contents Acknowledgments 6 Preface 7 Introduction 8 Chapter 1 What Type of Buyer Are You? 9 Camper or Weekender Vacationer RV Trekking or Boondocking Working Solos Snowbirds Full-timer Chapter 2 Construction Techniques & Methods 12 What matters most? What components of a motorhome constitute the chassis? Travel trailer frames what to look for Diesel or Gas which is better? Exterior wall construction - What to look for Types of fiberglass siding Which is better - fiberglass or aluminum siding for travel trailers? Interior finish Insulation materials - Which is best? What to look for in quality windows What to look for in a quality roof Chapter 3 Customer Satisfaction 24 Interviews with existing RV owners RV discussion forums Additional RV Online Resources Chapter 4 Dealer Ratings 26 Interviews with RV dealers (new and used) Chapter 5 Resale Values 27 Depreciation chart New versus used RV appraisal service Chapter 6 Rating Charts & Parameters 29 RV manufacturer rating chart (sample chart) Rating definitions Best selling RV models rating chart (sample chart) Chapter 7 Class A Motor Homes (Diesel & Gas) 32 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Class A Diesel Motor Homes

5 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Class A Gas Motor Homes Chapter 8 Class C Motor Homes (Diesel & Gas) 39 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Class C Motor Homes Chapter 9 Fifth Wheels & Toy Haulers 43 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Fifth Wheels Chapter 10 Travel Trailers 47 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Travel Trailers Chapter 11 RV Manufacturer Articles RV manufacturers featured in book Company background and history Principle target customer List of popular model(s) Average MSRP of popular models Editorial staff comments RV manufacturer articles listed in alphabetical order Chapter 12 Important Buying Tips 138 Additional RV online resources 10 tips for selling your RV Sell your RV online RV appraisal service Popular RV magazines Industry related RV websites Chapter 13 Supplemental Resources 142 How To Purchase An RV and Save Thousands RV Extended Warranties 5

6 Acknowledgments I would like to thank Melissa Syverson and Greg Ryan who have assisted me in researching the RV industry. Their dedication and hard work is truly appreciated. I would like to thank my lovely wife who has supported me throughout the years. Her encouraging words, patience and belief in me, has made it possible to write these resource guides. Senior Editor and President Randall Eaton 6

7 Preface Buying an RV can be one of the most rewarding purchases you ll ever make. Imagine having the freedom to travel whenever and wherever you want in a luxurious home on wheels. Unlike the unfamiliar setting of a hotel room, your RV allows you to bring along the comforts and joys of your everyday life such as your own pillow, favorite board games, golf clubs and other familiar comforts. There is no need to make hotel reservations or try to decide where to eat. Vacationing in an RV provides an excellent opportunity for families to have fun together. It is estimated that owning an RV reduces vacation costs by 60% to 75%, which means you can afford to get away more often. Take a weekend trip to your favorite get-a-way or visit America s amazing national parks and landmarks. Your RV is home away from home and can be ready to take your family on a fun-filled adventure within hours. This guide was written in order to have information build upon information. We suggest you start with Chapter 1 and read through the entire book. Then, as time permits and need requires, you may want to reread certain sections in whatever order you desire. We also recommend highlighting areas of interest and taking this book with you as you shop different RV dealers. The contents of this guide may reflect certain opinions based on research, study and experience; it is a work of advice and opinion. J R Consumer Resources Inc. is not engaged in rendering or giving any legal or professional services. As such the author and research team are not responsible for actions taken based upon the content of this guide. 7

8 Introduction There are a number of buying guides for RV buyers today but none combined buying tips with a fair rating system, until now! To fulfill this need we at J R Consumer Resources Inc. have published an RV comparison guide. We remain committed to our readers by offering unbiased information about the RV industry. We have NO hidden agendas. We receive NO commissions or advertising kickbacks. We have not accepted any payments to promote one company over another. We can assure you that all of the information contained in this guide is based on independent research and countless interviews and is from an objective point of view. Our company is a consumer based organization and we have not been hired by the RV industry to promote their products or lifestyle. About the Author Hello my name is Randall Eaton, President and senior editor of J R Consumer Resources Inc. I am a research analyst and a best-selling author. My specialty is uncovering the truth about a particular industry and publishing the results. I have published two best-selling books regarding manufactured and modular homes. Both books were the first of their kind and have helped tens of thousands of home buyers. Both books did the impossible by rating individual housing manufacturers throughout the United States It s ironic that many of our readers who purchased my housing publications suggested I write a comparison guide on RVs. This confirmed my initial thoughts about such a task, so with the help of my research team, I decided to start researching the RV industry. Our goal was to rate popular RV manufacturers and best-selling models in the United States and Canada. What started out as an idea has turned into a reality. Our first publication was released in October There are more than 3,500 RV dealers in the United States, selling a variety of products from folding camping trailers to full size million-dollar deluxe diesel coaches. This guide focuses on 98% of the RV industry in North America rating RV manufacturers. This guide will give you an overview of the industry and rate popular manufacturers with insightful tips and suggestions. My hope is that after reading our RV Comparison Guide you will be able to determine which RV manufacturer is right for you. This guide is intended to save you valuable time by outlining where particular companies fall regarding quality construction, dealer and customer satisfaction and resale value. If you have any questions or comments regarding this guide please us at info@jrconsumer.com. We will try to respond to your questions or comments in a timely manner. 8

9 Chapter 1 What Type of Buyer Are You? When we interviewed the manufacturers for this guide we asked the question, How would you best describe your customers? They were able to choose from three selected answers below: Entry-level Price being the biggest factor Mid-range Quality and price both playing a big role Upper-end Quality and style being the most important Below are some terms you may or may not be familiar with. The way you intend to use your RV will help define what type of buyer you are. When visiting an RV dealership your salesperson will probably ask you, How do you plan to use your RV? Some common terms used today are: Camper or Weekender Vacationer RV Trekking or Boondocking Working Solos Snowbirds Full-timer How you will use your RV will determine the quality of construction, floorplan and options or upgrades you ll want to consider. It will also have an impact on the frame or chassis, suspension system, size of appliances, holding tanks and other operating systems. The definitions listed above are not intended to cover every type of RVing but are common terms used today that reflect certain types of people and how they use their RV. You will probably be able to relate to one or more of the definitions listed below. This will help you understand what type of buyer you are and type of products you should focus on in this guide. Camper or Weekender: Those who take very short trips in their RV, typically for a weekend or up to one week. This type of person would be considered a camper or weekender. Nearly half of RVers are between the ages of 35 and 54 according to a University of Michigan study. Many are working long hours and are seeking to get away on the weekends. Whether near or far, weekend trips in a RV are getaways from the daily routine. The growing trend is not just for families anymore, but for anybody looking to recharge their batteries by visiting a familiar campground, friends or a new destination each weekend. People that fall into this category typically spend less than 45 days combined in their RV per year. If this describes you and your traveling habits or desires then focus on companies that fall into the, Economy category in this guide. This type of buyer would be considered an entry-level buyer. 9

10 Vacationer: Many purchasing an RV dream about taking the family to popular destinations for a few days or a couple of weeks at a time. Vacationing typically involves taking week long trips during the summer months. It's easier on the kids because there is no settling into a hotel and they have a greater sense of home and familiarity with the family RV. Over time, an RV is well worth the investment instead of hotel rooms, airline tickets and rental cars. People that fall into this category typically spend less than 65 days combined in their RV per year. If this describes your traveling habits or desires, focus on companies that fall into the, Economy or Above Average category in this guide. This type of buyer would be considered an entry-level to mid-range buyer. RV Trekking or Boondocking: This describes a person who wants to get off the beaten path, spend time away from the crowds and enjoy the outdoors. Trekking or boondocking will require a heavy duty chassis or frame and a good suspension system. The operating system needs to be made of high quality materials, which can support two or more people for a week. RV trekkers or boondockers will typically spend one to three months in their RV throughout the year. If this describes your traveling habits or desires, focus on companies that fall into the, Premium or Above Average category. This type of customer would be considered a mid-range to upperend buyer. Working Solos: This would describe entrepreneurs or salespeople who love the road and the lifestyle it offers. Working Solos consider their RVs as their mobile office for visiting clients, selling products and visiting multiple company locations. Many feel it beats high priced hotels and with all the high-tech gadgets available today, like Automatic roof-mounted satellite systems, Internet access is always just a click away. On the weekends they can head back home or visit family and friends. Working solos will typically use their RV for three to six months combined throughout the year. If this describes you and you re considering using an RV for this purpose then you want a quality product and should focus on RV manufacturers in this guide that fall in the, Premium or Above Average category. This type of customer would be considered a mid-range or upper-end buyer. Snowbirds: Snowbirds like to head south during the winter months. They typically leave during late fall or early winter and head for the sunshine. To live in both climates they take their RV for an entire season and return home in spring or early summer. During the summer months the RV generally sits unused until the cold weather returns again. Snowbirds live in the RV for months at a time and consideration should be given during the RV selection process to each person's hygiene routine to ensure that the selected model will meet the needs. People considering snowbirding must select a durable unit that can withstand up to six months of constant use per year. Strong consideration must be given to the floorplan, quality and feel of floor coverings, durable furniture and one-piece shower units with good ventilation. Kitchen appliances need to be high-end to keep up with constant use. If this describes your traveling habits or desires then focus on companies that fall into the, Premium or Above Average category. This type of buyer would be considered mid-range to upper-end. 10

11 Full-timer: Many define full-timing to mean no house, condo or any other physical roost to return to. Others allow that if someone is living and traveling in their RV up to nine months out of the year they are considered a full-timer. They may stay in one place for extended periods or roam from one destination to another. When selecting a model the kitchen appliances must support the demands of year round living. Bathrooms and plumbing fixtures must be of highest quality. One piece tub/showers are recommended and ventilation in these areas must be good. It may become cumbersome if the RV does not offer all required facilities, forcing the fulltimer to use RV park showers or other facilities, which can become inconvenient at times. The heating system needs to be of high quality with proper amounts of insulation to keep the unit nice and toasty during cold nights. Solid wood for the interior cabinets should be considered. The roof should be made of fiberglass or a quality EPDM rubber roof with a 10 year warranty or longer. Laundry is a weekly task and needs to be considered when selecting a particular model. Full-timing requires a well-built RV with attention to detail from the chassis or frame to the roof and everything in between. If this describes your traveling habits or desires then focus on companies that fall into the Premium category. This type of buyer would be considered an upper-end buyer. 11

12 Chapter 2 Construction Methods & Techniques In this chapter we focus on things like, what to look for in a chassis or frame. Different types of roofing materials and the pros and cons with each. You will also learn about common construction methods for exterior walls and types of insulation being used, and other important construction methods. We have spoken with many plant managers from various RV companies, which has been helpful in putting this chapter together. This chapter is in no way intended to include every aspect of the construction process. In our housing publications we incorporated construction guidelines to follow, which have proven to be very popular with our readers. Having the ability to compare brands and models to a set of construction standards that properly reflect a structurally sound product is very helpful and eliminates any confusion when trying to determine overall construction quality of a particular product. I personally have toured many manufactured home factories and I am familiar with how factory-built homes are constructed and the various methods used. There are many similarities between the two industries. This gives me and my research team an advantage when comparing different RV manufacturers and rating them based on construction techniques. We at J R Consumer Resources have tried to look at the big picture for each manufacturer when determining common building methods used throughout their product line-up. (If you are looking at a manufacturer not featured in this book the information below will be helpful in determining the quality of product.) As we conducted our research we discovered that most RV salespeople did not know much about the overall construction methods of the product they were selling. This bothered us and it made our staff look deeper into the industry to see how much those at the top knew about construction techniques. Surprisingly, most in upper management were also somewhat hesitant in explaining which construction techniques were best, and what to look for in a quality built RV. We were beginning to think we would never finish this section until we decided to contact individual plant managers to see if they could shed some light on the subject. To our surprise, many plant managers were delighted to speak with us and they had the technical knowledge we were looking for. What matters most? A common misconception with most new RV buyers is they rate the floorplan as the most important aspect in their RV purchase. It is estimated that over 90% of new RV buyers focus more on floorplans then anything else. With experienced or educated RV buyers it is estimated that over 90% focus on the chassis or frame, drive train, engine, suspension and exterior construction when selecting a particular brand. Bottom line, what s underneath your motorhome, trailer or fifth wheel is the most important aspect and should take top priority in your decision process. Focusing on these important features will ultimately determine how satisfied you are with your purchase. 12

13 What components of a motorhome constitute the chassis? A motorhome can be divided into two main components the body and the chassis. The chassis basically includes the frame, engine, transmission, axles, wheels, brakes, cooling system, electrical system, steering system, suspension and instrumentation. Looking at a motorhome chassis is like looking at a home that has not been constructed yet. We wish there was some type of comparison chart or consumer guide for motorhome chassis but there is not. Each chassis design is extremely difficult to evaluate because there are so many variables. It s also subjective depending on who you talk to, thus the reason for no comparison guide. We will attempt in this chapter to provide some needed information that will hopefully shed some light on the subject so buyers can make informed decisions when trying to select the right chassis. Frame Rail and Semi-Monocoque: The chassis under all Class A motorhomes today starts out as a basic Frame Rail, as the picture above shows. 99% of all RV manufacturers will take the basic frame rail chassis and incorporate cross braces and bridge-like construction in the bottom half of the chassis, so the strength lies not in the narrow center of the frame, but throughout its weight distribution. By doing this, the steel structure absorbs and resists the twist and turns of the road ahead without relying on non loadbearing components to do the work. This advanced engineering is challenging and time consuming but results in a safe, reliable and high-performance motorhome. This type of chassis is referred to as, Semi-Monocoque. to be main stream. Semi-monocoque construction technique is like that of a steel bridge with support elements diagonally placed between vertical and horizontal elements. Today most manufacturers use a semi-monocoque type chassis as the picture to the left shows. Many consider a full or semimonocoque design superior to a standard frame rail design. This type of design has become common place in the industry and is considered Chassis manufacturers like Spartan, Freightliner, Workhorse and Ford to name a few, supply frame rails to a number of different manufacturers. Winnebago, for example, works closely with Freightline to produce their own semi-custom version chassis called the, Evolution Chassis for Winnebago s Vectra series. Evolution represents, in Winnebago s mind, the next generation of diesel pusher technology with one-piece formed steel chassis rails that are 25% thicker than traditional raised rails for added strength and performance without the restrictive bulk and weight of stacked rails. Formed rails also provide increased mid-section storage, better weight distribution and improved suspension with an impressive 56 wheel cut, for even more luxury performance. Custom chassis: Any chassis that is custom made for a particular model has to be considered superior. Manufacturers that own a chassis company and build their own chassis 13

14 on-site are serious about providing the best possible chassis available. While some may disagree on which design is best, custom chassis are, in our opinion a step above the rest. Below is list of some RV manufacturers that provide a custom chassis: 1. Country Coach (Dynomax) 2. Monaco/Holiday Rambler (Roadmaster) 3. Foretravel (Foretravel Chassis) 4. Coachmen RV (Workhorse) 5. Winnebago (Freightliner) To expand on this subject we have taken text from Country Coach s website that explains their custom chassis in more detail. DynoMax chassis are engineered to the specific sizing, load and performance needs of Country Coach motorcoaches, with no other applications. Country Coach Engineers with decades of design experience are supported by the latest in computer aided and three-dimensional drafting technology. Not believing in "bolt-on" solutions, Country Coach engineers partner with companies like HWH and Caterpillar to provide unique and improved (and often patented) applications of developed technologies. Not a length of steel is cut for a DynoMax chassis until the motorcoach it is intended for has been ordered. As each chassis is intended for a specific coach, Country Coach avoids the rust, wear and obsolescence often created by needing to maintain a chassis "yard". DynoMax chassis are designed per floorplan or customer, never simply per length. This flexibility leads to ease of maintenance, better floorplans and a superior motorcoach. We included the text above because we wanted our readers to understand, that when a manufacturer builds a custom chassis to fit under a particular model it s a cut above the rest. Newmar s website shows a video explaining the process of how a standard frame rail chassis is modified to include a semi-monocoque type design. To view their website go to, Click on, Why Newmar and then click on the construction link. Another quality chassis manufacturer is Roadmaster, which is a division of Monaco Coach Corporation. Roadmaster is one of the leading high-end diesel chassis manufactured in the United States. In fact, they have more motorhome chassis experience than any other manufacturer because that s all they specialize in. According to Roadmaster s website, We have a 100% commitment to producing only chassis for luxury diesel motorhomes. No delivery vans, garbage trucks or cement mixers. And that s something no other chassis manufacturer can say. It all starts with the desire to build a chassis that meets the exacting specifications of our top-of-the-line Monaco and Holiday Rambler coaches. At Roadmaster, every chassis is custom engineered for a specific model and floorplan, to ensure that everything works together seamlessly. In addition, by investing in state-of-the-art production facilities, we can count on greater efficiency and a higher level of quality. By completely integrating the design and assembly process from start to finish, we have superior accountability and total control. We really like Roadmaster s website. It is loaded with valuable information and if you have time, you owe it to yourself to visit Semi-custom chassis: This type of chassis is a step down from a custom design chassis but still a very good chassis none the less. Some manufacturers will purchase a stock or 14

15 standard chassis from a company like Ford, Workhorse, Freightliner or Spartan and modify the design to improve the overall strength and performance. Stock-chassis: No real modifications have taken place with this type of chassis system. Usually found in entry-level Class A motorhomes. Travel trailer frames - What to look for There are many different types or designs when it comes to travel trailer frames but the most common are: Tubular frames, (aluminum or steel) Stamped frames (steel, see picture below) C-channel frames, (steel) I-beams, (steel) The size and design of the frame will vary depending on the size of the unit and its classification. For example, a lightweight travel trailer will probably have a 4 or 6 aluminum tubular frame. The benefits in using aluminum is, it s lighter and won t rust. Another popular frame being used today in lightweight trailers is called an, Ultra Frame or Ultra-lite. The picture below shows an Ultra-lite frame, it is a stamped frame with oval holes cut-out running along the sides. We have heard of some complaints with this type of frame and would caution people to do their research before purchasing a travel trailer with this design. We are not suggesting this is a bad design or it won t hold up over time but we would prefer a tubular frame for a lightweight travel trailer compared to a stamped frame. When it comes to premium travel trailers or fifth wheels most manufacturers will use steel I-beams or tubular steel frames. In addition to the frame most companies will incorporate cross-members for additional structural integrity and outriggers supporting the exterior weight of the walls. The next step down from steel I-beams or tubular steel frames, in our opinion, is the C-channel frame. C-channel is a good frame but it does have less steel compared to an I-beam or tubular frame and is probably the most common frame with midsize trailers and light-weight fifth wheels. Below is how we rate the different frames being used in the travel trailers and fifth wheel categories: 1. Superior (Steel I-beams or steel tubular frames with cross-members and outriggers for additional support). 2. Good (C-channel steel frames with cross-members and outriggers for additional support). 3. Average (Tubular aluminum frames and outriggers for additional support for lightweight TT only). 4. Poor - (Stamped steel or aluminum frames for light-weight travel trailers). Remember, overloading a travel trailer or fifth wheel is easy to do. We recommend going with a stronger frame, which can support additional weight if the need arises. You have heard of the old saying, Plan for the worst and hope for the best. 15

16 Diesel or gas - Which is better? So you re considering buying a motor home, Class A or C. Let us explore the age old question and one I get asked a lot, should I buy a gas or diesel motorhome? This question has fueled many lively debates and to be honest, it comes down to personal preference. I will try to list the pros and cons for each engine and leave it to my readers to decide which is best for them. Pros to owning a diesel motorhome: For those planning on traveling a lot, a diesel engine may be a good choice. One reason is that a diesel engine will last longer in comparison to a gas engine. This is a fact. It is why large commercial trucks all have diesel engines in them. Another advantage to consider in a diesel engine is torque. With a diesel engine the horsepower peaks at a lower RPM, and there is more torque at a lower RPM compared to a gasoline engine. This results in a diesel engine having much more power at a lower RPM. This higher torque and higher horsepower at a lower RPM equates to a longer lasting engine. And, for all those considering pulling a heavy travel trailer or fifth wheel a diesel engine in your truck is probably a better choice as well. In addition to having more torque, diesel engines can be more fuel efficient than gas engines. (Gas engines are making some headway in fuel efficiency but diesel still has an advantage in my opinion). You can expect more miles per gallon, but don't expect a dramatic difference. Diesel Motorhomes have a wider selection of floor plans to choose from compared to gas motorhomes. The chassis of most diesel motorhomes are better constructed than the chassis of gas motorhomes. The towing capacity is greater and that is this why many fulltime RVs prefer diesel over gas. Diesel powered motorhomes tend to have a smoother ride than gas motorhomes, this is due to the availability of air ride suspensions and the heavier chassis in my opinion. According to the NADA Guides diesel motorhomes retain their value better compared to gas motorhomes. 16

17 Cons to owning a diesel motorhome Diesel motorhomes cost more than gas and this can be a drawback, especially if you re on a tight budget. In addition to the higher cost factor, the maintenance cost for diesel engines is higher than for gas engines. Diesel engines are more difficult to work on and it is typically not a good idea to work on them yourself. Yes, you can probably replace the oil filter or air filter but diesel in general is more difficult. It used to be that diesel fuel was cheaper compared to regular gas but times have changed and now diesel is more expensive. But on the flip side, there are bio-fuels being introduced that could be used in place of regular diesel that may help lower overall fuel costs for diesel owners. It has not happened yet but could be a potential in the future. Pros to owing a gas motorhome: A gas powered motorhome typically costs less compared to a diesel motorhome. A gas engine is cheaper to maintain and a bit easier to work on. A number of RV manufacturers are introducing innovative ways to increase the horsepower and torque in gas engines which is starting to turn some heads. Motorhomes that use gas are quieter and don t smell as much and for some this is a big factor. Cons to owing a gas motorhome: A gas engine has a lower life-span than a diesel engine. So, when considering a motorhome look at how long you plan on owing it. Most gas motorhomes are not as fuel efficient as diesel; on average they have a lower MPG rating. A gas motor home does not retain its value as well as a diesel motorhome, Gas engines produce more CO2 emissions (CO2 is considered to be the catalyst to global warming. Gas engines lose power with altitude (going over that mountain pass can be a problem and don t expect to pass anyone). A Gas motorhome chassis is generally not as hefty and has less carrying capacity than a diesel motorhome. Gas motorhomes have fewer floor plan choices than diesel motorhomes. Remember it really comes down to personal preference. Try to look at the big picture when considering diesel verses gas. When shopping for a motorhome, test-drive both gas and diesel engines to get a feel for how they handle. Spend some time looking at the chassis and basement storage capacity. 17

18 Exterior wall construction - What to look for Aluminum versus wood exterior construction: Both framing materials have their good points and bad points. Wood has traditionally been the material of choice for lower-costing RVs because it's cheap and easy to work with using inexpensive tools and non-skilled labor. Yet, wood framing can also be found in upper-end units, because it's also a good choice for RV construction. Wood framing can last as long as aluminum framing assuming it does not get wet. Generally, wood framing is less expensive, it s flexible, it's not a good conductor of temperature variations and it s fairly easy to repair. The biggest disadvantage is that wood can rot when it repeatedly gets wet and that's a consideration for long-term RV ownership in moist climates. Another consideration is bug infestation, which could lead to problems as well. The picture to the right shows standard aluminum siding, fiberglass insulation and wood framing. Aluminum framing has long been associated with more expensive RVs, at least partly because it generally costs more to work with aluminum and requires some specialized equipment and skilled labor. Most aluminum walls are welded using a single or double weld, (double welded being the strongest). Many manufacturers use a vacuum press where each wall is bonded under extreme pressure usually between 800 to 1,200 lbs. of pressure per square inch creating a solid one-piece composite structure. Aluminum frames leave no room for water to collect and are not susceptible to rot which destroys many wood-framed structures from the inside out. Vacuum-bonded composite walls set the highest standard for durability in the RV industry. The framing and vacuumbonding process requires higher degrees of precision and attention to detail than traditional wood-framing processes. Aluminum provides a rigid and durable base around which to build the unit while also making it lighter (compared to wood-frames). We are not opposed to using wood in RVs and we give a number of manufacturers a high rating that use wood framing. Some manufacturers that use wood frame construction tell us that wood frames won't crack at joints and handles the stresses placed on their coaches better than aluminum framed walls. You need to do your homework and come to your own conclusions regarding type of framing material. We have my own opinions on the subject but here again it s subjective at best. If you decide on aluminum framing be sure to ask your salesperson if all sides, roof and floor are aluminum. Many companies will say their units have aluminum construction but that could mean two sides. The construction of the front and back walls for example could be wood. Or, it could be all four walls are aluminum but the roof and floor is wood. So, be sure to ask the question and be specific. The picture above shows a 6-sided aluminum construction. 18

19 Types of fiberglass siding 1. (Best) Filon siding with Gelcoat and Clearcoat- smoothest surface, highest gloss, "wet look luster" and most expensive. 2. (Good) Filon siding with gelcoating-smooth, no glass fibered texture, higher gloss. 3. (Average) Filon siding-smooth but with glass fiber texture and lowest gloss. When selecting any siding, look beyond what the salesman says and read the actual specs from the manufacturer so you know what your actually getting and paying for! Generally speaking, fiberglass is the material of choice in the above average and premium categories. However, even some premium units have aluminum siding. It comes down to personal choice and function. Which is better - fiberglass or aluminum siding for travel trailers? Trying to select the right siding material can cause some frustration for many RV buyers. If you take the logical approach to the subject, most will be able to select the right siding based on the features or benefits of either material. Below is a list of pros and cons with both materials: Fiberglass is much more resilient to hail and other sorts of airborne damage. Most fiberglass or filon sidewalls are bonded to a wood backing material, (up to a quarter of an inch thick). This backing or support along with the protective layer of gelcoat helps prevent denting with fiberglass. Weight is one factor. Aluminum skins are generally lighter. In a 25 foot trailer the difference can be several hundred pounds. If you re concerned about gas mileage, then aluminum will be the better choice. Fiberglass has less condensation. Aluminum has the property of drawing moisture from the air, like a soda can sitting on a counter top. In a trailer, the warm, moist air is inside your trailer, so the condensation will tend to occur on the inside of your aluminum sidewall. This could lead to worse problems in the long run. Fiberglass offers better insulation. Aluminum is a conductor of temperature and wood is a far superior insulator. The transfer of heat (in or out) will tend to be far less in a wood/fiberglass exterior than an aluminum exterior. As a side note, some aluminum trailers have had improvements made in the areas of condensation and heat transfer. This is achieved by the use of a waterproof vapor barrier commonly called foam board. This foam board resides between the aluminum and the innerwall, thus creating a barrier that prevents condensation or heat transfer. Aluminum costs less than fiberglass. When aluminum is damaged, it requires the removal and replacement of large segments of aluminum siding which can be expensive. With fiberglass, the repair can be localized to the site of the damage, easily patched and filled, much like the repair 19

20 you might make to a fiberglass boat. Naturally, the repair we are describing here is a minor repair such as a small puncture or scrape. Major body work is a pain on either type of material. Some feel that fiberglass has a tendency to fade or crack in hot climates when exposed to the sun year round. Others believe with proper care and maintenance this is not a problem. Many feel smooth, fiberglass sidewalls are easier to clean and care for than the wavy aluminum sidewalls. The perception is that fiberglass is more stylish compared to aluminum. If style is important, then choose fiberglass. Interior finish At the beginning of this chapter we mentioned that most first time buyers typically focus on floorplans when selecting an RV. In this section we will try to point out what to look for when considering RV interiors. When people enter an RV they are typically drawn to the wood cabinetry. Quality cabinets are beautiful to look at and even better to use and enjoy. Most buyers want quality cabinets in their RV but as the old saying goes, You get what you pay for. This is true in most cases but there are some economy products out there that do offer average to above average cabinets. Cabinets: All-wood cabinets and frames are rare in most RVs because of the weight issue and cost factor. The best type of cabinet will be constructed of solid hardwood doors and fronts that are predrilled, screwed and glued and will have a quality stain and furniture grade finish that provides long lasting beauty and durability. The next step down is laminated fronts which can peel or tear over time. The cheapest cabinets will use a paper wrap. Try wiping that clean with Windex and it will melt. Most cabinet frames are made from particle board or plywood with a laminated, wrapped imprint which looks like wood. This type of cabinet frame, properly installed by a skilled craftsman, is almost indistinguishable from solid wood. Here is a tip; open a cabinet door and feel behind the stiles for the edges of the paper or laminate wrap. Feel the diagonal holes. If ragged, the tools used to bore the holes were not sharp. Look to see if the cabinets were screwed or stapled together. Quality cabinets will be screwed and glued together. Look for thin, plastic bead used to cover flawed joints in cabinets and joints. Look for rub stick applied to staple and nail holes and rubbed into gaps to cover poor workmanship and fool the eye. Consider the hinges and drawer glides. Doors and drawers that open and close smoothly and without banging, probably have better quality fittings. Look at the number of hinges on the doors of taller cabinets. Better manufacturers use three hinges on tall doors. Also, compare warranties. How long the cabinet manufacturer guarantees finish, hardware and hinges speaks of the product's quality. Plumbing fixtures: When looking at plumbing fixtures, take some time to look under the kitchen sink to see if there is a shutoff value. Quality RVs will usually place shutoff valves at each fixture. Another big clue when looking at plumbing fixtures is to see if the fittings are made of brass or plastic, brass is far superior to plastic in my opinion and will hold up much better than plastic. Is the shower a full size unit? Is it a one-piece shower? We hear a lot of complaints when it comes to showers in RVs. If the shower is too small you re not going to 20

21 be a happy camper. So, take time and step into the shower area to see if the size is adequate for you and your family. Is the toilet raised? Is it made of porcelain or plastic? A close examination of the plumbing fixtures will give you some idea of the overall quality of the product. A good rule of thumb, if the plumbing fixtures being offered are cheap you can be sure the other materials being used are of average to poor quality. Carpet and Upholstery: A standard carpet will typically have around 25 ounces of yarn per square yard. A quality carpet will have 35 to 50 ounces of yarn per square yard. Ask your salesperson about this to determine the quality of carpets being used. Some companies treat the carpets and upholstery with a fabric protector, which is always a good idea. Most RV manufacturers offer options or upgrades when it comes to carpets and upholstery. We recommend this upgrade to those of you that will be spending six months or longer in your RV per year. Check the warranty to see how long the carpets and upholstery are covered. This will give you some idea of the overall quality of the products being used. Insulation materials - Which is best? R-value is the measurement of how effectively a material resists the transfer of heat via conduction. The higher the R-value, the less heat transfer can take place. Some materials are more resistant to heat transfer than others, giving them higher R-values. RV insulation comes in two primary types: glass fibers, and synthetic foams. Most of us are familiar with the R-value placed on these types of insulations. Thickness does contribute to reduction of heat loss through the material. Glass fiber, also referred to as fiberglass tends to have better R-values than synthetic foams due to its heat penetration ratio relative to thickness. However, the R-value to weight ratio favors synthetic foams. Another type of insulation is fluffy granular or blown in glass fibers which can settle over time and is not recommended. Most synthetic foam panels are precision cut and fitted into the aluminum or wood framework. This adds additional structural security. Another important advantage of the synthetic foam panels is that they will not shift or settle. This keeps the insulation in place during the life of the unit. Ask your salesperson, which type of insulation material they use and how it is installed. We are not opposed to using glass fiber insulation and in many entry-level units it s common place. But if you re considering an above average or premium RV, then we recommend high-density synthetic foam versus glass fiber insulation. What to look for in quality windows The thickness of the glass panes and the space between the panes are all contributing factors to well insulated windows. Dual pane windows will reduce outside noise and provide better insulation in cold or hot climates. Some dual pane windows may have gas between the panes, which increases the R-value but from my experience gas tends to escape in a few years, which may lead to condensation problems developing between the two panes. One of the best ways to enhance the product's R-value is to increase the amount of air inside the panes. For instance, the glass of a single-pane window has virtually no R-value, but the thin film of air that normally exists on either side of the glass gives the window an R-value of about Adding a second pane of glass and sealing the space between the panes will increase the thickness of one of the insulating gas layers, thereby more than doubling the window's R-value. So, be sure to check the thickness of the glass, the air- 21

