Forum Discussion

Travels_with_Yo's avatar
Travels_with_Yo
Explorer
Dec 11, 2016

Buyer Beware - Adventurer Truck Campers

We purchased a new 2016 Adventurer 80RB the beginning of August and actually like the camper a great deal. There is however an issue with the design and execution of the entry door. We had a problem with ours caused by a factory defect (installed incorrectly on the production line) and the manufacturer now claims no responsibility. While the product may be fine in general, it's not worth it if the manufacturer doesn't stand behind the claimed warranty. See my video for all the details ....

Damage by Design
Truck Campers
  • Powerdude's avatar
    Powerdude
    Explorer
    Dec 19, 2016
    With all due respect...but seriously??

    Anybody with some common sense mechanical experience should know that friction fit doors and any friction fit hinge type of product is really inherently unreliable. It tends to work for a little while, but then needs adjusting and tightening.

    In other words, it's advertising BS. Plain and simple, it's a feature of dubious merit.

    Common sense would be to secure your door in high winds with some bungee cords or something. The rubber stop was probably a slight manufacturer oversight. **** happens in the RV world.

    Adventurer has been around a while. I've e-mailed them about a particular camper that I'm comparison shopping for, the 86SBS, and they've replied promptly with the information I'm looking for.

    The only real thing I'm wary about with Adventurer is that they really do not have enough dealers, it seems like. They are really far away (at least from me). But, they seem to have about the same number of dealers as Northern Lite, so that's not really saying anything. My bad luck really to have no dealers for either of them close to me.

    Always check the bump stops, all of them (doors, suspensions, cabinets, etc). I've learned that through painful experience.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Dec 19, 2016
    Cheers to you also


    I guess we will just have to agree to disagree on some of your points. In the end, hope it works out for you.
  • Travels_with_Yo's avatar
    Travels_with_Yo
    Explorer
    Dec 19, 2016
    jmtandem wrote:
    Thanks for your understanding and compassion.

    You posted this thread so you had to expect some comments, and just maybe not everybody thinks the way you do apparently including the warranty folks at Adventurer.

    You're right, I did expect some comments and naturally, like most things on the internet there will always be contrary opinions.


    There are many factors relative to the PDI inspection and unless you take the door and slam it against the ladder as a test, there is no way I could have determined that the bumper was out of place by an inch.

    Again, an overly dramatic assessment of the issue. It is very easy to watch how the door works by pushing it to the stops. And you said that can be done with your little finger. So, why the verbosity about slamming it?

    Overly dramatic is a subjective determination ... you think it is, i do not. Every camper I've had (this is our 7th) has had a physical limiter such as a gas spring, so this was totally new to me. I also mistakenly took the word of the saleman on the Adventurer web site video when he said that the door stays where you put it, it doesn't move (his exact words). This was also stated to me by the dealer. Foolish me for being so naive and trusting. If you can't understand where this is coming from, then there's no point in any further discussion

    Who would do that ?

    Anybody that wants to see how the door stop works. Me included.

    Once again, please forgive me for not being you.

    Also, just an FYI, it took me less than an hour to produce the video so no big deal on my end.

    And how has that hour worked out for you? Adventurer has not settled a warranty issue with you and the video did not help?

    I didn't expect the video to "help" as far as Adventurer was concerned. They were quite clear that they were not going to help. I didn't think for one second the video would affect them in any way. The video was posted simply to let others who have an 80Rb like ours to be aware of this happening and also to let others know about a company who takes little interest in customer satisfaction. Just an FYI.

    The point I made in the video and the comments posted below the video are in sharp contrast to your critical point of view. Have a great day.

    It would be nice if the world was a perfect place and everything worked out just the way you wanted it to. But it is not for all of us. Some things just don't go our way all the time. Move on and make this up to a learning experience. Hope you get a new door or the camper door fixed. It would be nice for you if it was fixed under warranty but more importantly is that it gets fixed. Hope somebody makes you happy with the door issue. Cheers!

