5th wheel teething problems? Or junk?

[beeryboats]

We bought a 2014 Keystone Avalanche brand new and have nothing but problems, all covered under warranty. Our trip over Memorial day weekend may have been the last straw. When we arrived at the campground the escape window was missing. Not broken, gone. I remember latching it after the last use as it was about to rain. The dealer said Keystones have had that happen before, but won't admit the blame. So counting back the few trips we've had, and what's broken or fallen off, we got to thinking if that was normal with a new RV. Five of the last six trips we have arrived with major damage at the campground. Thank goodness there was a campground reviewer at the campground last weekend to lend me a ladder to cover the hole in my wall! He told me he had issues with his big class A until they got them all sorted out. Now we're wondering whether to trade it in or ride this mess out.

[lillyputz]

Dtank wrote:

lillyputz wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
Too bad there isn't a "Lemon Law" for RV's

There is. It's the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

Lillyputz

That's laughable - as in "A Joke"!!..:R..:R

Tell that to anyone who has had their tow vehicle warranty voided due
to some insignificant modification (supposedly) covered by the Act.

The companies have very, very deep pockets - and a plethora of attorneys on the payroll.





Even if you win (very doubtful) - you will loose, as an appeal (about $300. and a couple of paragraphs) will be filed, which will take 5 years before it's heard by an appeals court.

Rotsa ruck..:S

.

Obviously, you have never used a law firm that specialized in the Magnuson Moss, lemon law for RVs.

Lillyputz

[richfaa]

Quality is not job one in the RV industry. The first year or so is usually a nightmare. Don't care what it cost. Most will not admit to problems or call them minor or minimal. We have had most of your issues in both our 5th wheels.

[spud1957]

beeryboats wrote:
Ok guys, I keep seeing "cheap", "inexpensive", and "entry level" thrown around on this thread. I may agree on cheaply built, when it comes to certain items, but the other two don't fit what sits in my driveway. I'm not really offended, but maybe confused is a better word. Yes, it is a lot less expensive than a Prevost RV, but it is one of the largest most expensive of the Keystone line. At least of what we saw at the dealer. We had a used Jayco tow behind that had only one major problem, which we had fixed elsewhere, and Camping world paid for the repair!!! That was awesome. But to spend over $43k on a new fifth wheel, and have these kind of problems, just blows my mind. I'm going to give it one last chance. What should I look for next?!?!?!

Yeah, it seems as this thread goes on it appears that the brand of your 5th wheel has been loss. Avalanche is not a "cheap", "inexpensive" or "entry level" RV.

There are a lot of big egos/chest thumping on this forum regarding their hitches, trucks AND brand of RVs. Try to ignore their opinions

I understand your frustrations. At that level of an RV I would be disappointed with the quality. Try and get thru the teething and within a short time, once all the items are repaired, you'll have a great RV.

S

[Dtank]

lillyputz wrote:

Dakota98 wrote:
Too bad there isn't a "Lemon Law" for RV's

There is. It's the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act.

Lillyputz

That's laughable - as in "A Joke"!!..:R..:R

Tell that to anyone who has had their tow vehicle warranty voided due
to some insignificant modification (supposedly) covered by the Act.

The companies have very, very deep pockets - and a plethora of attorneys on the payroll.

Even if you win (very doubtful) - you will loose, as an appeal (about $300. and a couple of paragraphs) will be filed, which will take 5 years before it's heard by an appeals court.

Rotsa ruck..:S

.

[07PSDCREW]

I have a 15 year old Damon... Before it was bought out by keystone. I've fixed a leaking pex pipe connection, had a fridge recall done, fixed a broken TV signal booster that pushed through the plate. I've been very happy with this unit over the years.
I've wanted a newer unit, but all I ever hear about is problems with new units. I think I'll just keep on enjoying what I have.

[beeryboats]

Ok guys, I keep seeing "cheap", "inexpensive", and "entry level" thrown around on this thread. I may agree on cheaply built, when it comes to certain items, but the other two don't fit what sits in my driveway. I'm not really offended, but maybe confused is a better word. Yes, it is a lot less expensive than a Prevost RV, but it is one of the largest most expensive of the Keystone line. At least of what we saw at the dealer. We had a used Jayco tow behind that had only one major problem, which we had fixed elsewhere, and Camping world paid for the repair!!! That was awesome. But to spend over $43k on a new fifth wheel, and have these kind of problems, just blows my mind. I'm going to give it one last chance. What should I look for next?!?!?!

[beeryboats]

Ark235B wrote:
What is your normal towing speed...just curious?

The old Dodge is real happy between 60mph and 65mph, Down hill.

[C_Schomer]

Most of the high quality mfgrs are gone and I know nothing about the new ones. At least when I had all the problems in the 90s there were obvious and better mfgrs to go to. I'm not sure what I'd do these days... I would just have to do more research. Probably keep fixing it as long as the problems aren't major or expensive and hope there's an end to it someday. That was my approach with our last entry level unit but the last problem was major, structural and expensive and the culmination of all the other quality/build problems made it pure joy to trade it and take it in the shorts, money wise.
I should have said entry level rather than cheap. I still associate entry level with POS but not always cheap! Craig

[Bob_Quinn]

dbbls wrote:
Trade for another new one and your problems will start all over. Keep fixing them and in a few years you will have a good one.

If you do trade, you will be starting over with all new problems, the reason is there is no quality control at the manufacturing end these days. The RVIA is allowing the manufactures to build junk!!
Bob

[TXiceman]

Typical entry level trailers are built light with minimal materials in hopes they will make it through the warranty period. The manufacturers need to make sure they start with a rigid frame to prevent flexing as the unit runs down the road. They also need to use screws in the wood part of the construction as brads and staples work out due to the flexing.

In other words, you get what you pay for.

Ken

[whiteeye42]

I have found that if it say's keystone anywhere in the name of the RV it is going to be nothing but trouble

[Ark235B]

What is your normal towing speed...just curious?

[C_Schomer]

It definitely helps to own a few of them to figure out what to really look for. After 3 flimsy RVs, I started looking a lot deeper, especially at the frames. It was the flimsy frames that made the first 3 fall apart. In 98, we looked at a Sunnybrook and the price seemed high so we went down the road and bought a Wildwood, exactly the same floor plan, length, options, slide etc. as the Sunnybrook. The Wildwood was 2/3 the price of the Sunnybrook. After 2 years of never ending fixing (and the problems were getting much bigger) we were more than happy to trade it for the similar Sunnybrook and take the 50% loss on the Wildwood. The triple stack boxed frame made the Sunnybrooks bulletproof. Craig

[beeryboats]

Go figure, right?!