22 space between panes and ease of operation, this could help you decide which model is better constructed and equipped for four season RVing. What to look for in a quality roof When shopping for an RV, one must start with the chassis or frame as discussed in the beginning of this chapter, but, don t stop there. One must understand the different types and materials being used in today s roofs, along with various construction methods and techniques. The sky won t be the limit to your newfound travels if you experience problems associated with leaks, as they ll become the greatest of threats to the sanctity of your recreational vehicle. Of the four types of roofing available, aluminum, vinyl, rubber, and fiberglass- whichever one you choose (or which chooses you), always understand how vital proper repair and maintenance is, not only to the life of your investment, but to the quality of your travels. Annoying leaks can be impossible to track causing hundreds of repairs and hours of frustration. Once upon a time, aluminum roofs were king. For some people they still are. Aluminum is tough and lightweight, and, for the most part, low maintenance. You ll spend little time washing and removing stains, which isn t true of rubber. You d have to do something horrendous to tear an aluminum roof, and denting is possible but fixable. A quality-made aluminum roof can last and last. Just install it and forget it. On the other hand, of course, some believe it s more prone to damage from the elements of Mother Nature--wind, sand, hail, and various road debris. Others dislike the sound of every raindrop tinkering overhead. The one-piece thin aluminum roof sounds good and is used by salespeople as a selling feature to get you to buy. Many in the industry that we talked to are not impressed with aluminum roofs because of the tendency for expansion and contraction from heat and cold which in turn causes leaks around the vents and seams. Aluminum roofs were king until EPDM rubber (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) came along in EPDM has become the norm since Manufacturers say rubber roofing offers low maintenance, ease of repair, clean appearance, noise insulation, and better insulation from temperature. It s not only popular with new construction, but with roof replacement also. It s capable of withstanding temperature variations from -62 degrees F to 300 degrees F without cracking or deteriorating. EPDM is not only easy to work with, but is compatible with other materials used in most roofing applications. It s essentially one of the best water resistant products known. Even in an uncured state it s not water-soluble. The same rubber has been used with superior results in hoses, tires, and other molded products. At the center of the battle between aluminum and rubber is the fact that rubber can tear. A low hanging tree branch, for example, can rip or mar a rubber roof. Stains from a variety of sources can be tough to remove, and oxidation caused by the sun is a problem. Chalking, flaking, and streaking can also be a factor over time. A number of RV dealers we spoke with told us rubber roofs don t last a long as the rubber manufacturers claim and RVs with rubber roofs take a hit on resale value when it s time to sell or trade in. Most agree that with the proper care, rubber roofs can last upwards of 10 to 15 years. Another type of roofing material being used today is vinyl or T.P.O. What is T.P.O. anyway? It stands for, Thermalplastic Polyolefin. T.P.O. or vinyl roofs are relatively new in the industry but those we spoke with seem to think vinyl offers more advantages compared to rubber. Vinyl manufacturers claim that vinyl roofs are lighter compared to rubber roofs and they do not chalk like some rubber roofs. Most vinyl roofs are installed as one solid piece and should not streak or stain the sidewalls of your RV according to vinyl manufacturers. It 22

23 seems vinyl is gaining in popularity with RV buyers and dealers across the country. The rarest of the bunch is fiberglass, which definitely has some benefits over the others already mentioned. Fiberglass roofs are heavier and more expensive, but make up for it by managing to hold their good looks over time. Where rubber is susceptible to dingy streaking, an occasional wash and wax is usually all it takes to keep a fiberglass roof looking great. There are a couple of options with fiberglass roofs. One is Filon, which is used in the exterior sidewalls of newer RVs. The second is a molded fiberglass shell of sorts. It s tough but quite heavy and is usually offered in the upper-end Class A and C motorhomes. If we had to rate each type of roofing material and the longevity of product, it would go something like this: 1. Fiberglass molded shell Excellent 2. Fiberglass Filon Great 3. Vinyl/T.P.O Good 4. EPDM rubber roof Average 5. Aluminum Poor to Average When evaluating each manufacturer concerning, Quality Construction the information above and in this chapter is useful in the overall rating and placement of a particular RV manufacturer. With each RV manufacturer we tried to look at the big picture and determine who they are appealing to and common building methods used throughout their products. 23

24 Chapter 3 Customer Satisfaction While interviewing many RV manufacturers my research team and I asked the question, How would you rate your company regarding customer satisfaction? With 10 being the best, inevitably each manufacturer said 8 or 9 and some even said 10. Some were honest and said it is impossible to be perfect, which I agree with. We live in an imperfect world and to expect perfection regarding customer service is unrealistic. But, in every industry there are those that strive to make the best product possible with customer satisfaction being a high priority. Many RV manufacturers conduct their own surveys regarding customer satisfaction. This information is closely guarded and usually will not be shared with others outside the company. But, after talking with each manufacturer and asking direct questions pertaining to customer satisfaction we were able to come away with some valuable information. The problem is; trying to determine which manufacturer has a high degree of satisfied customers is difficult. As a salesperson for almost 20 years, I will tell you that when a customer was happy and satisfied with their purchase I rarely heard from them again. Some sent thank you notes but for the most part, people that are satisfied typically don t take the time to fill out surveys. Now, on the other hand a customer not satisfied with their purchase will usually go out of their way to make some noise and most will take the time to fill out surveys, mainly negative. I say this to make the point that customer satisfaction is objective depending on who you talk to and it s tough to nail down. My research team and I have included customer satisfaction as a rating parameter in this comparison guide. We have tried to be as fair as possible rating certain manufacturers and we hope this information will be useful to you when trying to select a particular RV company. Interviews with existing RV owners My research team and I have also conducted many interviews with existing RV owners from around the country. We have spoken to many owners at RV shows we have attended. RV owners are typically very easy to talk to and want to share their experiences with anyone that will listen. Talking with RV owners has played an important role in our research. RV discussion forums Another good source of information regarding customer satisfaction is the many, RV Discussion Forums, online. A person can ask questions and read what others have to say about a particular product or concerns one may have about a company or manufacturer. We have spent the past couple of years following these forums and it has proved to be time well spent. Reading what RV owners have to say about their particular product is insightful and accurate for the most part. 24

25 Additional RV Online Resources There are a number of excellent RV related websites from; blogs to chat rooms, survey polls to online review sites. The following are just a sample of websites that offer insightful reviews, ratings and industry news: Roaming Times: RV-Coach Online: RV USA: Trailer Life: RV Network: RV Forum Community: RV.Net: RV Motoring.com: Motorhome Magazine: Travlizmo.com: rv.search.com: RV Business: 25

26 Chapter 4 Dealer Ratings Would you like to know what RV dealers on a national scale think of certain manufacturers? Anybody serious about purchasing an RV would probably answer, YES! Well you re in luck, the RVDA (Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association), asked dealers from around the country to express their level of satisfaction with their manufacturers. The program is called, Dealer Satisfaction Index, (DSI). The DSI is a tool to help improve dealer/manufacturer relations by identifying how dealers perceive the strength and weaknesses of their manufacturers. RVDA is quick to point out this is not a scientific study. Its purpose is to measure dealer attitudes toward their manufacturers, products, policies and procedures. The DSI survey asks the dealers to list the manufacturers of the products they sell and rate them in four main categories; sales, product, management and service-warranty support. This survey by RVDA is very helpful and plays an important role in determining our top picks. When looking at our rating charts you will see a category called, DR, (Dealer Ratings). This category counts for 1/4 of the total score and should be part of your decision process when selecting a particular manufacturer. Interviews with RV dealers (new and used) While the RVDA s results were helpful to our research we decided to conduct our own research by contacting dealers across the United States. One of the questions we asked RV dealers was, Which manufacturers perform best regarding warranty issues? Our results were somewhat similar to RVDA s: 1. Winnebago 2. Tiffin Motorhomes 3. Jayco 4. Nu-Wa 5. Keystone 6. KZ RV 7. Airstream 8. Fleetwood 9. Holiday Rambler 10. Heartland 11. DoubleTree (DRV) 12. Country Coach 13. Newmar 14. Monaco 15. American Coach 16. Coachman 17. Fourwinds 18. Komfort 19. Skyline 20. Forest River. Please note: not all RV manufacturers are represented in above list. When shopping for an RV this is critical because how manufacturers work with their dealers does affect how the dealers work with you, primarily with service and warranty issues. Ultimately, dealers need to take responsibility for servicing your RV and treating you right. This is why selecting a quality RV dealer with a good reputation and professional service department is so important. This being said, a dealer who is selling products from manufacturers that have a high customer satisfaction rating will have a positive effect on customers, resulting in fewer complaints. 26

27 Chapter 5 Resale Values When rating each RV manufacturer and their most popular models, we use the N.A.D.A. guide and other resources to determine the overall resale value of a particular unit over a period of five years. A vehicle that has only depreciated 35% to 40% from its original MSRP in five years is considered to have EXCELLENT resale value. A vehicle that has depreciated 41% to 45% from its original MSRP in five years is considered to have GOOD resale value. And finally, a vehicle that has depreciated 46% to 55% from its original MSRP in five years is considered to have POOR resale value. Using these calculations allows us to determine how well a vehicle performs regarding resale value. Many considering purchasing a new RV are concerned with the resale value. Buying a new RV has many advantages like better financing options with longer terms and lower interest rates. Another advantage is the ability to pick and choose your colors and options. Based on our research and statistics from the N.A.D.A. guides and other resources, we have produced a depreciation chart (below) that should be helpful when trying to determine the depreciation value of an RV. Please keep in mind this is a general overview and percentages may vary depending on location, equipment, options and overall condition of an RV unit. Starting with MSRP the normal depreciation is usually 20% to 35% percent in the first year of ownership. Now, to be fair, most RV buyers are not going to pay full retail for their RV, therefore 35% depreciation, for example, is not likely. Most RV buyers will receive a discount of 10% to 30% off MSRP. In the example below we are showing the MSRP to be $75,000, for a deluxe fifth wheel. The MSRP does not include sales tax, options or dealer fees. Assuming you successfully negotiate a 20% discount, the sale price would be $60,000; a $15,000 savings. The diagram below shows what your average depreciation would be in 10 years. MSRP: $75,000 Age Fair Retail Value in Average Condition Avg. Depreciation from Retail Brand New $60, % 1 $56, % 2 $50, % 3 $46, % 4 $41, % 5 $37, % 6 $31, % 7 $27, % 8 $26, % 9 $24, % 10 $22, % 27

28 The information contained in the diagram on the previous page is based on our research and is in no way 100 percent accurate all the time. Resale values can change and are based on a number of factors, supply and demand being the most important factors in the preowned RV market. If a particular pre-owned model is in high demand the chances of negotiating a huge discount is highly unlikely. This being said you should be able to use this chart as a good reference point. Most all of us have heard of the Kelly Blue Book and N.A.D.A. appraisal guides. Although the Kelly Blue Book is a widely recognized appraisal guide, we recommend you use the N.A.D.A. at to evaluate the resale value of any type of RV. Most lenders base their RV loan value on N.A.D.A to evaluate their equity position. When shopping for a used RV my research team and I have found ebay motors at to be an excellent source of information. The internet has definitely made it easier to determine a retail price for a pre-owned RV as well as shop for one. For example, you can go to any search engine like Google or Yahoo and type in, Used RV and a multitude of websites will be displayed for your viewing pleasure. RV Appraisal Service Our Company, J R Consumer Resources does provide RV appraisals for motor homes, fifth wheels and travel trailers. Each appraisal only costs $ If you are buying a newer RV our appraisal will show you the dealer s invoice and what fair market value should be. If you re considering a pre-owned RV you will learn what fair market value is and the wholesale or trade-in value. Don t be at the mercy of the RV dealer when negotiating a price. To learn more please visit, RV Rating Reports (Model Specific) This is a valuable service in which we provide an 8-page report (sent to your address as a Word Document) for a specific RV model. If you have narrowed your search down to a particular model or two, but are still having a difficult time in choosing one over the other, our RV Ratings Report will help you decide. Each report is model specific and focuses on the main areas of concern, which are: Overall Quality, Performance, Payload Capabilities, Reliability, Customer Satisfaction & Resale Value? We have an extensive data base which allows us to provide specific reports on RV models starting from 2011 and going back to To learn more please visit: RatingsReport.asp 28

29 Chapter 6 Rating Charts & Parameters Many considering an RV are overwhelmed with all the choices and models being offered today. Our guide will help you learn who s who in the industry and how RV manufacturers stack up to one another. By understanding how RV manufacturers compare to each other is the first step in deciding which models to consider. This guide focuses on: Class A Motorhomes Class C Motorhomes Fifth Wheels, (Including Toy Haulers) Travel Trailers This guide does not rate folding campers, tent trailers, truck campers or class B, (conversion vans). It s also important to note that we do not rate every RV manufacturer or models. As we update this guide we will try to include as many RV companies as possible. RV Manufacturer Rating Chart (R) = Ranking: The first category at top of the chart is, (R). Each manufacturer will be placed according to total points received within each classification. Class: The second category called, Class is broken up into three separate parts: (P) Premium (AA) Above Average (E) Economy Most buyers have a budget or set amount they are willing to pay for a particular product based on perceived value. An RV buyer will typically fall into one of the three categories listed above. Whether you re an upper-end buyer, above average buyer or an entry-level 29

30 buyer this guide will help you focus on companies that meet your expectations and comfort level. In the example above Company A is #1 in the premium category. Company B and C are also in the #1 position based on their classification. It would not be fair to compare Company A to Company C because both are appealing to different types of buyers with construction differences and prices. (P) = Premium: Denotes that the product is well-appointed, offers excellent performance and utilizes quality materials. This type of product is priced accordingly and is considered top of the line or the best of the best. Manufacturers that fall into the premium category are appealing to upper-end buyers with quality and style being the most important. (AA) = Above Average: Denotes that the product offers many popular features, performs well and uses quality materials at a price below the top of the line products. Companies that fall into the above average category are appealing to mid-range buyers, price and quality both playing an important role. (E) = Economy: Denotes that the product offers satisfactory performance with basic features only, at an affordable price for those on a tight budget. Companies that fall into the economy category are appealing to entry-level buyers, price being the biggest factor. Type: The third category called, Type, refers to a specific type of RV being featured: (AD) Class A diesel motor home (AG) Class A gas motor home (C) Class C motor homes (FW) Fifth wheel trailers (TT) Travel trailer Manufacturer: The forth category is the name of the particular RV manufacturer being rated. Overall Price Range: The fifth category in the sample rating chart is intended to give our readers an overview of prices being offered by a particular manufacturer. For example, a motorhome manufacturer may only offer luxury motor coaches costing $350,000 and up. This is an important category because RV buyers can focus on a manufacturer that builds products in their price range. Categories 6, 7, 8 and 9 comprise the ratings for each manufacturer. While there are many different approaches or criteria we could use to rate each company, we decided to focus on: (C) Construction (CS) Customer satisfaction (DR) Dealer rating (RV) Resale value Within each category a manufacturer receives a rating based on our research and data collected. Each category C, CS, DR and RV has a possible 25 points, a 100 being a perfect score. 30

31 (C) = Construction: Most, if not all, RV buyers are concerned with the construction of the unit being considered. Category 6, Construction is an important factor in the overall rating of each manufacturer. To learn more about how we arrived at our conclusions regarding construction, please see Chapter 2, (Construction Methods & Techniques). (CS) = Customer Satisfaction: We spoke with many RV owners and listened to what they had to say. Their experience and insight was especially helpful regarding the area of customer satisfaction. We have spent hundreds of hours speaking with different individuals both in and outside of the industry. We have also read a number of studies that have been conducted by universities and other non-profit organizations, which have been helpful. Chapter 3 goes into more detail about how we arrived at our conclusions regarding customer satisfaction. (DR) = Dealer Rating: In category 8 many different RV dealers and salespeople were interviewed to arrive at our conclusions. Both perspectives are important and help paint a broad overview of the industry and how RV dealers view the different manufacturers. We did not stop there; we spoke with other important groups and organizations like RVDA, (Recreation Vehicle Dealer Association) or RVIA, (Recreation Vehicle Industry Association) who work in conjunction with the industry. Their thoughts and comments also helped bring into focus the way we were going to approach this topic. Please refer to Chapter 4, (Dealer Ratings), which goes into more detail about this subject. (RV) = Resale Value: Many we spoke with were concerned about resale value which is category 9. Chapter 5 takes a more in-depth look at this topic and how we arrived at our conclusions. Total Points: All four categories, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are totaled to determine overall ranking and position within each classification. Rating: My staff and I decided to use a point system for rating individual RV manufacturers points Superior Product (Best of the Best) points Excellent points Above Average (Good Value) points Good point Fair 5.5 or below Poor 31

32 Chapter 7 Class A Motor Homes (Diesel & Gas) Price Range: $65,000 to 1.5 million Length Range: 26 to 45 feet Class A motorhomes are at the top of the list when it comes to luxury, style, and performance in the RV world. Units range in weight from 15,000 to 38,000 pounds and stretch from 26 to 45 feet in length. Describing them as "motorhomes or motorcoaches" is no exaggeration. Class A units come with almost every comfort one would expect in a home. At the very top of this list is an almost separate category of luxury, Class A diesel motorcoaches or diesel pushers, costing $155,000 to 1.5 million or more. Both gas and diesel motorhomes are usually constructed on semi-custom or custom chassis. Many Class A motorhomes feature automatic slide outs or full slide-outs. The basements are becoming more efficient with increased storage space and better sliding mechanisms. The kitchens are becoming more elaborate with full size appliances and better use of space. The plumbing fixtures are residential size in most units including full size showers and washer/dryer units. Most Class A motorhomes can sleep up to six people, depending on the model, and floorplan. The driver's seat in a Class A usually sits high and slightly outboard of the conventional driver position in a car, with the windshield stretching the full width of the motorhome for better visibility. In chapter 11 we feature all the RV manufacturers we have researched. Most have been interviewed by us and each company is listed in alphabetical order. Please remember that we have not researched every manufacturer and it is our hope to include more manufacturers in future publications. To learn more about how we arrived at our conclusions regarding construction and rating parameters, please review chapters 2 and 6 of this book. It is our hope the information contained in this chapter will help you make informed decisions regarding Class A motorhomes with fair and balanced information that has been complied over a number of years. 32

33 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Our staff rates each RV manufacturer, every year, based on: Construction (C), Customer satisfaction (CS), Dealer rating, (DR) and Resale value (RV). We arrive at our conclusions by speaking with previous owners, attending various RV shows and conducting detailed research. Within each category, a manufacturer receives a rating based the research and data collected. Each category has a possible 25 points, a 100 being a perfect score. Chapter 6 explains rating parameters in more detail. The charts below are separated first by RV type; then by year. You will notice that some manufacturers ratings change from year to year. This is typically due to changes within the industry as a whole and may not be a direct result of changes with that particular manufacturer. Class A Diesel Motor Homes 2006 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P AD Foretravel 645K - 345K P AD Newmar 500K - 195K P AD Country Coach 560K - 225K P AD Travel Supreme 575K - 220K P AD Beaver (Monaco) 590K - 200K P AD Monaco 650K - 150K P AD Holiday Rambler 485K -140K AA AD Tiffin 385K - 155K AA AD Winnebago 273K - 145K AA AD Western RV 330K - 230K AA AD Rexhall 248K - 159K AA AD Safari (Monaco) 368K - 175K AA AD Itasca 276K - 148K AA AD King of the Road 350K - 320K AA AD Alfa Leisure 280K - 175K AA AD Airstream (Thor) 325K - 235K E AD Triple E 240K - 143K E AD Fleetwood 245K - 145K E AD Damon (Thor) 215K - 135K E AD Georgie Boy 197K - 180K E AD Gulf Stream 250K - 150K E AD Sportscoach 249K - 142K E AD Forest River 265K - 97K

34 Class A Diesel Motor Homes 2007 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P AD Foretravel 665K - 350K P AD Beaver (Monaco) 675K - 205K P AD American Coach 499K - 325K P AD Country Coach 725K K P AD Newmar 515K - 200K P AD Tiffin 420K - 165K P AD Travel Supreme 575K - 220K P AD Western RV Out of Bus P AD Monaco 675K - 155K P AD Holiday Rambler 490K - 150K AA AD Winnebago 280K - 150K AA AD Triple E 250K - 145K AA AD Safari(Monaco) 395K - 182K AA AD Alfa Leisure Out of Bus AA AD Fleetwood 255K - 160K AA AD King of the Road 350K - 320K AA AD Itasca 285K - 148K AA AD Rexhall 255K - 164K E AD Damon (Thor) 218K - 136K E AD Georgie Boy 205K - 187K E AD Gulf Stream 255K - 153K E AD Sportscoach 255K - 147K E AD Mandalay (Thor) 256K - 152K E AD National RV Bankruptcy E AD Forest River 270K - 100K

35 Class A Diesel Motor Homes 2008 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P AD Country Coach 750K - 275K P AD Tiffin 425K - 175K P AD Foretravel 680K - 365K P AD Beaver (Monaco) 700K - 210K P AD Newmar 525K - 210K P AD American Coach 553K - 333K P AD Monaco 680K - 160K AA AD Holiday Rambler 500K - 155K AA AD Safari (Monaco) 404K - 189K AA AD Winnebago 285K - 155K AA AD Triple E 258K - 155K AA AD Itasca 290K - 165K AA AD Fleetwood 259K - 165K AA AD Rexhall 260K - 170K AA AD Mandalay (Thor) 260K - 155K E AD Georgie Boy 215K - 190K E AD Damon (Thor) 220K - 140K E AD Gulf Stream 258K - 157K E AD Sportscoach 260K - 150K E AD Forest River 275K - 105K

36 Class A Gas Motor Homes 2006 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P AG Newmar 198K - 99K P AG Triple E 145K - 76K P AG Monaco 144K - 83K P AG National RV 146K - 99K P AG Holliday Rambler 140K - 86K P AG Safari (Monaco) 137K - 100K P AG Airstream (Thor) 125K - 103K AA AG Winnebago 165K - 74K AA AG Tiffin 135K - 75K AA AG Itasca 165K - 84K AA AG Fleetwood 144K - 68K AA AG Rexhall 169k - 80K AA AG Four Winds (Thor) 117K - 65K AA AG Coachmen RV 158K - 73K E AG Georgie Boy 120K - 78K E AG Damon (Thor) 127K - 67K E AG Gulf Stream 130K - 65K E AG Mandalay (Thor) 140K - 67K E AG R-Vision (Monaco) 117K - 62K E AG Forest River 98K - 65K

37 Class A Gas Motor Homes 2007 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P AG Newmar 200K - 110K P AG Monaco 146K - 85K P AG Holliday Rambler 142K - 89K P AG Triple E 147K - 79K P AG National RV Filed Bankruptcy AA AG Winnebago 166K - 75K AA AG Tiffin 138K - 80K AA AG Itasca 167K - 86K AA AG Fleetwood 145K - 69K AA AG Safari (Monaco) 138K - 102K AA AG R-Vision (Monaco) 118K - 63K E AG Georgie Boy 120K - 80K E AG Damon (Thor) 129K - 68K E AG Gulf Stream 132K - 67K E AG Four Winds (Thor) 119K - 69K E AG Forest River 99K - 65K E AG Coachmen RV 159K - 75K

38 Class A Gas Motor Homes 2008 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P AG Newmar 205K - 113K P AG Tiffin 150K - 80K P AG Monaco 176K - 87K P AG Itasca 170K - 88K P AG Holliday Rambler 145K - 90K AA AG Triple E 149K - 80K AA AG Winnebago 168K - 77K AA AG Safari (Monaco) 140K - 105K AA AG R-Vision (Monaco) 120K - 65K AA AG Fleetwood 147K - 70K E AG Coachmen RV 165K 80K E AG Damon (Thor) 122K - 86K E AG Georgie Boy 122K - 81K E AG Forest River 100K - 67K E AG Gulf Stream 133K - 68K E AG Four Winds (Thor) 120K - 70K

39 Chapter 8 Class C Motor Homes (Diesel & Gas) Price Range: $48,000 to $425,000 Length Range: 22 to 35 feet Class C motorhomes are sometimes referred to as mini-motorhomes, which are scaled-down versions of Class A motorhomes. They range in weight from 10,000 to 18,000 pounds and stretch from 20 feet to 35 feet in length. Class C motorhomes are generally constructed on a van chassis. The driver compartment is similar to a van, with a large box in the back. Class C motorhomes are usually equipped will a sleeping bunk above the cab, in addition to a bedroom in the rear of the unit. Like Class A motorhomes, many Class C units feature a slideout to quickly extend the motorhomes living space. Class C units usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water), faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, a separate volt electrical system, and a full array of appliances and entertainment features. Class C motorhomes can sleep up to ten people depending on the model and in our opinion is best suited for large families as compared to a class A. Class C motorhomes are built on cutaway chassis with a manufactured cab that has driver and passenger doors. Those that have driven a Class C motorhome comment on how it feels more like a car compared to driving a Class A motorhome. Many Class C manufacturers have updated their exteriors to be more efficient and lighter to increase gas mileage. With unique aerodynamic V-Cap fronts (less wind resistance), tire pres systems, six sided aluminum framing and fiberglass exteriors. These important features have a dramatic affect on gas mileage and consumers are taking notice. Please remember that we have not researched every manufacturer and it is our hope to include more manufacturers in future publications. To learn more about how we arrived at our conclusions regarding construction and rating parameters, please review chapters 2 and 6 of this book. It is our hope the information contained in this chapter will help you make informed decisions regarding Class C motorhomes with fair and balanced information that has been complied over a number of years. 39

40 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Class C Motor Homes 2006 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P C Coach House 150K - 100K P C Triple E 92K - 60K P C Jayco 134K - 60K P C Dynamax 370K - 73K P C Gulf Stream 116K - 50K P C Holiday Rambler 92K - 78K AA C Born Free 85K - 65K AA C Lazy Daze 85K - 60K AA C Bigfoot 89K - 70K AA C Winnebago 87K - 58K AA C Georgie Boy 80K - 68K AA C Four Winds (Thor) 89K - 75K E C Itasca 88K - 59K E C Fleetwood 93K - 60K E C Safari (Monaco) 86K - 65K E C Glendale RV 75K - 63K E C Coachmen RV 98K - 52K E C Forest River 80K - 58K

41 Class C Motor Homes 2007 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P C Dynamax 375K - 76K P C Coach House 154K - 109K P C Weekend Warrior 180K - 150K P C Born Free 123K - 66K P C Bigfoot 94K - 72K P C Triple E 98K - 60K AA C Winnebago 108K - 60K AA C Jayco 135K - 60K AA C Itasca 112K - 60K AA C Lazy Daze 89K - 63K AA C Safari(Monaco) 88K - 65K AA C Fleetwood 199K - 60K AA C Holiday Rambler 99K - 79K E C Gulf Stream 178K - 60K E C Georgie Boy 89K - 69K E C Four Winds (Thor) 109K - 75K E C Coachmen RV 104K - 50K E C R-Vision 99K - 53K E C Forest River 96K - 63K

42 Class C Motor Homes 2008 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P C Dynamax 380K - 80K P C Coach House 155K - 110K P C Born Free 125K - 68K P C Bigfoot (Out of Bus) 95K - 72K P C Triple E 100K - 62K P C Holiday Rambler 100K - 79K AA C Winnebago 110K - 60K AA C Jayco 138K - 62K AA C Itasca 115K - 60K AA C Lazy Daze 90K - 65K AA C Safari (Monaco) 89K - 67K AA C Fleetwood 100K - 62K E C Gulf Stream 180K - 62K E C Georgie Boy 90K - 70K E C Coachmen RV 105K - 52K E C Four Winds (Thor) 110K - 75K E C Forest River 97K - 65K E C R-Vision 100K - 55K

43 Chapter 9 Fifth Wheels & Toy Haulers Price Range: $13,000 to $250,000 Length Range: 20 to 40 feet Fifth wheel towable trailers are similar to larger travel trailers, but they have an extension on the front of the unit that extends over the tow vehicle and a horizontal plate that looks like a wheel (hence the name "fifth wheel") that rests on the tow vehicle for support. This hitch arrangement requires special equipment on the tow vehicle. Typically, full-size pickup trucks serve as tow vehicles for fifth wheels and are outfitted with a fifth-wheel receiver. The hitch arrangement makes towing easier by placing the trailer load in the center of the tow vehicle distributing the weight to all of the truck tires instead of behind it. The extension on the front serves as a bedroom in most fifth wheels with more living space provided by slide-outs- a common feature. Fifth wheel trailers usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning and a self-contained toilet with water tanks (fresh water, grey water, black water). Also included is; LP (propane) gas supply, separate volt electrical system, and a full array of appliances and entertainment features. Fifth wheel trailers range from about 7,500 pounds to more than 22,000 pounds. Headroom varies considerably with smaller fifth wheels and many will require stooping while using the front section. Most of these models provide adequate living accommodations with little wasted space. Larger fifth wheels are for those seeking maximum living space and are considered the RV of choice for fulltime living. Most include up to three large slideouts or full-wall slideouts and adequate standing room in the front bedroom. Larger models are available with a wide range of appliances, including built-in washer/ dryer, dishwasher and entertainment center with surround sound. The larger fifth wheel units require dual-rear-wheel pickup trucks as the tow vehicles, or specialized conversions of medium-duty trucks. It is important to match the size and weight of a new fifth wheel to the tow vehicle, or select the fifth wheel first and then order a truck of adequate towing capacity. Please remember that we have not researched every manufacturer and it is our hope to include more manufacturers in future publications. To learn more about how we arrived at our conclusions regarding construction and rating parameters, please review chapters 2 and 6 of this book. It is our hope the information contained in this chapter will help you make informed decisions regarding fifth wheels with fair and balanced information that has been complied over a number of years. 43

