Rating of quality

tinner12002 wrote:
A lot of them use less than adequate parts for what they are building so you just have to see who puts the junk together best and makes it the prettiest!!
I just wish someone would start building frames other than lippert!

I hear ya but here's the thing, I don't read about frame issues around this site much anymore. It's not like it was 5~10 years ago when failures throughout the frames were an issue. I really don't think frame welds are much of a problem anymore.
But manufacturers have worked overtime to find other ways to save money and drive both quality and value down.

A lot of them use less than adequate parts for what they are building so you just have to see who puts the junk together best and makes it the prettiest!!
I just wish someone would start building frames other than lippert!

When we went to the Seattle RV show this year, I was disappointed in what I saw in TT's and fivers.
While in some cases the materials and technology seem to be better, it is always badly offset by lousy workmanship. This goes for all the big manufacturers.
When someone says their brand X RV has been great you can't even count on that because it's just one sample. For instance, My Forest River has been great but their quality is average and I think I've been lucky.
I'll get some heat here but even the more popular brands or models like the Montana, Cedar Creek and Jayco products are sorely lacking in quality and fail in the simplest executions - but they are not the exceptions at all.
I wish there was a brand to suggest but they all need to make huge strides in craftsmanship. Somehow they need to get their management and assemblers to care at least a little.

Don't miss out on Grand Design. Once you check them out- they will definitely be a contender in price and especially quality and beauty.

path1 wrote:
Good luck with that. We ended up with a Holiday Rambler (mid 90's)because "quality" was great. Turned out to be biggest junk pile we ever had.

We purchased a brand new 2006 Holiday Rambler Presidential Suite 37RLQ in 07'....just the opposite for us...best 5er we've ever owned...high end quality...looks almost as good today as it did in 07.....The wife and I love it...

My opinion you have two categories. 1 with the custome made RVs like New Horizon that will cost you 200k plus.

2nd categories is everything else. 70% of the market is made by Forrest River and Thor. Regardless which brand you choose your going to find horror stories and quality issues.

3oaks wrote:
kohai, now you know why the market doesn't have a good definition of who the top quality manufacturers are. The replies are very much what I expected. What you ask is very suggestive and based on various opinions based on what constitutes top quality.

Me, I look at top quality as to the build and workmanship rather than the bells and whistles. Although some frills are nice, they are worthless without quality construction materials and workmanship.

True but usage trumps quality.
DRV,New Horizons,Spacecraft are tops if luxury and amenities are important and budget is unlimited.
Excel,Arctic Fox are tops if cold weather, rugged use is important.
Redwood,Cardinal,Lifestyle- fall into the lots of Amenities budget not unlimited.
Montana,Cedar Creek,Open Range- decent amenities,good value ,lots of bang for the buck.
Prime Time,Cruiser,Cougar value priced full featured.

They all have gadgets and glitz,fit and finish is usually better on the more expensive units however they are lemons in each grouping.

Best quality is misleading. Most of us don't need New Horizons quality.
Many don't need and Excel Arctic package. or the rugged durability of an Arctic Fox.
Cargo Capacity,tank capacity, size length,floorplan are all factors that have to be factored in with quality.
Quality is also relative to budget as well.
Rv's are not as simplistic as cars there is a lot of variation in usage and capability.

lhenry8113 wrote:
A lot depends on your needs. But, in the top quality ratings you can usually find the Arctic Fox, made by Northwood MFG. Lars

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/

Just building on Henry's notes and adding that the sister company "Outdoors RV" shouldn't be overlooked with their Glacier Peak line.

Northwood also has 2 5'er lines. There's the Fox Mountain line and the Arctic Fox line. You should look over both on Northwood's Website

I's sure look at New Horizon RV at http://www.horizonsrv.com/

A lot depends on your needs. But, in the top quality ratings you can usually find the Arctic Fox, made by Northwood MFG. Lars

http://www.northwoodmfg.com/