Whether you’re someone who has had prior experience with recreational vehicles (RVs) or a newbie looking to make your first RV purchase, picking an RV that meets all your requirements is indeed a task.
The market is currently filled with numerous RV brands that manufacture various kinds of models, and deciding which one to go for can feel overwhelming. While some RV manufacturers have made a name for themselves over the years, others have garnered a positive reputation within a short period.
Finding an efficient RV brand requires a lot of time and research. After all, you hope to get one that transforms itself into the best mobile home during your travels, or for whichever purpose you’re buying it for.
Fortunately for you, we have delved into the subject of the best RV brands deep enough to provide you with a comprehensive list of names that are sure to make you happy and content. Let’s get right into it, shall we?
Best RV Brands to Explore For Your Next Adventure
Different RV brands have different things to offer to their customers. While some provide you with luxurious designs, others are more focused on sustainability.
After having looked at a wide collection of RV brands, here are the best ones that we have shortlisted for you to look into:
1. Airstream
Imagine a design so classic and chic that it becomes synonymous with mobile living; that’s Airstream for you. Having been in the business since the 1930s, their designs provide you with the kind of comfort one craves for while on the road.
The mid-century architecture and bullet-shaped design is ideal for touring the American roads. It isn’t just the position or prestige that makes the brand so beloved, but the fact that the construction of their RVs is considered better than most of their competitors.
However, buyers should take note of the fact that Airstream’s vehicles are slightly pricier than the other names in the market. Although, when you look at popular designs such as the Classic model or the Flying Cloud, the price tag makes more sense.
The modern and clean design approach along with the safety and convenience that they offer, makes the RVs from Airstream competent and enjoyable. Some of the other designs to check out from this brand include the Caravel, Bambi, Basecamp, and Globetrotter.
Pros:
- High-quality construction
- Unique mid-century design
Cons:
- Models are slightly more expensive than other brands
- Maintenance and repair can get costly
2. Grand Design RV
Grand Design RV ranks high on the list of best RV brands due to its stellar customer service and dependable build quality. Offering travel trailers, toy haulers, and fifth wheels, they develop models that are a go-to option for experienced RV owners, such as the Reflection and Imagine series.
Due to the efficient design and reliable quality, this brand serves as a fantastic choice for first-time RV owners as well. With laminated aluminum covering the sidewalls, rear walls, and roofs of their products, the high quality of their creations can be felt from every angle.
The brand makes use of an exclusive racetrack ducting system to ensure their RVs provide the best possible cooling, and their heavy-duty tires come with a five-year warranty, extending the lifespan of the RVs.
Grand Design RV is reputed for its attention to detail, and this is evident through the many quality inspections conducted as a part of the manufacturing process. This rigorous procedure also includes over 250 items being inspected by a whole separate team following the inspection at the factory.
Perhaps it’s this thorough process that leads to this brand having fewer issues with its products in comparison to its competitors. Another noteworthy feature of the company is the fabulous online support it provides to its customers and prospective buyers.
Pros:
- Thorough inspection procedures
- Helpful online support
Cons:
- Not as affordable as some other brands
- The brand only makes towable RVs
3. Winnebago
As a brand, you know you have made it when buyers and customers use your name in place of the type or category of product, which is one among the numerous reasons why Winnebago should be proud of its RVs.
The brand has been running since 1958 and is one of the most easily recognizable names in the field, with models such as the Hike, Micro Minnie, Minnie, and View being extremely popular and beloved.
The categories of products made by Winnebago include class A RVs, Class B RVs, Class C RVs, travel trailers, and fifth-wheel campers. Buyers get to choose from these categories as well, which includes the accessibility-focused models in its Class A and Class B RVs.
Pros:
- Build quality is quite high
- A large collection of floor plans and models
- Models that focus on accessibility
Cons:
- The under-warranty repairs can take a while to be completed
- Certain new RVs have had reviews of loose plumbing fixtures
- Inefficient customer service and unhelpful owner’s manual
4. Oliver Travel Trailers
Oliver Travel Trailers made a name for themselves through their distinctive fiberglass construction technique. The company has been manufacturing travel trailers since 2007 and is considered among the top travel trailer brands in the country.
The inception of the brand took place due to the founding family’s passion for travel and the wonderful outdoor experiences they’d had over the years. Also known as Ollies, the travel trailers from this brand have a more aesthetically pleasing structure and aerodynamic design as opposed to the traditional designs some brands resort to.
The trailers from Oliver are sturdy enough to withstand even the most extreme weather situations. The double hulls and double-pane windows combine to retain warmth within the trailers amidst cold climates. Condensation is prevented from developing within the structure of the trailers by using insulating and reflective materials.
