This year has seen an explosion of RV sales with a lot of first-timers buying RVs. There's been a lot of people posting their discontent with things breaking and falling off and complaining about poor quality in general. People need to keep in mind that you are in effect dragging your house down the road submitting it to constant shaking. When not in use it bakes in the sun and freezes without heat. When you buy an RV, you better be prepared to babysit your RV coach as long as you own it. You need screwdrivers to fit whatever type fasteners hold it together and regularly spend time retightening them. They WILL get loose. Trim is going to fall off so small tacks and Liquid Nails will be your friend. It will be much better for your blood pressure to just take care of the little stuff on your own (even if you are still under warranty). How much is your time worth taking the rig to the dealer then having to return later to pick it back up? The upside to this is you will learn a lot about your possession and minor issue on the road can be quickly taken care of with your acquired knowledge. Leave the big stuff to the pros but get proficient at taking care of the small problems (because you will have plenty of them).

Good advice!Even the better built units will have a host of quality related issues. Just let the dealer fix them and don't stress yourself out over them.This isn't to minimize the horendous problems some have or to suggest they "just get over it". Some problems are just too extreme but folks should know these things aren't like high quality cars. Your going to have issues with new rigs.

Yup. "Back in the day" when you bought a car that you could afford making 3 bucks an hour in an after school job, by necessity you learned how to fix things. Most times the car you bought came already broken, so you learned something just getting on the road. I always carried a full tool box until just recently. Now I carry a cell phone and my AAA card.My cousin and I tore down and rebuilt cars for extra cash, so I got to know how things work as a teenager. Now, I see people who don't have a clue owning brand new motor homes and the only thing they can tell you is how many TVs they have.There's a couple of generations out there that have never worked on a car. The reliability of cars now are such that you run them until the check engine light comes on and then take it to the dealer to have it fixed. I do the same. Gone are the days you could take $100 to Sears and walk out with every tool you need to maintain a car.Anyone need an old dwell/tach?

grandson is now a certified honda mech says they,d all be lost without there plug in computer.

jplante4 wrote:Anyone need an old dwell/tach?How about a timing light?

Mortimer Brewster wrote:jplante4 wrote:Anyone need an old dwell/tach?How about a timing light?I'll throw in a carburetor adjusting tool and a brake adjust tool. Not sure why I still carry them in my tool box.

Control your expectations! | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

bdpreece
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2017
Mortimer Brewster wrote:
jplante4 wrote:

Anyone need an old dwell/tach?

How about a timing light?

I'll throw in a carburetor adjusting tool and a brake adjust tool. Not sure why I still carry them in my tool box.
Mortimer_Brewst
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2017
jplante4 wrote:

Anyone need an old dwell/tach?

How about a timing light?
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2017
grandson is now a certified honda mech says they,d all be lost without there plug in computer.
jplante4
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2017
Yup. "Back in the day" when you bought a car that you could afford making 3 bucks an hour in an after school job, by necessity you learned how to fix things. Most times the car you bought came already broken, so you learned something just getting on the road. I always carried a full tool box until just recently. Now I carry a cell phone and my AAA card.

My cousin and I tore down and rebuilt cars for extra cash, so I got to know how things work as a teenager. Now, I see people who don't have a clue owning brand new motor homes and the only thing they can tell you is how many TVs they have.

There's a couple of generations out there that have never worked on a car. The reliability of cars now are such that you run them until the check engine light comes on and then take it to the dealer to have it fixed. I do the same. Gone are the days you could take $100 to Sears and walk out with every tool you need to maintain a car.

Anyone need an old dwell/tach?
ScottG
Nomad
Jul 31, 2017
Good advice!
Even the better built units will have a host of quality related issues. Just let the dealer fix them and don't stress yourself out over them.
This isn't to minimize the horendous problems some have or to suggest they "just get over it". Some problems are just too extreme but folks should know these things aren't like high quality cars.
Your going to have issues with new rigs.

Forum Discussion

Control your expectations!

25 Replies

About RV Newbies

Related Content

Sway Control

Expectations

realistic MPG expectations

Trip Expectations

Braking expectations