No RVIA sticker on 2012 Nexus 24P

hpdrver wrote:
Once again no one is stating that a motorhomes does not have to comply with motor vehicle standards as shown by the federal and state statutes. The requirement to have an RVIA sticker is the issue and no mention of it is made anywhere.

I missed your comment earlier. I believe the confusion is based on the concept that an RVIA sticker means the unit is built to RVIA standards. This is NOT the case, RVIA are merely acting as a certifying body, overseeing and auditing the manufacturer that the units they are building comply with various FEDERAL requirements.

In fact, if you actually look at a RVIA sticker the wording is quite clear.



So again, a RVIA sticker is NOT required, if the manufacturer wanted to they could get QAI or any of a handful of other companies qualified to certify compliance to do it instead.

In fact before the harmonization of US and Canadian regulations it was common to see both an RVIA sticker and a QAI sticker certifying that the unit also met the more stringent CSA Z240 standards.

On a different note !
Have you sat in the drivers seat and or even Driven it?
I'm only 5'11 and when I sat in the seat due to the slide its a tight fit !! I was way too close to the steering wheel, so I tried to adjust the seat forward and lean the back of the seat further back thinking that would help! Nope just made my knees closer to the brake pedal and dash.
As for the RVIA it was a 2012 also and it didn't have it...
BUT I know if you price out a new Nexus they charge $100 for that sticker !

As for or trip down to check it out 2012 24P with only 3,490 miles on the OD it was a major waste of time . The dealer salesguy lied out both ends and deceived us on the condition of it.
Wonder if there's a thread on here about buyers experience with trying to purchase a MH and all the BS lying deceiving dealers we've had to deal with?
Or a list of places to STAY AWAY FROM ?? Because I could add at least 5 more to the list !!

JaxDad wrote:
So to put it more precisely, no, RVIA certification is NOT required, but the underlying ANSI and NFPA standards ARE required but nobody is going to try to get 3 certificates when they can get just 1 that covers them all.

I'll try this again, NO, you don't NEED a RVIA certification sticker technically speaking, you could get some independant company qualified to do the certification for you instead.

I assume that would cost far more than just having the manufacturer certify that it was built to minimum standards.

Once again no one is stating that a motorhomes does not have to comply with motor vehicle standards as shown by the federal and state statutes. The requirement to have an RVIA sticker is the issue and no mention of it is made anywhere.

Sounds like they copied it from Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards as specified in Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49 Part 571.

hpdrver wrote:
So unless someone can provide me a US law that governs the house portion of RV's, the RVIA sticker is nice to have but not mandated by law. If there is a law, it should state that the RV must comply with these standards that are not motor vehicle related.

Well, since you asked nicely, (and pardon the CAPS, it's the way the State of Texas codes their website) TITLE 14. REGULATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRANSPORTATION, SUBTITLE A. REGULATIONS RELATED TO MOTOR VEHICLES defines a Motorhome in the following way;

"(21) "Motor home" means a motor vehicle that is designed to provide temporary living quarters and that:
(A) is built on a motor vehicle chassis as an integral part of or a permanent attachment to the chassis; and
(B) contains at least four of the following independent life support systems that are permanently installed and designed to be removed only for repair or replacement and that meet the standards of the American National Standards Institute, Standards for Recreational Vehicles:
(i) a cooking facility with an on-board fuel source;
(ii) a gas or electric refrigerator;
(iii) a toilet with exterior evacuation;
(iv) a heating or air conditioning system with an on-board power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine;
(v) a potable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with an exterior service supply connection; or
(vi) a 110-125 volt electric power supply."

Note the words in para. (21) (B), "and meet the standards".

You cannot just throw something together and sell it to the public as a roadworthy vehicle with safe living quarters. It must meet certain minimum safety standards.

Since someone believes that national standards apply for US made Rv's , there must be a federal law that requires this requirement. I could not find one. I think the standards are recommended standards and are not required. Motor vehicle standards such as brakes, lights, horn, etc. may be covered by federal law but the RV house standards are left to the builder. Building codes in the US vary and some areas have no codes.

So unless someone can provide me a US law that governs the house portion of RV's, the RVIA sticker is nice to have but not mandated by law. If there is a law, it should state that the RV must comply with these standards that are not motor vehicle related.

All of those standards are national standards.

By your logic there are no speed limits because I've been speeding for years and haven't been ticketed.

JaxDad wrote:

hpdrver wrote:
Although many ex's live in Texas, I believe Texas law is similar to other states. Canadian law may be different but until someone can show me in statute where U S state laws require it, I do not think a RVIA sticker is required in the states. Please name the states that require this sticker.

It's a slightly complicated (what isn't?) set of legal requirements but I'll try to simplify it.

Your car or truck has a plate (usually on the drivers door frame) that says it was built in compliance with the FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards).

Your RV (trailer or motorhome) is required to comply with ANSI, NFPA and FMVSS standards with regards to electrical, plumbing, fire safety, etc., etc.

The RVIA basically rolled all of the various statutes into a single set of standards that are geared to RV's.

So to put it more precisely, no, RVIA certification is NOT required, but the underlying ANSI and NFPA standards ARE required but nobody is going to try to get 3 certificates when they can get just 1 that covers them all.

I think it must be pretty simple, it must be a regional thing, State to State, or Country to Country, as in Va., like Texas (and I'm sure there are more)when I take my MH in for inspection, NO ONE has ever looked for, or asked about an RVIA sticker, and my insurance agent, who has never seen my MH has Never asked about it either.

Desert Captain wrote:
"I think you might want to check about the price of steel to aluminum. The sites I looked at stated that aluminum cost about 5 to 7X more than steel."

If you say so it is OK with me but those numbers sound somewhat skewed. Nexus uses steel because it is stronger. I assumed and perhaps incorrectly, that aluminum is cheaper to use since 99% of all RV manufacturers frame their coaches with aluminum which was a big improvement over the wood framing that predated it.

Hard to compare apples to apples as each material involves different construction techniques, a huge difference in thickness/weight all of which contributes to the bottom line cost.

Nexus also uses Azdel substrate instead of Luan or plywood. This is more expensive but since it it stronger, lighter, has a higher R value and will not absorb moisture it is simply a better way to build. Other than Lance I don't know of another major manufacturer that uses Azdel.

:C

I think and this is just my thinking is the reason for the aluminum is they can keep the build lighter and so many coaches are close that they don't have very much cargo capacity left after just putting water and a family in them. I come from slide in truck campers (I have had 5 MHs in the past but went back to a truck campers but as age caught up with me we moved back to MHs) and most all truck campers use aluminum and that is because of weight. It is true that Azdel is better than laun. Camplight is another truck camper that is using Azdel in their walls.