How to Find the Star Ratings of an RV

Using different criteria to determine the ratings for each category, the RVCG produces four RV categories and awards ratings. All of the ratings are on a scale of from 1 to 100. The following categories are rated:

»        Reliability

»        Highway Control

»        Value

»        Star Awards

Reliability Rating

The Reliability Rating determines the general reliability of all the RVs made by any particular manufacturer. Because a large part of this score is taken from consumers, they are able to report the reliability of their RVs, not just as they sit in the dealerships, but how they stand up and perform over time. This score will tell you how reliable the manufacturer is.

One-third of this score comes from staff evaluations based off physical on-site inspections of the manufacturers. The other two-thirds come from customer satisfaction polls. The results of the satisfaction polls are calculated using summary of averages from both brand and manufacturer.

Highway Control Rating

The Highway Control rating addresses the driving and handling of an RV. Does it veer off the road when an eighteen-wheeler whizzes past. Does it sway from side to side in high winds? Does the RV seem to wander on slippery, gravelly, or wet roads? The Highway Control ratings are especially important for towables and larger RVs.

Highway Control is calculated from information provided by the manufacturers, though it is often supplemented with information provided by consumers. Because overloading and being out of balance are both dangerous situations that are easily reflected by chassis capacities, total weights, and at-wheel weights, this data is analyzed and rated, as is proper hitch weight.

Proper hitch weight is critical to the prevention of accidents when towing a Fifth Wheel or Travel Trailer. RVCG looks at the optimum hitch weights that have been established by the RV industry for over thirty years and uses that data to determine the Highway Control Rating.

This rating will give you a good guide as to the safety of an RV and ultimately, the safety of your family. A hitch weight that is too light causes more accidents than all other deficiencies combined, and a hitch weight that is too heavy is the second most common cause of trailer-related accidents.

Value Rating

The Value Rating tells you how well an RV keeps its value over time. It is generated by looking at average depreciation, which is then compared with data from long-established appraisal systems that have provided depreciation and value data to the industry for over twenty years. The higher the Value Rating, the better chance your RV will have of holding its value.

Of course, when you buy your RV at a low price (and I will tell you exactly how to do that in Chapter 10), your RV will already have a high value and you will be way ahead of the game.

Star Rating

The Star Rating, often referred to as the Star Award, is calculated on a scale of 1–5 and is a combination of the primary ratings of Reliability, Highway Control, and Value. Rather than using an average of these three, it uses the lowest score to determine this rating.

»        A score of 50-59 receives a 1-Star award.

»        A score of 60-69 receives a 2-Star award.

»        A score of 70-79 receives a 3-Star award.

»        A score of 80-89 receives a 4-Star award.

»        If all scores are above 90, a manufacturer is given a 5-Star award.

Very few models achieve the 5-Star award.

The Star Awards, along with the individual ratings, provide valuable information about the reliability, safety, and value of any RV and RV manufacturer. If you are thinking of purchasing a particular model and find that it has received only a 1-Star rating, you need to consider the risks to the safety of you and your passengers, along with potential financial losses and the frustration that comes from excessive problems.

On the other hand, if the model of your choice has achieved the 5-Star award, or even a 3-Star or 4-Star award, you can have confidence in the safety, durability, and value of the RV you are about the purchase.

However, you should never use Star Awards by themselves to select your RV. You should always consider all three of the primary ratings of Value, Reliability, and Highway Control when selecting your ultimate model and manufacturer.

The RVCG ratings come on a CD that can be purchased for a nominal charge. That way you can search by manufacturer, brand, type, year, length, price, use classification, or Star Ratings, and you can sort the information by any of the criteria. To learn more about the Star Ratings or the Recreational Vehicle Consumer Group visit www.rv.org.

Jeff Radich is a professional research writer and active RV enthusiast.