Will Thor Kill Tiffin?

By : JD Gallant December 28, 2020 7 Comments

The following is an opinion piece by JD Gallant.

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For sure,Tiffin brands will never be the same after Thor Industries has owned it for a few years. I know this because history tells all. The changes that Thor made to Dutchmen, Crossroads, K-Z, Venture RV, Keystone, Cruiser RV, DRV, Entegra, Heartland, Redwood, Starcraft, Venture RV, and Jayco for the most part, were not good—and now Tiffin is next in line. All of these were a mix of good and bad RV manufacturers when Thor Industries bought them hook, line, and sinker within the last ten years. According to RVCG database, as of January 1, 2021 Thor will own approximately 20 RV manufacturers and 187 RV brands—which is about one-third of the RV industry.

 

Whether you do or do not agree, if you look at some facts taken directly from our database on which we have recorded your opinions and ratings, you’ll get some very important numbers that will tell you why Thor might kill Tiffin not so very slowly. And if you read all the comments as I do when we are getting the ratings ready for the next year, you’ll get the real picture—be it good or bad.

 

Over the last 5 years, Thor’s average score for all of their 187 brands has been 70.34—with many brands getting a 2-star rating. On the other hand, the rest of the RV industry combined gets an average of 78.6—which is a solid 3-star rating.

 

There are many reasons for the low opinion of Thor by RVCG members—and I’ve looked at them all. After extensive research into our own ratings and other consumer reviews, I’ve concluded that the primary reason is that Thor Industries is an investment company that cares not at all how a bad RV experience impacts the individual RV buyer.

 

If you want proof that Thor's decision-makers simply do not care, look at how Jayco has dropped 5 points in ratings since Thor purchased them in 2016. And then look at Thor Motor Coach and you’ll quickly see that no one should buy any of these motor homes without putting them through an extensive checkup. It’s all in the RV Ratings Guide

 

 

2000 Tiffin Allegro

2021 Tiffin Allegro

My opinion is not optimistic that Allegro and other Tiffin brands will continue to get the consumer satisfaction that it received from Bob Tiffin. I believe that in less than 5 years Tiffin motor homes will be no better than brands now sold under the manufacturer Thor Motor Coach.

 

It’s up to you! Your ratings and your comments tell it all. With numbers in the thousands, the history of RV manufacturers becomes factual – they can’t hide from it. When they cut quality, the consumers groan to us. We listen, we commiserate with you, then we publish your scores and judge accordingly.

 

Will your efforts and ours pay off in the end with better quality coming from Thor? We highly doubt it, but we can always hope.

 

JD Gallant

(Your comments are welcomed!)



JD Gallant


7 Responses

Patricia Jensen
Patricia Jensen

April 20, 2023

I agree with Thor destroying the quality of Tiffin. We had a 2016 Phaeton and it was wonderful with the class and integrity of a high class RV. Unfortunately we sold it then a year later wanted another Tiffin but it was a joke after seeing how Thor had destroyed this beautiful coach. The new models had cabinets hanging off the wall, cheap floors, cabinet wood that looked and felt like plywood with magnetic latches, sofas were hard with cheap leather, the lighting was gone, and no external chrome on the doors outside. It was like a factory in China had mass produced these RV’s. I almost cried. Now the only thing you can do is look for a 2018 while the quality still existed. Bob Tiffin should be ashamed to put his name on these coaches now.

Rodrigo Beeche
Rodrigo Beeche

March 05, 2023

Thor is doing what Monaco tried do in 2007 and all they did was ruin brands like Holiday Rambler and others. Quality went out the door all they made were cheap products with lots problems. I own a 2006 HR Vacationer diesel pusher, I purchased it new and had a ton of problems they were all caused by poor workmanship and poor quality control

Ray
Ray

December 05, 2022

I have a 2022 thor product and it is the worst purchase of my life. I was looking forward to a Tiffin Open Road, but now I have second thoughts and probably not purchase anything with a Thor name on it. And I must also add Camping World to the list. We have a sorry problem.

Garry Papino
Garry Papino

August 18, 2022

I swear by Winnebago, I live by Winnebago quality, I admire Winnebagos’ reputation and legacy. Winnebagos’ work ethic and quality assurance has always been to exceed their owners expectations by assuring product reliability and longevity. God help the RV industry, if they end up under the control of any investor company. I have owned a Winnebago since their (my) first class c and would put their quality standards against any manufacturer.
I just wish I had the money to open a Winnebago High Quality (refurbishing/renovating/upgrading) Service Plant so as to provide all existing Winnebagos roaming the highways and campgrounds a new lease on their camping/traveling/full timing life.
Booyah to the Winnebago Family whomever you are. Garry P. (WINNEBAGO FOREVER)

Bonnie
Bonnie

August 18, 2022

Back in 2016 I could finally follow my dream, after saving to buy a new RV. Years ago we had a Triple E that was basic in design but as strong as a tank. Appliances lasted not years, but decades. I reasoned that buying new would give us years of trouble free RVing, rather than buying used and someones else’s problems. What a sorry decision that turned out to be. My brand new 2016, 24 foot, Four Winds Class C has had nothing but problems. Our first trip out the smoke alarm alerted us in the middle of the night – thanks goodness for that alarm – and scared the daylights out of us. The furnace malfunctioned, over heated and was ready to set the varnished “wood” on fire. The furnace couldn’t be repaired by a local dealer because parts weren’t readily available. And to top it off, the furnace couldn’t be repaired from the outside, as in our old RV, but had to be removed from the inside – messy repair.. A spoiled trip. But that was just the beginning. All in the 18 months…..a new hot water tank, new fridge (my expense), and still trying to get a toilet to work properly. Warranty off – now the expenses are mine, and dealer wait times for repairs are months. Replaced kitchen cupboard locks because so flimsy, and the cab had to have work done for a crack and the solution was calking, oh, and a new water pump! Never again will I ever buy a new RV. Quality poor – trips spoiled – and time and expenses excessive. I had no idea back in 2016 that the RV industry had become what it is today – a shell of it’s former self, unfortunately.

Bobm
Bobm

August 18, 2022

Sadly, I have to agree a privately owned company that has proven its commitment to its customers being bought by Thor is a shame. My next motor home won’t be a Tiffin.

ClassC Lass
ClassC Lass

July 15, 2021

I’m just glad Newmar is under Winnebago & not Thor. How can RV manufacturers protect themselves from being gobbled up by Thor?
How can consumers hold Thor accountable for undercutting their new acquisitions former quality control practices (the ones that exercise them)?

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