Readers' comments:
(Latest first)

Grace :   I think its bound to happen. Rvs are big value and they'll want to get into the market. They'll need to set up dealerships and the dealers will be willing to sell cheaper rvs if the quality is good.

China Dev :   Well, you're too late. I am part of a team that has started neg. with a Chinese truck co. to build RV's there. The intended market is China/India as the network develops. First Order will probably be over 10K units. U.S. market can't even conceive of that. So watch for the announcement, "See the PRC in your new RV" coming soon.

John Wahlsten :   Sorry to say perhaps not Chinese (not been in business long enough) But yes on a Toyota or Honda. I had a Itasca Suncruiser 37' Class A. Owned it 53 months and it was in for repair 45 times. When traveling across the country I had to look for a repair place and then find a campground closs enough. WE LOVED the rig---but the problems drove us nuts.

Paul :   HELL NO...It is time we as American consumers think of the consequence of our purchases; not about how cheap we can amass crap. I gage my purchases largely on whether the worker receives a living wage for his or her efforts. Don't blame US mfg companies for outsourcing blame your self!!!

snuffy :   Not no but HELL NO!!!

roscoe :   Americans don't own the concept of camping,, but if you buy a Chinese camper you will contribute to the death of yet another American manufacturer. The Chinese unit will NOT be better built,, it will only cost less because of the value of the dollar. When you camp,, buy American! (even if you were not smart enough to buy that American car or truck)

questmin :   On American Quality (I love America) but quality has been lost, I have read hundreds of pages about owners of new rvs and the bad workmanship they describe, so I bought a bus and reworked it myself and the help of a few others. After 5 years on the road and still runing strong with no major problems it can be done. Would i build another, no way and the cost to bring it in to service was huge. Maybe we could'nt aford to buy an rv at all if the quality and time spent were there to make it a true american rv. But Chinese, NO THANK YOU

Wake UP :   I do not know why my comments were deleted. The Chinese are exporting, not importing, and RVIA is selling all of its members out. Richard Coons leading the way.

orbal1 :   Oh, c'mon, everybody!...Just vote for Obama...take your Paxil/Zoloft/Prozac/Cymbalta psychotropic(al) cocktails...and watch transfixed at the latest sports, American Idol, Oprah and Bad Girls Club TV shows!...IT'S ALL GOOD! @-D

Waldo Boomschlager :   I couldn't agree more. I have been in the RV repair industry for a number of years now and I must say that "there is no such thing as a well built/good quality RV". If you think there is, you don't understand the definition of good quality. I see the crap (classified as RVs) come in to the shop on a daily basis for repair, many of them requiring repairs more costly than the unit is worth. It's good for me though, job security.

rewrlw :   No not at all. we're have enough problems keeping people in the usa working .

Dan B :   America is selling out. Everything we buy is made overseas and now the last bastions of American industry is in jeopardy. I laugh at the guy putting gas in his honda talking on his cell phone dressed in his chinese made clothes complaining about HIS job being outsourced overseas. We are in big time trouble and people are too busy trying to save a buck here and a buck there to notice it. It's going to bite us and I hope it won't be to late to do something about it. I know some people will laugh this off but China is one of the biggest threats to global security and that's where we are sending all of our money.

sumtingwong :   John C wrote that he wanted a proven product so he bought an Airstream. If you talk to the old Airstream owners they will recommend buying a used Airstream built before 1993 or 4 as thats when it was sold out to Thor Industries and hence down hill on quality. When I went through the new ones I didn't see anything that would lure me to buying a new Airstream due to their enormous price. I also saw one of these icamp's at a show last Jan and they do look good as far as quality, They are american designed as most chinese made products are but I'm not ready to buy anything knowingly made in China.I bought 2 Dahon Bikes that I thought were made in USA but after they arrived the stickers on them said designed in USA and not mentioning where they were made. While stumbling throught he owners manual it said made in China BUT designed in USA. poohie

Pat Delgado :   I definitely like the thought of foreign RVs. It took Japanese cars to improve US cars and maybe foreign competition would be good with RVs. Chinese? I'm not sure. Most stuff is Chinese now and most of it is OK. Japanese RVs would be wonderful.

BDK :   I looked at the price, size and weight of T@B rip off design. I would buy it for the same reason I wouldn't buy a T@B. The weight vs size vs cost don't add up to what you can get from several molded fiberglass trailers made in North America. If that's an example of what China can do, no thanks. I'll buy American or Canadian.

kwayne :   My Forest River product is saturated with parts and systems made in China including inferior tires..The goofy part lies in the really sloppy finish work of the trailer which has nothing to do with China.. The manufacturers have rolled the dice on Chinese parts and systems while ignoring the all important quality control which is within their power to regulate.

