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Tomzstream · 09-18-2018, 07:29 AM

Well folks, looks like a done deal. Will Thor keep the RT warranty (better than Airstream) or will they make RT just another cheap brand? How about the technology? This is going to be interesting... https://www.marketwatch.com/story/th...ros-2018-09-18

OTRA15 · 09-18-2018, 08:05 AM

Thanks. Did Hymer already acquire Roadtrek? I don't see anything about RT here:

https://s21.q4cdn.com/991982067/file...nufacturer.pdf

Peter

PS -- edit -- Answer is yes:

https://www.roadtrek.com/news-events...-b-motorhomes/

TheCabin · 09-18-2018, 09:08 AM

This might be good for AS. Maybe Thor will send some of the European production engineers to AS and show them how to use current production methods not used by AS in order to improve quality.

But it might be bad for AS if all class B production for Thor is moved to Canada?

Still it might be even worst for Thor judging what the market believes as mentioned in original post:

...Thor shares fell 0.7% premarket, and are down 35% in 2018 through Monday, while the S&P 500 SPX, +0.55% has gained 8%......

Tomzstream · 09-18-2018, 10:38 AM

Not sure the production of Class B's in Canada would be a good thing as there is a lot of concern over the QC on RTs as well. Being on the bleeding edge of new technology has generated a lot of dissatisfaction among early adopters. Yet that experience and knowledge is worth something and it certainly didn't scare off Hymer. Getting warranty work done in a timely fashion has been a bigger bone of contention for those dealing with the new tech. And then there is the potential for Tariffs, and while the US made Sprinters are probably a safe bet, not so Van upfitters based in Canada. How will that play out?

As a former owner of a RT, a 2014 CS, I had a lot of reservations about the new tech and chose to buy the more conventional platform. It was a good machine, but we chose to go back to trailering. We did have some warranty work done by a good dealer who is now out of business. That factored into our decision. We had several discussion with the tech at that dealership about the need for training on the new systems and most dealerships just were not keeping up. Not sure how it is a competitive advantage to have all these different brands using different technologies so maybe Thor will try to consolidate and standardize. Does this put Airstream at risk of losing its motorhome component? Maybe. They have separate factories so it would seem to be reasonable to assume that Thor may decided that AS is going to be a trailer only company.

So Dealer networks will come into play for some, build quality, and warranty coverage disparities between RT and AS will persist if Thor decides to go with the existing brand lineups. Some dealers like Colonial will do fine I am sure.

It probably puts more pressure on Winnebago at this point and they have been slowly improving their products. But don't be surprised if they keep their economy price leadership. Thor is no stranger to other B platforms such as the Ram Promaster and RT and Hymer certainly bring more to the table in that regard. And Hymer has early adopter experience in the new Sprinter platform in Europe (already in production) that Thor can benefit from. This includes traditional B vans as well as class C and even so called mini-A class RVs that Thor also does in other brands.

Lots of things to consider, but for my money, I still favor Pleasure-Way for quality of build and a prudent approach to new tech (Lithium power and such). We may go back to owning a B once the new Sprinter platforms come out. Their lineup seems to align pretty well against the AS lineup with some advancements not offered by AS like Lithium and Multiplex wiring.