Alliance shortcutted their way into luxury Class Bs, which makes a ton of sense. Class B demand is expected to increase through 2030 and beyond. It's not going to dominate the RV market or anything like that. But they are becoming very popular across age groups. My daughters' generation is looking at them as a cost saver...cheaper than rent and can see the country while working remotely. I'm not exaggerating with this...I bet it is about once a month I see a new Class B in my neighborhood. Smart move if they can pull it off...everything is set up for them from manufacturing through distribution.
Looks Like Alliance is Expanding Into Class B
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Alliance shortcutted their way into luxury Class Bs, which makes a ton of sense. Class B demand is expected to increase through 2030 and beyond. It's not going to dominate the RV market or anything like that. But they are becoming very popular across age groups. My daughters' generation is looking at them as a cost saver...cheaper than rent and can see the country while working remotely. I'm not exaggerating with this...I bet it is about once a month I see a new Class B in my neighborhood. Smart move if they can pull it off...everything is set up for them from manufacturing through distribution.
Interesting move....I had to look it up and see if they would be dipping into the same labor pool. It appears to just be 13 minutes away from the Alliance Factory. I guess their next purchase, could be a few Super hero's to increase production??? They could have superman x-ray the Lippert Frames for bad welds and cracks...LOL
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I’m kind of wondering why Terex sold them and why it was attractive to Alliance, other than the expected segment growth.
Never know! The wife and I can't get past towing a car behind the Class A. No idea why. I guess it is just something we do not want to do. But we both really like them.
BryanValRox
Elite Member
Well , remember this. You won’t be the first to do it!🤣
Reminds of what Barbara said to George Bush when he went skydiving at 90 years old..."One way or the other, George, this is the last time you are doing this."
Agree 100%. You're spot on. Don't know why it's something we can't get past right now. That said, we truly enjoy our current rig.
I dream of class A's also. Class A's are more about convenience. Generally speaking you will still need to tow something. Yes there are places we go where we could get away with just the Ebikes. But overall we would want the freedom of our own car.
But the real issue is dollars. How much is the convenience of the class A experience worth to you?
I think I would like the class A experience, I just haven't convince myself the experience is worth the additional money.
But the real issue is dollars. How much is the convenience of the class A experience worth to you?
I think I would like the class A experience, I just haven't convince myself the experience is worth the additional money.
5th wheel covers more "what if's" than any other option in my mind. Speaking to a 370FB at 42' long
--Truck and trailer now days 200K (can disconnect if broke down or need to go into town)
--Class A 350K plus car for starters. (Have to tow a car and if broken down, you are stuck...unless you tow a car)
--Class B 60K to 100K and they are just too small. Might as well go back to backpacking. You better be organized and spartan with what you want to carry for the trip. Don't get me started on the fridge & bed size..LOL This pick is all about being comfortable with the tiny home concept
5th wheels win in price and options when things happen on the road.
Now back to Alliance. I am wondering if Alliance is going to leverage Terex's international footprint and export products overseas eventually. However, they may being looking at a customer base of contractors, that do long haul utilities for temporary housing. The USA is already starting large infrastructure projects and will have to bid housing for their workers in remote areas. Just a guess, but having played in that field with rock trenching, it is possible. Many workers in the gas line business, pull a trailer and the company basically buys it.
The simplest explanation is that they get the intellectual property and people that know that end of the business. Shortens the learning curve, to get in that side of the business. I just don't see how they can make it any cheaper, when you are buying other manufacturer components (Body, engine...ect). It shall be interesting to watch!
--Truck and trailer now days 200K (can disconnect if broke down or need to go into town)
--Class A 350K plus car for starters. (Have to tow a car and if broken down, you are stuck...unless you tow a car)
--Class B 60K to 100K and they are just too small. Might as well go back to backpacking. You better be organized and spartan with what you want to carry for the trip. Don't get me started on the fridge & bed size..LOL This pick is all about being comfortable with the tiny home concept
5th wheels win in price and options when things happen on the road.
Now back to Alliance. I am wondering if Alliance is going to leverage Terex's international footprint and export products overseas eventually. However, they may being looking at a customer base of contractors, that do long haul utilities for temporary housing. The USA is already starting large infrastructure projects and will have to bid housing for their workers in remote areas. Just a guess, but having played in that field with rock trenching, it is possible. Many workers in the gas line business, pull a trailer and the company basically buys it.
The simplest explanation is that they get the intellectual property and people that know that end of the business. Shortens the learning curve, to get in that side of the business. I just don't see how they can make it any cheaper, when you are buying other manufacturer components (Body, engine...ect). It shall be interesting to watch!
As long as one is healthy enough the 5th wheel provides more bang for the buck.
However the 5'er doesn't have the same convenience factor or ease of set up.
Going to the fridge, or getting something heated in the microwave while in motion is very doable in a class A ,,,not so much in a 5'er.
The class A convenience starts to become more beneficial as we age and are RV abilities begin to erode.
A class A allows one to stay in the RV game a little longer by adding a few more gadgets and conveniences.
However the 5'er doesn't have the same convenience factor or ease of set up.