AL B :   Fifteen years and china will own the usa - lock, stock and camper...... Free trade - how about fair trade and no tax incentitves(my money) paid to corporations that send usa jobs and usa equipment to asia. No china rv for me. Invest in america, invest in yourself,

Charles B. :   After the lousy drugs and lead toys, I would not buy an RV made in China. At this point I would not (knowingly) buy anything made in China, let alone something so complicated. RVs made in the US could use improving regarding quality control. RV from China? Never.

blackrockjoe :   The Chinese are LOOOOOOOOONG term planers. This secret agenda of China taking over is really no secret if you read The Biggest Secret By David Icke. Americans have short memories and our so called leaders are in cahoots with the Globalists to enslave us because the job of President is just middle management. It is the Rockefellers, the Windsors and Builderburgers that control the world...stop watching TV and read this book.

Al H :   Having been a quality manager for a Fortune 100 manufacturing company I have been to China several times. I hate to disagree with many/most comments but Americans don't realize that most of the products made in China have been made for American companies, to the company specifications. The only reason China manufacturing has grown so fast, and large, is because they can build cheaper. I have been to factories that build products with top quality from start to finish. I have also seen the opposite, reminiscent of the Japan products until the mid 70s with poor quality the norm. If the government decides they want high quality RVs for export to the USA, you can bet that they will be high quality and reliable. I have owned six RVs and cannot believe the shoddy workmanship and inferior quality of many US made units. It seems like most of the effort of mfgrs. is appearance, not reliability. Have always wondered what would happen Japan started to export RVs to the US

John C :   One of the reasons we bought an Airstream is because of the quality. We wanted to keep it for a long time. The rest of the industry seems to strive for new ideas, not perfection of what they already make. No, I would not buy anything Chinese at this point, much less an RV or car. It's bad enough for things made in the USA, much less for a state owned company.

Patsy :   To Glenn: Re: Providence...Please get in touch with Fleetwood..again...you must have gotten someone that is no longer employed there. We have had super cooperation from Fleetwood (not the dealer), keep calling until you get the upper crust and I bet they will make it right. I would never buy anything made by the Chinese!

fred b :   I'm for it if it will raise the quality just as the Japanese motivated US car makers to improve to world class levels. How many US RV makers use world class, ISO third pary audited, certified quality systems? None; that I know of.

Patti :   To begin with, THINK ABOUT what they are trying to do. They want to destroy the economy of this country and everything else. THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED! They have been enemies for yrs..they have hated us for yrs.(their gov't that is). I hope the citizens of this country are smart enough to see what they are trying to do. The next time you get an Rx filled make sure it(the drug) was not made in China. A country that ALMOST killed our pets what more can you expect! We have very SHORT memories. WAKE UP AMERICANS! The Chinese may take us over yet!

Mary T. :   NO! NO! NO! The Global World Trade Market is already so unbalanced that our dollar is losing value faster than we realize. We are not only losing jobs, but quality and pride. Made in America is still best. Amen.....

Lou A. :   Our leading U.S. manufacturers of RV's need to think a little. Why is it the U.S. can produce the best fighter jets in the world and commercial jets with an unbeatable safety record, but in the RV world we seem at times to have access to our coach only when the dealership's service shop isn't repairing something. The RV industry doesn't need foreign made product. IT NEEDS TO CONSIDER BRINGING " JAPANSESE, NOT CHINSESE" AUTO TECHNOLOGY AND QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDS INTO THE RV INDUSTRY, AND COULD LIKEWISE LEARN A GREAT DEAL FROM THE AIRCRAFT BUILDING INDUSTRY. If you're lacking in quality control, which is obvious, bring in the right key people from other industries that understand how to straighten things out!!!

Bridgemaker :   As China grows a population with more discretionary income, and leisure time, the Chinese RVs will inevitably appear. And then they will be exported. But like for any imported motor vehicles coming into our home market, safety and EPA test results will be essential. The rest is academic.

Anita :   I would not buy one made in China but if it's name was Toyota or Honda I would buy in a heartbeat. I've owned Japanese cars since 1990. Our American manufacturers have too little quality control. We just had a bad experience with a 2008 Trail-Lite.

Romanse :   I'm with Kay. WHY should I want to buy a Chinese-made RV when ones made in the US are a crap-shoot when it comes to quality. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but I darn sure will avoid spending my money on an RV made in a country with so many problems on so many levels.

