New travel trailer expectations

gmw photos wrote:

hddecker wrote:

My feelings exactley. Too many people cut the RV industry too much slack, that's why this S|€# keeps coming out of the factories.

I am capable of repairing just about anything I own and the only time I take anything back to the dealer is during the warranty period.

I would be interested to know how many of the "oh well" crowd would just say, "oh well", when the wheels fall off or the transmission fals out of their nice shiny new TV and they're laying upside down on the interstate.

Yes be nice to start, talk calmly, look for commitment and make sure it is all in writing. Then when things aren't done the way they should be yell no, scream like hell.

It's simple really. I prefer to go camping and use my trailer, than have it sit at the dealers for weeks ( or longer ) on end. And I have tools, have the expertise to use them, and a large shop.
As to a comment made about me by a poster earlier saying I have "low standards"....that is laughable beyond words. I am a retired machinist, and am used to dealing in precision measured in ten thousandth of an inch. So when I fix things on my camper, my attention to detail, shall we say, goes considerably beyond what the boys in Indiana worked to.

As to "wheels falling off".....yes it could happen, to a tow vehicle or a trailer. But....you guessed it, I don't trust them on that subject either. I have a torque wrench, and I use it. My wheels aren't gonna fall off because someone else forgot to tighten them correctly.

Fix 'em yourself folks, buy tools, learn to use them, make 'em better, stronger. I've been fixing and modifying my cars, trucks, motorcycles and boats for over 40 years. And my camper.

Remember: some assembly required. It doesn't bother me at all to bring something like a BBQ grill home from the store, and have to "finish assembling it".

I prefer to go camping as well, that does not mean that I should just accept the******that the RV industry puts out and just fix a brand new camper.

Yes I service and repair my vehicles, including my camper, been doing so for over 50 years. I do so mainly because I enjoy doing it and it is more convenient to than to drive 50 miles to the city.

I sorry, but a BBQ grill is a far cry from a vehicle that is supposed to be road worthy. Yes there is "Maintenance required", but that $500k Class A should be able to get road the road a fair piece, before it needs maintenance. I would expect it would last several years before requiring an overhaul.