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Liz the problem is not the rising prices but the devaluation of US Dollar.. In fact people always seem to think that prices are rising without considering that is the dollar loosing purchasing power.
The problem with Lemon laws is the manufacturers have lobbied and lined the pockets of politicians in states that already had pretty good laws and now the laws favor the manufacturers ! ? Follow the money.... Louisiana for example...
the UCC governs thru Magnuson Moss - people don't understand that manufacturer warranties are largely efforts to circumscribe what the UCC & Magnuson Moss gives the buyer and much of what manufacturers put in there like venue for disputes is there to fool the purchaser and cannot be enforced due to the UCC & Magnuson Moss
👍👍. Billy, anybody that has a lemon law issue regarding RVs can hire a lemon law lawyer. There are law lawyers all over the country that would pick up a legitimate lemon law case about a new RV I am an expert witness in the RV industry, and I know what I’m saying is true. 👍👍
Liz, I think the overall problem is the private equity groups taking over the RV industry. I suggest make a chart of when Thor Industries began buying up Airstream, Jayco, Dutchman etcc and I think you will see those dates match with when buyers say quality began to decline. Private equity buys companies, loads them up with debt, then demands cost cutting. We have seen that in other industries. I think you are also right about lack of foreign competition for these bulky, expensive products.
@@LizAmazing google “ history of thor industries”. In 1980 they bought Airstream from Beatrice Foods, then ever since they bought a dozen bus and RV makers, probably 20 different brands. Could be why people say ‘classic’ old Airstream and older Jayco, Keystone, etcc were better.
@@raygunsforronnie847 oops, you are correct on that. But my guess on the larger point is the same: user comments on declining quality seem to follow the pattern of many previous manufacturers being folded into Thor.
I agree with you Liz, all problems start at the top from managment. A worker can only put together what managment puts in his hands. Love the park where you are, looks like tons of fun. See you next time.
Interesting that the overall quality of RV’s is related to the price of the components and the materials used to make RV’s. People don’t want to pay the price to make high quality RV’s. So the industry gives them what they want, very cheap and low quality. Not sure why you are so surprised.
But, the thing is, "This stuff is not always very cheap! They are selling it for high Inflationary prices! as if it's high quality!" That's the big joke. And, that's what's happening to everything across this country. Everything is being ruined! For the sake of making Shareholders, Billionaires, Stockholders meg-wealthy. Hence, the term Greedy Capitalist.@@dougdoris8622
Keep it up, Liz! Social media is the great equalizer in this situation. The RV manufacturers will not be able to ignore their customers and continue with the status quo. We are soon going to purchase a larger RV. We will certainly avoid the current junk being thrown together. Thanks for all you are do for our community!
Yay, thank YOU for your support, Peter. Be sure to consider buying used, do your research and get an inspection. Happy RV shopping! Thanks for watching.
I agree there is no competition when 2 or 3 companies own about 90% of the RV brands and large retails like Camping World dominate the sales and service portion of the market. Poor service and build quality seem to go hand in hand with monopolies, if this business model continues consumers will stop buying RVs and the industry will fold!
Point well taken, but in the long run, the joke will be on the quasi monopoly running the industry. If they keep building junk because there's no competition, people will look to alternatives to RVs, which are, after all, a luxury for those that are not full timers. Airbnb, condo rentals, vacation homes are all alternatives to junk RVs that cost as much as houses.
BS. Three companies does not a monopoly make silly indoctrinated Marxist. When your competition makes crap an easy alternative is to make things less crap. The real problem is the Socialist Left has Fee'd and regulated RVs into oblivion. The only monopoly are the Socialists that run your Govt and regulate RVs.
When a nice RV in 2018 that cost $35K now costs over $100K for junk, I’m keeping my powder dry and just not buying. I suspect I’m not the only one with this opinion.
You’re correct on the profit side of the equation. It’s not just RVs it’s everything. Our disposable society has creeped into every aspect of our lives. This absurd greed was accelerated during Covid. Our recourse as consumers is to not buy until you are satisfied that your money is being spent wisely. Thanks for your vids Liz. 😊
Several years ago I did think you went a little *too* easy on the RV industry. You would of course point out issues, but typically in the context of individual solutions. But I am tickled to see you go toe to toe with the industry as a whole. Even though I decided to go with a tiny house instead, I still do business with the RV industry and to say they cut corners would be a *massive* understatement lol thanks, Liz! I appreciate you also for defending the workers too. The executives define the supplies, the timeline, and the quality control, among many other things. Let's not throw the workers under the Class A motorhome!
After owning two Entegra Anthems (2014 & 2017), we viewed a 2024. No more tile floor, no more hard wood cabinets, no passenger window to open, the driver window that opens is half the size. Closet no more cedar lining, no shoe storage, and the washer/dryer stack is over the toilet. To say that Thor has "cheapened" Entegra is an understatement.
Naaah the real reason is what happened to German car manufacturers, Carhartt, Boing and so many others... They are falling because they want to maximize profits, "managers" are leading not engineers. That s it.
Every RV owner should tour the Elkhart factories. We went to Jayco, Grand Design, and Keystone. The only factory that had a tour while production was in operation was Jayco. The workers hustled like they were on piece work, which they probably are. I remember my days of working in a factory. Management always pushed for more production. We just bought a Ford Transit cargo van. We’ll see if we can do better than the RV industry at building a camper.
I worked in a mobile home factory and we made both single and double wides. There were 8 assembly stations from the frame work through final finish. Employees were constantly pushed to get at least 3 complete homes out the door each day. Managers got on the intercom barking orders at people to work faster. Workers themselves were basically casual labor types, no education beyond high school, if they made it that far.. paid minimum wage. They had no future there and didn't give an F about anything, they knew they'd work there a year or two and move on. I felt sorry for those who bought them, probably saw a real nice model home at a dealership all set up, decorated, etc. After becoming interested in RV'ing and studying, I have come to the conclusion RV's are no different in the construction process.
I live in Quebec, Canada. Had a Tiffin class A, now a LTV unity 2020. Daughter had a few class Cs, now a 26 foot trailer. I repair RVs. I understand an saw the lack of quality in recent years. The equipment used is still pretty much the same and is quide reliable. The materials used (cheap plywood) and the construction/ assembly is now terrible. At the end of the day, management / owners are responsible for the final product. The problem: extremely difficult to sue them, including the dealer. Since 5 years ago, they have included clauses in their contract that make it impossible to sue. Even the manufacturer has to be sued in Indiana, no where else. Laws have to change to stop this practice. Luckily in Canada we can easily use the Consumer's small claims court No lawyer, 6 months wait on average, 20,000$ maximum, judge decision is final and public. It solves 90% of the issues as no dealer wants his name associated to a public judgment. In the last 30 years, I used it 5-6 times and the seller / dealer always settled before going to court. Courts and regulation are the solution because the represent $$$ for the dealers and manufacturers.
What is wrong with the RV industry? The RV industries greed (not all companies, but 75% of them) and cutting corners to please shareholders. In the end shareholders want to see profit and that profit has to come. The easiest cost cutting for companies with a bad future plan for reputation is to cheap out on quality material and quality control. Thanks for the video and a big hello from our TH-cam channel to you!
Consumers have to take some of the blame, wanting high end finishes and not wanting to spend more. Companies cheap out and use junk that looks expensive but doesn’t hold up. Sometimes going for simplicity can go farther and make a better product and experience for the consumer. It’s just a thought
I just got back from a show and was shocked to see how everything was made so cheaply. I understand making rigs light, but to sacrifice integrity and longevity to lightness is wrong and a rip off. Thanks Liz!
That's interesting because UK vehicles generally rank very low in owner satisfaction and require constant repairs. Scotland is the poorest area of the UK.
@@andyjones2261 I got very annoyed at the last RV shows I've been to. These days it's either a massive 5th wheel or 13 foot teardrop. The 3000-3500 lbs 20 footers aren;t being placed before potential customers.
Just like Boeing.....rush, rush, rush; damn QC, just get them out. Workers always worry about their work, they have pride until browbeaten by management. Cheers to you LIZ.
Just like every industry. Look at a McDonalds cheeseburger for gods sake. It costs 3x more and is half the size. This is what Socialism ALWAYS does to industry.
@@bernecomp America hasn't had Capitalism since that Socialist named FDR rammed his Fascist New Deal up Americas arse in 1933. After he purposefully broke the economy, lol. We need to try real capitalism again silly indoctrinated Socialist. In capitalism Corporation make the things the consumer wants. In Socialist Commie/Fascism the Govt dictates to the Corporation the things they will make and sell using excuses like "climate changes too much."
I am a professional mechanic who works in bus fleet maintenance, I do not own an RV, but my parents and a brother have in the past, so I am not a complete stranger to the RV industry. First let me say bravo to Liz for having this channel to educate people. Second, the quality decline is larger than the RV industry, it is affecting the bus industry as well, and I suspect other things too such as the home construction industry too. In the last year I have seen several bush league mistakes on new buses. Simple things like asymmetrical installation of required lights, loose hose clamps, to major things like bellhousing to engine block bolts left finger tight that caused the failure of a flex plate at 3000km, or improperly bled brakes.
You couldn’t pay me enough to get into the RV life right now. Too risky, too expensive, and too many horror stories of poorly constructed vehicles. I simply won’t throw my money away on something that is so full of uncertainty.
Liz you hit the nail on the head about many of us are willing to pay for quality built RV that does cost more than $500K. I cant believe I would have to spend that much and still might get a mediocre build quality. I swear my next coach will be an older Prevost type unit.
WOW BEST INFO EVER AS I CONSIDER BUYING A CLASS B RV EVERY YEAR! I’m going to buy a great Ford Transit and insulate it and put Bouge RV’s as fridges/freezers and add lithium, my pretty dresser and a couple of beds. No cheap high VOC vinyl they call leather. I actually have too much furniture and pre-COVID reclining leather chairs. THANKS SO MUCH!
