After being on this forum for a while I have come to know a few common themes; the same topics come up pretty much all the time, everyone has the best brand and model that can be had and you should buy one too, and QC and PDI are a joke. I'll focus on the latter. Hundreds if not thousands of posts centered on the same thing; the laundry lists of things either broke, not installed right, or not done at all during manufactur and delivery. It is becoming more and more prevelant that QC off the line, pride in workmanship and plain old work ethic do NOT exist in the RV industry. The exception here is spending a LOT of money and even then it's questionable. These forums are filled with countless pages of things coming off the line, knowingly wrong and delivered anyway. In a decent business model this is where PDI would come in. Usually PDI is "free", sometimes it's a charge and not cheap either. But frankly I would wager it's not even half a$$ed 90% of the time. Boxes are just checked off. I am not sure what my overall point or een goal is to his post, but it's sickening. We spend good money and it seems like if your punch out list is less than 20 items you are lucky. Why is this acceptable? Lack of competition? Lust for the RV and we settle for know issues? Our money is 100% good, shouldn't our RV's be? Trying to find the best quality brand becomes more difficult. Some better than others. But ALL have their issues and to me that's just plain unacceptable. Ok, done rambling. Yep I know, I own a Thor, Knock on wood only a few issues. I consider myself lucky. and that's a shame. We shouldn't have to be lucky.

We stoped 1000 miles away from home on a whim. It was a discount place and the brand doesn't matter. We were there for 5 hrs and the walls thru was about 2 hrs. They had done the DPI before it went on the lot. We bought it and the point is if it wasn't as good as we wanted we wouldn't have left with it.

It's really odd to me. Last year my buddy was shopping for a new TT so I accompanied him to a bunch of dealers. No matter what the brand, they all had damage, scars and defects that were blatantly obvious. When ever I asked a salesman about them he would say "We'll fix anything that's wrong".Some of these rigs just looked trashed inside. Why do they deliver junk like this? Don't they realize it's costing them sales?He finally settled on a Arctic Fox but it too needed several repairs.

Have owned 3 Thor Industries TT's now and pleased with each one. (Dutchmen Sport, Keystone Springdale, and Keystone Outback) Issues? yes, but minor. Expected issues? Yes. So, when you purchase a brand new car, have you NEVER had warranty issues either?When you purchase a brand new house (ok, even a used one), have you NEVER had some kind of issue arise after you parted with your (credit)???Have you ever purchased a CD just to find out it had a scratch and you have to replace it?Have you ever purchased a toaster and plugged it in, just to find out it did not work? A television? A radio? A Cell phone that went ka-put the day after you purchased it?If you REALLY consider all the technology that goes into an RV, it's amazing that anything works at all.100% systems for 120 volt AC power that works flawless with 12 volt DC power, that also works flawless with house lights, turn signals, refrigerators, you name it. Mix gas and electric appliances that can switch back and forth, water, plumbing systems, and then add an engine, drive shaft , suspension, and you name it (if it's drivable vs towable) you're looking at some very complicated and sophisticated technology inside any RV. Add to that televisions, radios, microwaves, stoves, ovens, and everythig else, .... well .....The odds of "something" being missed in a PDI is not all that surprising.Many items that get unearthed in an RV are found when they are actually being used. We had a miss-fit drain in the shower in our new Outback. Did anyone at the factory take a shower in it to determine if the drain was installed properly? NO! Would you expect them too? No..... Would you expect the dealer to take a shower? no..... The mistake was caught by ME, when I used it. And yes, it was fixed at the dealer under warranty.Anyone who purchases an RV has a certain amount of responsibility also, you know. As the person making the purchase, YOU have the responsibility to thoroughly inspect the product before taking delivery and signing the bottom line and parting with your money. So, the responsibility does not rest 100% on the dealer or the manufacturer there, if you take delivery and then find something wrong.Note: Let me correct that "responsibility". The manufacture and dealer have the "responsibility" to stand behind warranty work. But if you take delivery and something is not right, YOU had the responsibility to discover it, just as much as the seller did too. Don't blame the seller after the fact, if you've not done your part first. If you don't like the product, you don't have to purchase it!

You need to spend some time in the transportation industry where brand new Class 8 tractors are purchased. You will find very much the same problems. My son is driving a brand new, just delivered, Peterbilt. He is experiencing much more down time not working because that brand new rig is broken down and in the shop. Every week it is at the Peterbilt shop. I know of two year old Peterbilt that has spent more time in the shop than it has on the road. Cummins can't get the engine's computer to work properly and can't find the problem. Even new computers have not solved the problem. Usually after a year, all the bugs are worked out and the trucking companies can begin to trust those "new" rigs. It is the nature of the heavy truck business.

The past 3 vehicles we have owned; Ford F150 SCREw 5.4, VW Jetta and Honda Civic. NONE had any warranty issues. The Ford had 130k miles and runs like it's brand new, the Jetta finally had to retire at 250k miles, and the Civic is new and so far flawless. So no, I have never had or expected to have any warranty issues with my vehicles. I have read on this forum countless issues that really should be caught and fixed at the factory. When you buy a house he lender or permit for a new build requires an inpection. Sure there may be nail pops etc usually from use. But leaky windows, holes in the exterior walls, foundation faulty, shorts in electrical are all things that really should not end up happening in a home. These things seem common in RV's. Just sayin. We can't blame this stuff on "it's an RV". Most of this stuff is poor workmanship and lack of oversight and NOT the nature of the beast. Simply put, a majority of things that are wrong with RV's could have and should have been addressed before they ever left the line.

Where is QC and PDI | Good Sam Community

40 Replies

JohnnyT
Explorer II
Jan 04, 2014
Topic closed...Nothing constructive and this is basically an extension of a thread just closed. Lets move on...

