Dear Dave,
Hello. I love your articles. Currently, I have a Tiffin 2021 Phaeton 40IH and it is a very good motorhome. I live 50 miles from Red Bay, AL, and know a lot of the folks that work there, but most all of them are plant workers and low-level managers. All of the ones I meet are nice Southern gentlemen and ladies.
I read about a lot of people who trash every model of every manufacturer and say they have a terrible unit. Watching the videos from Liz Amazing, I get it if they are that bad. Mainly, quality control is very bad! And, more specifically, it is untrained and lack-of-experience craftsmen.
“I’m very satisfied with my Phaeton”
My unit has never given me any issues other than small routine items. I did have to replace a hydraulic slide cylinder that was dripping oil on my batteries. And I replaced 2 LED motion bay lights. The big item was the motor and gearbox in my steps. No real failures. Now I do upkeep on my coach and I have a full-time mechanic at our workplace that helps me keep it up. I’m very satisfied with my Phaeton.
I would love to trade up to a 40IP Bus and a 2024, 2025, or maybe even a new one, since I can’t find the other units.
One question I have is: What is the markup on a 2026 fully loaded Tiffin 40IP Bus? I hate to ask, but I have to have serious surgery and will have to live in one while I am getting daily treatments for liver cancer. I have to have an electric bed and can’t lay flat. The surgery will be at Birmingham or Mayo Clinic. I am not a rich man and will have to borrow the difference. If I make it through the operation, maybe I can enjoy the coach afterwards.
Thank you for your leadership in RV seminars/living. I am an electrical engineer and contractor doing larger commercial jobs.
Thanks for reading. —Banks, 2021 Tiffin Phaeton 40IH
Dear Banks,
First, good luck with your treatment. Mayo Clinic is 90 miles from where I am located and I have taken my parents there more than a dozen times and they are the best!
And thanks for reading the articles and writing in.
RV prices
I never talk price in my articles or seminars as there are too many variables in manufacturers, models, options, and even dealer markups. The information I provide is designed to help identify your needs for floorplan and options, and getting the best rig for your RV lifestyle.
However, I will say the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) is a good place to start and go down from!
One of the biggest variables in pricing is the options that can make a huge difference in the final cost, especially when it comes to a diesel pusher like the ones you are looking at. Chassis Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and engine size will make a huge difference. Therefore, make sure when you are looking at different units that you are comparing the same GVWR and engine size, as it would be tens of thousands of dollars in difference.
Quality issues
As for quality, I agree that during COVID there were many issues and much rework required due to the demand in getting units out as fast as possible, supply chain issues, and lack of skilled workers. However, the good dealers worked very hard to resolve the issues and take care of their customers. In my opinion, several “influencers” such as the one you indicated used this opportunity to sensationalize for increased viewership and monetary gain.
Keep in mind, your 2021 Tiffin falls into the “COVID” manufacturing period, and you stated that it was a great unit with only a few adjustments! I have had this discussion many times, as most people shopping for an RV expect the unit to be like a truck or car with zero adjustments. That is just not reality!
In my seminars I ask how many people have built a home, and several people raise their hands. Then I ask the following question: Who got to the inspection stage and had no reworks required? Nothing for the painter, drywaller, landscaper… Nothing?” They all roll their eyes because we expect several “punch list items” when we build a home.
But then we want no “punch list items” when we purchase an RV! However, they are handbuilt rather than built by robotics, like an automobile. Also, we let them get hot and cold with temperature changes, and bounce them down the road.
So, yes, you will have adjustments and repairs on any new RV—whether it is an inexpensive travel trailer or a bus like the Tiffin. I must say that Tiffin has been one of the best-built units I have found over the years.
My advice
My advice would be to keep what you have for now, considering your upcoming treatment and tight budget. Since you and your mechanic have gone through the “shakedown cruise” and made minor adjustments, there should be no surprises with your Tiffin. Already having a 40’ unit, there shouldn’t be too much compromise in space.
Again, good luck with the treatments. Once things get stabilized, then I would start looking for the upgrade.
You might also enjoy these posts from Dave
- Buying an RV: What is the markup on an RV, and what should I offer the dealer?
- When buying a used RV, it is critical to check for roof leaks
- What advice would you give to someone buying a used RV?
- Looking for new RV. Part 1: Why isn’t RV quality the same throughout a manufacturer’s lines?
- Looking for new RV. Part 2: Why aren’t there many 26′-28′ travel trailers? Best time to buy?
DAVE HAS ANSWERED MORE THAN 1,000 readers’ maintenance and repair questions. Read a directory here. There is so much to learn!
Dave Solberg is a leading expert in the RV industry and the author of the “RV Handbook.”
RVDT2808
Banks good luck with your liver cancer treatments. It probably won’t be easy. I went thru Stage 1 pancreatic cancer treatments and survived. God bless you. New vehicles are getting like RV’s. They’re not problem free anymore. No matter the MFG.
I agree with Dave. The longer you wait, the cheaper it will cost as well. I’ve heard there’s about 25-30% markup, but that’s for you to research. Good luck on your surgery. Wait till it’s all over and reevaluate. If it ain’t broken, don’t replace it!
Thank you for the discussion and the RV seminar tips, Dave! I pray that Banks’ treatments go well; he certainly has two excellent treatment-site choices. Have a great day, grand 2026, and safe travels!
Banks, good wishes with your cancer treatments. I would wait till after your treatments and keep what you have now as you are familiar with it.
2021 Phaeton means seamless slides. Tiffin made the horrible choice to dump that feature for cost savings. Unless there is a major feature on the Bus, you can’t get out of your current Phaeton, I would make a hard pass on a new model.
I enjoy reading Dave Solberg’s responses to questions submitted. Dave gives excellent answers, examples and what I think are unbiased opinions. There are so many YouTube channels getting mileage out of negative and inaccurate comments, I can always trust Dave and this publication for fair and honest information. Thank you
The analogy to building a house has a major flaw. A home inspection is a quality check before the future occupant accepts it. The understanding is that there will be no flaws, or at most, minor cosmetic items to be completed when they move in.
Unfortunately, with RVs, it seems that some manufacturers use their customers to do the final quality check, after they take delivery. The customer may assume that they’re getting a fully tested and quality-checked unit, but that’s often not the case. They end up holding the bag, while trying to negotiate repairs, often with a dealer and manufacturer who are pointing fingers at each other.
With a lack of lemon laws for RVs and the common contract terms that require buyers to sign away most of their legal rights, they can be left with no recourse if the dealer and manufacturer refuse to fix the problems before the warranty runs out. I’ve never heard of any other industry that gets away with this and the RV industry deserves to be taken to task until these practices end.
In fairness, issues will arise on the road that are beyond the dealer or manufacturer’s control. It would be unreasonable to try to hold them responsible for problems that didn’t originate with them. Reputable businesses should assist owners in getting necessary service, and to their credit many do.