Forum Discussion
- 2012Coleman, I really enjoyed reading your experience and view on manufacturing.
My Canadian built class B 'up-fit' has a phenomenal quality. I haven't had any issues whatsoever in 4 months of ownership. Not to say something won't come up (had a couple of Mercedes recalls).....but the Pleasure Way build is solid with a 5 yr. warranty to the first owner.
Safe travels,
Mark The only possibility would be foreign investors to buy an existing RV manufacturer and instill their version of quality construction.
If that happens its gonna' cost more bucks to buy their rv. Just look at costs now for the better grade/better quality RVs. Those units cost a bunch more than a low cost unit of the same size.
Years ('60s/'70s) before the net was ever dreamed of by the average folks, we talked about the same issues. Back then we had better built units available but just like today most people couldn't afford them.
JMO....today main issues from a safety point are a weak chassis frame material/not enough built in cross members and out riggers. Main frame rails to light duty. Axle/tires/wheel selection for the unit are to light duty.
But upgrade the chassis and running gear adds more to the units cost.- Interesting article
Airstream's CEO explains why the company has too many applicants even though it doesn't put out job ads amid a hiring spree
Business Insider
I wonder if employee job satisfaction goes hand in hand with product quality? bikendan wrote:
JimK-NY wrote:
Take a quick look at RVs and you will quickly see that poor construction is only part of the issue. Materials and parts are often poor. Design and engineering are typically very bad.
I equate the RV industry to the American auto industry of the 50s and 60s. It took some serious foreign competition to shake up the industry. Even now American makers continue to struggle with quality; e.g., for Ford quality is still "job one". Considering the high prices and poor quality, the door is open for foreign competition.
Exactly where will this RV foreign competition come from? There is no RV manufacturering there except for a couple of Japanese boutique builders of tiny motorhomes. Yes, there are some European RV manufacturers but it's nearly impossible to make a profit to export them to North America. How many European RVs have you seen at any dealerships here?
Shipping costs from Europe or the Far East are too high for them to make a profit. And RVs take up much more room on ships, than cars do.
The only possibility would be foreign investors to buy an existing RV manufacturer and instill their version of quality construction. But I don't see that happening, like Hymer RV's debacle and scandal of purchasing Roadtrek.
You're forgetting Canada and Mexico.JimK-NY wrote:
Take a quick look at RVs and you will quickly see that poor construction is only part of the issue. Materials and parts are often poor. Design and engineering are typically very bad.
I equate the RV industry to the American auto industry of the 50s and 60s. It took some serious foreign competition to shake up the industry. Even now American makers continue to struggle with quality; e.g., for Ford quality is still "job one". Considering the high prices and poor quality, the door is open for foreign competition.
Exactly where will this RV foreign competition come from? There is no RV manufacturering there except for a couple of Japanese boutique builders of tiny motorhomes. Yes, there are some European RV manufacturers but it's nearly impossible to make a profit to export them to North America. How many European RVs have you seen at any dealerships here?
Shipping costs from Europe or the Far East are too high for them to make a profit. And RVs take up much more room on ships, than cars do.
The only possibility would be foreign investors to buy an existing RV manufacturer and instill their version of quality construction. But I don't see that happening, like Hymer RV's debacle and scandal of purchasing Roadtrek.2012Coleman wrote:
toedtoes wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
Someone wrote:
But until the public starts holding the manufacturers accountable, they will continue to sell cr@p.
LOL - this statement has been repeatedly posted since I joined this forum in 2012. And now we are supposed to be mad at the dealers who should be holding manufacturers liable for quality by refusing to sell their products?
First, you quote me yet actually change the quote to remove my screenname? A bit tacky.
Second, I never said to get mad at the dealers. I said that until the manufacturers are held accountable for putting out a cr@p product, nothing will change.
First - I didn't quote you directly since you are not the only one who ever said that.
Second, I did not say that you specifically said we had to be mad at dealers - exactly why I didn't quote you. Someone else made that observation. If you'd like, I'll gladly update it.
I'm sorry that my attempt at trying to not belittle you came off as tacky.
My apologies. Your clarification makes sense.- Reopening. Please play nice with each other.
- This thread went right where I thought it would.
toedtoes wrote:
2012Coleman wrote:
Someone wrote:
But until the public starts holding the manufacturers accountable, they will continue to sell cr@p.
LOL - this statement has been repeatedly posted since I joined this forum in 2012. And now we are supposed to be mad at the dealers who should be holding manufacturers liable for quality by refusing to sell their products?
First, you quote me yet actually change the quote to remove my screenname? A bit tacky.
Second, I never said to get mad at the dealers. I said that until the manufacturers are held accountable for putting out a cr@p product, nothing will change.
First - I didn't quote you directly since you are not the only one who ever said that.
Second, I did not say that you specifically said we had to be mad at dealers - exactly why I didn't quote you. Someone else made that observation. If you'd like, I'll gladly update it.
I'm sorry that my attempt at trying to not belittle you came off as tacky.2012Coleman wrote:
Someone wrote:
But until the public starts holding the manufacturers accountable, they will continue to sell cr@p.
LOL - this statement has been repeatedly posted since I joined this forum in 2012. And now we are supposed to be mad at the dealers who should be holding manufacturers liable for quality by refusing to sell their products?
First, you quote me yet actually change the quote to remove my screenname? A bit tacky.
Second, I never said to get mad at the dealers. I said that until the manufacturers are held accountable for putting out a cr@p product, nothing will change.
As long as people continue to buy poorly built campers, the manufacturers will continue to make poorly built campers. This is true for any and every product made.
Per this article:
Our list of RV brands includes almost 100 entries and more than 500 distinct brands and model series. But would you believe only six parent companies own 95+ percent of the market?
And the Big Two own a whopping 85 percent?!
Thor Industries
Foresr River
The other four parent companies are Winnebago Industries, REV Group, Northwoods Manufacturing and Gulf Stream Coach.
That means that companies like Casita, Oliver etc, are capturing 5 percent of the market - combined. These companies make a very small range of RVs. Most often the small "couple sized" travel trailers.
For family sized RVs, there are far fewer options outside of the six major companies, and Thor and Forest River can afford to sell their entry level models at a loss - getting the new RVer into the market. If that entry level RV only holds up for one or two years, that's great. The consumer will have bought into the "RV life" and will upgrade, hopefully several times.
