2027 RV Quality: Are New RVs Finally Getting Better?

I’ve inspected about a dozen 2027 RVs so far, and I have some good news: I’m seeing signs of better quality.

The reports still have problems in them. Some of the improvements are small. But when you spend your days inspecting RVs, finding fewer things to write up is a welcome change.

My inspections have included units from Brinkley, Alliance, Grand Design, Jayco, and Forest River. That gives me a look at several brands, although a dozen inspections is still a small sample. These are my first impressions, and they may change as I get through more of the new models.

One of the most obvious changes has nothing to do with build quality. Some RVs are arriving with less stuff in them.

The industry calls this “decontenting.” Features that used to come with the RV get removed as manufacturers work toward lower price points. Bedroom TVs, ceiling speakers, and built-in entertainment equipment are some of the things I’m seeing disappear. I’ve inspected units with no television or radio installed at all.

Personally, that doesn’t bother me much. I don’t use the TV or radio in my RV. I’d rather choose the equipment I want anyway.

But if you expect to pick up your new camper and watch a movie that evening, it might bother you. Now you’re shopping for a TV, figuring out how to mount it, or paying the dealership to handle it. That’s an expense and a chore you may not have included in your plans.

When you compare RVs, check what actually comes with each one. A lower price is easier to understand once you know what’s included and what you’ll need to add.

Then there’s the Brinkley influence.

I’m sitting in a 2025 Brinkley in the video, so the styling is right in front of me. I’m seeing familiar ideas turn up in other manufacturers’ products: exterior colors, interior finishes, fixtures, and the general feel of the living space.

“Everybody wants to be Brinkley” is how I put it in the video. That’s a little broad, but the similarities are hard to miss in some of the RVs I’ve inspected.

I think competition from companies like Brinkley and Alliance has given other builders a reason to pay closer attention. Newer names such as Axiom and Boundless are bringing more ideas into the conversation, too. We’re seeing different approaches to air conditioning, slide systems, and appliances.

I’m interested in those changes. I also want to see how the equipment holds up after people have lived with it for a while. A new design has to prove itself through use.

The change I’m most encouraged by, though, is something considerably less glamorous than a new interior: roof sealant. My reports on the 2027 units have generally been shorter, and sealant is one area where I can point to a specific improvement. I’ve inspected several roofs with one gap or none that I could identify. After seeing so many sealant voids on new RVs, that gets my attention.

I joked in the video that maybe the manufacturers have been watching me point these things out. Whatever the reason, I’m happy to see fewer gaps.

The useful improvement is getting the coverage right. Simply piling more sealant onto a roof doesn’t tell the whole story. What matters during an inspection is whether there are still visible openings and areas that need attention.

That’s also why I’m cautious about turning a shorter report into a sweeping claim about an entire model year. The type of problem matters. So does the particular RV in front of me.

If you’ve been putting off a purchase because you’re worried about quality, these early results give me some reason for optimism. I’d still want to know the condition of the actual unit you’re buying. A few encouraging inspections can’t answer that question for you.

For now, I’m glad to give credit where I’m seeing improvement. There are still issues to find, and I may have a different perspective after another few dozen inspections. But I’d be perfectly happy to keep climbing onto new RV roofs and finding less to write up.

Buying an RV in Texas? Book an independent RV inspection with Cozy Camper before you take delivery.