Going to the fridge, or getting something heated in the microwave while in motion is very doable in a class A ,,,not so much in a 5'er.
The class A convenience starts to become more beneficial as we age and are RV abilities begin to erode.
A class A allows one to stay in the RV game a little longer by adding a few more gadgets and conveniences.
George
Prominent Member
With any motorhome toad backing up is a problem when flat towing or dolly towing. If you want to be able to back up then the extra weight of a drive on trailer is needed. In the ~13 years of using our MH I only got in a mess 3 times and had to drop the toad to back up or turn around. So I guess it wasn't THAT big a deal to plan ahead.
Our DP had a 10,000 pound tow rating but with only 360hp a Jeep was plenty of weight to tow without several hundred more pounds of trailer. A 6% grade (I-25 Raton Pass) was about 35mph. Forget 2-lane passing anyone on ANY grade at all without a running start.
In the DP I never worried about the weight of cargo. I carried everything we wanted and was still ~2,000 under GVWR. Capacity was there — Ummph was not.
It definitely was convenient for the wife to get up and move around or go potty on the road. It isn't really safe to do so though, especially in heavy traffic. I always said "stay low and have a hand on something to hold on to"
Servicing a DP can only be done at a truck shop like a Freightliner shop. Servicing a class A gasser is even more problematic I understand.
Getting your pickup fixed still leaves you with a place to live while it's in the shop.
+For us an upside of returning to a fifth wheel was being able to change trailers for ~$100k (minus trade). A new class A diesel pusher is $400k-$600k with our preferences.
We would not be comfortable shoe-horned into a class B. I don't think they are really made to tow much of a vehicle are they? So you have to break camp to tour around. Seen folks do it though — they leave hoses and chairs but there's no camper in the camp site. 🙄 I'd need a small enclosed trailer for camping accouterments.
🤷🏼♂️Maybe in 8 or 9 years we'll have to go back to a class A DP if we still want to be traveling. It'll have to have room for a walker, I'm sure. 😜
Our DP had a 10,000 pound tow rating but with only 360hp a Jeep was plenty of weight to tow without several hundred more pounds of trailer. A 6% grade (I-25 Raton Pass) was about 35mph. Forget 2-lane passing anyone on ANY grade at all without a running start.
In the DP I never worried about the weight of cargo. I carried everything we wanted and was still ~2,000 under GVWR. Capacity was there — Ummph was not.
It definitely was convenient for the wife to get up and move around or go potty on the road. It isn't really safe to do so though, especially in heavy traffic. I always said "stay low and have a hand on something to hold on to"
Servicing a DP can only be done at a truck shop like a Freightliner shop. Servicing a class A gasser is even more problematic I understand.
Getting your pickup fixed still leaves you with a place to live while it's in the shop.
+For us an upside of returning to a fifth wheel was being able to change trailers for ~$100k (minus trade). A new class A diesel pusher is $400k-$600k with our preferences.
We would not be comfortable shoe-horned into a class B. I don't think they are really made to tow much of a vehicle are they? So you have to break camp to tour around. Seen folks do it though — they leave hoses and chairs but there's no camper in the camp site. 🙄 I'd need a small enclosed trailer for camping accouterments.
🤷🏼♂️Maybe in 8 or 9 years we'll have to go back to a class A DP if we still want to be traveling. It'll have to have room for a walker, I'm sure. 😜
Flyer32RLS
Well-known member
I would have to agree with the comments about a 5th wheel. I've gone through the gambit. Class A DP, Class C, Class A gas, and now 5th wheel. Have just gotten to the arena jof comfortability. 5th wheel and F350 Diesel. Comfortable, roomy, truck is SRW 8' bed so not a huge problem parking. Room and no worry about cargo capacity. It has a cheaper operating cost than a DP by a long shot and from statistics that I am reading, cheaper than the 7.3L gas in operating cost for travelling. We have set aside a nice nest egg in saving just for camping. When we start traveling in ernest, that is where our money comes from. Not to touch monthly retirement income. When the old age factor creeps in, we sell and that is when we starting seeing Europe! That sthe plan we shall see if it can fulfilled!
Class A, B C, 5th wheel, it is personal preference. It is all about what makes you happy!!
It is after all what makes the world go round and round!
Happy Glamping!
Class A, B C, 5th wheel, it is personal preference. It is all about what makes you happy!!
It is after all what makes the world go round and round!
Happy Glamping!
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Socal-Paul
Well-known member
Our progression: Van, truck and small camper, truck and big camper, 24' class A, 30' class A, 22ml, 23ml. We purchased the 22ml a year too early as the 23ml gives us access to refer, dinette, bathroom, and bedroom without putting out the slide. The wife feels more secure in the truck cab than she ever did in the class A plus it is much quieter, less engine noise and no pots and pans rattling around. I really don't see a whole lot of difference between the class A and the 5th as far as which is better as we get older and we are pretty much there lol.
Flyer32RLS, we tried to alternate between major trips abroad and the United States and have seen a whole lot of the United States and the world. It's a great ride and we're still riding.
Flyer32RLS, we tried to alternate between major trips abroad and the United States and have seen a whole lot of the United States and the world. It's a great ride and we're still riding.