JimK-NY wrote:
Lantley wrote:
Go tothe service dept. of any car dealer and you will find lots of new vehicles that are broke.
If you maintain a well built car it will hold up and last 20 years easily.
The same can be said for an RV.
None of this matches my experience or the reports I hear from others. First most new cars are quite reliable and don't have any need for initial repairs. My wife and I have 2015 cars that have required only oil changes, replacement wiper blades and replacement batteries. My 2018 truck has had a couple of oil changes and nothing else. That does not seem to be the case for RVs. New RVs always seem to have a list of items that need to be fixed due to poor design or quality of construction.
RVs often die due to leaks and water intrusion. Many are so poorly built that the seams crack open and water finds its way inside to create havoc. It can be an endless battle. I have never heard of a car leaking because it got rained on. That is true of a new car and one that is 50 years old. I suppose it is possible for a sun roof in a car to leak. That has never happened to me and I would not expect such a leak to destroy the whole car or result in major structural repairs.
A car typically is used daily and can run up hundreds of thousands of miles before it wears out. Most RVs only have some occasional use and still fall apart typically within 10 years or so. There is just no comparison with the quality of design, construction and overall longevity. I cannot imagine buying a car and finding it came with some cheap, Chinese tires that had a history of blowouts. I cannot imagine the need to inspect and caulk the car at least every year. I cannot imagine buying a car only to find that even empty the suspension and tires were already close to maximum load capacity. Sadly that is very frequently the case for RVs and is not something most new buyers would even think about. I cannot imagine buying a car only to find that the trunk keys were the same on every vehicle and the doors could easily be pried open with a screwdriver. I cannot imagine buying a car with plastic windows that are likely to leak and scratch if you look at them sideways.
I will agree that there are more pitfalls in the RV world.
I also agree the RV world preys on new unsuspecting inexperienced buyers.
That said lemon laws exist for a reason.
There are also mandatory recalls, the air bag recalls come to mind.
My point is the auto world is far from perfect.
It's took competition from Japan back in the 70's to force Americans to build a better car.
There is also more regulation on the auto industry vs. the RV industry.
Part of the problem is people expect their RV to be as reliable and solid as a car and it is not. They expect the RV industry to treat the consumer like the auto industry.
RV buyers are simply not aware of the policies and requirements of the RV world.
In the end many RV's lack required maintenance, are overloaded and simply fall apert due to lack of quality control and lack of maintenance.
Ultimately the consumers need to have a better understanding of the RV world and what is required of RV ownership.
The consumer also needs to put more presure on the RV industry by demanding tougher legislation and using class action suits to hold the industry more accounable.
Until then preventative maintenance, keen awareness, and moderate DIY skills and knowledge is key to keeping an RV on the road for 10-15 years or more.