Towing the RVs constructed by Oliver becomes easier due to the smooth sides and rounded corners that are a part of their design. On the day of the delivery, the brand provides a tutorial to its customers, showing them all the features and ways to use them.
Along with setting up everything, their delivery agents also help you understand every aspect of the breakaway system, safety cables, weight distribution, and much more. Consumers also get a chance to stay a night next to their service center so that they can have all their initial questions answered right away.
The solid inspection process followed during production helps the brand conduct thorough quality checks till the products get a green signal from the Quality Inspectors.
Pros:
- The sales model is quite straightforward
- Strong construction
- Reliable fiberglass construction
- Opportunity to talk directly to the owners
Cons:
- Not many varieties of models
- Slightly pricier than its contemporaries
- Scheduling a meeting with the owners can take a long time
5. Newmar
Of all the names mentioned in the list, Newmar is the only one that’s completely a luxury RV brand. Every motorhome built by Newmar has its own unique central air system, providing RV owners with the most comfortable quality of air conditioning owing to its climate control feature.
The paints used in coating the Newmar RVs are made of industry-exclusive material, with the artisans crafting them all within their massive paint facility. The brand was the first in the industry of RV manufacturing to provide full-body paint for all its products.
The application methods and equipment used by the brand lead to the technicians devoting about 12 to 16 gallons of paint to every coach, along with clear coat protection.
Newmar utilizes a steering system that works in such a manner that the drivers experience almost zero friction. It also comes equipped with a self-straightening steering wheel that allows you to handle the tricky twists and turns on the road with more ease and confidence.
Pros:
- The furnishings and fixtures are of high quality
- Paint finish is durable and elegant
- Competent build quality
Cons:
- Price range can be expensive for some buyers
- Customer service is not too efficient
6. Forest River
Forest River RV is one of the largest manufacturers of RVs in North America. The brand has something for everyone, including travel trailers, camping trailers, fifth wheels, destination trailers, and so much more.
Being one of the many divisions of Forest River Inc., the brand approaches its designs using the learnings derived from dealing with all the other divisions that produce vehicles, such as commercial trucks, buses, park models, and so on.
The company was established back in 1996, with its founder having the goal of enabling everyone to relish the beauty of the outdoors comfortably. Since then, they have been creating dependable and high-quality RVs, many of which can survive on tough roads and amidst extreme weather conditions.
Their manufacturing facilities are spread across the west coast and Midwest, thereby allowing the brand to develop their RVs without compromising on the quality or hurrying through the production process.
All of their products undergo detailed and thorough inspections, facing meticulous tests at their pre-delivery inspection building. Every RV is checked to see if it has issues with regard to codes and standards, plumbing and electrical systems, LP systems, and plenty more.
Pros:
- Huge collection of models
- Wide network of dealers across the USA
Cons:
- Build quality is slightly average
- Certain customers have complained about manufacturing problems
7. Jayco
Established in 1968, the founder of Jayco wanted to create something effective for pop-up campers, and the company today makes travel trailers, motorhomes, fifth wheels, and toy haulers.
Not only has it managed to stand the test of time, but it also offers customers a two-year warranty on its products, thereby distinguishing itself from the other brands. It also provides structural coverage, hence adding on the reasons for RV lovers to go for their creations.
Jayco’s models and floor plans have been winning praise and accolades for a long time. Some of the latest awards the brand has had to its name include the High-End Fifth Wheel of the Year, Lightweight Travel Trailer of the Year and Class C/Super C Motorhome of the Year from the magazine RV News.
The stability and handling technology infused in Jayco’s RVs ensures that riders have a smooth journey from start to finish. With a balanced drive shaft and premium shocks at your disposal, you get to enjoy the brand’s fine precision.
By using Jayco’s JAYCOMMAND system, you get to control the operating system of your RV through Bluetooth. This enables the owner to view the tank levels, fridge temperature, tire pressure, and the temperature inside and outside right from your phone.
Pros:
- Warranty and service options
- Competent storage and interior designs
Cons:
- Might require a lot of repairs
- Build quality may not be too reliable
FAQs
An RV can last up to 20 years.
You should run your RV at least once a month and cover about 20 miles.
Yes, washing an RV is an essential part of keeping it running for a long time and ensuring it doesn’t collect dirt and debris.
Some of the best RV brands are Airstream, Grand Design RV, Winnebago, Oliver Travel Trailers, Newmar, Jayco, and Forest River.
Conclusion
The advantages of owning an RV truly cannot be overstated. Not only does it serve as a home while you’re traveling, but it also offers other benefits. You can turn it into a guest space when someone comes to visit, use it as your workstation, or even make some money by renting it out to travelers.
Regardless of the ways in which you put your RV to use, having a solid and well-designed RV is a must. Therefore, if you’re on the hunt for a suitable RV, go through our list of best RV brands to choose something that ticks all your boxes.
