#3 Visit to the RV Repair Station

We cut our trip short--to only a few hours--at Juniper Springs.  Larry called to say the part was in and we needed to return to Ocala.  No!  How could we interrupt our celebration of nature's best!?  I didn't want to believe it was true, but there we were turning our 31K over to the mechanics...again.  Was this coach put together by an imposter...an amateur?...or worse, someone who could care less?  I looked around to see if perchance a Winnebago might be in the garage.

The first RV I spotted was...yep, a Winnebago.  Sad.  Lined up beside this ailing RV was a Class-A Itasca Ellipse (a Winnebago product), a Fleetwood Prowler with its innards showing, a 5th wheel Mobile Suites (advertised as having "the best bang for the buck") and one wounded Dutchmen RV.

 Below is a closeup of that Fleetwood Prowler with its forward slide pulled out.

A quick walk just around the corner revealed another surprise:  a Winnebago product, a new looking Cambria.  Oh, no...what could be wrong with it?

By now I was rubbing my eyes, because in the very next bay was another Mobile Suites ....

It was like there was a race on to be "popular" in the garage, as I found yet another Winnebago, a Four Winds (not ours) and this shiny Windsport (shown below).  

Next I found a Georgie Boy Landau Motorhome, a Safari Zanzibar (shown below in the rain) next to a Crescendo by Gulf Stream....an Itaska Sunrise (Winnebago product) an Infinity coach, and an Independence,

 TWO Hurricanes by Thor, and one brown-striped Dolphin by National (a bankrupt company)...  All were being worked on today. 

The next day I found two more Mobile Suites trailers had moved in for repair.

Winnebago products are still in the lead, however.

A Bighorn by Heartland had joined the ranks, looking a bit small next to the Fleetwood Excursion.

I know the Bounder is a very popular RV, so I had to find out why it came in today.  Ahhh...nothing mechanical, it just needs a little body work (although I couldn't tell where).

So...now I'm going to ask the mechanics which type of RV they see most often. 

I've got to know!  When it comes to anything RV, I'm pretty much ignorant.

RV Repair Shop - #2 Visit

Larry called from America Choice RV Repair and said he needed to count the cogs on the gears that required replacement on our 31K Chateau.  RU kidding?  I swore I'd never leave this sanctuary.  Silver River State Park has become my refuge.  I refuse to go back to "civilization"....and its billboards and red lights and dirty streets.  Bob felt otherwise and packed up so fast I didn't have time to finish my email.  He was driving and I was still typing away.  We needed to drive to North Ocala, but unknown to me Bob was heading to SOUTH Ocala.

When I finally noticed we'd been driving too long of a time, we were lost and far, far from our destination.  We endured stop and go traffic all of the way across Ocala to get to the shop.  Our stowed goods were scrambled in their cupboards.  It felt like a nightmare, so I tried to think positive:  This is an interesting tour of Ocala, and soon we'll be one step closer to getting our slide in working order.

While Larry was counting cogs, I decided to see what kind of RVs were in the shop today.

Surprise!  It looked like that Winnebago was still in the shop.  Unbelievable (to me) as I hadn't accepted the review stating Winnies had problems with reliability.

I walked around to the other end to see if it really was the same RV.  It wasn't....which was another surprise.  How many of the much-loved Winnebago RVs could be in the garage for repair?  This couldn't be happening.  Were the high numbers due to the fact so many are on the road?

I needed to collect more data before giving up my prejudice for Wini RVs.  I found this Fleetwood Class A in the shop.  What's behind it?

Why it's a Cambria....made by Itasca of Winnebago.  What!?  Larry has finished counting his cogs, so it's time to end my data collection....at least until the next time we are in the shop.



What's the BEST RV ??

Are you planning to buy a new or used RV?   Would you like to know which RV Manufacturers rate best?  What are the most popular selling models?   How much can you negotiate off MSRP with an RV dealer? 

It is essential to do some research before you buy. You can search the Internet for answers but many sites only provide basic specs about particular models and many are associated with an RV company or dealer and their ratings are biased in some way.