44 RV Manufacturer Rating Charts Fifth Wheels 2006 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P FW New Horizons RV 110K - 40K P FW Peterson Industries 92K - 39K P FW Nu-Wa 90K - 45K P FW Teton Homes 162K - 61K P FW Travel Supreme 111K - 50K P FW Newmar 150K - 45K P FW Carriage 170K - 40K P FW Alfa Leisure 85K - 60K P FW R-Vision (Monaco) 95K - 60K P FW King of the Road 90K - 40K P FW General Coach BC 98K - 20K AA FW Ameri-Camp 60K - 23K AA FW Jayco 58K - 20K AA FW Western RV 80K - 33K AA FW K-Z 88K - 20K AA FW Keystone 65K - 22K AA FW Northwood 52K - 20K AA FW Holiday Rambler 80K - 22K AA FW McKenzie (Monaco) 65K - 20K AA FW Glendale RV 68K - 30K AA FW CrossRoads (Thor) 48K - 22K E FW SunnyBrook 50K - 29K E FW Skyline 26K - 14K E FW Fleetwood 70K - 20K E FW Triple E 43K-22K E FW Gulf Stream 60K - 15K E FW Extreme RV 50K - 20K E FW Forest River 69K - 15K E FW Dutchmen (Thor) 58K - 20K E FW Coachmen RV 72K - 24K E FW Starcraft RV 35K - 25K

45 Fifth Wheels 2007 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P FW Teton Homes 210K - 68K P FW New Horizons RV 112K - 50K P FW DoubleTree 110K - 60K P FW Peterson Industries 93K - 42K P FW Carriage 180K - 50K P FW Travel Supreme 110K - 50K P FW Nu-Wa 90K - 45K P FW Newmar 150K - 45K P FW Alfa Leisure Out of Bus P FW General Coach BC 99K - 21K P FW King of the Road 95K - 55K AA FW Ameri-Camp 60K - 25K AA FW Heartland 89K - 35K AA FW Weekend Warrior 80K - 60K AA FW Jayco 59K - 20K AA FW K-Z 89K - 22K AA FW Keystone 65K - 30K AA FW Glendale RV 70K - 32K AA FW Northwood 54K - 22K AA FW Pilgrim Int. 70K - 38K AA FW R-Vision (Monaco) 97K - 62K AA FW Western RV Out of Bus AA FW Holiday Rambler 82K - 24K AA FW McKenzie (Monaco) 66K - 24K E FW SunnyBrook 53K - 30K E FW Komfort 62K - 29K E FW Triple E 44K - 24K E FW Fleetwood 72K - 20K E FW Skyline 30K - 14K E FW Gulf Stream 62K - 15K E FW Extreme RV 52K - 23K E FW Dutchmen (Thor) 60K - 20K E FW Starcraft RV 35K - 26K E FW Coachmen RV 72K - 24K E FW CrossRoads (Thor) 50K - 24K E FW Forest River 70K - 16K

46 Fifth Wheels 2008 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P FW Teton Homes 215K - 70K P FW Carriage 185K - 55K P FW New Horizons RV 115K - 55K P FW Peterson Industries 95K - 45K P FW General Coach BC 100K - 23K P FW DoubleTree 115K - 65K AA FW Heartland 80K - 36K AA FW Jayco 60K - 20K AA FW K-Z 90K - 20K AA FW Keystone 65K - 33K AA FW Ameri-Camp Out of Bus AA FW R-Vision (Monaco) 99K - 63K AA FW Holiday Rambler 83K - 25K AA FW Glendale RV 70K - 35K AA FW McKenzie (Monaco) 68K - 26K AA FW Northwood 54K - 25K E FW Extreme RV 55K - 25K E FW Fleetwood 75K - 22K E FW Triple E 45K - 25K E FW Coachmen RV 73K - 25K E FW Dutchmen (Thor) 63K - 22K E FW Gulf Stream 65K - 17K E FW Forest River 70K - 18K E FW Komfort 63K - 30K E FW Starcraft RV 36K - 27K E FW SunnyBrook 55K - 32K E FW CrossRoads (Thor) 52K - 25K E FW Skyline 31K - 15K

47 Chapter 10 Travel Trailers Price Range: $6,500 to $100,000 Length Range: 12 to 35 feet This is the most common recreational vehicle sold in North America. A travel trailer is towed by a car, a van, SUV or pick-up and the sizes, features and prices are seemingly endless. Trailers now come with garages, roof top patios, bay windows, fireplaces and slideouts. If you can visualize it, chances are someone has already designed it. Travel trailers come in a variety of sizes, ranging from a small bedroom on wheels to the equivalent of a Class A motorhome without the engine and transmission. Many units feature a slideout to quickly extend the unit's living space. Small trailers may weigh less than 1,500 pounds and can be pulled with a wide selection of compact vehicles. The ease of towing, combined with their relatively low purchase price, makes them an excellent first choice among RV buyers. Facilities are compact but completely suitable for short-term use and in some cases fulltime use with deluxe models. Travel trailers usually provide cooking facilities, a refrigerator, heating, air conditioning, a self-contained toilet, a shower, water tanks, faucets, sinks, a LP (propane) gas supply, and a separate volt electrical system. They can sleep up to eight people depending on the model and floor plan. Many models are suitable for towing with properly equipped full-size cars. Most models offer a high degree of self-containment, with full bath, galley and dining facilities. Depending on the floor plan, these units can be suitable for large families, or for extended use by two people. Please remember that we have not researched every manufacturer and it is our hope to include more manufacturers in future publications. To learn more about how we arrived at our conclusions regarding construction and rating parameters, please review chapters 2 and 6 of this book. It is our hope the information contained in this chapter will help you make informed decisions regarding travel trailers with fair and balanced information that has been complied over a number of years. 47

48 RV Manufacturer Rating Chart Travel Trailers 2006 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P TT Carriage 30K - 25K P TT Bigfoot 33K - 20K P TT Airstream (Thor) 87K - 28K P TT Holiday Rambler 50K - 18K P TT CrossRoads (Thor) 37K - 15K P TT General Coach BC 45K - 20K P TT McKenzie (Monaco) 34K - 23K P TT Glendale RV 68K - 33K AA TT SunnyBrook 35K - 14K AA TT Jayco 30K - 11K AA TT K-Z 33K - 15K AA TT Keystone 37K - 12K AA TT Northwood 37K - 13K AA TT Ameri-Camp 28K - 15K AA TT Fleetwood 38K - 10K AA TT Sunline Coach 35K - 11K AA TT Triple E 30K - 16K E TT Casita 12K - 8K E TT Coachmen RV 35K - 14K E TT Skyline 35K - 12K E TT Gulf Stream 28K - 12K E TT Forest River 38K - 13K E TT R-Vision (Monaco) 28K - 12K E TT Dutchman (Thor) 36K - 9K E TT Starcraft RV 33K - 18K E TT Extreme RV 35K - 15K E TT Thor California 35K - 14K

49 Travel Trailers 2007 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P TT Airstream (Thor) 89K - 30K P TT Bigfoot 35K - 20K P TT SunnyBrook 36K - 15K P TT Carriage 37K - 28K P TT K-Z 34K - 16K P TT Heartland RV 38K - 14K P TT Glendale RV 69K - 35K P TT Weekend Warrior 60K - 25K P TT General Coach BC 48K - 20K AA TT Keystone 38K - 13K AA TT Jayco 32K - 12K AA TT Komfort 32K - 11K AA TT Holiday Rambler 51K - 20K AA TT Northwood 38K - 14K AA TT Ameri-Camp 30K - 17K AA TT Pilgrim 30K - 12K AA TT CrossRoads (Thor) 38K - 16K AA TT McKenzie (Monaco) 35K - 25K AA TT Fleetwood 39K - 12K AA TT Triple E 32K - 18K E TT Casita 14K - 9K E TT Coachmen RV 36K - 15K E TT Skyline 36K - 13K E TT Gulf Stream 29K - 14K E TT Thor California 36K - 15K E TT Extreme RV 40K - 16K E TT R-Vision (Monaco) 29K - 13K E TT Dutchman (Thor) 37K - 10K E TT Starcraft RV 31K - 20K E TT Forest River 39K - 14K

50 Travel Trailers 2008 R Class Type Manufacturer Price Range C CS DR RV Points Rating 1 P TT Airstream (Thor) 90K - 32K P TT Bigfoot Out of Bus P TT Keystone 40K - 14K P TT Glendale RV 70K - 35K P TT K-Z 35K - 18K P TT Heartland RV 40K - 15K P TT Carriage 40K - 32K P TT General Coach BC 50K - 22K AA TT SunnyBrook 38K - 16K AA TT Jayco 33K - 14K AA TT Komfort 33K - 12K AA TT Holiday Rambler 52K - 21K AA TT Northwood 40K - 15K AA TT Ameri-Camp Out of Bus AA TT CrossRoads (Thor) 40K - 17K AA TT McKenzie (Monaco) 37K - 26K AA TT Fleetwood 40K - 13K AA TT Triple E 34K - 19K E TT Extreme RV 42K - 16K E TT Coachmen RV 38K - 16K E TT Skyline 37K - 15K E TT Gulf Stream 20K - 15K E TT Thor California 38K - 16K E TT Forest River 40K - 15K E TT R-Vision (Monaco) 30K - 14K E TT Dutchman (Thor) 39K - 11K E TT Starcraft RV 33K - 20K E TT Casita 15K - 10K

51 RV Manufacturer Articles Chapter 11 Within this chapter there are 54 different RV manufacturers featured. Each article provides important information with helpful facts and insight about each company. All articles are listed in alphabetical order. Overall the RV industry has been open to speaking with me and my research team. As expected, a few companies declined to speak with us but most welcomed the chance to get their information out. Please remember that we have not researched every manufacturer and it is our hope to include more manufacturers in future publications. Each article is broken down into six separate parts: Company background and history Principle target customer List of best-selling models Average MSRP of best selling models Comments from editorial staff RV Manufacturers Featured in Book RV Manufacturers RV Manufacturers RV Manufacturers Airstream (Thor) Forest River Nu-Wa Alfa Leisure (no longer in business) Foretravel Peterson Industries Ameri-Camp (no longer in business) American Coach Four Winds (Thor) Georgie Boy (no longer producing) Glendale RV (no longer in business) Pilgrim International (no longer in business) Rexhall Beaver (Monaco) R-Vision (Navistar) (not producing) Bigfoot Gulf Stream Safari (not producing) Born Free Heartland RV Skyline Carriage Holiday Rambler Sportscoach (Navistar) Casita Itasca Starcraft RV (Jayco) Coach House Jayco SunnyBrook Coachmen RV Keystone Teton Homes (no longer in business) Country Coach King of the Road Thor California (no longer in business) (no longer in business) CrossRoads (Thor) Komfort Corporation Tiffin Damon (Thor) K-Z Travel Supreme (not producing) Doubletree RV (DRV) Lazy Daze Triple E Dutchmen (Thor) Monaco (Navistar) Weekend Warrior (no longer in business) Dynamax Newmar Western RV (no longer in business) Extreme RV New Horizons RV Winnebago Fleetwood Northwood (Arctic Fox) 51

52 Company Background and History: Our goal was to give you a brief description or, Snap Shot of each company based on interviews and research. This is in no way intended to be an in-depth analysis but simply to put forth some basic facts about each company. This gives you some insight into how the company got its start and the main focus or direction the company is heading. Principle Target Customer: This is an important piece of information. Whether you re an upper-end, mid-range or an entry-level buyer, this guide will help you focus on companies that meet your expectations and comfort level. By listing the types of customers that RV manufacturers are marketing to, you will be able to concentrate on products that are within your budget. Chapter 1, What Type of Buyer Are You? goes into more detail about this topic. List of Popular Model(s): With each RV manufacturer we try to list the company s most, popular model(s) based on sales volume in each classification. While a manufacturer may list a certain model as their most popular that does not mean it is the only model available. Average MSRP of Popular or Best Selling Models: In each article we try to list the average MSRP of popular model(s) based on interviews and research. Please be aware that within a model or series there are usually many different sizes, floorplans and options to consider with a wide range of pricing. (Please don t assume when we list an average MSRP for a popular model that it is the only model being offered by that manufacturer.) Editorial Staffs Comments: During our time researching the RV industry we have learned a great deal about each RV manufacturer featured in this guide. Sometimes, we say what we like and don t like about a particular company. Many of our comments will reveal what previous owners have said about a particular company or product. Other times we will offer some suggestions or constructive criticism. Our comments are opinions and only serve to add additional insight. In the end - each buyer must make his or her own buying decision based on research and due diligence. 52

53 Airstream Inc. (Thor) 419 West Pike Street P.O. Box 629 Jackson Center, OH Phone: Airstream has been around since the 1930 s getting its start in Los Angeles, California. The founder, Wallace Byam, led the company through some difficult times including the great depression. During the 1930 s Wallace experimented with aircraft type construction methods to lessen wind resistance and improved the trailer s strength-to-weight ratio. His designs began taking on a more aerodynamic and contemporary look. On January 17, 1936, the Airstream Trailer Co. introduced the Clipper, and an American legend was born. Airstream was the first to utilize riveted aluminum for their exteriors producing an extremely durable product and creating a unique look which has an almost cult-like following throughout the United States. According to Airstream they have never stopped building the better trailer and 60% of all Airstreams are still on the road today, which is an amazing feat. In the 1970 s, Airstream introduced the Classic its first motorhome. The Classic featured riveted aluminum construction and a monocoque body like the travel trailer, and brought a new level of aerodynamic superiority unavailable in any other motorhome. In the 1980's, Airstream rolled out the Argosy fifth wheel trailer, Airstream triple axel trailer, and the Land Yacht Motorhome. The Land Yacht motorhome featured laminated fiberglass construction and had front and rear end caps so innovative that a patent was granted for them. Airstream has typically viewed Jayco and Bigfoot as their closest competitors regarding their travel trailers. While Airstream has enjoyed some success with their motorhomes they stopped producing motorhomes in Airstream is now focusing totally on travel trailers. For : Airstreams most popular model is the Safari, which ranges from 19 to 28 with an average MSRP of $55,000. They have also introduced the European Safari Sport for Sizes range from 17 to 22 in length and it weighs around 2,800 lbs. The price has been lowered by $10,000 with an average MSRP of $30,000. For 2008 Airstream has introduced new fabrics and hickory hardwood cabinetry. For : Airstream marked its 75th anniversary in 2006, which is a great feat for any company. Airstream s most popular Class A diesel motorhome is their Land Yacht LX starting at $235,000. In the Class A gas category the company s best seller is called Land Yacht and starts at $130,000. Last year the company only sold 100 Class A motorhomes. Comments: Airstream s reputation is well known in the industry with innovative designs and quality craftsmanship that continues to this day. Airstream is an upper-end product, appealing to RV buyers that are drawn to the unique look and interior designs. According to Tim Champ, the company enjoys high marks when it comes to customer satisfaction, customer service and quality of product. We like Airstream s website which is informative and offers a virtual tour of different products along with pricing. The RVDA gives Airstream high ratings based on feedback from RV dealers across the country. The resale value for an Airstream is excellent based on our research. Overall, a great company with a unique 53

54 product line, quality construction and longevity that is unprecedented. If you re looking for a travel trailer that will last indefinitely with some uniqueness then Airstream may be the right RV for you and your family. Notes: 54

55 Alfa Leisure, Inc As of May, 2008 Alfa Leisure is no longer in Business In 1950, John Crean founded Fleetwood Enterprises, one of the largest RV manufacturers in the nation. John Crean would travel across the nation year after year in his prototype trailers and motorhomes visiting his manufacturing facilities to check their performance with little Johnnie at his side absorbing all that he could about the RV business. In 1973, with a little help from his father, Johnnie Crean founded Alfa Leisure (A Loving Family Affair). The company started with small trailers and over the years progressed to building upper-end fifth wheels and motorhomes. Every Alfa was designed and built to be more livable, more functional, have greater capacities, have the finest components and appliances, and have the best value. Alfa considered Monaco, Winnebago, Tiffin, Keystone, Newmar and Fleetwood to be their closest competitors. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: The Alfa Leisure, See Ya Gold fifth wheels are the company s most popular. Their exclusive front awning end cap is a fully functional front bedroom window on a Spacemaster II chassis. Average MSRP of $88,000. Motor Homes: According to our research the most popular diesel motorhome for Alfa is, See Ya with five floorplans and new interiors for 2008, average MSRP of $226,000. The See Ya is fully equipped for both comfort and luxury with a whole list of standard features not normally found in comparable brands. On the road, the coach is quite agile and maneuverable for its size, with only minimal body roll based on our research. For : The See Ya series was the best selling line for both class A and 5 th wheels. Comments: These comments may be helpful if you are looking at a pre-owned Alfa Leisure. Alfa Leisure spent some time as a top producer of 5 th wheels and diesel pusher motorhomes in the industry. Based on our research Alfa was a quality company with innovative products appealing to upper-end buyers. Alfa owners that we spoke with were satisfied with their purchase and said that they would probably have purchased another Alfa product. In 2008 the company changed from light Oak interiors to a dark maple and they upgraded to flat panel TVs that lift up with storage behind them. Some dealers we spoke with said the company was slow at times on warranty claims but indicated that the company did a good job overall in resolving warranty issues. The company received high marks for customer service, quality construction and resale value. Notes: 55

56 Ameri-Camp Ameri-Camp is No Longer in Business as of October 2008 Ameri-Camp was launched when a group of industry veterans broke away from their respective companies and decided to bring together their collective expertise in making a state-of-the-art towable product. Then the company grew and gained a reputation for quality products and service. In 2003 and 2004, its first two years of business, Ameri-Camp was given the National Recreational Vehicle Dealer Association's Quality Circle of Excellence award. This award is given to the manufacturer that produces the highest satisfaction to the customer in quality, service, sales, and partnering, therefore the best possible experience for the dealers and their customers. The company considers Keystone and KZ RV their two closest competitors. Ameri-Camp is not trying to be a volume manufacturer. Ameri-Camp s customers tend to fall in the mid-range to upper-end category; quality and price both play a big role. Ameri-Camp s lightweight trailers are the only ultralite weight RV in North America that builds with 16" O.C., six sided aluminum construction, 6" steel I-beam chassis, leaf spring suspension, vinyl roof, and offers a 2 year limited warranty. For : The company s most popular product in the Ameri-Camp series is the redesigned Summit Ridge, the fifth wheel sells for around $45,000 and the travel trailer for around $36,000. We have added some great features to this RV to make the customer feel like they are at home. With a fireplace insert and two Italian leather Euro lounge chairs with ottoman you will forget you re camping, says Raphael. For : Summit Ridge was also the best seller in this season s line-up and was, for the most part, the best seller for the life of the company. Comments: If you re looking at a pre-owned Ameri-Camp these comments may be helpful. Ameri-Camp was purchased a number of years ago by a company headed by Fred Hassan, owner of Florida-based SunCoast RV which operates primarily in the SE. The company rated high with us in the area of quality construction and customer service with affordable pricing. Resale value is above average based on our research. Speaking with Ameri-camp owners, they were impressed with the workmanship and extras that come standard in the units, which are considered options at most other manufacturers. Notes: 56

57 American Coach 5300 Via Ricardo (Fleetwood s Corp Address) PO Box 5726 Riverside, CA Phone: American Coach- a division of Fleetwood RV, a leading manufacturer of recreational vehicles- is a manufacturer of luxury motor homes. For more than 50 years, American Coach has been building luxury motor homes with a passion that can be seen with every motor home they design and build. About Fleetwood Enterprises: Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. filed voluntary Chapter 11 petitions for itself and certain operating subsidiaries in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The filing facilitates the closing of Fleetwood's travel trailer division, which the company has commenced. This division accounted for losses of $65.3 million in 2007 and $16.8 million in The division closing affects three manufacturing facilities and two service facilities employing approximately 675 people. The company is also laying off an additional 65 corporate associates. Fleetwood's motorhome and manufactured housing businesses will continue to operate while the company seeks buyers for these business units. These events follow three years of restructuring in the face of worsening market conditions and, more recently, unprecedented credit restrictions affecting both dealers and customers. Despite efforts, however, management determined that a court reorganization would offer the best means of addressing the company's existing debt structure and ongoing losses in travel trailers, which cannot be supported in the current economy. Fleetwood continues to employ more than 3,000 people in 15 plants located in 10 states. Taken from company s website, Our exclusive Liberty Chassis makes American Coach the best riding luxury coach line. We placed a nickel, on end, on one of the frame rails while the engine was running - the nickel did not topple due to minimal vibration. The secret is the strong, rigid frame of the driving platform. Complemented by a high-performance diesel engine, it creates an extremely smooth driving experience. We spoke with a company representative and asked what makes them different from their competitors the spokesperson said, It s about a 1000 small things that make us different. We do all the little things right to make a quality coach that is hard to beat, I believe our product is second to none. In our research we found Monaco, Newmar, Country Coach and Tiffin Motorhomes to be their closest competitors. For : Introducing a new look in 2008 for American Coach models, their most popular seller is still the, Tradition which offers six floorplans with a long list of exterior and interior innovations with an average MSRP of $325,000. For : The 40 ft American Eagle class A diesel was this year s most popular. Comments: A number of American Coach Owners we spoke with were impressed with how quiet the ride was. Many indicated how important it was to have a one-piece roof, which eliminates any worries about water problems in the future. Based on our research, the company has a great reputation in the RV industry and customer satisfaction was very high from previous owners we spoke with. Quality of construction was high and resale value was 57

58 also high. American Coach has a beautiful website with an impressive video featuring quality of construction that we felt was well done There is also a great picture gallery that showcases many of their luxurious options. The site doesn t give much info on the company itself but most of that can be found within Fleetwood s RV website. Notes: 58

59 Beaver Motor Coaches (Monaco) Since Monaco has been purchased by Navistar they have not continued manufacturing this line. Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy On March 2, it terminated about 2,000 employees in Oregon and Indiana, most of whom had been on furlough since mid- December. The company said it has been hurt by the decline in financial and real estate markets, the erosion of consumer wealth and confidence, and tight credit. Monaco said it had negotiated forbearance agreements with lenders, who agreed to withdraw existing repurchasing demands and stop making new ones until April 6. In its filings, Monaco laid out a tentative budget for the next 12 weeks. Monaco asked the judge to allow it to re-establish an incentive program for dealers and their sales representatives so they can sell Monaco s existing inventory, authorize Monaco to continue paying employee wages and benefits while the company is in bankruptcy, allow it to hire professionals such as lawyers, accountants and consultants, as needed, in connection with Monaco s ongoing business operations, prohibit utilities from stopping service to the company, and authorize it to pay sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, authorize it to use cash collected from the sales of assets, to keep the company operating. Started in a small town in Oregon in the 1970 s, Beaver focused on creating a small line of luxury motor coaches for the customer who wanted to travel in style and comfort. In 2001, the company was acquired by another Oregon-based luxury coach manufacturer, Monaco Coach Corporation. A few years earlier, Monaco had expanded into the towable RV market by purchasing Holiday Rambler. With the purchase of Beaver, Monaco Coach Corporation became a force in the RV Industry. And now a few years into the merger, Beaver is still synonymous with quality, luxury and style. Ryan Lee, Marketing Director, says Beaver has always been known for its outstanding craftsmanship and tremendous design. Lee says Beaver sells strong in the Southwest. Beaver continues to attract upper-end RV customers who are looking for quality and style when purchasing a deluxe motorhome particularly those in the age group. Their coaches all have a custom-tailored feel that lives up to the description of a deluxe motorhome. All coaches feature the single glass panaview windshield for full access of vision. Beaver s closest competitors are Country Coach, Newmar, American Coach, and Travel Supreme. Beaver rates high in both customer service and customer satisfaction and continues to improve its product yearly. Monaco Coach Corporation offers a video on their website showcasing the extreme testing each chassis is put through. The video showcases the tests done to determine chassis strength and Monaco Coach Corporation's dedication to quality and safety on the road. We would encourage those of you that are serious about a quality ride with superior performance to view the video : Their most popular vehicle, the Contessa, has an MSRP of $302,

60 : Their most popular vehicle is the Marquis. The 2007 line of Beaver motor coaches featured full wall slides and improved electronics. Comments: If you are looking at a pre-owned Beaver then these comments may be helpful to you. The woodwork is exquisite and makes you feel like you re in a well made coach with attention to detail no matter where you look. Talking with Beaver owners they all say the driving experience is awesome and many are repeat customers purchasing another Beaver product when upgrading. We give the company a high rating because of their quality construction, customer satisfaction and resale value. Notes: 60

61 Bigfoot Industries 4114 Crozier Road Armstrong, B.C. Canada V0E 1B6 Phone: Bigfoot industries located in Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada; had been building quality RVs for over 30 years. Specializing in Class C Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, and Truck Campers Bigfoot sold strong in the northwest and rocky mountain regions due to its location but had a strong dealer network throughout the United States and Canada. Bigfoot Industries was closed for a period of time until the new owner Grant Bilodeau re-opened the company with a new name. Grant brings over 22 years of experience to Bigfoot RV, having started on the Bigfoot shop floor and working up to several years as Productions Manager for the company. During these years they produced fewer overall units so each was given precise attention to detail. They specialized in high quality vehicles for all-season use and their units were manufactured out of structural gelcoat fiberglass and most are winterized using special high density insulation materials for all season use. People can use our RVs for skiing, hunting, and fall and winter trips. Taken from company s website: The engineered durability and the superb interior finishing of these spacious wide-bodied Motorhomes are designed to carry you comfortably on any adventure, through all four seasons. An abundant amount of exterior storage in each of the available models will allow you to safely stow your bicycles, golf clubs, and skis, or any other essential items you may require to enjoy your leisure time activities. Available in five comfortable floorplans, traveling with your Bigfoot 2500 Series Travel Trailer is not leaving home, just experiencing home wherever your journey finds you. All models feature large, radius corner windows, which give the warm inviting interiors a bright, airy feeling and you, an unobstructed view of the scenic outdoors you have traveled to enjoy. Bigfoot s unique two-piece fiberglass construction and the excellent aerodynamics of the 2500 Series Travel Trailers will allow you to tow them with ease. For : Motor Homes: Bigfoot s most popular Class C Motorhome is the 30MH29SL in the 3000 Series due to its layout which is practical and functional. MSRP for this series is $101,440. Constructed with the Patented Fibercore Wallsystem, built on the Ford E-450 chassis, with seven interior floor plans to choose from, there is a Bigfoot 3000 Series Motorhome just right for you. Trailers: Bigfoot s most popular selling travel trailer is the 25B21FB in the 2500 Series. It is well-designed, well laid out and offers a lot of interior and exterior storage. MSRP for this series is $34,000. For : Because of the specialized purchasing process, the same lines have remained popular throughout the years covered in this guide. 61

62 Comments: Bigfoot Industries was a small company as mentioned above, which gave them the ability to focus on quality control to produce the best products possible. Their travel trailers, for example, are constructed from two-piece molded fiberglass and insulated using a 1 1/2" high-density polystyrene insulation. Another feature is their high quality designer fabrics decorating the interiors. All models feature large, radius corner windows that create a feeling of spaciousness, and provide you with an unobstructed view of the great outdoors. Bigfoot's unique two-piece construction and excellent aerodynamics will allow you to tow them with ease. Although the company was closed for a period of time under the new ownership Bigfoot RV wants to assure their past and current customers they have and will continue to offer parts and services for all Bigfoot products. Notes: 62

63 Born Free Motorcoach Dodgen Industries Inc. Highway 169 North Humboldt, IA Phone: When you see a Born Free Motor coach cruising down the road you notice it. Born Free s unique design makes it stand out among the other Class C s on the market. The company only builds 250 coaches a year going after that niche customer that wants something unique that performs well and is of high quality inside and out. Born Free is one of the older companies in the business today, manufacturing Class C motor coaches for 38 years and gaining a reputation as one of the best in the business along the way. We are known for three things quality, safety and drivability, says Pat Kolar, a representative for the company. We have two inch steel roll bars throughout our coaches, the insides are built with real wood, not pressed woods and we have an all fiberglass body with a lifetime warranty on the fiberglass. Our shape is different and we have won awards for drivability. Our design is unique and our company is unique. These are the factors that set Born Free apart from its competitors Coachhouse, Dynacorp and Lazy Daze. Also, it has a unique customer base. Building and selling only 250 coaches a year, the clientele clearly knows what it wants. They have done their homework and want the specialty niche that is Born Free. Our pricing starts at $75,000 to $150,000. Most people who are looking at lower end coaches are paying $25,000. We get more high-end Rvers, says Kolar. Typically our customers have done their research and know what they want. They ve talked to other Born Free customers and know what we have to offer them. They come in and say, If it drives as well as I ve heard it does, I ll buy it. Beginning with the bathroom that's a classic example of sheer elegance, a kitchen that's so conveniently arranged you'll be tempted to duplicate it in your home, plus a living room with furniture you'll always be comfortable in and proud of. You'll be the envy of everyone in this beautiful and functional creation. It's their most popular 24' floor plan, and is available with either the queen size cabover bed, or oak entertainment center/tv option. Kolar says the popularity is due to the size and the fact that it s a step up from a Class B, and it s more convenient. The floor plan is ready to go, and you don t have to move things to make a room here and there like in a Class B, yet it s still a small coach, he says. As far as service, satisfaction and quality go, Kolar considers Born Free a 10. According John N. Dodgen, Chairman and President, in a letter on the company website, Over 96% of our customers indicated they would recommend a Born Free Motorcoach to others. Born Free has consistently performed well in independent RV ratings and reviews as well : Born Free s 2 most popular models are the 24 ft and the 26 ft rear bath (which is actually 27 ft set up) rear side bed. The average MSRP for these models is $78,000 to $146,000. Since its introduction, the Born Free 24' Rear Bath has stolen the hearts and imagination of America's most discriminating motorcoach enthusiasts. 63

64 : The wide body President was a top seller this year. Comments: This is a unique company building only 200 to 300 units per year. No doubt they will impress even the most discriminating buyers. If you plan to use your RV a lot and only the best will do then check out Born Free and their product lineup. All of the customers and dealers we interviewed were impressed with the quality of the product and customer service is a priority for the company. The only downside is that the cost factor is a bit high. Their business model is not based on volume but on building the best product possible. Coming up for Born Free is a newly introduced 32 foot motorhome. It is still a Class C but it is for people who want more space. The company s website is full of pertinent information and customer testimonials. It appears that Born Free has a loyal following and they intend to keep it that way. Notes: 64

65 Carriage Inc. P.O. Box 246 Millerburg, IN Phone: According to the company s website, Carriage Inc. was founded in 1968 and the company s philosophy has always been, To build a quality unit, not quantity mass-produced units. Beyond All Expectations is the company s tag line. Over 40 years, the Carriage facility has grown to 20 buildings situated on 55 acres in the quiet farming community of Millersburg, Indiana. It also features a beautiful courtesy park for Carriage customers to stay should their unit need to be serviced by Carriage's Service and Warranty Department. We spoke with Kathy Fuller, who is the Marketing Manager for Carriage. She says that the south is strong for Carriage, especially the SE. She considers Sunnybrook and Heartland to be their two close competitors. Other models the company offers are; Royals International, Carri-Lite, Compass, and C-Force lines of fifth wheels. The Carriage customers are midrange to upper-end with quality and style being most important to them. Since Carriage makes almost all of their components, this makes for a superior product in Kathy s opinion. She mentions their cabinetry and upholstery as good examples of this. Carriage has also been in business for 40 years, so they bring a lot of experience to their craft : The Cameo LXI fifth wheel is Carriage s most popular model, costing on average about $61, : The Cameo Carri-lite was a popular seller this year. Comments: We interviewed a number of Carriage owners and most were pleased with their purchase. Here is a testimonial from one customer, We were looking for an all season fifth wheel for full time use. We visited a number of manufacturers and were impressed with the construction methods and fit and finish at Carriage Inc. Their 2 / 5 yr warranty was an added plus, which is perfect for full time use. The construction seemed to be the same across all lines and we chose the Cameo as the best combination of features and cost. The company offers plant tours, which have been expanded and are now available Monday thru Thursday starting at 9:30 AM (1 tour per day). The company encourages RV buyers to come and see how they construct their units. They believe once you see how a Carriage is constructed you ll want one. A solid company with a bright future a small company but able to compete with the big boys. Notes: 65

