1/5/2020 - 1/6/2020 - Caldwell, TX to Carthage, TX (201 miles) one night at Carthage RV Campground $40
1/6/2020 - 1/8/2020 - Carthage, TX to Vicksburg, MI (217 miles) two nights at Ameristar RV Park, $32/night
1/8/2020 - 1/16/2020 - Vicksburg, MI to Red Bay, AL (278 miles) 8 nights at First Class RV Park for $150
Red Bay, Alabama is not what you’d call a destination. But ever since 1972, when Bob Tiffin began manufacturing motor homes, owners have been coming to watch their RVs being built and get repairs. Since then, they’ve built over 65,000 rigs. Last year, Tiffin accounted for almost 8% of the motor home market.
We bought our Tiffin Allegro Open Road (a gasoline-powered RV) in 2018. We were one of the last few who got to come hang out with the crew and watch it come together from the chassis, up. It was amazing. I thought I would be bored after the first day. But each morning, we dragged ourselves to the production line at 5:30 am to take pictures, ask questions, and be a part of our build. It looked like a carefully choreographed dance. Each part had to be put in, in order, so the next could fit snuggly around it. The plumbing, then the walls, the appliances, the fully-furnished slides, and finally the ceiling went on. We marveled at the full access we had during the entire process. We moved along the line as cranes ferried parts above us, and giant forklifts put parts in place. We were even given a roll of green scotch tape, so we could mark things that didn’t look right, and headed off quite a few issues because we were there to question and get them fixed immediately. We brought LOTS of candy, and shared personal stories with the workers that we got to know by name. It was a great experience. We even got to meet Bob Tiffin.
The reason this company has been so successful is because of this soft-spoken, kind, honorable man. He was so in tune with his dealers and repair network, that he hand-wrote the names and numbers of the two best RV repair shops in San Antonio, which happened not to be the dealership. And he gave us his business card and told us to call if we ever needed anything. That sounds hokey, but we have heard so many stories from Tiffin owners that confirm that he means it. Like when two couples were traveling together. One couple drove a Tiffin, the others didn’t. The non-Tiffin owners broke down in a very remote area and could not get any help from their dealer or roadside assistance. In desperation, the Tiffin owners suggested they call Bob. Because of his connections and good reputation, he was able to get them the help they needed, and all he asked in return is that they consider buying a a Tiffin for their next RV. That creates customers for life!
This tiny town in northwest Alabama has a multitude of businesses tied to the production of Tiffin Motorhomes. Many people who work in the factory, paint shop or service center develop their skills there from 5:30 am to 2:30 pm, then run their own “after hours” after-market accessories shops. And since Tiffin will not repair a rig over 10 years old, other shops in the area meet that need, too.
There are other businesses in Red Bay, like the Sunshine dog food factory, which you can smell all over town, and the Sunshine Manufactured Homes. But, as Tiffin goes, so does much of the local economy. Late in 2018, liability insurance did away with people being on the build line, so not fewer visitors come to Red Bay without an RV. The result was that the Historic Red Bay Hotel closed down. Which made me wonder, if the Tiffin family sells out to Winnebago, As rumors suggest, will they move the company? Would all of these people lose their jobs? I know as long as Bob is around, this won’t happen, but there are rumblings about his retirement.
Bill did a lot of research to guarantee that we got a quality RV we can call home. I wish more companies had the same kind of commitment to quality and service as Tiffin. We are definitely Tiffinites, and As long as there is a Tiffin service center in Red Bay, AL, we will come back for our annual maintenance visit. Thanks, Bob!
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