My wife and I are purchasing a 2014 Winnebago Vista and travelled to the dealer on Saturday for initial inspection. It looked great, just what we wanted..except during the manufacture a screw from the inside had punctured the exterior wall and left a small hole. Before we sign the papers to purchase, I want to know how serious a repair this will be and are there potential problems that can result in the future due to this damage. I am surprised that Winnebago didn't catch this problem before shipping. I guess their quality control is not as good as we thought. We opted for the full paint job so I don't feel good about paying all that extra money and then having to worry about future paint or leakage problems. Should we delay signing the purchase papers until the repair is done? Your opinions?

I personally would not want a hole in the exterior no matter how small. Infiltration of water will cause delamination over a period of time. The hole can be repaired, if done properly. If you allow the dealer to make a repair, I would demand a five year "written" extended guarantee against leakage and delamination for the repaired area. I would require the repair be made to my satisfaction before I signed any papers for purchasing the MH. You are in the driver's seat. Don't let the dealer talk you into something you will be sorry for later. I wish you the best.Ray

I would delay.... any hole in the exterior is a chance for water to get in.. and we all know water leaking/intruding into the interior is our worst enemy. Not sure if there would be a fix to suit me..

It could fester into a huge problem. Water leaks into the wall, causes Delamination of the side of your RV. Giant money to fix delams, if even possible.Good idea to have it fixed before you take delivery. Warning, the dealer may just want to brush it off as no big deal. It is a very big deal.Also, make certain it is noted somewhere on your paperwork. If the RV has been rained on during delivery, there is water in the wall. Mold, delamination etc. could develop. That way you have proof that something was wrong before you took delivery.

I would want it fixed. Fixed correctly end of story

russmorr wrote:My wife and I are purchasing a 2014 Winnebago Vista and travelled to the dealer on Saturday for initial inspection. It looked great, just what we wanted..except during the manufacture a screw from the inside had punctured the exterior wall and left a small hole. Before we sign the papers to purchase, I want to know how serious a repair this will be and are there potential problems that can result in the future due to this damage. I am surprised that Winnebago didn't catch this problem before shipping. I guess their quality control is not as good as we thought. We opted for the full paint job so I don't feel good about paying all that extra money and then having to worry about future paint or leakage problems. Should we delay signing the purchase papers until the repair is done? Your opinions?Surprised? I'm not one bit. Quality control is not he same in building a auto, not even close, actually pretty non existent. This will be just one of the first things you find most likely. Yes, it should be able to be fixed properly. It's just a screw that went too far. Had one on a fiver dining table that went through the floor. I suppose they missed the carpet being ripped up.My opinion is it shouldn't be a problem to fix. But go through the rest of the MH in detail. Starting from the outside working your way in. Don't be surprised what you find.Where is the hole?

how serious is screw hole in exterior of new motorhome

117 Replies

JohnnyT
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2014
I am going to close this thread... For those of you that made a good faith effort to offer good faith suggestions, I thank you... Some of the rest of you ought to be ashamed of yourselves... If this person had been a neighbor in a campground, I doubt some of the caviler insensitive comments would be made...

JohnnyT Moderator
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
It's always minor when it's someone elses rv. :B

Here's some minor repairs (the delams)
clicky
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2014
RVUSA wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
Actually, if you read closely, the OP doesn't say how it was found or if he's the one that found it. It's possible the dealer found it and pointed it out to him. We may not ever know because I think the OP is still running the opposite direction away from the fire storm this thread has become.

Thats quite true, the dealer could have pointed it out. My premise is the assembly plant should have never let it go outside with a hole in the exterior wall. It should have been fixed there to insure that no leakage could ever happen.

Ever watch the videos of them building rv's and the test shower booth they park them in while they look for leaks around the windows and slides and such? If this rv had been run through one of those monsoon makers it's pretty easy to imagine water intrusion.

Hopefully the direction he's running is to simply another rv.

Yes, it should not have happened, but it did. Running to a new RV is not the answer for such a minor problem.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
well this is about the first time I have unsubscribed to a thread. total nonsense.
bumpy
hooligan
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
peaches&cream wrote:

Like many others, "I have no dog in this fight". I said my piece, stated my opinion, and like a few others, I'm out of here. Have a "HAPPY NEW YEAR" if that is possible.

