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@@Torben-tp1df I don’t know I’ve seen campervans made by airstream that are $150,000+ and aren’t worth it. I’ve also heard the newer promasters having a lot of recalls and problems, glad I bought an older one.
I'm glad to hear you say that. I just walked away from spending $110k on a new Mercedes Class B. I just couldn't pull the trigger on it for that much money. And that was $30K off asking. I was bummed but I'll find another way. Maybe a build.
That's true some you tubers prefer to be sponsored by those cheap quality rv and their never talk about the reality, do you want quality and longevity, built your self, I lear in the hard way about my mechanic fixing my car ,after that I learn to do the basics on the cars and not get rip off
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I love how you show us everything that can happen. Plus how to fix it. Plus I love the positive energy that you leave us with. 😊
We own a 2023 Thor Gemini and we understand your frustration with the cheap cabin finishes. We used it only 3 1/2 months, the rest of the time has been in the General RV service dept. Not GOOD !
I had a 2018 Travel Lite that cost $15k that didn’t have a fraction of those problems. I did have to replace the microwave under warranty and my propane heater never worked if l went over 3000 feet in altitude so l used a space heater. The plastic roof vent shattered and l replaced it myself with a metal one. That was it. I had the camper for 4 years and took it all over the west. I guess they just don’t make them like that anymore!
We went the low budget, no frills route and got a Wayfarer Van build. We've had our van for 3 years and haven't had 1 problem. It breaks my heart every time I see one of your "van issue" videos. We always thought we'd save up and, in a few years, we'd upgrade to a "real" class B. After watching your videos, my husband swears we will NEVER trade in our Wayfarer Van. I couldn't agree more. Goos luck guys. Tellaro owes you, and a lot of other people, some compensation.
It is sad that Thor continues to purchase other manufacturers. Through time, the quality will be the only thing that drops. 100K is not chump change. Best of luck.
I really hope the manufacturer sees this and knows what they need to fix for future models - because $100K is still a pretty penny! I ALSO hope they fix the issues y’all have been experiencing! Love yalls channel and the realness! So many things to consider which are crazy helpful!
Thor has been building for a long time, they know all the issues. They just chose not to address them. They have their dream profit margin and units sold wish.
Not disagreeing that $100k is a lot of money. But for a fully built out van… it is not a lot. Thor cut corners yes. But also delivers a cost ratio. Which I like.
I spoke to Lamesa in Pot St. Lucie and they were aware of the recall on the contact paper, wrong kid of glue. Then we got in touch with Thor with the info Lamesa gave us and to properly register as 2nd owners. We have an appointment for August 9th. I got the impresssion. they would have a new medicine cabinet then and swap it out. We'll sè.
Wow. I feel for you guys. I bought a used Pleasure-Way three years ago. It's now 5 years old and the only problem I've had was a couple of hinges not holding up the doors on a cabinets. I"ve since replaced those with inexpensive struts and all's good. I hope Thor gets everything fixed for you. They owe it to you as you're spokespeople for them whether they want you to or not. After all, this video has been seen by 80,000 plus folks.
In 1985 I bought a Dodge Ram 8 seater van and after 40,000 I had to get a new alternator after it just left me stranded on the side of the road. When we figured out what the problem was it was a quick fix but that’s rather frustrating! Ram apparently has not figured it out yet!
I agree the craftsmanship leaves a lot to be desired. Same issues for me were the headliner & the wallpaper pulling away. Mine was used so I think the previous owners worked out the “bugs”. Tucson/Phx heat plays havoc with stuff.
Check out Pleasure-Way... (and the other two Canada companies that make Class-B) - They are so much better!!! We purchased a 2 year old 2019 Pleasure-Way Lexor TS for $95k back in 2021 and love it... Awsome quality and craftsmanship... Did not need any modifications to make it more functional... And both the first owner and us have had not a single problem. The new Coachmen Class-C 19CB that we had before was plagued with never ending problems almost all attributed to poor workmanship.
I'm sorry for your trouble. I believe that brand new rigs suffer from substandard materials. We went cheap & basic with a 1999 Southwind Storm 34ft ClassA. Nothing has EVER gone wrong with it other than tune-ups, new batteries, tires, and a steer right system. We did spend $3,000 for new graphics, so it looks clean. Now, 3.5 years full-time, we're happy that we were able to pay in cash ($22,000), left on the previous owners note. We bought used figuring that any fixes had been done by the previous owner, and they were ... an $8,000 lifetime guaranteed roof that they pulled off somehow due to hail damage. Maybe for your next rig, go older, cheaper, and sturdier. Best wishes. Loved your video.
We’ve spent two years and 80,000 miles retired full time on the road from Canada to Guatemala. We paid a company to custom build our Promaster to our specs and it’s been great. Still on the road and having fun. Custom build is the way.
Been looking at class b's and c's for a while. Always had thought in the back of my mind that said, be careful, niche small volume vehicles will bite me in the asp. Great video, thanks
We bought a old 1997 Road-trek for 11K a few years ago, had a wonderful time camping for a few years and sold it for 11K when I had health problems. I learned to work on that baby and all its accessories. Great times. These new vehicles are so expensive and complicated.
i too own a Telaro with many problems. (don't buy a THOR!!!!) My Thor spent about 8 months in the shop over the last two years and Thor finally gave up and left me stranded with an electrical system that doesn't supply AC power. I gave up and spent another $6k on a Bluetti power system which supplies AC. The bed in the 20k is a disastor- it tends to slide out on it's own because the locking mechanism has repeatedly broken. I'm not a fan of the propane which recently blew up (sounded like a firecracker under the van!). However there are a few good points- the Promaster chassis is pretty good and I lifted it 3" so it works ok on forest roads(Off Highway Van in Utah- nice folks!) . My 20k has the rear bath which works well. The 20k also has a huge fridge which is amazing for food storage. I do like the awning which is huge! I have my van set up as a mobile office- and with starlink plus t-mobile 5g I've actually worked from the road in some really beautiful places. My next upgrade will be to replace the terrible car radio which I can barely see in daylight hours. ..... At the end of the day the terrible Thor van HAS brought me places I might have never seen without the van, and when I get there I have everything I need even if the build quality is bad. Your conclusion is spot on- good parts poorly assembled, offered at a low price point. I do like your channel and how you have a good attitude even with all the issues. Your sink faucet upgarde is nice! Keep putting up videos and I'll keep watching.
Thank you for taking the time to share this with us! Seriously it helps so much to hear other people’s journey. We agree with all of your points and suggestions. The fact that your propane blew up has us freaked out!
@@Vancaskeys When I say 'blew up' it sounded like a loud firecracker. I immediatly evacuated and thought the entire van was gonna turn into a fireball. Then a few seconds later when it didn't blow up I turned off the propane at the regulator and the hissing leak went away- sooo, a gas leak downstream of the regulator. I haven't gotten it repaired so I can't blame Thor.... yet!
@@Vancaskeys the propane leak turned out to be a burst hose (not Thor's fault). But the guy fixing the propane may even be able to fix my electric issues (2 yrs!) .
I thought I wanted a van camper but now I am going to be happy with my Tundra pulling a Rockwood trailer. !! Thanks guys. It is very great of you to tell us and show us all this stuff that has gone bad. I really appreciate it. Charley from Ocala fl
Thank you for showing us your van and sharing the good, the bad and the ugly...lol. I visited a La Mesa RV place in Sacramento, CA. I was pretty impressed with the RV units, including the Thors. You provided me insight as t what to look for before I purchase one. I have lived in a 2019 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van, DIY conversion, for over two years and actually love it. I would like to have more room and have a shower. Planet Fitness gyms do not exist in boondocking areas. Wow
We had the same issue with the paper on the cuboards peeling off. We have the same as you a 2022 Thor Tellaro. They told us there was a recall on the paper and they did order and replace it under the Thor warranty.
