Does an affordable, quality class A or C exist?

[Dlathem]

Posting this to both the A and C forum as we are buying our first RV and haven't decided between the two yet.

We've looked at the Freedom Elite Thor as well as the Thor Axis, both between 23' and 25'. We have three girls under the age of 7, so I'm looking for something that the girls can enjoy and we can drive w/o the need to pull a car behind...Small enough to get in and out of places relatively easy.

Loved the Axis, then I get home and read multiple horrible reviews on the quality of Thor units. Ok, so I start looking around at other units from other manufacturers and literally every manufacturer, including Winnebago, has horror stories of initial quality and / or reliability.

I have to admit, it's really squashing our excitement. I have two Toyotas with a total of 600k miles between the two of them. They're well built, reliable, and I'd drive either anywhere. Is this impossible in the RV world? Looking to spend around $70-$75k. I'm fine with a used unit, let someone else take the depreciation hit, so it doesn't have to be new. I just want something well built.

Any suggestions?

[tropical36]

Dlathem wrote:
Posting this to both the A and C forum as we are buying our first RV and haven't decided between the two yet.

We've looked at the Freedom Elite Thor as well as the Thor Axis, both between 23' and 25'. We have three girls under the age of 7, so I'm looking for something that the girls can enjoy and we can drive w/o the need to pull a car behind...Small enough to get in and out of places relatively easy.

Loved the Axis, then I get home and read multiple horrible reviews on the quality of Thor units. Ok, so I start looking around at other units from other manufacturers and literally every manufacturer, including Winnebago, has horror stories of initial quality and / or reliability.

I have to admit, it's really squashing our excitement. I have two Toyotas with a total of 600k miles between the two of them. They're well built, reliable, and I'd drive either anywhere. Is this impossible in the RV world? Looking to spend around $70-$75k. I'm fine with a used unit, let someone else take the depreciation hit, so it doesn't have to be new. I just want something well built.

Any suggestions?

That's the key. Stick with quality and drop back in the years, until it meets your budget. But, why so small, when there's no problem with driving larger or parking it, for that matter and once you're used to it, you'll be wanting to trade up, so buy your last one first, as they say. The biggest PITA about not having a toad, is tearing down and re-hooking at your site, every time you want to go somewhere and hasn't much to do with the size of the coach. Also going with a 35ft or so, makes for a better selection. Since it seems that you're set on a gasser, then you might want to look at Newmar's canyon star, as well as others. Not many gassers have a lot of quality, these days as they start to infringe on the price range for entry level DP's, so not great sellers, it seems.

[DrewE]

Most modern RVs will be fairly reliable as vehicles; the drivetrains and engines and such are pretty good. There is some variation, of course, but the major chassis are all pretty well proven and last well given appropriate maintenance.

The coach/house part is somewhat of a different matter. Don't expect Toyota levels of reliability there from any manufacturer, though some come a lot closer than others. The appliances and other mechanical systems generally all come from the same few companies, not the coach builders, so there's not too much to differentiate there. The quality of the wall and roof construction and care in sealing and that sort of thing do vary a little more, and all require more or less maintenance and vigilance to keep in good shape.

Partly, too, the systems are a lot more complex than in a car, with more things to go wrong. A seat and a strap to hold you into it is pretty trouble-free; a refrigerator, plumbing system, stove, and furnace are rather more complicated and fiddly.

Initial quality is not the strong point of most RV manufacturers. Usually things improve a bit once the initial set of manufacturing faux-pas are corrected (generally under warranty). A lightly used unit might be a better option for that reason; someone else has gone through the fun of getting fixed things that should have been fixed before. Some of the smaller more boutique makers, like Phoenix Cruiser or Lazy Daze for example, generally do better in this regard (but are also less affordable).

[Devocamper]

unfortunately quality and affordable do not often come together in the RV world.
Mike

[MrWizard]

automibles are completed in ONE factory, everything in it falls on Toyota to warranty

in most cases for motorhomes, the chassis is purchased, then house build on top of it

the house contains, many items that come from many different mfg

i'm guessing most of the 'stories' are about fit and finish, about the house side of the RV not the drive drain/chassis

you can get a lemon from anybody, but Thor has a lower rating from many members of these forums than say Winnie ,Holday Rambler, tiffdin, Damon

keep looking you will find a unit with the floor plan you like and quality you approve of, it just takes time,

[WAFlowers]

I'm glad you defined "affordable" ("around $70-$75k") because what is affordable for one person can be insanely expensive for someone else.

Yes, look for a good used RV from a top manufacturer. Late last year we picked up a very well cared for 2008 Tiffin Phaeton for a small fraction of the new price. Both the interior and exterior look practically new. The original owner not only took the depreciation hit but dealt with the teething pains of first-owner problems getting sorted; I got a partial list of them when I called Freightliner for history on my coach.

There is a Facebook group for used Tiffin coaches and, I'm sure, groups exist for other makes as well - both Class A and C.

We have always bought used and by doing careful homework have never had any regrets in 35 years of RVing.