RV Travel Issue 347: "Out of touch RV makers"

[Chuck]

In issue 347 of RVtravel.com (Oct. 4, 2008) I wrote about RV makers, and why I think some will fail and others will prosper. If you read the article, what do you think? The issue is at http://rvtravel.com/publish/newsletter/issue347.shtml
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Chuck Woodbury is the editor of RVtravel.com

[porscheracer]

Chuck - that must have been some of your research droids buzzing inside my head. I couldn't agree more with what you are saying!
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Norm & Janet
'08 Winnebago View 24H / '09 Escape XLT AWD toad
'05 Winnebago Vectra 36RD / '03 Dakota QC 4x4 toad, or a 24' trailer with another car;
Probably somewhere in NA - or maybe on another continent.

[davidl54]

I couldn't agree more. We just attended an RV show, and half of the rigs were still huge and received no attention from the few people in attendance. The sales people looked depressed.

[tetonfolks]

Chuck, first let me thank you for the trememdous service you provide for RVers and full-timers. This is my first tme here to say that. As an answer, I don't completely agree. Certainly there are companies out there that did not keep up to current needs and desires. But beyond that, there is lots of inventory on dealers' lots that remains from the early '08 production and even some 07s that will spell the demise of other manufacturers. With Teton, it was a management issue rather than the large sizes. At least one other has a gigantic bank note coming due December that will spell its demise on top of poor sales.

[bockofma]

Chuck, like you and others, I, too, find an RV with a porch somewhat redundant. But that's just my personal reaction. I would assume there are others in this wonderfully diverse world who would find a mobile verandah exactly to their liking. In fact I sensed an almost vitriolic reaction within your "Editor's corner" essay...

[tripinon]

When I got into this motorhoming thingie, my concentration was on a class A. As time goes on I see that 5th wheelers seem to rule the roost. I don't know if it is because of the love of the 5th wheel or the love of the truck that pulls them. But I do know that that there are different strokes for different folks.

The industry will, as it has for some time, meet the needs of its client base. Or as you say. . . fail.

I still look at the cost of operating a motorhome with my eyes upon a diesel. The operation of one is still cheaper than the operation of a brick and mortar (or wood frame) home. I feel that if I travel 300 miles in one day to spend a month in one area, it's worth it.

As for the veranda. Don't have one on my home now and see no reason to have one on a motorhome. Unless my ego gets bigger. Besides it gets in the way of the view.
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Tripinon
2003 Country Star Class A
Full-timer
http://tripinwithtripinon.blogspot.com

[rlraven]

My husband and I currently own a Jayco 30' fifth wheel with a single slide and pull it with a Chevy 2500 diesel. Mileage while towing averages 14 mpg depending on which one of us is driving. We have been looking for a smaller, upscale 5th wheel and have had no success. Anything that is above average in construction/appearance is well over 30' long. We went to the Hershey RV show which took us 2 days to really see all of it, and left pretty much unimpressed. We even talked to a few manufacturer reps about making shorter rigs but they just talked over us, trying to sell us the rig we happened to be in. We are also considering switching to a small motorhome so that we would have more flexibility to just jump in the rig and take off. The diesels get similiar mileage to what we have now, but the price point is off the charts. We are keeping a watch on several online sites and hope that the perfect rig shows up.

[tworootless]

I too agree with you Chuck relating to the size and weight of these monster RVs and the manufacturers not keeping up with the economy. Although we don't need a slideout balcony or slideout aluminum deck, we love the convenience of the washer and dryer in our 2000 HR 33-foot 5th wheel.
IMO it would cost more fuel to get to a laundry than to own a unit if your RV can handle one. Not all Laundromats are in the nicest part of town either.
We have also been involved with RVing since the 1960s. Remember you still have a stick and brick to go home to and don't need to carry much. We have been living and working on the road for nine years.
We have also lived full-time in New Zealand and owned a 24 Mazda MH. We could live in a refrigerator box if need be, but where's the quality of life in that? I agree that the RV market will survive. I also believe that many full-timers will keep driving older and older rigs while traveling less. All things considered IMO, there must be some quality of life to keep living on the road.

[tworootless]

And how would one go about opening that in the typical KOA campground?

[PapPappy]

I for one think that the balcony is a real plus!

