Why are Truck Campers so poorly made?
So I bought a new hard side truck camper recently. I'm not going to say which. Before that I had a pop-up, so this is my second camper. I looked at a half dozen more campers before my purchase, but...
Forum Discussion
Boatycall wrote:raztec wrote:
So after 2 weeks of camping, my conclusion is that most TCs are just really poorly constructed because the people who make them ... The incredible shoddy workmanship in finishing and the poor quality materials used is appalling. Everything from cheap latches to cupboards that don't close properly to loud water pumps to creakiness of the frame after only 2 weeks of use smacks of just plain poor design and workmanship.
Ya know, the more I read this, the more it actually irked me.
When you go buy a NEW Mercedes Benz, what's the largest building occupying the most space at the dealership? The Service Department - not the showroom. Why? because even the most expensive, "well engineered" cars break.
If you couldn't identify "incredible shoddy workmanship in finishing and the poor quality materials" (your own quote) why did you buy it in the first place?
TCs, Class A's, Bayliner boats, Ford Mustangs, all have thier shortcomings. It's YOUR job as a buyer to spend your own money wisely. Nobody put a gun to your head and forced you to buy it.
And so after a whopping "2 weeks of camping, your conclusion is that most TCs are just really poorly constructed"(again, your quote), I feel your conclusion is ill conceived and based purely on inexperience and/or poor buying decision.
You may brand your own camper as junk, but don't go speaking for the rest of us that know better.
No need to take this personally. I wasn't insulting your intelligence or taste in the finer things in life. I'm sure you're mighty proud of your camper. I'm just not impressed with mine, or any of the ones I've seen.
Like I said, I chose the best of the lot but you can't notice everything before buying. It's only after living in it for 2 weeks that you notice the details.
If my kitchen had misaligned cabinets that were off by an 1/8 inch that finishing carpenter would be back to fix them before he got paid. If loud, knocking water pumps are a common occurrence why don't TC manufacturers put foam around them or use flexible hoses?
I'm just giving an account of my experience after only two weeks. I haven't even taken the thing off road yet and that was my intention. I dare not after seeing how poorly everything else is made. I worry about the integrity of the frame and joints I can't see.
I think we should raise our expectations and manufacturers their standards.
