Not a debate on build quality of different manufacturers, but rather more of a question of build quality within a manufacturer over different lines:For example, Forest River makes Class A, Class C, 5th wheels, travel trailers toy haulers, etc. (BTW, not picking on Forest River, just using them as an example of a manufacturer that has a broad portfolio of products). Is the quality of their Class A builds the same as the quality of their Travel Trailers? Do they use the same people in building them? Do they use the same people in QA? PDI? Are they built on the same assembly lines (i.e. Motor Division, Towable Division)?

Well, FR bought Dynamax in 2011, and they were making some nice Super Cs. They also own a couple of bus companies, so the in-house expertise for building a quality motor home is there. The Berkshire seems to have a cult following, so I would think that objective opinions would be hard to come by.When companies are bought out by a conglomerate, the original structure ( mfg, QA ) is usually left alone as long as the division continues to make money. Customer service and purchasing as normally centralized.

short answer NObrand names ? owned the mfg are usually assembled in different facilitiescompanies such as fleetwood are a conglomerate of multiple mfgs that were bought updifferent places build the class A, tt etc..Winnebago might build their TT at the same facility, even then it would be on a different line with different emplyees

I dont think its even a matter of different product types, It seems more to be a difference by level or overall cost of product lines.Since many interior items, water pumps, heaters, appliances etc, are the same across a wide variety of product lines from basic $12,000 tt's to $30,000 units the change in quality in large part is likely in the time manufacturing crews are given to assemble the materials, as much as its a difference in materials. Yes Glass exteriors are one major upgrade cost, bigger tanks or heavier axles add some, but the difference in cost and quality are as much or even more so a matter of the time crews are given. And yes I talked of TT's ,but with a Class A or any other unit the same principles apply.

jplante4 wrote:Well, FR bought Dynamax in 2011, and they were making some nice Super Cs. They also own a couple of bus companies, so the in-house expertise for building a quality motor home is there. The Berkshire seems to have a cult following, so I would think that objective opinions would be hard to come by.When companies are bought out by a conglomerate, the original structure ( mfg, QA ) is usually left alone as long as the division continues to make money. Customer service and purchasing as normally centralized.exactly what i'm pointing outthe different products are assembled in different places, by different employeesthe people building a Bus or a trailer, are not working on anything else

In your example, FR has a lot of different plants, QC is plant specific.

Build quality by same manufacturer: Class A vs 5th vs TT

TomG2
Explorer
Nov 01, 2017
drsteve wrote:
TomG2 wrote:
"They" put their best craftsman in their entry level bumper pull division and let the unskilled new hires build their $200,000 Class A's. Really? Of course not.

They aren't craftsmen, they are assemblers.

I was being sarcastic with the "craftsman" comment. I have been in both entry level units and $200k rigs.
drsteve
Explorer
Nov 01, 2017
TomG2 wrote:
"They" put their best craftsman in their entry level bumper pull division and let the unskilled new hires build their $200,000 Class A's. Really? Of course not.

They aren't craftsmen, they are assemblers.
TomG2
Explorer
Nov 01, 2017
"They" put their best craftsman in their entry level bumper pull division and let the unskilled new hires build their $200,000 Class A's. Really? Of course not.
ctilsie242
Explorer II
Nov 01, 2017
There is a big different between what a manufacturer makes. I would look at a trailer, a class "C", a class "B", a gasser class "A", then a DP "A", and each will be built to completely different levels. You can tell this by how the cabinets are shaped, the dividers separating cabinets, doors, screws versus staples, and so on.
RGar974417
Explorer
Oct 31, 2017
Most manufacturers have different lines. Some are economy models while others are top of the line.It's just like cars manufacturers.
ncrowley
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2017
It is not the manufacturer as it is the model and how it is built. There are lower quality lines for many manufacturers.
donn0128
Explorer II
Oct 31, 2017
In your example, FR has a lot of different plants, QC is plant specific.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 30, 2017
jplante4 wrote:
Well, FR bought Dynamax in 2011, and they were making some nice Super Cs. They also own a couple of bus companies, so the in-house expertise for building a quality motor home is there. The Berkshire seems to have a cult following, so I would think that objective opinions would be hard to come by.

When companies are bought out by a conglomerate, the original structure ( mfg, QA ) is usually left alone as long as the division continues to make money. Customer service and purchasing as normally centralized.

exactly what i'm pointing out
the different products are assembled in different places, by different employees

the people building a Bus or a trailer, are not working on anything else
kerrlakeRoo
Explorer
Oct 30, 2017
I dont think its even a matter of different product types, It seems more to be a difference by level or overall cost of product lines.
Since many interior items, water pumps, heaters, appliances etc, are the same across a wide variety of product lines from basic $12,000 tt's to $30,000 units the change in quality in large part is likely in the time manufacturing crews are given to assemble the materials, as much as its a difference in materials. Yes Glass exteriors are one major upgrade cost, bigger tanks or heavier axles add some, but the difference in cost and quality are as much or even more so a matter of the time crews are given.
And yes I talked of TT's ,but with a Class A or any other unit the same principles apply.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 30, 2017
short answer NO

brand names ? owned the mfg are usually assembled in different facilities

companies such as fleetwood are a conglomerate of multiple mfgs that were bought up

different places build the class A, tt etc..

Winnebago might build their TT at the same facility, even then it would be on a different line with different emplyees