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THOR Buys Tiffin Motorhomes: What Happens Now?

Published on December 21st, 2020 by Patrick Buchanan

The Popular Phaeton Model from Tiffin Motorhomes
The Popular Phaeton Model from Tiffin Motorhomes

THOR Industries Buys Tiffin Motorhomes

The RV world was rocked just 18 months ago when Winnebago Industries purchased luxury RV manufacturer, Newmar. What seemed unlikely, became a reality. Now, what seemed unfathomable has happened as well. THOR Industries, one of the “Big Three” in the RV industry along with the aforementioned Winnebago and Forest River, has purchased Tiffin Motorhomes for $300 million.

For diehard Tiffin Motorhome fans, it’s a bit like finding out your favorite sports team has just moved to another city. Tiffin, long known for quality coaches with a consistently high customer ranking and a great factory service center experience, will now fall under the vast THOR umbrella. Devoted Tiffin owners are now left to wonder what happens next.

Will Tiffin Motorhomes Stay in Red Bay, Alabama?

One would assume that Tiffin would remain outside of the Elkhart bubble, at least geographically speaking. How will this acquisition affect pricing, quality control, availability, and delivery times? Will those mecca-like pilgrimages to Red Bay, Alabama for factory service continue? Will Bob Martin take over kitchen cabinet door signing duties from Bob Tiffin?

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Popular YouTubers You, Me, & the RV and their Tiffin.

From the start Tiffin Motor Homes differentiated its self with quality and customer service…

Campers Inn

Much like those Newmar customers, Tiffin owners have enjoyed a bit of an elite status. Until their recent roll out of the Wayfarer series of Class C RVs, Tiffin Motorhomes has primarily been known as an upper-end Class A RV manufacturer. Tiffin proselytes are as devoted to “roughing it smoothly” as they are the brand itself. That confident swagger that comes with driving and owning 40+ feet of quality diesel motorhome carries over into conversation, whether sitting around the campfire or in popular RVing forums

What Happens Next?

Will that confident swagger lose a little of its swag, now that Tiffin Motorhomes is just another THOR brand? Will the vast infusion of cash from THOR Industries help take Tiffin to the next level, or just water down the overall brand? Will Tiffin Motorhomes be pressured into building more motorhomes faster, causing quality to suffer? Or will THOR take the Berkshire-Hathaway approach (Forest River’s parent company) and let a successful business continue to be successful, while fine-tuning sensible cost saving measures? Will Tiffin Motorhomes shine even brighter under THOR?

Time will tell. The jury is still out on how Winnebago’s acquisition of Newmar has affected that brand, so expect the same with this one. The big three just got bigger, and Tiffin Motorhome owners are wondering, what happens next? Tiffin fans can learn further details about the acquisition of Tiffin by THOR Industries on RVBusiness.com.

Want to hear what other RVers are saying, head over to the Tiffin Owners forum on iRV2.com.

A tour of the acclaimed Tiffin Allegro Bus

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11 thoughts on “THOR Buys Tiffin Motorhomes: What Happens Now?”

  1. Thor just laid off many Tiffin employees just a few weeks back.
    They plan on laying off many more in the next weeks.

    I live 30 minutes from Tiffin Plant.

    Reply
  2. We have rented RVs for about 40 years. We are now in the market to buy our first. Has to be a 36 ft class A gas motor vehicle. We had our hearts set on a tiffin allegro, until I started reading all of the articles about them being purchased by Thor, and how Thor will cheapen the brand, and ruin the quality. So I guess I would like to find nothing older than a 2016 and nothing newer than a 2020. We have limited resources as we have been retired for many years. From the vast audience that is out there please try to steer me in the right direction. We have a budget of about $85,000 chops. Thank you

    Reply
  3. I just purchased a wooden antique Prayer Kneeler with the ID metal tag attached with Tiffin Manf. Co. Can you send any information about this antique Prayer Kneeler?
    I am writing from Allen, TX….but I am from Cincinnati, Ohio.
    Thank You,
    K.A. Kemper Hall

    Reply
  4. Another quality manufacturer gets eaten by Thor. So sad that consumers stand for and allow Thor to dominate the market with sub par quality. The industry needs to develop codes like home construction.
    When consumers make their voice heard more the RV industry might fall in line with the automotive industry and strive more for quality rather than quantity and $$$. The article says Thor wants to bring the Tiffin margins more in line with Thor margins- that about says it.

    Reply
    • Thor’s ownership does not affect the daily operations of the companies they purchase, ie Airstream in 1981 or Jayco in 2016. I have been selling Jayco products since 2007 and have not seen any change in quality! Note: Thor owns good quality manufacturers, and other companies that are, (nor were) good quality RV’s

      Reply
      • I have a 2012 DRV Elite Suites I purchased bran new. While I had a few minor issues from this incredible 5th wheel when it was new I was over all pleased with this highly luxury product. Thor purchased DRV around 2018 or 2019. That brand of incredible RV is now the laughing stock of the RV world. Thor has absolutely NO QC on their products. I have read numerous stories of these bran new 2021 200K priced vehicles breaking down on their first road trip. Mostly because of poor quality control.

        Reply
    • We had a brand new 2022 Thor ARia 3701 $355,000 MSRP. I got rid of it with only 4000 miles on it and was glad to take the hit. Complete JUNK! No quality control in the factory. We’re looking for another coach but there is no way on God’s green earth I can ever again have a vehicle that Thor has anything to do with. So just now finding out Thor owns Tiffin means I cannot even look at a Tiffin.

      Reply
  5. My wife and I love to RV. We had a 1999 Itasca by Winnebago. It needed a lot of water damage repairs and decided to by a Thor Ace. Biggest mistake in our lives. Finally got everything fixed on it and sold it ( wouldn’t sell a lemon to another person is why I fixed everything). But couldn’t stomach another day owning this thing. Now we are looking for a small travel trailer but are afraid to buy anything for fear it will be another junk. Could you advise me in what direction to take?

    Reply
    • Escape Travel Trailers made in British Columbia… fiberglass body design – known for their quality – light weight – affordable. On par or maybe just a little “next level up” from Escape is Bigfoot – same concept. And if you want the best – Olivier RV Trailers made in Tenn… all of these brands have about a year wait list – all are direct from factory – all hold their value extremely well.

      Reply

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