Who's Looking Out for Our Interests?
As a group of people that have a single interest at heart (RV's and all that goes with that term) It seems to me that we are terribly under-represented in the halls of government and with almost no cl...
Forum Discussion
It's been said on this forum many times over the years I've been here. The US auto industry suffered a tailspin when foreign competitors took our business because they made a quality car, with more options, at better prices.
Now they make them here and employ us to build them, providing jobs and economic benefits. It forced the US manufactures to scramble and up their game or go out of business ( which almost happened numerous times). It's only after the last decade or so we've seen a turnaround. People spoke with their wallets and it turned the tide.
This is what it'll take for the RV industry to reach the point the OP discusses. The problem is it will never happen. Most people can't afford this "hobby" as it's a luxury to most. It doesn't get them to work, or to the doctors, or kids to school, or to the grocery store. It's not part of their daily lives like a automobile is ( not a necessity). So we are a small part in comparison to the population. There's just not enough money to be made like there is going after the automobile market. This is why we have companies like Thor buying up their competition and building a lesser quality product. Because they can.
There are a few high end MH and trailer builders that build high quality product. The problem for most of us is we can't afford them. They cater to a select clientele and have no reason to build something affordable for the rest of us. And why should they.
It will never change. Over the years we've made the best decisions we could based on personal experiences, research, and the money we had available. But just like most people have been left disappointed with build quality. We've learned to try and roll with whatever comes up. It ain't worth worrying about, after all it's all about having fun.
Now they make them here and employ us to build them, providing jobs and economic benefits. It forced the US manufactures to scramble and up their game or go out of business ( which almost happened numerous times). It's only after the last decade or so we've seen a turnaround. People spoke with their wallets and it turned the tide.
This is what it'll take for the RV industry to reach the point the OP discusses. The problem is it will never happen. Most people can't afford this "hobby" as it's a luxury to most. It doesn't get them to work, or to the doctors, or kids to school, or to the grocery store. It's not part of their daily lives like a automobile is ( not a necessity). So we are a small part in comparison to the population. There's just not enough money to be made like there is going after the automobile market. This is why we have companies like Thor buying up their competition and building a lesser quality product. Because they can.
There are a few high end MH and trailer builders that build high quality product. The problem for most of us is we can't afford them. They cater to a select clientele and have no reason to build something affordable for the rest of us. And why should they.
It will never change. Over the years we've made the best decisions we could based on personal experiences, research, and the money we had available. But just like most people have been left disappointed with build quality. We've learned to try and roll with whatever comes up. It ain't worth worrying about, after all it's all about having fun.
