When exploring the history of Tiffin Motorhomes, one story stands out above the rest: the partnership with the very first dealership that believed in the brand from day one—Bankston Motorhomes. Before Tiffin became one of the most respected manufacturers in the industry, there was a dedicated RV dealer in Huntsville, Alabama, who saw its potential and helped influence the early direction of the company.
Bankston Motorhomes wasn’t just another retailer. It became the first Tiffin dealer, setting a standard of excellence that helped establish the Tiffin reputation for exceptional craftsmanship and customer care. A full historical version of this story appears in the April 2018 issue of Roughing It Smoothly, available here:
➡️Bankston Motor Homes First Tiffin Dealer
How the First Tiffin Dealer Helped Launch a Legacy
In 1972, as Bob Tiffin prepared to launch Tiffin Motorhomes, he visited dealerships throughout the Southeast to study competitors and learn what customers wanted most. That journey brought him to Huntsville, Alabama, where he met Harrison Bankston, founder of Bankston Motorhomes.
That meeting became a defining moment. Harrison expressed immediate interest in a motorhome built with an aluminum frame—a game-changing idea in a market dominated by heavier builds. When Harrison confidently told Bob Tiffin:
“If you will build an aluminum-framed motorhome at an attractive price, I can sell all that you build,”
Tiffin knew he had found a dealer who understood customers, innovation, and opportunity.
Thanks to forward-thinking feedback from Harrison, Tiffin began designing lighter, stronger, more efficient motorhomes—choices that would shape the brand for decades.
A Partnership Built on Trust, Quality, and Shared Vision
From the beginning, Harrison Bankston wasn’t simply selling motorhomes—he was helping to design them. Throughout the early years, he regularly shared customer insights and feature ideas with Tiffin, ensuring motorhomes were built around real family needs and real travel experiences.
As reflected in the magazine article, Harrison became a personal friend and adviser to Bob Tiffin for more than 45 years. Their shared philosophy—doing whatever it takes to make customers happy—created a bond that shaped both companies.
By the early 2000s, Bankston Motorhomes had become one of the best RV Tiffin dealers in the country, consistently ranking in Tiffin’s Top 10 Dealers list year after year.
Today, you can learn more about Bankston’s commitment to customer experience on their About Us page.
A One-of-a-Kind Dealer With a One-of-a-Kind Commitment
In the early days, Harrison managed nearly every part of the business himself—sales, management, finance, and service. His work ethic, honesty, and instinct for customer needs formed the culture that still drives Bankston Motorhomes today.
Even as the company expanded from its Huntsville roots, adding locations in Florence, Montgomery, and Tennessee, the family values and customer-first philosophy never changed.
Families searching for new or used RVs can view the company’s continually updated inventory here:
➡️ RVs for Sale
Shoppers looking for savings can explore monthly deals here:
➡️ RV Specials
A Legacy That Lives On Across Generations
Bob Tiffin often said that his partnership with Harrison Bankston helped strengthen his company during its earliest and most important years. That same friendship and business collaboration continued across generations, and Bankston Motorhomes remains one of the longest-standing Tiffin dealers in America.
For readers interested in the broader history and legacy of the dealership—including how it established some of the standards for the RV industry—a related article is available:
➡️ The Best RV Dealers Since 1970
The RV industry has changed dramatically since 1970, but the standard set by the first Tiffin dealer continues to inspire confidence, loyalty, and trust. Today, Bankston Motorhomes still reflects the values that Harrison instilled:
hard work, big-picture thinking, and a commitment to treating every customer like family.
