I have searched and can not find a rating system similar to Consumer Reports for RVs, is there one?

The best known ratings are by RV Consumer (http://rv.org/); you can find them on the Internet. We also tried to establish a rating system in the past, as has no less than J.D. Powers. We and Powers gave up, and with good reason. Rating things for which quality control varies widely, as it does with RVs, means there is no such thing as a typical example from any manufacturer. Thus, sample sizes have to be monstrous to provide valid reliable information. To the best of our knowledge, no one at present has sample sizes approaching those necessary to be of value to consumers.

It is possible to get a very good one or a very bad RV from any manufacturer. What we have discovered, both from gathering data and from working on RVs almost daily, is learning how to examine potential purchases is far more important than wasting time seeking to learn the name of the “best manufacturers”.

For what should I be looking in trying to evaluate fifth-wheels and travel trailers?

As with all RVs, start by considering how you intend to use it. As a general rule, it is easier to tow a smaller RV than a large one, and obviously it is important to be aware how much weight your tow vehicle will be able to tow. Naturally, if you plan on staying put for long periods of time or full timing, bias in the direction of going larger in size.

I would advise you to stay away from any RV that falls into the entry level i.e. cheap price range. The only way manufacturers market entry level products is by “decontenting” the product or by pushing it down the line. I have seen some of these in which appliances were not even wired before leaving the factory. I would also advise against buying from any manufacturer that has not been in business for at least five years. Everyone needs a track record.

Once you know what size and shape you are going to tow, attend several RV shows and do some research on the Internet, until you have a sense of differences in construction. Examine every aspect carefully and do not attempt to buy based simply on a manufacturer’s reputation and do not forget to make sure everything works. After you narrow the candidate list, be sure to complete a test tow before signing on the dotted line and try no to get caught up in modifications and add-ons until you have used your RV for several months.

How much of a discount can I expect when negotiating on a new RV?

The question of how much to pay is an age old question and if you have spent much time in the owner’s forums, you already know the answer. At present, 30% off the Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), is fairly typical. Obtaining pricing information, however, is not as simple as researching the price of a car. All dealers do not pay the same amount for their RVs, do not have the same overhead, do not offer the same level of service after the sale, etc. In other words, there is much less uniformity among RV dealers than there is among car dealers.

You also will not receive as large a discount on popular models as on unpopular models. For example, as this is being written, the market for motor homes, as one dealer recently said “is extinct”. Discounts on motor homes may be slightly greater than 30%. Until recently, large RVs with plenty of slides were the sales leaders. With fuel prices on the rise and the state of consumer confidence, light-weight travel trailers have become the market leaders (If you read our earlier comments on this topic, you know we believe severe weight reduction often compromises construction integrity). Which model will lead the market next is anyone’s guess.

It is important to be aware shopping for the best price may leave you hurting after the sale and some dealers will not do service work at all on RVs not purchased on their lots. Again, warranty coverage is not like it is with your car or truck.

The one behavior on the part of buyers I regard as questionable is taking up a great deal of a salesperson’s time, than searching the Internet to save a few dollars when it comes time to purchase. There are some superb dealerships out there and paying a few dollar more is well worth the money. In our opinion, if you focus only on price, whatever befalls you after the sale, you deserve!

What is an “orphan” in RV parlance?

An RV is referred to as an “orphan”, if the company that manufactured it is no longer in business. Since over 80% of the companies that once manufactured RVs are now out of business, orphans are quite common and since most of the parts are shared across all brands, owning one is not too great an issue. On the other hand, buying an orphan manufactured by a company that has just gone out of business can cause problems, if warranty work were required on the construction of the RV such as the roof or sidewalls.

What is a “PDI”?

The term PDI refers to the “predelivery inspection” that is supposed to be completed before a RV is delivered to the buyer. It is done to insure everything works prior to delivery, although whether it is done or done well, varies with the dealership. Since it in the only insurance a buyer has after delivery, wise buyers complete their own PDI, regardless of that they are told at the dealership.

Should I buy a motor home with a gas or a diesel engine?

