Factory Tours

[lawnspecialties]

Has anyone here ever done a factory tour? We're hoping to head to Elkhart in October. Planning to go to Grand Design, Alliance, and Jayco before we place our order.

Just wondering what you thought, where'd you stay, etc. Any other tips?

I know the RV Museum is there and we may do that if there's time but this is definitely a fact finding trip.

Thanks

[Veebyes]

Did the Mobile Suite factory tour in 2008. Not a MS owner or looking to buy one. Very new to RVing at the time. Wanted to have an idea of how they are put together.

[lawnspecialties]

Thanks to everyone. We're really looking forward to it. Still looking at the latter part of October.

Campinghoss@51. Just between you and me. We looked at the Brinkley's at the Tampa Show back in January. I just don't see all the hype; especially for the price.

[Campinghoss]

We are taking our fiver up to Elkhart the first of October to MorRyde. I have had enough worries with bent leafs and broke spring hangers. While they are installing the IS and disc brakes we had a factory tour planned for Brinkley. A few weeks ago we had the chance to inspect a new Brinkley toy hauler. While the inside looked nice we were not that impressed with the rest of the unit. I have cancelled our tour and we plan to spend the rest of our time sight seeing and museums.

If you are interested in the new models of Brinkley they are still accepting dates for early October.

[Jim-Linda]

A little dated but when we first began our RV search we were still working {1989}. We began the searches during our vacations, first to WY, KS, MO, IN, and a couple I forget. This was done over a 3 year period and was very interesting.
After this period it came down to two brands, Teton and Hitchhiker. After doing the pro and cons routine it was Hitchhiker Champagne. Our first one was a 1991 40ft which we began fulltime in 1996. Then trader for a 1998 38ft which we still have. The tours was what convinced us to make our choice.

Jim/Linda

[mosseater]

We toured the Sunnybrook plant in like 2012 When we had our trailer repaired for a crack in the siding above the door. We stayed in a hotel in Shipshewanna and ate at Essenhause. Was a good trip and tour. Don't know what Winnebago's policy is these days.

[Scottiemom]

There are plenty of decent hotels in the area, just off the toll road exit on Ind 19 and near CR4. I believe most if not all the factories can accommodate you for a tour. Just check ahead of time. Imagine their websites give a number to call.

Dale

[craig7h]

DW and I are headed there in a week right now in Traverse City MI. Anyway we have reservations at Shipshewana North Park, have never been there so can not let you know anything about the park.

https://www.shipshewanacampgroundnorth.com/

The park just seemed like a good location for our plans which include a factory tour (yet to be determined), RV Hall of Fame and I understand there is a great Amish Restaurant.

Now more in a couple weeks Good Luck with your plans

[Desert_Captain]

In 2013 we bought our 2012 Nexus 23P Class C used with just 6,205 miles on it in Tucson. In 2014 we did a two month cross country 22 state trip that took us all the way to Maine. On the return leg we passed through Elkhart and stopped at the Nexus factory. They had a number of guest sites {that were free} with hook ups on their property and despite buying used were welcomed as members of the Nexus family.

We took an hour long factory tour and were very impressed. Seeing "up close and personal' how these fine coaches are built was a real eye opener.

I had them install a custom spare tire mount under the rear of the coach, add a seat belt and make a couple of minor repairs {the labor rate was a very reasonable $75 an hour}. We were planning on leaving the third morning but the they came out and informed us that a serious line of thunderstorms was incoming and asked to stay as their guests for another night an offer that we could not refuse.

While in Elkhart we spent several hours touring the RV Museum and I highly recommend it. If you are going to be anywhere near Elkhart take the time to visit, you will be glad you did.

For the record our tenth anniversary of owning our Nexus is coming up the end of this month. We have visited 37 states and logged 69K+ trouble free miles and are looking forward to many more.

Here is shot of a roof section under construction, that's our coach getting its new spare tire carrier in the background:



Here are a couple of shots of the RV/MH Museum:





:B

[PartyOf_Five]

We went to jayco, and Winn in IA. A bit canned but good to see where the quality comes from (or not).

Regardless, those folks with hard.

Plenty of hotels around, and I think you can boondock at the museum.