Our Beloved Mini Wini

Mike fixing the 31K's Slide

So let's look at some actual experiences, keeping in mind how you plan to use your RV.  Our first RV, a Class C Winnebago, was purchased just for travel, so we looked at mileage and the mechanical condition.  The owner had kept it garaged, so it looked great, and it only had 36,000 miles on it.  A common mistake with most new RV buyers is that the floor plan is the most important aspect in their RV purchase. It is estimated that over 90% of new RV buyers focus more on floor plans than anything else.   In contrast, most experienced or educated RV buyers focus on the chassis or frame, drive train, engine, suspension and exterior construction when selecting a particular RV model.  We confess, because we were going to live in our second (brand-new) RV, the floor plan was a major criteria.  We didn't look at the mechanics of this RV but just purchased a 6-year warranty program.  Mistake.  During our first months of ownership the slide kept breaking (always far-far from a dealership) and we noticed the coach wasn't put together well, moldings and trim weren't well attached, and because it wasn't built to the square, the table wouldn't change into a "safe" bed.  (You'd end up falling on the floor repeatedly through the night...quite a startling surprise!) 



Our 31K waiting its turn in The Shop



Bottom line - What’s underneath your motorhome, trailer or fifth wheel is the most important aspect and should take top priority in your decision process. Focusing on these important features will ultimately determine how satisfied you are with your purchase.

While we were in the shop on our son's birthday, 11/9/11, I spotted a Winnebago on the rack.  I told a mechanic I thought a Wini never failed.  He informed me, "All of the rigs end up on the rack at some time."  I couldn't accept that and asked around.  Know what?  All mechanics agree.  I had to accept that there is no perfect RV. 

I just noticed our new RV has an interesting statement I hadn't noticed, right outside the door: "Thor...America's Best RV Value"  Now I'm pumped to find out if our experiences with this coach are an exception to the rule.   What is the BEST RV?

My research led to the following list, in alphabetical order, of 10 RVs which received good reviews, based on consumer surveys at RV-Coach Online.

Airstream

Airstream, Inc. manufactures travel trailers that are easily recognized by their rounded aluminum exterior.  Airstream started building high-end, comfortable and luxurious travel trailers nearly 80 years ago, and they remain popular today.  When I was a kid my Dad loved to take us out on Sunday afternoons to lovingly look at Airstream models.  We never did more than admire them.  With 5 kids in the family the most we could afford was a Sunday treat of an ice cream cone on the way home.

Arctic Fox by Northwood Manufacturing

This company gets good marks at RV-Coaches.com in nearly every category listed on the survey, from interior and exterior design to handling on the road to overall value.  The company makes travel trailers, fifth wheels and cab-over campers that fit in a pickup bed.

Cardinal by Forest River

RVers appreciate the comfort and stylish interior of Cardinal travel trailers and fifth wheels, manufactured by Forest River, a Berkshire Hathaway company.  The units are available with two, three or four slide-outs.  The bunkhouse model includes a separate rear bedroom with twin bunk beds.

Fleetwood

Fleetwood RV builds motorhomes, including the familiar, mid-range diesel Bounder and top-of-the-line gas engine Pace Arrow, as well as the smaller, Class C Tioga.  While they don't get rave reviews, they do earn a pretty steady four stars on a scale of one to five (five being best) for comfort, appearance and quality at RV-Coach.com 

Newell Coach

Newell Coach gets very high marks for comfort and overall quality. Owners pay a premium price, in some cases, over $1 million, for the custom design and luxury built into each coach. Each numbered coach reflects the tastes and preferences of its owner. From the optional Murphy bed to the Sub-Zero refrigerator, RVing doesn't get any more elegant than this.

Newmar

Newmar Corporation builds a variety of fifth wheel coaches and toy haulers, as well as motorhomes. Models and prices range from the affordable Cypress fifth wheel to the Class A, diesel King Aire motorhome. Owners at RV-Coach.com like the comfort and appearance, inside and out (although they suggest there is a cost to maintain the units). The company is proud of their Amish craftsmanship and updated floor plans.

Nu Wa

Nu Wa Industries manufactures the very popular, four-season Hitchhiker fifth wheel coaches. In 2010, the company put in place a new marketing and sales model designed to take the stress and uncertainty out of the purchase process. Customers are invited to buy factory-direct, and owners applaud the manufacturer and dealer support they receive.

Tiffin Motorhomes

Tiffin Motorhomes is a family-run business that manufactures the popular Class A Allegro, mid-range Phaeton and high-end Zephyr motorhome models. Owners who completed the survey at RV-Coach.com say their coaches perform well on the road and deliver good overall quality.

Winnebago

Winnebago Industries sold its first motorhome in 1966 and they continue to produce Winnebago and Itasca models today. Owners at RV-Coach.com rate the coaches' overall quality and value as above average, although they do report challenges with reliability.
  

There are far more RV manufacturers than car manufacturers; use this competition to your advantage.  If you can't find the style and options you want at a price that you think is reasonable, keep looking.