Miss Liz nailed it!! It's not the workers it is management. So correct. I had a boating buddy that upgraded to a new 25 foot family cruiser. We did one of our weekends up the the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. After we got them off the trailers we headed out to one of the islands. Now granted it was a little lumpy on the lake but that means you go slow. The boat might rock and roll but no hard jolts. We got to the island and he opened his cabin door and his galley assemble had totally come off the wall. If I remember correctly there was only six small screws holding it on. That is not workers that is management. Thanks for the update on what you have been doing. Looks like a fun place. Congrats on 110!!
You apply for the job then don’t lie saying u can do the job. Or is it u apply for the job and are being told they will train u on the job but don’t? Which is it? 🤔🍻
RV'ing in China is very popular. You see RV's of small to medium size regularly traveling all over the country, at interstate rest areas, and camp grounds. On my trips over the last few years, I've looked at some and they ALL appear to be better built, well appointed, practical, easy to use layouts and features, and not intimidating to drive. Some are Japanese and Korean manufacturers, other’s Chinese manufacturers. I will say, flat out, they beat the American made variety hands down.
After watching some of your videos< I would never ,ever buy an R/V.-They are all junk and if it isn't broken now its just a short amount of time before the roof leaks, the sllde won't go out or come back in, the plumbing is leaking, the frame is cracked or flexing, the suspension is falling apart, the floor is sinking, the microwave doesn't work, the walls have mold, the wallpaper is coming off, and this is from 100k to 300k R/V's bought brand new.
Good video with many key points. Personally, I INTENSELY dislike the argument in defense of RV manufacturers that RVs are "rolling earthquakes on wheels". RV engineers should be building them to account for life on and off the highway. Can you imagine if this argument was used in the aviation industry? "The plane crashed due to turbulence....get over it"
Check out Northwood RV and Outdoors RV, both based in LaGrande, OR. They both are independent RV manufacturers that build their own frames and build quality travel trailers, truck campers, and fifth wheels.
The best quality I've ever seen are Oliver trailers. But they are far too small for many of us. Huge pity, as I would love one, but can't manage their tiny size. 8' wide and another 4" taller and I would own one!!!
I have an 2020 Outdoors 24rks, i didn't look at the price i wanted quality, and i know RVs. Minor expected issues but its definitely solid, i recommend every one look at the Outdoors
My wife and I have owned two RV’s, a 2013 travel trailer and a 2019 Class C Entegra Esteem. The Esteem was a well built coach. We sold it last year to a couple who were specifically looking for a 2019 or older, due to quality issues with new models. We are currently in market for Class B+ on a van chassis. The prices for new / used Class B+ RV’s is outrageous! Based on the prices and quality issues we have decided to wait.
Supply and demand will always be the largest factor in pricing, and quality will always be affected by the demands of investors to hit sales goals. If you want better quality, investors need to be comfortable with lower ROI.
I know it. Going public seems to be a quality killer. They go from serving the customer to serving the investor. Thanks for your comment, and for watching!
I am replacing a dometic fridge that is four years old and from day one has never worked period, I troubleshoot this with every possible fix non worked, so now am replacing with a home unit electric only, upon removal I discovered there was supposed to be two bottom screws on the back side…and guess what no screws were installed by the manufacturer….this is exactly what the manufacturers should be bringing their quality back to the build …but I won’t hold my breath.
Before Covid, I was looking at 17 foot travel trailers with one big slideout. The cost was around $13,000. Now the same travel trailer is $27,000, and the workmanship is terrible. Take a look under the cabinets, look in some of the dead spaces, and you will see electrical wires run randomly all over the place, worse than a spider's web. Look underneath one, everything just isn't secured very well. The steel frame welding is terrible.
The consumer has turned a blind eye to the rv quality issue and maybe have also become mushrooms as far as being proactive before buying and instead only mad as hell by being reactive. A informed and knowledgeable consumer drives the manufacturers and their quality, sadly in todays market everyone loses. My last purchase was a 2019 Rockwood 21’ mini-lite. The design is great, but the quality and resulting PROBLEMS has been a nightmare, delaminating on exterior panels, roof ladder not attached properly, bad dometic fridge, plastic water fittings dissolve, electrical problems out the kazoo, trim work coming loose because of staples, cabinets that are falling apart, water line and pump problems, leaking facets, cheap cd/radio that have failed. Water supply tank that shifts around underneath. Skirting that comes loose because the screws are poorly designed and attached. After a wake up call about no help from the manufacturer, the dealer, the reality of being screwed by the industry is now very apparent and apparently now commonplace. Rockwood, I believe used to be a go to manufacturer but sadly has neglected, abandoned their work ethic, abandoned quality instead just wants the money and could care less about the consumer. If I stumbled or stuttered while writing this excuse me. 😢
I changed my mind about RVing full - or even part time - after watching yours (and a few others) reality videos a few years back. I knew I didn't have what it takes (lack of mechanical knowledge, the size of my dogs - lol, etc). It seemed like the ideal life until I started watching videos about what it is really like. But I'm still hooked on your videos (the only RV channel I still follow and totally enjoy!) - but I am so grateful I did not buy one when I planned to. But what you are doing to the industry is nothing short of "amazing" (lol - ;-). You are an incredible lady - with a ton of moxie and grit - and I am so impressed with your tenacity: righting the wrongs and shouting from the rooftops about those that still have the right ethics. Amazing!! All the very best!
A few years ago I rented a full sized RV, and towed it up to Alaska and back - about 9,000 miles round trip. It cost me a few thousand dollars to do that, about 1/3 the price of a new one, but there was no mileage fee, because most RVs don't have odometers, so I took advantage of the situation. It was a great decision. Along the way I lost a tire, and a cabinet started falling apart, (they use cheap wood staples to hold it together) but it was easily fixed. One problem I had was the RV battery died in the middle of the night at a campground, trying to run the propane heater/fan. But, that was easily fixed by starting the car. The greatest part of renting was giving it back to the rental company after it was all over - no storage or other ownership problems to worry about. I feel a bit sorry for the owner, as he had given this RV to this rental company to make some money, and I put 9000 miles on it over the course of just three months. But, a deal is a deal, and I followed the rules. (I didn't read anything in the contract about crossing the border into Canada.) On the same trip, I destroyed the differential on my new truck, and lost two weeks up in Washington State getting it fixed, but that was under warranty. Overall it was a once in a lifetime trip that I would highly recommend for anybody who has the health/money/time.
Lemon laws exist in some states but they find ways to help the dealers, you must be a resident, etc. My Thor Scallawag, I mean Sanctuary was in the shop in a different state so AG office turned down my Lemon Law complaint. Money talks, consumers walks.
As always, great info fairly said. Thank you for putting ultimate responsibility on management, so very true on everything. The expose on warranty is eye opening. So much to think about and your input has kept me encouraged and looking forward to the right rig. 💕this series!
It used to be called camping. Small exceedingly well build campers so you didn't have to use a tent. My current is a '72 Scotty 13 footer that has about $3000 invested. The two of us use it about one week a month year round. Since covid these RVers are noisy, don't have clue, leave messes behind and scare me half to death on the road. They also have made the overnight fees more than double. And I have seen so many RV problems.. My niece and family spent close to $100,000 and the first time the big awning went out the entire wall fell off. 2 years and still fighting with dealer.
Thanks Liz, great content. Big brands buying up smaller ones, big dealerships buying up smaller ones (you know who they are), lack of competition, and lastly, corporate greed. A one year warranty could translate to one or two months for people who are seasonal. Buy used, get an inspection and figure you'll trade it off in a couple of years. Stay safe out there.
Oh You are absolutely right about people trading in their problems. I'm an NRVIA inspector and I inspected a Tiffin product this week that was less than 2 years old. 29 total issues with 24 being Major issues. They don't make them like they used too and Tiffin should be embarrassed !
Just bought a brand new Keystone arcadia last year that had so many issues when I bought it. I was charged $1200 for PDI on a new camper and when I've picked it up, radio not working, solar not working, bedroom pullout was coming out crooked and so on ...................... too many issues to list. After 6 months of back and forth with the RV business, they finally fixed some of the problems. Like Liz mentioned in this video, get a certified person who will inspect your new or used RV before you buy.
When solar generators 1st came out they had a 1 year warranty,then shortly after it was 2 yrs,now it is a 5 year warranty as a standard. All this because customers demanded they back their claims so they did and they usually last or are replaced with new ones.
Hi LIz, Gary from Kansas here! Always looking forward to a new video each week! You are 100% correct. It's not the workers, it the management. They just need better quality control when they put these things out. Have a good week and see you on your next video, girl!
Liz, I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. Many good points in this video and comments, but I think I’m old enough to have seen a thing or two myself. It starts with corporate management, greed and bottom line profits. I don’t agree with those who say workers don’t care. I’ve been to the Winnebago factory twice in three years with my class A. Those I met at each stage were great, knowledgeable and cared about their work. Is the industry inundated with inexperienced workers and a loss of knowledge staff? Yes. All of them.But so is the plumbing or electrical contractor who works on my home. Greed, a decline in accountability, shortcuts, substandard parts, too many high end accessories all contribute to the problem. My number one issue is the lack of regulation of the industry. The units should meet road worthy standards , should have a longer warranty and ANY DEALER who SELLS them should be mandated to have capable staff to properly service them in a timely manner. My 1996 Winnebago was almost problem free for 10 years ( almost). My next rig was a 2006 Four Winds class C that was HORRIBLE. My 2014 class C Forest River was their top of the line. So many amenities it had little cargo carrying capacity ( which is unsafe and should be a crime). Liz- keep up the good work. We might get there.
Cost is a major factor. I looked into an RV having not toured since I was a kid with my parents and was shocked at the prices. My son just bought a 2 bed house for the price of the lowest end Class B RVs (110k). Yeah, we live in a cheaper area of the country but, damn!
