Thor buys Tiffin

[osuallen]

THOR Announces Acquisition Of Luxury RV Manufacturer Tiffin Motorhomes

/PRNewswire/ -- THOR Industries, Inc. (NYSE: THO) today announced the acquisition of Tiffin Motor Homes, Inc. and related companies (collectively, the "Tiffin...

www.prnewswire.com

 

[sheridany]

I am not surprised after Newmar sold to Winnebago. Changing times in the industry.

 

[jmltech]

Tiffin struggling with margins. QC hasn’t been the greatest, in spite of what Mr. Tiffin exclaimed. I do wonder how Thor will cheapen the brand further.

 

[Jim]

Well, the plot thickens. No offense to our Thor owners, but there was a reason that people bought Tiffin brand and not a Thor.

 

[Neemer]

Our industry is losing its soul and character.

 

[Jim]

Our industry is losing its soul and character.

On a positive note, it opens the door for greatness. Newmar (or anyone else for that matter) can set themselves apart by building a reputation on QC and after the sale service. Imagine buying a motor home that had very few problems right out the door. And the problems that did arise were handled immediately, without the customary runaround and 4 month wait for parts.

 

[MapNerd]

And then there were none. That was the last mass market luxury coach builder that wasn’t a subsidiary of a multi-billion dollar company that seeks to do nothing but improve the bottom line and increase shareholder value, most often at the expense of the consumer. The only affordable options left if you don’t want to line the pockets of wall street are luxury 5th wheel builders such as New Horizons, Spacecraft and Luxe.

Marathon is always an option and while I consider their coaches top-notch. I wouldn’t call them, affordable.

 

[sheridany]

Right on @MapNerd. You have to know the owner of Thor Industries. An heir to the Busch family and I doubt he’s ever been in an RV. Peter Orthwein is the owner and you can google him. They just milk the cow for what it’s worth. Someone has to pay for his massive polo operation.

 

[MapNerd]

can set themselves apart by building a reputation on QC and after the sale service.

My experience with Newmar over the last 8 months leads me to believe that won’t be happening. I really, really hope I am wrong.

I think they can’t afford to build that reputation in this environment - not when everyone else is just slapping em together and shipping em by the hundreds per day. You might argue they can’t afford not to and I think that was true until they sold to Winnie. What they can and cannot afford to do now is completely different from what it was when Mahlon started the company. Whole different ballgame once you’re being traded on the exchange.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The last of the family-owned coach builders has been swallowed up by the corporate giants and venture capitalists. The almighty dollar has spoken once again. How sad!

TJ

 

[AbdRahim]

On a positive note, it opens the door for greatness. Newmar (or anyone else for that matter) can set themselves apart by building a reputation on QC and after the sale service. Imagine buying a motor home that had very few problems right out the door. And the problems that did arise were handled immediately, without the customary runaround and 4 month wait for parts.

Watch for the rise of Forest River. Mr. Clemens has been doing a wonderful job improving the brand. They have a long way to catch Newmar, but in the affordable coach arena, they may soon be in the big 3. I knew something like this was going to happen - a big reason I chose Newmar over Tiffin. I hope gas coach cutomers are not doomed to by junk, as the only choices in the future.

 

[FL-JOE]

The Class A we had before our current one was a Thor Challenger. It was ok but still an entry level gasser and not on the same level as a Tiffin or Newmar IMHO.

So far Newmar hasn't changed much as far as how they are standing behind their products. I have a friend with a 2017 coach exactly like mine and they just agreed to replace all of his furniture for free last month due to the start of a flaking issue. Not bad customer service on a 3 year old coach.

I hope Thor goes the extra mile and supports their loyal Tiffin owners the same way.

 

["EZ"]

Tiffin owners are screwed. I bet their value sinks like a rock when this news gets priced in to the market.

 

[NWIP]

There was a lot of doom and gloom predicted when Winnebago bought Newmar, so far not much has changed. I think in the near term the same for Tiffin. Eventually the bottom line will require some change but I think the reputation of both Newmar and Tiffin will prevail. ?

 

[AbdRahim]

There was a lot of doom and gloom predicted when Winnebago bought Newmar, so far not much has changed. I think in the near term the same for Tiffin. Eventually the bottom line will require some change but I think the reputation of both Newmar and Tiffin will prevail. ?

Man, I hope you are right.

 

[Ernie Ekberg]

RIP