We chose to go with a Casita Travel Tailer…1 1/2 years, NOTHING has gone wrong. Lots of mods. but they were all self choices. Re-sell make this an investment too. Love it.😊
I have had five(5) RV's in my life time. (I'm 85) Four of them have been "previously owned". Had very few issues with them, as the original owners, had worked out most of the "bugs". The one I purchased new, had all of the sloppy, poor factory quality control issues so common in all RV's. My advice to "first time purchasers is to TAKE YOUR TIME and shop for used. You will also save a TON of money.
Wow! We’ve been discussing trading in our ‘94 Roadtrek for a new class B. We’ve seldom ever had issues. Light bulbs, belts, water pump, water heater rod. Thank you so much for this information.
Grew up 15 years spending 8 weeks annually in an RV. I was a kid and loved it. As a mom we rented fancy RV for 4 weeks. It’s a lot more work being the mom. Hate the RV now. We bought a 27’ boat instead.
So sorry that this happened. But it seems to be expected for Thor Motor coach RVs. We bought a 2023 Sanctuary last year and it has been in the service center more than on the road. Thor has the worst customer service.
I don’t think you missed anything….. I’m always amazed at your positivity! I think that peeling sticker stuff would be the straw that broke the camel’s back for me 🤦🏼♀️ Thank you for always keeping it real and making me smile. (Bob reminds me so much of my little brother!) You guys are the best!!!
Happy Anniversary! I hope you've made lots of positive memories that outweigh the troubled times dealing with the van issues. Your videos are always a pleasure to watch. Safe travels!
You are very tolerant after all of the problems you've had and are having with the van! Talk about shoddy. It makes me appreciate all the people who have no build vans. Seems like less expense and fewer repairs. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. Good luck!
Thanks for the reality check of owning an RV. It's great being an all around handyman cos I can fix anything and those things you pointed out are really easy fix. Even the screen door not closing fully. Great video 👍
Here is my list thor tellaro 20j....same issues with the cheap paper peeling. My table broke too and i upgraded. Bmpro tablet failed so i replaced it and drilled a hole into the cabinet to provide power. Batteries wouldn't really run ac as advertised so i upgraded to sfk and now have 8000 watts vs 2500. Sliding door intermittent opening problems. La mesa not at all helpful. Thor support very poor on the issues with auto start. At this point ive done like you and fixed stuff....so...if i forget all the issues it is great. I regret not buying the winnebago but liked this floorplan better and the price was right. Misery loves company so carry on and good luck.
@Vancaskeys the peeling paper is really a great sign of thor just being stupid. Shoddy workmanship....litte staples shot through the paper and then some attempt to cover it with a swipe of something that doesn't even match the color. Given the brain damage I have to go through to get it "fixed " under warranty I've decided it will be quicker to peel the paper off, paint with a good primer sealer and then paint match the van interior color scheme. The bm pro tablet is also stupid. Many threads on the internet about the power issues and then the tablet going into a loop. My fast fix was a new tablet (60 bucks) and drill a hole into the cabinet where your outlet failed. I then put in a small battery backup that gets charged by the outlet. That at least gives me some room when I turn my power off to keep the tablet charged. My long term solution will be to mount a swing arm with a much larger tablet so I can use it to watch video from the front or swing it to the outside for viewing when sitting outside. My TV is in the back. I'm glad your battery replacement worked. If you decide you want to triple the battery power in the same battery box, sun fun kits sfk...is what I did. Used the old batteries as a solar backup box with a 3000 watt inverter mounted on the box. Essentially gives me about 10,000 watts of battery if I want to bring the box. Another issue for me...when I buy my next rv (I've had 6 now) will be the dealer and their true reputation for warranty work. Every rv I've had failed both in and out of warranty. I'll pay more at this point to get a dealer that is responsive. Thanks for your videos. You've given me great ideas along the way as our thor units sputter along. On a positive note...I love the promaster. I love my pop up bunk.
You could have actually had one built buy a third party not an RV company but a company that builds out Vans for rving. You would have saved a lot of money and had a better product and built the way you want it
I'm glad I ran into you all. I was about to drive 90 minutes to a location and take a look at the 2023 Tallero. I may just wait and go for a different brand.
Thank you for doing this follow up. Very helpful. Sorry you had so many problems. We were considering the Thor, but are looking at other manufacturers now. Keep up the good work.
We had the “pleasure” of visiting several RV plants in the Elkhart area while our 5th wheel was having warranty work performed. One observation that we came away with was that all of them were assembling the coaches at a horrifically hectic work pace. There are two van manufacturers from which a plant tour will demonstrate an almost “glacial” line speed as compared to the large manufacturers. These manufacturers are Pleasureway in Saskatoon, Sk who produce Class B coaches and Leisure Travel Vans in Winkler, Mb who produce Class B+ (or Class C) coaches. Please take the time to check them out.
I would LOVE to have a Leisure Travel Van! They seem so well made compared to all the others. Pleasure Way seems a close second. Unfortunately, I hear that LTVs are a two year wait? I have a van in the waiting room at a semi-custom maker. Some folks don't know why I would wait and pay for such a thing, but given the quality of the build for the money, I couldn't afford and wouldn't want anything else.
We bought a Ethos 20TLi ,having used it 16 nights we love it, the fit and finish is lacking our dealer has been great fixing the little issues. The systems that came with it are working great so far . Your videos make our few problems seem trivial.
Hi Hillary and Bob! I’m Mike and my wife Sharyn have been following you for quite awhile. Since your previous van anyway! But we are newbie’s as well, we never camped before except once for my wife with our daughter for girl scouts and myself once with my sons Boy Scouts! Yes and now recently retired 5 years ago we purchased a class B camper van from Roadtrek, model is a Chase, at the Hershey Rv show in Pennsylvania. Purchased in fall of 2021 and picked up February 22. FYI, I just tuned 64 this month and my wife will be 70 in August! We are loving the camping! Or more like “glamping”. Doing some boondocking but preferably at least plugged in for a/c. We both subscribe to your channel and enjoy watching you both!! We have had some issues as well but are very satisfied with the quality build of the new Roadtreks and customer service and support!! But found out afterwards better to by locally from dealership for easier service if needed. So check out Roadtrek if you’re looking. I’m like you though Bob as far as fixing it myself. I worked 30+ years for Budweiser as a machinist/welder/plumber/fabricator you know Jack of all trades and master of none!! Oh well, never commented before but felt like doing so tonight! You both are awesome 😎 keep up the positive vibes, good luck and safe travels! Mike
It’s so nice to meet you Mike and Sharon! We enjoyed reading your comment! Love that you are loving your Roadtrek! We LOVE hearing the good things from others. Especially when you did have issues you got good service. That makes such a difference! You guys have any fun travel plans? We are wanting to go to Colorado late summer. Have a great Friday!
