Tough job testing RV's

Once upon a time I worked for a weekly newspaper chain in southern Dallas county. We had an 'automobile review writer'. A big part of his job was selling advertising space to auto dealerships.

He got to review / test drive a lot of cars. He didn't get to pick which cars. The dealers always gave him the newest models, or the models they were having trouble selling.

He really wasn't able to say much negative. Not a paper policy, but because the dealers would cancel their ads.

From what I've seen of RV reviews it is a little better. The manufacturers pick the models that will be reviewed. They set limits on where the rig can be taken and what type of roads. They define the options, and they have veto over who gets to test / review their RVs.

Might be a fairly decent job, but it has its limitations. Articles have to be finished, and meet a word count/ length requirement. Not too short, not too long.

Probably a normal 40 hr per week job with review camping being unpaid time. Probably in the 30k per year range.

Dog Folks wrote:
Only one night is not enough time to honestly review a RV.

Three nights at least.

If they REALLY wanted an honest test and opinion on new models they would let someone run the unit across country for a month, and fully loaded for full time camping.

Of course that would probably turn into a disaster for most makes, since there would be immediate blow outs and other failures.

Only one night is not enough time to honestly review a RV.

Three nights at least.

Don't know how many times I've had oil running down my arm while on my back changing an oil filter. You know it's going to happen with that sewer hose unless it's fixed, first thing. Yuck!

I haven't seen a review stating that you had to scoot on your back to hook up sewer (yet), but I did find the one for a MH I am interested in quite enlightening. Reviewer commented that GPS screen and radio were almost impossible for driver to reach/view easily. As a single RVer, that was something I hadn't really thought about, but will pay attention as I search for a MH. Also the reviewer mentioned the drop down bed had to be lowered to get into cabinets over dash. Another "ah ha" moment for this newbie to Class A's.

I'd take it...:), compared to some jobs I've had, seems like it could be some fun and a WHOLE LOT LESS STRESSFUL than the manufacturing field:)

tatest wrote:
You will find the reviews in thr RV magazines pretty bland. They are writing to an audience that knows what to expect, hooking up sewer hoses is a known.

Ya, well I haven't seen any RV reviews mentioning they will have to crawl under RV to hook up the sewer hose to RV. This guy started on all fours, reaching underneath the RV with his arms trying to get the sewer hose on the connection UNDER the RV. He ended up wiggling on his back under the RV to get it sewer hose on.

Sewer connection was Not at the side, but underneath RV and in about a foot.

I don't know of anybody the "expects" to start out on their hands and knees and then have to wiggle on their back to get sewer hose connected.

First thing I would do is put on an elbow and extension so connection was accessible from the side.

But the point is of this thread is must be a tough job testing RV's.

You will find the reviews in thr RV magazines pretty bland. They are writing to an audience that knows what to expect, hooking up sewer hoses is a known.