Tiffin Motorhomes Joins the THOR Industries Family

[Mousemate]

Wow, Thor just got larger.
https://tiffinmotorhomes.com/blog/ti...ustries-family

[LandKO]

Wow, that puts Bob back in the Thor family again.

[JamieGeek]

Ok now the two threads are cross linked LOL
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f4...tml#post269160

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by LandKO

Wow, that puts Bob back in the Thor family again.

Do I get a key to the Men's room now?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPw-3e_pzqU

[wrapped]

Is Tiffin now considered a cheap crappy motorhome ?

[Bob Denman]

I'd like to think that we just raised the average build quality...

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by wrapped

Is Tiffin now considered a cheap crappy motorhome ?

Based on how the Jayco acquisition was viewed, that is exactly how many. folks will. view the situation.

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Ok now the two threads are cross linked LOL
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/f4...tml#post269160

I deleted the duplicate thread.

[DavidEM]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

I'd like to think that we just raised the average build quality...

Not for long. It will all revert to the mean over time.

David

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by DavidEM

Not for long. It will all revert to the mean over time.

David

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umDr0mPuyQc

[macdaddy1111]

They Rolling in Cash!!

[Bob Denman]

Now they've got three-hundred million dollars less of it...
Tiffin will continue to operate their facilities is Alabama, and will continue to build the RVs.

[Bob Denman]

UPDATE: Since my RV is at the dealership for a set of recliners: I called them for the updated specs on them...
The bad news: they're on back-order!
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1608570242

[DavidEM]

I don't think that Thor's mindset can leave a new acquisition alone, use their engineering and purchasing power to make intelligent cost improvements and enjoy the brand loyalty that they bought.

Here is an example from a former owner:

I purchased a new 2013 Livin' Lite 16TBS, a cult like brand founded by Scott Tuttle on the principle that T/Ts should not have an ounce of wood or any organic material inside them: all aluminum frame, sides, floor and roof with the inside paneling and cabinetry made of Azdel, a synthetic laminate.

In 2014 Thor bought them and within a year of its acquisition, Thor moved the production line to another town where they probably had unused capacity. They lost half of CL's long term craftsmen in the move. Over the next four years they made the following changes:

Rubber roof, laminate floor (actually not a bad move, the all aluminum floor was always cold), changed a couple of models (my 16TBS and others) from tandem to single axles which put a squeeze on OCCC (or whatever T/Ts call it) and dramatically increased the tongue weight, and started using laminate in the sides. At least they kept the aluminum frame, but made a disastrous design/fabrication mistake and had to recall their 21' model to install a third A frame aluminum member since the welds started popping right and left on the two member A frame. The third member was part of the Scott Tuttle design that Thor scrapped to save a few bucks.

The brand loyalty evaporated and they couldn't sell them anymore. They shut it down in 2018. Scott Tuttle was long gone by then and I hope he is enjoying the bucks he got from Thor.

Thor has done similar with other brands they have purchased. Anyone have the inside story to tell on Jayco, or how Airstream mostly remained intact?

David

[lwmcguire]

One thing for sure you don't become the largest player in the industry by not doing something right, actually many things.

All you gray beards, think how many brands you know that met their demise all on their own over the years

I can name 20 without having to think very long

There isn't a company out there that hasn't had some issues over time and the larger you get that comes with the territory

I don't really know if it is good or bad but when a company that has only made money a few quarters becomes one of the world largest you have to applaud Thor by earning their way and not by a cult following

[powerboatr]

could be good or bad
thor bought damon and right after the Customer service line took a hit at helping customers. it took many years for it to come back with the tuscany line.


thor has huge buying power like forest river and they been setting the bar at new changes in equipment and appliances

surprised they have not embraced inverter technology in a/c & heat pumps .
think of mini splits , but a mini split could be drawn down to fit in the normal foot print of a roof top unit very easily

[abjbrtd]

Originally Posted by LandKO

Wow, that puts Bob back in the Thor family again.

Sorry about that Bob.
We bought a fr mh after they bought Coachmen, service manager at the biggest RV store in Aledo told me they (FR) bought it planning on bringing their QC up to FRs level. (Him ) (me )

[Bob Denman]

One thing for sure: I'm not actively shopping for a new RV right now...

[powerboatr]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

One thing for sure: I'm not actively shopping for a new RV right now...

me or us either. but we look often to see. just in case something catches our eyes .


i need to pull carpets out and put in new engineered vinyl floor. procrastinating all year

[JamieGeek]

Actually, from browsing Jayco's at shows over the years: They were pretty low-budget to begin with before Thor picked them up LOL.

According to Tiffin's blog post about it, at least for now, all the management team will remain in place and they will continue to use Tiffin's manufacturing facilities. We'll see how long that remains.