RV REVIEW
A wonderful way to see the country 2014 Tiffin Allegro Breeze 32 BR
T he trends for the coming year include a resurgence of travel trailers. This follows several years of very strong fifth-wheel trailer model introductions. In other words, there is always something new—and often what’s new is simply a re-imagined version of what was recently old. However, when it comes to motorhomes, well they have and continue to inhabit a niche in the market that seems to always hover in the 10 percent range of total sales. Curious—other segments have fluctuated wildly, yet these hotels on wheels hold their beachhead tenaciously. Why? A decade or more ago when fifth-wheel units really took off, I seem to remember suggesting (thinking it anyway) that motorhomes were doomed. Why have an engine and chas- sis support your RV and then still tow a car or truck when you could have your tagalong grocery-getter tow your RV to destination and then drop it. Seemed so obvious to me. Yet that 10 percent of market continues to be inhabited by motorhomes. Granted that within that number is a range that runs from $100,000 to a million or so dollars. But past the look-at-how-much-money-I-have crowd, there has to be more to it than that.
These are the types of musings I have while testing—in- cluding during my recent test of Tiffin’s Allegro Breeze. It’s been a year or more since I drove a motorhome and the first thing that resurfaced for me was how much I like the drive itself. I’ve said before that it’s much like driving a living room window. Apart from a funny image, it really is a road experi- ence that frames the scenery making the simple act of driving a joy. Tiffin Motor Homes of Red Bay, Alabama, has been build- ing motorhomes for more than 40 years and, like any special- ist should, they are hyper aware of trends and culture. In the case of the Breeze I tested, this shows immediately in two as- pects. First, the length of this Class A. At 32-feet it’s relatively small. Second, the bus chassis and MaxxForce diesel engine combine for a smooth, confident, powerful ride. Size-wise, inside, with twin opposing slides, the coach seems large and really is. Yet, I noted that even closed, the builder has gone to great lengths to ensure that you can still navigate the whole unit. Nothing is blocked in when the slides are secured. Having borrowed this unit from a dealer in the heart of farm
20 COAST TO COAST FALL 2014
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