We do have plans in September here in Ohio for our 40th wedding anniversary and my wonderful wife’s 70th birthday celebration at Mohican state park, Ohio. For a week with our 2 boys and other family members! Also the Music City Meetup with Mike and Jennifer Wendland from RV Lifestyle TH-cam channel in Nashville this October, then off to Port Aransas Rv resort near Corpus Cristy Texas for the month of January. We hope you both have better luck with your Mr Lemon! We just got home from Elkhart Indiana Truma North America facility having a Truma Auqua go water heater installed replacing our original Girard instantaneous water heater.(upgraded to Truma) a lot of research, Bob being one of them whom liked Truma and all the new Roadtreks are now using the Truma water heaters! Go figure right? Thank you for the reply, maybe we’ll cross paths someday! Good luck, safe travels to you both!😊
I’ve been following your journey since day 1 and enjoy the channel and your honesty. Always great content and no matter the issues your always still smiling 😊
Great job. Appreciate you both. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan with a camper kit inside. It’s perfect. It’s not as fancy or has all your options, but I’ll never get a RV. I’d rather have less but way more peace. Zero frustration with my van and that’s the best option I could ever hope for or want.
You guys are hysterical. After the problems with the first Thor I was surprised you bought a second. Take a look at Pleasure Way - I did a lot of homework into builder reputations before making our first van purchase and theirs seemed to be one of the best of the bunch. Two years in without any real problems at all. Like you guys, our first van is a bare bones affair - Pleasure Way Tofino - but we now have our eye on the Ontour 2.0 or Ascent. Good luck and make the manufacture repair EVERYTHING!
The smooth material on the end of the cabinet is called Crezone and you can purchase it by the sheet. Expensive but durable. It is used to make sign boards for outside use.
Thanks for being very truthful about the van. When I started researching vans, in my head I thought an "expensive high quality" price would be $60k for a Class B... boy was I wrong! Once I started looking at fit and finish, I realized you weren't getting away with anything less than $135k... and that was even questionable! So my question to you is... how much money have you spent for fixing and upgrading the van with things that it should have had to begin with? And I guess a follow up question would be... how much time would you say you've had to spend on the repairs (since time is money)? Thanks for your videos. Be seeing you!
We have a Thor Sanctuary and have had the same build quality issues. Lots of screws that are too short or too few to really secure things. I’m in the process of taking everything apart and adding more fasteners. The squeaking was driving us nuts! We had to have the secondary alternator replaced as well. After just 15000 miles. But we upgraded from tent camping so not having to set up / take down a tent (in the rain) has been 1000% worth it. I’d heard that Thor made some recent changes to their QA area based on negative feedback. Custom vans don’t have those issues but you pay more.
Wow 100k is a lot I will stop dreaming about owning a expensive van. I thought a van costing that much would have few problems but seems like thats not true. Thanks for being open and honest.
We self built our van and what we did for the walls is spray 3M 90 onto the plywood and marine vinyl from Joanns. Worked great and we haven't had anything delaminate like yours. Only hard part for you would be the edges, I can't tell if you can remove the corner pieces or not. We ended up using bug nets from The Bug Wall, although they are a little pricey we can leave them up or zip them out.
I love having an RV but I hate RVs because even if you had spent 50% more it often just a better shade of lipstick on the pig I used to deliver them in another life and the never ever showed up at the delivery point with out something going wrong ...there really should be some better standards as a half million dollar class a may have the same crappy press together outlets as the pop up on the lot
My wife and I had the same impression on the screen door. We ended up getting the bug wall magnetic closer screen for our ram promaster. It's an easy self install. You help me with my sumo springs thought I'd help with the screen. Love watching you guys keep it going.
After watching from the beginning, I think the one thing you missed, was not only what went wrong, but the length of time it took to get it fixed. Frankly, from what I’ve learned, the motto of the manufacturer and dealer seems to be “ put off the warranty repairs for so long that the customer gets tired of waiting and fixes the problem at their own expense.” You have far more patience than I have… and I am impressed that you can enjoy the van as much as you say, with the constant holy dread in the back of your minds of what will fail next. On the other hand, I have loved traveling with you to the many places you have visited (especially the RV events) , your friendliness, and your honesty, and will continue to watch your vlogs knowing I am getting a true picture of the pros and cons of van life. ❤❤❤
I am also at one year and I almost bought a similar van. The reason I didn’t is that I live in snow country and wanted to four-wheel-drive, so I bought a four-wheel-drive sprinter for 120 and it has been amazing. It has worked really well with only one gremlin with the heater, every now and then it won’t heat for hours at a time which has been very frustrating. We have been camping all over Canada, Alaska and western states sometimes at temperatures down to 6° for days at a time and we’ve stayed toasty warm with our Eberspacor diesel heater. The only other complaint I have is the cost of service, which is the most common complaint with Mercedes owners. Otherwise we have been trouble free for over a year and so far we put 50,000 miles on the van. Wish you best of luck with yours and many travel free miles.
Ok I have a 2021 Tellaro too. My alternator went out and had to be replaced, plus the radiator 2k repair, AC compressor, and my crank shaft . RV house replacements: awning, water pump, CO2 meter and propane holes split. I’ve been driving it for over a year it’s at 43k miles and I’m done. Crazy that a new purchase has so many issues.
I have a Thor Scope 18A, purchased a few months ago. My first long trip was CO to CA - 1200 miles - no problems except a few user errors 🤷♀️ I agree that the quality is not the best, but it is a lower priced entry level van. I’ve had several minor issues - the inverter wasn’t working as it wasn’t plugged in, the ac switch on the generator wasn’t on, none of the ac outlets worked, one of the GFI outlets was wired incorrectly,…. - all took some trouble shooting but relatively easy to fix. I love the van. I’ve also been living on my boat for the last 22 years and a van is similar in build. There are also always problems on a BOAT (Bring Out Another Thousand). It’s not a typical house, it’s a lifestyle.
Q: How were your experiences dealing with LaMesa? I bought a 5th wheel from them - but had very few issues with mine. (I think I was just very lucky!) Were they easy to deal with? How long did you have to wait to get service completed? Thank you!
Simple summary: waay too much stuff jammed into way too small of a space/chassis, for the purpose of full-time living. When he opened the tiny hood, and when he described what all was packed under the bed (water heater, tanks, etc), I said to myself right then that I would never own a class B. With no working space, that means a huge amount of disassembly to fix the smallest things. I understand the appeal of “van life” (easy driving, easy parking, stealth camping, etc.), but how many days are you truly free of breakdowns, repairs, and worry?
outlets have punchdown connection to 110 wires in back. Check for loose wire. We replaced all breakers with AFGFCI for this reason. Sprinter van owner, same song as yours, second verse.
Yikes. This video is a big help. Thank you. I keep daydreaming and fantasizing about a possible van... This video helps me keep my head straight about the need to find (and pay for) a first-rate vehicle and build. I live in the northeast, which means that it would probably be tough to get anything worked on by the builder under warranty because so many builders are located west of the Mississippi. Kudos for doing all you described - but I couldn't do any of them!
I love your positivity and honesty. But as long as you can enjoy your van and can upgrade and customize it yourself you will be miles ahead because anything you buy new will have millions of problems and needs upgrades and a Hugh price tag.
Sadly problems like these are quite common on all RVs regardless if you pay $30000 or $3 million. There is no quality control for any part of the RV and service is typically 100s to 1000s of miles away. Even if you happen to be close to a service department it may be days to months before they can get to you because guess what everyone else is in the same boat.
I am going to order a 2024 Ram ProMaster 3500 super high roof and build it myself as I have a large shop and think it would be fun. Now I own a 2005 Itasca suncruiser 37 foot. I am looking forward to traveling and being able to stop at all the places we missed because we were too big. I am also tired of towing. I think you should build one the way you like.
