RV manufacturers, I am calling you out
I purchased a travel trailer 6 years ago. I am going to say something many of you out there already know: something I know will be controversial, and is seldom said. These RVs are stinking piles of garbage. Brand new off the lot, they are junk. And I will never buy one again.
Below is my personal story of a long series of mechanical failures we have experienced, starting from the very first year of our purchase:
Pealed wall paper.
Detached and shrunk interior trim.
Separated and cracked interior laminate.
Failed sliding door hardware
Failed gas springs – bed chest.
Failed antenna hardware.
Fuse box cover latch snapped off.
Yellowed and cracked exterior vents and porch lights.
An outdoor refrigerator that cannot reliably maintain temperature, because it resides in space that is not vented.
Awning motor failure resulting in awning separation from the camper while in transit.
A second awning motor failure (pending current repair)
A slide out that repeatedly sticks and requires manually intervention despite proper silicone lubrication.
Exterior water heater switch failure.
Interior switches that stick and don’t reset to neutral position.
Wheel chrome separation from the aluminum.
Air conditioner that leaks into the cabin.
EZ lube axles that leak around the seals and into the brakes.
EPDM membrane that as far as I can tell was not glued, resulting in a complete separation from the roof and massive billowing. (pending current repair)
The above is just what I remember. Likely there are more.
I know there are those will assert my experience is result of improper or lack of maintenance. I cannot (in a forum) prove otherwise, other than to claim that although I am no RV expert, I am a fairly handy amateur mechanic. From the day I bought this unit, I have endeavored to maintain all its systems the best I could. And twice every year I spend days in preventative maintenance. Repairs add to the burden.
I wonder what the outcome is for those who are not handy or don’t desire the investment in time and money required to keep these units operating? How many of these units are destined to overwhelm their owners and not so gradually left to sit and finally decay? Possibly well before the final payment is due. The emotional toll and cost to the owner has eclipsed the fun to be gained.
The marketing strategy from the industry is obvious. The units are pretty, flashy and they have so many cool things! But the primary goal is to move them off the lot. As many of them as possible. At the lowest cost possible, and quality is an afterthought. And there are many in the target market who don’t know it (initially myself included). But I believe this strategy is misguided. How many times on this forum have you seen posts from individuals looking for input on quality? Who is the best manufacture? Where can I find the best quality? My answer to those posts today would be: save your breath. As far as I can tell 90% of these RVs are made from the same materials and the same labor. My chief objection to the above strategy is that I would have gladly spent more if I knew I was getting a unit that would last. My firm belief is that others would as well.
Maybe my expectations were warped. At the time, I could have been thinking: Since I am buying new, I’ll probably get 5 years of trouble free operation out of this before I start seeing problems. Like what you would expect out of a new car, right? Sure there will be more preventative maintenance, but I can handle that! But, these units are nothing like a car. And the 1-year warranty reflects it. By the way, just as an FYI, the 10-year warranty on the roof is not supported by the RV manufacturer. The roof warranty is on the material only and the RV manufacturer will send you to the roof maker for the claim. Good luck.
The dealers are no better. I remember our pre-delivery inspection. What a joke. In detail they cover operation of the water heater, stove, air conditioning, antenna, and winterizing. I can read a manual on how to operate a stove on my own. No mention of critical elements that matter: brake adjustments, torqueing, dry rotting of the cheapest possible tires (keep them covered), bearing maintenance, highway drift, EPDM and the dangers of EZ lube. Looking back, I am amazed they let a newbie as green as myself roll off the lot, untested, in a 36’ TT. It was flat out, unsafe. The truth is, a realistic education puts the sale in jeopardy. The dealers sell you the unit and send you on your way to learn the hard way.
I don’t enjoy the roll of the spoiler. I hate it. But this is my experience. The truth as I see it. And I feel obligated to share it as a small drop in an ocean to maybe influence a change. My advice to those in the market is, don’t. Unless you are buying something used and your expectations are not high. Or you are buying high end and money/time are not a concern. If I had it over, camping trips would be in rented cabins. There are a lot of options.