JohnnyT Moderator
MotorPro
Explorer
Jan 04, 2014
Quality will never get better as long as buyers continue to except poor quality and even go on here and defend and make excuses fo it.
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 03, 2014
rgatijnet1 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

Obviously you NEVER read ANY of the responses to the OP. Not ONE person told him to ignore it and accept the coach as is, with the hole.
What most of the people did tell him was to have the hole repaired to his satisfaction and then enjoy his coach. Get your facts straight. :R

I did read the thread, all of it. I participated in it. The answers ranged from rivets to reflectors to silicone etc. Fact.

Most of them rallied around it's not a big deal, and there really isnt an issue. When not one of them know how long the rv has sat in the weather and if it has had water leaking into it or not.
It's more than just a simple little hole, it's way for water to get in and cause delamination or mold. Just patching it and moving on because thats what common sense told them left out the part of the damage that could be caused by water intrusion.

The real damage is what it tells the manufacturer. No one cares, build it like junk, they'll take it.

You just came up with a reason for NOT ever buying an RV, new or used, because you do not know the entire history of the coach. After all, a previous owner could have had a leak under a window, or at the roof joint, and that could cause mold, mildew, and, god forbid, delamination. Why does it have to be something as simple as a screw hole? The facts are that while sitting on the dealer's lot, there is always the possibility that one of the windows was not sealed properly and the wall could be soaked inside. Who knows???????
Any coach, new or used, has the potential to have a leak, somewhere. I would guess that 99.999% of those leaks will occur at places where just looking at the area will not reveal any poor workmanship, etc. You buy the coach and you ALWAYS take your chances, new or used, it doesn't matter. Why beat yourself up over the unknown? :h

pssst IT'S BRAND NEW! Not used not demo'd not anything but NEW.

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.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 03, 2014
RVUSA wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

Obviously you NEVER read ANY of the responses to the OP. Not ONE person told him to ignore it and accept the coach as is, with the hole.
What most of the people did tell him was to have the hole repaired to his satisfaction and then enjoy his coach. Get your facts straight. :R

I did read the thread, all of it. I participated in it. The answers ranged from rivets to reflectors to silicone etc. Fact.

Most of them rallied around it's not a big deal, and there really isnt an issue. When not one of them know how long the rv has sat in the weather and if it has had water leaking into it or not.
It's more than just a simple little hole, it's way for water to get in and cause delamination or mold. Just patching it and moving on because thats what common sense told them left out the part of the damage that could be caused by water intrusion.

The real damage is what it tells the manufacturer. No one cares, build it like junk, they'll take it.

You just came up with a reason for NOT ever buying an RV, new or used, because you do not know the entire history of the coach. After all, a previous owner could have had a leak under a window, or at the roof joint, and that could cause mold, mildew, and, god forbid, delamination. Why does it have to be something as simple as a screw hole? The facts are that while sitting on the dealer's lot, there is always the possibility that one of the windows was not sealed properly and the wall could be soaked inside. Who knows???????
Any coach, new or used, has the potential to have a leak, somewhere. I would guess that 99.999% of those leaks will occur at places where just looking at the area will not reveal any poor workmanship, etc. You buy the coach and you ALWAYS take your chances, new or used, it doesn't matter. Why beat yourself up over the unknown? :h
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 03, 2014
rgatijnet1 wrote:
He seemed to want to tie the two topics together together so I obliged him.

They are tied together. The manufacturer left the hole exposed. What good QC crew would do that? None.
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 03, 2014
Effy wrote:
rgatijnet1 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

Obviously you NEVER read ANY of the responses to the OP. Not ONE person told him to ignore it and accept the coach as is, with the hole.
What most of the people did tell him was to have the hole repaired to his satisfaction and then enjoy his coach. Get your facts straight. :R

I think you posted to the wrong thread

I responded to his post and the link that he gave when he referenced the other thread. He seemed to want to tie the two topics together together so I obliged him.
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 03, 2014
rgatijnet1 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

Obviously you NEVER read ANY of the responses to the OP. Not ONE person told him to ignore it and accept the coach as is, with the hole.
What most of the people did tell him was to have the hole repaired to his satisfaction and then enjoy his coach. Get your facts straight. :R

I did read the thread, all of it. I participated in it. The answers ranged from rivets to reflectors to silicone etc. Fact.

Most of them rallied around it's not a big deal, and there really isnt an issue. When not one of them know how long the rv has sat in the weather and if it has had water leaking into it or not.
It's more than just a simple little hole, it's way for water to get in and cause delamination or mold. Just patching it and moving on because thats what common sense told them left out the part of the damage that could be caused by water intrusion.

The real damage is what it tells the manufacturer. No one cares, build it like junk, they'll take it.
Effy
Explorer II
Jan 03, 2014
rgatijnet1 wrote:
RVUSA wrote:
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

Obviously you NEVER read ANY of the responses to the OP. Not ONE person told him to ignore it and accept the coach as is, with the hole.
What most of the people did tell him was to have the hole repaired to his satisfaction and then enjoy his coach. Get your facts straight. :R

I think you posted to the wrong thread
rgatijnet1
Explorer III
Jan 03, 2014
RVUSA wrote:
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

Obviously you NEVER read ANY of the responses to the OP. Not ONE person told him to ignore it and accept the coach as is, with the hole.
What most of the people did tell him was to have the hole repaired to his satisfaction and then enjoy his coach. Get your facts straight. :R
RVUSA
Explorer
Jan 03, 2014
If you want to know why rv builders think they can put out shoddy work, have a look at this thread where the builder punched a hole in the wall with a screw, and just left the hole.

I find it amazing at the number of people that want the OP to just shrug it off and act like it wasnt an issue at all.

clicky

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Where is QC and PDI

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