Prices are up because of supply and demand. Demand was huge during Covid and prices skyrocketed. I bought my last RV during Covid, Feb 2021, and it’s the best built RV I’ve ever owned.
What Rv did you buy May I ask? I am looking to buy and want review based on positive results because they ain’t cheap these days so I want to make the right choice on my first Rv Thanks
Well done Liz - you are an amazing TH-camr - change is done by just one person standing up to corporations who think that they can make money without consequences to bad or poor products. Thank you on behalf of the RV community. Thanks to the RV manufacturers who make fantastic products, in any manufacturing process there can be a dud, but not continuously, and then they need to take responsibility to repair no issues.
Well said. I agree with everything you have said. I bought a new class C just before the pandemic ! Paid for a full inspection and found several issues. I did my own detailed inspection and found many other items. Well worth spending the time and money. In Europe there are so many competitors that quality and choice is amazing. What’s even more amazing are the prices. Class B , B+ and C are much better in Europe than the US
Oh, it's on the workers, too. When a caulk line misses a bunch of critical spots, or staples are shot into thin air, then it's also the workers' responsibility to do the work they're being paid to do.
We have an old RV , had to do extensive repairs on both the front end and back end! Lots of leaking and rot , so grateful we did it! We love the older styles, warm colours , the couch and furniture is going strong, everything else in the rv is strong, hate the condo feel of the new ones , love the cabin feel of older ones
You nailed it as always . My 2003 still going original everything roof , steel floor all appliances . Fleetwood motor home 31H no slides . I can't believe it knock on wood
Old mechanic. They were built heavier materials+ definably heavier frames 20+ yrs ago. Problem is,everyone wants to have lighter trailers,for example,to pull with SUVs+ lighter trucks. You can't have it both ways. Not to mention, everything is computer controlled now. Nothing but cascading problems High tech does not mean better,but that's what people think.
i worked at fleetwood motorhomes in riverside, ca for almost 20 yrs. quality was always #1 on our minds. everything was checked and rechecked before it went out the door. and they got better every year.
We have a 2020 Imagine I call it our Covid camper. We bought it new and have constant issues. One slide out has been the main issue. Now, we are dealing with our Thomas Payne recliners. They have started splitting on the head rest. I am not expecting Tippett to do anything. Four years old & we will probably have to take care of it ourselves. When you buy an expensive item, you expect it to last. This is not right.
The RV companies and dealers only get by with this is because people keep buying the product. If nobody is buying changes will have to made to stay in existence. Look at all the car companies that have gone out of business for various reasons.
Well done you. What you are doing is spot on. We live in England and have had motorhomes between 2003 and 2011 and never had a problem with firstly a Swift and secondary a Hymer. At 70 we have just brought a VW california ocean and it has 5 years warranty, 5 years servicing, 5 years breakdown cover in uk and Europe for no extra cost. I agree totally with your point you need foreign motorhome builders in the US. All the best Chris D
you can't take an RV through the woods, up mountain roads, desert and expect a warranty over 1 year. A cars framing is solid, unlike an RV. When you go purchase an RV tell the salesman how many miles and what kind of terrain you will be driving on. He will probably steer you away from a 5th wheel. Pay attention of how the walls and framing are constructed. If you think you will never have problems with slide outs, you are mistaken. Eventually they will leak, the parts wear out. And don't get just one bid slide.
Great channel Liz! I like to think I dodged the current industry failures when we bought a 2006 Holiday Rambler Vacationer ("Gus the Bus") in 2022 that was well taken care of and with few miles on the front end gas engine. There is upkeep of course, but that is the case with the newer RVs as well. We lived and traveled in our motorhome full-time for 6 months, and we are preparing to do that again this summer. I am also updating some of the interior finishes and furniture when time allows. Owning a motorhome is nothing like owning a car. You have to know it, know the systems and how they work and what to do when problems arise. Its been a learning curve, we made mistakes, but thanks to channels like yours, we are getting much more comfortable with it and it increases our confidence and enjoyment of Gus.
We looked for 6 months for a small Class A or Class C motorhome. Wound up finding a 2008 Jayco Grey Hawk 31SS with only 7,100 miles 12 miles away for $35,000. The only things I had to fix was a toilet seal( $20) and replace a faucet cartridge ($8). Generator started right up after minor work on my part (spraying carb jets with carb cleaner). It even had new tires on it. Presently I'm resealing roof seams with Dicor(easy job) and replaced the windshield wipers. Oh I replaced the main TV just because we had an extra one in the house. Class Cs are an incredible value but you have to sift through them and look. Watch the front cab leaks. This one had none. As far as RV problems, yes the workforce is a problem. It's part of the problem. It isn't the whole problem. The workforce today is lazy. Sorry, but it is.
In Germany for example and most of EU, the warranty on self propelled RV's and Towed Trailers is 24 months and 60 months if something isn't built according to the design (lets say the drawing says a plumbing pipe has to have a drain located at this spot but they put it in the wrong spot and it broke because of that). And a tip - RV's from northern EU countries like Sweden have the best insulation.
My last two toyhauler campers where absolute junk! (FR XLR 3016 and a FR XLR 24HFS) nothing but problems and they where both pre-covid!. I finally resorted to building my own from a cargo trailer and sure am glad I did.
I've been pretty happy with PleasureWay class B vans - very well built. I have an E-350 chassis with the 5.4L gas motor. At 100,000 miles it still doesn't burn or leak a drop of oil.
I was just at the Rv show in Harrisburg PA and really liked the pleasure-way plateau XLTS 2024…. Thanks for this comment which raises my confidence level before I sell the farm and purchase the RV…
About 5 years ago I saw a video on TV that showed an RV manufacturing plant that was building a 24 foot travel trailer. They completely built it in under 8 hours. Now they're probably doing them in less hours than that, but charging twice as much. The RV business is a major ripoff to buyers, now even worse than ever.
I agree with you. I own a 2023 Coachman Galleria and it's not the best. The air conditioner is 12 Volt and doesn't work well in warmer climates like Florida and Georgia, which is a problem. I'm not sure how to use it properly - should I plug my RV in or use my Li 3 Lithium ion batteries? It feels like a waste of money since my RV can't get below 85°. I ended up spending $1500 to replace the air conditioner with a normal AC Compressor or Trauma unit. While the quality of the unit is decent, it's definitely not great - especially for the $200,000 price tag on a Mercedes chassis. To answer your question, I wouldn't buy another one.
Thanks for all you do Liz! I’d say another issue on the dealer side . . too many salespeople don’t even camp & don’t know their units & don’t know how to educate & help people select the best rig. ALSO poorly trained service staff!!
Thanks for all the videos!! I'm a weekend camper during spring through fall season. I dont move my grand design so I don't have alot of issues I hear others have. Plus mine is a 2014
Thanks for what you're doing. We decided last fall to buy our RV this spring. The one we have been dreaming about for years, to travel and enjoy retirement. In light of all of the quality issues uncovered by you and a few other channels, we have changed our mind. It may take a year or two for things to turn around. We refuse to settle! Thanks again, Liz
Very good video. You give great advice. My truck/camper needs a new truck. I checked out new trucks. They are grossly over priced and ugly. I decided that as soon as the weather gets warm, I will start fixing up my 1985 Chevy. I'll do a working truck restoration and save over $50,000. The RV industry is very bad now. The best tactic is to buy used. I car/camped in my old Chevy wagon in 1973. Still got lots of good memories from that one. Happy Travels. Good Luck, Rick
Not only the price of the units but the cost if fuel and the cost of these parks and their entrance fees . The current administration is completely against the RV industry as these vehicles tend to be gas guzzlers and in order to save gas you have to reduce weight and that means more plastic and aluminum and less wood and steel in these units. I had a lightweight nomad travel trailer and it was a rolling piece of crap that constantly was having issues. When they built it they didn't seal the vent tubes properly and water poured in and blowed out the flooring and cabinets in the bathroom area . I lost so much money and that was the end of my RVing days .
We still use our 1994 Monaco Dynasty, bought new from C&D Motorhome in SD. They had an excellent attitude and very competent service department and Manager. I put 35,000 miles on Dinah for each of the first three years we owned. I used it as a mobile office and service center for my business covering the western states of the US. We had few problems with it, and they were always corrected quickly the first time. I must mention that we bought it deliberately without any slide outs which add unreliability, airspace you don't really need and weight that reduces fuel economy. The reason we still own and use Dinah is because was so well built. We've often gone to RV shows and have yet to see any comparable coach worth buying. The materials are flimsy, the layouts don't work, and the prices are ridiculous. Our solid oak furnishings are as solid as the day they were made. The Bank's upgraded Cummins is as powerful as ever and always starts instantly, even after being parked for weeks or months without use. We lived in it full-time for five years while building our retirement home in Oregon. Our rambling days are over now, so Dinah will be put out to pasture, mostly because RV campgrounds have become so crowded and many now decline to accept coaches as old as ours. We looked into going back to a fiver, but they are even worse. It seems the RV industry has become a race to the bottom in the US. Every RV comes loaded with 'features' we don't need or want. It seems the best RVs are built north of the border, in Canada. The best ones are built to order with just the features you want. The American maxim, "If a little is good, more must be better and too much is just enough" describes the US RV industry perfectly. Too much has proved just enough to destroy the industry.
the scarey part is when a quality RV manufacture company cashed out due to the Covid year's debacle of supply chain shortage/cash shortage and sells to a Corporation to keep from going bankrupt. This Corp. might have management that is not RV manufacture saavy.. Now the Brand declines but people still trust the brand from before but end up buying lesser quality unknowingly. This is another scenario of the reduced quality
I live 15 min from Elkhart and there are some companies do hire talented workers but many do not..My son worked there just out of high-school and he said many workers were on meth and other drugs..the common expression was don't buy any rv built on a Monday or Friday in Elkhart..thank goodness he was only there a year
I have some close friends that are here with me in Port A Texas USA. Their Montana is a 2013 with nice wood and countertops much like the Toy Hauler you were showing in this video. To get that type of an interior now in today's RV's it would cost you double of what that rig cost back then. Even then I dont see anything in the 100K price range that comes close to it. There is one word that describes the entire problem. Its not the workers. Its the management and its investors. Good old fashion GREED. They do not care about the consumer only how much money they have in their pocket.
