new motorhome problems

Any company that mass produces coaches has to have some problems. And that is what is happening here, they are kicking them out as fast as they can over looking quality controls. Need more inspectors to make sure things are getting done right, not just push them out as fast as you can to keep production up. Unfortunately that is what happens when a company gets too big and just looks for profits for its stock holders.

Now Tiffin does manufacture a nice looking coach, but there should never have been those three major defects on hundreds of their coaches before it was discovered that it was going to come back and bite them in the rear. Now they have major problems and the shops are full of very unhappy customers that paid big money for something that has been a nightmare for some. Waiting on shop parking lots waiting for roofs or floors to be removed and repaired is terrible in my book. Things like that should not happen to such an expensive piece of equipment unless the quality control is not there.

I can not believe that Tiffin is being belittled here. Red Bay is full because people go there on their way to southern areas for winter. I also use Red Bay and have NEVER had a problem with wait time. Tiffin has owners who go to Red Bay for repairs and stay for the winter, causes a full campground. Yes, I could go to a dealer to get my coach worked on, but Tiffin does not charge over one hundred dollars per hour for service. The repairman at Red Bay only work on Tiffin RV's so that means more knowledge than CW or dealers who work on everything.
My last point here, while in Red Bay, wife and I sit and talk to Bob Tiffin in his office. Bob started and owns the company, try that with the owner, president or CEO of your so called better built coaches. Tiffin has the number one selling motorhome in the US, maybe that says something.

BobGed wrote:

wnytaxman wrote:

Bob, hasn't the same roof issue shown up on some 2013's? The roof issue is a very major structural problem and it would be a concern to any buyer of a new or used unit. I do realize that these issues can take to show up, but are there any assurances that this issue is a thing of the past? Reading that some have had their roofs replaced two, three, and more times is not very comforting that the issue has been resolved.

Ed

Ed, I was referring to the roof radius rails and the most recent year model I know of with the problem was a 2012, and that's because it was being repaired at the same time mine was. It is my understanding that Tiffin introduced what is supposed to be the final fix sometime in 2011. So theoretical some late 2012's and later years should be okay.

Now if you're referring to cracks in the actual roof itself, I have seen some posts reporting that issue. The oldest coach was a 2007 owned by an acquaintance of mine and the last I heard Tiffin was going to replace his roof. Same thing for some one with a 2008. I don't recall off the top of my head reading anything about this problem on recent year coaches, but quite honestly I haven't payed too much attention because it doesn't effect my year coach.

Is Tiffin completely out of the woods with the roof issues, I certainly think/hope so, but I guess time will tell.

Bob, like you I hope the roof issues are a thing of the past for Tiffin. It helps the consumer when there are strong companies competing for our business.

Ed

wnytaxman wrote:

Bob, hasn't the same roof issue shown up on some 2013's? The roof issue is a very major structural problem and it would be a concern to any buyer of a new or used unit. I do realize that these issues can take to show up, but are there any assurances that this issue is a thing of the past? Reading that some have had their roofs replaced two, three, and more times is not very comforting that the issue has been resolved.

Ed

Ed, I was referring to the roof radius rails and the most recent year model I know of with the problem was a 2012, and that's because it was being repaired at the same time mine was. It is my understanding that Tiffin introduced what is supposed to be the final fix sometime in 2011. So theoretical some late 2012's and later years should be okay.

Now if you're referring to cracks in the actual roof itself, I have seen some posts reporting that issue. The oldest coach was a 2007 owned by an acquaintance of mine and the last I heard Tiffin was going to replace his roof. Same thing for some one with a 2008. I don't recall off the top of my head reading anything about this problem on recent year coaches, but quite honestly I haven't payed too much attention because it doesn't effect my year coach.

Is Tiffin completely out of the woods with the roof issues, I certainly think/hope so, but I guess time will tell.

BobGed wrote:

Mr.Mark wrote:
Tiffin has certainly stepped up to the plate to fix these repairs. But, why was it allowed to continue? I think after the first 50-100 coaches that came back for major repairs, I would have STOPPED production to find out what the manufacturing issues were and fix the problem before anymore coaches were built.

MM.

The "Big 3" repairs as they are known, take quite awhile to show up, if at all. My 2009 coach was built in mid 2008. I had the roof rails taken care of in CA in 2012. My wet bay floor appears to be fine. I will be making my first trip to Red Bay in a few months for other reasons, and will have that done and my DS slide inspected.

With the changes that Tiffin has made, I personally would feel very comfortable purchasing a 2013 or newer coach if I was in the market for one.