66 Casita RV 3030 S. McKinney Rice, TX Phone: Casita is a family owned business founded in Casita sells direct to the consumer - no middle man, therefore all savings are passed directly to their customers. Alicia Mahoney, Sales Manager for Casita said, The south east is our strongest region, especially Florida. Alicia believes their product quality and customer service differentiate them from other companies. She feels the excellent relationship between the sales coordinators and the customers makes a huge difference. Casita also listens closely to customer input. Casita customers can be described as mid-range; price and quality are both important to them. Alicia modestly gives her company 8 s across the board in customer service, customer satisfaction, and product quality. Casita sells about 600 units per year and the company primarily builds smaller trailers their largest being a 17 foot. All their trailers come with fiberglass side-walls they are light weight and sturdy. The majority of their trailers are priced below $10,000 and the company ships its product to Japan, which is impressive. The company is appealing to entry-level and mid-range buyers with price and quality construction both playing an important role : The 17 Spirit Deluxe is their most popular trailer and sells for around $12, : The Spirit Deluxe lines sells well in all sizes. Comments: For an inexpensive travel trailer it is hard to beat Casita. You can buy factory direct and save thousands compared to their competitors. Everybody we talked to that owned their products were impressed with the quality inside and out. They received high marks regarding customer satisfaction and resale value is above average to excellent. Here is one testimonial that sums it up, We just purchased a 17' Casita and we hit the scales at 3000# fully loaded. It's a real nice high quality trailer with a nice bathroom and shower. Lots of other nice features on this small TT also and should be no problem towing with a Nissan Frontier. According to the company s website, You don't have to come to the manufacturing and distribution center to see our products. We have a network of satisfied customers worldwide that would welcome the opportunity to show you their Casita Travel Trailer and answer any questions you may have. This is a unique marketing strategy that seems to work for the company. Notes: 66

67 Coach House, Inc 3480 Technology Drive Nokomis, FL Phone: Coach House Inc. has carved out a niche in the RV marketplace. Its one-piece fiberglass body is unique in the industry. No seams mean no leaks, fewer repairs and a more peaceful driving experience. Our one-piece fiberglass body makes us absolutely unique. Every other RV is built multi-piece. We are the only ones who aren t, says Steve Gerzeny, Coach House VP. What you get is a vehicle that is quieter driving down the road. With no seams it is unleakable and as far as integrity of the motor home, it will last a very long time. There are no seams that can fail. For this reason, Gerzeny rates Coach House s quality of product a 10. We use the best of everything inside our motor homes the best appliances, the best cabinet materials. We choose the best vendors and shave no expense at all. We always try to find the unique and special. Another reason for the popularity of Coach House is that what is considered an option in many other motorhomes comes standard in a Coach House. Most items are standard. We have very few options. says Gerzeny. The average Coach House customer is high end, with quality and style being the most important aspect of the decision-making process. Often our customer is a downsizer who is coming out of a larger motor home and want something smaller but don t want to forego luxury. We also deal with the entry-level buyer who has the resources and wherewithal and has done his homework says Gerzeny. They offer a seldom seen 3 year or 36,000 mile warranty, and Steve says that their customer service is The best in the industry. Coach House motor homes are used for a lot more than camping. Gerzeny says his coaches are used for tailgating, offices, showrooms. We had a customer who represented a highend clothing line and wanted to be represented by a high-end motor line to showcase his product. Coach House sales are strongest in the southeast and while the product is unique, the main competitors for the company are Dynamax and Born Free. For : The Platinum series models range in size from 23 to 26 with a starting MSRP of $127,000. They are coming out with a new line for 2008; The Platinum II. A 24 built on a Springer chassis For : The Platinum Series was the best seller for this year. Comments: Based on our research the company receives high marks in all categories; construction, customer satisfaction, dealer ratings and resale value. Coach House is a small company appealing to discriminating buyers who want the best the industry has to offer. Particularly couples who have had a much larger Class A or C motor home and are tired of handling the "big rig. They want something they can tour in, but also want the luxuries they had in a larger Class A or C. In some cases the woman will now become the primary 67

68 driver. This also appeals to a single person who has lost a spouse and no longer needs the room in a larger motor home. The company s website is professionally done, including specifications, pricing and pictures. Notes: 68

69 Coachmen RV P.O. Box 30 Middlebury, IN Phone: Coachmen RV Group was been purchased by Forest River in December Coachmen Industries Inc. announced that it finalized the sale of nearly all of the assets from its RV business to Forest River. However, Forest River, which is owned By Warren Buffet, has restructured the company as a systems-built housing company with a specialty vehicle business. Berkshire Hathaway Cuts Include Forest River. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. recorded its worst financial results ever in 2008, and will cut manufacturing jobs and close facilities as the recession deepens. Forest River Inc. was one of numerous Berkshire companies facing cutbacks. Berkshire s operating companies have taken and will continue to take cost reduction actions in response to the current economic situation, including curtailing production, reducing capital expenditures, closing facilities and reducing employment to partially compensate for the declines in demand. Coachmen, was one of the nation's leading full-line manufacturers of recreation vehicles and modular construction. The company has a housing division called the, Housing and Building Systems Group, which is America's leading producer of modular homes. Recreation vehicles were manufactured under the Coachmen Recreation Vehicles, LLC, Sportscoach RV, Georgie Boy Manufacturing, LLC and Viking Recreation Vehicles, LLC brand names. Coachmen produced; Class A motorhomes, Class C "mini" motorhomes, travel trailers, fifth wheel trailers and folding camping trailers. In 1964, Coachmen Industries was founded by three brothers: Tom, Keith and Claude Corson. The Corson brothers built the company on principles such as: "Practice the Golden Rule" "Our Word is our Bond" "Business goes where it is invited and stays where it is well cared for" "Dedicated to the enrichment of your life" By staying committed to these principles, Coachmen grew to become one of the largest full line manufacturers of RVs in the world. The Corson brothers started Coachmen Industries, Inc. in a 5,000 square foot plant in downtown Middlebury, Indiana. First year production included 12 travel trailers, a single truck camper and 80 truck caps. Since that time Coachmen Companies produced nearly 600,000 recreation vehicles of all sizes and types. Bruce Barone, Marketing Analyst, said that the South East (especially Florida and Georgia) and the Midwest were Coachmen s strongest regions. Travel trailers are the top category in terms of units sold. All the big manufacturers were in competition with Coachmen, because of their extensive product line. Fleetwood and Winnebago would be the company s top competitors. Coachmen buyers range from mid-level to upper range, depending on the product : Motor Homes: In the Class C division, the newly designed Leprechaun tops the list with an average MSRP of $96,

70 Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: Their top Travel Trailer is the Spirit of America with a comfortable MSRP around $13,000Their best Toy Hauler is the Blast with an average MSRP $14,000) : The Class A Mirada and the Class C Freelander were the standout products for this year. Comments: We do like Coachmen as a whole. We are hopeful they will be able to turn things around and once they do were sure they will be a stronger company because of it. We give Coachmen an average rating overall. Many were pleased with their purchase but we did receive some negative feedback. The company is appealing to entry-level to midrange buyers, price being a big consideration. The company has a wide range of products and an extensive dealer network. Resale values are poor to average based on our research. Notes: 70

71 Country Coach 135 E. First Street PO Box 400 Junction City, OR No longer in business The motorhome manufacturer, forced into Chapter 11 bankruptcy by its majority owner, is still working and talking daily with creditors and investors in an effort to find a solution that will enable the company to carry on. The Country Coach factory, and its 500 workers, has been idle since early December. The company had said that it would shut for good at the end of February unless it was able to obtain new financing. One of its main creditors, Wells Fargo, sued Country Coach after the company defaulted on an $8 million loan balance in an effort to liquidate the assets of the company. That suit was put on hold after Country Coach s majority owner, acting as a creditor, filed to put the company into involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which protects the company from creditors while it attempts to reorganize its finances. In 1973 Country Coach was founded by RV pioneer Bob Lee. Beginning with two employees in a small garage, Lee has built his company to its present day facilities spanning nearly 500,000 square feet over several city blocks in Junction City, Oregon. Lee has been instrumental in creating some of the RV specifications we take for granted today such as a motorcoach systems monitor with speech processor, air leveling for the motorcoach, Infotronics HVAC control technology, and hydronic heating coach systems. He also introduced the first code-compliant custom bus conversion built on a production line. Lee was inducted into the RV/MH Heritage Foundation, Inc. Hall of Fame in Carl Ehry, President of the foundation, told Lee when presenting the award, "Your contribution to the industry has been outstanding and I trust you will accept this honor from a grateful industry." Country Coach s closest competitors are Monaco, Newmar and Fleetwood s American Coach Line. But Matt Howard, VP of Marketing and Public Relations, says that what sets Country Coach apart is that they specialize in luxury diesel coaches. That is all we do. We cover the whole spectrum of coaches, from those that retail for $250,000 to those that retail for 1.6 million, says Howard. That is all we do. No gas coaches, no trailers we specialize in the luxury coach consumer and we ve been doing that for over 30 years. Country Coach prides itself on its superior customer service and strives to have excellence in customer satisfaction as well. Country Coach has ownership in customer service. I have first hand experience from other companies. When we do surveys of people who own another brand or don t own one yet, they wish they owned a Country Coach. It s more dependable and they know if something goes wrong we stand behind our vehicles and make sure everything is right, says Howard. Our customers are demanding and rightly so. I don t know if it s possible to be a 10 in customer satisfaction but is definitely possible to keep trying. Same goes for quality of product. Year after year we strive to make the highest quality luxury motor coaches available. 71

72 According to the company s website each Country Coach chassis must pass a rigorous series of tests at Country Coach's DynoCenter. The chassis is secured into place with the drive wheels on roll sets, and Country Coach engineers manipulate the ignition switch, shifter pad and throttle remotely from the booth. The power train is put through its paces, testing measures like vehicle speed, horsepower, fuel consumption, RPM's, engine boost pressure, engine load, throttle position, and coolant temperature. Only after the DynoMax chassis passes these tests is it approved to become the foundation for a Country Coach motorcoach. DynoCenter is part of the Company's commitment to quality. For : The most popular Country Coach model for 2008 is the Inspire 360 MSRP $385,000 which features an 82 interior ceiling height and a one piece panoramic windshield. For : The company unveiled the mid-range Tribute retailing for about $250,000, an upper-end Rhapsody priced in the million-dollar range, its 2007 Intrigue 520, Magna 630 and Affinity 700. Comments: If you are looking at a pre-owned Country Coach these comments may be helpful. We spoke with a number of Country Coach Owners and most were pleased with their purchase. They praised the way the coaches handled on the road, comparing it to a luxury automobile. Some did complain about little things that needed to be repaired, which is to be expected. Most reported that Country Coach was quick to respond to warranty problems or issues. Resale value is above average based on our research and customer satisfaction is above average to excellent. Notes: 72

73 CrossRoads RV (Thor) 305 Hawpatch Drive Topeka, Indiana Phone: CrossRoads RV has manufactured fifth wheels and travel trailers since The company was privately owned until Thor purchased it a few years ago. By maintaining a philosophy of keeping frills to a minimum, but quality of product, service and value high, they have continued to grow in the market and earn a reputation for customer satisfaction. Located in Topeka, Indiana they have three plant locations and employ over eighty people. A hallmark of the company s construction is the all-aluminum lighter weight half-ton towables. They also feature Hung walls, a seamless, one-piece roof, Filon fiberglass exterior, plywood decking, and additional construction features normally found in higherend products. These are all standard in CrossRoads RVs, which prides itself on offering more standards than add-ons at an affordable price. All of this contributes to CrossRoads solid sales all across the United States. Company President Mark Lucas says that CrossRoads top two competitors are Keystone and Dutchmen, but he says that CrossRoads focus on the customer sets them apart. When we build our units we focus on what we feel the customer wants. We focus on construction, warranty and fit and finish. Our quality is a strong point. Another strong point is the low, low weight of the CrossRoads RVs making them easy to tow. Our construction, although lightweight, is meant to last. We have a two-year all inclusive and five-year structural warranty, Lucas says. The one thing Lucas would like to change about his company is that everyone on the road would know about CrossRoads. CrossRoads sells a combined 8,000 units per year with the fifth wheels being the strongest category historically but with the introduction of the Zinger that is changing. The company s customer is a mid-range customer looking for both quality and price. Lucas says that the company rates a solid 9 on all levels of customer service, customer satisfaction and quality of product. We can always do better, he says. CrossRoads is always looking toward the future and will continue to grow. We have grown ten times in size in the past three years because we build a product people want and we treat our dealers with respect. Our word is our bond and we believe in integrity and standing behind our product. Their best sellers - Cruiser and Zinger - are built with a lightweight, all-aluminum construction that gives you more towing options. This, along with the solid construction of their hung walls, fiberglass exterior and one-piece rubber roof are just some standard features you typically won t find in other comparable products. The materials aren t cheap to make lightweight, says Lucas. We spend a little more on construction, focusing on the weight so our RVs are really towable. This means that consumers can tow these vehicles with the trucks they have. We think people will make the investment when they see the warranty and see that it is a good investment. It is a useable vehicle. They will get their money s worth. For : The CrossRoads Cruiser is the most popular fifth wheel. It is a tripleslide, 29-foot Cruiser only weighing 7,600 lbs. The Cruiser sells for about $44,

74 The Zinger, a 32quadbunk, is the most popular travel trailer. It only weighs 6,000 lbs. That good investment comes in around $23,000 MSRP. For : 2006 told a remarkable story of growth for Crossroads RV. In 2006, with a flat RV market showing only 0.4 percent growth, CrossRoads came on with a 46 percent increase in retail units and a 40 percent increase in market share, according to data on retail registrations. While towables and other RVs were up and down in the market, CrossRoads had nothing less than a meteoric climb. CrossRoads product lines expanded from two to seven. CrossRoads travel trailers went from not even being listed in the top 45 brands in 03 to being within the top 25 in Its fifth wheel sales grew to No. 4 from No. 23 during this same time. Comments: CrossRoads RV is a relatively new enterprise with innovative floor plans throughout their product lineup. The company manufactures a unit that's upscale in craftsmanship and decor and possesses the extra durability and residential appeal sought after by full-timers. From our research, CrossRoads owners all seemed impressed with the quality and craftsmanship. A good value for the money was a common statement from those we interviewed. The resale value is good and customer satisfaction was average. Notes: 74

75 Damon Corporation (Thor) 2958 Gateway Drive PO Box 2888 Elkhart, IN Phone: A subsidiary of Thor Industries, Damon Motor Coach specializes in Class A recreation vehicles both gas and diesel. Damon s niche is in manufacturing top quality motorhomes in the mid-price range only. It is just this pinpointed focus that Damon feels sets them apart from other manufacturers and from their closest competitors, Forest River, Four Winds, Fleetwood and Winnebago. We are focused on Class A s only. Everyone else makes multiple types of products but our specialty is entry level to upper-level mid-price gas and diesel Class A motorhomes, says Bill Fenech, Damon s President and CFO. Our focus is the key; it is where we want to be. We love it and by being so specialized we can offer our dealers and our retail customers more for their money without jeopardizing quality, construction and after sales service. Our tagline is value by design and it means a lot to our company. It means being smarter in designing and building a quality product. Fenech says that Damon sells well all across the country as well as in Canada, and he said that Damon expects to see a rise in sales even in a downward trending market. Much of this has to do with a recent restructuring and transformation the company has gone through, the results of which are just now beginning to show. Essence has been designed to offer optimal luxury while maintaining an affordable retail price. We have managed to bundle an unprecedented number of luxury features and amenities in the Essence and yet keep this model well within the reach of the average diesel motorhome buyer, Dave Miller, Vice President of Diesel Sales & Product Development, said. For : Damon s Daybreak gas motorhome is traditionally its most popular seller, mainly due to its entry level price point of $95,000. The company manufactures two diesel models, the Astoria and the Tuscany. The Tuscany sells around $225,000 MSRP. For : Damon s Daybreak gas motorhome is traditionally its most popular seller, mainly due to its entry level price point. Comments: Damon is appealing to entry-level and mid-range buyers with quality and price being important. The company offers many products at affordable prices and customers we spoke with were impressed with the fit and finish of Damon s products. A great, Value was what we heard over and over. The company received average to above average marks across the board. Resale value was also average and the dealers we spoke with were happy with Damon as a whole. The company s website has detailed information about each coach including a virtual tour, downloadable brochures and pricing. Notes: 75

76 DoubleTree RV (DRV) 0160W 750N P.O. Box 235 Howe, IN Phone: According to DoubleTree s website, When DoubleTree RV began, they used a simple philosophy: find out what the consumers want and exceed their expectations. Attention to detail starts from the ground up. The company s closest competitors are; K-Z and Peterson RV according to Dan Tauer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. I asked Dan what makes his company unique compared to their competitors and he said, DoubleTree is the only fifth wheel manufacturer that builds a 3 ½ sidewall with an R value of 13, the roof R value is 23 and the basement is rated at an R value of 27. Another unique feature is that our Elite Suites and Mobile Suites have disc brakes as standard equipment. Dan also mentioned that each model comes with pine-less hydraulic jacks with makes leveling much easier. The company is strongest in the Midwest region of the United States and is starting to see new dealerships in the west and east coast as well. The company s sales volume is strongest in the Midwest. DoubleTree is big on factory tours and encourages buyers to schedule an appointment. Just a side note; when a company really encourages factory tours it s a good sign they build a quality product. For : DoubleTree only builds fifth wheel trailers and offers three different series. The company s most popular selling model is the Select Suites. For 2008 the Select Suites received a total facelift inside and out, with a new roof profile, floorplans and colors to choose from. For : The Mobile Suites seem to have made the biggest impact in their line this year. Comments: It s evident from the company s website, reading their brochures and examining their specifications that each unit is constructed using top of the line materials and products. We were impressed by the opulence found in the Elite Suite, which includes thicker walls than any other fifth wheel that we have ever seen. The Elite Suite has one of the highest if not the highest R values of any fifth wheel on the market today. This unit literally has all the comforts of home, from an entertainment centre with flat-screen television, granite countertops and a fireplace. Based on our research the company received high ratings in the areas of construction, customer services and resale value. This is definitely a top-notch company that is here to stay. We also like the fact they are a small company which is able to keep track of quality control issues. Notes: 76

77 Dutchmen (Thor) 2164 Caragana Court Goshen, IN Phone: In 1991 Thor acquired Dutchmen, now one of the largest brands of conventional and fifth wheel travel trailers in the world. According to company s website Dutchmen has great floor plans and year after year, Dutchmen is one of the best selling brands because of their commitment to high quality and value. They remain focused on providing innovative products that are loaded with standard equipment and unique features. Dutchmen claims they offer more value for your dollar compared to other recreational vehicle companies. Plus, Dutchmen's attention to detail in design and construction is why their customers return when it is time for their next RV. We spoke with Joe Hosinksi, Director of Marketing. He said that Dutchmen has strong sales all across the United States. Keystone and Fleetwood would be the two closest competitors. Joe sums up what makes Dutchmen unique by saying Great features, great floor plans and great value. He feels that the combination of the quality of their product, the amenities they offer, and the value pricing is hard to beat. Aerodynamic and easy to tow, the Dutchmen Lite product line features non-slide and small slide floor plans ranging from 18' to 31. Base weights start at 4,200 pounds! Unlike the competitions stripped-down models, Dutchmen Lite is loaded with all the standard features and equipment you will find in the rest of the Dutchmen product line. With many great floor plans available in a variety of sizes to meet your family's needs, Dutchmen Lite is your best choice for affordable lightweight and easy to tow travel trailers. For : In fifth wheels, the Denali is a strong seller, MSRP $20,000 to $50,000 depending size and options. In the travel trailer category Dutchman Lite is their best selling, MSRP $15,000 to $30,000. For : The class C Dorado made a good stand this year. Comments: Dutchmen is mainly appealing to the entry-level buyer, price being the main deciding factor. While researching the company we did not find much in the way of negative feedback. It seems Dutchmen does a good job regarding customer service and works well with their dealer network. Resale values are poor to average based on our research and quality of construction is average. The company does include a lot more standard features not normally found with other companies. We feel this makes them more appealing to entry-level buyers and is why they rank high in total sales volume each year. Notes: 77

78 Dynamax Corporation 2745 Northland Dr. P.O. Box 1948 Elkhart, IN Phone: If you are interested in a mean looking machine then Dynamax may have what you want. We spoke with Bob Reda, the NE Region Sales manager for Dynamax. Reda thinks Dynamax distinguishes itself from the rest by blazing new trails in terms of design, and using only the finest materials and craftsmanship. He also credits the management team with a strong vision. He feels their leadership is the key to Dynamax s success. Reda feels the only other company that comes close to Dynamax is Coach House. One of the reasons he thinks the Dynamax product is so different from others is that their Class C motor homes are professional driving machines. Because of the platforms they are built on, and because of the advanced aerodynamics, no other motor home drives like a Dynamax. Reda believes the SE is their strongest market regarding sales volume, although Dynamax isn t focused on producing large numbers of RVs. Dynamax buyers are interested in upscale, high quality products - like the 45 model which includes four slide outs, a gas fireplace and king-sized bed making it the only vehicle in the Dynamax fleet to incorporate such features in the luxury motor coach line. Dynamax customers tend to be very satisfied, since the company will pull out all the stops to make sure they are. Also, because Dynamax is a small company, it is easy for a customer to get issues resolved without having to make numerous calls. For : Dynamax Corporation completed production of its first 45 Grand Sport Ultra, which includes 40 and 42 models, features better drivability, serviceability, safety and power. Under the hood, the Ultra is powered by a 450-horsepower Mercedes engine on a Columbia Freightliner chassis and has the capacity to tow 14,000 pounds with an option for up to 40,000 pounds. For : The Class A Isata was the best selling line for Dynamax this year. Comments: Dynamax motor homes are eye catching, blending the unparalleled durability of the best over-the-road truck chassis with bold styling and imaginative engineering.the company received high marks from the RV dealers we spoke with and rated well in the areas of quality construction and customer satisfaction. The company does offer floorplans for those wanting to bring their ATVs, motorcycles or other toys along. My research team and I like this company and if you re considering an upper-end Class C motor home with a distinctive look then Dynamax may be what you re looking for. Another great website! Dynamax gives full specs and pictures of all of their models with detailed options outlined. Notes: 78

79 Extreme RVs 412 S. Kit Ave Caldwell, ID Phone: Extreme RVs, LLC was created from an employee purchase of KIT Manufacturing Company s RV Division in Extreme RVs retained the former company's product lines: Companion, Road Ranger, Extreme SUTs, Sportsmaster, and Monterey. The former company, KIT Manufacturing, had been in business since This company was started as a co-partnership in October 1945 at Long Beach, California, for the purpose of manufacturing and marketing a pre-fabricated, camper-type, teardrop trailer which could be shipped in a "kit" or package complete with component parts. The sportsman could then assemble the unit himself. Over the years, the company developed a reputation for a quality built unit. KIT units maintain one of the highest resale values on the market. KIT became well known for its Companion and Road Ranger product lines; and prior to the sale of the company began growing its Extreme Sport Utility Trailer line. The company recently introduced the Mega- Lite sport utility travel trailer (SURV), available in three floor plans in lengths of 19 to 29 feet. With a 7,670-pound GVWR, the wood-and-aluminum Mega-Lite is designed to be towed behind a half-ton pickup truck. The company grew from 2 units a week to 120 units a week and continues to increase from there. We spoke with Chris Robinson, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He assured us that sales are, understandably, strongest in the western states. We sell from Denver to Saskatchewan. He says. He feels that they compete closely with brands like Nash, Komfort, and Fleetwood. He says that they are certainly not a Me too manufacturer though so their design and décor are unique and set them apart from these other manufacturers. Chris also says that their warranties are stronger than many of their competitors and resale is 10 to 15 percent higher. Chris also feels that the fact that their staff is users of the products they sell gives them an extra edge toward knowing what will please the consumer. For : In this season they began offering the Extreme Addiction; a 40 fifth wheel with garage. They will also be adding 3 new floor plans to the Road Ranger line. For now, their best selling fifth wheel is the Megalite 28SF with an MSRP of $37,500. Their best selling travel trailer is the Sportsmaster 252TS, which has an average MSRP of $24,300. For : We found the Megalite and the Monterey to be popular lines for this year. Comments: There seems to be little in the way of feedback on most of the RV forums based on our research. The company is average to above average regarding customer satisfaction and quality construction. Resale value is average and the company is appealing to entry-level buyers with price being the most important deciding factor. Notes: 79

80 Fleetwood Enterprises Inc. (Fleetwood RV Inc.) 5300 Via Ricardo PO Box 5726 Riverside, CA Phone: (2010) Fleetwood RV is here to stay and according to Fleetwood RV Inc, We are back... and stronger than ever. After Fleetwood Enterprises, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in 2009, it was sold to a private company, American Industrial Partners (AIP). Out of that purchase is a brand new name, Fleetwood RV, Inc. As John Draheim, President and CEO stated, The company has new ownership, new leadership and a new direction. We are definitely a new company. We want everyone to view us as a new company. We have a completely different direction now. We re no longer focused on being the biggest in the industry; we re focused on being the best. And we believe we now have the operational expertise and the organizational expertise to do that. For over 60 years Fleetwood has led the way in the RV industry with its products, innovations, warranty, and customer service. One of the most well-known names in the RV industry, Fleetwood has been manufacturing recreation vehicles since Though no longer producing fifth wheelers and travel trailers, Fleetwood s line is still designed to offer something for everyone. They specialize in Diesel, Gas and Class C motorhomes. Fleetwood looks at Winnebago, Monaco and Thor as their biggest competitors. During the years Fleetwood sales were strongest in the western region of the US, which is traditionally a strong region for recreational vehicle sales. Fleetwood looks at Winnebago, Thor, Coachmen, Gulf Stream, Jayco, Monaco and Newmar as its biggest competitors. Van Herle sees Fleetwood s innovative spirit and continual pursuit to design the most innovative RVs on the market as what helps to make the company unique and different from its competitors. We have an extensive dealer network in both the US and Canada, our size gives our customers a large network of resources, he adds. The history and legacy of Fleetwood, our innovation in products and our service reputation all combine to set Fleetwood apart, says Rogers. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: Fleetwood s most popular travel trailer is the Prowler, priced around $33,000 MSRP. In model year 2008, Prowler took on a new name and a lighter load. The top selling fifth wheel is the Regal which sells for around $61,000. In model year 2008, Prowler took on a new name and a lighter load. Now known as Prowler Luxury-Lite and featuring five-sided aluminum frame construction, all 2008 Prowler travel trailer and fifth-wheel floor plans are 100 percent half-ton towable. Motor Homes: The best selling motorhomes for Fleetwood are the Revolution LE in the class A diesel category which sells for around $299,000. In the Class A gas category the Bounder is Fleetwood s best selling model with an average MSRP of $150,000, and the Jamboree in the class C category which sells around $87,

81 For : the most popular items are the Bounder Class A gas and the Discovery Class A diesel. Comments: Quality remains average for Fleetwood, but we like the fact the company works closely with their dealers to resolve any warranty issues. Fleetwood does rate well with the dealers we interviewed regarding customer service. Despite the purchase by a different company(2010), which often can mean customers losing previous warranties, AIP stepped up for Fleetwood and Fleetwood continues to honor previous warranties. When we interviewed previous customers we got different results, some were very pleased with their purchase and others not so impressed. Fleetwood does offer a lot of standard features you normally would have to pay for in other products. The company is appealing to entry-level buyers with price being the most important buying factor. For those that are price conscious Fleetwood is a good choice. Construction is average to above average, customer satisfaction was above average and resale value is poor to average based on our research. Notes: 81

82 Forest River CR 1 PO Box 3030 Elkhart, IN Phone: Berkshire Hathaway Cuts Include Forest River. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. recorded its worst financial results ever in 2008, and will cut manufacturing jobs and close facilities as the recession deepens. Forest River Inc. was one of numerous Berkshire companies facing cutbacks. Berkshire s operating companies have taken and will continue to take cost reduction actions in response to the current economic situation, including curtailing production, reducing capital expenditures, closing facilities and reducing employment to partially compensate for the declines in demand. Forest River was founded in 1996 by Peter Liegl and is headquartered in Elkhart, Indiana. They grew considerably in the last few years to include production facilities throughout the mid-west and on the west coast. In addition to manufacturing recreation vehicles, Forest River Incorporated also has a marine division which includes Odyssey and South Bay motorboats; a bus line that consists of Elkhart Coach, Glaval Bus and Starcraft Bus; a commercial division whose subsidiaries include Rockport and Workport trucks and Premier Structures as well as a manufactured housing division with Sterling Homes and Hart Housing. Because their Wildwood lines deliver a wide variety of expertly designed floorplans for every type of RV they make, you can be sure to find one that suits your family's needs the best. The Wildwood LA (Aluma Frame) line was designed for the cost conscious RV'ers who are seeking the contemporary look of fiberglass with an aluminum framed superstructure and vacuum-bonded laminate side walls. Compared to the rest of the Wildwood line of RV's, the LA was designed to take your RV experience to the next level with added standard features like etched glass in the slide-out cabinets, an upgraded exterior graphics package, tinted windows, and 3/8" walk on roof decking just to name a few. When talking with dealers and RV owners we found that Forest River was average in quality construction and customer service. We have found large companies typically produce affordable units with a lot of nice amenities but overall rated average in the area of construction and average to below average on customer service. Small to midsize companies, in our opinion, usually have a better handle on customer service and quality control issues. The downside with small to midsize companies is that they typically don t have the price advantage as larger companies do. Most consumers are driven by price, which gives large companies like Forest River an edge. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: Forest River's Wildwood travel trailers and fifth-wheels are some of the most popular recreational vehicles on the market today. In the travel trailer line, the Wildwood sells for around $25,000 and just $32,000 for the fifth wheel line. Motor Homes: The company s most popular Class A diesel motorhome is the Berkshire priced at around $145,000 MSRP. In the Class A gas motorhome category the Georgetown is considered the company s best seller with an average MSRP of $103,000. The company makes two Class C models, the Forester and the Sunseeker, the Sunseeker based on our research is most popular brand of the two and sells for about $68,000 MSRP. 82

