Older RV's Vs. New Ones?

[gc241]

Are the older RV's better built than the new ones that are coming out? I am speaking mostly about the Class A's. Are the top end ones not built that well either as in Tiffin's, Newmars, etc?

[Fiesta48]

It's all a crap shoot. On what day of the week was it built? Garanteed all have issues.

[Itasca66]

If you want a RV to perfection. Only way your going to do it is buy one with chassis you like and layout to closes you like length .
And then fix and change all stuff you want . There is room for improvement to all motorhomes .
Hardcore class A guys are really in to customizing to there idea of perfection. This is really what the class A motorhome is about. If new one is your idea of perfection go that way. 5 year old one fixed up to owners ideas of perfection is just as good. There's big dog class As $$$ and theres happy dog class A owners
I like 1990s motorhomes. Simple easy to work on minimal electronic boards. That's just my Idea of happy dog class A owner.

Itasca66

[Waiter21]

^^ I'm a "happy dog"

My perspective is from year 2000. I can't talk about anything. We looked at a lot of newer , and new, class As, but to really judge them I think you need top use it and live in it for a few weeks.

My 2001 Mirada was an entry level Class A, very cheap, quality of build was low end, components were low end. BUT, It was a good MH for what we paid for it.

We upgraded to a 1999 Soutwind. NIGHT AND DAY.

Quality of cabinets, commercial grade. Build, design, workmanship exceptional. The DW comments, "We stole this from that guy "..... (talking about who we bought it from and what we paid for it)

[Itasca66]

And there's alot guys happy to sell there older class A because his idea of perfection changed .

Itasca66

[powerboatr]

we purchased ours new in early 09. its a late 08 build sitting on an early 08 frame.

closing in on ten years,
we have replaced roof top a/cs, fridge, recovered the pass and driver chairs, new tvs, water softener, and other things to make it OURS
We are faced now with getting rid of the little carpet we have and doing something different to freshen the insides.

still looks new outside to.

i look at brand new ones and think...wow there is alot to do to make it really livable like we have now.

she drives great, looks great and is easy on the wallet.

i think its all about what makes you happy.

[THenman]

We bought new last year in part because I felt some of the changes in recent years were items I wanted.

Not sure anyone builds a problem free RV at any price. More expensive to my eye tended to have fewer corners cut and thus be better built than cheaper units. Still the more things there are the more things that can break...

Some of the recent changes are structure others just nicer items included.

Not one size fits all in either case so you mileage may very.

Tom

[biggcrisp]

I had a 1985 class a 26' and now have a 2016 class a 28' both entry level.

Difference between 30 years:

Engines - about the same power (feel). Fuel injection is new. Meh.

Fuel economy - the same.

Transmissions - more gears. Again meh.

Frame - much heavier duty for new.

Brakes - 4 wheel disc for new.

Tires - bigger and better for new.

Ride - exactly the same.

Exterior styling - new is better IMO. Lol

Paint - new has it.

Generator - new has OHV. Same noise level though.

Windows and doors - new has dual pane and better style. Same hardware though.

Storage - new has more.

Appliances - about the same.

Furniture - old wins hands down.

Roof - old wins.

Wear and tear - new wins.

[Lindan n Jim]

Now, we are no where near as experienced as most of you out there, but when we went shopping for our first entry level MH, we set up some standards we wanted to meet. We attended RV shows, visited dealers and were basically pains to most of the RV sales people within a hundred miles.

It seemed like the more we looked at the relatively new used "high-end" models that were available, the more we were disappointed. The lack of craftsmanship, little care in assembly, and fit and finish were very poor. We DID notice that the interiors of the older units in the back of the lot seemed to be better built. No one could (or wanted to) explain why. But we could guess...........

We started looking in earnest at some of the older ones we picked out and settled on the one we basically fell into. Our 33' 1992 Fleetwood Pace Arrow. It was meant to be...........

DW asked the other night if I would be interested in upgrading, and we both agreed the only thing we could want that we don't have now, is fewer miles, a slide or two and maybe more gears.

You will have to live with whatever decision you ultimately make, but we are VERY happy with our older model.

Cheap, too!

