Entry level have anything to do with quality?

My 95 Bounder was entry level but it was a great coach. Everything always functioned as intended. Most non Fleetwood components were the same made for all RV's. Yes it was "entry level" in cabinets, flooring,plumbing, etc. but again it always performed for us. It did say right in the owners manual NOT INTENDED FOR FULL TIME USE.

In many cases entry level motorhomes have some amenities found in more expensive models. However the quality level of those amenities is not the same. There are differences starting from the chassis all the way through the electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, appliance, and entertainment packages.

Using The Winnebago lineup as an example the Vista is the lowest price class A motorhome with a starting price of $93,545.00. The Adventurer is their highest level gas coach with a starting price of $178,940.00.

While they both come on a Ford F53 chassis the largest Vista (31KE) is built on a 16,000 lb. GVWR chassis with a 190" wheel base. It uses a Hydro boost braking system, has 19,5" steel wheels with wheel liners, and a front track bar is optional.

The Adventurer is also built on an F53 chassis. However even the smallest one (32D) comes on a 22,000 lb. chassis with a 228" wheelbase, uses a the Hydromax braking system, has 22,5" wheels with the outer rear, and front wheels being polished aluminum. A front track bar is standard on this chassis.

If you move to the heating and cooling systems you'll see the Vista has a single 14,800 BTU air conditioner, and a 30,000 BTU gas furnace.

The Adventurer has 2, 13,500 BTU Air conditioners with heat pumps. It also has a 35,000 BTU gas furnace.

On the electrical side the Vista has a 30 amp shore power cord, a 4,000 watt generator and 2 group 24 house batteries. It does not have an inverter, energy management system, generator/shore power transfer switch, or generator auto start.

The Adventurer has a 50 amp shore power cord, 5,500 watt generator, 2, AGM house batteries, a 1000 watt inverter, an energy management system, a shore power/generator transfer switch, and a generator auto start system.

The list goes on and on. There are definitely differences between entry level coaches and higher and higher end models other than "fluff. Each manufacturer is different so it's important to compare the entry level coaches and higher end models from the same manufacturer.

How do you define quality.Entry level often means basic. While the craftsman ship is the same. The materials used is often lees substantial.
THere maybe also features missing:wall mounted switches, outlets in slides, vents in bathrooms,drawer latches,winterizing connections, fewer valves at fixtures, no insulation etc.
In the end you get what you pay for.Entry level RV's are capable of getting the job done and provide a acceptable RV experience, however there will often be be features and amenities missing.
A Corolla is a decent car but it is not a Lexus. It will take you from point A to point B but there will be less style,comfort and performance. Similar to a entry level RV vs. a higher end unit

"But the big difference between the different coach brands is the name. Example: Newmar use Freight Liner chassis on some of their coaches and they are going to ask for it a pretty good penny. Then you have Tiffin which uses the same chassis as the Newmar, but for a lot less money. Yet they both have the same chassis. Now why does Newmar cost more? NAME: that is it."

As a Tech at a dealership that sold BOTH Newmar and Tiffin,(we dropped Newmar due to the increase in price), Newmar is WAY better built RV than Tiffin. I have been in the RV business for 40 years, toured BOTH Tiffin and Newmar. When we took on Newmar back in 1994(we dropped them in 2009), the FIRST thing I noticed and told customers--Newmar's were the BEST mass produced Motorhomes/Towables I had ever seen, quality and function. I still believe that, but their price is just way too high versus Tiffin. You DO pay for that Newmar name, but they build a much better quality RV than Tiffin. Tiffin down in Red Bay, Alabama has a lower cost employee base versus Newmar up in Nappanee, Indiana. If money was no object, I would buy a Newmar, but if you want value for your buck, I would get a Tiffin. Doug

Depends on what you look at. I've toured two builders facilities, Tiffin and Newmar. Tiffin had two lines and Newmar one at the time. Didn't matter what the model was they all came down the same line. You could have a rocks star coach following a budget model. Plumbing, electrical, appliances, sub floor, framing, and such were all the same source assembled by the same workers. The big differences was the builder produced wood products and the volume of bling.

I like my budget entry level coach. As a weekender/summer vacation owner it does everything I want. Gets me to the camp ground, has hot and cold running water, heat and AC and a fridge to keep my beverages cool. The cabinets are light weight which gives me a bigger loading reserve for my stuff. The various system are simple, easy to fix and won't cost me an arm, leg and first born male child to replace if necessary.