Bob, hasn't the same roof issue shown up on some 2013's? The roof issue is a very major structural problem and it would be a concern to any buyer of a new or used unit. I do realize that these issues can take time to show up, but are there any assurances that this issue is a thing of the past? Reading that some have had their roofs replaced two, three, and more times is not very comforting that the issue has been resolved.

Ed

Mr.Mark wrote:
Tiffin has certainly stepped up to the plate to fix these repairs. But, why was it allowed to continue? I think after the first 50-100 coaches that came back for major repairs, I would have STOPPED production to find out what the manufacturing issues were and fix the problem before anymore coaches were built.

MM.

The "Big 3" repairs as they are known, take quite awhile to show up, if at all. My 2009 coach was built in mid 2008. I had the roof rails taken care of in CA in 2012. My wet bay floor appears to be fine. I will be making my first trip to Red Bay in a few months for other reasons, and will have that done and my DS slide inspected.

With the changes that Tiffin has made, I personally would feel very comfortable purchasing a 2013 or newer coach if I was in the market for one.

They have fixed it.

BobGed wrote:

wnytaxman wrote:
Please don't take this the wrong way, but if no one has to go to Red Bay then why do people go and literally spend weeks and months there for repairs? I gather that Camp Red Bay has over 150 sites and from the postings it seems like the sites are quite often totally booked and people waiting at satellite sites.

From the perspective of someone outside of the Tiffin ownership, that seems rather unique that someone would spend the dollars required to travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles for service that could be completed locally.

I know you also peruse the TRVN forum, so I'm not going to try and blow any smoke. Tiffin has had three big problem areas: Rotting wet bay floors, thermal cracking of the roof radius rails and, to a lesser extent, rotting of the DS slide floor.

Tiffin has two bays devoted to replacing the wet bay floors, with each capable of processing two coaches per day. They have either two or three bays devoted to the roof rail issue, with each processing one coach per day. It is my understanding that these are almost automatic repairs that are scheduled for coaches arriving at Camp Red Bay. They don't even care if you're not the original owner.

The replacement of the rotting DS slide floor is a much bigger issue requiring the removal of the slide and replacing the complete floor. While the other two repairs can be done at authorized Tiffin repair facilities, this one can only be done at Red Bay.

Is there a wait to get into these bays, you bet, however not everyone is necessarily at Camp Red Bay only for Tiffin repairs. There are many current and former Tiffin employees that have businesses to handle all kinds of customization projects. Once you have a site and pay your daily fee, it's yours until you decide to leave.

Tiffin has certainly stepped up to the plate to fix these repairs. But, why was it allowed to continue? I think after the first 50-100 coaches that came back for major repairs, I would have STOPPED production to find out what the manufacturing issues were and fix the problem before anymore coaches were built.

MM.

wnytaxman wrote:
Please don't take this the wrong way, but if no one has to go to Red Bay then why do people go and literally spend weeks and months there for repairs? I gather that Camp Red Bay has over 150 sites and from the postings it seems like the sites are quite often totally booked and people waiting at satellite sites.

From the perspective of someone outside of the Tiffin ownership, that seems rather unique that someone would spend the dollars required to travel hundreds, if not thousands, of miles for service that could be completed locally.

I know you also peruse the TRVN forum, so I'm not going to try and blow any smoke. Tiffin has had three big problem areas: Rotting wet bay floors, thermal cracking of the roof radius rails and, to a lesser extent, rotting of the DS slide floor.

Tiffin has two bays devoted to replacing the wet bay floors, with each capable of processing two coaches per day. They have either two or three bays devoted to the roof rail issue, with each processing one coach per day. It is my understanding that these are almost automatic repairs that are scheduled for coaches arriving at Camp Red Bay. They don't even care if you're not the original owner.

The replacement of the rotting DS slide floor is a much bigger issue requiring the removal of the slide and replacing the complete floor. While the other two repairs can be done at authorized Tiffin repair facilities, this one can only be done at Red Bay.

Is there a wait to get into these bays, you bet, however not everyone is necessarily at Camp Red Bay only for Tiffin repairs. There are many current and former Tiffin employees that have businesses to handle all kinds of customization projects. Once you have a site and pay your daily fee, it's yours until you decide to leave.

Everybody loves to share misery. Got plenty but not going to even think about it anymore.
Buy a new Mh; make sure it is new and everything is fixed before signing ,on the dotted line and after a thorough shakedown cruise and after your own Surveyor looks over the things you won't think about or even know exist. Longest sentence I can put together right now. Then let the most assertive Banker and thorough Lawyer, you can find, look it all over and sign the paper work for you.