[gc241]

Since I started this thread, let me jump in here. We recently bought a 06' National Seabreeze 35' gas, 47k miles on it and it looks like new in and out. I have toyed with the idea of a Tiffin as they seem well built, but now after reading these comments,I may be better off with what I have. I don't like the carpet in the dinning, bedroom, and cab area though, too much to clean with a dog.

[Smitty77]

For sure no right or wrong on this one... Just a matter of choices made by what is important to a buyer.

-Many always want new
-Many are willing to buy lower quality new to stay within budget
-Many want higher quality, and to remain within budget, buy older
-Many want a higher quality unit, so that they can then come in and make their own upgrades to what they like. (Like pulling out capers and putting in wood or tile flooring. Changing valances around. Adding specific electronics. Removing three way fridges and adding residential. Custom painting of exteriors. Etc., etc. And doing all of these changes to a quality level they want to pay for.)
>Key on that above bullet, was starting with a higher quality unit to begin with. As they typically have better chassis/engines/transmissions to start with, and are worthy as a good foundation to add to.

Are older coaches built better? Well in many cases yes.

-Beaver
-Holiday Rambler
-Country Coaches
-Wanderlodge/Bluebird
-Travel Supreme
-Alpine

Are all examples of manufactures that made coach models with superior chassis, wood working, materials, design, craftsmanship like build. These cost more at time of purchase, and enough buyers were around then to sustain.

During rough economic times, and also IMO a shift to a different kind of buyer, many of these could not sustain their product line at that level of quality. For example Beaver and Holiday Rambler were bought by Monaco. (And not knocking the Monaco method of building these units, as they had models in their line up that remained truly higher quality. But they also had models that were entry level price points.) Country Coach is now owned by Winnebago, time will tell what will happen when/if they start putting that name on a new coach. Back to Monaco, their Executive and Signature models were some of the better coaches built, with great Roadmaster Chassis under them. Their Dynasty was a well respected middle of the pack quality and content coach. And then they also had their Windsors and Knight models in some years to, with varying levels of quality and components depending upon year. And their Diplomat line was built as their entry DP, and well received by their owners.

I see it time and time again. Buyers of may different product items, are quite often more interested in the lower price points at lower quality (And many don't have the experience to know that it's lower quality.) - they they are about buying higher quality, and at the prices needed to sustain that quality of product and build process. (Again not all about RV's here, this is across many product lines.). And companies are driven by profit, and short term profit at that. So they love a customer that is happy to purchase a lower quality item, in higher volumes, and usually at higher profit margins - then they could yield from a higher quality/costing product. So, us buyers and manufactures - have got what we asked for!

In todays world of RV's. Newel, Foretravel, some Newmar models, Entegra, American Coach (Always seem to forget to mention American Coach, and I should not.) are some of the manufactures that still will build some models to a higher quality level. (And note I said 'some' manufactures, not intended as a complete list.) And to be fair, Newel probably does not fit into this group, due to being custom built coaches.

OP - IMO, National Made many models that were well designed and built coaches. If you like your coach, and it is in good mechanical shape, would cost lots less to make some upgrades to what you want, then to say go buy a lower quality newer coach. You'd know what you had. You'd had made modifications that you wanted. And you could go use it for many, many years ahead.

All of the above is for sure a subjective opinion by me, and very probable that opinions will vary amongst us all. And that is for sure OK!

Best to you, and all,
Smitty

[gc241]

True.

[Itasca66]

Yes and there's a big group in the $10,000 to $20,000 used market . Entry level. That the quality shot way up . Because of the demand for higher quality of guys that had deep pockets . This happened in the last 5-10 years . But this is slowly coming to a end because all good ones were snapped up . And price of new got so high. You can find them here and there now . 2008 you could pick size color length chassis in used within 400 miles now you need to travel $800 + to find what you want used that's if you can find one. Class A market a funny market it rolls right with gas prices and More retirees. Boomers are having a effect also.
Quality in motorhomes after late 80s took a big jump 1999 2005 was another. Now 2005 to 2017
There is some serious nice rigs .
But look at price tag . 1992 at $47,000 new it takes . $100,000 to match same options. Value of dollar has a huge effect. You can say but there so much better. But comes down to what gets the job done for the individual.

Itasca66

[Edd505]

Used = Someone else's problems, now yours wait weeks for repair

New = your problems, under warranty, wait weeks for repair

All problems fixed, now it's time to modify to truly make it your.