Now if I was full or even part timing I would want the extra bling, heavier wood work and all that other refinements that makes ruffing it a bit smoother.

I do not see much difference on the chassis. On diesel pushers they will out last you if taken care off. Where the big difference is, is in the house part of a coach. Starting with the full body paint vs the gelcoat with stick on graphics. Also on the ends of the slides a high end coach will be painted to continue the design of the paint job. Entry level will not continue the painting of the side wall design. Then on the interior of the coach is another big difference between an entry level and a higher end coach. The cabinets, the materials used on the furniture, the floor ceramic tiles vs a cheaper linoleum flooring. The wall decor of the interior walls. Higher end coaches will have french doors versus no doors or sliding doors. The bathrooms on high end coaches are roomy with big showers. The bedrooms have higher quality materials on the high end coaches with televisions, and plenty of cabinet space for clothing, with large closets.

Now like somebody else posted: Is it worth three or five times more the cost?

I say, IF you can afford it, why not.

But again on the chassis part, a entry level coach with a Spartan or Freightliner chassis is not going to be much different. Diesel chassis are built heavy duty in comparison to a gasoline chassis and I am referring to the engines. They are like day and night in the difference.

But the big difference between the different coach brands is the name. Example: Newmar use Freight Liner chassis on some of their coaches and they are going to ask for it a pretty good penny. Then you have Tiffin which uses the same chassis as the Newmar, but for a lot less money. Yet they both have the same chassis. Now why does Newmar cost more? NAME: that is it.

The entry level units will have Lippert cheap slides that are problematic. They may have electric jacks. The paint quality is not the same as a higher end model. Nor are the graphics the same. It really does not matter if they are built on the same line. Roof materials may be different. Even the chassis may be different. Entry level often use an Allison 2000 not the 3000. Exhaust brake instead of engine brake.

Moisheh

moisheh wrote:
Jayco Quality

Although the above is a link to a travel trailer being built it also applies to MH's. Forget the appliances. It is things like: vinyl wrap cupboards, drawers that have thin bottoms and cheap drawer glides, low end upholstery, cheap vinyl flooring, cheap light fixtures. Everything is basic. You are better off buying a higher end used unit.

Moisheh

The reason they use what some call "cheap" materials is NOT just to maintain low cost. The REASON is weight., Nothing else. If they build with residential type cabinets and materials, you could never tow that RV unless you buy a very expensive Tow Truck. WEIGHT has always been a big concern. They have to keep the weight down to build a marketable vehicle whether Motorized or Towable. If you watch the Video, I see nothing different from when I built them in Middlebury 40 years ago. The only thing that has changed is the design of the production line to facilitate the items being installed to get to the work station. But, ENTRY means cheaper materials and not any Bells and Whistles. You buy an Entry to get your feet wet, if you like the lifestyle, you sell or trade and go up the chain of better RV's. For those that watched the Video and read the Comments (derogatory) from the poster about California versus Indiana building codes--NONSENSE. Until the 2008 crisis, a LOT of major brand RV's were built in California,(the parent was based in Indiana). Formaldehyde is just a big red herring, and you cannot compare a small company like LANCE, to the major players of RV builders. Doug

We have a Winnebago and all of there coaches are built on the same line. With that said all of the builders are trying to cut cost . We had a base coach a 2003. We ordered our 2011 and it was a Sightseer .I noticed that instead of using screws for the framing of the dinette they changed from 2003 to staples to save a few bucks .Now there are using a gear slide on there full slides and having all kind of problems. Mine have HWH jacks and ram driven slides. These where used with no problems but the gear slides saved some money.It is all about saving money so I do not think a base coach is much different than a Middle of the line or top of the line . Just more fluff.

I have had a Fleetwood Jamboree (C), Pace Arrow, and a Mountain Aire from Newmar. The Mountain Aire is considered one of their luxury line. The difference was amazing. We could talk in normal tones (mine was a gasser), the AC was so quiet you had to feel if it was running, the shades would make it dark for sleeping, the thermopane windows kept out heat and noise. There are many differences. Mine was 2 yr. old when I bought it and kept it for 11 years with no problems. I only sold it because I could not climb the 6 steps into it after my DW died.