I have been wanting to buy a RV. But the more I read about all of the different Classes and how many items need to be fixed. It seems to me that most if not all RV's are money pits. I understand things fall apart and some of that is just cosmetic. But if the big 3 Car Manufactures did that they would be out of Business. So why is it the RV Manufactures get away with crappy production? Isnt there anyone who holds them accountable? Am I reading to much into this? Is there anyone who doesnt have that many things go wrong with their unit? I realize that an RV needs maintenance. But after spending thousands of dollars. I would think that you should be able to Drive or pull it for at least a few years before having to spend thousands on getting it fixed. It wont stop me from getting one in the future. Just curious to know these things.

Because just like the Chinese junk we cant stop buying, we accept the low quality of RV's. Or maybe we just don't recognise junk when we see it.I dont know why.

If they built higher quality units they'd probably price many of us out of the market.

Every time I point out an issue, many come right back defending the junk. As long as folks blame the user instead of the manufacturer nothing will change. It would be best if you look at a new RV as a pile of materials that needs assembly, you will have the correct outlook.

phillyg wrote:If they built higher quality units they'd probably price many of us out of the market.Maybe but that didn't happen with automobiles.

Well, you can decry the poor quality and lack of workmanship, but let's face it: it's the only game in town. If you're unhappy with the overall market, then don't buy anything, and hope that things improve. But that could take a few years, if it happens at all, and in the meantime you do without. The only reason the American car quality increased is because of the competition, and it still took quite a few years to actually happen. I expect that's about the only way the RV industry will get better too.

RV Quality | Good Sam Community

53 Replies

tatest
Explorer II
Aug 17, 2016
ScottG wrote:
phillyg wrote:
If they built higher quality units they'd probably price many of us out of the market.

Maybe but that didn't happen with automobiles.

No, but prices went up about 8x from late 1960s to today. Not all of that is inflation, and a big part of inflation has been the cost of bringing quality of big ticket items up to meet regulatory standards.

You can buy a higher quality RV for 3x to 5x the price of mass market products. To do that would price most of today's buyers out of the market. The niche for price of quality in RVs is quite small, as the are not a necessary item in our culture, as cars are. For cars, we pay what we have to, and a big part of the market is still the folks who need a car but don't buy one until it's price is down to 1/5th of what someone affluent paid for it new.
Cloud_Dancer
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2016
justme wrote:
Many people become brand loyalists and fear any negative comments will depreciate the resale price. The facts support that most RV are poor quality and/or questionable engineering. The suspension and running gear is a case in point. Many pay more attention to the TV ability to pull a trailer and very little attention to the trailer's running gear. The Asian auto makers are what made the US auto makers do a better job in manufacturing-- that most likely will be what would make the American RV manufacturers shape up and build better and safer rigs. For some reason the US customers' will not cause the needed changes.

I know that it's just you, but do you mean that the quality problem is the fault of the consumer? OK, I dasn't keep beating the dead horse....:B
But, I will say this: Some of us KNOWINGLY bought a RV that had design deficiencies and construction-material questions and workmanship quality questions as well. You see, we were NOT going to waste any more years of our life in order to ENJOY the RV lifestyle. And, I'm glad I did. Sure, the RV that WE can afford is no NEWELL, nor is it a well-made Cadillac (I bought a new SRX a few months ago). I dern sure am not going to wait for something that's not going to happen. I enjoy my big motorhome NOW,.....after spending MY time to fix it myself. That's the way it is. We me fixing on it, mine will last 25 years.
justme
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
Many people become brand loyalists and fear any negative comments will depreciate the resale price. The facts support that most RV are poor quality and/or questionable engineering. The suspension and running gear is a case in point. Many pay more attention to the TV ability to pull a trailer and very little attention to the trailer's running gear. The Asian auto makers are what made the US auto makers do a better job in manufacturing-- that most likely will be what would make the American RV manufacturers shape up and build better and safer rigs. For some reason the US customers' will not cause the needed changes.
PAThwacker
Explorer
Aug 14, 2016
2gypsies wrote:
PAThwacker wrote:
How about current stick and brick appliances? They last less than 5 years.

Certainly not!

Our daughter is using a freezer for a spare that we bought when we first married - 52 years ago! :)

Past ten years replace 4 dryers, 2 fridges, two well pumps, three expansion tanks, 2 dishwashers.

Brother lost two microwave and almost burnt his house down when the oven self started a burner. Yeah the bottomless pits of debt are not what the used to be.
coolbreeze01
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
Buy a tent. You can always move up.
rockhillmanor
Explorer II
Aug 13, 2016
Yup the real old ones built back in the day DID 'last forever'! :B
The new ones are made to fail within 10 years or less.Planned obsolescence is what is the order of the day now.

Just replaced a window ac at my winter home that was only 2 years old. 25 year shingles actually lasting 25 years? ya, right. :R

I'm putting a metal roof on this one. It will still be there long after I'm gone!
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2016
PAThwacker wrote:
How about current stick and brick appliances? They last less than 5 years.

Certainly not!

Our daughter is using a freezer for a spare that we bought when we first married - 52 years ago! :)
Padlin
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
Didn't read all the above posts but here's my $.02

Had a US built travel trailer, I was fixing and replacing things pretty much constantly. You'll have to take my word at it, but I'm pretty meticulous with my stuff so I blame the manufacturer as opposed to the owner.

When looking for a replacement for long term travel, as in months at a time, I looked for and bought a Canadian made fiberglass trailer. You know, the fiberglass egg type, except mines a fifth wheel. Have had it 2 years, putting on roughly 20k miles. The only issue so far has been with the fridge, Dometics to name names, which I do not blame on the trailer manufacturer. Normal lifetime for these type of trailers is decades.

Granted these are niche market, but quality is out there.
NYCgrrl
Explorer
Aug 13, 2016
BarneyS wrote:
PAThwacker wrote:
How about current stick and brick appliances? They last less than 5 years.

That sure has not been my experience! Each was sold (except for our current home) after about 18 or 20 years with the original appliances still working well except for water heaters.

Barney

I get a much longer lifespan from my kitchen appliances as well.
BarneyS
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2016
PAThwacker wrote:
How about current stick and brick appliances? They last less than 5 years.

That sure has not been my experience! I have had three new homes in my 79 years. Each was sold (except for our current home) after about 18 or 20 years with the original appliances still working well except for water heaters.

Our present home (20 years) still has the original furnace and air conditioner, but we just recently replaced all kitchen appliances. Hope they last more than 5 years! :E Old ones were still working fine so we donated them to my sons campground. :)
Barney

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