RV SHOW WAKE UP CALL

I agree but it all in what you want to pay, You really can't much of a trailer for less than 80 dollars but then, a pick up to pull it with s 30 to 50 thousand new.

It's really sad. The units they send to RV shows should be in excellent shape and no broken or missing items.

But, apparently the dealers/manufacturers don't care. They know someone will buy their junk.

Maybe you should consider a used Airstrean or other higher quality RV?
You will take less of a hit on depreciation.

Good luck with whatever you chose.

Thor owns Airstream now so I am not sure you will get any better quality than any other production brand.

FYI - there is no quality control on any production RV. No matter how much you spend. It's worse at the bottom of the food chain but not by much.

I am seeing the same trend in the housing market. Many custom or semi-custom builders are finding they can make more money on tract homes made quick and cheap. And just like RV's you are expected to pay the same high price.

If you want quality, you have to step out of the production lines and move into high end. But if you want an Rv and your budget dictates production level, then you have to decide if you want to knowingly throw good money after bad for a slipshod product with a value that goes down faster than a fat kid on a see saw.

We walked thru two Airstreams at the Tampa RV show this week and they looked pretty flimsy to me. The outer skin seemed paper thin.

Relative to other brands of TT's, maybe they are made better.

Going to the show in Boston is just something to do on mid-winter's day. I reviewed the demographics on the website for the show. I can now see why the dealers bring what the do. The majority of the show attendees are young families who are thinking this is the best place and time to buy a new camper. The whole show is geared toward this particular market share.

I go just for something to do, talk to the manufacturer's reps and people watch (to bad they don't have some comfy park benches).

Current RV industry is that of the auto industry of the 70s !

Northwood Trailers


I suspect there were none of these trailers at your show because they are made on the west coast.

These are well made and it might be worth your time to make a trip out west and pick one up.

Class A's have always had only a few manufacturers in the middle market with any real quality IMO. Tiffin and Newmar where always our favorites.

On the tow-able side we went to Tampa this last week and looked at KZ and Momentum's from Grand Design and left impressed.

If you expect a problem free experience you shouldn't buy anything. Much less a rectangle that travels down the road at 60+ mph. While I agree quality could always be better there are still some manufactures doing better than most.

We've never really been all that impressed with Airstream. For the money you can replace a grand design or KZ two or three times over the 30 years.

chuckftboy wrote:
I agree but it all in what you want to pay, You really can't much of a trailer for less than 80 dollars but then, a pick up to pull it with s 30 to 50 thousand new.

Yea I don't think 80 dollars will get you too much.

Other than Airstream, try Lance - they're pretty much bullet proof.

This was a trailer question posted in the Class A forum??