Its a Chrysler Product... I have a 2019 Grand Cherokee! I just had a new radiator, traction bar, right side CV and drive shaft to front transfer case (4x4) replaced under warranty. I'm also on my 3rd Uconnect radio... I recommend getting a flat tire fix kit and Portable Air Compressor if you plan on any type of off road travel and a winch will save your life. I'm looking for something to live in.. and convection stove top and a Generator are a must to survive Texas Heat!
My boyfriend and I are looking to buy a van for part time use in a couple of years (trips of maybe 3 months on the road at a time. We are moving from Seattle to Phoenix in the fall but know we want to be out of the area during the hottest summer months, hence vanlife). Your videos have been great for giving me an idea of things to look for. And I'm happy to see there are so many Class B shows in the Phoenix area!
just hang up a small curtain around the bathroom door frame, use some magnets, light, easy and silent. Don't have to use the flimsy sliding door all the time. Don't have to go all the way to the top, just cover the person on the WC, give you some more inches of legroom. Go a trip to Europe and rent a similar van from a good Euro brand with similar layout.
Bummer you guys, however we like your honest perspective. We continue to use a RV rental site to do test trips of RV's to look for what fits our style and purpose. When we got into some of the details, Coachman and Pleasure Way have hit some key craftsmanship pluses . Yes the price point is higher but when searching for a 2 year coach it takes about 25% off the new cost that still bring us to a reality point to afford a more quality product but seek out a two year old van with limited miles. We are searching to test drive a Ford Transit that will be a 6 wheel vehicle and see how the ride and stability of the coach has with an extra two wheels. Safe RVing in AZ.
Wow. 😣I'm so sorry you've experienced all that! Feeling super grateful I went with an empty cargo van (same one you have) and a professional builder. I've only had it 7 months, but so far so good! Also, thank you for reminding me of one of the EXTREMELY few advantages of being 4'9". 😄
Hello Bob and Hillary🤗 Thank you.. for an awesome video!!! 👍 We appreciate.. your honesty.. and we appreciate you both !!! 😊You guys are great people !!! 😁❤️
i had the same thing happen wit the alternator. La Mesa did not diagnose that the alternator caused the lithium batteries to go bad. total lemon. that fire caused a surge that burnt out several of the systems.
If you have the time and know how building out would be the best option for making sure it’s exactly how you’d want it. And then you’d have no worries about quality.
anything built after covid was put together fast, built cheap, and sold high. I like my camper, a Casita, fiberglass cabinets that look like nice white plastic, the doors are particleboard with a stick on wood look alike plastic, never came off anywhere, after 12 years. I take it down many very bumpy roads, I never lost anything more than 1 screw, they used rivets like an airplane and an airstream. These Ford and other brand vans were made quick, full of too many bells and whistles. Simple is best when it comes to homes that move. The less electronics, the better.
SURPRISENLY, the older camper vans are made better than the newer ones. The newer ones have cheaper materials. I have an older camper van and there's no cheap materials in my van. It's solid and I love it. GREAT video, Thanks!
The van is beautiful. Paying $100,000 you should not have any problems. Thank God that Bob is Handy. Just work through it and you will have a perfect van. Look at it like a house always needing something. The van is great! ♥️🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻✌🏻
What a list! I can mark this dog off my consider list. That vinyl-covering coming loose and shrinking throughout is gross incompetent engineering. Are you posting this information on the user forum?
I have a 2022 Thor Sanctuary and have the peeling wallpaper and poor quality cabinetry as well. You might check the bottom of your kitchen drawers and reinforce them with small nails. The bottom panel of each of mine fell out and I had to glue and nail them back together. Also my BM Pro only works via Bluetooth - I’m on my second one and need to contact Thor for another replacement…..
One of the best van videos out there, thank you!!! And the consumers need to be more aggressive to get manufactures to build better vans for a better price. They are raking it in while the consumer gets sticky paper instead of wood (that was actually very jaw dropping). THANK YOU again.
Tellaro 20L Owner here... Yep, my alternator melted down in February and it may get replaced at the end of August. Had the kitchen vent leak the non-skylight owners have due to being incorrectly installed. Everyone I know of has problems with the front headliner too, and the BM Pros seem to die for everyone too. One thing to note is the solar will kick the batteries offline if you get sun and it's below freezing outside. Thor is aware of the quality and engineering problems, and they don't care. Anyone watching this video that thinks "they just got unlucky" - no, this is a very representative ownership experience.
Interesting I’m also been a little frustrated with my 20AT. However like some comments below every rv has issues. And I came across a Winnebago owner that also complains about how cheap the material they were using for all the cabinets. But Thor craftsmanship definitely really lacking.
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Would y’all upgrade to a Class C?
What a disappointment for 100 grand. What are you really paying for?
I wish more people would do videos like this. This is one of the many reasons I’m building out my van by myself lol
That's awesome! Glad your building one out!
Pleasure way or something built better?
@@Torben-tp1df I don’t know I’ve seen campervans made by airstream that are $150,000+ and aren’t worth it. I’ve also heard the newer promasters having a lot of recalls and problems, glad I bought an older one.
I'm glad to hear you say that. I just walked away from spending $110k on a new Mercedes Class B. I just couldn't pull the trigger on it for that much money. And that was $30K off asking. I was bummed but I'll find another way. Maybe a build.
That's true some you tubers prefer to be sponsored by those cheap quality rv and their never talk about the reality, do you want quality and longevity, built your self, I lear in the hard way about my mechanic fixing my car ,after that I learn to do the basics on the cars and not get rip off
I love how you show us everything that can happen. Plus how to fix it. Plus I love the positive energy that you leave us with. 😊
Thank you! 😊
We own a 2023 Thor Gemini and we understand your frustration with the cheap cabin finishes. We used it only 3 1/2 months, the rest of the time has been in the General RV service dept. Not GOOD !
I had a 2018 Travel Lite that cost $15k that didn’t have a fraction of those problems. I did have to replace the microwave under warranty and my propane heater never worked if l went over 3000 feet in altitude so l used a space heater.
The plastic roof vent shattered and l replaced it myself with a metal one. That was it. I had the camper for 4 years and took it all over the west. I guess they just don’t make them like that anymore!
We went the low budget, no frills route and got a Wayfarer Van build. We've had our van for 3 years and haven't had 1 problem. It breaks my heart every time I see one of your "van issue" videos. We always thought we'd save up and, in a few years, we'd upgrade to a "real" class B. After watching your videos, my husband swears we will NEVER trade in our Wayfarer Van. I couldn't agree more. Goos luck guys. Tellaro owes you, and a lot of other people, some compensation.
Thanks for sharing! So glad you have a great one!
It figures. It's a Thor.
It is sad that Thor continues to purchase other manufacturers. Through time, the quality will be the only thing that drops. 100K is not chump change. Best of luck.
"If it works, don't fix it."
I really hope the manufacturer sees this and knows what they need to fix for future models - because $100K is still a pretty penny! I ALSO hope they fix the issues y’all have been experiencing! Love yalls channel and the realness! So many things to consider which are crazy helpful!
Thank you so much! That would be the best if they did see all our issues and fix them in future models!
Thor has been building for a long time, they know all the issues. They just chose not to address them. They have their dream profit margin and units sold wish.
Not disagreeing that $100k is a lot of money. But for a fully built out van… it is not a lot. Thor cut corners yes. But also delivers a cost ratio. Which I like.