In my own personal case, we are invested. So my plan is to make the best of it. I still have a passion for camping when the trip is not punctuated by the latest mechanical failure. I pledge to create great memories for the children and enjoy the outdoors. And try not to think about my separated EPDM.
Jim
Below is my personal story of a long series of mechanical failures we have experienced, starting from the very first year of our purchase:
Pealed wall paper.
Detached and shrunk interior trim.
Separated and cracked interior laminate.
Failed sliding door hardware
Failed gas springs – bed chest.
Failed antenna hardware.
Fuse box cover latch snapped off.
Yellowed and cracked exterior vents and porch lights.
An outdoor refrigerator that cannot reliably maintain temperature, because it resides in space that is not vented.
Awning motor failure resulting in awning separation from the camper while in transit.
A second awning motor failure (pending current repair)
A slide out that repeatedly sticks and requires manually intervention despite proper silicone lubrication.
Exterior water heater switch failure.
Interior switches that stick and don’t reset to neutral position.
Wheel chrome separation from the aluminum.
Air conditioner that leaks into the cabin.
EZ lube axles that leak around the seals and into the brakes.
EPDM membrane that as far as I can tell was not glued, resulting in a complete separation from the roof and massive billowing. (pending current repair)
The above is just what I remember. Likely there are more.
I know there are those will assert my experience is result of improper or lack of maintenance. I cannot (in a forum) prove otherwise, other than to claim that although I am no RV expert, I am a fairly handy amateur mechanic. From the day I bought this unit, I have endeavored to maintain all its systems the best I could. And twice every year I spend days in preventative maintenance. Repairs add to the burden.
I wonder what the outcome is for those who are not handy or don’t desire the investment in time and money required to keep these units operating? How many of these units are destined to overwhelm their owners and not so gradually left to sit and finally decay? Possibly well before the final payment is due. The emotional toll and cost to the owner has eclipsed the fun to be gained.
The marketing strategy from the industry is obvious. The units are pretty, flashy and they have so many cool things! But the primary goal is to move them off the lot. As many of them as possible. At the lowest cost possible, and quality is an afterthought. And there are many in the target market who don’t know it (initially myself included). But I believe this strategy is misguided. How many times on this forum have you seen posts from individuals looking for input on quality? Who is the best manufacture? Where can I find the best quality? My answer to those posts today would be: save your breath. As far as I can tell 90% of these RVs are made from the same materials and the same labor. My chief objection to the above strategy is that I would have gladly spent more if I knew I was getting a unit that would last. My firm belief is that others would as well.
Maybe my expectations were warped. At the time, I could have been thinking: Since I am buying new, I’ll probably get 5 years of trouble free operation out of this before I start seeing problems. Like what you would expect out of a new car, right? Sure there will be more preventative maintenance, but I can handle that! But, these units are nothing like a car. And the 1-year warranty reflects it. By the way, just as an FYI, the 10-year warranty on the roof is not supported by the RV manufacturer. The roof warranty is on the material only and the RV manufacturer will send you to the roof maker for the claim. Good luck.
The dealers are no better. I remember our pre-delivery inspection. What a joke. In detail they cover operation of the water heater, stove, air conditioning, antenna, and winterizing. I can read a manual on how to operate a stove on my own. No mention of critical elements that matter: brake adjustments, torqueing, dry rotting of the cheapest possible tires (keep them covered), bearing maintenance, highway drift, EPDM and the dangers of EZ lube. Looking back, I am amazed they let a newbie as green as myself roll off the lot, untested, in a 36’ TT. It was flat out, unsafe. The truth is, a realistic education puts the sale in jeopardy. The dealers sell you the unit and send you on your way to learn the hard way.
I don’t enjoy the roll of the spoiler. I hate it. But this is my experience. The truth as I see it. And I feel obligated to share it as a small drop in an ocean to maybe influence a change. My advice to those in the market is, don’t. Unless you are buying something used and your expectations are not high. Or you are buying high end and money/time are not a concern. If I had it over, camping trips would be in rented cabins. There are a lot of options.
In my own personal case, we are invested. So my plan is to make the best of it. I still have a passion for camping when the trip is not punctuated by the latest mechanical failure. I pledge to create great memories for the children and enjoy the outdoors. And try not to think about my separated EPDM.
Jim
