2016 NL Delamination

Don't worry John most rvs are like that where you have to work on them. Non are perfect like others have said. It is a labor of love to get them where you want it. I had an unusual amount of problems and took an angry bent, but most times the work will become an enjoyable part of rv ownership.

This is beginning to worry me. I pick up our new NL on April 2nd.
John

The delamination has happened a total of 7-8 times that I know of. I have kept a record of peoples forum handles on just the ones willing to post about it. That is all I have. How many more choose not to post? We will never know.

I realize it's best to move on, think positive, go enjoy life with your RV the best you can. It's hard to let go sometimes though when one had to spend an inordinate amount of time getting things right.

As an example of enjoyment. I have great plans for a great rv adventure this summer. Just the anticipation is great enjoyment.

I sincerely hope all other NL owners have great fun with little or no problems. I think most have found that to be true.

HMS Beagle, I agree, and I have to shake my head when I see some choices people make. But, it's not just limited to manufacturing. Just an observation, but I don't have a solution. ;) It's probably always been like this, but we just notice it more.

Well you bought an RV. They all suck, but a few brands suck a little less. I've had a few "high end" RVs (Safari/Monoco motorhome, Airstream trailer) and some of the workmanship on them was appalling. Even fraudulent. Maybe the best example is the awnings mounted with self tapping screws, a couple of them snapped off in the hole, so they hacksawed the heads off of some screws and siliconed them to the holes to cover it up - I'm not kidding, I have pictures! These are the screws removed from the new Safari, supposed to hold the window awnings on. Note the the screw head has clear hacksaw marks. It was glued over the hole, down in the hole was a snapped off screw. One on the other side, too. The reason I took them off was they hadn't used any sealant at all, rain water was running in the hole, down some 120V wiring, and pouring out of an electrical outlet. That's not supposed to happen :E.

I'm still unhappy about my NL camper. I think the work is not good. Too many leaks and too many sloppily cut rough openings. I will never get another one.

This only half the problems I had.

HMS Beagle wrote:
"not easy to repair" with a staple gun, some 2x2 pine, and some tin, true.

I'm not sure who is repairing using those supplies, but those wouldn't be helpful with my TC either. :D

In the OP case, it sounds like there was a core structural problem which wouldn't have been easy to fix on any type of construction. :)
There are reasons that there is more than one construction method and tradeoffs of each.

Luckily, that type of failure is extremely uncommon.

"not easy to repair" with a staple gun, some 2x2 pine, and some tin, true. But really just as easy if the right methods are used, and the repair will be better and less visible, essentially good as new. This is done on composite boats and aircraft every day. Access in a boat is typically no better than an RV, access in a composite sailplane is considerably worse. The problem isn't that composite repair is difficult, just that many fewer people are familiar with it.

Obviously a camper built with composite construction isn't easy to repair. This one went back to the factory, probably a 5000 to 6000 mile round trip. I'm sure the manufacturer would have done his up most best to make sure it was fixed properly, after eating those costs. I'm sure both the manufacturer and the owner are very disappointed on how this turned out.

HMS Beagle wrote:

shellbackcva59 wrote:

I'm not sure how you repair something that is more or less composite construction. I would think it's a one and done build.

Actually composite is quite easy to repair, but requires different skills than you typically find in an an RV shop. Take it to a boat repair place. They deal with stuff like this all the time.

Problem is, access to the area that needs repair is problematic. In this case... I believe it is in a difficult area... Gut the interior or area that needs access to the insides and re-do.... I do not believe it would be a pleasant experience... As some on RV.net have done to Bfoots and Nlights.

Jim