I spoke to Lamesa in Pot St. Lucie and they were aware of the recall on the contact paper, wrong kid of glue. Then we got in touch with Thor with the info Lamesa gave us and to properly register as 2nd owners. We have an appointment for August 9th. I got the impresssion. they would have a new medicine cabinet then and swap it out. We'll sè.
$100,000 is still alot of money. Where in the world are you from?
Wow. I feel for you guys. I bought a used Pleasure-Way three years ago. It's now 5 years old and the only problem I've had was a couple of hinges not holding up the doors on a cabinets. I"ve since replaced those with inexpensive struts and all's good. I hope Thor gets everything fixed for you. They owe it to you as you're spokespeople for them whether they want you to or not. After all, this video has been seen by 80,000 plus folks.
Omg my wallpaper is coming off everywhere. I too live in Arizona so heat!!
In 1985 I bought a Dodge Ram 8 seater van and after 40,000 I had to get a new alternator after it just left me stranded on the side of the road. When we figured out what the problem was it was a quick fix but that’s rather frustrating! Ram apparently has not figured it out yet!
I agree the craftsmanship leaves a lot to be desired. Same issues for me were the headliner & the wallpaper pulling away. Mine was used so I think the previous owners worked out the “bugs”. Tucson/Phx heat plays havoc with stuff.
"Kinda bummed?" *I'd be livid!* I congratulate you on your ability to accept the situation.
We bought a 1980 small motorhome. Good solid bones. We worked on it for about 1 year. So happy with it.
Check out Pleasure-Way... (and the other two Canada companies that make Class-B) - They are so much better!!! We purchased a 2 year old 2019 Pleasure-Way Lexor TS for $95k back in 2021 and love it... Awsome quality and craftsmanship... Did not need any modifications to make it more functional... And both the first owner and us have had not a single problem. The new Coachmen Class-C 19CB that we had before was plagued with never ending problems almost all attributed to poor workmanship.
I'm sorry for your trouble. I believe that brand new rigs suffer from substandard materials. We went cheap & basic with a 1999 Southwind Storm 34ft ClassA. Nothing has EVER gone wrong with it other than tune-ups, new batteries, tires, and a steer right system. We did spend $3,000 for new graphics, so it looks clean. Now, 3.5 years full-time, we're happy that we were able to pay in cash ($22,000), left on the previous owners note. We bought used figuring that any fixes had been done by the previous owner, and they were ... an $8,000 lifetime guaranteed roof that they pulled off somehow due to hail damage. Maybe for your next rig, go older, cheaper, and sturdier. Best wishes. Loved your video.
Things we wish we would have known LOL...But we are so happy that you guys have had such a great experience! We love to hear it!
We’ve spent two years and 80,000 miles retired full time on the road from Canada to Guatemala. We paid a company to custom build our Promaster to our specs and it’s been great. Still on the road and having fun. Custom build is the way.
Been looking at class b's and c's for a while. Always had thought in the back of my mind that said, be careful, niche small volume vehicles will bite me in the asp. Great video, thanks
We bought a old 1997 Road-trek for 11K a few years ago, had a wonderful time camping for a few years and sold it for 11K when I had health problems. I learned to work on that baby and all its accessories. Great times. These new vehicles are so expensive and complicated.
i too own a Telaro with many problems. (don't buy a THOR!!!!) My Thor spent about 8 months in the shop over the last two years and Thor finally gave up and left me stranded with an electrical system that doesn't supply AC power. I gave up and spent another $6k on a Bluetti power system which supplies AC. The bed in the 20k is a disastor- it tends to slide out on it's own because the locking mechanism has repeatedly broken. I'm not a fan of the propane which recently blew up (sounded like a firecracker under the van!).
However there are a few good points- the Promaster chassis is pretty good and I lifted it 3" so it works ok on forest roads(Off Highway Van in Utah- nice folks!) . My 20k has the rear bath which works well. The 20k also has a huge fridge which is amazing for food storage. I do like the awning which is huge! I have my van set up as a mobile office- and with starlink plus t-mobile 5g I've actually worked from the road in some really beautiful places. My next upgrade will be to replace the terrible car radio which I can barely see in daylight hours. .....
At the end of the day the terrible Thor van HAS brought me places I might have never seen without the van, and when I get there I have everything I need even if the build quality is bad. Your conclusion is spot on- good parts poorly assembled, offered at a low price point.
I do like your channel and how you have a good attitude even with all the issues. Your sink faucet upgarde is nice! Keep putting up videos and I'll keep watching.
Thank you for taking the time to share this with us! Seriously it helps so much to hear other people’s journey. We agree with all of your points and suggestions. The fact that your propane blew up has us freaked out!
@@Vancaskeys When I say 'blew up' it sounded like a loud firecracker. I immediatly evacuated and thought the entire van was gonna turn into a fireball. Then a few seconds later when it didn't blow up I turned off the propane at the regulator and the hissing leak went away- sooo, a gas leak downstream of the regulator. I haven't gotten it repaired so I can't blame Thor.... yet!
You'll have to let us know what you find out!
@@Vancaskeys the propane leak turned out to be a burst hose (not Thor's fault). But the guy fixing the propane may even be able to fix my electric issues (2 yrs!) .
I thought I wanted a van camper but now I am going to be happy with my Tundra pulling a Rockwood trailer. !! Thanks guys. It is very great of you to tell us and show us all this stuff that has gone bad. I really appreciate it. Charley from Ocala fl
Thank you for showing us your van and sharing the good, the bad and the ugly...lol. I visited a La Mesa RV place in Sacramento, CA. I was pretty impressed with the RV units, including the Thors. You provided me insight as t what to look for before I purchase one. I have lived in a 2019 GMC Savana 2500 cargo van, DIY conversion, for over two years and actually love it. I would like to have more room and have a shower. Planet Fitness gyms do not exist in boondocking areas. Wow
We had the same issue with the paper on the cuboards peeling off. We have the same as you a 2022 Thor Tellaro. They told us there was a recall on the paper and they did order and replace it under the Thor warranty.
No way! Thanks for telling us! We had no idea.
We chose to go with a Casita Travel Tailer…1 1/2 years, NOTHING has gone wrong. Lots of mods. but they were all self choices. Re-sell make this an investment too. Love it.😊
I have had five(5) RV's in my life time. (I'm 85) Four of them have been "previously owned". Had very few issues with them, as the original owners, had worked out most of the "bugs". The one I purchased new, had all of the sloppy, poor factory quality control issues so common in all RV's. My advice to "first time purchasers is to TAKE YOUR TIME and shop for used. You will also save a TON of money.
I also have an older camper van and the materials inside the van are great! I'm grateful that I don't have any of these issues.
Wow! We’ve been discussing trading in our ‘94 Roadtrek for a new class B. We’ve seldom ever had issues. Light bulbs, belts, water pump, water heater rod. Thank you so much for this information.
Glad to help! Glad you've never had major issues!
Grew up 15 years spending 8 weeks annually in an RV. I was a kid and loved it. As a mom we rented fancy RV for 4 weeks. It’s a lot more work being the mom. Hate the RV now. We bought a 27’ boat instead.
Nicest couple ever! Don't know how they can be so calm in light of so many defects. Very helpful info done very well!
Wow, thank you!
So sorry that this happened. But it seems to be expected for Thor Motor coach RVs. We bought a 2023 Sanctuary last year and it has been in the service center more than on the road. Thor has the worst customer service.
I don’t think you missed anything…..
I’m always amazed at your positivity! I think that peeling sticker stuff would be the straw that broke the camel’s back for me 🤦🏼♀️
Thank you for always keeping it real and making me smile. (Bob reminds me so much of my little brother!)
