Strategies
Get to know a recreational vehicle with an RV factory tour
By
Nov 21, 2007, 09:14

The best way to "get to know" a brand new RV you are interested in buying is not by seeing it on a dealer's sales lot, but by watching the model being built at its factory. At least 35 major RV makers offer tours of their factories and the price is always right: free. Airstream, Fleetwood, Winnebago and Marathon Coach are just a few of the recreational vehicle plants open to the public. Some tours are only conducted once a day, and some are even less frequently. In most cases, an appointment is required.

On a typical tour you will be led through the entire manufacturing process. You'll see a bare chassis roll into the plant, and then watch

On the Winnebago factory you may see a drop test where the motorhome's structural integrity is tested.

step by step as workers assemble the RV. By watching closely as workers go about their business, you will notice the quality of the construction. Do they spend a lot of time speeding along with a staple gun or take more time using a screwdriver? Even observing the conditions of the manufacturing plant provide clues. Is it clean and tidy, or sloppy? Be wary of buying from a manufacturer that can't even keep its factory neat.

The tour guide will always paint a rosy picture, but you can learn a lot by asking questions and filtering the "fluff" from what you may be observing.

Visit an RV maker's website to see if it offers factory tours. Some smaller manufacturers may not publicly offer tours, but will provide one if you call to request one.

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