83 For : The most popular Class A diesel motorhome for Forest River is the Berkshire priced at around $145,000 MSRP. In the Class A gas motorhome category the Georgetown is considered the company s best seller with an average MSRP of $103,000. The company makes two Class C models, the Forester and the Sunseeker, the Sunseeker based on our research is most popular brand of the two and sells for about $68,000 MSRP. Comments: Forest River has been one of largest manufacturers of RVs in the United States. By far the company s greatest emphasis is on its travel trailers and fifth wheels offering over a dozen models in both regular and ultra-lite series. On the downside, based on our research, many Forest River owners are displeased with the workmanship regarding the interiors. Little things like cuts in the linoleum, punctured water lines and drawers that pop open when traveling were issues. Another problem we have uncovered is a high rate of blow outs regarding tires, mostly on travel trailers and fifth wheels. We are not suggesting that Forest River is a bad company or their products are inferior. These are just some of the things we discovered during our research. The company sells thousands of units per year and it s impossible to have a perfect record. If you re considering a Forest River we would encourage you to focus on a reputable RV dealer that has a good reputation for servicing their customers. If you re in the market for a travel trailer or fifth wheel and price is your main concern, Forest River may be worth looking at. Notes: 83

84 Foretravel Inc N.W. Stallings Drive Nacogdoches, TX Phone: The business of building motorhomes came about not due to planning by the Fores, but by the traveling they did in their self-built motorhome. From that modest beginning in 1967 with the 29 Speedy Marie motorhome - produced in the backyard of C.M. & Marie Fore - Foretravel continued to set the standard. Weathering the oil embargos of the early 1970 s, Foretravel introduced the first diesel-powered motorhome in In addition to the numerous conveniences of a Foretravel, i.e.; flat screen TV s central vacuum cleaners, icemakers, trash compactors, Foretravel was among the first to use fiberglass instead of aluminum, real hardwood, and a full air bag suspension. With the aerodynamic structure, the Fores wanted even more for their customers, so together they developed the first unibodied chassis in 1986 and the Unihome was introduced. The new Unihome offered incomparable drivability and handling, along with a sleek new design. In 1995 the Unicoach was born. It resembled a bus with a front entry, all the comfort amenities, a big engine, and the Allison World 6 Transmission. This would seem like more than enough; however, Foretravel added a transmission retarder and today provides the retarder as standard equipment on all models, the only manufacturer to do so. Their focus is on deluxe diesel coaches with quality being the main goal of the company. Foretravel is definitely worth checking out if you re in the market for an upperend deluxe diesel coach. From our research they do very well in all categories and they are now available through their Foretravel of Texas sales operation adjacent to the manufacturing plant in Nacogdoches, Texas. The company has authorized service centers around the country as well as at a select number of independent dealers. Foretravel considers Monaco, Country Coach, and entry level bus conversions to be among their closest competitors according to Terry Nabours, Director of Marketing. The company s best-selling models are the Phenix and Nimbus in the deluxe diesel category. Foretravel s customers are upper-end with quality being the most important aspect of the decision process. Foretravel coaches have vacuum-bonded and insulated steel frames in all sidewalls, floors, sub-floors and storage bay walls. The roof has a vacuum-bonded and insulated aluminum structure, and is made of one fiberglass piece for greater strength and lower weight. The storage bays have Presto-Vac doors with a urethane foam core, to protect your possessions from temperature extremes. Foretravel engineer s use continuous-run wiring, fabricating their own 12-volt and 120-volt wiring harnesses to eliminate splices and tees, resulting in electrical connections that are terminated to each individual device and system, for greater reliability. Foretravel coaches house custom-crafted all wood cabinetry made of the finest materials available, high-quality designer furniture using the choicest of fine leathers and fabrics, topped with luxurious countertops and filled with the latest appliances and audiovisual technology. 84

85 For : The Nimbus is still the company s best-selling motorcoach. For : The best-selling Nimbus was redesigned in 2007 and is still the company s best-selling motorcoach. The Nimbus is taller with a one-piece windshield and new features and five new floor plans. "One of the unique things about the chassis is that you can drop the airbags and still fit the coach under most 12-foot garage doors," said Terry Nabours. Comments: Foretravel s website is loaded with helpful information along with pictures of various models and floor plans. One page on their website is called, Feature & Benefit. This page lists the many features one would expect to find in a deluxe diesel coach at Foretravel also provides factory tours and they do provide pictures on their website showing the various stages of construction at Overall all the company received very high marks, quality of construction is superb and resale value is excellent. Foretravel owners were happy with their purchase and would recommend the company to others. The only downside is the price point is a bit high for many RV buyers but for those customers wanting the best of the best the company has no problem persuading them to purchase their products. Notes: 85

86 Four Winds International (Thor) 701 County Road 15 Elkhart, IN Phone: Known for its innovative products, Four Winds was first to introduce the Funmover and the garage motorhome. The company takes pride in knowing that they are on the market edge when it comes to new products, new floor plans and new and bigger chassis for more power and strength. We have an edge over our closest competitors; Fleetwood and Winnebago because we have some unique products that fill a niche, which they don t concentrate on, says John Krider, Product Planning Manager for Four Winds. Our manufacturing structure and lower overhead makes a lot of difference. What Krider means by low overhead is that Four Winds lets its product and its customers speak for itself. They don t spend a lot of money on marketing and advertising. We will be the first to say we are not the largest when it comes to marketing. We build good product and we don t give away the bank to increase the volume. We spend the largest amount of our money on the product itself and then let the dealers promote the product the way they want to, Krider says. Another big difference that Four Winds offers is its three-year, 45,000 mile structural warranty. That is pretty much unheard of for structural components, says Krider. It s exciting for us to know the customers know we are standing behind the coach we built for them. Because of its commitment to quality and innovation, Four Winds is popular all over the country. We follow the market trend as far as the regions we are strong in. California, Florida, Texas and Michigan have the most sales, industry wide, in that order and we follow that. Krider says. We are number four or five in overall market share in the industry. For : The Company introduced a medium-duty 19,500-pound GVWR Kodiak chassis by Chevrolet. Available in lengths of 32 to 35 feet with up to three slideouts, the new Kodiak Class C s are intended to compete with Class A coaches. For : The Hurricane was, by far the most recognized line for Four Winds this season. Comments: This company rates average to above average regarding quality construction and average in the area of customer satisfaction. Resale value is average based on our research. Many Four Winds owners were pleased with the fit and finish of their units and felt they got a little more in the way of standard features compared to the company s competitors. We like their Class C models and feel this is the company s strong suit. Overall we feel the company is above average and appeals to entry-level and mid-range buyers. Notes: 86

87 Georgie Boy Manufacturing (Coachmen) Coachmen Industries Inc. announced that it finalized the sale of nearly all of the assets from its RV business to Forest River in December The company has restructured as a systems-built housing company with a specialty vehicle business. Forest River has agreed to retain the majority of Coachmen s RV work force. Berkshire Hathaway Cuts Include Forest River. Billionaire investor Warren Buffett s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. recorded its worst financial results ever in 2008, and will cut manufacturing jobs and close facilities as the recession deepens. Forest River Inc. was one of numerous Berkshire companies facing cutbacks. Berkshire s operating companies have taken and will continue to take cost reduction actions in response to the current economic situation, including curtailing production, reducing capital expenditures, closing facilities and reducing employment to partially compensate for the declines in demand. According to Georgie Boy s website, Since 1968, Georgie Boy products have been built with pride by some of the most experienced production teams in the industry. We re guided by the same hometown values that have helped us forge lasting relationships with our owners. Indeed, they are some of the most loyal you ll find anywhere. Georgie Boy looks at Winnebago, Thor and Damon as its biggest competitors according to our research. The company is appealing to the entry-level and mid-range buyers with price and quality both playing an important role. Georgie Boy takes advantage of the Workhorse platform that many are praising for its ride, handling and quietness."one of the things we like most about the UFO platform is all that it does to improve driver and passenger comfort. With the engine in the rear, there is much less cabin noise and less cabin heat." For : The company s most popular motorhome is the, Pursuit an entry-level Class A gas motorhome. The Pursuit was completely redesigned in 2007 and is perfect for those wanting to take short trips or weekend getaways. With an average MSRP of $101,983, you would think the coach would be lacking in quality and style. But on the contrary the coach is well appointed with an impressive list of standard features. For : The company also produced a Class C motor home called the, Maverick this year. Comments: As of late 2008 this line of motorhomes is no longer being produced. Georgie Boy was a small company focused on providing quality entry-level products at affordable prices. They didn t manufacturer hundreds of different models spanning every classification. They only built two Class A gas motorhomes and one Class C motorhome. Based on our research the company received high marks for customer service and the resale value was above average to average. 87

88 Glendale Recreation Vehicles 145 Queen Street Strathroy, ON, Canada N7G 3J6 Phone: Glendale RV filed for bankruptcy and is no longer manufacturing RV s. We were not able to interview this company but we wanted to include them in this rating guide. According to the company s website, Glendale RV began producing recreation vehicles in They quickly became known as some of the finest RVs built in North America. Our innovation and attention to detail has made Glendale Recreation Vehicles into what we are today, the largest Canadian RV manufacturer in the business. Glendale manufactures primarily Fifth Wheels. They do have a line of Park Trailers and are identified throughout parks and highways across North America. They represent a great reputation in craftsmanship, and quality built recreation vehicles. It is estimated that over 120,000 Glendale RV's are registered and in use today. Their RVs are sold and serviced throughout North America. Taken from company s website, Built as tough as titanium, the Glendale Titanium Fifth Wheel will weather whatever the seasons throw at you, guaranteeing you and your family many years of camping enjoyment. Constructed from vacuum-bonded smooth fiberglass siding and aluminum perimeter sidewall framing, and topped with a seamless rubber roof, the Titanium looks sleek while protecting you from the elements. Inside this Glendale fifth wheel trailer, you ll be pampered by interior appointments such as a queen-size bed, an allin-one solid surface kitchen countertop, DVD/CD 5.1 surround sound system and a free standing dinette. The Glendale Plant is very unique as compared to many other RV production facilities. What sets Glendale apart from many other RV manufacturers is our complete production facility. We don't just assemble RVs, we manufacture a great many of the items you will find in every new Glendale unit. The manufacturing facility encompasses over 200,000 square feet with dedicated skilled craftsmen heading up each unit. The combined skills of our engineers and innovative management team at Glendale are easily reflected in the finished products. Glendale RV has always been an industry leader in the recreational vehicle market and our dedication and commitment to quality shows in every RV unit we build. For : The Titanium (MSRP $77,750) is Glendale s best seller and has been for the last several years. For : See above. Comments: Based on our research this is an above average company with quality products at affordable prices. They have a limited number of dealers in the states but those we talked with were happy with their purchase and would recommend the company to others. Glendale RV is a good company appealing to mid-range and upper-end buyers. Notes: 88

89 Gulf Stream Coach 503 South Oakland Ave. Nappanee, IN Phone: Gulf Stream Coach has been manufacturing recreation vehicles for 20 years. The company was founded by James F. Shea, Sr. who was looking to branch out after starting a manufactured housing company in an old sauerkraut factory. Shea at first thought about acquiring an existing RV company but then decided to start from scratch so he could build RVs the way he thought best. Gulf Stream was born and is today one of the top manufacturers in the country selling strong in all regions. Because they are a full-line RV manufacturer, Gulf Stream considers all other manufacturers their closest competition. But as a company representative said, they offer such a broad spectrum that they take the entry-level customer and keep them all the way to the high end diesel level. Or sometimes, a customer will start at the top with Gulf Stream and as they get older, travel less and wind down with Gulf Stream. We carry everything from Class A diesel to luxury fifth wheels to entry-level vehicles and everything in-between. We have something for everyone. We are all about quality, innovation and value. Those are our three key focuses. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: The Amerilite is good for a first time buyer because there are a lot of options for floor plans to fit a variety of families. Average retail is $10,000 to $15,000. Motor Homes: The Gulf Stream Supernova 37' Class C motorhome has quickly become a best seller. It sleeps 6 adults comfortably with a king size bed in the back, full size pullout couch on one of the sofas and full size bed over the cab. In addition to that 2 can fit on the collapsible table. This coach is complete with a Flat Panel TV with surround sound inside and an outside stereo system. This is a unique unit, with an average MSRP of $175,000. For : The Friendship line was a stand out seller for this year. Comments: Gulf Stream feels they are strongest in the category of travel trailers, but based on our research we feel the company does a better job with their Class A and C motorhomes and fifth wheel products, regarding quality construction and innovative designs. They implemented a Six Sigma Quality Initiative to insure quality all the way down the line and stop problems before they start. In talking with different Gulf Stream owners we found many were pleased with their purchase and felt the company responded quickly to warranty claims. Many dealers we interviewed gave Gulf Stream average marks and the resale value is average based on our research. The company is appealing to entrylevel and mid-range buyers with price being the deciding factor in most cases. The company does have a wide range of products and floor plans to choose from. If you have a tight budget and want a good selection of products to choose from then Gulf Stream may be right for you. 89

90 Heartland RV 1001 All-Pro Drive Elkhart, IN Phone: According to Scott Tuttle, VP Marketing & Dealer Services, Hartland got its start in A number of years preceding 2003 John Rhymer, Tim Hoffman and I worked together in the RV industry for a major manufacturer. During those years we became close friends and each of us happened to represent a different area of expertise. John was the head of Engineering, Tim the head of sales and I was in charge of marketing and advertising. After more than a decade of working together, some of us moved on to different companies but remained in contact. John joined Newmar, and later went to work for Forest River. I had my own advertising firm at that time and worked with a number of different RV manufacturers. We occasionally got together outside of the workplace and discovered we all shared a passion for building a better RV product. In the fall of 2003, we began to get serious about forming a RV manufacturing company, and after partnering with Brian Brady, former President and partner at Damon Corporation, we started Heartland Recreational Vehicles. In 2006, Heartland broke ground on a new 110,000 square foot production facility with a new corporate office structure attached. By spring of 2006, Heartland had moved into the Top Ten of all 5th wheel manufacturers, and by the end of 2006, we were solidly in the #8 spot with eyes toward #5. Throughout 2006, Statistical Surveys shows that Heartlands growth is unprecedented as we continue to grow at a rate of over 225%, while the rest of the market either stagnates or shows little to no growth. Based on our research Heartland s main competitors are Fleetwood and Jayco. The company is marketing to the mid-range and upper-end buyers with price and quality being the most important factors. BIGHORN fifth wheels come standard with real hardwood cabinets, including stiles, oilrubbed bronze hardware and lighting, elegant furnishings, flush-floor slideouts, and an abundance of interior and exterior storage space. These unites are definitely a luxury product with residential type features like walk-in closet, option for full size washer and dryer with a full size shower. NOW PATENTED!! 88º TURN! After a nearly three year process, Heartland received the Patent for their Improved Turning Radius. Be sure to check where the actual hitch pin is located in relationship to the front of the cap and the box of hitch - because some manufacturers have resorted to designing a "look-a-like" front cap design that appears similar to Heartland - but does NOT offer the same benefits! 90

91 For : The Bighorn was introduced with a new design this year and quickly became a best seller for Heartland. The stunning new BIGHORN is nothing short of spectacular - in both its luxurious interior appointments and outstanding design concepts. Heartland introduced 45 new features in 2008, one new feature is an under belly cover, which is insulated, cherry wood cabinets and they offer both light and dark wood options. For : This was the first full production year for the company. Comments: Heartland is a unique company due to their all around quality control based on our research. They are a small company with quality construction and superior insulation. The fit and finish inside is professionally done with attention to detail. A number or dealers we spoke with are impressed with Heartlands product but some did mention that the company s warranty was somewhat basic, which could be improved upon in their opinion. The company did receive high marks for quality construction, customer service and resale value. We did like the company s website, which provides a free, Construction Booklet describing how their units are manufacturers, which is impressive. They also offer an informative video, which is worth watching. Notes: 91

92 Holiday Rambler (Monaco) Coburg Industrial Way Coburg, OR Phone: (541) Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is now owned by Navistar. On March 2, 2009 it terminated about 2,000 employees in Oregon and Indiana, most of whom had been on furlough since mid-december. The company said it has been hurt by the decline in financial and real estate markets, the erosion of consumer wealth and confidence, and tight credit. Monaco said it had negotiated forbearance agreements with lenders, who agreed to withdraw existing re-purchasing demands and stop making new ones until April 6. In its filings, Monaco laid out a tentative budget for the next 12 weeks. Monaco asked the judge to allow it to re-establish an incentive program for dealers and their sales representatives so they can sell Monaco s existing inventory, authorize Monaco to continue paying employee wages and benefits while the company is in bankruptcy, allow it to hire professionals such as lawyers, accountants and consultants, as needed, in connection with Monaco s ongoing business operations, prohibit utilities from stopping service to the company, and authorize it to pay sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, authorize it to use cash collected from the sales of assets, to keep the company operating. Holiday Rambler is a manufacturer of Class A and Class C motorhomes as well as towable recreation vehicles. The company introduced its first travel trailer in 1953, establishing itself as one of the innovators in towable recreation vehicles. In 1996, the company was purchased by Monaco Coach Corporation and has continued to reinvent itself with new models, new floor plans, and powerful engineering. With its diverse line of vehicles, Holiday Rambler offers models in many different price ranges. That is why the company describes its customer as being concerned with both price and quality when looking to buy a recreational vehicle. Holiday Rambler coaches are known for their user-friendly floor plans, one-piece windshields and innovative developments such as the kitchen suite slides. From the deluxe Navigator to the always popular Savoy, Holiday Rambler is strong in customer satisfaction and prides itself on customer service. Its closest competitors are Fleetwood and Winnebago and the company sells well in all regions of the United States. Holiday Rambler is strongest in the Class A diesel category. The company has produced two Class C motor homes since the 1950s, the Atlantis and Augusta. If you are looking for that perfect motor home for all your families travels, this is the one, priced right, and ready to take you where you are going in comfort. The Atlantis or Augusta utilizes state-of-theart technologies and countless innovations to continue to be one of the most popular minimotor homes. Many of Holiday Rambler's fifth wheels offer an Alumaframe superstructure with a steelframed subfloor and 5/8-- inch Structurewood flooring. Most roofs are constructed with no less than nine layers, and the front/ rear caps are fiberglass, with the latter incorporating an integral bumper. Standard features include a flat-floor slideout in most models; enclosed underbelly; three-window rear-bay cap on most models; a large double-door fridge with smoked acrylic front panels; DSI hot-water heater; DSS dish with stand; four-speaker AM/FM/CD/cassette stereo system; western oak, colony oak or walnut cabinets; computer work station on some models; a combination of vertical and miniblinds throughout; and vinyl-- plank kitchen and entryway flooring. 92

93 Holiday Rambler is proud of its history but is never one to rest on its laurels. According to Director of Marketing, Jim Mac, we can expect even more floor plan innovations, both in motorhomes and towables as well as more full-wall slide designs. That s what people are looking for, Mac says. We introduced the first full wall slide in November of 2006, the full wall slide provides better use of interior space. The company s closest competitors are Fleetwood and Winnebago and they appeal to midrange customers that are interested in both quality construction and price according to Jim Mac. Holiday Rambler has more than 27 different models in its line of motorhomes and towables. This diversity makes for a myriad of choices for the consumer. And while it takes some time to navigate and research all of these models, it would be beneficial for RV buyers to take some time on Holiday Rambler s website. Once you ve narrowed down your choices, you can order brochures for the models you would like to investigate further. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: The Savoy has quickly risen to the most popular seller position for Holiday Rambler in the Fifth Wheel category as well as travel trailers. Motor Homes: The Endeavor has replaced the Ambassador as the company s stand out favorite this year. For : Their most popular motorcoach is the Ambassador, starting at $189,000. The company has produced one Class C motorhome since the 1950s, the Atlantis starting at $81,000, and continuing to improve on its original design. Comments: Previous owners of Monaco products, such as Holiday Rambler, have found their warranties not covered by Navistar and are disillusioned with the company. However, dealers are stepping up. Many we spoke with feel very confident in the Monaco line and consider it a great product that, having been around for over 30 years, is worth backing. These same dealers are stepping up with warranties they themselves offer to cover previous lines of Ramblers manufactured before the Navistar takeover. It will be worth watching to see if Navistar can change some of their business practices and come out stronger for the RV manufactures it has acquired. Notes: 93

94 Itasca (Winnebago) 605 West Crystal Lake Road Forest City, IA Phone: A division of Winnebago Industries, Itasca manufactures Class A and Class C motor homes. The Itasca lineup includes 12 distinct models designed for the way you live. Each Itasca motor home offers a variety of Key Features and a style all its own. To learn more please read Winnebago article. Itasca s line up offers fuel economy of up to 19 mpg, provides great floor plans and features plenty of seating, especially with the upscale cab seats that easily swivel to join the living area when parked. The seats are built for maximum comfort and feature an available UltraLeather upgrade. The 24CL has two pull out tables aft of the cab seats that are perfect for drinks and snacks, with a lounge chair also positioned next to the table on the passenger side. In the rear of the 24CL, a spacious dinette with bench seating is featured. The table easily slides for easy access into the dinette when it s time to eat. At night, the dinette converts into a comfortable 50-inch by 82-inch sleeping space. A spacious wardrobe is just another characteristic of this floor plan. The 24DL features two bench seats and a table just aft the cab seats in the front, while an innovative, Memory Foam queen bed slideout that extends the back of the coach is another highlight. The bed features a split in the center of the mattress that enables it to conveniently fold over prior to retracting the slideout room for added space. The bed is flanked by two convenient storage cabinets, and a wardrobe is found just off the galley. Four new floorplans make up the 2009 Suncruiser lineup. First up is the exciting, full wall slide 32H. A driver s side slideout room measuring 23 feet 8 inches extends the lounge, galley and wardrobe and chest of drawers in the bedroom, while a second slideout room extends the queen bed for a sizeable bedroom area. In the lounge, you ll find an innovative U-shaped dinette in the slideout, with a comfortable sofa across the coach. A new Rest Easy theater seating module is also available. The entertainment center sits rearward of the main entrance door and features a new 32-inch LCD TV. A 20-inch LCD TV is another highlight in the bedroom area. Offering a king bed option, the double slide 35L features a side enclosed bath with curved walls, a fully equipped, angled galley and a comfy lounge area featuring the Rest Easy Multi- Position Lounge Winnebago Industries own sofa, lounger and bed in one. A washer/dryer combination is also available in the bedroom (not available with the king bed) opposite the front nightstand, with a generous wardrobe providing plenty of room for clothes, blankets and sheets. New for 2009 is larger 32-inch LCD TV found in the front overhead cabinets in the cab area. The bedroom offers an optional 26-inch LCD TV. The new 35P also features a full wall slide that measures 24 feet 5 inches and extends the Rest Easy sofa, galley, refrigerator, washer/dryer and chest of drawers! In the lounge area, the dinette, just aft the passenger cab seat, extends for an incredibly spacious living area, while the king bed extends in the rear. A 37-inch LCD TV is positioned by the mid-coach entry door for prime viewing if you re on the couch, dinette or in the galley. In the bedroom, a large wardrobe runs along the back wall. An optional 26-inch LCD is available in the bedroom. 94

95 Offering 365 square feet of living space with two slideouts each measuring 17 feet 6 inches long, the roomy 38T offers a state-of-the-art entertainment center with a new 37-inch LCD TV. The layout of this floor plan is truly innovative, with the fully equipped galley located in the front of the motor home, and the lounge area in the middle that includes an optional fireplace for a residential feel. The bathroom features a curved wall for an innovative look, as well as provides entry and exit doors via the living and bedroom areas. A large wardrobe is opposite the bathroom. The bedroom features a second lavatory sink for added convenience and an optional 26-inch LCD TV. For : The 2008 Itasca Ellipse is the company s best selling Class A diesel motorhome. This year s new Itasca Ellipse, sold with an average MSRP of $268,000. In the Class A gas category the Sunova was the company s best selling motorhome with an average MSRP of $105,000 and a great new look with plenty of new features for Itasca s best selling Class C motorhome this season was the Navion iq with an average MSRP of $98,000. For : The most popular Itasca deluxe diesel coach is Itasca s Flagship Coach the Horizon with a MSRP from $254,000 to $276,000. This is exclusive to Itasca (Winnebago) and was developed with Freightliner. Every Horizon has stainless steel appliances, solid wood cabinetry and ceramic tile floor covering. The Suncruiser, retailing between $138,000 and $156,000, is the most popular Class A gas motorcoach. In the Class C category, the Itasca Spirit, at $60,500 - $76,400, is the most popular. Comments: When talking with RV salespeople who sold primarily used RVs many spoke highly of Itasca. Many were impressed with the overall condition of the Itasca s, which sell well on the used market. This is always a good sign. If a product does well in the used market the company is doing something right during the production of the product. The company gets high marks for construction and resale value. RV dealers also gave Itasca high ratings. Itasca s closest competitors are Thor, Monaco, Coachmen and Fleetwood. We did not see much in the way of negative feedback from customers who owned an Itasca and many seem to be pleased with their purchase. Notes: 95

96 Jayco, Inc County Road 2 Middlebury, IN Phone: Jayco, Inc. is one of the largest manufacturers of travel trailers, fifth wheels and Class C motorhomes. Located in Middlebury, Indiana, Jayco was founded in 1968 by Lloyd J. Bontrager who felt he could build a better RV and a better company. He started Jayco on the family farm in two chicken houses and a barn by developing a prototype camping trailer and an original lifter system for fold-down campers. This design was patented and is still in use today. By the end of the first year Bontrager had 15 employees and the company had sold 132 camping trailers. Today the company is still owned and operated by the Bontrager family and almost 1,500 employees are part of the Jayco family. According to Director of Marketing, Sid Johnson, in market research, Jayco consistently comes out ahead on customer service. Johnson sites Fleetwood, Forest River and Thor as Jayco s main competitors and says the company is strongest in the Midwest. The typical Jayco customer is the entry-level customer; with price being the biggest factor. Johnson qualifies that, however, by saying it is hard to generalize the RV consumer. Both of Jayco s entry-level items, the Jayfeather and the Jayflight, rank number one in sales in their divisions. Jayco is probably the number one manufacturer for the entry-level customer, Johnson says. Our customer base has changed in the past 5 to 10 years from older consumers who are not likely to have children to younger couples with children. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: Both of Jayco s entry-level items, the Jayfeather and the Jayflight, rank number one in sales in their divisions. Motor Homes: The Greyhawk Chevy C5500 Kodiak Class C Motorhome is one of Jayco s newest expansions on their popular Greyhawk line of motorhomes. With an MSRP around 82,000 it is available in two different floor plan designs. For : Jayco has made a name for itself offering high quality lightweight travel trailers at an entry level price point with the Jayfeather and the Jayflight Comments: It s hard not to like Jayco as a company. We like the fact that Jayco is familyowned and many in the family are still actively involved in the day-to-day operations. The company s goal is to operate according to the Golden Rule and according to the company s website, We are always looking for new ideas, new ways to ensure customer satisfaction before and after the sale. You don t hear this much anymore. Many companies are so worried about profits they forget about their customers. The company claims that the Jay Flight is still America s best-selling line of towable RV products. Based on our interviews with Jayco owners the company truly does try to follow 96

97 the golden rule. While not a perfect company they do try to ensure their customers are taken care of after the sale. The company has a loyal following, which is always a good sign and based on our research has a good reputation among RV dealers. Quality construction is above average and customer satisfaction is also above average. Resale value is average to above average based on our research. We give Jayco high ratings because of this and for those of you that are entry-level or mid-range buyers Jayco is worth checking out. The company s website lists all their products including pricing, which we like. You can also locate a Jayco dealer near you by entering the state and city in which you live. Jayco is a true success story with quality products and a management team that cares. Jayco has a nice looking website. I am not a fan of the select the unit for you feature because it gives you options that aren t always available in the category you are browsing. However, there are great pictures and floor plans for all of their units and I like that they actually show you a picture of one of their toy haulers with a bike inside of it. As of April, 2008, Travel Supreme has been purchased by Jayco. Notes: 97

98 Keystone RV 2642 Hackberry Drive Goshen, IN Phone: Keystone RV began with one goal in mind to create travel trailers and fifth wheels while keeping the customer top of mind. This philosophy has enabled the company to become the number one manufacturer of fifth wheels and travel trailers in North America. With customer demand for lightweight, fuel-efficient travel trailers at an alltime high, the Passport ultra-light finds favor with families who want to maximize fuel efficiency but maintain all of the conveniences of a well appointed, feature-packed RV. Keystone lives, eats and breathes the customer on a daily basis and to this end, each of its product teams work independently and maintain input into the design and manufacturing of each RV all along the process. We heavily involve our retail customer in our design process, says Don Clark, Executive Vice President of Sales. We clearly believe it is the backbone of our company. The customer is our boss. Another key to Keystone s success is it is solely focused on fifth wheels and travel trailers, nothing else. Many companies build everything from pop-ups to diesels but we focus on fifth wheels and trailers only, says Clark. We allow our product managers autonomy to design what the customer wants. The product manager is closest to the customer and knows best what the customer wants. This model has been very successful for us, continues Clark, and has allowed us to grow from a start up in 1996 to the largest producer of travel trailers and fifth wheels in the world. Keystone lists its closest competitors as Dutchman and Forest River. Clark says the typical Keystone customer can be described as mid-range with both quality and price playing a role in the decision-making process. We have many brands of product, says Clark. All of our customers are discerning and demand the most value for the dollar regardless of what price point. For : For the past few years, the majority of RV buyers have selected the Cougar fifth wheel making it #1 in its class, price, and weight. People choose Cougar for its quality and unique features. It sells for about $35,000 MSRP. The Passport is their best selling travel trailer with an average MSRP of $19,500. For : The Passport and the Cougar are consistent best-sellers. Comments: Keystone receives high marks in customer service, customer satisfaction and quality of product. While the company is appealing to the masses with multiple products they still build a quality RV overall without sacrificing quality construction and workmanship. 98

99 After speaking with a number of Keystone owners it seemed many were pleased with their purchase but some did have complaints about workmanship. With their impressive sales numbers it s going to be difficult to please everybody. The company does an awesome job in marketing their products and they have a large dealer network throughout the United States. Keystone s website is awesome in our opinion and worth checking out. Notes: 99

100 King of the Road (Chief Industries) King of the Road closed its doors in The information contained in this article has been taken from the company s website. Over the past 20 years, the reputation of the King of the Road family has grown stronger with every new design feature and every new model launched. Today, we reign as a leader in the industry, well known for our uncompromising dedication to quality, ingenuity, and superior customer service. We also provide a 5 year unitized structural warranty, which is unique in the industry. Owning a Royalite is not just a dream come true, it s a smart investment. Every unit is built with impeccable quality and attention to detail. We ve worked hard to create a unit that can withstand the rigors of the road while delivering a luxury fifth-wheel experience unlike any other. With R-23 insulation values in both the ceiling and the basement and R-16 values in the endwalls and the bedroom floor, Royalite owners can enjoy their fifth wheel throughout the four seasons. Our unique vacubonding process helps create the strongest sidewall on the market. Combining high-performance glue and an exclusive vacuum process, King of the Road s walls offer the durability you d expect from a luxury fifth wheel. For : The company offered the Royal Villa a deluxe fifth wheel and their most popular seller at around $64,000 MSRP. For : The company manufactured a deluxe diesel pusher called the Genesis, with an average MSRP of $320,000. Comments: We were not able to talk with anyone that owned a King of the Road product. According to RV forums and other resources it seems the resale value is above average to excellent. Quality construction is good but customer satisfaction was average. Notes: 100