    I'm a retired engineer and fixing the door isn't any big deal. It doesn't bother me at all. It's an easy fix. Just because of that doesn't mean that Adventurer is right by blowing me off. As for moving on, I did that weeks ago.

    Cheers to you also ... happy travels :)



  • d3500ram's avatar
    d3500ram
    Explorer III
    Dec 18, 2016
    Thanks for posting the video... if a picture is worth a thousand words then a video is 'prolly a million!

    I live vicariously via others' misfortunes... if I can learn from them then I appreciate the information (however it was conveyed.) I do not have the same door set-up as you... but there have been many times wind has closed it with authority- If I take away from you posting to be more cognizant of mine, then it was worth it.
  • Travels_with_Yo's avatar
    Travels_with_Yo
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2016
    Wow ! I did not expect such a response nor any of the comments basically blaming me for not being aware enough. Just to answer a few points made and a brief summary.

    The camper was less than 2 weeks old when this happened. I was inside making modifications (adding stuff) on a hot calm day. Naturally the door was open for ventilation. This doesn't seem out of the realm of normal to me. A sudden gust of wind slammed the door against the ladder. Believe me, it was a shock to see the result. The dealer is 360 miles away. My analysis was that the bumper had been installed improperly but by such a small amount (1 inch) neither the dealer nor I noticed it nor deduced the consequences. When I got the camper home initially, I noticed that the screen door didn't align properly in the door frame nor did it latch. Naturally I called the dealer and had Brad call me about it. Since the dealer was so far away, the dealer thought that Brad could instruct me how to fix it myself. Brad called later and explained that sometimes the screen doors get damaged in shipment and he went over some steps on where to grab it and how to bend it back where it should be. I did exactly what he told me to do and it worked perfectly. I called him back and thanked him and told him how satisfied I was. Naturally, having had that positive experience, I emailed Brad the photos relating to the door damage and a description of what happened fully expecting them to tell me to take it somewhere and have the hole patched. I wasn't expecting a new door or anything like that and I assumed that a couple hundred bucks would fix it. His response totally caught me off guard. I asked him to double check with management and to verify that they weren't going to do anything to help me here. He replied with the verbiage I quoted in the video. I also stated in the video that we love the camper. I just feel that this friction door absolutely requires the bumper to be placed precisely where it needs to be to prevent this from happening. For those taking the manufacturer's side saying they'd like to hear Adventurer's position on this, no kidding ! I'd love to hear their point of view as well. Their response to me implied that the mis-installation of the bumper wasn't their fault ! For those thinking I made a mountain out of a mole hill, I think the opposite. I have completely moved on from this, moments after posting the video, which I did simply to point out a company that shuns good customer service and also to possibly avoid someone else with an 80RB like ours from having the same issue. I was really shocked to hear people getting on my case for posting this video. I'll fix this myself, no big deal. The suggestions to add a second bump stop at the point of contact is a great idea and one I will obviously pursue. The video still stands as evidence of an experience.
  • jmtandem's avatar
    jmtandem
    Explorer II
    Dec 18, 2016
    Thanks for your understanding and compassion.

    You posted this thread so you had to expect some comments, and just maybe not everybody thinks the way you do apparently including the warranty folks at Adventurer.


    There are many factors relative to the PDI inspection and unless you take the door and slam it against the ladder as a test, there is no way I could have determined that the bumper was out of place by an inch.

    Again, an overly dramatic assessment of the issue. It is very easy to watch how the door works by pushing it to the stops. And you said that can be done with your little finger. So, why the verbosity about slamming it?

    Who would do that ?

    Anybody that wants to see how the door stop works. Me included.

    Also, just an FYI, it took me less than an hour to produce the video so no big deal on my end.

    And how has that hour worked out for you? Adventurer has not settled a warranty issue with you and the video did not help?

    The point I made in the video and the comments posted below the video are in sharp contrast to your critical point of view. Have a great day.

    It would be nice if the world was a perfect place and everything worked out just the way you wanted it to. But it is not for all of us. Some things just don't go our way all the time. Move on and make this up to a learning experience. Hope you get a new door or the camper door fixed. It would be nice for you if it was fixed under warranty but more importantly is that it gets fixed. Hope somebody makes you happy with the door issue. Cheers!