Here in Canada we have some great RV manufacturers that do stand behind quality, two off the top are Leisure Vans and Pleasure Way and they do offer warranty's longer than 1 year, but demand is high and availability is most times 1 year away.
Thin OSB with screws run into or air stapler staples is not a worker problem. Upholstery materials that tear easily and wear quickly are not a worker problem. Frames that yield too much from inadequate specification or low quality materials is not a worker problem. There may be places where you can see provisions for 10 screws but only 6 were installed could be worker problem if it is an inconsistent condition is possibly worker problem. If that is the consistent way it is found after a particular date then it is a manufacturer issue. I worked as a new dealer tech and could see hinges get made of thinner metal and used a narrower bushing back when quality declined decades back. The domestic makers mostly saw that and specification for those pieces went up (and doors close well on 15 year old vehicles with 300K miles after that return to higher specified quality).
I was an 18 wheel truck driver and those 5th wheel trailers can ride like a luxury car with an air ride system that is used on the big trucks. They probably don't install that as people don't ride in them but people don't ride in cargo trailers either. It keeps your cargo from getting bounced and tossed all over the place. There is also an option with the air ride that can lift the trailer several inches if needed to clear some road hazard. If some company begins to install that system, they will be a winner.
years ago, I had a BMW 7, it definitely had the solidly built feel. It was also stuffed to the gills with luxury features. so much so that something was always breaking. and fixing each thing was expensive because getting to the location of the problem required getting pass so many other things.
@@LizAmazing when you mentioned RV's being crammed full of luxuries, I could relate. the bmw covered under warranty for 5 years, after that, the extended warranty was 2K per year. I thought it was ridiculous, being mostly experienced with Honda maintenance costs. Over the next 8 years, min maintenance was 2K/yr, with total maint. & repair about 30K. Resale value after 13 yr was about the same as a Honda Accord of the same model year.
This says a lot! My wife wanted a 5th wheel camper, but I told her I will agree to get what we previously had, but no RV. After I explained my reasoning, she agreed 100%. A few years ago, we had a 42' living quarters 4-horse trailer with slide-outs. All welded aluminum frame, all aluminum exterior skin and the floor from front to rear was extruded interlocked aluminum (no wood). The only steel was the gooseneck, electric jacks and torsion axles. Built to haul (4) 1,000+ lb horses. We used that trailer many times camping at campgrounds without horses. Could fold in the tack room and use the back as a toy hauler. We pulled that trailer all over NC, VA and TN mountains for a few years, most of the time was towing 2 horses and on occasion 3 or 4. I pulled it from western TN to central NC to get home and see that my wife accidentally left a cup half full of drink on the kitchen countertop, that cup was still on the counter and not a drop of drink was on the counter, which says a lot for torsion axles and a well-built trailer. Of the many thousands of miles I towed that trailer and the countless nights camping, I never had to repair anything. I just done annual maintenance on hubs and brakes, we used it year-around. Camper - My Mother-law purchased a new 35' camper. It was towed from factory to dealership on the NC coast. Towed 6 miles to a campground where it was set on blocks and tied down. Two years later she wanted to move it to another campground on the coast, so I towed it approx. 100 miles to a campground where it was set on blocks and tied down. Now, 6 years later and less than 1,000 towed miles, it is falling apart. Every year she has to get multiple items repairs on that trailer, including rotted flooring, leaking roof, AC unit replaced, water heater replacement and so on, it's non-stop. This is with a 74 yr old woman staying there 2-3 months a year and it sitting (with hvac on, conditioned). I couldn't imagine what a disaster that camper would have been towing it a few thousand miles a year with it falling apart just sitting on blocks! I refuse to purchase a RV of any brand.
I saw another video where they talked about the Indiana RV workers being paid by the piece, not by the hour so it was in their best interest to slam them out as fast as they could
I have a 2020 travel trailer that for the most part has been decent, however the window in the slideout was leaking water onto the floor unbeknownst to me and the wife. Having two chairs in that spot hid the issue and upon cleaning up this season, I noticed the floor (OSB) was water logged at the back corner. I get OSB for roof decking in a house as mine was built in 2005 and the wood is in great shape, but using anything but marine plywood or a rot resistant plywood in a slide out is crappy. This trailer is an Ultra-lite so there isn't a lot of wood in it (supposedly)...
We have been looking for a motorhome better than our 2005 Airstream Land Yacht 26 foot class A for the last 5 years. We've updated the interior to a very modern look that we like; cruises effortlessly and quietly at 70+ mph, has a bunch of outside storage but can park most everywhere at only 96" wide. Little things that need attention on a 19 year old rig are annoying but the cheap BS in even 300,000 dollar new class a's is very disappointing. We keep looking, cheers! BTW, Sprinter chassis is a no- go for us.
I’ve purchased and owned two Lance 2285’s, a 2015 and a 2022. The big difference between my two experiences are the folks at Lance. You’re correct, the industry has a serious management problem.
I own a 2005 Born Free. The quality of this unit is off the charts. Have never had a problem with it. The fridge had to be changed but other than that, it’s perfect. The quality difference between it and the new ones is unbelievable.
My Class-C is a Jayco Greyhawk, 2018 on a Ford 450 Super Duty chassis…45K miles. It’s great. A few hitches and glitches, some self inflicted, but nothing serious. Maybe I dodged a bullet. I do treat it tenderly, no heavy hands. BIG PROBLEM: the dealer service dept!!! Horrible, indifferent… Sure, bring it in next month and leave it for two weeks for a $150 oil change.
It’s really not complicated. RVs are junk. When everyone demands their rv looks like mini version of a million dollar home inside, 40’ long and only weighs 6500 lbs newsflash. It’s junk. RVs are completely custom and built as light and cheap as possible. They change so much year to year there’s no trial and error period. Also when you buy one expect a huge surge of problems right from the start. Warranty issues. Have fun bring it back and forth to the dealer to have more cheap parts put in. Also consider manufacturers know the majority don’t keep their rv more than a few years and either upgrade or get out all together.
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I tried it and it wasn’t for me… at least not yet. I couldn’t figure it all out.
Trip Wizard no longer compatible with my phone version, unable to update.
Liz the problem is not the rising prices but the devaluation of US Dollar.. In fact people always seem to think that prices are rising without considering that is the dollar loosing purchasing power.
The problem is there’s no lemon law. Bring in a lemon law and everything will change. The RV industry needs to be policed.
Agree.
Here's my video about the state and national lemon laws for RVs. th-cam.com/video/MtnjxoljNa4/w-d-xo.html
The problem with Lemon laws is the manufacturers have lobbied and lined the pockets of politicians in states that already had pretty good laws and now the laws favor the manufacturers ! ? Follow the money.... Louisiana for example...
the UCC governs thru Magnuson Moss - people don't understand that manufacturer warranties are largely efforts to circumscribe what the UCC & Magnuson Moss gives the buyer and much of what manufacturers put in there like venue for disputes is there to fool the purchaser and cannot be enforced due to the UCC & Magnuson Moss
👍👍. Billy, anybody that has a lemon law issue regarding RVs can hire a lemon law lawyer. There are law lawyers all over the country that would pick up a legitimate lemon law case about a new RV I am an expert witness in the RV industry, and I know what I’m saying is true. 👍👍
Liz, I think the overall problem is the private equity groups taking over the RV industry. I suggest make a chart of when Thor Industries began buying up Airstream, Jayco, Dutchman etcc and I think you will see those dates match with when buyers say quality began to decline. Private equity buys companies, loads them up with debt, then demands cost cutting. We have seen that in other industries. I think you are also right about lack of foreign competition for these bulky, expensive products.
I think that's a very good point. Now they are trying to please the investors instead of the customers. Thanks for watching, Richard.
@@LizAmazing I will bet that if you make the chart you can show clearly that as Thor bought others a wave of lower quality swept the industry.
@@LizAmazing google “ history of thor industries”. In 1980 they bought Airstream from Beatrice Foods, then ever since they bought a dozen bus and RV makers, probably 20 different brands. Could be why people say ‘classic’ old Airstream and older Jayco, Keystone, etcc were better.
Uh... You must have missed the memo, but Thor Industries is a publicly traded stock corporation, as is REV Group and Winnebago.
@@raygunsforronnie847 oops, you are correct on that. But my guess on the larger point is the same: user comments on declining quality seem to follow the pattern of many previous manufacturers being folded into Thor.
I agree with you Liz, all problems start at the top from managment. A worker can only put together what managment puts in his hands. Love the park where you are, looks like tons of fun. See you next time.
Absolutely! 100 percent!
And the employees/workers will pay the price for greed/ mismanagement!!!
@@michaelguyda9507 Always do!
Way WAY DEEP'R Than That VERY CORDINATED, Like The Thousands 😮Getting Stomach Viruses on = "On" Cruise Ships, FOr 3 - 4 Years Before pppPLandemic😢
A fish rots from the head down.
Thor Industries bought’em all up and flushed quality down the🚽
Agreed. Thor Industries, like Amazon, needs to be broken up. This goes along with the comment about not having any foreign competition.
Berkshire Hathaway too- that's what it does by concentrating the industry and they plan it that way. Drives down competition while driving up profits.
Interesting that the overall quality of RV’s is related to the price of the components and the materials used to make RV’s. People don’t want to pay the price to make high quality RV’s. So the industry gives them what they want, very cheap and low quality. Not sure why you are so surprised.
@@dougdoris8622well, folks are recognizing the low quality and not buying. RV sales have dropped dramatically in the last couple of years.