101 Komfort SE Jennifer Clackamas, OR Phone: Taken from company s website, Almost 40 years ago Komfort s design team set out to create the industry's best value in travel trailers and fifth wheels with tough and dependable construction. Today every Komfort trailer comes standard with their exclusive TruWeld AlumaKage superstructure, providing superior strength with lighter weight for improved towability. To emphasize their focus on enduring design, Komfort interiors feature extra large, panoramic windows, solid Home Style furniture and solid wood frame cabinets and finishes. Larry Smith, company spokesman says, Komfort pays its employees by the hour while other RV manufacturers compensate their employees using piece rates, paying them by the unit with little consideration for quality. Our place in the market is quality not just quantity. The company s strongest market is the NW region and growing in the SW region. Closest competitors for the company are Nu-Wa, Keystone and Teton. Komfort is appealing to midrange and upper-end buyers with quality, style and price all playing an important role based on our research. The company produces three different series: Komfort, Trailblazer and Campsite. Our Komfort Series is the company s flagship product, which is built with quality in mind that seasoned RVers have come to appreciate says, Larry. The six-side welded-aluminum frames are an important feature in our Komfort series with walls studs on 16 centers, just like a home. A lot of manufacturers offer aluminum framing but it's not complete. The company s website has a link called, Factory Tours by clicking this link you will be redirected to a webpage describing all the different phases of construction that goes into each Komfort trailer. We were impressed with all the information and quality pictures showing the extent they go to building a quality RV. For : The aptly named, Komfort, was a hot item for Komfort this year. For : For Komfort this year, the mid-priced, Trail blazer began it s rise to the top. Comments: Komfort trailers are manufactured in the northwest and are designed to withstand cold temperatures. Many Komfort trailers come with a Thermal Max-Pack All- Weather Package, which consists of enclosed and heated holding tanks and manufacturerspecified R21 insulation in the floor, R14 in the roof, and R7 in the walls. The company ranked very high in quality construction, resale value and dealers we spoke with told us the company preformed well in the area of customer service. The company s website is informative with emphasis on quality. Notes: 101

102 KZ RV 0985 N 900 W Shipshewana, IN Phone: For over 30 years KZ RV has earned a reputation for being an outstanding recreational vehicle manufacturer. The reason for this is their commitment to quality and attention to meeting the unique needs of their customers. Every manufacturer should be proud of their product, and they are. As a matter of fact, the company believes so strongly in their product they back it up with a Five Year Structural Warranty. KZ RV manufactures solid sided travel trailers and hybrid travel trailers that are lightweight enough to be towed by smaller vehicles. They manufacture many different models and floor plans. KZ RV depends on a dealer network to sell their products and provides a link on their website to locate a dealer near you. Marlene Snyder, sales manager for KZ RV is quick to point out that the company has won the Dealer Satisfaction Index (DSI) award six years in a row, and has rated very highly in all 21 categories. According to Marlene, the company has strong sales in all regions and their two closest competitors are Keystone and Jayco. The company sells an estimated 10,000+ units per year. One thing that distinguishes KZ from others is how quickly the company reacts to changing market trends. They listen to feedback from their dealers about colors, designs, floor plans, etc, and incorporate this information into the product quickly. They can get a fast turnaround on changes, making them very nimble in the marketplace. Marlene ranks KZ as a 10 in both customer service and customer satisfaction. She thinks the KZ product quality deserves a 12. Marlene believes their company appeals to mid-range buyers with quality and price both playing a big role. Of the 13 travel trailer floor plans the company offers, eight weigh in at less than 5,000 pounds empty, making them especially appealing to people who don't want to buy a big, heavy-duty tow vehicle. For : The Sportsmen is the company s most popular fifth wheel. The price range for this model is $25,000 to $48,000. In the travel trailer category the company points to the Frontier, ranging in price from $20,000 to $30,000. For : The Frontier travel trailer and the Sportsmen 5 th selling models for this year. wheel are the best Comments: Those that we have talked to that own a KZ product give the company a solid 9 or 10 regarding quality of product and overall customer satisfaction. This company has a solid business plan and realizes they are filling a niche in the market. They have a wide range of products from deluxe fifth wheels and toy haulers to affordable travel trailers. The quality of construction is very good, customer satisfaction is good and the resale value of KZ products is average to above average based on our research. The company s website has a new feature called, KZ Videos Online, now RV buyers can view a video of different models produced by the company. Overall, KZ is a solid company with a great reputation in the industry today. Notes: 102

103 Lazy Daze Inc E. Mission Blvd. Montclair, CA Phone: Lazy Daze began designing and manufacturing recreational vehicles in They built and commercially marketed the very first Class C motor home in America in From the start, Lazy Daze set itself outside the pack by selling their vehicles directly from the factory, no dealer involvement, meaning very competitive prices and one-on-one relationships with the retail customers. Everyone who purchases a Lazy Daze comes to the California factory to test drive it and then again to pick it up and take it on its way. (Lazy Daze offers a travel voucher incentive and encourages would-be buyers to come take a test drive and see the factory before buying.) Because of their location, Lazy Daze sells best in the west; however they have made considerable expansion into the East. The more new coaches we sell there, the greater our presence and exposure. This in turn creates increased new business. Ed Newton, president of Lazy Daze, says that his company s size sets it apart from his competitors such as Winnebago and Fleetwood. You can t be the biggest and still be the best, he says. We are a small company but we make quality products. We sell direct from the factory so we have no dealer markup, no sales commission, we don t play games with prices. Their true factory direct sales are one item that makes them very unique in the industry. It allows them to offer an exceptional value in Premium class C coaches by eliminating the retail mark up. But more than that is their product. We don't manufacture "me too" coaches. Our unique design and engineering separates us from the industry. We design our coaches to handle well by keeping them low, distributing weight between the axles and maintaining a good wheelbase to length ratio. says Newton. Combine this with generous standard features such as full body paint, thermalpane window and very high build quality and frankly there is no competition in our price range! Newton adds that Lazy Daze is also a strictly Class C manufacturer, producing and selling about 275 units a year. We produce less than we used to but they are more complex, he adds. Lazy Daze offers 12 floor plans, each of which can be viewed on the website. Newton says, Our best selling models are those that offer more sleeping capacity for families. I guess it sleeps more grandchildren. Their average customer could probably be classified as a mid range buyer. Like many people, they look for the best quality and value in products. Newton says, Many of our owners spend months extensively shopping and comparing units. We invite this challenge because we know that customers who thoroughly research end up buying a new Lazy Daze. They know they're buying the best class C in the market! They feel their factory direct approach pays dividends on customer service. Because customers are able to talk directly to factory personnel, they can get quick and accurate answers to questions they may have on their new coach. Engineering is in house so technical questions can be fielded in short order as well. Coach replacement parts for new coaches are in stock because they are doing the manufacturing on the premises. And when it comes to coach repairs, the same people that built it do the repairs. 103

104 Based on customer sales feedback, they feel that they are generally compared to class C units that sell for an average of $20,000 to $40,000 more than their own coaches. Newton says, Because of our high quality and generous standard features, we are rarely compared to coaches that sell in our price range. Newton says that Lazy Daze service record stands on its own. We send out surveys after every sale and almost always the comments come back, Exceptional. In an industry where almost everything is mass produced, we stand out because we don t mass produce and we continue to offer quality products. Lazy Daze customers tend to be mid-range buyers, price and quality both playing an important role. For : Because all of their coaches are custom built, there really is no best selling model. Their average price is around $80,000. For : see above Comments: What is unique about Lazy Daze is they are one of the few factory-direct companies left. The main benefits are price and quality. There are no transportation or dealer costs. This means they can sell a less-expensive, higher quality Class C than a dealer normally could. "People who buy our motor homes have researched rather extensively, whether they have talked to owners or compared our units to others out in the field, Newton said. "We have some local people who will come in here four or five times before they make a purchase. The more they look at someone else, the better we look, because there is no comparison on quality and price." Most RV buyers are probably not familiar with Lazy Daze because they are so small and don t spend a lot on advertising. Most advertising according to Newton is word of mouth. The company receives high marks in all categories. Customers I have spoken to have been pleased with their purchase. Overall a great company if you re interested in the best of the best without paying a premium retail price. Newton, did mention that the Internet is generating additional exposure across the country and folks are making the trip to their plant in California from all around the county. Notes: 104

105 Monaco Coach Company Coburg Industrial Way Coburg, OR Phone: Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2009 and is now owned by Navistar. On March 2, 2009 it terminated about 2,000 employees in Oregon and Indiana, most of whom had been on furlough since mid-december. The company said it has been hurt by the decline in financial and real estate markets, the erosion of consumer wealth and confidence, and tight credit. Monaco said it had negotiated forbearance agreements with lenders, who agreed to withdraw existing re-purchasing demands and stop making new ones until April 6. In its filings, Monaco laid out a tentative budget for the next 12 weeks. Monaco asked the judge to allow it to re-establish an incentive program for dealers and their sales representatives so they can sell Monaco s existing inventory, authorize Monaco to continue paying employee wages and benefits while the company is in bankruptcy, allow it to hire professionals such as lawyers, accountants and consultants, as needed, in connection with Monaco s ongoing business operations, prohibit utilities from stopping service to the company, and authorize it to pay sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, authorize it to use cash collected from the sales of assets, to keep the company operating. According to the company s website, The roots of Monaco Coach Corporation run back to 1968 with the formation of Caribou Coach Corporation. They soon evolved into Monaco Motorhomes, Inc., and out of that organization Monaco Coach Corporation was born in There are many milestones in the history of the evolution of the number one highline motorcoach manufacturer in the world... the redesign of the Roadmaster chassis in 1989, the debut of the Dynasty model in 1990, the acquisition of Holiday Rambler Recreation Vehicles in early 1996, the launch of McKenzie in 1998 and the acquisition of Safari and Beaver motorcoaches in These are some of the many highlights in Monaco Coach Corporation's past. Monaco also added another company to their impressive line-up with the purchase of R- Vision in This pushed Monaco into fifth place among towables according to Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Statistical Surveys Inc. Monaco, which displaced Coachmen Industries Inc. for the spot, was the only company that moved up in rankings. In all, Monaco has grown to include: Holiday Rambler Beaver McKenzie R-Vision Safari Dodge Themed RV s Roadmaster (Chassis Manufacturer) Years of experience have made Monaco coaches a leader in the industry, synonymous with fine quality. Their stated goal is to build homes on wheels that are innovative, dependable and competitively priced while offering a lifestyle for customers that exceeds their dreams. 105

106 It s the quality, superior fit and finish, and after the sale support that makes us different from our competitors, says Craig Wanichek, Director of Corporate Communications. We take great care of both retailers and dealers. We work with dealers but we also have three service centers of our own with over 500 employees. That s more than some companies have total. Monaco is strongest in the southwest and names Fleetwood, Thor, Tiffin and Winnebago as its closest competitors. Monaco attracts upper-end buyers - those interested in quality and style over price. All of their models are popular, according to Wanichek, because they give good value for the dollar. The company is appealing to the mid-range and upper-end buyers with quality and style playing a big role in the decision process. We are going to be giving our dealers some additional product, said Mike Snell, Monaco vice president of sales and marketing. We have a lot of full-wall slideouts that we are continuing to develop, and one area of the market we've not been successful at is Class C s, which will be our focus in coming years. Monaco is always looking for ways to satisfy the customer and improve the motor coach experience. All of its motorhomes have one-piece windshields at all price points. They have begun to put awnings on the top to give them a bus like look and to shield some of the mechanics such as AC units, all for a cleaner look. They are working on giving their homes higher ceilings and continue to stay focused on the fit and finish. For : In the Class A category the Monaco Diplomat is the most popular deluxe diesel coach starting at $245,273 and the Monarch starting at $113,015 is the most popular gas motorhome. In the Class C division, the Covina remains their best seller. For : In the Class A category the Monaco Diplomat is the most popular deluxe diesel coach starting at $209,000 and the Monarch SE starting at $104,000 is the most popular gas motorhome. In the Class C division, the Esquire leads the pack with a starting price of $84,000. All of these models are popular, according to Wanichek, because they give good value for the dollar. A word on Roadmaster Chassis: We like the design and construction features found on a Roadmaster Chassis system. In Chapter 4 we outline different chassis manufacturers and what to look for in a quality chassis. Roadmaster s website has a page called, Construction Highlights. The information contained in this page is excellent with colorful diagrams explaining the features and benefits of their chassis system. To learn more about a Roadmaster please visit their website at, Comments: Monaco rated high in customer satisfaction and quality of product and at the dealer level most gave Monaco high marks. We spoke with many Monaco owners and many were pleased with their purchase. Resale value is average to above average and construction is above average to excellent. (2010) From the consumer and dealers side, reviews and expectations are less optimistic regarding Navistar s buyout of the Monaco industry. Previous owners of Monaco who have found their warranties not covered by Navistar are disillusioned with the company. However, dealers are stepping up. Many we spoke with feel very confident in the Monaco line and consider it a great product that, having been around for over 30 years, is worth backing. These same dealers are stepping up with warranties they themselves offer to cover previous lines of Monacos manufactured before the Navistar takeover. Notes: 106

107 New Horizons RV 2618 Mid America Drive Junction City, KS Phone: New Horizons is a small company and has no desire to become all things to all people. The emphasis is on quality, and maintaining the standard they have set for themselves. New Horizons is a family owned company with 45 employees, and strong core values. They believe in knowing every buyer personally. Owner Phil Brokenicky says If a customer ever has any kind of customer service issue, it only takes one call to resolve. The company is strong all up and down the West Coast. The fact that they operate without dealers means great value to buyers, but it also presents a challenge in terms of their product being seen. The company also has appointed some New Horizons owners as Ambassadors for New Horizons. These dedicated owners have been factory trained. As they travel, they will show their RV to interested people. They will even have the info to write orders. Phil has found that New Horizons buyers have done an average of 2 years of research before they buy. In terms of production, they build about one unit per week and according to Phil, it takes 1,200 man hours on average to complete one unit. Phil wishes they were more streamlined regarding production but is happy so far with the results. The company s goal is to build 100 units per year while still maintaining quality. The company s two closest competitors are Teton and Travel Supreme. They can build a trailer to accommodate wheelchairs, lifts, and other assistive technologies. They have a one level floor plan that does well for people with disabilities. Even the countertops are designed with accessibility in mind. The company does not build as many travel trailers as fifth wheels but will build to suit. For this reason we did not rate them in the travel trailer category. Attention to detail even goes to exactly how much the RV weighs when the customer picks it up. A list of what personal cargo weighs can be found in the FAQs on the New Horizon s website. Phil says most RVs on the road are overloaded, a safety issue he doesn t want his customers having to worry about. The Company s mission statement says, To bring happiness and satisfaction to owners of New Horizons RVs by: Building the best towable RV on the market. Giving the customer a unit they are proud of that is built for their needs. Providing excellent value for the customer's hard-earned money. Honoring God in everything we do and say in our interaction with customers and employees. For : The 36 triple slide has long been their best seller. It is their most popular model. The average cost is around $107,000. In travel trailers, New Horizons specializes in building handicapped accessible trailers. For : See above. 107

108 Comments: In our opinion New Horizons builds one of the best fifth wheels in the United States and takes pride in what they do, for this reason they received a high rating. Their 40,000 sq. foot factory is a modern facility staffed with dedicated craftspeople that take pride in every unit they build. That pride is complimented by a level of experience that is unmatched in the RV industry. All New Horizons are built to order for each customer. You may visit their manufacturing facility located in Junction City, KS. They generally have eight to twelve models in various stages of production. New Horizons backs up the skill and quality that is put into each RV with a 2 year "Hitch to Bumper" warranty plus a 5 year warranty on their frame. The delivery time changes with the number of orders they have, but they suggest that you place your order a minimum of 3 months before you plan to take delivery. Most retail buyers are probably not aware of this company but if you live in their markets and you re a full-timer or planning on becoming a full-timer then check this company out. Notes: 108

109 Newmar Corp 355 N. Delaware Street PO Box 30 Nappanee, IN Phone: Newmar was founded in 1968 when Marvin Newcomer and Marvin Miller, left their jobs in upper level management at another RV manufacturing company to start their own company. The name Newmar is a combination of their names. The first location was an old fire station in rural Five Points and the Kountry Aire travel trailer was their main product. In the early 70s, Newmar was at the forefront of the fifth wheel revolution, adding to its lineup the Kountry Aire fifth wheel. Over the years, Newmar has continued to add to its product line, expanding and improving as the market and the industry grow. Newmar was founded by and is owned by Mennonites and its mission statement states Newmar applies Christian principles of honesty, courtesy, morality, fairness, reasonableness, reliability, and integrity in dealing with its customers, employees, suppliers and financial institutions. Newmar's excellence in quality was recognized nationally in 1996 when the Recreational Vehicle Dealer's Association gave Newmar their first Quality Circle Award. Newmar has continued to win this award many times since. Two Newmar executives, Mahlon Miller and the late Virgil Miller have been inducted into the RV/MH Heritage Foundation Hall of Fame. Newmar s closest competitors are Monaco, Tiffin, Fleetwood, Gulf Stream and Travel Supreme. Historically, the state of Florida has been Newmar s strongest market for RV Sales overall. The acquisition of two new dealers in California and Oregon should make a huge impact on Newmar sales growth on the west coast. Newmar s customer service ranks among the best in the RV industry overall, perhaps only rivaled by Winnebago according to many of their dealers. Many Newmar owners (who have owned other brands in the past) would say that Newmar is the best. In spite of this, Newmar is always striving to improve in the area of service and parts support of its customer and dealers. Discover an amazing blend of comfort, performance and fun with the 2008 Newmar Cypress Fifth Wheel Trailer. The Cypress offers easily accessible hook-ups, plus all of the perks that make your RVing experience fun and hassle free. Interior features like cathedralheight kitchen cabinets with hardwood raised doors, a 60-by-80 inch bed, a SuperSlider freestanding dinette table and gliding recliner chairs. Newmar is marketing to both the elite and mid-range consumers, with the reintroduction of two luxury diesel coaches. The Essex and London Aire, are for the most discriminating buyers, Sammut says. They aren t necessarily price driven they just want what no one else has. They want the latest and the greatest and they have discriminating taste. They want the leathers and the woodwork to be something that you won t find in other motorhomes. While Newmar is reaching out to those high-end buyers the majority of Newmar s customers fall into the mid-range category, with price and quality both playing a factor. 109

110 For : In 2008, Newmar introduced Comfort Drive Steering available on all Newmar diesel pusher brands, all Star rear ramp and BBQ models, Grand Star gas motor home brands available with gas or Freightliner front engine diesel (FRED) chassis, and bunk models in Cypress, Grand Star, Ventana and Kountry Star brands. For : The most popular products in the Newmar Line this season included the Dutch Star in the Class A diesel category as well as the Ventana, just launched for The Ventana is a lower end diesel price point and has quickly become a strong number two in popularity to the Dutch Star, says John Sammut, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Comments: Newmar is a top-notch company with quality craftsmanship and innovative designs, which gives them a very high rating based on our research. Newmar s closest competitors according to Sammut, are Fleetwood, Monaco and Tiffin. What sets Newmar apart is that they will accommodate special requests at almost every price point. Our manufacturing process allows us to do that. We build in volumes of one, says Sammut, meaning that the production line will have a high end diesel followed by a fifth wheel and so on. We are not a mass production shop; we are basically a custom shop. The Newmar website has some good information including warranty and service information and the online factory tour is definitely worth taking the time to look at, although not the real thing, it is a nice substitute if you don t find yourself in Nappanee. Notes: 110

111 Northwood Manufacturing (Arctic Fox) Downs Rd. PO Box 3359 La Grande, OR Phone: We were not able to speak with Northwood Manufacturing but I wanted to include them in this guide. The company s website does provide some information, which I am including in this article. Ron Nash, and his wife, Sherry, started building RV travel trailers in Their goal was to build quality trailers with the hopes of having enough time to spend traveling. What started out as a small business adventure has turned into a thriving business with two manufacturing facilities. The first factory is located in La Grande, Oregon and the second factory was opened in 2001 located in Winchester, Virginia. From a recent article about the company: Ron started out as a general manager in the RV industry and then moved into the roll as production manager. This gave Ron the experience and knowledge to start his own company. During this time many RV manufacturers were striving to cut RV prices and costs by resorting to cheaper and sometimes flimsier materials. Ron went in the opposite direction, figuring there would be a market for sturdy, durable and well-insulated RVs, particularly in Canada and in the NW. His intuition paid off and now, Arctic Fox is known around the world as a quality product with a high degree of craftsmanship at affordable prices. According to Northwood s website the company employs about 300 people, making them one of the largest private-sector employers in the NW. Today, Northwood builds Arctic Fox campers; Desert Fox sport utility trailers, Nash and Arctic Fox towables and fifth wheels. The company takes pride in the fact they provide enough insulation to enjoy all fourseasons comfortably in many of their models. You can also upgrade the insulation or R Factor in their entry-level products as well. The company also boasts that they have heavier tires and stronger axles so their vehicles can go off-road with style and ease. For : The Arctic Fox lines continue to be their best sellers For : Their top selling 5 th wheel is the Arctic Fox which has an MSRP of around $50,000. Their top selling travel trailer is also labeled Arctic Fox and sells for around $24,000. Comments: We like Northwood and when we spoke with Arctic Fox owners they couldn t say enough about the company or their RV. As you would suspect, they rate high in customer satisfaction and they also do very well in the area of quality construction. One thing you need to realize is that Northwood still uses wood framing in their travel trailers and fifth wheels models which in turn makes the units heavier, using more gasoline than lighter weight materials. Many customers like this fact but you do need to take into consideration you may need a heavy duty vehicle to tow these trailers. The company does use aluminum framing in their camper models, which is a plus. On the positive side all models use plywood and solid wood rather than strand or flake board with exterior grade tongue and groove plywood similar to residential construction. The resale value is above average to excellent based on our research. Notes: 111

112 Nu-Wa Industries 3701 Johnson Road Chanute, KS Important Note: After a closure at the beginning of 2009, NuWa Industries Inc. intends to re-open its doors to start building HitchHiker fifth-wheels again beginning in June, This news comes after a six-month shutdown of its factory. CEO Mike Mitchell said the company will roll out a 2010 product through the fall while cutting retail prices substantially as it will begin selling RVs factory-direct to better service consumers. The company announced in late December that it was making a graceful exit from the RV industry and would stop production in January while keeping a service center open until at least 2010 to meet the parts, warranty and service needs of its customers and dealers. At the time, dealers were told that NuWa was not going bankrupt and intended to meet its financial obligations. Discounted cash/wholesale trade selling prices typically will be 25% lower than comparable 2009 model prices, but will be non-negotiable. The low cash price concept will require that trades be taken at wholesale, as the new unit pricing will be much nearer wholesale. Nu-Wa Industries is the oldest manufacturer of fifth wheels, dating back to The company continues to be at the forefront of fifth wheel innovations, continuing the tradition it started by being one of the four manufacturers who created the Fifth Wheel concept. For more than 30 years, Nu-Wa has been improving on this concept, concentrating on making some of the best fifth wheels in the industry. We concentrate on one thing. We wanted to be the best at one thing and fifth wheels is what we chose, says Nu-Wa Director of Marketing Derrick Bruenger. We have one product line rather than five or six. We focus on quality rather than quantity. Bruenger says that Nu-Wa s closest competitors are Montego Bay by KZ RV, Carriage and Teton. Nu-Wa sells strongest The West half of the Country the Nu-Wa customer is looking for quality and style when shopping for a fifth wheel. Regarding construction of products, the company welds additional supports into their frames to add additional strength. They also powder coated the frames which is unique. The company pioneered the first slide system in 1976, which speaks well for the company. The company uses Blue Dow center core insulation, which has 39% more insulation than fiberglass bats in all of their units. Double sided bounded walls are also standard in their units. The company screws the face frames together for stronger cabinetry. For : Nu-Wa s most popular fifth wheel is The Hitchhiker II LS, a lighter weight, value priced fifth wheel with an MSRP around $70,000. For : We found the Hitchhiker to be their best seller this year as well. Comments: Nu-Wa rates high in customer service and customer satisfaction and high in dealer satisfaction as well. We hope that Nu-Wa is able to get back on its feet and that they are successful with whatever new line they produce. Notes: 112

113 Peterson Industries, Inc. (Excel) 616 E. Hwy 36 Smith Center, KS Phone: According to the company s website, Peterson Industries, Inc. is a family-owned business. Peterson Industries, Incorporated was formed in 1966 by Leonard and Blanche Peterson and son, Vaughn, in Smith Center, Kansas. The original purpose of the corporation was for the construction, sale and distribution of pickup campers manufactured under the Excel brand name. Peterson Industries saw their first major expansion in 1974 with the construction of a 12,000 square foot facility for the purpose of manufacturing travel trailer frames. This expansion also opened the door for them to begin manufacturing class C motor homes, which the company continued to market until Peterson Industries built their first fifth wheel unit in In 1983, just when things were on the upswing, a fire of unknown origin destroyed the entire main Peterson complex including the offices, construction drawings and all records. Top priority for the company was to build a new, completely modernized manufacturing facility, which was completed in 1984 with the new offices following in Including the current one, there have been nine plant expansions since Another new feature we introduced for 1998 was one of the most unique ideas to hit the industry in quite some time. We featured a gas fire place, available in several models. The company s main focus is to build the best fifth-wheel RV in the industry, which appeals to full-timers and snow-birders, says Bryan Tillett, President of Peterson Industries, Inc. This is what separates Excel from its competitors. Bryan also pointed out that the RV Consumer Group constantly gives them a high ranking in their category. Because of their dealer network, Bryan says they have strong sales in all regions. The company appeals to upper-end buyers, quality and style being the most important to their customers. He believes that Teton and Hitchhiker are their two closet competitors. The LE 33TKE offers a stylish wrap around sofa that you just won t find in any other fifthwheel RV. Two large slide-out rooms create a spacious living room and kitchen. The enclosed bathroom is another popular feature of the Limited TKE, which is also offered in 35 and 36-feet lengths. A feature of all of Excel s Limited line is solid wood cabinets, including the standard oak or the optional cherry. Excel offers an Minus 10 Degree Guarantee on all of is 2008 and later models (RT, Classic and Limited) the company guarantees that your holding tanks, water tank, interior water lines and other essential plumbing wont freeze all the way down to minus 10 degrees (optional Thermopane windows must be installed). No other company can put that in writing. For : The company s most popular fifth-wheel is the Limited Edition 33TKE, which sells for around $76,000, For : In summer 2007, Peterson Industries introduced its first SURV the Wild Cargo W39TKE. 113

114 Comments: We rank Peterson Industries in the premium category because of their commitment to building an upper-end unit for fulltime use and the warranty to back it up. The company received high marks in each category. Those that we talked to who owned a Peterson product were very pleased with their purchase. Peterson Industries has an excellent reputation in the industry for being one of the best manufacturers of fifth wheel products. If you re an upper-end buyer looking for a quality unit then you owe it to yourself to check out this company. Peterson s website is the first we have seen that shows décor that feels more like home instead of a luxury hotel. Luxury is nice but sometimes you just want to feel at home. Notes: 114

115 Pilgrim International Inc. Pilgrim closed its doors in 2008 According to company s website, The vision of Pilgrim International, Inc. is to bring to market high quality, midprice range trailers and fifth wheels. These recreational vehicles will be fully equipped with only a few options. Thus, the end consumer will be able to own a full-featured RV at a price point lower than ever imagined. Pilgrim did not return our phone calls but based on our research and the company s website, Legend Series offers experienced campers the opportunity to step up to the next level of function, design, and durability. Available as a travel trailer, mid-profile fifth wheel (with and without front bedroom slides), and high profile fifth wheels featuring two to four slides, Legends captures the spirit of camping with all the comforts of home. Legend has models to appeal to families from two to ten, as well as affordable high profile fifth wheels for the "snowbirds" to spend the winter. For the outdoor enthusiast with half-ton pickups or mid-sized SUVs that want a lightweight trailer with all the amenities of home, the Pilgrim Lite series is built on an aluminum frame with vacuum bonded lamination that features Pilgrims exclusive TuffGloss exterior for a gelcoat finish at an affordable price. Floorplans for families include amenities like outside showers, available outside grills, large awnings and bike storage. One floorplan even features a ramp door to take along the four-wheeler or motorcycle For : Regarding their travel trailers we found the, Pilgrim Lite to be their best selling model. Average MSRP for the Pilgrim Lite series was $18,000. The, Legend Series were the company s most popular selling fifth wheels with an average MSRP of $68,000. For : The Open Road line of 5 th wheels was a popular seller this year. Comments: Pilgrim was a unique company in a lot of ways with innovative floor plans and quality designs. In our research we found Newmar, Jayco and Forest River to be Pilgrim s closest competitors. Pilgrim was a company with a firm handle on quality control and customer satisfaction. Those we spoke with were pleased with their purchase. Notes: 115

116 R-Vision RV (Monaco RV) Coburg Industrial Way Coburg, OR Phone: Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has been purchased by Navistar. Now, coming out of bankruptcy last year, Monaco was purchased by Navistar and the union seems to be a positive one as sales have begun to rise. Their $47 million deal completed the transaction of acquiring existing inventory, intellectual property, and production facilities located at Monaco s headquarters in Coburg, Ore., as well as Harrisburg, Ore., Wakarusa, Ind. and Milford, Ind. Navistar now owns, along with Monaco, Holiday Rambler, Safari, Beaver, McKenzie, Dodge-Themed RV s, R-Vision brands and Roadmaster Chassis manufactures. On March 2, 2009 it terminated about 2,000 employees in Oregon and Indiana, most of whom had been on furlough since mid-december. The company said it has been hurt by the decline in financial and real estate markets, the erosion of consumer wealth and confidence, and tight credit. Monaco said it had negotiated forbearance agreements with lenders, who agreed to withdraw existing re-purchasing demands and stop making new ones until April 6. In its filings, Monaco laid out a tentative budget for the next 12 weeks. Monaco asked the judge to allow it to re-establish an incentive program for dealers and their sales representatives so they can sell Monaco s existing inventory, authorize Monaco to continue paying employee wages and benefits while the company is in bankruptcy, allow it to hire professionals such as lawyers, accountants and consultants, as needed, in connection with Monaco s ongoing business operations, prohibit utilities from stopping service to the company, and authorize it to pay sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, authorize it to use cash collected from the sales of assets, to keep the company operating. Taken from company s website: Since we pushed the first light-weight travel trailer out the door of Plant 1 in 1997, R-Vision has strived to live by the credo that excellence isn't an option, its standard. Many of the folks who designed, built or pushed out that first unit are still with us today, creating high-quality, light-weight and ultra-light-weight trailers. Our products are as diverse as the people who buy RV's. The scope of the people who have kept R-Vision at the top of the light-weight trailer market range from the camping enthusiast in the 36-foot Trail-Bay to the sports enthusiast in the R-Wagon toy hauler to the "weekenders" in the 17-foot Bantam you see going down the road behind a mini-van. R-Vision innovations have contributed to the RV industry as we know it today with our development of hybrid travel-trailers and the motor home classification now commonly known as the "B plus". In 2005, R-Vision, (Trail-Lite) was purchased by the Monaco Coach Corporation for $60 million, maintaining R-Vision as a separate division. Based on our research the company views; Gulf Stream, Damon and Coachmen to be their closest competitors for their motorhomes. Closest competitors for their travel trailers are Forest River, Skyline and Keystone. The company is appealing to entry-level to mid-range buyers with price and quality both being important. The company makes a wide range of travel trailers and fifth wheels, which is their strong point in our opinion. While the company never returned our phone calls we like this model because of its quality construction and affordability. The Trail Sport is available in either a 116

