I see a lot of posts urging us newbie buyers to 'do your research', especially in relation to which brands have quality workmanship. Where do we do that? Other than gleaning information over time, by reading people's posts here about problems, what are some good ways to go about learning who is who in the RV manufacturing world?

Well, you've started in a good place, but be aware, most owners will tout their particular brand and model. Also, most posts you see specific to a brand or model are negative because the owner is experiencing an issue. Almost no one comes onto these forums and posts "I had an awesome day with my RV today".I think the best advice I've gotten here is to determine your floor plan first and find a coach/trailer that meets those needs. Second best piece of advice is do not buy new first time. IMHO, you have to live with the floor plan in order to figure out if it works. We just bought a cheap old gasser for our first coach and compiled a must have list.There are brands that have a higher quality of workmanship than others. I will not enumerate those here, but you can tell by just looking at the NADA values which ones they are. You may not be able to afford the best quality rigs, so picking a brand with a reputation for quality becomes an exercise in compromise.Finally, go to shows. Don't talk to the sales people, but look for signs of quality; fit and finish of the interior, well thought out accessories, high end appliances etc.

You will find many opinions as to what is best. I believe Fores River and Thor are large manufacturers with Forest River having bought out many manufacturers. There are also several manufacturers that build what would be described as top end units also.If you are shopping used and you say do your research, I would say the number one issue no matter who built it is water damage. It's the number one killer of RV's. From there it gets into how it was taken care of, how it was stored. As far as water heaters, frig, furnace, ac, etc a lot of the stuff is all the same. Some people like stick and aluminum sides, some like aluminum and filon sides.I compare it to buying a used car. I want the best looking/maintained one in the given price range so that if I do end up putting a transmission in it I'm not putting it into some clunker. ManufacturersOpinion survey10

The best place to start examining quality is at an RV show. Since you are in FL you should go to the Tampa show. It is one of the largest in the country.At a RV show you can see/experience lots of RV's in one place vs. driving dealer to dealer.The internet is a great resource for fact finding and getting opinions but at some point quality needs to be seen,touched and experienced.

Researching RVs | Good Sam Community

13 Replies

azrving
Explorer
Jan 17, 2015
You will find many opinions as to what is best. I believe Fores River and Thor are large manufacturers with Forest River having bought out many manufacturers. There are also several manufacturers that build what would be described as top end units also.

If you are shopping used and you say do your research, I would say the number one issue no matter who built it is water damage. It's the number one killer of RV's. From there it gets into how it was taken care of, how it was stored. As far as water heaters, frig, furnace, ac, etc a lot of the stuff is all the same. Some people like stick and aluminum sides, some like aluminum and filon sides.
I compare it to buying a used car. I want the best looking/maintained one in the given price range so that if I do end up putting a transmission in it I'm not putting it into some clunker.

Manufacturers

Opinion survey

10
jplante4
Explorer II
Jan 17, 2015
Well, you've started in a good place, but be aware, most owners will tout their particular brand and model. Also, most posts you see specific to a brand or model are negative because the owner is experiencing an issue. Almost no one comes onto these forums and posts "I had an awesome day with my RV today".

I think the best advice I've gotten here is to determine your floor plan first and find a coach/trailer that meets those needs. Second best piece of advice is do not buy new first time. IMHO, you have to live with the floor plan in order to figure out if it works. We just bought a cheap old gasser for our first coach and compiled a must have list.

There are brands that have a higher quality of workmanship than others. I will not enumerate those here, but you can tell by just looking at the NADA values which ones they are. You may not be able to afford the best quality rigs, so picking a brand with a reputation for quality becomes an exercise in compromise.

Finally, go to shows. Don't talk to the sales people, but look for signs of quality; fit and finish of the interior, well thought out accessories, high end appliances etc.
2oldman
Explorer II
Jan 17, 2015
Brochures. Web sites. Price.

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Researching RVs

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