skydiver31 wrote:
westend wrote:
I don't think anyone can expect the installer to go back and paint the slot of a screw, though.
I wasn't pointing out the slot of the screw. Just wanted to clear that up.. if you watch the video closely (I know it's a bit blurry), there are a few nasty scratches next to the screw from bottoming out the drill. These scratches are very obvious to the naked eye, and happened in quite a few other places on those frames.
Prevention is key for NW here. Like i said in the video, use some cardboard on your drills so they don't ever make contact with the material. That takes no extra labor. Also, using a level takes an extra 5 seconds. So many of these things would be so easy to prevent during the construction of an RV. I'm not talking about complicated engineering flaws here.. a good rookie on their first day at their job should know how to use their basic hand tools, right?
Also, why can't I expect high quality in the RV industry? It feels like I'm the new guy here who doesn't have a clue.. but at the same time I feel like quality should be expected everywhere that there is a lot of money involved.
I've pointed out my own mistake now several times. Yes, this was my first RV. Yes, I'm new at this. Yes, I screwed up by not inspecting it enough. I trusted a reputable manufacturer too much and dove into something I wasn't prepared for. I NEVER expected to come across things I would only see while watching Mike Holmes. The possibility never even crossed my mind.
I learned a lot from this purchase, and hopefully other people will learn something too.
I know exactly what you're going thru. I took me 3 trailers before I realized they are all made fast and sloppy. Some not as bad as others. Wife and I were talking last week while camping about if and when we buy a 4th that I'm not letting anything get by. Hopefully I'll catch what I can. The main thing is one doesn't have to accept what you see. Like I said the one sitting right next to yours (hypothetically) wouldn't have 1/2 the issues. When we were 1st looking we had one TT we liked. It took me several trips back and forth to the dealer looking at it. After 3-4 trips I happened to notice a bathroom wall bulging out at the bottom. The builder had misaligned the plumbing and the wall was shoved out at the base. It still went out of the plant like that. Someone eventually bought.
Most of the stuff you're are looking at is typical to a degree. The slit on the ceiling is a heart breaker no doubt. And in all fairness why should the customer have to go into one with a fine too comb. I agree with you that more QC is needed before it leaves the plant and also at the dealers would certainly help. I too was a little disappointed in some things on my Fox. All of which I could or did fix. But why should I have to do their punch list? No one buys a car or truck, takes it home and starts tightening bolts and what not. The RV industry is caught in a win win for the sellers. It's a buyers beware market. Maybe if they painted them all white with no decals then we would be less inclined to get caught up in all the bling and except them for what they are. Like my wife said they're nothing more than a box on wheels.
FWIW I'm a retired carpenter. I spent 30 years making things as straight and level as I could. It's just ingrained in me to look at how things line up. I'm not a perfectionist either but from years of eye balling corners and walls to get things straight it's just a habit to visually pick things apart. Anytime I'm just sitting in a room waiting, out of habit I start mentally picking apart the framing and finishes. It's really frustrating knowing we pay big bucks for these boxes and they can't take a few more mins to get it right. And it's not just the build quality. It's simple things like where they place plug ins, hang TP holders, etc. A fine example of goofy ideas is Forestrivers Silverback 5th wheels. Who's idea was it to place the faucet on the side of the sink was it? Stuff kike that just amazes me.