But, the thing is, "This stuff is not always very cheap! They are selling it for high Inflationary prices! as if it's high quality!" That's the big joke. And, that's what's happening to everything across this country. Everything is being ruined! For the sake of making Shareholders, Billionaires, Stockholders meg-wealthy. Hence, the term Greedy Capitalist.@@dougdoris8622
Keep it up, Liz! Social media is the great equalizer in this situation. The RV manufacturers will not be able to ignore their customers and continue with the status quo.
We are soon going to purchase a larger RV. We will certainly avoid the current junk being thrown together.
Thanks for all you are do for our community!
Yay, thank YOU for your support, Peter. Be sure to consider buying used, do your research and get an inspection. Happy RV shopping! Thanks for watching.
I agree there is no competition when 2 or 3 companies own about 90% of the RV brands and large retails like Camping World dominate the sales and service portion of the market. Poor service and build quality seem to go hand in hand with monopolies, if this business model continues consumers will stop buying RVs and the industry will fold!
More competition is definitely needed, especially competition with higher quality standards.
They Need That Project Farm Guy Testing RV'S From 😮Start To 😊Finish, 4 Proper QuaLity ControL
That has been our problem, Dealing with Thor and Camping World@@bryanmathew2079
Point well taken, but in the long run, the joke will be on the quasi monopoly running the industry. If they keep building junk because there's no competition, people will look to alternatives to RVs, which are, after all, a luxury for those that are not full timers. Airbnb, condo rentals, vacation homes are all alternatives to junk RVs that cost as much as houses.
BS. Three companies does not a monopoly make silly indoctrinated Marxist. When your competition makes crap an easy alternative is to make things less crap. The real problem is the Socialist Left has Fee'd and regulated RVs into oblivion. The only monopoly are the Socialists that run your Govt and regulate RVs.
When a nice RV in 2018 that cost $35K now costs over $100K for junk, I’m keeping my powder dry and just not buying. I suspect I’m not the only one with this opinion.
Keeping your white powder dry?
Advice: find an Airstream from the early 1990s. Refurbish the floors and fabrics. Have fun with it.
I would rent, for whatever it costs, and still be ahead of the game overall. The running costs on these things are crazy, let alone the repairs.
@@rudiwiedemann8173 if you are serious, buy a vehicular that is pre-covid era.
You’re correct on the profit side of the equation. It’s not just RVs it’s everything. Our disposable society has creeped into every aspect of our lives. This absurd greed was accelerated during Covid. Our recourse as consumers is to not buy until you are satisfied that your money is being spent wisely. Thanks for your vids Liz. 😊
Thank you for watching, I so appreciate you being here!
Several years ago I did think you went a little *too* easy on the RV industry. You would of course point out issues, but typically in the context of individual solutions. But I am tickled to see you go toe to toe with the industry as a whole. Even though I decided to go with a tiny house instead, I still do business with the RV industry and to say they cut corners would be a *massive* understatement lol thanks, Liz! I appreciate you also for defending the workers too. The executives define the supplies, the timeline, and the quality control, among many other things. Let's not throw the workers under the Class A motorhome!
Greed, very very poor quality control by management...and I'll inform customers 😮 Have a great weekend LiZ !!! 😊
After owning two Entegra Anthems (2014 & 2017), we viewed a 2024. No more tile floor, no more hard wood cabinets, no passenger window to open, the driver window that opens is half the size. Closet no more cedar lining, no shoe storage, and the washer/dryer stack is over the toilet. To say that Thor has "cheapened" Entegra is an understatement.
I'd never buy an RV. I will rather convert a boxtruck myself for a whole lot less.
Liz you need to keep this up so maybe the manufacturers start producing quality over quantity
Thanks to our Socialist Govt we dont get quality anymore we get fee's regulations and and junk. Socialism destroys.
Naaah the real reason is what happened to German car manufacturers, Carhartt, Boing and so many others... They are falling because they want to maximize profits, "managers" are leading not engineers. That s it.
Every RV owner should tour the Elkhart factories. We went to Jayco, Grand Design, and Keystone. The only factory that had a tour while production was in operation was Jayco. The workers hustled like they were on piece work, which they probably are. I remember my days of working in a factory. Management always pushed for more production.
We just bought a Ford Transit cargo van. We’ll see if we can do better than the RV industry at building a camper.
I worked in a mobile home factory and we made both single and double wides. There were 8 assembly stations from the frame work through final finish. Employees were constantly pushed to get at least 3 complete homes out the door each day. Managers got on the intercom barking orders at people to work faster. Workers themselves were basically casual labor types, no education beyond high school, if they made it that far.. paid minimum wage. They had no future there and didn't give an F about anything, they knew they'd work there a year or two and move on. I felt sorry for those who bought them, probably saw a real nice model home at a dealership all set up, decorated, etc. After becoming interested in RV'ing and studying, I have come to the conclusion RV's are no different in the construction process.
There is no regulation, that's the biggest problem. Keep pushing the Independent RV Inspection, it is so important. Keep up the good work Liz!
Regulation? You want more Government? What?
I live in Quebec, Canada. Had a Tiffin class A, now a LTV unity 2020. Daughter had a few class Cs, now a 26 foot trailer.
I repair RVs.
I understand an saw the lack of quality in recent years. The equipment used is still pretty much the same and is quide reliable. The materials used (cheap plywood) and the construction/ assembly is now terrible. At the end of the day, management / owners are responsible for the final product.
The problem: extremely difficult to sue them, including the dealer. Since 5 years ago, they have included clauses in their contract that make it impossible to sue. Even the manufacturer has to be sued in Indiana, no where else.
Laws have to change to stop this practice.
Luckily in Canada we can easily use the Consumer's small claims court
No lawyer, 6 months wait on average, 20,000$ maximum, judge decision is final and public. It solves 90% of the issues as no dealer wants his name associated to a public judgment. In the last 30 years, I used it 5-6 times and the seller / dealer always settled before going to court.
Courts and regulation are the solution because the represent $$$ for the dealers and manufacturers.
What is wrong with the RV industry? The RV industries greed (not all companies, but 75% of them) and cutting corners to please shareholders. In the end shareholders want to see profit and that profit has to come. The easiest cost cutting for companies with a bad future plan for reputation is to cheap out on quality material and quality control. Thanks for the video and a big hello from our TH-cam channel to you!
Consumers have to take some of the blame, wanting high end finishes and not wanting to spend more. Companies cheap out and use junk that looks expensive but doesn’t hold up. Sometimes going for simplicity can go farther and make a better product and experience for the consumer. It’s just a thought
I just got back from a show and was shocked to see how everything was made so cheaply. I understand making rigs light, but to sacrifice integrity and longevity to lightness is wrong and a rip off. Thanks Liz!
I know. It's very shortsighted to do this. They'll ruin their reputation if their products keep falling apart. Thanks for watching.
My brother-in-law lives and bought an RV in Scotland. It's 8 yrs old and never had a problem to date. It's a Class B built on a Fiat chassis.
here that would be a ProMaster conversion!
That's interesting because UK vehicles generally rank very low in owner satisfaction and require constant repairs. Scotland is the poorest area of the UK.
Build quality on a Fiat chassis? Amazing! Of course it is pre-covid and likely wasn't pushed out the factory so quickly.
@@vapoet Pre-covid is a big factor. There's a guy...Matt's RV reviews...who went to an RV show in Dusseldorf Germany...it's interesting.
@@andyjones2261 I got very annoyed at the last RV shows I've been to. These days it's either a massive 5th wheel or 13 foot teardrop. The 3000-3500 lbs 20 footers aren;t being placed before potential customers.
Just like Boeing.....rush, rush, rush; damn QC, just get them out. Workers always worry about their work, they have pride until browbeaten by management. Cheers to you LIZ.
Excellent comment.
Just like every industry. Look at a McDonalds cheeseburger for gods sake. It costs 3x more and is half the size. This is what Socialism ALWAYS does to industry.
@@Despiser25 Pure, unrestrained capitalism is more like it.
@@bernecomp America hasn't had Capitalism since that Socialist named FDR rammed his Fascist New Deal up Americas arse in 1933. After he purposefully broke the economy, lol. We need to try real capitalism again silly indoctrinated Socialist. In capitalism Corporation make the things the consumer wants. In Socialist Commie/Fascism the Govt dictates to the Corporation the things they will make and sell using excuses like "climate changes too much."
@@bernecomp Capitalists dont need to CENSOR other people like youtube does.
I am a professional mechanic who works in bus fleet maintenance, I do not own an RV, but my parents and a brother have in the past, so I am not a complete stranger to the RV industry. First let me say bravo to Liz for having this channel to educate people. Second, the quality decline is larger than the RV industry, it is affecting the bus industry as well, and I suspect other things too such as the home construction industry too. In the last year I have seen several bush league mistakes on new buses. Simple things like asymmetrical installation of required lights, loose hose clamps, to major things like bellhousing to engine block bolts left finger tight that caused the failure of a flex plate at 3000km, or improperly bled brakes.
You couldn’t pay me enough to get into the RV life right now. Too risky, too expensive, and too many horror stories of poorly constructed vehicles. I simply won’t throw my money away on something that is so full of uncertainty.
Liz you hit the nail on the head about many of us are willing to pay for quality built RV that does cost more than $500K. I cant believe I would have to spend that much and still might get a mediocre build quality. I swear my next coach will be an older Prevost type unit.
I've heard good things about those Prevosts! And also check out Foretravel. Happy shopping and thanks for being here!
Thanks so much for all of your videos. We’re no longer on the road but every now and then I get the bug. This is a good reminder of “be warned”
WOW BEST INFO EVER AS I CONSIDER BUYING A CLASS B RV EVERY YEAR! I’m going to buy a great Ford Transit and insulate it and put Bouge RV’s as fridges/freezers and add lithium, my pretty dresser and a couple of beds. No cheap high VOC vinyl they call leather. I actually have too much furniture and pre-COVID reclining leather chairs. THANKS SO MUCH!