Good question. Not a simple answer. In general, I do not think one type is always better or worse, rather, I encourage buyers to consider size and weight. When you get into larger motor homes, which I define as more than 34 feet and certainly more than 36 feet, I tend to think in terms of diesel power. As motor homes reach those sizes, they need more torque or grunt than gas engines can achieve.

The biggest advantages of diesels are their power, along with better mileage, and less complexity. The disadvantage comes when repair time rolls around. Anything diesel is heavier and costs much more to repair. Some folks also have very little tolerance for the smell of diesel fuel and filling at truck stops virtually guarantees diesel on the carpet. The normal life expectancy of diesel engines is 500,000 miles, an irrelevance for most owners given how long motor homes are kept before being traded.

The advantage of gas engines is their much lower cost, compared to diesels; they average $20,000 less. The industry says life expectancy is about 200,000 miles and I think their longevity and reliability has improved dramatic starting in about the year 2000. At times it is easier to find gasoline than it is diesel fuel, although this is much less a problem than in years past.

Buy diesel, if you need the power. I question that diesel power is ever necessary in any class C motor home where the current line-up of GM and Ford power trains do very well. I also see little advantage for diesel in shorter class A coaches, unless cargo carrying capacity is very large. I think many consumers have gone overboard with the weight issue and seldom use the thousands of pounds of cargo carrying capacity (CCC) they demand.

Snob appeal? Diesel wins hands down!

What do you think about the information on what are called owner “forum boards” in which RV owners offer advice on the Internet?

In my opinion, the more you know, the less value there is in following these sites and the less you know, the more confused you are likely to become. The problem, as I see it, is this. Some information on the forums is as good as you will find anywhere. On the other hand, some information is so bad, it moves into the realm of downright dangerous.

What I find is some very long threads discuss theoretical issues as though they present themselves as common problems when, in fact, they never occur. Those issues raise anxiety unnecessarily and waste folks’ time tending to things that never break. The posts, however, that drive me crazy are the ones which read as though how things work and what is safe is simply a matter of opinion and openly deny legimate sources of information.

For those reasons, I encourage anyone who uses the Internet as a source of information to conduct broad searches giving priority to manufacturers and professionals. Bear in mind, just because everyone says something does not mean it is right and consensus is never a substitute for engineering. At one time everyone believed the world was flat!

What about buying a damaged RV and fixing it up myself ?

For the majority of folks, this is an absolutely terrible idea. Why do I say that? Several reasons come to mind. First, many units sold, for example, by insurance companies come with a salvage title. State laws vary as to what is necessary to get that title changed to a standard title. I advise folks buying salvage to pay no more than 50% of what one would expect to pay for the same unit with a clear title. If you never intend to resell it, maybe. Everyone else has been warned!

Secondly, many shoppers, especially first time buyers, do not have the remotest idea what goes into deconstructing and rebuilding an RV. The route they most often take is to cover up soft floors with laminate flooring, while attempting to panel over walls that have delaminated due to moisture penetration. There is a saying about putting lipstick on a pig that applies in these situations.

Finally, doing a proper rebuild does not come cheaply and the parts to do it do not come from Lowes or Home Depot. It is sad to see someone come onto the lot hoping to sell something into which they sunk thousands of dollars, that at most will sell for half of what they have spent on parts, not to mention the time they have invested.

Cutting to the chase, just as with anything in life, if you do not have the skill and knowledge to take on a task, you likely will come out better buying a unit needing no more than a good cleaning. Most RVs that sell very cheaply because they need repair are still priced too high!!

What can you tell me about RV prices as 2012 begins?

Working on dealer’s lots and attending the Repo auctions, in my opinion this is where things stand. The sale of new RVs is slowly ramping back up. The surviving manufacturers have increased their market share, as might be expected. The prices for used class C motor homes are very strong and at the auctions, these are sometimes selling for over book wholesale. Class A sales are still relatively flat, although interest is increasing in used units. Used towable units are selling like gang busters and one of my used dealers has just finished the best January he has had since he started in business. What type of unit sells best tends to rotate in the marketplace. As I type this the first week in February, used travel trailer sales are particularly strongly, while I see some very nice used fifth wheels leaving the lot almost at dealer cost.