At Bankston Motor Homes, we’re proud to say that our story with Tiffin Motorhomes didn’t begin when we simply signed a dealer agreement – it began when Tiffin Motorhomes itself was born in 1972. We were there at the very start, and for more than five decades we have grown together as true partners, friends, and one of the strongest dealership-manufacturer relationships in the RV industry
The Beginning: A Handshake That Built an Industry
In the summer of 1972, Bob Tiffin was preparing to launch a brand-new motorhome company in Red Bay, Alabama. While researching the market, he stopped in Huntsville to visit Harrison Bankston, owner of Bankston Motor Homes. Harrison’s advice was direct and game-changing:
“It needs to have an aluminum frame… If you will build an aluminum-framed motorhome at an attractive price, I can sell all that you build.”
That single conversation shaped the future of Tiffin Motorhomes. Harrison became not just Tiffin’s first dealer, but a trusted advisor who helped design floor plans, price points, and features that customers actually wanted. Bob Tiffin himself has said:
“Harrison has been a friend and business adviser for all these years… he has been one of our top 10 dealers for 50 years.”
From sending floor-plan ideas that Tiffin turned into best-sellers (including the famous 27-foot split-bath layout that generated hundreds of orders after its debut), to quick weekend phone calls, the relationship was built on mutual respect and lightning-fast trust.
A Track Record of Excellence – The Awards Tell the Story
Very few dealerships can claim this level of sustained success with a single manufacturer. Bankston Motor Homes has been recognized by Tiffin Motorhomes year after year – often at the very top:
- #1 Tiffin Dealer in America – 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
- Top 20 Tiffin Dealer – 1999
- Top 10 Tiffin Dealer – 1990, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 …and consistently ranked in Tiffin’s Top 10 nearly every year since.
These aren’t participation trophies. They reflect real results: volume, customer satisfaction, and service excellence that Tiffin measures across its entire North American dealer network.
More Than Sales – A Shared Commitment to Service
Anyone can sell motorhomes. What separates the best is what happens after the sale, and this is where the Bankston-Tiffin partnership has always shone brightest.
Bob Tiffin built his reputation on standing behind every coach, and Bankston Motor Homes has mirrored that promise with one of the finest service networks in the industry. From the massive 125,000 sq ft facility in Ardmore, Tennessee, to 16 full-size service bays at our newest location in Attalla, Alabama, we’ve invested heavily so Tiffin owners always have a home for warranty work, upgrades, or repairs – performed by technicians who know Tiffin coaches inside and out.
A Multi-Generational Partnership
Today, the relationship that began between Harrison Bankston and Bob Tiffin continues with the next generations:
- Chase Bankston – President of Bankston Motor Homes
- Colin Bankston – Vice President & IT Director
Just as Bob Tiffin passed his company to his sons, Harrison has welcomed his grandsons into leadership roles, ensuring the same family values and customer-first philosophy carry forward.
Why This History Matters to You
When you purchase a Tiffin motorhome – whether it’s an Allegro, Allegro Bus, Allegro Bay, Phaeton, Breeze or any model in the lineup – from Bankston Motor Homes, you’re not buying from just any dealer. You’re buying from the dealership that helped create Tiffin, that has sold and serviced more Tiffins than almost anyone else in the country, and that still enjoys a direct line to Red Bay whenever you need it.
Over 50 years. Countless awards. Thousands of happy Tiffin families on the road.
Ready to continue the legacy in your own Tiffin coach? Visit any of our Alabama and Tennessee locations or contact us today.