Apparently you forgot to ask permission to state your reasonable evaluation of the discussion.
peaches_cream
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
RVUSA wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
This tread has gone to "outerspace". Some say the MH cannot be repaired. Chance of damage is so great, they should just strip it and crush it. If a "newby" reads this before purchasing a new MH, they will "run not walk" away from the purchase. It has been brought out that QC, PDI, and the work ethic of MH builders is non-exisitant. To sum it up, a few, are trying to do irreparable damage to the MH image.
They lead you to believe, if the MH is not prefect, run away from it. We all know the prefect MH does not exist so they say "STAY AWAY FROM ALL MH'. Would not the simple advise be? Have a knowledgeable Tech look at the damage? If no major damage has occurred, put a screw or a rivet in the hole and move on with life.

So the thread isnt going your way huh?

If a BRAND NEW MOTORHOME HAS A HOLE IN A EXTERIOR WALL (you know what the OP was referencing) and there is no way to determine if leakage has occured, then yes absolutely find another rv.

Why would you insist that they assume a risk with their money that they simply dont have to.

Like many others, "I have no dog in this fight". I said my piece, stated my opinion, and like a few others, I'm out of here. Have a "HAPPY NEW YEAR" if that is possible.
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
peaches&cream wrote:
This tread has gone to "outerspace". Some say the MH cannot be repaired. Chance of damage is so great, they should just strip it and crush it. If a "newby" reads this before purchasing a new MH, they will "run not walk" away from the purchase. It has been brought out that QC, PDI, and the work ethic of MH builders is non-exisitant. To sum it up, a few, are trying to do irreparable damage to the MH image.
They lead you to believe, if the MH is not prefect, run away from it. We all know the prefect MH does not exist so they say "STAY AWAY FROM ALL MH'. Would not the simple advise be? Have a knowledgeable Tech look at the damage? If no major damage has occurred, put a screw or a rivet in the hole and move on with life.

So the thread isnt going your way huh?

If a BRAND NEW MOTORHOME HAS A HOLE IN A EXTERIOR WALL (you know what the OP was referencing) and there is no way to determine if leakage has occured, then yes absolutely find another rv.

Why would you insist that they assume a risk with their money that they simply dont have to.
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
msmith1199 wrote:
Actually, if you read closely, the OP doesn't say how it was found or if he's the one that found it. It's possible the dealer found it and pointed it out to him. We may not ever know because I think the OP is still running the opposite direction away from the fire storm this thread has become.

Thats quite true, the dealer could have pointed it out. My premise is the assembly plant should have never let it go outside with a hole in the exterior wall. It should have been fixed there to insure that no leakage could ever happen.

Ever watch the videos of them building rv's and the test shower booth they park them in while they look for leaks around the windows and slides and such? If this rv had been run through one of those monsoon makers it's pretty easy to imagine water intrusion.

Hopefully the direction he's running is to simply another rv.
peaches_cream
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
This tread has gone to "outerspace". Some say the MH cannot be repaired. Chance of damage is so great, they should just strip it and crush it. If a "newby" reads this before purchasing a new MH, they will "run not walk" away from the purchase. It has been brought out that QC, PDI, and the work ethic of MH builders is non-exisitant. To sum it up, a few, are trying to do irreparable damage to the MH image.
They lead you to believe, if the MH is not prefect, run away from it. We all know the prefect MH does not exist so they say "STAY AWAY FROM ALL MH'. Would not the simple advise be? Have a knowledgeable Tech look at the damage? If no major damage has occurred, put a screw or a rivet in the hole and move on with life.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2014
RVUSA wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
peaches&cream wrote:
You are making a great argument for "NOT PURCHASING ANY NEW MH". They are all JUNK because of lack of QC, PDI, and work ethic. You have convinced me. I will invest my money in Airplanes and Condo's. Stay away from the Junk.

Theres a rv show here with some 30 rv's and none had a hole in the wall, not 1. So no, it's not an argument to never buy an rv new. It is an argument to tell the dealer and the manufacturer to build one without a hole in the wall. Or at the very least, put people in place that can find these problems and fix them before the weather has a chance to cause damage.

I also have never seen a hole in the wall on the side of any new motorhome I've ever looked at. So is it possible this is why it wasn't found in PDI because it never happens and nobody was looking for a tiny hole like this?

Of course, however the OP did indicate thats where he saw it.

"My wife and I are purchasing a 2014 Winnebago Vista and travelled to the dealer on Saturday for initial inspection. It looked great, just what we wanted..except during the manufacture a screw from the inside had punctured the exterior wall and left a small hole."

Actually, if you read closely, the OP doesn't say how it was found or if he's the one that found it. It's possible the dealer found it and pointed it out to him. We may not ever know because I think the OP is still running the opposite direction away from the fire storm this thread has become.