  • Travels_with_Yo's avatar
    Travels_with_Yo
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2016
    Area13 wrote:
    It's funny I was just camping on the Pacific Ocean in my Adventurer with the friction hinge door this weekend in nasty weather. I really was impressed Saturday when winds were topping 25 mph that the door wouldn't budge and never has. I think it's almost too stiff and have never had it hit or blow open. Maybe in this guys defense His door is different? Not sure, looks the same.

    Now I don't have the ladder on the open side, but man, some force to punch a hole. The bumper placement is shoddy and the bumper placement is equally missed by the company, dealer and the customer, IMO. I have never had a warranty issue or any problem with my Adventurer and think they build an excellent camper, been very happy with mine so this thread title surprised me a little this morning and seemed kinda dramatic.

    Here's a quick video I took this morning,not blowing too hard at the time, but you can see how stiff mine is.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-E0IzwvbrU


    2 points here .... no indication of which way the wind is blowing in your video. Secondly, I can move my door with my little finger (very little resistance) by comparison. Believe me, I have no possible reason for making this up. Glad for you that yours works to your satisfaction and that you don't have a ladder in proximity to the door swing.
  • Travels_with_Yo's avatar
    Travels_with_Yo
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2016
    billyray50 wrote:
    Sorry to hear about this. I previously owned a 2012 Adventurer 86 FB. Now recently purchased 2014 Adventurer 910 DB. Both campers the Ladder is mounted on the other side. Entry door opens away from ladder. My 2012 86 FB had some minor issues and Adventurer warranty and customer service addressed them all extremely fast. All work was approved locally here in Dallas too. I had a couple of minor issues with new Adventurer and Brad at Adventurer replied to me within 24 hours on two occasions in last 6 weeks of ownership. Customer service was one of the reasons I purchased an Adventurer again. Have you actually spoke to Brad?. As far as quality of build Adventurer is right up there and I have owned Lance and palomino TCs before. Adventurer in my opinion is built better than my 2016 Jayco White hawk TT which I have had some minor issues with too in the last year. All brands have issues. Adventurer should offer to fix the door or reimburse you.



    I have talked to Brad several times and asked him to verify his decision with Greg, the marketing manager to reject my right to file a claim. I had previously talked with Greg also as they had seen my video introducing "Our New Camper" which they really liked. Brad reaffirmed that he had talked to management about my issue and that they were not responsible for the bumper being out of place and therefore, not responsible for the damage.
  • Travels_with_Yo's avatar
    Travels_with_Yo
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2016
    Chris Bryant wrote:
    Where is the dealer in all of this?


    The dealer is 360 miles away ... 720 miles round trip.
  • Travels_with_Yo's avatar
    Travels_with_Yo
    Explorer
    Dec 18, 2016
    jmtandem wrote:
    You sure went to a lot of effort with your four plus minute video to make a mountain out of a molehill. Why, when you did the PDI (you did do a PDI, didn't you?) watch and see the bumper was an inch off and have it fixed before taking delivery as you would have done with anything else that you found that was not right with the camper? Or that the door did not work right

    Now, why don't you just take the door to an RV repair shop and have the small hole fixed? I can understand your disappointment but is it really that big a deal? Who is the loser, you for all the time it took to put together a video or the factory that has moved on long ago. I am confident that nobody will be deterred from purchasing a truck camper from Adventurer just because of your video. You said you like the camper so get it fixed and move on. It is not the end of the world. Perhaps not the best customer service after the sale from the factory, but still not worth a four minute video.


    Thanks for your understanding and compassion. There are many factors relative to the PDI inspection and unless you take the door and slam it against the ladder as a test, there is no way I could have determined that the bumper was out of place by an inch. Who would do that ? Also, just an FYI, it took me less than an hour to produce the video so no big deal on my end. The point I made in the video and the comments posted below the video are in sharp contrast to your critical point of view. Have a great day.

About Travel Trailer Group

44,030 PostsLatest Activity: Feb 06, 2025