Sunday, December 3, 2023

MENU

Which of these manufacturers made your present RV?

The following three manufacturers produce about 80 percent of all American recreation vehicles. Do you own one of the “Big Three” or one made by another company?

Your comments are invited.

 

Chuck Woodbury
Chuck Woodburyhttps://rvtravel.com
I'm the founder and publisher of RVtravel.com. I've been a writer and publisher for most of my adult life, and spent a total of at least a half-dozen years of that time traveling the USA and Canada in a motorhome.


Advertising

Comments

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe to comments
Notify of

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

103 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Rick (@guest_51383)
4 years ago

Ours is a 2014 Evergreen Bay Hill, this is our first camper.

Marianne & Steve (@guest_50864)
4 years ago

We’re soooo “‘Thor” after buying that 2018 KZ Sportsmen LE 231BHLE a year ago in February 2018-it had less than 9 months left on the warranty BEFORE we could pick it up and take it home. Got to haul it 3 times since buying it and on the 3rd trip the outside kitchen drain lines broke,flooding the entire undercarriage….never again…glad we kept our tent !

dave gebo (@guest_50794)
4 years ago

We have a 2019 Regency Ultra Brougham class B+. It is the most well-made RV we have owned in 12 years. We have owned a 5th wheel, a TT, 2 class A coaches, and class B Roadtrek. The Thor Vegas was disaster, taking a full year to resolve problems, then the coach began to fall apart with water leaks, interior panel rot, and more. It was a shame, because we liked the interior layout and the way the coach handled and drove. Our Tiffin was a good coach, but it took a full year of visits to the dealer to resolve problems that kept popping up. Our other RVs were used, and performed well while we owned them. The Regency had a few minor “teething” problems that were discovered by us, and repaired before we took delivery from the sales lot. In the year we have owned the Regency, we have enjoyed the coach, with few problems, easily repaired. The warranty is 3 years, and the company responds quickly to any warranty issues. This is the best customer service we have experienced so far in an RV builder. There are several RV builders out there producing high-quality well-built RVs, as good as Regency. Pleasure Way, Leisure Travel Vans, Coach House, and several models of Coachmen class B coaches and a few others like Renegade, all build good to high quality RVs. Sadly, many of the stick-and-tin built trailers appealing to first time buyers with families, are cheap to buy and very poorly built. Better for a first time buyer to get a used RV in good shape, inspected, and save a bundle of cash. A buyer must be familiar with the RV they are considering, take plenty of time, do not be rushed into a sale, and do their homework.

Chuck Boone (@guest_50771)
4 years ago

1999 National RV Dolphin 35 ft. and a 1994 Avion 5th Wheel made by Fleetwood. Both vary well made.

JGinFL (@guest_50770)
4 years ago

We are 2nd owners of a 2003 Riverside, made by Adventure Mfg in Peru, In, but is now an ‘orphan’.

Dave (@guest_50766)
4 years ago

2000 Dutchstar by Newmar great coach still one of the best

Pat Gerard (@guest_50757)
4 years ago

Just discovered my Heartland/bighorn was made by Thor..Who knew?

Sandra (@guest_50752)
4 years ago

We own a beautifully remodeled 1965 Airstream that we full-time in. It is now owned by Thor but not at the time it was made

Eldon (@guest_50749)
4 years ago

I have a 2011 Lance Truck Camper that has been the most trouble free RV I have ever owned. This TC has traveled to Alaska and back and been to all but 7 of the lower 48 states. It has been a real joy to own a quality built RV.

John N. (@guest_50739)
4 years ago

We currently own an Open Range by Highland Ridge. 2016 model. Pleased so far. Most problems self induced!

Silvia (@guest_50733)
4 years ago

I have a Leisure Travel Van made by Triple E in Canada. Love it!

Phil Smith (@guest_50734)
4 years ago
Reply to  Silvia

There’s nothing like LTV!

Gary K (@guest_50720)
4 years ago

I was about to check “other.” But I decided to investigate and learned my Jayco 5th wheel is under the Thor group of companies. So, I checked Thor.

Kevin (@guest_50726)
4 years ago
Reply to  Gary K

I also have a Jayco but since Thor bought Jayco in 2016 and my trailer was made in 2014, I checked other.

Gil (@guest_50717)
4 years ago

I have a 2003 National Tradewinds DP. Went out of business 2008. A very solid well built coach.

Bluebird Bob (@guest_50707)
4 years ago

We have a 1984 Bluebird Wanderlodge. They stopped making the rv side of Bluebird in 2010 because of the recession. Every Wanderlodge was custom made for the owners. Mine sold in Nov 83 for $280 thousand dollars (have the original bill of sale) Now just make school busses. Had ours now for 17 years and live and travel in it fulltime. Wouldn’t own anything else. Solid and dependable with no leaks and no slideouts!

Philip Roberts (@guest_50730)
4 years ago
Reply to  Bluebird Bob

Hi Bob & Arlene, Good to know you still have the Bird and are still at it. Think about you two often. We’re back in Maine for the summer and headed for Crystal River Florida this winter. Phil & Cheryl

Bob Lawrence (@guest_50772)
4 years ago
Reply to  Philip Roberts

Hi Phil and Cheryl,
Yeah, still traveling, presently in Port Townsend, Wa for a month or so, then on to Westport for a month. Will end up In Quartzsite for the winter to see how the park we managed is doing. Still fun! Be safe!!

Leslie R Murray (@guest_50832)
4 years ago
Reply to  Bluebird Bob

We used to own a 1983 bluebird 40′ pusher, had it for 7 yrs and no major problems. It had 220,000 miles on it when we sold it.

Rory R (@guest_50700)
4 years ago

My current and previous rig were both made by Newmar.

Jo Anna Palmer (@guest_50697)
4 years ago

Foretravel Motor home. Made and worked on in Nacogdoches, Texas. The guys there are the best in maintenance, repair and remodeling of their rigs.

Vanessa Simmons (@guest_50685)
4 years ago

Originally answered “Other” then googled what is KZ RV parent company and it is Thor…I think I knew that at one time but had forgotten. So I changed my answer.

Bob Champlin (@guest_50680)
4 years ago

We have a 2018 Vilano made by Vanleigh, a division of Tiffin. Say what you want, based on our experience and many others that I know of, Vanleigh provides the best customer service that exists. Any RV is eventually going to have problems, so why not have customer service you can rely on.

Janet (@guest_50782)
4 years ago
Reply to  Bob Champlin

We have a Vanleigh Vilano 320GK. Love it. While we’ve have had only very minor problems, all were remedied with a phone call or email. Can’t wait to tour their facility soon.

Eric (@guest_50667)
4 years ago

I had to google it. We have a Coleman travel trailer. The sticker on the side says made by Keystone, but the manual is for Dutchman. Both of those brands are owned by Thor. They don’t even list Coleman on their website.

Bill Duff (@guest_50802)
4 years ago
Reply to  Eric

Not 100% sure but I believe all Coleman are sold exclusively by Camping World now.

Annie Smith (@guest_50659)
4 years ago

I’m something of an outlier. Mine’s an Aliner by Somerset

Sign up for the

RVtravel Newsletter

Sign up and receive 3 FREE RV Checklists: Set-Up, Take-Down and Packing List.

FREE