117 travel trailer or fifth wheel design, which offers conventional travel trailer slide-outs as well as rear slide-outs with unique floor plans. The Trail Sport series is constructed with welded aluminum framed laminated 2 inch walls with Filon fiberglass. For : The 36-foot Trail-Bay, the R-Wagon toy hauler and the 17-foot Bantam have also garnered a strong sales record. For : The company s best selling travel trailer today is the Trail Sport with an average MSRP of $17,000. Comments: Based on our research the company produces a quality product with attention to detail. Customer services rated average and resale value is average to above average. Dealers we spoke with were pleased with how the company responded to warranty claims and R-Vision owners were satisfied with their purchase. The company s website is informative but could be a bit more consumer friendly, all in all a quality company with affordable products. Since Navistar purchased this line (2010) there seems to be a lack of interaction with dealers about this product. Several calls with many dealers left us in the dark about this company. The response ranged from telling us R-Vision was out of business (and this was a dealer who specialized in selling R-Vision!), to others who felt they too were left in the dark as far as what is going on in with R-Vision and Navistar. Not sure what this will bring to previous owners and future products. Notes: 117

118 Rexhall Industries, Inc th St W Lancaster, CA Phone: Rexhall Says Chapter 11 Won't Disrupt Business. William Rex, president and CEO of Rexhall Industries Inc., blamed extenuating circumstances unrelated to the current downturn in the industry for his recent decision to file for bankruptcy protection. It should have no effect on customers and will help Rexhall weather the financial storm. In the midst of all this, they have expanded factory-direct sales efforts; opening up a new dealership in Lancaster. In court documents the company explained that it began selling its products factory-direct instead of through dealers because of too much exposure to costs under lender re-purchase agreements. Rexhall once employed upward of 400 employees but was down to 46 in March 2009, according to the court filing. Rexhall has been producing Class "A" motor homes for nearly 20 years. Their commitment as a company has always been to provide a product that emphasizes value. Rexhall's manufacturing philosophy makes it possible for them to produce a product that offers the customer high quality materials, component parts, and integrated systems. Rexhall products stand apart in their safety, uniqueness and quality. For : The company underwent some serious restructuring in early 2008 and will no longer be selling factory-direct. They hope to see the popular Rexair and Roseair products regain popularity through their new structure of selling through dealers. For : In 2006 and 2007 models, compartment doors are café style. Other new items include a 37 gas motorhome with a toy box on the back. Best sellers this year were the Roseair with an MSRP of $200,000 and the Rexair with an MSRP of $100,000. Comments: The Company receives high marks for quality construction and customer satisfaction based on my research. Many Rexhall owners were pleased with the fit and finish of their coaches and felt the company gave you more regarding standard features as compared to Fleetwood or Coachman, their closest competitors. The resale value is average to above average based on my research. Rexhall is a smaller company with emphasis on building Class A diesel and gas motor homes. We feel the company could do a better job in promoting their products and their website could be a bit more consumer friendly. The company does offer tours in the morning and if you live near the plant we would recommend taking a tour. Rexhall is a good company with quality construction being their highest priority, which leads to satisfied customers. Notes: 118

119 Safari Motorcoaches (Monaco) Coburg Industrial Way Coburg, OR Monaco filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has been purchased by Navistar. To our knowledge they are no longer manufacturing this line of products. On March 2, 2009, it terminated about 2,000 employees in Oregon and Indiana, most of whom had been on furlough since mid-december. The company said it has been hurt by the decline in financial and real estate markets, the erosion of consumer wealth and confidence, and tight credit. Monaco said it had negotiated forbearance agreements with lenders, who agreed to withdraw existing re-purchasing demands and stop making new ones until April 6. In its filings, Monaco laid out a tentative budget for the next 12 weeks. Monaco asked the judge to allow it to re-establish an incentive program for dealers and their sales representatives so they can sell Monaco s existing inventory, authorize Monaco to continue paying employee wages and benefits while the company is in bankruptcy, allow it to hire professionals such as lawyers, accountants and consultants, as needed, in connection with Monaco s ongoing business operations, prohibit utilities from stopping service to the company, and authorize it to pay sales and use taxes and regulatory fees, authorize it to use cash collected from the sales of assets, to keep the company operating. Safari began building coaches in 1986 in Oregon. The goal was to make an outstanding RV for good value. Safari soon became well-known and popular in the RV world and in 2001 became a part of the Monaco Coach Corporation, also in Oregon, and still strives to give the most coach for the money. Safari motorcoaches strive to stand out from the rest, especially its main competitors, Winnebago and Fleetwood, with great attention paid to fit and finish. The amenities we put in the homes, the quality and construction, are second to none, says Monaco VP Craig Wanichek. Our diesel is built on its own chassis and all units have 84 height and one-piece windshields. It s all about the best value for the dollar. Safari is popular in the northwest and southwest regions of the country, due in large part to its location. Wanichek gives Safari a 10 across the board for customer service, customer satisfaction and quality of product. We have more people in service than most have in their whole company, he says. For parts and service, Monaco's backend support is second to none in the industry. Our superior service sets us apart. With a one-piece Panaview windshield and custom-built Roadmaster chassis that has the power of a Caterpillar C7 350 HP engine; the Cheetah combines luxury with power for a smooth ride. This year the Cheetah is now offered in 42 ft with a tag axle. The new Cheetah 42 come std. with a Cat C9 400 HP. With standards like solid wood cabinets and the custom Roadmaster chassis, this product is the best value around. For : This year, Safari has two Class C motorhomes called Ivory, and Damara both starting at very affordable prices. These models come in a number of floor plans and are intended to attract entry-level buyers. For : The Cheetah and the Ivory were the best sellers for this season. 119

120 Comments: The quality of construction is above average to excellent on models that are three years old or newer. The resale value is average to above average and dealers across the country gave Safari high marks as well. All in all, it is a good company that really appeals to those that want more than just your basic RV unit but can t afford the really expensive units. The company says it appeals to the upper-end buyers but we feel they appeal more to the mid-range to upper-end buyers. No longer manufacturing this line. Notes: 120

121 Skyline Corporation 2520 By-Pass Road P.O. Box 743 Elkhart IN Phone: Skyline was started 55 years ago by his great-grandfather and grandfather in a garage and has been run by generations of his family ever since. Today Skyline is synonymous with quality and customer service. There is no one else out there that goes as far as we do for service, says a Skyline representative. We take care of the back-end. We are a long-term company and people come to us for service and quality, he says. So much so that Skyline not only sends surveys to its customers to find out how they think Skyline is doing, but also uses Underwriter s Laboratories and holds a Dealer Council a few times a year to get feedback from its dealers. Skyline s believes that their main competitors are Forest River, Keystone and Jayco but to him it is almost apples and oranges. We are a small company and we like it that way, he says. We want to be the best boutique company in the industry. Skyline's strength continues to be in the western portion of the United States; market penetration in Oregon and Washington lead the pack. Skyline is unique in many ways. They are smaller than most companies that they compete with, and are accessible at all levels. Every dealer and every customer is important to our company. For this reason, Skyline's production facilities are strategically placed to better service dealers and retail customers needs. Unlike many of their competitors Skyline has provided quality products to their customers for over 56 years in both the RV and Housing Industries. For : Overall, the Aljo, priced around $29,000 is the best selling fifth wheel and the Nomad, priced around $25,500 tops the list of travel trailers. For : Due to their regional approach to production and marketing, popular models can vary from region to region. Comments: Skyline has been around for many years and has a good reputation in the industry. The company has a low overhead and is able to produce quality products at very affordable prices. We give them high marks in all categories because of their dedication to excellence. Construction is average to above average and resale value is average. RV dealers from around the country gave them high marks. If you re a first timer or on a tight budget give Skyline a look, you ll be glad you did. Notes: 121

122 Starcraft RV Inc. P.O. Box 458 Topeka, IN Phone: Starcraft has been purchased by Jayco From the company s website: Starcraft has a long history of innovation and market leadership dating all the way back to We were founded in the heart of Northern Indiana's Amish country, and still call this area our home. Starcraft originally produced livestock tanks and other metal farm equipment, and in the 1920's, added a variety of boats to our lineup. In 1964, Starcraft entered the RV industry with a line of folding camping trailers. Today, Starcraft RV offers soft-sided truck campers, folding camping trailers, both lightweight and full-size travel trailers and fifth wheels in North America. Starcraft Camper Club: One "International Rally" is held each year in various locations around the United States and Canada. Other International events include rallies and caravans to places like Nova Scotia, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Las Vegas, Nevada and the Indy 500. We spoke with Terry Bodenbender, Vice President of Sales for Starcraft. He said that they are strong in sales on both coasts, more so on the west. Starcraft sells about 10,000 units per year and travel trailers are the company s strongest category. He considers Thor, Forest River, and Fleetwood to be their main competitors. Starcraft focuses on the ½ ton truck market. They feel that is their niche, RVs that can be towed by the ½ ton truck. The same is true of their travel trailers. Any model that expands is very popular with their buyers. On a scale of 1 to 10, Terry gives Starcraft a 9.5 in customer service, satisfaction, and quality of product. He says there s always room for improvement. Terry mentioned that they have a new line coming out. He says there s nothing like it out there. He declined to give further details. For : Travel Star XLT Ultra Light travel trailers by Starcraft RV are offered in five floorplans, including the 28SSO. This trailer has a spacious front bedroom with a queen walk-around bed. When open, rear slideout side bunks add an appreciable amount of living space, and additional room for the kids. This area also offers an optional rollover sofa that converts to a double bed with bunkover. One line we found to be quite popular is the Aruba LITE fifth wheels by Starcraft. They are filled with deluxe standard features and a long list of options. Available in range of floorplans with sleeping accommodations for up to twelve, you'll have an easy time choosing the model to best suit your family. Aruba fifth wheels are designed with plenty of headroom - the upper deck interior ceiling is a roomy 6 feet 3-inches. Take along the whole family or a few friends; our fifth wheels sleep six to eight people, priced nicely at around $30,000 MSRP. 122

123 For : The Antigua line made a positive impression on the industry as a quality, smaller travel trailer. Comments: Those that we have talked to that own a Starcraft were pleased with their purchase. We did not hear any negative feedback from existing owners. Construction is average, customer satisfaction is good and resale value is average. Notes: 123

124 SunnyBrook Manufacturing th St. Middlebury, IN Phone: Taken from company s website, It s no secret that our workers at SunnyBrook RV are of the best trained in the country that believe in and practice our tradition of quality, honest work. If you recall memories of barn raisings, road-side fruit and produce stands, genuinely friendly folks and a work ethic more reminiscent of the good old days, then you can picture SunnyBrook RV. Our products are the result of modern design and high technology, which one could argue is pretty much like everyone else s. The difference is in the attitude. Doing it right starts with fresh ideas, practical designs, a workplace that s enjoyable, and people who care. SunnyBrook is located in Middlebury, Indiana, where much like Cheers, everybody knows your name. The owners are very involved in the day-to-day business. Elvie Frey, president of the company, says, We are locally owned and locally managed and involved in our community. We are small enough to be personally involved in the process and still large enough to provide what the customer needs. That is why SunnyBrook RVs are popular in all regions of the country, sold in 46 of the 50 states. Sales seem to be strongest in the Midwest but they also do well in all other regions. The Brookside is the medium priced line and geared towards the recreational camper those who will use the vehicle 2-6 weeks a year. It s for those that want something nice and high quality but they will use it less, says Frey. The Titan series is for the more serious user who will use it for months at a time. Each series is geared towards its own unique user, says Frey. While SunnyBrook is known for its customer service, Frey says that there is always room for improvement. We are pretty darn good at what we do, he says. No one is perfect. We are close, but we can always improve. The company s biggest competitors are Forest River, Jayco and Thor but what sets SunnyBrook apart is the small company attitude they have continued to nurture as the company grows. We are close to the dealers and close to the customers. The people know what they are looking for and we are right there to understand what they want. For : The Sunset Creek is the best seller. With a price at a comfortable $23,000, it also offers comfort and style that makes Sunnybrook proud. For : The Sunset Creek was the best seller for this season. It s low price and quality made it desirable as well as attainable. Comments: The SunnyBrook customer ranges from the entry-level customer to the high usage customer because SunnyBrook makes a vehicle for all levels Based on our research SunnyBrook customers were pleased with their purchase and most expressed how impressed they were with the fit and finish of interiors. Solid oak cabinets, aluminum frames and prompt service from company on warranty issues. SunnyBrook also received high marks from RV dealers we interviewed. The resale value is above average to excellent as well. A small company that has a good handle on quality control with excellent craftsmanship inside and out. Notes: 124

125 Teton Homes 3283 N. 9 Mile Road Casper, WY No Longer in Business September 2008 In 1967, Teton Homes began building Teton travel trailers. Teton's chassis design is so unique it's protected by three U.S. patents*. This exclusive chassis design allows for Teton's phenomenal Big & Tall Storage. Every Teton has an incredible 40" tall exterior storage compartment! No other RV manufacturer can use this patented product. This is one of many reasons they are the first choice for full-timers. The company has won numerous awards and top ratings in such categories as competitive product, innovative product design, and prompt service to managers and service technicians. The company is appealing to upper-end buyers that are interested in quality construction and style. Teton Homes reported strong sales in the SW and SE regions of the country. Teton s closest competitors are Carriage House and Newmar according to Marion Johnson, Director of Engineering. When asked what separates your company from your competitors Marion replied, Handcrafted workmanship in the interiors, especially fit and finish of cabinetry. Marion stressed the company s focus is on fit and finish and feels this is what makes them unique. If you have ever looked inside a Teton home you would know what Marion is talking about. The quality and workmanship is excellent in my opinion. Description of the product is taken from the company s website, The Royal is incredibly beautiful, thanks to impeccable fit and finish throughout. You'll notice the carefully crafted wood-trimmed window treatments, superb lighting, engraved wood detailing, the mirrored kitchen backsplash and classy new complimentary color bands along the front edge of solid surface counters and on the optional kitchen island. Our solid craftsmanship is flawless where you don't see it: inside the cabinets and under sinks. You'll find superb fit in smooth-operating drawers and slideouts, firm cabinet closures, plush longwearing furniture... everywhere. According to the company s website they have a T-joist roof system, which is one of the lightest, strongest and best, insulated in the industry with a composite R value of 25. Their central air conditioning two-duct system has a 70% sound reduction from most roof-ducted air conditioning systems. Another important feature is their vacubonded sidewalls, which are lighter and stronger than walls with "hand laid-up" exterior glass with an overall insulating value of R10. For : The company s best selling fifth wheel model is called the, Royal, MSRP: $126,000 to $164,000. For : The Royal was this season s best seller. 125

126 Comments: Teton Homes appeals to empty-nesters and retirees considering full-timing. Their RVs are designed to be used in any type of climate, north or south, so they are perfect for people to live in full time and travel year round. They don t have anything really new or exciting coming up. They may have a new floor plan or two in the works, and there will be a rear entertainment center available. Each year they offer new décor. Through nearly four decades the company has refined and improved their products into the magnificent RVs they are today. The company received very high marks regarding construction quality and customer satisfaction. Here again Teton Homes was not a volume producer of RVs but had found their niche by producing upper-end fifth wheels. Resale value is excellent and RV dealers gave Teton high marks as well. The customers we spoke with that owned a Teton where pleased with their purchase and would recommend Teton to their friends. Teton s website does go into detail about construction techniques and is very informative. Update: Although their website is still active online we are not sure if they are in production since the closing in September Notes: 126

127 Thor Industries (Thor California) 419 West Pike Street P.O. Box 629 Jackson Center, Ohio Phone: We wanted to include an article about Thor Industries because they are such a force within the industry. According to the company s website, Thor Industries was founded on August 29, 1980, when Wade F. B. Thompson and Peter B. Orthwein acquired Airstream, the most recognized name in the industry. The name "Thor" combined the first two letters of each entrepreneur's name. Despite its famous image, Airstream had not fared well during the economic downturn of the late 1970's. By focusing on improving quality while reducing costs, Airstream returned to profitability in its first year under the new Thor management. In 1982 Thor purchased the Canadian company, General Coach, which manufactures travel trailers and motorhomes. Also part of this acquisition was Thor America, which manufactures Citation and Chateau travel trailers and fifth wheels. In 1984 Thor became a public company and in 1986 was listed on the New York Stock Exchange. That same year Forbes magazine ranked Thor sixth out of the "200 best small companies in America." In 1991 Thor acquired Dutchmen, now one of the largest brands of conventional and fifth wheel travel trailers in the world. Four Winds International; manufacturer of Class A and C motorhomes was acquired in Komfort, a maker of fifth-wheel and conventional travel trailers, and Skamper, a builder of folding camping trailers, became members of the Thor family in saw the startup of Thor California and the introduction of the Tahoe and Wanderer brands of trailers and fifth wheels. These excellent products became instant hits with RVers and the fastest-growing brands on the market. With the acquisition of Keystone RV in 2001, Damon RV in 2003, and CrossRoads RV in 2004, Thor Industries is the largest RV manufacturer. Thor is also the largest mid-size bus manufacturer, having acquired Goshen Coach in Thor California The Jazz fifth wheel is the company s flagship line with luxurious interiors, numerous features and exceptional quality. Taken from company s website: Each of Jazz's fifth wheels offers segment busting features you've come to expect, like tinted vista view windows, solid hardwood raised panel cabinet doors and stylish home entertainment systems. Experience the refinement and elegance of Jazz for yourself. These travel trailers and fifth wheels are built to last...tuned for adventure. Taken from company s website, With a choice of several innovative floorplan layouts we're sure you can find one to meet your family s needs. All Wave's come with a full functioning kitchen so meal preparation is convenient and simple. And there is plenty of storage space to be able to pack everything you need to be comfortable, just like at home. So if you're ready for a real adventure, catch a WAVE travel trailer or fifth wheel by Thor California and enjoy the ride. All Wave travel trailer models feature revolutionary new construction techniques. The aluminum frame laminated sidewalls with smooth fiberglass exterior are more attractive and dent resistant than other types of wall construction. It is uncommon to find laminated 127

128 construction in trailers at this price. Automotive type rubber gasket seals are used around windows and high strength adhesive sealant is used in other locations to prevent unsightly putty streaks and sidewall leaks. Special aluminum fastening brackets replace the older style wood cleats which can split and weaken. For : The 2008 Jazz features exciting new front cap styling on all models, all new, residential-style counters and flooring, a vibrant exterior graphics package and plush decors. According to our research the average MSRP for Jazz fifth wheels is around $38,000. For : Whether you are choosing a travel trailer or fifth wheel in the Wave series you can select from 4 different fabric decors to customize the inside to help match your taste and style. The fifth wheel and several travel trailer models come with a single slideout to maximize your living space. Comments: It s difficult to rate a large company like Thor Industries with all their subsidiaries. We do rate many of their subsidiaries like; Airstream, Dutchman, Four Winds, Keystone, Damon and Crossroads. Thor has 12 RV subsidiaries last time we checked and according to John Beaver, marketing director, Thor gives their subsidiaries lots of room to design and create new products within their markets. Thor s subsidiaries are managed at a distance with productivity being the main determining factory. Based on our research it seems Thor has one of the best management teams in place, which is having a dramatic impact within the company. In our research we have typically found that larger companies fall behind when it comes to quality control issues and customer service. This being said we believe Thor while a large company and appealing to the masses has not made the same mistakes as other large corporations. The company gives their subsidiaries the management support and financial resources necessary to stay ahead of the curve. Thor California is a great company with innovative floorplans that are built to last. The company received high marks for quality construction, customer satisfaction and resale value. In California the toy hauler segment is experiencing dramatic growth and Thor California is benefiting from this increase in business by producing quality toy haulers and travel trailers to meet the demand. Notes: 128

129 Tiffin Motorhomes, Inc nd Street NW Red Bay, AL Phone: Tiffin Motorhomes is truly a family run business. Started by Bob Tiffin in Red Bay, Alabama population 3200 Tiffin runs the company with his three sons, Tim, Van and Lex, who all attended the University of Alabama. It wasn t easy building an RV manufacturing company in the northwest corner of Alabama, especially when most of the industry is situated in Indiana, but Tiffin has solved this problem by constantly staying ahead of the curve with innovations in design and technology and a do-it-yourself attitude. Once, twenty years ago, when a delayed shipment of windows caused the plant to close down, Tiffin decided right then and there that wouldn t happen again. So he bought a local glass plant and turned it into his own window and windshield manufacturing factory. He did the same for fiberglass and for all the woodwork. Almost everything in a Tiffin Motorhome is made by the company. That is why even if you have one of the oldest models ever made, you can still find the parts you need. While Tiffin counts Fleetwood Winnebago and Monaco as its main competitors, Director of Sales Jerry Williamson says the attention paid to the customer really sets Tiffin apart from the rest. Along with listening to customers comes innovation. The Tiffin sons not only work for the company, they are Rvers themselves. When they take their own Tiffin motorhomes out on the road, they come back with new ideas and ways to make the units as usercomfortable as possible. We are a private company, Williamson says. And upper management is accessible to the retail customer. Bob Tiffin himself spends all day talking to retail owners. He is in touch with the end user. We have an open door policy. To that end, in July 2007 they opened a state-of-the-art service center and they continually update plant machinery to keep the quality of construction up. One of our taglines is Just ask someone who owns one Service is something we don t just talk about, we do it. How do they do it? They (the Tiffin family) just treat people like they want to be treated Tiffin recently expanded both their service center and the RV park on the grounds - where the customers can stay when they do come and visit because they found it necessary to do so in order to continue to be available to their consumers. They also send service crews out to all of the SEC games and when they see a Tiffin motorhome they knock on the door and ask if they need anything done to the vehicle free of charge of course. Williamson says this catches some people by surprise, but those who have been long-time owners, know this is what to expect. Tiffin has also led the market when it comes to storage, which is always at a premium in a motorhome. Tiffin coaches have anywhere from cabinets and drawers, as opposed to most others with In 1999, they introduced the first full storage basement in the industry. They were also the first to introduce the triple slide and are still the only 129

130 manufacturer to offer a 30 coach with a double slide. The chassis is reinforced with additional steel cross-bracing for strength and integrity and a safer more durable product. Tiffin is strongest in the southeast and southwest, especially Texas, Florida and Louisiana. The Tiffin customer is a mid-range customer with price, quality, and service all playing a role in the decision making process. We are always working on new things for our motorhomes, Williamson says. This includes putting together a comfort package that includes; Roll ease shades which are a higher quality and easier to use shade that keeps heat out while providing adequate shading, ceiling fans, a quieter air conditioning unit and name brand electronics all ready for the HD transformation that is coming in February 09. A new profile for the Allegro line has literally raised the roof says Williamson it almost looks like a completely new brand. With 7 foot high interior ceilings and 8-9 choices for all exteriors, I keep wondering how our guys keep coming up with these new designs! For : The most popular gas model is the Allegro Bay ($110,000 MSRP) and the most popular diesel is the Allegro Bus ($285,000 MSRP). For : The most popular gas model is the Allegro and the most popular diesel is the Phaeton. Williamson says this has a lot to do with the price point. Most everyone enters the market at the $70-$100,000 range. These are our entry level models. Comments: While customer service is top of the list for Tiffin, Williamson says he would not rate them a perfect 10. For customer service effort, we get a ten but no one is perfect. We try to give the best customer service but are always looking to improve. As far as customer satisfaction, he feels the same way. There are always the few that we can t please but we keep trying. We don t give up on anyone. And when it comes to quality of product Williamson says, We give excellent value and excellent product for our pricing. What you get is what you pay for, we do very well. The industry seems to agree that Tiffin excels in customer service and satisfaction. They consistently rate top notch in surveys sent out by the RVDA. We like the fact that the company is small enough to care but large enough to provided excellent service. This is a solid company with a promising future and definitely worth checking out. Notes: 130

131 Travel Supreme As of April, 2008, Travel Supreme has been purchased by Jayco. To our knowledge the company is not manufacturing any units. Travel Supreme began in 1989 as a manufacturer of fifth wheels. The company began in an 870 sq. ft. building in Wakarusa, Indiana. Because of their success in becoming the number one fifth wheel manufacturer in the country, Travel Supreme branched out and in 1999 began manufacturing upscale, customized diesel motorhomes. They now make both fifth wheels and motorhomes in their 120,000 sq. ft. manufacturing plant. We specialize in building special units, said Ted Cook, Vice President of Operations. We build our own cabinets, for example, and the customer can specify custom cabinets or change the layouts and we ll build it for them. If they want an entertainment unit instead of a storage unit, we ll build it for them. Cook said the level of the fit and finish also set Travel Supreme apart and set them in the upscale recreational vehicle bracket with their competitors Newmar, Monaco and Country Coach. King of the Road is considered competition for Travel Supreme s fifth wheel market. The 400 HP Envoy came available in several 42 floor plans that highlight a Spartan tag axle chassis. The Insignia is also available in several 42 floor plans with a Spartan Mountain Master tag axle chassis. The Insignia has been one of the cornerstones of Travel Supreme s success. It boasts a powerful 425 HP Cummins diesel, lavish appointments and unsurpassed luxury and styling for any coach in its class The Mid-engine is a bold statement about Travel Supreme s innovation. This one-of-a-kind luxury toy-hauler features more living space and a host of standard features that are sure to impress. For : Travel Supreme did not put out a new line for this last year. For : The company s most popular motorhome is simply called the Travel Supreme but it is not simple. Like all of Travel Supreme products, even their lower priced model can be custom designed. The Travel Supreme has the best value for its dollar. The fact that you get the best for the dollar and can special build your cabinets, that s why people like it, Cook says. For the money, customers can get a lot of options including cherry wood. It all goes back to the custom work that we do, says Cook. Comments: Travel Supreme rated high in customer service As far as quality of product, Travel Supreme also rates high. Travel Supreme is known for its exotic woods and finishes. Notes: 131

132 Triple E Recreational Vehicles Box 1230 Winkler, Manitoba, Canada R6W 4C4 Phone Triple E Recreational Vehicles started out more than 40 years ago with a little 13-foot travel trailer. Today, the company that is located in Winkler, Manitoba Canada not only makes towables but Class A diesels, Class A gas motorhomes and Class C motorhomes. From small things, big things one day come. The plant in Winkler is highly integrated meaning that most of the parts and fit and finish are made on site to Triple E s exact specifications. In addition to the production line, the factory includes a welding shop, paint shop, fiberglass and mold shop, sewing department, and cabinet manufacturing department. Because of their location in the prairies of Canada, Triple E makes sure their RVs are built to sustain harsh climates and very cold weather. The Empress and Commander Class A motorhomes are fully insulated and include thermal pane windows and heated and insulated holding and water tanks. The Class C motorhomes and Touring Edition fifth wheels offer options that will make them weather-proof and able to be used in the coldest months Ryan Elias, Marketing Coordinator for Triple E, says that it is the quality of the vehicles that makes Triple E motorcoaches and towables stand out. We promote our quality and craftsmanship which is second to none, he says. Our commitment to quality and customer service is also second to none. For this reason, the Triple E customer tends to be a mid-range customer one who is looking for quality and a value-added price. This customer also tends to become a loyal Triple E customer once they buy their first RV. We see a lot of repeat buyers, three, four and five time buyers, says Elias. We have top quality customer service and we think we are the best in terms of quality and customer satisfaction. And it shows with our repeat business. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: Triple E makes one line of towables called the Topaz with 20 different floor plan options. Topaz sells with an average MSRP of $32,000. In the travel Trailer line up the average price is $28,000. Motor Homes: The most popular Triple E coaches are the flagship Empress-Elite (MSRP $340,000) Class A diesel, the Class A gas Embassy (MSRP$120,000) and the Class C Regency GT (MSRP $90,000). For : The most popular Triple E coaches are the flagship Empress-Elite Class A diesel, the Class A gas Commander and the Class C Regency. 132

133 Comments: While the majority of Triple E customers are located in Western Canada, the company has a dealer network in the United States. On the Triple E website, you can download adobe brochures about each product, which include floor plan options and specifications. There is a dealer locater as well as a rental locater, in case you want to try out a Triple E on a trip before buying one. Please note the rental agents for now are only in Canada. However, you can always test drive a Triple E at the dealer. Triple E earns high marks for quality construction and customer satisfaction is above average. Most people have never heard of Triple E and this is a problem for the company in our opinion. They need to do a better job getting the word out here in the states. Triple E customers are pleased with their purchases overall and feel the workmanship inside and out is better than most other companies. They received high marks for the RV dealers we spoke with. Resale value is also average to above average based on our research. Triple E is a quality company with a bright future. Notes: 133

134 Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc. Weekend Warrior is no longer in business Weekend Warrior built quality units for more than 19 years. They specialized in dualpurpose trailers that provide luxury as well as functionality, combining utility, quality, comfort and style. They consider themselves to be the pioneers of the toy-hauler industry. You name the toy; Weekend Warrior has a way to haul it. They offer modern, stylish graphics and aerodynamic shape in several floor plans. Weekend Warrior proudly uses high quality, name brand appliances and components to ensure reliability and comfort. They employ an aggressive and ambitious research and development program for designing new models and designs. One reason Weekend Warrior was continually successful is its founder and president, Mark Warmoth, who remained actively involved in the company s operations and earned Weekend Warrior numerous awards and accolades in the toy hauler RV market. In 2004, they expanded their manufacturing facility by 80,000 sq. ft., for a total of 120,000 sq. ft. in two plants. They are committed to providing functional floor plans that are able to hold heavy amounts of cargo with a balanced towing platform. They worked with customers to build units that fit their needs for cargo space, while allowing for luxury interior amenities such as you would expect from a high end recreational trailer. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: They introduced a line of small pull trailers this year called Carbon Lite. All new for the Market of Pull Trailers with that Weekend Warrior Touch This is a non-toy hauler. Motor Homes: For 2008, Weekend Warrior launched their first fleet of C class units. This new mix of recreation, transportation, and fun for all is appropriately called the Road Warrior. It had an MSRP around 270k. For : The Full Throttle line of 5 th Wheels has garnered a great deal of excitement since its introduction. A best seller for sure, the MSRP is about $70,000. In the Travel Trailer line, the Wide Body series is the best seller with an MSRP of around $50,000. Comments: RV owners that we have spoken with all agree that this was a top-notch company. According to the NADA Guides on average a Weekend Warrior RV unit does very well when it s time to sell with high resale values. Customer service was also very high and RV dealers were impressed with the company s overall response time to warranty issues. Notes: 134

