What the RV Industry needs and how it works.
I haven't posted for a while. Mostly happy trouble free camping has kept me a lurker. Trouble free however must have context, i'm a handy guy. A small insurance claim and having a kid has me assessing...
Forum Discussion
Wow, just checked in on my morning post. Three pages, must have struck a chord.
I am however surprised at the average response blaming me/the consumer for the state of the industry.
My OP i did elude to contemplating not continuing to RV. My contemplation is because i don't want to buy junk, so I recognize many of your points. I had hoped my post would spark conversation as to what is different about the RV marketplace and why evolution for the sake of corporate advantage doesn't exist.
My first and only RV purchase was not a price point unit. It was the most loaded unit available, with features five years later only becoming common place for a TT. Actually Heartland doesn't even offer a TT optioned similar anymore. This is what sparked my eye opening to the industry.
My next web search was to Evergreen, i was surprised to see them closed. I did look at them in 2012, they were very new and did not have a lot of floor-plans, at least right for me. Brief research shows they closed backlogged with orders, indicating there were people who would pay. i liked their wall construction, didn't feel their quality was that different from the others however.
Any comments on the Coachmen wall construction ? i have heard they are actually doing something different.
Airstream is out of my price range because i could by a cottage for less. I can't comment on the quality, or price to value ratio. I have heard good and bad, as with anything i suppose. For those of you that advocate for high end units. Your right. It seems reasonable to me at Airstream dollars a 7x30' box can be designed to not leak for the first few years.
I agree all big boy toys require maintenance. I don't want anything falling apart attached or next to my family on the freeway. I am however really disheartened by the number of trailers in the parks suffering from delam only a couple years out of a factory. If failure of function occurs so quickly its not the users fault, its the engineering.
No brand leads the way creating competitive advantage. All brands across the board, Thor and ForestRiver brands alike, have phased in the mini/half front cap this year. Same for the floorpan i like, it's dealer stock only, everywhere. This doesn't pass my smell test.
Ever notice there are no trailers plans for more than two adults. True queen beds took long enough to become common. We camp for a 6 week + session. What happen's when my kid grows up and doesn't want a sleeping bag on a bunk? What if another couple wants to visit us for a long weekend etc. ? No plans exist with two bedrooms with real beds.
Although i have yet to think of a better mouse trap i have thought up a better trailer. I won't accept the industry can't do the same profitably. Is it possibly the dominance of F.River and Thor has diminished creativity, competitiveness, and quality ?
I am however surprised at the average response blaming me/the consumer for the state of the industry.
My OP i did elude to contemplating not continuing to RV. My contemplation is because i don't want to buy junk, so I recognize many of your points. I had hoped my post would spark conversation as to what is different about the RV marketplace and why evolution for the sake of corporate advantage doesn't exist.
My first and only RV purchase was not a price point unit. It was the most loaded unit available, with features five years later only becoming common place for a TT. Actually Heartland doesn't even offer a TT optioned similar anymore. This is what sparked my eye opening to the industry.
My next web search was to Evergreen, i was surprised to see them closed. I did look at them in 2012, they were very new and did not have a lot of floor-plans, at least right for me. Brief research shows they closed backlogged with orders, indicating there were people who would pay. i liked their wall construction, didn't feel their quality was that different from the others however.
Any comments on the Coachmen wall construction ? i have heard they are actually doing something different.
Airstream is out of my price range because i could by a cottage for less. I can't comment on the quality, or price to value ratio. I have heard good and bad, as with anything i suppose. For those of you that advocate for high end units. Your right. It seems reasonable to me at Airstream dollars a 7x30' box can be designed to not leak for the first few years.
I agree all big boy toys require maintenance. I don't want anything falling apart attached or next to my family on the freeway. I am however really disheartened by the number of trailers in the parks suffering from delam only a couple years out of a factory. If failure of function occurs so quickly its not the users fault, its the engineering.
No brand leads the way creating competitive advantage. All brands across the board, Thor and ForestRiver brands alike, have phased in the mini/half front cap this year. Same for the floorpan i like, it's dealer stock only, everywhere. This doesn't pass my smell test.
Ever notice there are no trailers plans for more than two adults. True queen beds took long enough to become common. We camp for a 6 week + session. What happen's when my kid grows up and doesn't want a sleeping bag on a bunk? What if another couple wants to visit us for a long weekend etc. ? No plans exist with two bedrooms with real beds.
Although i have yet to think of a better mouse trap i have thought up a better trailer. I won't accept the industry can't do the same profitably. Is it possibly the dominance of F.River and Thor has diminished creativity, competitiveness, and quality ?