Miss Liz nailed it!! It's not the workers it is management. So correct. I had a boating buddy that upgraded to a new 25 foot family cruiser. We did one of our weekends up the the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. After we got them off the trailers we headed out to one of the islands. Now granted it was a little lumpy on the lake but that means you go slow. The boat might rock and roll but no hard jolts. We got to the island and he opened his cabin door and his galley assemble had totally come off the wall. If I remember correctly there was only six small screws holding it on. That is not workers that is management. Thanks for the update on what you have been doing. Looks like a fun place. Congrats on 110!!
You apply for the job then don’t lie saying u can do the job. Or is it u apply for the job and are being told they will train u on the job but don’t? Which is it? 🤔🍻
Thanks for your support, Dan, and for sharing that story about the boat. Definitely more QC is needed everywhere!!
You make it very easy to support.
But screws are soo expensive! lol
That IS funny. Didn't see much of this in the boating world unlike the RV world.
RV'ing in China is very popular. You see RV's of small to medium size regularly traveling all over the country, at interstate rest areas, and camp grounds.
On my trips over the last few years, I've looked at some and they ALL appear to be better built, well appointed, practical, easy to use layouts and features, and not intimidating to drive. Some are Japanese and Korean manufacturers, other’s Chinese manufacturers.
I will say, flat out, they beat the American made variety hands down.
After watching some of your videos< I would never ,ever buy an R/V.-They are all junk and if it isn't broken now its just a short amount of time before the roof leaks, the sllde won't go out or come back in, the plumbing is leaking, the frame is cracked or flexing, the suspension is falling apart, the floor is sinking, the microwave doesn't work, the walls have mold, the wallpaper is coming off, and this is from 100k to 300k R/V's bought brand new.
Good video with many key points. Personally, I INTENSELY dislike the argument in defense of RV manufacturers that RVs are "rolling earthquakes on wheels". RV engineers should be building them to account for life on and off the highway. Can you imagine if this argument was used in the aviation industry? "The plane crashed due to turbulence....get over it"
Exactly this! Thanks for your comment, Robert.
Check out Northwood RV and Outdoors RV, both based in LaGrande, OR. They both are independent RV manufacturers that build their own frames and build quality travel trailers, truck campers, and fifth wheels.
I've been hearing good things about them. Thank you so much!
The best quality I've ever seen are Oliver trailers. But they are far too small for many of us. Huge pity, as I would love one, but can't manage their tiny size. 8' wide and another 4" taller and I would own one!!!
We have a Northwood fifth wheel. No problems at all for seven years. Built like a tank.
Actually Outdoor RV buys their frames from Northwood...
I have an 2020 Outdoors 24rks, i didn't look at the price i wanted quality, and i know RVs. Minor expected issues but its definitely solid, i recommend every one look at the Outdoors
My wife and I have owned two RV’s, a 2013 travel trailer and a 2019 Class C Entegra Esteem. The Esteem was a well built coach. We sold it last year to a couple who were specifically looking for a 2019 or older, due to quality issues with new models. We are currently in market for Class B+ on a van chassis. The prices for new / used Class B+ RV’s is outrageous! Based on the prices and quality issues we have decided to wait.
I don't blame you one bit on that. Thanks for your comment, and for watching.
Good for you. We need quality back in all areas of life.
Supply and demand will always be the largest factor in pricing, and quality will always be affected by the demands of investors to hit sales goals. If you want better quality, investors need to be comfortable with lower ROI.
I know it. Going public seems to be a quality killer. They go from serving the customer to serving the investor. Thanks for your comment, and for watching!
I am replacing a dometic fridge that is four years old and from day one has never worked period, I troubleshoot this with every possible fix non worked, so now am replacing with a home unit electric only, upon removal I discovered there was supposed to be two bottom screws on the back side…and guess what no screws were installed by the manufacturer….this is exactly what the manufacturers should be bringing their quality back to the build …but I won’t hold my breath.
Alot of problems are user caused. You should watch TH-cam videos on certain products that you don't understand
Before Covid, I was looking at 17 foot travel trailers with one big slideout. The cost was around $13,000. Now the same travel trailer is $27,000, and the workmanship is terrible. Take a look under the cabinets, look in some of the dead spaces, and you will see electrical wires run randomly all over the place, worse than a spider's web. Look underneath one, everything just isn't secured very well. The steel frame welding is terrible.
As always Liz, I thank you for all the insight and for one we can see that older is better/wiser to keep!
Thank you so much Bernard! Have a great weekend!
Until the tv parks refuse to let you in due to the age of your rig lol
The consumer has turned a blind eye to the rv quality issue and maybe have also become mushrooms as far as being proactive before buying and instead only mad as hell by being reactive. A informed and knowledgeable consumer drives the manufacturers and their quality, sadly in todays market everyone loses. My last purchase was a 2019 Rockwood 21’ mini-lite. The design is great, but the quality and resulting PROBLEMS has been a nightmare, delaminating on exterior panels, roof ladder not attached properly, bad dometic fridge, plastic water fittings dissolve, electrical problems out the kazoo, trim work coming loose because of staples, cabinets that are falling apart, water line and pump problems, leaking facets, cheap cd/radio that have failed. Water supply tank that shifts around underneath. Skirting that comes loose because the screws are poorly designed and attached. After a wake up call about no help from the manufacturer, the dealer, the reality of being screwed by the industry is now very apparent and apparently now commonplace. Rockwood, I believe used to be a go to manufacturer but sadly has neglected, abandoned their work ethic, abandoned quality instead just wants the money and could care less about the consumer. If I stumbled or stuttered while writing this excuse me. 😢
So glad you have made these eye opening videos! Thank you
I agree with you, it is not the workers that are to blame for poor-quality workmanship on RVs. Top management is to blame.
I changed my mind about RVing full - or even part time - after watching yours (and a few others) reality videos a few years back. I knew I didn't have what it takes (lack of mechanical knowledge, the size of my dogs - lol, etc). It seemed like the ideal life until I started watching videos about what it is really like. But I'm still hooked on your videos (the only RV channel I still follow and totally enjoy!) - but I am so grateful I did not buy one when I planned to. But what you are doing to the industry is nothing short of "amazing" (lol - ;-). You are an incredible lady - with a ton of moxie and grit - and I am so impressed with your tenacity: righting the wrongs and shouting from the rooftops about those that still have the right ethics. Amazing!! All the very best!
Awww, thanks for saying so. Glad you thought it through before giving it a try. And thanks again SO MUCH for cheering me on!
A few years ago I rented a full sized RV, and towed it up to Alaska and back - about 9,000 miles round trip. It cost me a few thousand dollars to do that, about 1/3 the price of a new one, but there was no mileage fee, because most RVs don't have odometers, so I took advantage of the situation. It was a great decision. Along the way I lost a tire, and a cabinet started falling apart, (they use cheap wood staples to hold it together) but it was easily fixed. One problem I had was the RV battery died in the middle of the night at a campground, trying to run the propane heater/fan. But, that was easily fixed by starting the car. The greatest part of renting was giving it back to the rental company after it was all over - no storage or other ownership problems to worry about. I feel a bit sorry for the owner, as he had given this RV to this rental company to make some money, and I put 9000 miles on it over the course of just three months. But, a deal is a deal, and I followed the rules. (I didn't read anything in the contract about crossing the border into Canada.) On the same trip, I destroyed the differential on my new truck, and lost two weeks up in Washington State getting it fixed, but that was under warranty. Overall it was a once in a lifetime trip that I would highly recommend for anybody who has the health/money/time.
That's great. Thanks for sharing this. This is a good way to try RV life without committing a huge amount of $$$$.
I like to see lemon laws on the RVs
I did a video on the state and national lemon laws for RVs: th-cam.com/video/MtnjxoljNa4/w-d-xo.html
Lemon laws exist in some states but they find ways to help the dealers, you must be a resident, etc. My Thor Scallawag, I mean Sanctuary was in the shop in a different state so AG office turned down my Lemon Law complaint. Money talks, consumers walks.
We have a 2020 Keystone Outback that sees a lot of use. We do keep it clean and very well maintained and so far it has performed flawlessly for us!
As always, great info fairly said. Thank you for putting ultimate responsibility on management, so very true on everything. The expose on warranty is eye opening. So much to think about and your input has kept me encouraged and looking forward to the right rig. 💕this series!
Yay, thank you for being here, Deborah. Have a nice weekend.
It used to be called camping. Small exceedingly well build campers so you didn't have to use a tent. My current is a '72 Scotty 13 footer that has about $3000 invested. The two of us use it about one week a month year round. Since covid these RVers are noisy, don't have clue, leave messes behind and scare me half to death on the road. They also have made the overnight fees more than double. And I have seen so many RV problems.. My niece and family spent close to $100,000 and the first time the big awning went out the entire wall fell off. 2 years and still fighting with dealer.
Thanks Liz, great content. Big brands buying up smaller ones, big dealerships buying up smaller ones (you know who they are), lack of competition, and lastly, corporate greed. A one year warranty could translate to one or two months for people who are seasonal. Buy used, get an inspection and figure you'll trade it off in a couple of years. Stay safe out there.
Just build your own RV.
Oh You are absolutely right about people trading in their problems. I'm an NRVIA inspector and I inspected a Tiffin product this week that was less than 2 years old. 29 total issues with 24 being Major issues. They don't make them like they used too and Tiffin should be embarrassed !
Wow, thank you for sharing this!!
Rule number one for a better American life: stop blaming victims.
Just bought a brand new Keystone arcadia last year that had so many issues when I bought it. I was charged $1200 for PDI on a new camper and when I've picked it up, radio not working, solar not working, bedroom pullout was coming out crooked and so on ...................... too many issues to list. After 6 months of back and forth with the RV business, they finally fixed some of the problems. Like Liz mentioned in this video, get a certified person who will inspect your new or used RV before you buy.
When solar generators 1st came out they had a 1 year warranty,then shortly after it was 2 yrs,now it is a 5 year warranty as a standard. All this because customers demanded they back their claims so they did and they usually last or are replaced with new ones.
