Quality control problems - rant

[2001400ex]

Just want to rant a little. It's crazy how the manufactures have almost zero quality control now, much different than even 4 years ago. My first toy hauler I bought in 08. That one had no problems when I bought it, but about everything broke while using it. Fine, it was a cheap, bottom of they line toy hauler, I get it. My second one I bought new in 2013 and it had no problems from the get go and very minimal things broke along the way. But my new toy hauler....

I picked it up a couple weeks ago as a 2017 that's been on the lot since February. The list of stuff that's broken is long, most notably the line to fill the water tank was cut at some point and the repair job was awful. The carpet is coming apart, charging station doesn't work, one screen isn't on the tracks, 2 of the blinds won't stay up, one drawer is mounted crooked, the caulking is completely missing on one bump out, the other one it is about 1/8 inch too high, faucet opens in travel (when turn pump on it starts spraying), the beds don't go up at the same time as they are off, the TV is mounted where it rubs against the cabinet, the outside front storage door is crooked so it's very hard to close and latch, the place where the pump is I found 3 random screws and an extra wire and a ton of sawdust, and 2 screws were dropped in the ramp door so it scratched the inside of where it connects to the trailer.

So I knew quality had gone down in the last few years. My brother has the same brand of toy hauler and bought new last fall on one that he ordered, so he picked it up right after it was delivered, almost the same issues. Same with a few other friends in the last couple years. It seems like every one of these now days is just a mess. I do have an appointment in 2 weeks to get the stuff fixed so all will be good. But I figured I'd rant because I can.

[SidecarFlip]

One thing for certain is, we can sum up the thread with this statement.. There isn't much in the way of Quality Control at the manufacturers end.

[dedmiston]

robobob68 wrote:
What a bummer to hear. What are the areas/types of issues you've had that have kept you in warranty land?

dedmiston wrote:
We've owned our "new" fiver for 18 months now and still don't have all the warranty repairs complete. The factories are sending out flawed units, the dealers aren't doing complete PDIs, and then the dealers are taking too long to perform warranty service.

I'll be so glad when our few remaining punch-list items are done. I bet our dealer will be even more glad to be done with us.

All sorts of things, but nothing that should take 18 months. (I blame the dealer for that.)

* Fold-out sofa broke
* Furnace ducting not connected and/or came loose
* No fresh-water drain
* Bad fresh-water vent (tanks would siphon empty instead of venting air)
* Indoor & Outdoor speakers wired wrong, so the indoor only played Left channel and outdoor only played Right.
* Leak around the TV antenna crank
* Re-seal the rain gutter
* Lots of trim items (missing/broken knobs from cabinets and windows)

Those are the items that I can remember.

The new sofa is supposedly on its way to the dealer. They also need to redo their work on the water drain, because they plumbed it with a 1/4" elbow that reduces the drain rate to a drool and it takes forever to drain the tanks.

I can't wait to have our punch list complete.

[SidecarFlip]

mjrfd99 wrote:
If you saw the shoddy practices in building most RV and trailers you'd be shocked. CW dealers lie about everything from load capacity to tow ratings. When I started fixing my trailer I found ALL the shortcuts and missing fasteners that could not be seen w/o opening up panels IE: hole for electric was made with a hammer beating a ragged hole - of course long out of warranty when I found all these crappy shortcuts.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK CW dealers stinkCW dealers stink

Lets not blame just CW dealers, that is an unfair assumption. It's almost all dealers, not just one. There are a few honest dealers out there but keep in mind, as a dealer, you are selling a product, not using the product so it's in your best interest to stay in business to 'promote' your product by whatever means necessary at your disposal

Any dealer selling any product will lead you to believe that their product is the best available, cars, trucks, RV's, makes no difference.

Far as weight and vehicle compatability goes, most RV salesmen aren't RV'ers so they only know what their superiors or factory reps tell them.

Finally, sales people don't delve into the issues that arise inside (or outside) a unit, they are selling it, based on it's merits and what they are told by their superiors or factory reps, not critiquing it.

I bet most dealership service and warranty departments cringe when every unit is sold because of the inherent lack of quality and irate owners that come back with warranty claims (and I would assume that a good percentage of those owners are not 'nice and lovey' with the service people either.

So, if you bought a good one with no issues (like I did) be thankful. If not, show some consideration towards the dealer, I'm sure they have their hands full.

[mjrfd99]

If you saw the shoddy practices in building most RV and trailers you'd be shocked. CW dealers lie about everything from load capacity to tow ratings. When I started fixing my trailer I found ALL the shortcuts and missing fasteners that could not be seen w/o opening up panels IE: hole for electric was made with a hammer beating a ragged hole - of course long out of warranty when I found all these crappy shortcuts.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK CW dealers stink

[robobob68]

What a bummer to hear. What are the areas/types of issues you've had that have kept you in warranty land?

dedmiston wrote:
We've owned our "new" fiver for 18 months now and still don't have all the warranty repairs complete. The factories are sending out flawed units, the dealers aren't doing complete PDIs, and then the dealers are taking too long to perform warranty service.

I'll be so glad when our few remaining punch-list items are done. I bet our dealer will be even more glad to be done with us.

[dedmiston]

We've owned our "new" fiver for 18 months now and still don't have all the warranty repairs complete. The factories are sending out flawed units, the dealers aren't doing complete PDIs, and then the dealers are taking too long to perform warranty service.

I'll be so glad when our few remaining punch-list items are done. I bet our dealer will be even more glad to be done with us.

[2001400ex]

Towin Toys wrote:
It's easier for me to make small repairs than to try to get a service appointment, haul it down there, and be without it for a few weeks (or longer) and I trust my repairs. Plus I learn about the construction of my trailer which may come in handy if we have any issues while on the road. Now if the refrigerator went out or the AC, then I might take it in but I would spend some time googling first.

