2012 Dutchman Voltage Review

[555-1212]

2012 Dutchman Voltage Review
Before buying my RV I did heavy research on the web so I thought I would add my review for others to do the same. I purchased my Voltage 3905 new at General RV in Feb. 2012. I bought it at an RV Show, the price seemed good and I could easily compare what else was out there for the same money. From what I saw from the other manufactures the Voltage seemed to have an UP on every other toy hauler out there. However, I have had nothing but problems with the RV from my first trip until this last weekend. Every trip I have had a problem with something not working. I want to love this thing, my family has such a great time every time we use it. And its not only systems that are not working its also screw heads popping off when a slide is opened or a storage door is shut. I have sooooo many screws in the RV that look like a 5 year old played with his dad's drill for the first time. In my first year of ownership the Voltage was back at General RV GETTING FIXED FOR 4 MONTHS. Like I said every time I have taken the RV on a trip something has broken. The first time we turned on the AC it snowed in our RV as all the little white shavings were pushed out the vents. This told me that nothing was tested at the factory. Sloppy sloppy. After my first trip I took it in to fix the remote entry that would not work and have all the sloppy stuff fixed (some screw heads that popped off, molding strip that was not even attached, etc.). On my second trip the slide would not go back in (according to General RV it took several weeks for Dutchman to send a replacement part and I missed 2 summer vacations sitting around). on my third trip the fuel gages were not working. On my forth time out had an issue with the levelers, and my fifth time out ……….. AND I'm forgetting about half of the stuff from last year….. Several other sloppy things bug me, but I was told that since I'm now out of the factory warranty and my extended warranty will not cover most wear and tear items. For example the roof ladder doesn't fit properly into the receiver holes (its misaligned) and causing the entire receiver to pull away from the fiberglass wall letting in water. Sloppy Sloppy That’s not covered!

This year I have a problem with my slide putting holes in the linoleum floor, my fridge fans screaming loudly and now my microwave does not work. My water gage would only show empty (general RV showed me the air outlet hose that was kinked at the factory) and my fuel gages STILL DON’T WORK.

The Epic package has some very nice features and when everything works this is a very impressive toy hauler but when you pay around 70K for a trailer everything better work.

At this point there is NO WAY I would tell anyone to buy a Voltage as they seem to have a big problem with factory QA and overall SLOPPY work. The other Toy Hauler that I thought was very comparable to the Voltage was the Cyclone. I would give that a try before buying the Voltage!

[ksss]

You can certainly do your research, but the quality of YOUR future trailer is still unknown. I have had two new Fuzion Toyhaulers now, and I have been overall happy with them. The dealer has a lot to do with that happiness. I bought the extend warranty on both of them and have been happy I did. Any thing breaks and the most it costs me is $50.00 unless we broke it, I can handle that. You hear horror stories about all makes and after being on this forum for years, I see no clear winner in the quality department. I think finding a dealer that you can establish a good relationship with certainly needs to a be apart of the research for the ideal TH.

[Floowid]

I bought a Crossroads Toy Deck trailer at an RV show in Salt Lake City last year. It was my first RV, it was brand new, I was excited, I made all the classic mistakes. I was shocked at the poor quality product we got. There was still sawdust and construction scraps under every drawer, behind every cabinet. It had a host of major flaws, and was back with the dealer for the entire summer, just shy of 2 months.

So we are in the market for a new toy hauler, we want a 5th wheel this time. We looked at a Voltage v3605 this weekend, and now I am worried it will be the Crossroads all over again. At least this time I am doing my research BEFORE I buy...

[tinner12002]

I wouldn't purchase one just due to the issue that they don't have hyd slides and from what I've read on here and other posts about them, plus a local guy that has one that he's had slide issues since it was new. I can't believe the one poster said he walked through the new trailers at a dealer that had construction debris all through them and still bought one!!
I guess to each his own.

[d-mac1]

Interesting thread. I don't own a Voltage but figured they were good units based on their looks. Maybe some are, maybe some aren't. Here's why I'm posting in this thread:

We essentially special ordered our trailer at the point right in the middle of a model year changeover. This was an accident cuz we had no idea. Because of this, I ended up talking directly to the factory rep about fabric choices and such because they had no brochures and were in the midst of getting ready to start production of totally redesigned units that summer.

Interesting thing he told me was that, due to the timing of my order I'd get a good unit because the only people working there were the full time employees vs if I'd ordered it at peak production, they'd have lots of new or temporary workers employed. We took delivery of our unit in mid-October...ordered it 7/30.

Still had some issues, but nothing like what some in this thread have related.