135 Western Recreation Vehicles As of April, 2008, Western RV is no longer in business Western Recreation Vehicles, Inc. was founded in April of 1971 by Bill and Suzanne Doyle as a family owned business. After 22 years of sound leadership, Bill Doyle retired as President of WRV. On that date, Ron Doyle was named company President. Western RV was a national manufacturer of motorized and towable recreation vehicles located in Yakima, Washington. Corporate and production facilities extend to over 57 acres and surpass over 400,000 square feet under one roof. The company manufactured Alpenlite fifth-wheels, travel trailers and truck campers as well as Alpine Coach, a premier diesel motor coach. Western RV took the basic frame rail design and improved it by adding additional supports which are bolted on and not welded to strengthen the overall frame. This provides a comfortable ride without the squeaks and rattles once associated with a basic frame rail design. Its superb handling and road manners are accented by high quality living areas in an expanded offering of floor plans. Apex's SmartBed Storage System is a quantum leap forward in the design of motor coach storage space...and an Apex exclusive! The four SmartBeds, each are independently operated by an electro-hydraulic mechanism, enabling the entire storage bay to glide in and out at the touch of a button! No more kneeling in the dirt, straining your back or banging your head on extended slide rooms when handling your cargo. For : Travel Trailers and 5 th Wheels: The Alpenlite fifth wheel was consistently one of the best-selling in the industry, its quality and versatility appealing to value-driven consumers. Their tradition of excellence caused Western s fifth wheels and truck campers to be listed in Consumers Digest as a Best Buy. In the fifth-wheel category, the most popular is the Alpenlite Voyager 31CK retailing for $65,000. This top-of-the-line model was updated this year and includes seven new floor plans. Motor Homes: Western s most popular diesel coach is the Alpine Coach Apex, MSRP $396,508 to $405,596. The Apex is the epitome of luxury from Western RV. It takes the basis of the Apex Limited and goes a step further. It takes the Peak Chassis and Cummins 8.9 liter, 400 hp ISL motor and makes standard the LCD Flat-Screen HDTV, Kingdome Satellite TV, Keyless Entry plus the patented SmartBed Storage System. For : Western s most popular diesel coach is the Alpine Coach Apex, MSRP $325,000. Comments: Western RV was a model company in the recreational vehicle industry. Its commitment to quality and customer satisfaction was a company tradition. Notes: 135

136 Winnebago Industries 605 W. Crystal Lake Road PO Box 152 Forest City, IA Phone: Winnebago Industries is one of the oldest and most well-known names in the recreational vehicle industry. The company, headquartered in Forest City, Iowa manufactures motorhomes and self-contained RVs for leisure and outdoor recreational use. The company was started in 1958 when John K. Hanson and other local businessmen convinced a California company to open a travel trailer factory in the then economically depressed rural area of Forest 2009 Winnebago Adventurer City. Soon after, the factory was purchased by five Forest City residents and Hanson became its president. The name Winnebago Industries came into use in At that time, the company was primarily manufacturing travel trailers and furniture and accessories for these trailers. By constantly updating, they developed innovative products such as a wall construction process called Thermo-Panel that provides a strong, lightweight, insulated sidewall. This is still a Winnebago Industries exclusive. In 1966, Winnebago Industries built its first motorhome. It was a 19-foot model that had everything a family needed for cross-country adventure. Through use of the assembly line and other manufacturing innovations in the motorhome industry, Winnebago Industries could produce a motorhome that sold for half the price of competitors models. The company s growth continued through the 1970s and 1980s and in 1986 was the first RV manufacturer to celebrate 20 years of production and to hit the 200,000 motorhomes produced mark. Today Winnebago Industries operates the largest RV production facility in the world and makes the majority of its parts and accessories itself, increasing their availability. As they say on the website, Dies and molds are kept on hand. So, if you need a holding tank 10 years from now, you can get one. The tank was made by us, not by someone else who has long since gone out of business or shifted production. Winnebago also prides itself on its rigorous testing. A state-of-the-art, 40,000-square-foot testing facility was completed in The computerized road simulator (nicknamed "The Shaker") and the half-mile test track can simulate the effects of years of normal driving in just a few days. Components are checked under hot, cold, wet and dry conditions and every Winnebago Industries motorhome goes through a high-pressure water tunnel and is checked for leaks before shipping. Winnebago Industries products sell strongest in the warm weather regions of the United States, the southwest and the southeast. Fleetwood Enterprises, Monaco Coach and Thor Industries are its closest competitors. According to Public Relations Specialist Kelli Harms, Winnebago Industries manufacturers Class A, B and C motor homes under the Winnebago, Itasca and ERA brand names. Not only are our products top-notch and quality built, we also have the most recognized name in the industry all of these things set us apart from our 136

137 competitors, she says. Kelli says, Unlike anything in the RV industry, the Outlook 30D has it all in an innovative layout that s truly spectacular! This includes an enclosed bathroom that features a curved shower and glass door, a spacious wardrobe that is a great place for storage, a 15-inch LCD TV optional for the front bunk area, a well equipped galley with a large pantry with convenient pull out trays, a U-shaped lounge in the right slideout room, and a sofa/sleeper with a 60 by 80 air mattress that quickly inflates at a push of a button! The Journey s fully equipped galley features an angled sink for a contemporary look and the bathroom is enclosed with curved walls providing maximum space, while also creating eye-appeal. A neo-round shower with molded seat and curved glass door is new for 2009, and is also found on the 37H and 39Z. Other highlights in 2009 include a larger entry door and traditional cabinetry. Built on an 8,550-lb. GVWR Dodge Sprinter chassis with a fuel-efficient 3L 6-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, the 2009 ERA offers interior and exterior refinements in a boldly-styled package that delivers comfort, functionality and performance offered by none other than Winnebago Industries. Although class B s are not rated in this guide, the Era is worth the look. For : The most popular Class A motorhome is the Winnebago Adventurer. The most popular Class C is the Outlook. New for Winnebago, this year was the redesigned 2008 Winnebago Journey, a favorite among diesel enthusiasts. The Freightliner XC Chassis boasts a 29,410-lb. GVWR and a 350-hp Cummins diesel engine that can tackle any challenge. The chassis also provides improved storage with large compartments and side-hinged doors. Top it off with a classy interior full of user-friendly features and the Winnebago Journey is a coach you ll be proud to call home. For : The most popular Class A gas motorhome is the Winnebago Adventurer. ago says it is the industry s best-selling motorhome. Winnebago s best selling diesel motorhome is the Journey and the most popular Class C is the Outlook. New for 2006 the Outlook offers stylized aluminum wheels, decorative glass doors in the living area, a raisedwood panel refrigerator, and upgraded lighting. All are available with the deluxe package. Comments: Winnebago has long been a respected name in the industry. Its customers are mid-range, looking for quality and concerned about price. The company continues to keep this in mind when upgrading and updating the product. After interviewing a number of Winnebago owners it became clear that many were happy with their purchase, and a few were not. Customer satisfaction is very high and quality construction is above average to excellent. The resale value is average to above average based on our research. All in all it is a great company that has a good reputation within the industry. What does the future hold for Winnebago? Harms says we can look for more amenities and features in Winnebago products. There will be better use of space and an emphasis on fuel economy. Features people want in the home, they want in their RVs, she says. Functionality, ease of use, livability, luxury as well as quality are all things people look for in a Winnebago. Notes: 137

138 Chapter 12 Important Buying Tips Buying Tip #1 (High Pressure): Don t rush into making a decision even if you re being presented with an unbelievable offer- or at least what you think is an unbelievable offer. My research has revealed that many RV buyers spend six months on average researching their options before they purchase. I have also found that those who do their research before buying an RV make informed decisions and are more likely to be satisfied with their purchase. A quality RV dealer will always make the buying process enjoyable without using highpressure sales tactics. If your salesperson resorts to high pressure tactics to get you sign, beware. This usually means something is wrong and it s time to step back and re-examine the situation. High pressure sale tactics are usually implemented when the product being sold is of low quality, coupled with the fact customer service is probably marginal at best. Buying Tip #2 (Renting): For those of you that are having a difficult time deciding on a particular type of RV maybe you should consider renting. Renting an RV has become a big business and thousands are taking advantage of this option each year. The RV rental business is a $350 million industry and growing every year, according to figures compiled by the U.S. Census of Retail Trade and the RV Rental Association (RVRA). There are more than 450 RV rental outlets located across the country. My wife and I along with another couple rented a Class C motor home a number of years ago. We decided to take two weeks and visit Lake Powell and some national parks along the way. At the time we were into water sports and decided to tow our 19 foot boat behind the RV. We had no problems with the motor home and we were able to travel at our own pace and enjoy the countryside and stop at interesting places along the way. At the time we were investigating the possibility of owning an RV, trying to decide between a travel trailer and a Class C motor home. We had a great time and many wonderful memories. If you have doubts or you re not sure if a particular RV is right for you then consider renting. Buying Tip #3 (Motor Home Chassis): When looking at a particular RV, ask the salesperson if the chassis is a custom chassis, semi-custom or stock chassis. This will give you some insight into the overall quality of unit. Another question to ask your salesperson, Is the chassis a raise rail chassis? A raised rail chassis increases the overall height, allowing for more room in the basement areas of the coach. More storage space is always a good thing. Another buying tip is to ask about the turning radius of the unit. A turning radius of 50 feet is considered excellent. Buying Tip #4 (Underbelly): Many RV manufacturers offer an enclosed underbelly, which protects tanks and floor from the hazards of the road. The best choice for underbelly material in my opinion is galvanized steel underbelly. Galvanized steel won t tear or rust and will prevent most anything from penetrating your tanks or floor system. The next step down is ABS, (a type of plastic), which is widely used in the industry. This is a good product and will provide years of protection. The worst material being offered is a fabric type 138

139 material which is useless in my opinion. If you see this type of material being offered you know you re looking at a poorly built unit. Buying Tip #5 (Aluminum Framing): If you decide on aluminum framing be sure to ask your salesperson if all 6-sides are aluminum. Many companies will say their unit has aluminum construction but that may mean only the two side walls. The construction of the front and back walls for example could be wood. Or, it could be all four walls are aluminum and the roof and floor is constructed with wood. So, be sure to ask the question and be specific. The picture above shows a 6-sided aluminum construction. Additional RV online resources How to select the right RV: Choosing the right RV the first time will save you thousands of dollars. Many RV buyers select the wrong type of RV. Don t let this happen to you. Read the articles below to help you determine the right RV for you and your family: Choose the right RV RV lifestyle Seven Commandments for Buying the Right RV 10 tips for selling your used RV Below are some helpful selling tips that could bring you TOP DOLLAR for your RV: 1. Clean it up! Most buyers will quickly assume the worst if your RV is not clean. The unit should be empty and clean and everything should appear to be in good working order. 2. Have current registration and inspection. Nobody likes to go all over town to get that done after they just dropped a bunch of money on your rig. 3. Get a private inspection to show your good faith. Make necessary repairs, and have the report ready for the buyer. Big ticket items are negotiable, but most everyone can handle a few scratches in the front bumper when the rest of it proves out. 139

140 4. Have books, manuals and receipts ready for the buyer to look through and suggest that they do so. 5. Talk with some banks and lending sources. Have a good idea what type of financing options the buyer will have based on the age and value of your rig. For example, motorhomes over a certain age will not get lowest rate of financing and terms differ. This is especially helpful on rigs that are more than five years old. 6. Know what your bottom dollar is. If the buyer has to wait for your decision, he's probably "cooled" off some. 7. Talk about how much fun you had in it, but KNOW WHEN TO STOP. 8. If you have the opportunity, have everything running and ready for showing when the prospect gets there. 9. Change all fluids and filters. 10. Accessorize a little and make it look "homey". Sell your RV online Many find the local newspaper a fine source to sell their RV. For those of you interested in advertising on the Internet here are a few places to start. (The advertisement costs vary from FREE to VERY expensive): RV appraisal service There are a number of appraisal services available but most cost over $39.95 or more. J R Consumer Resources Inc. only charges $19.95 for each appraisal. If you re selling an RV or considering buying a new or used unit our RV Appraisal service will accurate wholesale and retail pricing. We are your Independent Resource for obtaining RV values for Recreational Vehicles, model years from 1975 to We provide wholesale and retail values for: motor homes, fifth wheels, travel trailers and toy haulers. In determining the wholesale and retail values we use the latest edition of the Professional (dealer) Version, of the NADA Appraisal Guides. The NADA Guide is nationally accepted and used by all RV dealers and lenders in the U.S. It is considered the #1 source for obtaining both wholesale and retail values. To learn more please visit our website at 140

141 Popular RV magazines Industry related RV websites Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association (RVDA) Recreational Vehicle Rental Association (RVRA) National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC) RV America Online - The Home of the RV Industry RVersOnline Website to all RV clubs 141

142 Chapter 13 Supplemental Resources How to Purchase a RV and Save Thousands This chapter contains two important RV resource publications written by Randall Eaton and published by J R Consumer Resources. These bonus offers have proven to be vital to our customers over the years. Each one offers priceless information and advice that will be certain to save you time and money throughout the RV buying process. While each guide is available for individual purchase, we have decided to include them in the RV Comparison Guide in order to optimize your buying potential. Published and distributed by J R Consumer Resources Inc Nicklaus Drive, Clarkston, WA Phone: (509) Fax: (866) Website: info@jrconsumer.com Copyright by J R Consumer Resources Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from J R Consumer Resources Inc. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors and omissions. The author and publisher disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this book. 142

143 What is a Fair Profit Margin? Everybody wants to get the best deal possible right? Most RV buyers think they really got a good deal when negotiating with their RV dealer and then brag to their friends how much they saved. The problem is most statistics show that 80% of RV buyers pay too much and only 20% successfully negotiate a great deal. This means that 8 out of 10 RV buyers are paying more than they should for their RV. On average the MSRP (Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price) has a 30% to 33% profit margin built it. In addition to the MSRP most dealers will add other fees called, Dealer Prep. RV dealers in general will have a 33% to 40% profit margin built into the asking price (MSRP + dealer prep). Now to be totally honest nobody is going to pay the sticker price and some type of discount will be negotiated between the RV dealer and buyer. So what is considered a fair discount? And what is a FPM (fair profit margin) for an RV dealer? These are good questions and to help show you this I have created a chart showing the discounts one can expect to receive based on the overall retail price of a particular RV unit. This chart applies to both new and used RV units and is intended to assist you during the negotiating process. There are many variables to consider when negotiating a price and this chart may not be applicable in every situation but should be close enough to give you a good idea based on my experience and research. Chart Showing Discounts Based On Retail Pricing 143

144 10 Biggest Buying Mistakes Before I go into detail about how to negotiate your best deal, I first want to list TEN MISTAKES to avoid when shopping for an RV. 1. Buying before doing proper research. 2. Buying the wrong RV for your needs. 3. Paying too much. Remember 80% typically pay too much. 4. Buying at an RV show because you believe the prices are at their lowest. Wrong! 5. Buying an RV without ever having traveled in one. 6. Buying before doing a "mock live in." 7. Buying a used RV with hidden damage. 8. Buying an RV from a supermarket parking lot or campground. 9. Buying an RV with no money down and stretching the payments out too long. 10. Buying an RV without securing a WRITTEN RV APPRAISAL first. Probably the biggest mistake most people make is they get the bug to buy an RV because their neighbor or someone from work just bought one. You visit a couple of RV dealers and settle on a particular floor plan and before you know it - you re the proud owner of an RV. The problem is you really don t know if this RV unit will accommodate your lifestyle and meet your needs. You did not do proper research and now you re stuck with an RV that you probably owe more for than what it s worth. We all have purchased something on a whim or rushed into something without giving it much thought. To illustrate this point I use to work for a spa and pool company a long, long time ago. I sold many hot tubs to folks that walked into our store and fell in love with a particular hot tub. We sold chemicals at our store and most of my customers would come in to purchase chemicals and I would ask them how things were going. If I had to guess I would say about 80% of my customers stopped using their hot tubs within a few months of their purchase. But they still had to buy chemicals and maintain their hot tubs. Bottom line is this - don t rush into buying an RV, give it some serious thought and do your research. 144

145 8 Steps to Follow When Shopping for an RV Here is a simple list that anyone can follow to help them decide which RV type and floor plan is right for them. 1. Once you have narrowed down your choices for RV manufacturers visit up to three different dealers that offer their products. 2. After selecting a particular model be sure to check out our Individual RV Rating Reports. Each report focuses on things like; quality, reliability, drivability, handling and customer satisfaction. Each report also lists the wholesale and fair market values for the model you re interested in. To learn more please visit 3. If you have never traveled in an RV you may want to consider renting an RV first. I recommend this to my friends and those considering an RV for the first time. 4. EBay Motors is an excellent web site for you to consider, especially if you re looking to purchase a pre-owned unit. Be sure to do your homework and check out the seller thoroughly before you buy. 5. Craigslist.org is another place to look for pre-owned recreational vehicles. 6. Visit some RV forums where you can ask questions about a particular model and learn what others have to say. 7. Subscribe to an RV magazine or two. 8. Attend RV shows in your area. Most are held in the spring and fall. 145

146 How to Determine my RV Dealers Invoice? So now you re ready to buy your dream RV. As I ve mentioned before, RVs can have a mark-up of up to 40% so forget the sticker price. RV dealers typically don t sell in volume like the car industry. This means RV dealers need to make a little more on each transaction and most RV dealers will accept an 8% to 15% profit margin. I know there are some RV books that say you can buy an RV at 6% over invoice and yes, I am sure some can manage this feat, but if RV dealers sold their products for only 6% over invoice on a regular basis they all would be out of business in no time. So, this notion that anyone can buy an RV for only a few thousand dollars over invoice is just not true or unrealistic at best. As I mentioned in this report the MSRP's contain roughly a 30% to 33% markup for the RV dealer. Now, most dealers will add dealer prep or other additional fees to the MSRP to increase the profit margin to around 33% to 40%. 40% being on the high side and most dealers don t price products with this much profit margin but some do. Referring to the chart at the beginning of this chapter let's say you feel comfortable with a 20% discount on a fifth wheel with an MSRP price of $72,000. You have done your research and based on this information a 20% discount is reasonable. Assuming you re working from the MSRP, multiply it by 20%, which is $14,400 and now subtract this number from the MSRP and you end up with $57,600. This is your goal and your offer could be this or a little less, that is up to you. To determine the dealers invoice, take MSRP of $72,000 and multiply by 33%, which is $23,760 and subtract this number from MSRP and the dealers invoice is $48,240. Assuming the dealer accepts your offer of $57,600 the dealers profit margin is around $9,360. In this scenario you held the RV dealer to only a 13% profit margin, not bad! Now let us assume you re purchasing a diesel motorhome with an MSRP of $350,000. According to my chart on page at the beginning of this chapter the discount range should be around 20% to 32%. In this example let s say you re satisfied with a 25% discount based on your research for this particular RV unit. You take the MSRP of $350,000 multiplied by 25% which is $87,500, subtract this number from the MSRP and your offer should be $262,500. To figure the dealers invoice take the MSRP of $350,000 multiply it by 33% and you have $115,500. Subtract this number from MSRP and the dealers invoice is going to be around $234,500. Assuming the dealer accepts your offer of $262,500 the dealers profit is around $28,000. Here again this is a great deal all around and in this scenario you held the RV dealer to only 8% profit margin. In the scenario above the dealer is profiting $28,000 on a motorhome sale but after the dealer pays a sales commission and other business related expenses the net profit is much less. A typical mid-sized RV dealer will have a monthly overhead of $50,000 to $150,000 or more per MONTH! Believe me, it s not an easy game. A dealer has to lay out millions of dollars to allow you to browse a decent selection of RVs in their inventory. So please don t think of the RV dealer as the bad guy. 146

147 15-Year Wholesale & Retail Chart Below is a chart showing MSRP amount for a 2011 Dutchmen, Voltage toy hauler. This example below is to give you an idea of wholesale and fair retail values over the course of 15-years. Please use this chart as a guide when determining RV values. This chart is only intended to be used as a tool and may not be accurate for every model. Obviously, if a model is in short supply or the demand is very high, these percentages will not be as accurate. 147

148 Tips for Securing the Best RV Loan It may be said that there is no greater mystery when buying an RV from a dealership than financing. Some of the most important questions you should be asking as you prepare to finance an RV are: How much can I finance? How long should my term be? Am I getting the best rate? Should I get pre-approved before I visit an RV dealer? As a general rule, you should be able to finance up to 90% of the purchase price (including any extras that you are adding at the time of purchase) of an RV. If you are looking to refinance your existing RV loan, your current RV loan balance plus 80% of the cost of any upgrades should not exceed 80% of the current market value of your RV. When it comes to terms, most RV loans over $100,000 can be financed for as long as 20 years while RV loans between $25,000 and $99,999 typically have a maximum term of 15 years. The general opinion is that a shorter term has the best advantages. A shorter-term RV loan will allow you to build up equity in your RV more quickly which will translate into more money into your pocket when it's time to sell. However, individual issues such as the amount of down payment and ability to make monthly payments should be considered. Part of the confusion that, no doubt, comes into play when financing an RV is the lending rate. The rate that you obtain for an RV loan is based on a number of factors; the term of your RV loan, your credit quality, credit score, credit history, repayment history, down payment and loan-to-value. The basic rule is: The higher the risk, the higher the rate; the lower the risk, the lower the rate. The best way to improve your rate is with a larger down payment, shorter terms and a strong credit history. Whether you intend to buy a new or used RV, having your financing pre-approved first gives you a number of advantages: If you are purchasing a new RV, a pre-approval will give you flexibility akin to shopping with cash. You have the ability to negotiate and get the best price at any dealership you might choose. Also, your interest rate will be locked in and won t be affected by dealer markup. If you are purchasing a used RV, whether from a dealer or a private individual, preapproval gives you a negotiating advantage. It lets the seller know that you are a serious buyer because your financing is already in place. This way your offer can be made without any concern that your financing may fall through so you have the ability to close quickly. Pre-approval also helps you determine your credit and loan limits, allows you to address and resolve any credit issues before they become an issue, and helps 148

149 eliminate any financing anxiety that might arise once you have entered into a purchase. A final question that might be weighing on your mind is how the financial institutions that provide RV financing have weathered the current economic status in the country. Those that have not taken on too many high risk loans will certainly be able to provide a better financing package in a downturn economy than the ones that have. 10 Important Tips to Secure the Best RV Insurance There are a number of important factors that will determine what you pay for RV insurance. Most RV buyers are in the dark when it comes to making decisions about how to choose the right RV insurance company. 1. Where will you store your RV? - If you store your RV in the gulf coast states during hurricane season, there is a good chance for wind and flood damage. Now compare this to storing your RV in Oregon or Wyoming. Where you store your RV will affect your overall insurance rate. This is an important question to ask your RV insurance agent, one which could save you hundreds of dollars annually. 2. How will you use your RV? - Be honest with your RV insurance agent when you're signing up for your policy. Don t lie to save some money which could cost you thousands if your claims adjuster learns you re a full timer when on your policy it says recreation use only. If you plan to live in your RV full-time, you need an insurance policy that works like a home-owners policy that follows you everywhere you go. If you're a weekend warrior, you can get different coverage that won't cost you as much. 3. Do you belong to an RV association or club? - Be sure to mention any memberships or clubs you belong to when talking with your RV insurance agent. In addition to a number of perks such as reduced rates at RV parks, your membership could earn you a discount on your insurance rates. 4. Do I get a discount if I have multiple policies with a company? - Mention your current insurance companies when talking with your insurance agent, as you may be eligible for a multiple-policy discount. 5. Previous RV ownership - Do you have any previous RV driving experience? Your insurance agent will likely ask you about your past RV driving history. If you don t have any be sure to let your agent know how long you have been driving as you may be eligible for discounts. 6. Age - Check with your agent to see if there are any discounts you've earned through the sheer virtue of the duration of your life's experience. There are some perks that come with growing older - one of them is lower insurance rates. 7. Insurance claims history - Your insurance history is likely to be a strong factor in your final insurance rate. Be sure to minimize the number of claims you're making - insurance companies pay an independent agency that tracks an individual's claims 149

150 and protects them much the way credit ratings protect credit companies. If your history shows problems in this area you will pay more for your policy. 8. Owning a home helps - If you re a home owner it will probably lower your RV insurance costs. Most policies provide some type of discount for home owners. If you're curious about your savings on this, just ask your agent while you're on the phone. 9. Marital status - Insurance companies believe your marital status affects how safely you drive, and the likelihood that you'll make a claim. Married couples do enjoy lower insurance rates. Either way, your status does affect your insurance rates. So, if you re not married get married, (just kidding). 10. What is your credit score? - If your credit score is above 650 you're likely to see a small decrease in your insurance rates. If you're curious about the size of the decrease, be sure to check with your insurance agent. RV insurance companies believe that the manner in which you treat your credit could be a strong indicator of how you're going to treat your RV. Best Regards, Randall Eaton 150

151 J R Consumer Resources Inc Nicklaus Drive Clarkston, WA Phone: (509) Fax: (866) Website: Copyright by J R Consumer Resources Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without written permission from J R Consumer Resources Inc. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this guide, the publisher and author assume no responsibility for errors and omissions. The author and publisher disclaim any liability, loss or risk, personal or otherwise, which is incurred as a consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and application of any of the contents of this guide. 151

152 The Truth about Extended RV Warranties For some, an RV is a major investment; costing as much as a home or even more! Extended RV Service Contracts - or "Warranties" as they are commonly referred to - can be an excellent way to protect your investment. If you buy an RV extended warranty on your motorhome, travel trailer or fifth wheel, chances are you'll be glad you did. Your extended warranty will pay for repairs on your recreational vehicle after the manufacturer's coverage has expired. Most RV manufacturers have a 3-year, 36,000 mile coverage on the chassis or frame and 1-year coverage on the RV coach components. When your factory warranty expires, you're financially responsible for all repairs. From the day you buy your new motorhome, fifth wheel or travel trailer, things like electrical systems, transmissions or appliances can break - it is a fact of life. And sometimes those necessary repairs can be expensive, very expensive. Even if you purchase a new RV from a reputable dealer the factory warranty will only cover certain parts and labor. Yes it s true a factory warranty does provide some peace of mind but as with all factory warranties they only cover so much. The main advantage to any extended warranty is that you can, in effect, place a cap on repair costs within a certain time frame. So if the warranty costs you $2,500 for a period of 3 years, you should not have more than $2,500 in major repair bills during that time if all goes well. If you choose not to purchase an extended warranty, you are pretty much on your own. If you have plenty of money saved up for just such emergencies, then you may be just fine, but if you have to budget your monthly expenses, an extended warranty service contract may be a viable consideration. There are, however, many things you should know about RV extended warranties in general. You should also be aware of the various companies that provide and administer them. Deductibles normally range from zero to $ per occurrence. However, that's a far cry from the typical $1,000 to $2,500 replacement cost for an air conditioner. Engine and transmission repairs can be very expensive too and even a simple water heater or furnace replacement can exceed $1, Be sure that you know exactly what is covered under the warranty and for how long. It is a very good practice to read these contracts through completely and become thoroughly familiar with them to avoid surprises later on. 152

153 Points to Consider You need to be aware of how claims are paid out. Many warranty companies require you to pay the repair bill first and then send in a copy of the repair order to the warranty company. Some companies will pay for the repairs directly, but only if the repair facility will agree to file the claim. In today s economy more and more RV dealerships and service departments are unwilling to wait for the payment to arrive from your warranty company. They would rather you pay for the repairs upfront and request that you file your claim directly with your coverage provider. In either case be sure you understand the terms of your policy before you make any payments up-front. Many RV warranties have additional benefits such as towing reimbursement, rental car allowances, towing and road service, and lost key and lock-out service. Some plans will even pay for your meals and lodging while your RV is being repaired. Your warranty coverage should be transferable if you sell your RV. It should have a pro-rated refund policy if you decide to terminate the coverage at any time during the warranty period. It should also be renewable. This means that you can keep your RV covered for an indefinite amount of time. You should also check the fine print regarding which repair facilities are acceptable or authorized to perform any service or repairs. Some policies do have restrictions which must be followed if you expect to be reimbursed. Additional Options and Surcharges Most extended warranty coverage is good anywhere in the United States or Canada. Most policies will not cover you in Mexico, so keep that in mind if you decide to take a vacation south of the border. Below is a list of common options you may want to add to your extended warranty policy: Slide-Out Rooms: If your RV is equipped with slide-outs, be sure to add this option to your policy. Even though slide-out rooms have become more and more reliable, they still require adjustment, or repair from time to time. These adjustments and repairs can be costly. Some companies charge by the number of slide outs, so be sure that your warranty covers all of the slides. Full Replacement Cost Coverage: Ensure you are always protected if your RV is totaled or stolen. There is a time frame on this provision, usually within five years. This option will pay the original purchase price not a depreciated amount. Emergency Expense Allowance: If you need money to cover motel or transportation costs when your rig in disabled. For those that plan long trips this is a good option to have. Make sure your policy has this option or you will be sorry. 153

154 Roadside Assistance: This service typically will cover flat tire problems, towing, jump start, lock-out service and delivery of gas or other fluids. Cost of gas, other fluids, or key replacement not included. There may be a charge per occurrence so check your policy. Ask for References Ask fellow RV owners for recommendations regarding extended service contracts, and be careful to listen for how each was treated when a claim arose. If there are several complaints about a particular company, it is wise to avoid them altogether. How long has a certain RV extended warranty company been in business? If they are new to the industry you may want to let them establish a reputation at sometimes else's expense, not yours. Shopping for the Best Deal When considering an extended RV warranty, the key is to find the best coverage possible for the least amount. I know, this is an obvious statement but did you know that RV buyers pay on average 60% more for an extended warranty when purchased from an RV dealer? 60% - that is a lot of money down the drain, which could have been used for a well deserved vacation, fuel costs or additional RV options. BUYING TIP: Most RV buyers are so focused on getting the best deal possible they tend to forget about extended warranties, financing options and other costs associated with purchasing an RV. What most RV buyers don t know is that while they may have been successful in negotiating an AMAZING DEAL, their RV dealer and salesperson are getting ready for round two. In this round your dealer is preparing a clever maneuver in which they will be offering you some options regarding extended warranties, financing and other miscellaneous dealer add-ons. If you re not prepared, you will end up paying thousands of dollars in dealer profits. What you may have saved during the negotiation phase will all be for naught when the dealer successfully sells you an over-priced warranty policy you could have gotten for 50% to 60% less somewhere else. Many RV dealers commonly mark-up their warranties by 70% to 200%. New law: Based on my research I have found that most states have passed a law that prohibits an RV dealer from charging over 100% for an extended warranty or other dealerprep items. If the dealer s cost for example is $500 they can only charge $1,000 for the policy. Not all states have passed this legislation so check with your local representative or state officials to confirm. 154

155 My Top Picks I hope you have enjoyed this short but informative section explaining your options about RV Extended Warranties. Happy RVing Randall Eaton 155