Right. But the reality is, there shouldn't be as many repairs necessary. I get stuff breaking from just being on the road. But there shouldn't be as much stuff wrong from the factory. And a known cut in the water line that wasn't repaired right is just poor form.

That being said. I did drop it off and pick it up last week and the dealer I used was great. They just opened a huge new shop and were more than welcome to my factory warranty work along with a couple things I paid them to do. I have a new carpet on order and a new window because one window isn't square leading to the screen not staying on. Other than that, all fixed and spent the weekend in the dunes.

There is an intermittent water leak I have to track down. Left about 2 dollar bills size water under the bathroom sink twice. But couldn't see at all where it leaked from to get there. I'll drop back off next month and hopefully all will be fixed.

[judelaurenzo25g]

Towin Toys wrote:
It's easier for me to make small repairs than to try to get a service appointment, haul it down there, and be without it for a few weeks (or longer) and I trust my repairs. Plus I learn about the construction of my trailer which may come in handy if we have any issues while on the road. Now if the refrigerator went out or the AC, then I might take it in but I would spend some time googling first.

x2

[Towin_Toys]

It's easier for me to make small repairs than to try to get a service appointment, haul it down there, and be without it for a few weeks (or longer) and I trust my repairs. Plus I learn about the construction of my trailer which may come in handy if we have any issues while on the road. Now if the refrigerator went out or the AC, then I might take it in but I would spend some time googling first.

[SidecarFlip]

Some buyers get a gem, some get the bone. There is no continuity in it. I got a gem too. No issues at all. Everything fits well, everything works as it should and overall quality is what I expected it to be. In fact with my unit, quality of assembly and fit and finish was better than I expected.

[WillB5]

You all are probably getting tired of hearing this, but we bought a 2018 KZ Sportsmen Sportster 311TH10 this last spring which was built in early April, and have been thrilled with it. The only quality issues I have found are a small dent in the skirt next to the step, and a ground wire from the gas pump nozzle receptacle hadn't been screwed on well and came loose. And, one breaker in the power converter went out on our shakedown camping trip.
Part of it may be luck, and part our great dealer, Braun's Fun Time Campers in Indianapolis, who did a very thorough check and cleanup. But part I believe has to be KZ's quality. They have a 2 year warranty.

[OldSmokey]

SidecarFlip wrote:
After reading the article 'Death Spiral' in it's entirety, it only reinforced my opinion that buying a new RV is a mistake. Glad I don't have one and I'm not about to buy a new one.

It all revolves around the bottom line, greed and shareholders.

like many here, I have experienced RV "quality", my first TH was riddled with stupid mistakes that could have easily been avoided. I spent a season taking my time to correct issues and that RV lasted me 14 years.
there were problems with wiring,chassis,finish,plumbing to name a few. !

I think the major problem is cost based, one naturally desires a product at a reasonable price, however it's very difficult for manufacturers to balance cost vs quality so quality is the first thing to go.. last year I was in the market for a new RV, and naturally I did not even consider my current RV brand. once burnt twice shy ?

I purchased an Outdoors RV 24rks. after a factory tour I was satisfied by their operation and build. the unit was not cheap but the quality is there for the most part.

[judelaurenzo25g]

dsnuggles wrote:

robobob68 wrote:
Such a depressing bunch of replies supporting the 'bad time to buy' notion.

Anyone with experience in how Eclipse is doing quality-wise during this "boon to business" time? My target is an Attitude or Iconic 28-32-foot 5th wheel.

bob

I had a 2015 attitude 28sag. I loved the layout but so many issues. After dealing with dealer and manufacturer they took it back and gave me my money. Now I have a 2017 Fuzion 369. So far no issues with it.

What issues did your trailer have that they couldn't fix?

[robobob68]

Great stuff - THANKS.

Looking at your posts for 'water', I only found:
https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29369278/gotomsg/29376430.cfm#29376430

SidecarFlip wrote:
New is really used but not purchased. RV's get built and then sit OUTSIDE at the factory, waiting to be transported to a dealer and could be transported hundreds if not thousands of miles on rough roads in the rain (and possibly snow) and then they sit OUTSIDE on a dealers lot waiting for someone like you to buy it.

New isn't really new and it's bounced down the road before you buy it.

RV's don't get to your dealer via the tooth fairy, they get pulled by a transport company and in the case of a motorhome, by a driveaway company. Consequently, it's already used. Just never titled.

Only exception to that is a small pull behind or TC. TC's and short TT's get decked on flatbed trailers and delivered that way. Still out in the elements, still bouncing down the road but not bouncing alone.

None are virgins when you buy them and I have a buddy who delivers RV's TT's and 5ers and he has a lead foot. He gets paid by the mile and delivery so he gets with the program. If that means a rough road, so be it. Not his anyway, just a paycheck.

[SidecarFlip]

New is really used but not purchased. RV's get built and then sit OUTSIDE at the factory, waiting to be transported to a dealer and could be transported hundreds if not thousands of miles on rough roads in the rain (and possibly snow) and then they sit OUTSIDE on a dealers lot waiting for someone like you to buy it.

New isn't really new and it's bounced down the road before you buy it.

RV's don't get to your dealer via the tooth fairy, they get pulled by a transport company and in the case of a motorhome, by a driveaway company. Consequently, it's already used. Just never titled.

Only exception to that is a small pull behind or TC. TC's and short TT's get decked on flatbed trailers and delivered that way. Still out in the elements, still bouncing down the road but not bouncing alone.

None are virgins when you buy them and I have a buddy who delivers RV's TT's and 5ers and he has a lead foot. He gets paid by the mile and delivery so he gets with the program. If that means a rough road, so be it. Not his anyway, just a paycheck.