Mark :   If everyone keeps buying foriegn made products, maybe YOU will lose your job too!!!

hilly billy :   I'll second that my rockwood lives at the dealers lot

Rich :   You bet they'll buy and for those of you who will buy American Products oops ,look closely and you will see how much is actually foreign parts or built in another country. We Americans want the cheapest or best price so we end of buying foreign products.

Snowbirdette :   I would think that it will be years before China makes an RV that can compete in the American market. We purchased an ATV that was made in China and it was about 1/2 the price of an American made. It was falling apart on the 2nd day we had it. Lucky it had a warranty and we gave back to the dealer and got our money back. We all should be worried about all the money that is flying out of the US, it is going to Mexico. We should be more concerned about what is going on south of our border. With that new Canamex Highway that travels all the way from Mexico through Arizona and soon into Nevada. Look it up on the net. I think we have much to worry about here in the US without worrying about China building RV's. All the other poison we are importing from China and bad produce from Mexico.

Gizmodon :   American RV's are expensive and yes, they sometimes have problems. Our advantage is most RV dealers in the US DO care about the consumer. I feel a RV from China would have inferior wire, plumbing and "cheap" construction. No thanks, I will stick with my Holiday Rambler and stay FAR away from a Chinese product.

John A :   I think the Japanese started making anything from household goods to cheap plastic toys and then moved to sophisticated electrical goods and cars. The Chinese are making everything and making everything better and cheaper. I think they will start making RVs probably with the cooperation of a US manufacturer. I think they are learning like the Japanese to improve quality and they'll gradually get a bigger share of the every market.

COWBOY :   IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT AMERICANS WILL BUY AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE THAT ARE NOT AMERICANS WILL BUY. TAKE A LOOK AT THE HIGHWAYS THE NEXT TIME YOUR ON ONE .A LOT OF RICE BURNERS.

Jack :   Oh well . . . Different strokes . . .

dbz7197 :   No way!! I don't buy foriegn cars either. I buy good American made cars, Trucks, and RVs.I don't want to send my money out of the country.

Gofish :   We're trying to avoid anything made in China. Too many safety and health issues, both for us, and for their citizens.

Dave :   Could not be any worse than the piece of junk Gulf Stream sold me..I would purchase a 40 year old Military tent before I would purchase another JUNKSTREAM.

Robbie :   Probably not in the next 10 years. But I remember when we refered to Japanse motorcycles and cars as Japanse Junk; and they were. Look at them now. I haven't owned an American car for years. Trucks yes, cars no. American made RVs lack quality control because most manufacturers are not trying to build repeat business. We expect quality from American products so we usually do not inspect workmanship and engineering very closely. We look for eye appeal and function. Most RV sales are to new customers who will be too old to buy the second one.

Glenn :   We have just went throught the worst RV experience with a brand new '06 Providence. I will never buy a Fleetwood again. However, if the Japanese made RV's I would surely purchase one.

ratlpack :   Absolutely not!!!!!

ToyotaMike :   Chinese RVs couldn't be any worse than the '06 Providence that I currently have. If Fleetwood and Freightliner give a rip about their future, they will pay attention to detail, take care of their customers and keep the competition at bay. If not, my next Class A could be a Tsing-Tsing pusher!

J Sue :   NO! We already get poor quality on RV parts/accessories imported from China. Can you imagine the sidewalls of any RV constructed in China? What about the paint? What about the lack of quality on items like nuts, bolts, window trim? And the questionable list of construction grows & grows.

Jim :   Given Chinese manufacturers' total disregard for the health and safety of their customers (lead paint on toys, ground "meat" made of shredded cardboard, etc.) I go out of my way to avoid buying anything made in China.

Scoutr2 :   Half the problem with the RVs currently made in America is that most of the component parts used by our American manufacturers are made in China. Imagine how low the quality level would sink if the RVs were to be assembled in China, then shipped here on a boat. I think that if the American RV industry starts importing their RVs from China, it's time to start camping in motels!

Michael Demma :   If you respect women and babies you would not buy anything from China. Walmart is not the American company it used to be and if as some claim everything they sell comes from CHina you would not shop there. I have found many alternatives. No to China until they stop the murder of their female babies. I also agree with the other writer, if the American market does not clean up their act and produce higher quality RV's people will go other places. Start by standing behind your products.

Toolmaker-1941 :   NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER

Bob B :   I have been to China, twice, and in both trips, I saw expensive cars and SUVs everywhere. I would not buy a car, I would not buy food, I would not buy a motor home built or food harvested in China - PERIOD! Not out of matter of "America First", but out of a desire to preserve my health. China is a polluted stinking place, with minimal restrictions on exporting polluted food and inferior products. Couple this to the fact that major businesses are owned by the National Police and forced labor is very common.

