DRV

[crickeydog]

We've been seriously contemplating over the past couple of years the purchase of a new 2016 Mobile Suites DRV 5'er. Mostly because we're a bit bored with what we have. We have 3 close camping couples, all of whom have owned multiple DRV 5'ers. Well we've heard our latest and probably not the last DRV horror story regarding DRV workmanship from the owners involved. Our little 30' 5'er is 11 1/2 years old. We get compliments on her all the time, she's never let us down, and she's been the perfect 5'er for us. We shopped and researched 2 full years before we ordered her and took delivery of her new in January, 2004. Now after the latest DRV factory and dealer service horror story we just heard from those directly involved, we won't be buying any DRV 5'er. We'll be draggin around our little 30' 2004 "Presidential" for another 11+ years thank you very much. We've already got enough retail customer no-service drama going on around us today without spending $100K on some extra. We always thought DRV was a class act and a major step up from what we have!!! Mercy.:R

If yer seriously considering the purchase of a DRV product, do your homework before plunking down $100K for a new one. You may very well be surprised. We were.

Happy camping!!! See y'all down the road!!!:)

[RustyJC]

Mile High wrote:
PS - that blue is horrid!

It's certainly not my cup of tea, but looking at their tow vehicle, I guess those folks are really into blue.

Rusty

[Mile_High]

Me Again wrote:
This highly customized Elite Suites is in our summer RV Park. It cost really big bucks.

.....and? Was there a point to follow there?

PS - that blue is horrid!

[Me_Again]

This highly customized Elite Suites is in our summer RV Park. It cost really big bucks.

[goducks10]

I would love to be having a few issues on a DRV. Beats my Fox Mountain any day. If you have to issues why not have them on one of the best made. 🙂

[retispcsi]

DRV stood behind their warranty and resolved the issues with my unit to my satisfaction. The factory techs did a great job with the repairs. I have never had a problem free unit. This rig had issues from lose crown molding to slides out of adjustment. When you buy any unit but especially one with these price tags you want the manufacturer to stand behind the unit. If you need warranty work I recommend a trip to the factory.

[fj12ryder]

I was just passing along what the lady had said, not anything I made up. She said the dealer opted not to try to fix the issues and recommended she take it back to the factory for repairs. Now, to me that suggests that the problems were more than minor leaks and curtains that needed to be rehung.

I'm not picking on Mobile Suites per se, just noting that they aren't perfect just because they cost a lot.

[ranchertx]

14 model MS Atlanta here, this is our fifth rig, it is heads and shoulders above the rest. I do recommend all buyers doing homework before they buy.

We have had minor problems, DVR has been very helpful and responsive when we needed anything. We love our rig.

[FlatBroke]

RustyJC wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:
We camped next to a lady with a Mobile Suite and she said she had to take it back to the factory to have all the problems fixed. She was very happy with it now, but was unhappy that something that cost so much had so many problems.

Bear in mind that what is a "major problem" to some RVers is a minor maintenance item to others. Example: about 5-6 months after purchase, I noticed water dripping out on the ground below the plumbing bay on our current MS 38RSSA. Some RVers unfortunately don't know a hammer from a screwdriver when it comes to maintenance; it took me probably 30 minutes to locate the leak, remove a NPT fitting, apply teflon tape and reinstall the fitting. Problem solved. Someone else may have been looking for an RV repair facility or hauled the thing back to Howe, Indiana. Has ours been absolutely without fault? No - I've never had an RV that was. Has ours ever required the services of a dealer, independent repair facility or DRV in Howe, Indiana to repair a problem? No, and our 2004 MS 36RE3 never saw Howe, Indiana in 10 years of ownership - it was in a dealer repair facility twice; once for a broken slideout gear (in warranty) and again for a failed Dometic fridge cooling unit (in warranty).

Rusty

There you have it. If seen lists of ten to fifteen things that need fixed under warranty. Even could make my own. But I've seldom seen a list that I couldn't fix most of them in the time it would take to to hitch it up and pull it to your local dealer. A person taken theirs to the dealer because a shade needs adjusting then complains about the trailer makes no sense to me. Same as defective appliances that a manufacturer has no control with.

[RustyJC]

fj12ryder wrote:
We camped next to a lady with a Mobile Suite and she said she had to take it back to the factory to have all the problems fixed. She was very happy with it now, but was unhappy that something that cost so much had so many problems.

Bear in mind that what is a "major problem" to some RVers is a minor maintenance item to others. Example: about 5-6 months after purchase, I noticed water dripping out on the ground below the plumbing bay on our current MS 38RSSA. Some RVers unfortunately don't know a hammer from a screwdriver when it comes to maintenance; it took me probably 30 minutes to locate the leak, remove a NPT fitting, apply teflon tape and reinstall the fitting. Problem solved. Someone else may have been looking for an RV repair facility or hauled the thing back to Howe, Indiana. Has ours been absolutely without fault? No - I've never had an RV that was. Has ours ever required the services of a dealer, independent repair facility or DRV in Howe, Indiana to repair a problem? No, and our 2004 MS 36RE3 never saw Howe, Indiana in 10 years of ownership - it was in a dealer repair facility twice; once for a broken slideout gear (in warranty) and again for a failed Dometic fridge cooling unit (in warranty).

Rusty

[fj12ryder]

I like the idea that someone who actually owns a Mobile Suites product will warn people to do their homework. They are usually recommended as one of the best products out there, and it's nice to be made aware that they also have their share of issues.

We camped next to a lady with a Mobile Suite and she said she had to take it back to the factory to have all the problems fixed. She was very happy with it now, but was unhappy that something that cost so much had so many problems.

[Arcamper]

In March when we decided to buy a new 5th wheel we had our heart set on a new Mobile Suites. We looked at many and found them to be very good for fit and finish. The problem was we only have 38 feet in our garage and they only make one unit shorter than that and its special order only. At the time Wheels RV could not find one in the entire country for us to see. We did look at a Tradition that was 37 feet and were not impressed. The ceiling molding did not line up and the floor popped when you walked on it. I won't judge all Tradition's by that one but we did not want it. So far our Montana is doing well but there where some things I wish I could have had done at the factory that they won't do like outside speakers, security camera wiring, power awning on room slide. DRV will do custom mods and that's a big plus.

[soos]

Splashers3 wrote:
I won't bash...but, time will tell if the quality and the support will be the same going forward as it has been in the past - since they've been bought out.

Well now, that doesn't make any sense at all.
Thor bought out Airstream years ago and I've heard nothing but great things about the continued good quality of the Airstream ( not that I want one,,,,,)

Just because Thor buys something doesn't mean the quality will go down the tubes.

[barlow46]

Next time you do your homework, you might have the wife check it for you. I would think you would have known that tidbit about Thor buying DVR. I think I would give you a C- at best for missing that in your research.
By the way, I have owned two HR products, Alumalite and Presidential fifth wheels and both were good units. Now own at MS and believe me as an owner of both brands, you are talking apples and oranges in comparison. The MS definitely is head and shoulders above the last Presidential I owned.

[azjeffh]

As one who will be full-timing next year and are currently looking at high quality 5ers, I will not base my decision on "we've heard" posts.

I would believe the owner's forum would be a better source of information.

[motorcycle_jack]

I think this post is a "bater" and not a master one at that. Bash DRV if you want but I will still bet that percentage wise of units a mfg sells that has poblemsr, that DRV has one the lowest percentages. There you go bater.