You guys are the best!!!
Awww thank you! ❤️
We bought a used 2003 Roadtrek 190 Popular and have not had a single issue with it. And high quality material. 👍🏻👍🏻
Yay! Love hearing this!
Happy Anniversary! I hope you've made lots of positive memories that outweigh the troubled times dealing with the van issues. Your videos are always a pleasure to watch. Safe travels!
Thank you so much!
You are very tolerant after all of the problems you've had and are having with the van! Talk about shoddy. It makes me appreciate all the people who have no build vans. Seems like less expense and fewer repairs. I'm sorry you've had to deal with that. Good luck!
Thank you so much!
Thanks for the reality check of owning an RV. It's great being an all around handyman cos I can fix anything and those things you pointed out are really easy fix. Even the screen door not closing fully. Great video 👍
"____ Days since last incident" - Love your sense of humor! Sometimes, you just have to laugh.
Haha! Truth!
Here is my list thor tellaro 20j....same issues with the cheap paper peeling. My table broke too and i upgraded. Bmpro tablet failed so i replaced it and drilled a hole into the cabinet to provide power. Batteries wouldn't really run ac as advertised so i upgraded to sfk and now have 8000 watts vs 2500. Sliding door intermittent opening problems. La mesa not at all helpful. Thor support very poor on the issues with auto start.
At this point ive done like you and fixed stuff....so...if i forget all the issues it is great. I regret not buying the winnebago but liked this floorplan better and the price was right.
Misery loves company so carry on and good luck.
Haha! Best line ever “if I forget all the issues it is great” 😂
@Vancaskeys the peeling paper is really a great sign of thor just being stupid. Shoddy workmanship....litte staples shot through the paper and then some attempt to cover it with a swipe of something that doesn't even match the color.
Given the brain damage I have to go through to get it "fixed " under warranty I've decided it will be quicker to peel the paper off, paint with a good primer sealer and then paint match the van interior color scheme.
The bm pro tablet is also stupid. Many threads on the internet about the power issues and then the tablet going into a loop. My fast fix was a new tablet (60 bucks) and drill a hole into the cabinet where your outlet failed. I then put in a small battery backup that gets charged by the outlet. That at least gives me some room when I turn my power off to keep the tablet charged. My long term solution will be to mount a swing arm with a much larger tablet so I can use it to watch video from the front or swing it to the outside for viewing when sitting outside. My TV is in the back.
I'm glad your battery replacement worked. If you decide you want to triple the battery power in the same battery box, sun fun kits sfk...is what I did. Used the old batteries as a solar backup box with a 3000 watt inverter mounted on the box. Essentially gives me about 10,000 watts of battery if I want to bring the box.
Another issue for me...when I buy my next rv (I've had 6 now) will be the dealer and their true reputation for warranty work. Every rv I've had failed both in and out of warranty. I'll pay more at this point to get a dealer that is responsive.
Thanks for your videos. You've given me great ideas along the way as our thor units sputter along. On a positive note...I love the promaster. I love my pop up bunk.
You could have actually had one built buy a third party not an RV company but a company that builds out Vans for rving. You would have saved a lot of money and had a better product and built the way you want it
I'm glad I ran into you all. I was about to drive 90 minutes to a location and take a look at the 2023 Tallero. I may just wait and go for a different brand.
Thank you for doing this follow up. Very helpful. Sorry you had so many problems. We were considering the Thor, but are looking at other manufacturers now. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for sharing all of your experiences. I've learned so much! Your patience and fortitude to make many of the repairs yourselves is inspiring.
We had the “pleasure” of visiting several RV plants in the Elkhart area while our 5th wheel was having warranty work performed. One observation that we came away with was that all of them were assembling the coaches at a horrifically hectic work pace. There are two van manufacturers from which a plant tour will demonstrate an almost “glacial” line speed as compared to the large manufacturers. These manufacturers are Pleasureway in Saskatoon, Sk who produce Class B coaches and Leisure Travel Vans in Winkler, Mb who produce Class B+ (or Class C) coaches. Please take the time to check them out.
Oh wow. Good to know. Thanks for sharing!
LeisureTravel B+ vans are amazing! Their selection of lithium batteries for the new van builds leaves a bit to be desired, but overall very nice vans!
We have an older Leisure Travel Van. Very happy.
I would LOVE to have a Leisure Travel Van! They seem so well made compared to all the others. Pleasure Way seems a close second. Unfortunately, I hear that LTVs are a two year wait? I have a van in the waiting room at a semi-custom maker. Some folks don't know why I would wait and pay for such a thing, but given the quality of the build for the money, I couldn't afford and wouldn't want anything else.
And the big bonus for US customers is the exchange rate advantage is huge
$100,000!!!! Man I’d be screaming.
We bought a Ethos 20TLi ,having used it 16 nights we love it, the fit and finish is lacking our dealer has been great fixing the little issues. The systems that came with it are working great so far . Your videos make our few problems seem trivial.
Great to hear!
Vancaskey’s!! I love your energy! I appreciate your husband when he says he doesn’t know how to do something. ❤ I have been bingeing on your videos💯
Thank you so much!! We appreciate you!
Hi Hillary and Bob! I’m Mike and my wife Sharyn have been following you for quite awhile. Since your previous van anyway! But we are newbie’s as well, we never camped before except once for my wife with our daughter for girl scouts and myself once with my sons Boy Scouts! Yes and now recently retired 5 years ago we purchased a class B camper van from Roadtrek, model is a Chase, at the Hershey Rv show in Pennsylvania. Purchased in fall of 2021 and picked up February 22.
FYI, I just tuned 64 this month and my wife will be 70 in August!
We are loving the camping! Or more like “glamping”. Doing some boondocking but preferably at least plugged in for a/c.
We both subscribe to your channel and enjoy watching you both!! We have had some issues as well but are very satisfied with the quality build of the new Roadtreks and customer service and support!! But found out afterwards better to by locally from dealership for easier service if needed. So check out Roadtrek if you’re looking. I’m like you though Bob as far as fixing it myself. I worked 30+ years for Budweiser as a machinist/welder/plumber/fabricator you know Jack of all trades and master of none!!
Oh well, never commented before but felt like doing so tonight! You both are awesome 😎 keep up the positive vibes, good luck and safe travels!
Mike
It’s so nice to meet you Mike and Sharon! We enjoyed reading your comment! Love that you are loving your Roadtrek! We LOVE hearing the good things from others. Especially when you did have issues you got good service. That makes such a difference! You guys have any fun travel plans? We are wanting to go to Colorado late summer. Have a great Friday!
We do have plans in September here in Ohio for our 40th wedding anniversary and my wonderful wife’s 70th birthday celebration at Mohican state park, Ohio. For a week with our 2 boys and other family members! Also the Music City Meetup with Mike and Jennifer Wendland from RV Lifestyle TH-cam channel in Nashville this October, then off to Port Aransas Rv resort near Corpus Cristy Texas for the month of January. We hope you both have better luck with your Mr Lemon! We just got home from Elkhart Indiana Truma North America facility having a Truma Auqua go water heater installed replacing our original Girard instantaneous water heater.(upgraded to Truma) a lot of research, Bob being one of them whom liked Truma and all the new Roadtreks are now using the Truma water heaters! Go figure right?
Thank you for the reply, maybe we’ll cross paths someday!
Good luck, safe travels to you both!😊
I’ve been following your journey since day 1 and enjoy the channel and your honesty. Always great content and no matter the issues your always still smiling 😊
Awesome! Thank you! WE APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH!
