Community Forums

RVFunlovers · 12-21-2020, 07:09 PM

Any views or thoughts on the Thor / Tiffin deal being good for Entegra, bad for Entegra, or does not matter at all for Entegra?

brobox · 12-21-2020, 07:23 PM

I don't believe it will have any difference. Tiffin is keeping their brand name along with current management as did Entegra.

dave&ginny · 12-21-2020, 07:36 PM

I wasn't happy to hear about this purchase. I think one great down fall for the RV consumer is the lack of competition. I realize that Thor is a financial company but they do push their own products and as long as everyone uses the same product and or supplier, how is there going to be any competition.

Same toilets, windows, steps and anything else that they can be bought at bulk prices. With every manufacturer building the same way with the same faulty products, we've lost innovation. Now Thor can pull the strings of more bean counters and demand better profits and the only solution is to buy in bulk. And when that doesn't work, either cut back on customer service or deny warranty claims.

I think the RV consumers were just punched in the gut and they don't realize it yet.

edgray · 12-21-2020, 09:31 PM

THOR, WBGO, REV Group. Is there any other maker of a significant number of Class A MHs that is not part of one of these conglomerates? I'm thinking Tiffin was the last of the privately-owned builders from which to choose.

MRUSA14 · 12-22-2020, 03:33 AM

Yes to all the above.

Xmcdog · 12-22-2020, 03:55 AM

Newmar, Entegra and now Tiffin have been bought out by larger organizations..Three quality manufacturers who have been at the top of their game. Hopefully their high standards will continue.

However this leaves a vacuum and into this a smaller company will step up and say "Hey, look at what we can do." Who this will be I have no idea but it will happen. Good luck to them.

2cyber71 · 12-22-2020, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edgray

THOR, WBGO, REV Group. Is there any other maker of a significant number of Class A MHs that is not part of one of these conglomerates? I'm thinking Tiffin was the last of the privately-owned builders from which to choose.

Newell
Marathon
Liberty

That’s about it it think.
I hope no one buys Newell...that’s my winning powerball/megamillions RV

MRUSA14 · 12-22-2020, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2cyber71

Newell
Marathon
Liberty

That’s about it it think.
I hope no one buys Newell...that’s my winning powerball/megamillions RV

Those are high dollar coaches that are in a totally different category from what is being discussed here. Their low-volume production and highly customized nature makes them an unlikely fit for a Thor, Winnebago or Rev acquisition.

dave&ginny · 12-22-2020, 07:04 AM

Hopefully a business type of person will step up and design something from the ground up with clean paper. Maybe carbon fiber sides, box frame and electric motors driving it. A diesel electric type of setup like a train. Actually build something beyond the minimum requirements of durability and not just glitz and glitter.

Nowabeachbum · 12-22-2020, 07:10 AM

Like everything, I think there will be plus’s and minuses. Moving forward there is going to be more and more technology. Motorhomes will be technology hubs, self driving and Alexa talking. Whether we like it or not, that will be the future. Technology has already begun to take over our driving duties and I for one would like someone more than a little family run business doing the research and testing. I have sometimes felt like I was the crash test dummy! A consolidated industry is in a much better position to get products custom tailored to our needs. Most of the minuses I see are added pressure on suppliers, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The automotive industry lives in that world, better but cheaper!

brobox · 12-22-2020, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nowabeachbum

Like everything, I think there will be plus’s and minuses. Moving forward there is going to be more and more technology. Motorhomes will be technology hubs, self driving and Alexa talking. Whether we like it or not, that will be the future. Technology has already begun to take over our driving duties and I for one would like someone more than a little family run business doing the research and testing. I have sometimes felt like I was the crash test dummy! A consolidated industry is in a much better position to get products custom tailored to our needs. Most of the minuses I see are added pressure on suppliers, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The automotive industry lives in that world, better but cheaper!

Reading your post I was picturing Elon Musk and the remarkable achievements of the Tesla. They said that could never be done, not long afterwards there was a waiting list for his products. NASA was shelved, then Elon Musk said he could do it. A person or corporation with Musk's drive and foresight could enter the MH market and have it all to themselves, while the others played catch up much like the auto manufactures are doing today.

Rollin101 · 12-22-2020, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brobox

Reading your post I was picturing Elon Musk and the remarkable achievements of the Tesla. They said that could never be done, not long afterwards there was a waiting list for his products. NASA was shelved, then Elon Musk said he could do it. A person or corporation with Musk's drive and foresight could enter the MH market and have it all to themselves, while the others played catch up much like the auto manufactures are doing today.

Go for it Chuck, I’ll buy one.

Driveby · 12-22-2020, 08:37 AM

It might be interesting. Anthem/Allegro Bus are pretty close spec for spec.

You also have to wonder with Spartan hassles of the last year. PowerGlide could maybe be shared. Maybe rebranded to something but that seems like a move that wouldn't damage either brand but allow more control.

Nowabeachbum · 12-22-2020, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Driveby

It might be interesting. Anthem/Allegro Bus are pretty close spec for spec.

You also have to wonder with Spartan hassles of the last year. PowerGlide could maybe be shared. Maybe rebranded to something but that seems like a move that wouldn't damage either brand but allow more control.

The poweglide will probably be the first causality due to the cost of trying to keep up with technology that is built into the Freightliner and Spartan chassis’s. Particularly when you have 2 viable suppliers.