Hakim, I feel that anything I say about the quality of the different brands would be so badly dated that I wouldn't want you to put a lot of stock in my opinion. So . . ., keeping that in mind; in past years the Chinook was a very high quality brand while the Winnebago was mid-range at best. For quality of the basic rig, you have to look at things such as the type of framing used, type of insulation, type of exterior skin, type of roof, routing of electrical wiring and plumbing, material used for plumbing and fixtures, quality of indoor fabrics, hardware used for cabinet drawers and doors, and on and on. You're trying to evaluate both a home and a motor vehicle simultaneously.
As for "hands on", yes, you're maintaining both a home and motor vehicle. Most of the maintenance is fairly simple, but some can get both complicated and expensive. There are only a few manufacturers of each of the "appliances"; i.e., refrigerator, furnace, air-conditioner, cookstove, water heater, water pump, generator, etc. so I don't put a great deal of importance on which brands an RV has, although with brothers in the RV service business, they do have some preferences.
Slideouts - - personally, I hate'em and my brothers love'em. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif They do give you a lot more living space, and obviously, I'm in a very small minority since the vast majority of RVs have them now. But they add weight, maintenance headaches, and are a good source of water leaks in the rain. Some use just an electric screw type mechanism while others are electric over hydraulic. Repairs can get quite expensive. And it can really get frustrating when you get ready to go and find the slideout won't go in.
One of the most common problems with RVs are water leaks, both plumbing and rain getting in. Many of the other problems are simply the result of lack of use. Air-conditioners get clogged by mud daubers, water heaters freeze and burst when someone forgets or doesn't know how to properly winterize them, water heaters rust out after a few years, furnaces get mice nesting in them, and such things.
And when all is said and done, regardless of brands and quality, the most important factor is your personal preference. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Is the floorplan right to suit you? Is the seating comfortable? Does it have the storage space you want in the locations you want? Is the bathroom comfortable? Is the bed the right size? Does it have the appliances and features you like, such as TV, VCR/DVD, microwave and/or convection oven, ice maker, TV antenna or satellite?
The "options" available on RVs almost make selecting everything to build a house seem simple. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
And of course it's been 16 years since we were in Tucson and there were some good RV dealerships there. I don't really know about the choices in different parts of the country, but right now there are more RVs on the lots of more RV dealers within 15 miles of my home than I've ever seen anywhere in the country; RV dealerships all along I-35E from just north of Dallas to just north of Denton. So many, in fact, that it's mind boggling. I don't see how they can all sell enough to stay in business.