It’s a worker issue and QC issue. Total breakdown. Mgt cut corners due to demand. Pay the ransom; get more hostages scenario.
I get it. More than one problem for sure. Thanks for watching and for your comment, Jeffrey!
Hi LIz, Gary from Kansas here! Always looking forward to a new video each week! You are 100% correct. It's not the workers, it the management. They just need better quality control when they put these things out. Have a good week and see you on your next video, girl!
Liz, I’ve been doing this for over 40 years. Many good points in this video and comments, but I think I’m old enough to have seen a thing or two myself.
It starts with corporate management, greed and bottom line profits. I don’t agree with those who say workers don’t care. I’ve been to the Winnebago factory twice in three years with my class A. Those I met at each stage were great, knowledgeable and cared about their work. Is the industry inundated with inexperienced workers and a loss of knowledge staff? Yes. All of them.But so is the plumbing or electrical contractor who works on my home. Greed, a decline in accountability, shortcuts, substandard parts, too many high end accessories all contribute to the problem.
My number one issue is the lack of regulation of the industry. The units should meet road worthy standards , should have a longer warranty and ANY DEALER who SELLS them should be mandated to have capable staff to properly service them in a timely manner.
My 1996 Winnebago was almost problem free for 10 years ( almost). My next rig was a 2006 Four Winds class C that was HORRIBLE. My 2014 class C Forest River was their top of the line. So many amenities it had little cargo carrying capacity ( which is unsafe and should be a crime).
Liz- keep up the good work. We might get there.
Cost is a major factor. I looked into an RV having not toured since I was a kid with my parents and was shocked at the prices. My son just bought a 2 bed house for the price of the lowest end Class B RVs (110k). Yeah, we live in a cheaper area of the country but, damn!
Prices are up because of supply and demand. Demand was huge during Covid and prices skyrocketed.
I bought my last RV during Covid, Feb 2021, and it’s the best built RV I’ve ever owned.
What Rv did you buy May I ask?
I am looking to buy and want review based on positive results because they ain’t cheap these days so I want to make the right choice on my first Rv
Thanks
Well done Liz - you are an amazing TH-camr - change is done by just one person standing up to corporations who think that they can make money without consequences to bad or poor products. Thank you on behalf of the RV community. Thanks to the RV manufacturers who make fantastic products, in any manufacturing process there can be a dud, but not continuously, and then they need to take responsibility to repair no issues.
Like I said Liz, The RV industry wants the help to work at break neck pace. They keep finding simulated products that look fancy but they are crap.
They'll do anything to hit those sales goals!
Well said. I agree with everything you have said.
I bought a new class C just before the pandemic ! Paid for a full inspection and found several issues. I did my own detailed inspection and found many other items. Well worth spending the time and money.
In Europe there are so many competitors that quality and choice is amazing. What’s even more amazing are the prices. Class B , B+ and C are much better in Europe than the US
Oh, it's on the workers, too.
When a caulk line misses a bunch of critical spots, or staples are shot into thin air, then it's also the workers' responsibility to do the work they're being paid to do.
We have an old RV , had to do extensive repairs on both the front end and back end! Lots of leaking and rot , so grateful we did it! We love the older styles, warm colours , the couch and furniture is going strong, everything else in the rv is strong, hate the condo feel of the new ones , love the cabin feel of older ones
Yes indeed!!! Same here with my 2005 motorhome! Thanks for watching and happy travels
You nailed it as always . My 2003 still going original everything roof , steel floor all appliances . Fleetwood motor home 31H no slides . I can't believe it knock on wood
Old mechanic.
They were built heavier materials+ definably heavier frames 20+ yrs ago.
Problem is,everyone wants to have lighter trailers,for example,to pull with SUVs+ lighter trucks.
You can't have it both ways.
Not to mention, everything is computer controlled now.
Nothing but cascading problems
High tech does not mean better,but that's what people think.
i worked at fleetwood motorhomes in riverside, ca for almost 20 yrs. quality was always #1 on our minds. everything was checked and rechecked before it went out the door. and they got better every year.
We have a 2020 Imagine I call it our Covid camper. We bought it new and have constant issues. One slide out has been the main issue. Now, we are dealing with our Thomas Payne recliners. They have started splitting on the head rest. I am not expecting Tippett to do anything. Four years old & we will probably have to take care of it ourselves. When you buy an expensive item, you expect it to last. This is not right.
The RV companies and dealers only get by with this is because people keep buying the product. If nobody is buying changes will have to made to stay in existence. Look at all the car companies that have gone out of business for various reasons.
Right you are! Thanks for watching.
Well done you. What you are doing is spot on. We live in England and have had motorhomes between 2003 and 2011 and never had a problem with firstly a Swift and secondary a Hymer. At 70 we have just brought a VW california ocean and it has 5 years warranty, 5 years servicing, 5 years breakdown cover in uk and Europe for no extra cost. I agree totally with your point you need foreign motorhome builders in the US. All the best Chris D
Thanks for weighing in Chris. And cheers to you from across the pond.
you can't take an RV through the woods, up mountain roads, desert and expect a warranty over 1 year. A cars framing is solid, unlike an RV. When you go purchase an RV tell the salesman how many miles and what kind of terrain you will be driving on. He will probably steer you away from a 5th wheel. Pay attention of how the walls and framing are constructed. If you think you will never have problems with slide outs, you are mistaken. Eventually they will leak, the parts wear out. And don't get just one bid slide.
BUT they used to be solid enough to do that. Then they went with lighter frames that flex more. Thanks for watching, Steve.
Great channel Liz! I like to think I dodged the current industry failures when we bought a 2006 Holiday Rambler Vacationer ("Gus the Bus") in 2022 that was well taken care of and with few miles on the front end gas engine. There is upkeep of course, but that is the case with the newer RVs as well. We lived and traveled in our motorhome full-time for 6 months, and we are preparing to do that again this summer. I am also updating some of the interior finishes and furniture when time allows. Owning a motorhome is nothing like owning a car. You have to know it, know the systems and how they work and what to do when problems arise. Its been a learning curve, we made mistakes, but thanks to channels like yours, we are getting much more comfortable with it and it increases our confidence and enjoyment of Gus.
Awww, thanks for saying this, Gus. And hang onto that classic, it sounds like a good one.
We looked for 6 months for a small Class A or Class C motorhome. Wound up finding a 2008 Jayco Grey Hawk 31SS with only 7,100 miles 12 miles away for $35,000. The only things I had to fix was a toilet seal( $20) and replace a faucet cartridge ($8). Generator started right up after minor work on my part (spraying carb jets with carb cleaner). It even had new tires on it.
Presently I'm resealing roof seams with Dicor(easy job) and replaced the windshield wipers. Oh I replaced the main TV just because we had an extra one in the house.
Class Cs are an incredible value but you have to sift through them and look. Watch the front cab leaks. This one had none.
As far as RV problems, yes the workforce is a problem. It's part of the problem. It isn't the whole problem. The workforce today is lazy. Sorry, but it is.
In Germany for example and most of EU, the warranty on self propelled RV's and Towed Trailers is 24 months and 60 months if something isn't built according to the design (lets say the drawing says a plumbing pipe has to have a drain located at this spot but they put it in the wrong spot and it broke because of that). And a tip - RV's from northern EU countries like Sweden have the best insulation.
My last two toyhauler campers where absolute junk! (FR XLR 3016 and a FR XLR 24HFS) nothing but problems and they where both pre-covid!.
I finally resorted to building my own from a cargo trailer and sure am glad I did.
I've been pretty happy with PleasureWay class B vans - very well built. I have an E-350 chassis with the 5.4L gas motor. At 100,000 miles it still doesn't burn or leak a drop of oil.
I had a friend who had one and she was very happy as well. Thanks for sharing this, and for watching.
That has nothing to do with PleasureWay
I was just at the Rv show in Harrisburg PA and really liked the pleasure-way plateau XLTS 2024…. Thanks for this comment which raises my confidence level before I sell the farm and purchase the RV…
About 5 years ago I saw a video on TV that showed an RV manufacturing plant that was building a 24 foot travel trailer. They completely built it in under 8 hours. Now they're probably doing them in less hours than that, but charging twice as much. The RV business is a major ripoff to buyers, now even worse than ever.
I agree with you. I own a 2023 Coachman Galleria and it's not the best. The air conditioner is 12 Volt and doesn't work well in warmer climates like Florida and Georgia, which is a problem. I'm not sure how to use it properly - should I plug my RV in or use my Li 3 Lithium ion batteries? It feels like a waste of money since my RV can't get below 85°. I ended up spending $1500 to replace the air conditioner with a normal AC Compressor or Trauma unit. While the quality of the unit is decent, it's definitely not great - especially for the $200,000 price tag on a Mercedes chassis. To answer your question, I wouldn't buy another one.
Thanks for all you do Liz!
I’d say another issue on the dealer side . . too many salespeople don’t even camp & don’t know their units & don’t know how to educate & help people select the best rig. ALSO poorly trained service staff!!
lol, that too 👍🏼🍻
Yes. I could do endless videos on bad dealers!!! Thanks for watching, Joy. Have a good weekend.
Thanks for all the videos!! I'm a weekend camper during spring through fall season. I dont move my grand design so I don't have alot of issues I hear others have. Plus mine is a 2014
Ooh, if you have a 2014, hang on to that. I hear they were built like a tank! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for what you're doing. We decided last fall to buy our RV this spring. The one we have been dreaming about for years, to travel and enjoy retirement. In light of all of the quality issues uncovered by you and a few other channels, we have changed our mind. It may take a year or two for things to turn around. We refuse to settle! Thanks again, Liz
Very good video. You give great advice. My truck/camper needs a new truck. I checked out new trucks. They are grossly over priced and ugly. I decided that as soon as the weather gets warm, I will start fixing up my 1985 Chevy. I'll do a working truck restoration and save over $50,000. The RV industry is very bad now. The best tactic is to buy used. I car/camped in my old Chevy wagon in 1973. Still got lots of good memories from that one. Happy Travels. Good Luck, Rick
Thanks Liz, keep up the good work..