NobleEagle :   Accepting the idea that "everything made in China weather we know it or not" is not a FACT OF LIFE. It is a fact of our own doing. As long as the American public wants to pay less, and the companies want to make more, they will search for a way to buy cheaper and sell to the public at a higher profit margin. It is our own fault. No one else's. We keep buying imported, substandard items and we have been brainwashed into the idea that "it's a throw away purchase when it breaks". I work hard for my money and believe when I buy something it should have a warranty and hold up to normal use. I hate buying more than once when if done properly it should have lasted the first time around. Until we (as a buying public demand better quality and refrain from buying substandard products) take a stand, it will be perceived that it's acceptable to sell us junk. I for one would happily pay a little more for an American made product that has a warranty and good customer service than to pay for imported crap that I have to buy more than once. Support Our Troops! They provide the freedom you take for granted every day!

Kay :   It's hard to find a quality RV made in America, let alone having to find one made in China.

Rusty :   With the lack of human rights, employee respect, safety in the workplace, sub-grade building materials (toy manufacturing recalls) and just the fact that they do not even seem to care about anyone else, just watch me buy something from China!!!!!!NOT

Steve :   I try not to buy anything made in China- (tough these days) Our trade deficit is bad enough and then you add the quality control from China made products and you have a real issue!

Bluebird Bob :   I wouldn't have one of their rvs even if given to me...everything they make is cheaply put together with no regard to the people who build their stuff or the people who buy their stuff...no way!

raccy :   No, No, No.

MR.T :   That's all the more reason to buy an Airstream. China has enough people to sell RV's to and they do not need to ship RV's to the USA. I buy American made cars and would not buy a Chinese made vehicle.

hankmacaw :   I wonder what RVing in China will be like. They don't have the freedom of movement like we in the USA do. As for buying one of their RV's, not for a long time. I'm not fond of being on the bleeding edge. Finally: GOD BLESS AMERICA! SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

Sologgup :   Realize that anything the Chinese build is on an ALL NEW assembly line and as their cars are...most modern facilities in the world. I think too often we think of all items made in China as being "hand done". That is not the case for the vehicle industry and others requiring precision. So it will come to pass I am sure. I will still be driving my BORN FREE which is very close to perfect!

BVFD3211 :   I wonder how much lead based paint they will use??? I wouldn't buy one, with all we do buy from China, where does our money go, they have children doing the work of adults for nothing, and more people living in poverty! Have you ever tried to get a warranty honored from a chinese manufacturer, everything they make is throw away, when it breaks you duck tape it back together or buy a new one! Nope Not me! GOD BLESS AMERICA! SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

Don T. :   I would buy a Chinese one before buying another Coachmen! What a piece of junk I was left with.

Ringo :   Most of the stuff sold in walmart comes from China so it doesn't seem strange to think people will be overnighting at walmart in chinese made RVs

Harold Kruse :   Why not? We get most other things from there. It'll really give our own manufacturers a spur to improve their quality and bring down prices. I've had 4 class A RVs and each and every one had more problems than I could ever have believed.

Terry VT :   Yes for sure they make 80% of our products now only you don't know. I import many things from china and have great luck- just got to very clear on what you will accept

Homer :   First of all until I see one and examine it, I can't foster a realistic opinion. I don't doubt for a minute they could do it and do it cheaper. They presently make some thing every one of us use daily, whether you like it or not, it is a fact of life. Most of this stuff is co-owned by big American conglomerates that wanted to escape paying American wages. The same thing will happen in the RV industry.

aircare :   HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!! THINK WE SHOULD BE MAKING ALL OUR PRODUCTS IN AMERICA!!! THIS COUNTRY IS GOING TO HELL FAST ENOUGH.

Howard Rouser :   Are you kidding. RVs are bad enough made here. Just think of all the cost cutting the Chinese will inflict on making something as complex as an RV (and won't take responsibility for any of it). What a nightmare correcting defects would entail. Never...Japanese..sure, but not Chinese.

Jack P. :   RV's built in China would, almost certainly, be of higher quality than those built in the US. Except for the very high end, delivered quality of RV's presently being made here is abysmal. A little competition from abroad might even make RVs affordable.

Susan R :   I would not buy an RV made in China. At this point I would not (knowingly) buy anything made in China, let alone something so complicated. RVs made in the US could use improving regarding quality control. RV from China? Never.

John A :   If it was the Japanese making RVs I'd think there was a big problem for the US RV industry but I'm not sure about the Chinese. But I do think the trade is more likely to ultimately be more in the China to US direction.