[Macman83]

We did a 3 1/2 hour PDI and at the end, we walked out with the service manager telling me it would take a few days to get it all fixed. (that included adjusting the slides). We walked passed the owner of the dealership and told him we would take care of the paperwork when we pick it up after the repairs. 4 hours later the cellphone rang and they said come pick it up. I walked through it with my gripe list and everything was fixed by either securing loose stuff, adjust I g the slides or steeling parts off of the other trailers on the lot. Since then it has been back once for a water leak discovered after a torrential downpour, and a warm brake. We have had it out 7 times in a year, for 2100 miles. I am planning on doing some mods myself, like center point brake wiring, rewiring the transfer switch/converter and adding a hardwired surge protector, and a bunch of convenience stuff throughout the unit. We have been happy with our Voltage, and look forward to retiring in it.

[Dave_Wilburn]

I still believe that the people that don't like their Voltage fall into 1 of 2 categories:
Either they didn't do a thorough PDI (like 4 hours worth) and make the dealer fix all issues before ever hitching it up to their truck, or they special ordered one and the guys at Dutchmen on the production line knew it was already sold and rushed it out the door. If a unit is already sold when it arrives at the dealer, they don't spend the time to do a good inspection like they do to the ones that are going onto the lot.

[Bluestreak]

Thanks for recommending my checklist. Since I wrote that version, I have used it, with modifications, to purchase a new 34' Bunkhouse TT in 2005 and now we are using it to evaluate used TTs for the next, "post kids" phase of our RV life. Trailers have changed in the last 13 years, but I think the basic principles of doing the inspection as well as the need to inspect yourself before you hand over your money is just as important today. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments or things you think should be included in a new version of the checklist-Tom Boles, SF Bay

Y-Guy wrote:

cvgkid wrote:
I will do a lot more inspection of the unit after reading all of this than I normally would have done.

Two pieces of advice. Arrive a couple hours early, take the Tom Boles' Pre-Delivery Checklist with you and spend time going over every single item. Since you're buying a toy hauler take 5 gallons of gas so you can pump fuel out of the hose to test it. Also take the time to inspect the rear ramp door.

In addition, do all of this BEFORE you sign the ownership/finance paperwork. The dealer will be much more eager to get things fixed before you sign, after it then it's all warranty work and you own it.

[soonernation]

Ours has had some issues (some of which just started showing up) but overall it's been ok. We met someone on our last trip with a Voltage and he absolutely hated it. H said it has had problems since the day he took it home.

[djtytrev630]

Well 555-1212.... I bought a 2014 voltage 3895 in May and had a ton of problems with it as well! This is the second RV that I have bought BRAND new, with the first one being a 2001 32ft Montana.... I didn't have to take it back to Holiday World (dealership) that I bought it from until right before the warranty ran out.... and that was only to fix some small bull******issues. So, when I did my walk through on the Voltage, I kind of ran them through it, "I KNEW IT ALL" to get it over with and get to Rving in the NEW Voltage! "BIG MISTAKE".... I wrote an ugly email to the sales rep at the voltage dept of Dutchmen, I had met this guy at the Houston RV show.... he gave me his card with cell and is office numbers as well as email address, "BET HE WON'T DO THAT AGAIN".... and I have to admit they called Camping World of Katy Texas, and they started jumping through HOOPs for us! All the issues have been taken care of and it is a awesome TH NOW!!! Hope it stays that way!!!

Happy RVing
God Bless

[Teebone56]

cvgkid wrote:
I'm picking up a 2012 Voltage 3200 tomorrow. My wife and I were very excited about getting it until I read some of the posts on this blog. We considered it a big upgrade to our current 2011 Keystone Cougar 325SRX. I will do a lot more inspection of the unit after reading all of this than I normally would have done. We got it for a good price and I'm hoping that's not because it's a lemon.

I have a 2013 Voltage 3200 I have had a few issues but they have been corrected I am very happy with my Hauler. I have had several trailers basically they are all the same there are have been issues with all my riggs weekend warrior, raptor, and my voltage. I have found that I have done a better job fixing the issues then the dealer. I have yet to find a good dealer. Enjoy your trailer!

[Y-Guy]

cvgkid wrote:
I will do a lot more inspection of the unit after reading all of this than I normally would have done.

Two pieces of advice. Arrive a couple hours early, take the Tom Boles' Pre-Delivery Checklist with you and spend time going over every single item. Since you're buying a toy hauler take 5 gallons of gas so you can pump fuel out of the hose to test it. Also take the time to inspect the rear ramp door.

In addition, do all of this BEFORE you sign the ownership/finance paperwork. The dealer will be much more eager to get things fixed before you sign, after it then it's all warranty work and you own it.

[maxum1989]

cvgkid
Was it the one on Ebay last week?

[cvgkid]

I'm picking up a 2012 Voltage 3200 tomorrow. My wife and I were very excited about getting it until I read some of the posts on this blog. We considered it a big upgrade to our current 2011 Keystone Cougar 325SRX. I will do a lot more inspection of the unit after reading all of this than I normally would have done. We got it for a good price and I'm hoping that's not because it's a lemon.

[Y-Guy]

azdryheat your comments were crossing the line into slamming another member, not cool in my book. Unlike some one post complainers this person has returned and joined the discussion. You made your point.