You're welcome Mike! Have a great weekend and thanks for watching.
Not only the price of the units but the cost if fuel and the cost of these parks and their entrance fees . The current administration is completely against the RV industry as these vehicles tend to be gas guzzlers and in order to save gas you have to reduce weight and that means more plastic and aluminum and less wood and steel in these units. I had a lightweight nomad travel trailer and it was a rolling piece of crap that constantly was having issues. When they built it they didn't seal the vent tubes properly and water poured in and blowed out the flooring and cabinets in the bathroom area . I lost so much money and that was the end of my RVing days .
We still use our 1994 Monaco Dynasty, bought new from C&D Motorhome in SD. They had an excellent attitude and very competent service department and Manager. I put 35,000 miles on Dinah for each of the first three years we owned. I used it as a mobile office and service center for my business covering the western states of the US. We had few problems with it, and they were always corrected quickly the first time. I must mention that we bought it deliberately without any slide outs which add unreliability, airspace you don't really need and weight that reduces fuel economy.
The reason we still own and use Dinah is because was so well built. We've often gone to RV shows and have yet to see any comparable coach worth buying. The materials are flimsy, the layouts don't work, and the prices are ridiculous. Our solid oak furnishings are as solid as the day they were made. The Bank's upgraded Cummins is as powerful as ever and always starts instantly, even after being parked for weeks or months without use.
We lived in it full-time for five years while building our retirement home in Oregon. Our rambling days are over now, so Dinah will be put out to pasture, mostly because RV campgrounds have become so crowded and many now decline to accept coaches as old as ours. We looked into going back to a fiver, but they are even worse. It seems the RV industry has become a race to the bottom in the US. Every RV comes loaded with 'features' we don't need or want. It seems the best RVs are built north of the border, in Canada. The best ones are built to order with just the features you want.
The American maxim, "If a little is good, more must be better and too much is just enough" describes the US RV industry perfectly. Too much has proved just enough to destroy the industry.
the scarey part is when a quality RV manufacture company cashed out due to the Covid year's debacle of supply chain shortage/cash shortage and sells to a Corporation to keep from going bankrupt. This Corp. might have management that is not RV manufacture saavy.. Now the Brand declines but people still trust the brand from before but end up buying lesser quality unknowingly. This is another scenario of the reduced quality
I live 15 min from Elkhart and there are some companies do hire talented workers but many do not..My son worked there just out of high-school and he said many workers were on meth and other drugs..the common expression was don't buy any rv built on a Monday or Friday in Elkhart..thank goodness he was only there a year
I have some close friends that are here with me in Port A Texas USA. Their Montana is a 2013 with nice wood and countertops much like the Toy Hauler you were showing in this video. To get that type of an interior now in today's RV's it would cost you double of what that rig cost back then. Even then I dont see anything in the 100K price range that comes close to it. There is one word that describes the entire problem. Its not the workers. Its the management and its investors. Good old fashion GREED. They do not care about the consumer only how much money they have in their pocket.
Your absolutely correct. The quality problem is a problem with management, not the workers. The auto industry has the same problem.
Here in Canada we have some great RV manufacturers that do stand behind quality, two off the top are Leisure Vans and Pleasure Way and they do offer warranty's longer than 1 year, but demand is high and availability is most times 1 year away.
Yes, I've heard good things about them. Thank you for sharing this!
Thin OSB with screws run into or air stapler staples is not a worker problem. Upholstery materials that tear easily and wear quickly are not a worker problem. Frames that yield too much from inadequate specification or low quality materials is not a worker problem. There may be places where you can see provisions for 10 screws but only 6 were installed could be worker problem if it is an inconsistent condition is possibly worker problem. If that is the consistent way it is found after a particular date then it is a manufacturer issue. I worked as a new dealer tech and could see hinges get made of thinner metal and used a narrower bushing back when quality declined decades back. The domestic makers mostly saw that and specification for those pieces went up (and doors close well on 15 year old vehicles with 300K miles after that return to higher specified quality).
I was an 18 wheel truck driver and those 5th wheel trailers can ride like a luxury car with an air ride system that is used on the big trucks. They probably don't install that as people don't ride in them but people don't ride in cargo trailers either. It keeps your cargo from getting bounced and tossed all over the place. There is also an option with the air ride that can lift the trailer several inches if needed to clear some road hazard. If some company begins to install that system, they will be a winner.
Good to know, thank you for this!
I dont even plan to get an RV but Liz is amazing. Strong commentary and presentation.
Yay! Thanks for being here, Joe! Here's my brand new video, see you there: th-cam.com/video/ZZHVD3vH7kw/w-d-xo.html
years ago, I had a BMW 7, it definitely had the solidly built feel. It was also stuffed to the gills with luxury features. so much so that something was always breaking. and fixing each thing was expensive because getting to the location of the problem required getting pass so many other things.
So sad to hear this Joe. Definitely keeping it simple can be the best option. Thank you for sharing this and for watching.
@@LizAmazing when you mentioned RV's being crammed full of luxuries, I could relate.
the bmw covered under warranty for 5 years, after that, the extended warranty was 2K per year. I thought it was ridiculous, being mostly experienced with Honda maintenance costs. Over the next 8 years, min maintenance was 2K/yr, with total maint. & repair about 30K. Resale value after 13 yr was about the same as a Honda Accord of the same model year.
This says a lot!
My wife wanted a 5th wheel camper, but I told her I will agree to get what we previously had, but no RV. After I explained my reasoning, she agreed 100%.
A few years ago, we had a 42' living quarters 4-horse trailer with slide-outs. All welded aluminum frame, all aluminum exterior skin and the floor from front to rear was extruded interlocked aluminum (no wood). The only steel was the gooseneck, electric jacks and torsion axles. Built to haul (4) 1,000+ lb horses. We used that trailer many times camping at campgrounds without horses. Could fold in the tack room and use the back as a toy hauler. We pulled that trailer all over NC, VA and TN mountains for a few years, most of the time was towing 2 horses and on occasion 3 or 4. I pulled it from western TN to central NC to get home and see that my wife accidentally left a cup half full of drink on the kitchen countertop, that cup was still on the counter and not a drop of drink was on the counter, which says a lot for torsion axles and a well-built trailer. Of the many thousands of miles I towed that trailer and the countless nights camping, I never had to repair anything. I just done annual maintenance on hubs and brakes, we used it year-around.
Camper - My Mother-law purchased a new 35' camper. It was towed from factory to dealership on the NC coast. Towed 6 miles to a campground where it was set on blocks and tied down. Two years later she wanted to move it to another campground on the coast, so I towed it approx. 100 miles to a campground where it was set on blocks and tied down. Now, 6 years later and less than 1,000 towed miles, it is falling apart. Every year she has to get multiple items repairs on that trailer, including rotted flooring, leaking roof, AC unit replaced, water heater replacement and so on, it's non-stop. This is with a 74 yr old woman staying there 2-3 months a year and it sitting (with hvac on, conditioned). I couldn't imagine what a disaster that camper would have been towing it a few thousand miles a year with it falling apart just sitting on blocks! I refuse to purchase a RV of any brand.
I saw another video where they talked about the Indiana RV workers being paid by the piece, not by the hour so it was in their best interest to slam them out as fast as they could
I have a 2020 travel trailer that for the most part has been decent, however the window in the slideout was leaking water onto the floor unbeknownst to me and the wife. Having two chairs in that spot hid the issue and upon cleaning up this season, I noticed the floor (OSB) was water logged at the back corner. I get OSB for roof decking in a house as mine was built in 2005 and the wood is in great shape, but using anything but marine plywood or a rot resistant plywood in a slide out is crappy. This trailer is an Ultra-lite so there isn't a lot of wood in it (supposedly)...
Liz thank you for explaining the good, the bad and the ugly within the Rv world.
It’s nice to see someone looking out for us little guys.
✌🏽
Thanks so very much!!
We have been looking for a motorhome better than our 2005 Airstream Land Yacht 26 foot class A for the last 5 years. We've updated the interior to a very modern look that we like; cruises effortlessly and quietly at 70+ mph, has a bunch of outside storage but can park most everywhere at only 96" wide. Little things that need attention on a 19 year old rig are annoying but the cheap BS in even 300,000 dollar new class a's is very disappointing. We keep looking, cheers! BTW, Sprinter chassis is a no- go for us.
I’ve purchased and owned two Lance 2285’s, a 2015 and a 2022. The big difference between my two experiences are the folks at Lance. You’re correct, the industry has a serious management problem.
I own a 2005 Born Free. The quality of this unit is off the charts. Have never had a problem with it. The fridge had to be changed but other than that, it’s perfect. The quality difference between it and the new ones is unbelievable.
I've heard good things about them and have had camping neighbors with them. Thanks for your comment and happy travels!
We’ve had 2 Grand Design Trailers. No problems with either, and we’ve towed them around the country.
My Class-C is a Jayco Greyhawk, 2018 on a Ford 450 Super Duty chassis…45K miles. It’s great. A few hitches and glitches, some self inflicted, but nothing serious. Maybe I dodged a bullet. I do treat it tenderly, no heavy hands. BIG PROBLEM: the dealer service dept!!! Horrible, indifferent… Sure, bring it in next month and leave it for two weeks for a $150 oil change.
It’s really not complicated. RVs are junk. When everyone demands their rv looks like mini version of a million dollar home inside, 40’ long and only weighs 6500 lbs newsflash. It’s junk.
RVs are completely custom and built as light and cheap as possible. They change so much year to year there’s no trial and error period. Also when you buy one expect a huge surge of problems right from the start. Warranty issues. Have fun bring it back and forth to the dealer to have more cheap parts put in. Also consider manufacturers know the majority don’t keep their rv more than a few years and either upgrade or get out all together.