Thanks for your honest sharing. Looking forward to see your Travels and experiences. Safe travels..
Thanks for watching!
Great job. Appreciate you both. I have a Dodge Grand Caravan with a camper kit inside. It’s perfect. It’s not as fancy or has all your options, but I’ll never get a RV. I’d rather have less but way more peace. Zero frustration with my van and that’s the best option I could ever hope for or want.
Love it!
You guys are hysterical. After the problems with the first Thor I was surprised you bought a second. Take a look at Pleasure Way - I did a lot of homework into builder reputations before making our first van purchase and theirs seemed to be one of the best of the bunch. Two years in without any real problems at all. Like you guys, our first van is a bare bones affair - Pleasure Way Tofino - but we now have our eye on the Ontour 2.0 or Ascent. Good luck and make the manufacture repair EVERYTHING!
The smooth material on the end of the cabinet is called Crezone and you can purchase it by the sheet. Expensive but durable. It is used to make sign boards for outside use.
Thanks for the info! We appreciate it!
Thanks so much for another very informative video! Happy travels and I hope one day I get to see you guys out there!! I'm on a 16 month countdown!!
Thank you!!! Yay! Excited for you!
Thanks for being very truthful about the van. When I started researching vans, in my head I thought an "expensive high quality" price would be $60k for a Class B... boy was I wrong! Once I started looking at fit and finish, I realized you weren't getting away with anything less than $135k... and that was even questionable!
So my question to you is... how much money have you spent for fixing and upgrading the van with things that it should have had to begin with? And I guess a follow up question would be... how much time would you say you've had to spend on the repairs (since time is money)?
Thanks for your videos. Be seeing you!
We have a Thor Sanctuary and have had the same build quality issues. Lots of screws that are too short or too few to really secure things. I’m in the process of taking everything apart and adding more fasteners. The squeaking was driving us nuts!
We had to have the secondary alternator replaced as well. After just 15000 miles.
But we upgraded from tent camping so not having to set up / take down a tent (in the rain) has been 1000% worth it.
I’d heard that Thor made some recent changes to their QA area based on negative feedback.
Custom vans don’t have those issues but you pay more.
Wow 100k is a lot I will stop dreaming about owning a expensive van. I thought a van costing that much would have few problems but seems like thats not true. Thanks for being open and honest.
You are welcome!
We self built our van and what we did for the walls is spray 3M 90 onto the plywood and marine vinyl from Joanns. Worked great and we haven't had anything delaminate like yours. Only hard part for you would be the edges, I can't tell if you can remove the corner pieces or not. We ended up using bug nets from The Bug Wall, although they are a little pricey we can leave them up or zip them out.
Awesome! Thanks for this!
I love having an RV but I hate RVs because even if you had spent 50% more it often just a better shade of lipstick on the pig
I used to deliver them in another life and the never ever showed up at the delivery point with out something going wrong ...there really should be some better standards as a half million dollar class a may have the same crappy press together outlets as the pop up on the lot
My wife and I had the same impression on the screen door. We ended up getting the bug wall magnetic closer screen for our ram promaster. It's an easy self install. You help me with my sumo springs thought I'd help with the screen. Love watching you guys keep it going.
Thanks for sharing! We appreciate it!
After watching from the beginning, I think the one thing you missed, was not only what went wrong, but the length of time it took to get it fixed. Frankly, from what I’ve learned, the motto of the manufacturer and dealer seems to be “ put off the warranty repairs for so long that the customer gets tired of waiting and fixes the problem at their own expense.” You have far more patience than I have… and I am impressed that you can enjoy the van as much as you say, with the constant holy dread in the back of your minds of what will fail next. On the other hand, I have loved traveling with you to the many places you have visited (especially the RV events) , your friendliness, and your honesty, and will continue to watch your vlogs knowing I am getting a true picture of the pros and cons of van life. ❤❤❤
I am also at one year and I almost bought a similar van. The reason I didn’t is that I live in snow country and wanted to four-wheel-drive, so I bought a four-wheel-drive sprinter for 120 and it has been amazing. It has worked really well with only one gremlin with the heater, every now and then it won’t heat for hours at a time which has been very frustrating. We have been camping all over Canada, Alaska and western states sometimes at temperatures down to 6° for days at a time and we’ve stayed toasty warm with our Eberspacor diesel heater. The only other complaint I have is the cost of service, which is the most common complaint with Mercedes owners. Otherwise we have been trouble free for over a year and so far we put 50,000 miles on the van. Wish you best of luck with yours and many travel free miles.
Ok I have a 2021 Tellaro too. My alternator went out and had to be replaced, plus the radiator 2k repair, AC compressor, and my crank shaft . RV house replacements: awning, water pump, CO2 meter and propane holes split. I’ve been driving it for over a year it’s at 43k miles and I’m done. Crazy that a new purchase has so many issues.
I have a Thor Scope 18A, purchased a few months ago. My first long trip was CO to CA - 1200 miles - no problems except a few user errors 🤷♀️ I agree that the quality is not the best, but it is a lower priced entry level van. I’ve had several minor issues - the inverter wasn’t working as it wasn’t plugged in, the ac switch on the generator wasn’t on, none of the ac outlets worked, one of the GFI outlets was wired incorrectly,…. - all took some trouble shooting but relatively easy to fix. I love the van. I’ve also been living on my boat for the last 22 years and a van is similar in build. There are also always problems on a BOAT (Bring Out Another Thousand). It’s not a typical house, it’s a lifestyle.
Thank you so much for your honest RV review.
This totally changed my primary RV buying options from new to used!
Q: How were your experiences dealing with LaMesa? I bought a 5th wheel from them - but had very few issues with mine. (I think I was just very lucky!) Were they easy to deal with? How long did you have to wait to get service completed? Thank you!
Simple summary: waay too much stuff jammed into way too small of a space/chassis, for the purpose of full-time living. When he opened the tiny hood, and when he described what all was packed under the bed (water heater, tanks, etc), I said to myself right then that I would never own a class B. With no working space, that means a huge amount of disassembly to fix the smallest things. I understand the appeal of “van life” (easy driving, easy parking, stealth camping, etc.), but how many days are you truly free of breakdowns, repairs, and worry?
Excellent assessment. Why not just buy a small trailer to tow. 4 times the room. I mean if the van was 40 grand .....maybe. But 100 gees. Good lord
your microwave outlet might be on a GFCI circuit. Look to see if you have any 120v outlets with a reset button on it that might be tripped.
We checked that and that didn't work...Bob thinks it might be a bad breaker! Thanks for helping us though!
outlets have punchdown connection to 110 wires in back. Check for loose wire. We replaced all breakers with AFGFCI for this reason. Sprinter van owner, same song as yours, second verse.
Yikes. This video is a big help. Thank you. I keep daydreaming and fantasizing about a possible van... This video helps me keep my head straight about the need to find (and pay for) a first-rate vehicle and build. I live in the northeast, which means that it would probably be tough to get anything worked on by the builder under warranty because so many builders are located west of the Mississippi. Kudos for doing all you described - but I couldn't do any of them!
I can relate, we were so happy when we were able to trade off our Le’ Mon
😂 glad you were able too!
I love your positivity and honesty. But as long as you can enjoy your van and can upgrade and customize it yourself you will be miles ahead because anything you buy new will have millions of problems and needs upgrades and a Hugh price tag.
You guys are Awesome being so Transparent. Thank you!
You are welcome!