I have always wanted to be KING, and with this balcony, I can stand out, and above all my loyal (and not so loyal) subjects! Thank goodness one RV manufacturer had the foresight to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop such a remarkable feature. I'm just surprised that it wasn't MONARCH

Other than my own personal need for glory, I think that the article was right on, and this recession will ultimately weed out the backward thinking companies, and reward those who are forward thinking!
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Bill & Claudia Archer
DD: Jenn DS: Chris
The Paps: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Khalie, & Annie

2000 Winnebago 31C

[Motor31]

There are different strokes for different folks and the same goes on with RVs, houses, cars, bicycles, and so on. If the manufacturers all built the same darn thing, we wouldn't need so many of them. That's one of the reasons why there ARE different styles of RVs.

Why should an RVer need to have a self mobile RV? That's a ton of waste. You have a chassis and power unit that is dedicated to a single thing, moving the RV and has absolutely no secondary use. That's really wasteful compared to a trailer and tow vehicle. In spite of this I am not calling for the motorhome industry to stop making such a wasteful product. The same should go for the balcony. If it is not profitable for the company, I doubt they will make them very long. Enough RV manufacturers are going to fail as is and this is a rather trivial thing to be concerned about.

If you don't like it, don't buy it, but in the meantime don't fret about it either. It's up to the company to make what their customers like and will buy. The sales totals will be the determining factor in what they make.
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Mike, Nancy and the Fuzzies
2005 MS 38 RL3
2001 Volvo MH (HDT)
2004 R1150RT (piggyback)
1996 Jeep Cherokee (toad)

[sailorglfr]

I enjoyed piece by the "Professor." In order to survive, every business has to attempt to define its place in the market. The Veranda is aimed at the very high end of the market, where I doubt fuel cost isn't high on the priority list of the buyers. If this product keeps the manufacturer in business, thus providing jobs, etc., more power to them. I note that many of the "low end" manufacturers that do provide lightweight, fuel-efficient products are struggling or out of business. (Pilgrim) comes to mind. There is room for both high and low. That is what makes this country great. We have a choice.

[Bruce A. Smith]

I own a large Suburban with an 8.1 L engine pulling a 31-foot trailer. Do I need this big of an RV? No! But since I only get 9 mpg when towing, I split expenses with my brother, so gas is only $2 per gallon, and camping sites are half price. What's the point? There is always a way to enjoy your RV, no matter what the size. No, I am not rich; not even close.

[Maxwelltie]

We have been RVers since Moses crossed the Red Sea. We too started with popups, graduated to small trailers, etc and now drive one of those 'honkin huge diesel behemoths.'
We have been looking for a new home and even before this gas wahoo, found the Class A's just don't seem to fit our needs.
Our current coach is 35 feet. We'd love to find something a bit smaller, a little more power and not so much 'gingerbread' inside. I don't need 16 different modes of lighting to 'set the mood.' I especially don't need two sofas facing each other and adding length. I would like a slightly bigger bath and bed.
It seems the manufacturers have lower end and smaller homes without storage or capacity or huge 40'+ models that are overkill for us.
We are nearly full-timers...spend about 9 months a year out and probably will go full-time soon, but I can't find anything that twirls my propeller so we'll continue driving our 13 year-old paid for coach.
As for worthless drivetrain not doing anything? Motorhome fits our lifestyle. We do cover a lot of ground (10,300 miles this last trip) and allows my wife to move easily to the galley or bed without having to pull her wheelchair out to move her from the front seat to the rest of the living area such as a 5th wheel or trailer would.
We'll spend the extra money for fuel if need be. We planned this retirement over 44 years of long hours, meeting payrolls, dealing with banks and creditors, and raising 5 children, 2 nephews and a host of guinea pigs, hamsters, etc.
I do agree the manufacturers are out of touch with the buying public and that contributes to their present woes, but market conditions and cycles have a way of curing that, even if it brings new names and leaves old ones in the bone heap.

[djkeltn]

Just wanted to mention one TT company that is ahead of the times. We own a 3124KS Trailmanor. It pulls at 24 feet, weighs about 4,000 lbs loaded and expands to 31 feet when we get there. Enough storage, all the critical stuff...

And they are hiring right now... Your article is right on...
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Darrell & Kaye & Boomer (The Sheltie)
2009 3124 Trailmanor
2003 Toyota Tundra
N.E. Oklahoma