LD Target Demographic

January 17, 2005, 02:15:40 pm

Some statistics have been tossed out here and I think they need to be put into perspective. Another posted opined they are not statistically significant, and I tend to agree. I'll begin with quoting an earlier posting here:

I have been following the posts on this site for the past few months and have been often amused at the questions of new owners and those who are looking to become one. Perhaps the reason for my post now has been addressed on this site in the past but I have not come across it. I am referring to the fact that LD consistently earns a 5 star rating in the RV Consumer Group listings and that LD is rated as a trekking rig. Those who know of the 5 star rating may not realize exactly what this means or what the desgination of "trekking" stands for.

Lazydaze is one of only two Class C's that earned it in 2003 (I cannot speak to other years as I only have the 2003 book before me but I will be willing to bet there is little change year after year), the other was a Platinum and they sell for over $100,000.
Isata and Born Free almost got there with 4 and 1/2 stars and the LD 30 foot came in just under 5 due to the road handling of the longer chassis.

The ratings are based on several factors and to earn a 5-star the brand must have an "excellent" record of performance in Value, Reliablitity and Highway Control. We all know that LD holds up in the value part even though it is one of the most reasonable quality rigs to purchase. The reliabilitity rating is taken from owner- satisfaction polls and an analysis of used and new vehicle appraisals. In essence, this rating represents the percentage of the brand that will reach 10 years of age without serious problems or deterioration. Ratings are based on a 1 to 100 scale and in 2003 LD was at 95 in this. No wonder so many of them are still going down the highway!! As far as highway control, LD earns a 96 for the 22/24.6 models, a 91/92 for the 26.6 model and a 79 for the 30 ft;, all out-handling most RV's on the road.

Now, to the trekking rating. RV's are rated as falling into 3 use catagories. Weekending, Vacationing and TREKKING. Weekend is for short, camping stays in temps of 40 to 80 degrees. Vacationing rigs are for jaunts up to a total of 60 days a year and some satisfy snowbird and fulltiming while others do not make it through even the first year. Vacationing rigs have a comfort zone of 30 to 90 degrees and this is the class that most RV's fall into. Lastly, comes the trekking rating of which LD rated. Trekking RV's are built for getting in where most fear to go! (a direct quote) It is a rig that will take a beating on the back roads and as a camp home. It must have a tough exterior, a heavy-duty chassis and a well built interior. Because RV trekkers generally keep their RV's for decades, it is important that such vehicles have well-designed houses made with high-quality materials and consistently good workmanship. It must have an efficient heating system and stove-top pilot controls and should have natural wood in all cabinets. Among other things, it must handle extreme temperatures from below freezing to Death-Valley-hot.

I beieve that one aspect of LD's target demographic is that LD targets buyers who look below the surface.
Anyone can find an SOB that is flashier or prettier, but not one with LD's track record. No company can please everyone. But LD offers a certain product that is different from many others. Since LD has the product it does, and is the different kind of company it is, it has to play the odds with prospects with it's strengths, and not place too much emphasis on aspects that might be important to some prospects, but, on the average, are not that important to most of those who choose LD.
We've seen improvements LD has made in TV, fans, pumps, (and I think I read about a solar controller change), etc. ALL of them addressed issues below the surface, in other words, function rather than form.

We saw that LD recently experimented with a 30 footer with a higher capacity chassis. Why? Enable greater CCC? Enable an LD with a slide-out? Just think what a 30 footer with a slide-out in the living room would be like. Either reason is function not form.

Anyway, just my 2 pesos..

best, paul

Re: 30' LDs' Rating in RVCG

Reply #1 – January 17, 2005, 11:27:44 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 49535

"I am referring to the fact that LD consistently earns a 5 star rating in the RV Consumer Group listings. [snip]

Lazydaze is one of only two Class C's that earned it in 2003 (I cannot speak to other years as I only have the 2003 book before me but I will be willing to bet there is little change year after year[snip]the LD 30 foot came in just under 5 due to the road handling of the longer chassis.

The ratings are based on several factors and to earn a 5-star the brand must have an "excellent" record of performance in Value, Reliablitity and Highway Control. [snip] Ratings are based on a 1 to 100 scale and in 2003 LD was at 95 in this. No wonder so many of them are still going down the highway!! As far as highway control, LD earns a 96 for the 22/24.6 models, a 91/92 for the 26.6 model and a 79 for the 30 ft;, all out-handling most RV's on the road."
I must have missed this message the first time around. I don't know who the poster was, but that 79 rating for highway control on the 30'LDs really got my attention! In the 2001 RVCG "Green Book", the year we ordered our '02 30'LD, the Highway Control rating is 94, and gets a 5 star rating overall. The main reason for the excellent highway control rating is the wheelbase-to-length ratio of 59%. By the way, the approximate payload for the 30' models is listed as 1,272 lbs. The Livibility Code is RT (Road Treking)20-90; Value: 92; and Reliability: 90.

If these ratings have really changed that drastically between the 2001 Book, and the 2003 Book, I would want to know why. Does anyone have the current rating for the 30' LDs? I am not currently a member of RVCG, as we are not in the market for a new RV.

Sharon N.

Re: LD Target Demographic

Reply #2 – January 18, 2005, 06:29:28 am

Yahoo Message Number: 49542

Quote

"Lastly, comes the trekking rating of which LD rated. Trekking RV's are built for getting in where most fear to go! (a direct quote) It is a rig that will take a beating on the back roads and as a camp home. It must have a tough exterior, a heavy-duty chassis and a well built interior. Because RV trekkers generally keep their RV's for decades, it is important that such vehicles have well-designed houses made with high-quality materials and consistently good workmanship. It must have an efficient heating system and stove-top pilot controls and should have natural wood in all cabinets. Among other things, it must handle extreme temperatures from below freezing to Death-Valley-hot."

Paul:
I'm really curious about which rigs got high ratings in the trekking class, since this area isn't exactly one of LD's strengths, even if it is extremely well built.

LD's R-factors are not publicised, but members of this group evaluated it at around 4 1/2, which is one of the lowest in the "well built" rigs group.
The fresh and holding tanks have an optional "isulation" that are, at best, a freezing retardant, since it doesn't have heating, and it is a nightmare if you ever need to do any tipe of maintenance in the tank's area.
As far as I know, the cabinets aren't full natural wood (could be wrong here).

And, of course, duallies and 2WD are not exactly a trekker's dream.
Could you kindly share with us the trekking rates?

Eudoro "stuck in the mud and snow" Lemos, Jr.

Re: trekking and 4WD

Reply #3 – January 18, 2005, 10:06:46 am

Yahoo Message Number: 49550

"duallies and 2WD are not exactly a trekker's dream."
But the LD has four wheel drive! ;-) Seriously, there *are* four driven wheels, and (except in diesel models) they are where most of the weight sits, so traction is quite good. It's not as good as all (6) wheel drive, but it is a lot better than the average 2WD passenger car or light truck.

Andy Baird

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