Sadly problems like these are quite common on all RVs regardless if you pay $30000 or $3 million. There is no quality control for any part of the RV and service is typically 100s to 1000s of miles away. Even if you happen to be close to a service department it may be days to months before they can get to you because guess what everyone else is in the same boat.
That’s really sad and the industry needs to step it up and build quality products and only use quality components from other manufacturers
I doubt you have owned a $3M rv, so why make that comment pretending that you “know” Newell has these issues
"... because guess what everyone else is in the same boat..." These things are little better than owning a boat.
Maybe I'll just stick with a tent
I am going to order a 2024 Ram ProMaster 3500 super high roof and build it myself as I have a large shop and think it would be fun. Now I own a 2005 Itasca suncruiser 37 foot. I am looking forward to traveling and being able to stop at all the places we missed because we were too big. I am also tired of towing. I think you should build one the way you like.
You're lucky you have the room and skills to build it out. I would love to do that but no room to do it.
Im excited! Van is coming this September. Thank you sharing your experience.
Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks for your wonderful review. It is very helpful. Your channel is great
Thank you!!!!😊
Its a Chrysler Product... I have a 2019 Grand Cherokee! I just had a new radiator, traction bar, right side CV and drive shaft to front transfer case (4x4) replaced under warranty. I'm also on my 3rd Uconnect radio... I recommend getting a flat tire fix kit and Portable Air Compressor if you plan on any type of off road travel and a winch will save your life.
I'm looking for something to live in.. and convection stove top and a Generator are a must to survive Texas Heat!
My boyfriend and I are looking to buy a van for part time use in a couple of years (trips of maybe 3 months on the road at a time. We are moving from Seattle to Phoenix in the fall but know we want to be out of the area during the hottest summer months, hence vanlife). Your videos have been great for giving me an idea of things to look for. And I'm happy to see there are so many Class B shows in the Phoenix area!
Thank you. Just starting my search.
Awesome! Hope you find the perfect one for you!
We have a 2022 jayco swift 20a with 13000 miles now just over a year. I like it, its just that the ac is taking too long to cool down the house area
Nice! We noticed that about our air if we are in extremely hot places.
I appreciate you honesty about the good and the bad for your model B. I’m a new subs. Great job!
Thanks!!! We appreciate you!
Still one of my favorite channels. Keep them coming guys.
Tim you are the BEST!
just hang up a small curtain around the bathroom door frame, use some magnets, light, easy and silent. Don't have to use the flimsy sliding door all the time.
Don't have to go all the way to the top, just cover the person on the WC, give you some more inches of legroom.
Go a trip to Europe and rent a similar van from a good Euro brand with similar layout.
Great idea!
Thank you for sharing! I was considering a Thor van, I am now reconsidering it.
I’ve seen so many “stay away from Thor” comments on other videos, but is the first deep dive I’ve seen as to WHY. Thank you for this.
This was incredibly helpful as I’m researching which class B I might want. Thank you.
Bummer you guys, however we like your honest perspective. We continue to use a RV rental site to do test trips of RV's to look for what fits our style and purpose. When we got into some of the details, Coachman and Pleasure Way have hit some key craftsmanship pluses . Yes the price point is higher but when searching for a 2 year coach it takes about 25% off the new cost that still bring us to a reality point to afford a more quality product but seek out a two year old van with limited miles. We are searching to test drive a Ford Transit that will be a 6 wheel vehicle and see how the ride and stability of the coach has with an extra two wheels. Safe RVing in AZ.
So smart! You'll have to let us know what you think of the Ford Transit. We haven't driven one and have heard great things about it.
Wow. 😣I'm so sorry you've experienced all that! Feeling super grateful I went with an empty cargo van (same one you have) and a professional builder. I've only had it 7 months, but so far so good! Also, thank you for reminding me of one of the EXTREMELY few advantages of being 4'9". 😄
Haha! Sounds like you made the right choice. Being 4'9" has major advantages with Van life!
Hello Bob and Hillary🤗 Thank you.. for an awesome video!!! 👍
We appreciate.. your honesty.. and we appreciate you both !!! 😊You guys are great people !!!
😁❤️
Thanks so much1 You are very sweet to us!
i had the same thing happen wit the alternator. La Mesa did not diagnose that the alternator caused the lithium batteries to go bad. total lemon. that fire caused a surge that burnt out several of the systems.
Thank you for this video. I’m wondering if I should just get a shell and build it out.
If you have the time and know how building out would be the best option for making sure it’s exactly how you’d want it. And then you’d have no worries about quality.
THANK YOU FOR SHARING 😊 GOOD LUCK IN THE NEXT RV YOU BUY😊😊
Thanks for watching! 😊
Thank you for your feedback on your one year review of the van
Our pleasure!
anything built after covid was put together fast, built cheap, and sold high. I like my camper, a Casita, fiberglass cabinets that look like nice white plastic, the doors are particleboard with a stick on wood look alike plastic, never came off anywhere, after 12 years. I take it down many very bumpy roads, I never lost anything more than 1 screw, they used rivets like an airplane and an airstream. These Ford and other brand vans were made quick, full of too many bells and whistles. Simple is best when it comes to homes that move. The less electronics, the better.
Yeas. They say 2020, 21, 22 do not buy because of sub par workmanship.
SURPRISENLY, the older camper vans are made better than the newer ones. The newer ones have cheaper materials. I have an older camper van and there's no cheap materials in my van. It's solid and I love it. GREAT video, Thanks!
Im grateful for this useful video. Good change from those who edit dream videos. And you presented it with great calm, kudos!
The van is beautiful. Paying $100,000 you should not have any problems. Thank God that Bob is Handy. Just work through it and you will have a perfect van. Look at it like a house always needing something. The van is great! ♥️🇺🇸🇺🇸👍🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻✌🏻
Well said!
What a list! I can mark this dog off my consider list. That vinyl-covering coming loose and shrinking throughout is gross incompetent engineering. Are you posting this information on the user forum?
I have a 2022 Thor Sanctuary and have the peeling wallpaper and poor quality cabinetry as well. You might check the bottom of your kitchen drawers and reinforce them with small nails. The bottom panel of each of mine fell out and I had to glue and nail them back together. Also my BM Pro only works via Bluetooth - I’m on my second one and need to contact Thor for another replacement…..
One of the best van videos out there, thank you!!! And the consumers need to be more aggressive to get manufactures to build better vans for a better price. They are raking it in while the consumer gets sticky paper instead of wood (that was actually very jaw dropping). THANK YOU again.
On a positive note 😂 let’s hope this video goes viral, rv sales are down over 50% this year….. love your videos ❤️
😂😂😂👍
Tellaro 20L Owner here... Yep, my alternator melted down in February and it may get replaced at the end of August. Had the kitchen vent leak the non-skylight owners have due to being incorrectly installed. Everyone I know of has problems with the front headliner too, and the BM Pros seem to die for everyone too. One thing to note is the solar will kick the batteries offline if you get sun and it's below freezing outside. Thor is aware of the quality and engineering problems, and they don't care. Anyone watching this video that thinks "they just got unlucky" - no, this is a very representative ownership experience.
Thank you for sharing your experience. This is extremely accurate.
It's been fun following you guys. Good job!
Thank you! We appreciate you!
Interesting I’m also been a little frustrated with my 20AT. However like some comments below every rv has issues. And I came across a Winnebago owner that also complains about how cheap the material they were using for all the cabinets. But Thor craftsmanship definitely really lacking.
Yeah it does seem to be industry-wide right now.
They use cheaper materials for cabinets to make for lighter weight