Is anything going to change in the RV industry? It would be great if a new RV manufacturer would hit a home run on quality this year…so many improvements could be made. From stronger roofs to stronger suspensions, so much could be done to improve the quality and longevity of the travel trailer.

There is a new company coming in 2023, Brinkley RV. However, what differences will really come out of this new company? It’s founded on some of the previous Grand Design owners and staff, so you might think this will be a good thing. Grand Design does have a good reputation for customer service. However, as I have said in the past; While great customer service is nice, no one really wants to be in a position where they need customer service. Most folks that buy an RV would love to say that they never had to contact customer service at all.

It’s rather hard to compare quality across the industry right now, because quite frankly, it is not where it needs to be for the consumer; the bar is set pretty low. Click here to read our last post on quality.

Brinkley RV states on their website “RV experience and reputation along with youthful enthusiasm have all come together to form Brinkley RV. We are recreating the manufacturing/workforce discipline, the supplier/team relationship, and the selling/support experience. We are relentlessly dedicated to our customers’ satisfaction”

I’ve looked at the Brinkley prototype and their description. I see some things that are moving in the right direction for sure, but I would need to know more. So I have reached out to one of the founding members, but have not received any response.

They claim they have an industry first maintenance free roof. They have also replaced plastic plumbing fittings with brass. While it is a nice looking unit (I particularly like the exterior), it has a mid-century modern type interior. I was rather underwhelmed by the interior and unless you are really into that look, that alone may be a show stopper. I was really hoping to like the interior, but the longer the video went the more I disliked it. I don’t know how many home buyers decide to decorate in mid-century modern, but I have to think that’s a pretty small population.

On a real positive note it looks like they are using Azdel on their sidewalls. Azdel is a great product and means if you get a leak there will be no delamination!

The interior layout itself was just fine. There’s plenty of storage, although some of it useless for traveling (open shelves).

However, I would like to know more about these trailers:

What has really been done to improve the quality of the overall RV?

What does maintenance free roof really mean?

Is there PEX plumbing throughout?

Is there a better warranty?

Has it been over engineered to provide more frame, axle, and spring strength?

I have tried reaching out for information on these things but can’t get an answer. So, I need to assume at this point that it may be more of the same from a construction standpoint. However, for their smallish prototype fifth wheel you can expect to pay $100,000.

So ask yourself, what are you going to get for $100,000 dollars? If it’s just better customer focus, is that worth a premium? If I were to pay $100,000 for an RV I would be expecting something with superior build quality.

As I said above, I am encouraged by some of the things I am reading. I hope they contact me and tell me what is really happening on the above items. If they do, you folks will be the first to know.