New Fifth Wheel
On June 21, 2014 we purchased a 2015 Coachmen Chaparral Signature 343 RLTS. It is beautiful but in the 30 days that we have owned it, we have found numerous issues. Kitchen faucet spewed water every...
Forum Discussion
The lack of quality control in the camper industry is appalling. The workmanship just is not there in the mid to entry level units, and only somewhat better in the high end units. The industry has gotten by with shoddy workmanship because we continue to buy what they produce.
The typical dealer’s lack of response just perpetuates the condition. The auto industry had similar issues in the ‘70s and ‘60s and until the pressure from foreign manufactures woke Detroit up, their products, and dealer post sale support and service stunk. Unfortunately the decisions made in the front offices for the profit/production/quality balance puts the guys who build the units as well as the dealer who have to patch them up in a bad place.
Personally I would rather spend more on a camper that was built so well that there would not be a need to return it to the dealer, and the dealer would be obligated to offer a comparable loaner while the new unit was out of service due to defective issues. I also believe the dealer should provide pickup and delivery of the unit to the buyers point of convenience. I’m sure those two actions would exert a little incentive for manufactures to build a quality unit, and ensure that when service would be needed, the work would be done right the first time.
Was that a rant?
Jim
The typical dealer’s lack of response just perpetuates the condition. The auto industry had similar issues in the ‘70s and ‘60s and until the pressure from foreign manufactures woke Detroit up, their products, and dealer post sale support and service stunk. Unfortunately the decisions made in the front offices for the profit/production/quality balance puts the guys who build the units as well as the dealer who have to patch them up in a bad place.
Personally I would rather spend more on a camper that was built so well that there would not be a need to return it to the dealer, and the dealer would be obligated to offer a comparable loaner while the new unit was out of service due to defective issues. I also believe the dealer should provide pickup and delivery of the unit to the buyers point of convenience. I’m sure those two actions would exert a little incentive for manufactures to build a quality unit, and ensure that when service would be needed, the work would be done right the first time.
Was that a rant?
Jim
