Issues with newer RVs?
We have a question for you more experienced RVers. My family and I are moving across Canada and we are seriously considering buying our first RV- a one year old Travel Trailer - and pulling it with ...
Forum Discussion
There is always an "initial shakeout" when purchasing a new RV (of any make, model, or brand). The really noticeable issues will surface almost instantly. Either something works, or it does not. Some things take time to surface, and sometimes, something will happen only once and never, ever again. (we had wet carpet inside the closet slide once. It never happened again ... still don't know what cause it).
For the first year you have our RV you will be finding things that either need fixed or changed, and you'll be doing modifications to make your camper more practical for your specific needs and comforts. This is just part of that break-in process.
As far as a good support system (repair shops)? Well, that's a real c r a p-shoot. If you are traveling a distance away from home, on pretty much your maiden voyage, I strongly suggest establishing the route you are taking, and then research RV dealerships and repair shops that will work with your manufacture to honor warranty issues. Do you research ahead of time and hope you never have to use it.
About the quality of your intended RV? That also is really a c r a p - shoot too. There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. And all 3 RVs can be standing beside each other on the assembly line. Best advise to offer here is ... when you take delivery of your RV, leave no stone unturned. Make the dealership PROVE to you the camper is sound. Even have them pull the slides out and get a garden hose with a sprayer and spray the seals and see if water makes it past to the inside. In this day and age, this is your best line of defense... and if there are any problems with the camper ... be prepared to walk away from it and not feel pressured into taking something inferior to your expectations.
Another thing you may do, is to network with other RVers (Good Sam Club) especially their "Standby Sams" who are folks available to help you in a pinch. This is from the Good Sam web site:
About Standby Sams
The Good Sam Club is about service, helping out our fellow RVer, and that spirit is what fuels our Standby Sams program. Standby Sams are Good Sam members who volunteer to provide referrals to fellow members traveling through their area. This group has helped hundreds of Good Sam members over the years by providing contact information for local campgrounds, mechanics – even a good restaurant! We are pleased to report there are nearly 2,000 Standby Sams throughout the United States and Canada.
On the Good Sam web site is a link to a map where you select your state and it gives a list of Good Sam helpers available for you. It gives their city location, phone number and an E-mail. Of course you have to have a membrership to Good Sam, but this one feature by itself may be worth every penny if you need help on the road!
These are my suggestion. Hope this helps. Hope you do not get discouraged because of a few bad reports. Bad reports gets posted. Good reports don't. And I think there are a lot more happy campers than unhappy. It's just the happy campers usually are just too busy camping and don't have time to complain about anything!
For the first year you have our RV you will be finding things that either need fixed or changed, and you'll be doing modifications to make your camper more practical for your specific needs and comforts. This is just part of that break-in process.
As far as a good support system (repair shops)? Well, that's a real c r a p-shoot. If you are traveling a distance away from home, on pretty much your maiden voyage, I strongly suggest establishing the route you are taking, and then research RV dealerships and repair shops that will work with your manufacture to honor warranty issues. Do you research ahead of time and hope you never have to use it.
About the quality of your intended RV? That also is really a c r a p - shoot too. There's the good, the bad, and the ugly. And all 3 RVs can be standing beside each other on the assembly line. Best advise to offer here is ... when you take delivery of your RV, leave no stone unturned. Make the dealership PROVE to you the camper is sound. Even have them pull the slides out and get a garden hose with a sprayer and spray the seals and see if water makes it past to the inside. In this day and age, this is your best line of defense... and if there are any problems with the camper ... be prepared to walk away from it and not feel pressured into taking something inferior to your expectations.
Another thing you may do, is to network with other RVers (Good Sam Club) especially their "Standby Sams" who are folks available to help you in a pinch. This is from the Good Sam web site:
About Standby Sams
The Good Sam Club is about service, helping out our fellow RVer, and that spirit is what fuels our Standby Sams program. Standby Sams are Good Sam members who volunteer to provide referrals to fellow members traveling through their area. This group has helped hundreds of Good Sam members over the years by providing contact information for local campgrounds, mechanics – even a good restaurant! We are pleased to report there are nearly 2,000 Standby Sams throughout the United States and Canada.
On the Good Sam web site is a link to a map where you select your state and it gives a list of Good Sam helpers available for you. It gives their city location, phone number and an E-mail. Of course you have to have a membrership to Good Sam, but this one feature by itself may be worth every penny if you need help on the road!
These are my suggestion. Hope this helps. Hope you do not get discouraged because of a few bad reports. Bad reports gets posted. Good reports don't. And I think there are a lot more happy campers than unhappy. It's just the happy campers usually are just too busy camping and don't have time to complain about anything!
