SiteLock

RV Reviews: Model & Factory Ratings & RV Comparison Guides

Find RV Reviews & RV Ratings for Models, Brands & Manufacturers. RV Comparison Guides, Buying Tips for Travel Trailers, Motorhomes & 5th Wheels. Find Best RVs at Lowest Prices.

  • Home
  • Travel Trailer & Fifth Wheels
  • Motorhomes
  • Truck Campers
  • Lightweights & Pop-Ups
  • RV Model Reports
  • Pre-Purchase Checklist
  • RV Extended Warranties
  • All Products
    • Motorhome Guides
    • Travel Trailer, 5th Wheel & Toy Hauler Comparison Guide
    • Truck Camper Comparison Guide
    • Lightweight Travel Trailer Comparison Guide
    • Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
    • Shop RV Reports
    • Combo Order Packages
    • RV Buying Guides
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • About RV Reviews
  • Contact

RV model years: What year is this?! 2018 or 2019? Or is it 2020 already? 

October 7, 2018 By MrRV

This week we received our first new RV reviews report request for a 2020 travel trailer model. This means either we’ve slipped through some sort of space-time continuum and it is actually 2020 (and my library books are seriously overdue) or the RV manufacturers are upping the ante on their attempt to hoodwink the buying public with meaningless model years.

New RV Reviews Comparison

Does anyone want to guess which one it is? HINT: My library books are only slightly overdue.

Buyers love the latest and greatest. A 2019 has to be better than a 2018, right? Well, sometimes that’s true. RV manufacturers -on average- do a major model overhaul every five years. Significant changes and updates can result in a distinctly different animal than the prior generation, and usually the changes are undeniably an improvement. But that’s only once every five years. The other years (80% of the time, for those who like numbers) are largely warmed up leftovers: a new fabric choice or two inside and a swoopy new graphic sticker outside. 

Often operating on razor thin margins, there is no way any manufacturer can offer a completely new model every year. This applies not just to the RV industry but also the automobile, boat and motorcycle industries. Designing a new RV and re-tooling an assembly line is a major expense and undertaking. Once every five years -again, on average- manufacturers bite the bullet and pour a bunch of money in to research and development. Once they have the new model up and running, they have four years to reap the windfall, with minimal design and re-tooling input required. 

So what does this mean for the RV buying public? Well, the latest and greatest tends to come at a premium. Yet, strangely enough, most of the new RV Reviews Report Requests we receive at this time of year are for the 2019 models. Why is that? Anyone who has trolled any RV dealer lots already knows the 2019 models are priced much higher than the 2018 models. The question for you is: Is the 2019 nothing more than a warmed over 2018, or is it a first-run entirely new version? 

Winter is fast approaching and RV sales will continue to dwindle from here until the end of the year and nothing strikes fear in the heart of an RV dealer like the thought of being stuck with last year’s models for a long, cold winter. This is the main reason dealers are starting to significantly discount their 2018 models -and this is the part where you should perk up if you’re in the market for an RV and want to get the most bang for your buck. New RV reviews are great; they take a lot of dry specification and technical information and convert it into readable text.

If you could compare two RVs and determine the differences between them are trivial at best, and one was offered for several thousand dollars less than the other, which one would you buy? Would I be presumptuous to suggest you would choose the discounted one? 

Realizing this, the RVReviews.net Team has put together a useful RV Model Year Comparison Sheet. Our goal was to provide an intuitive, self-explanatory way for our readers to determine if the premium for a 2019 (or 2020, apparently) RV was worth the added expense compared to its discounted brethren from the 2018 model year.

There is no charge for the Comparison Sheet and we sincerely hope it helps those of you in the buying mode to buy the best RV for you at the best price.

That’s it for this week. For those of you hitting the road, please remember to check your tire pressures before heading out and the rest of you enjoy the RV Shows popping up all over the country.

Happy Travels,

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: RV Articles

About MrRV

My Cart

Free RV Report

I just had to tell you that we were doing all the wrong things that you mention in your book not to do. After we found your book online we downloaded and boy were we glad. Your information saved us from buying a motorhome that wasn’t what we needed. We are continuing to research using your guide, and I am confident we will find just the right RV for us. Thank you for this much needed guide.
Traci Jones
“Your travel book was easy to read and the rating charts were really helpful in comparing the manufacturers. I really loved your buying tips that came with the guide. They helped me save quite a bit of money on my purchase.”
Cindy Thomas
“The book is excellent! Used it as a guide and reference. Went to the Toronto RV Show with 4 RVs in mind, based on the research you provided. By the 2nd day we purchased a Fifth Wheel. With your book on my IPad in hand, we asked the right questions and it greatly aided us in our final decision.”
Paul T.
“I thank you for your assistance, prompt reply, and the report, which is very informative and provides just the info we were looking for to make our choice.”
Kelly T.
“Thanks for the excellent RV Review Report. It supports my research and reassures me that I’m looking at the right unit for my intended use. Your PPI is on my check-off list of needs before I finalize my purchase (probably July or August). It’s been a pleasure working with you. Your RV info products and reviews will be #1 on my list of recommendations for any potential RV buyers I meet on my travels.”
Mike W.
“Thanks for the book and report. Your product was very informative and valuable, with a lot of information for the price.”
Jim M.
“I just want to take this time to thank you for writing the Motorhome Comparison Guide as well as the “How to Save Thousands” report which I downloaded prior to buying the comparison guide. I learned much more than I thought I would and I am now confident that I will be prepared when I do finally buy my first RV.”
Patricia D.
“After digesting your very informative Travel Trailer and Fifth Wheel Guide, I did something I have told others I would NEVER do.  I purchased a NEW fifth wheel. After finding the “perfect” unit, I did the research as explained in your guide, and stuck to my guns as you prescribed, and made the purchase.  I honestly believe I saved several thousand dollars by reading your guide. Using your Comparison Guide and the other “free stuff” you provided, made the experience a fun one.  I would definitely  recommend your guide to RVers.  It paid for itself many times over!”
Gary D.
“Thank you for writing all the useful articles and books that really help older folk transitioning to this type of lifestyle.”
Conrad and Evelyn C.
“Thanks to what we learned from your books we were able to find the RV that had the best ratings we could afford and we were able to negotiate to the dealer’s bottom line and saved a few thousand dollars.  I can say your product is up there with one of the best hundred dollars we have spent.  It was easy to read and understand and helped us as we looked at each RV to know where to look and more importantly what to ask. We found that the dealers were not very willing to volunteer information.  On the other hand, when they realized we knew what we were talking about they were very forthcoming.”
Tom and Catherine M.

Can’t Find What You Need? Search For It!

Blog Categories

  • RV Articles
  • RV Models
  • RV Reviews
  • Uncategorized

Article Archive

  • December 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • November 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • May 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013

Logo Google Profile

Recent RV Articles

Holiday Gifts for RV fans…

Shopping for an RV in a sea of information

RoadTrek: The Return

RV Manufacturer files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Protection

The tariff war and the price of an RV today

Like Us On Facebook

SiteLock
SiteLock
  • Affiliate Area
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use

[footer_backtotop]

Copyright © 2019 Brought to you by JR Consumer Resources Inc. · Sitemap