RE: which brand???
Welcome to a fellow North Carolinian!!
There are a number of private services that rate individual RV's. When I was getting ready to make a purchase I used:
http://www.jrconsumer.com/
I thought it was well worth the money and it is a good place to start. It will help you narrow your search to a few brands.
I was looking for a Travel Trailer and ended up buying a Sunnybrook because they were highly rated by this particular organization. So far I have not been disappointed - I havel talked to other Sunnybrook owners and found them to be happy as well.
This particular organization rates all Class A, B, C, and towables.
Used vs. new is a different story and a matter of personal preference. You can save a lot of money buying used, however I tend to class RV's and boats in the same category and think most owners do not take proper care of them (Members of this forum being the exception, of course). For that reason I tend to buy new, but that is my personal preference and I'm sure not everyone will agree with me.
Good luck. Let us know which direction you take.
Charlie