Heartland RV aquires DVR

[mhs4771]

The grease wasn't bad, it was the "Hangman's Noose" on the end.

[JerryL]

And you guys were jumping on me when I first got here, for doubting Crossroads/Redwood.

[Dave&Ginny]

Originally Posted by JerryL

And you guys were jumping on me when I first got here, for doubting Crossroads/Redwood.

Na.....we're just venting. The idea of Redwood being the Thor Cadillac as was promised.....just went out the window. This is the second thing in the last few months that has hurt the resale values of the Redwoods.

Don't get me wrong....they're still the same RVs that were built before, just some of the shine is being removed.

[travelin' texans]

IMO I don't think DRV was 30+% better quality than our RWs to cost 30+% more, I definitely didn't see it!!

[danrn]

Originally Posted by travelin' texans

IMO I don't think DRV was 30+% better quality than our RWs to cost 30+% more, I definitely didn't see it!!

X2. I had looked at many 5th wheels during my search, to include DRV's, and although the DRV's are well made 5th wheels, I still went with the RW. I believe the RW is well build, and I liked the floor plans of the RW more than the DRV's.

[rob_fla]

Originally Posted by danrn

X2. I had looked at many 5th wheels during my search, to include DRV's, and although the DRV's are well made 5th wheels, I still went with the RW. I believe the RW is well build, and I liked the floor plans of the RW more than the DRV's.

X3
We also looked at many 5th Wheels including DRV, Landmark and Trilogy before choosing our Redwood.
The DRV is a nice, well built coach but just did not offer what we were looking for.
Still think we got more bang for the buck with Redwood.

[Rick and Mindy]

x4......We looked at the DRV as it sat right next to a Redwood and there was no way the DRV should be 30% higher in cost! They are nice, but "Bang for the buck", Redwood takes it!

[atom ant]

X5 We looked seriously at DRV, and to be honest we would have one if it wasn't for me trying to hang on to a SRW SB pickup at the time and I was concerned for weight.

I didn't see higher quality.

What I did see were higher end appliances, higher end furniture, and an higher end design such as batt insulated 4" walls, stouter frame, a little more classy looking trim, but still the same assembly woes that haunt the industry.

This morning, MSN said Goshen is one of the top 6 impoverished cities in the country. Wow - I thought things were booming in the RV business

[DLRAKOWITZ]

X6 we also looked at the dry and still feel the drv tradition was our fit even after rw is trying to build us a new one but happy wife leads to a happy life

[hoosierguy]

X7........Not only didn't think the DRV's cost was justified (in comparison to Redwood), but, I couldn't afford the monster truck to pull one those 18K to 22K lb babies.

[mhs4771]

What are you Guys talking about, what "Monster Truck" I've seen many DRVs behind 250/2500 Short bed Trucks, grossly over weight, but you know the saying "It pulls fine"

Anyway, yes we looked at DRVs before our 36RL and again before ordering our 39MB and they just didn't ring our bell or rock our boat as much as RW. And I went through all the upper end units with a Front Bath floor plan, and RW comes in with almost twice as much storage, so the rest is history.

[rob_fla]

Originally Posted by mhs4771

What are you Guys talking about, what "Monster Truck" I've seen many DRVs behind 250/2500 Short bed Trucks, grossly over weight, but you know the saying "It pulls fine"

Yep, see it all the time, 42 Foot Plus 5th Wheels and Toy Haulers loaded with all the toys one could want being pulled by a 250/2500.

Yep, "It pulls fine"

[danrn]

Originally Posted by rob_fla

Yep, see it all the time, 42 Foot Plus 5th Wheels and Toy Haulers loaded with all the toys one could want being pulled by a 250/2500.

Yep, "It pulls fine"

I have seen long 5th wheels with jeeps, boats, etc. behind them, that is all being towed with a 3/4 ton truck Looks painful.

[Dave&Ginny]

The only thing that DRV ever did for me was that they offered some floor plans we liked, they had thicker landing gear, the upper units had fiberglass roof and IS suspenion. We have talked about getting one with the 2nd bedroom that we could turn into an office.

There was one I was looking at a Michigan dealer that sells those for just a little more than a Redwood.

[spindrift]

I guess I'll be the naysayer. If the DRV units weigh that much more than a RW, that weight has to be somewhere and more than likely it's the frame and running gear. A more robust frame should limit the racking of the coach body which means less wall separation, cracked welds, misalignment of slides, etc., etc. The only reason we went with the RW was because of the front living room availability. It certainly had some very nice appointments as well.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by danrn

I have seen long 5th wheels with jeeps, boats, etc. behind them, that is all being towed with a 3/4 ton truck Looks painful.

The payload of the truck doesn't have much to do with what the Redwood is dragging. That actually reduces pin weight.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by spindrift

I guess I'll be the naysayer. If the DRV units weigh that much more than a RW, that weight has to be somewhere and more than likely it's the frame and running gear. A more robust frame should limit the racking of the coach body which means less wall separation, cracked welds, misalignment of slides, etc., etc. The only reason we went with the RW was because of the front living room availability. It certainly had some very nice appointments as well.

DRV (except the low end Tradition) uses a double box Lippert frame that is of course heavier, and has 4" walls with batt insulation, which also makes it heavier. The suspension is heavier axles with 17.5 wheels. All of the materials used are more stout, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was put together with any more care than ours. The Tradition is built almost exactly like ours.

[spindrift]

Well, just maybe, Newmar and DRV did have a better trained work force and the two companies couldn't learn to compete in the market place. And that's why they're fifth wheel lines are either out of business or in the case of DRV, now being acquired by a competitor. It really doesn't matter as I do believe Thor's acquisition of DRV will ultimately hurt the resale value of my RW. And for that, I sincerely doubt I'll ever support Thor in the future by purchasing another one of their products.

[travelin' texans]

I guess you haven't paid a lot of attention to RV manufacturer acquisitions lately, you would have difficulty finding/buying one today that Thor does not own!!

[spindrift]

I may be mistaken but I thought Forest River manufactured a larger number of units. Maybe Thor has greater sales?