RVs made in China??

mlts22 wrote:
If the government would do smart regulation, great. However, the regulation I've been seeing these past few years does little to nothing for safety. For example, on diesels, the DPF/DEF stuff which has done little except add more headaches for the consumer, and cash for the diesel makers when someone's DPF gets plugged. If the government steps in, we might see some brain-damaged attempt at something (like how the EPA put too many pollution regs in too fast and killed the US's steel industry), but the problem will not be addressed in a way that means we see better quality RVs in upcoming model years.

It would be far better if RVIA took the lead, as they are the only body that RV makers are accountable to these days.

DEF has been used in Europe for many years. DEF is used to help curtail emissions-the diesel motors have been getting away with high emissions for years and now are being brought in to compliance. It's about time.

In regards to US made quality in RVs, it appears to me, and others have said this on various forums before, there are no quality control programs in place such as the ISO 9000 series of quality control/management systems. If properly implemented, they save money and lead to greatly improved quality and customer satisfaction. "We" have the knowledge and ability to do this in today's world, but it seems to get ignored. If anyone says no it doesn't work, then they don't understand the process involved. Instead, the plants hire low-skilled and low-paid workers and crank the stuff day in day out with inadequate checks and balances.

I have to give my head a shake when I hear things like sewer pipes incorrectly connected, cabinets and counters all wonky, drawers and doors that don't close properly, 120V wiring unsafely installed, leaks, brakes that don't work properly, appliances and devices that don't work properly or at all, frames that crack, etc., etc., etc.... This stuff does not need to happen on a regular basis like it does. It's an endemic problem throughout the US RV industry today. I have to wonder if Chinese RVs might actual be better!?

One large supplier of RV components in the US says on their website says "Our quality control program flows through every facet of our product development life cycle. We are dedicated to supplying the highest quality products to our customers because if they're no happy, we're not happy." I call horse hockey. They can say whatever they want but the proof is in the high level of problems with RVs out there , many of which are serious and expensive to repair.

We have a brand new TT that has some extremely serious issues. I never would have thought something like it could ever happen, but it has. It's unbelievable actually. Fortunately the manufacturer is resolving it for us. As I say herein, this sort of thing does not need to happen.

I am starting to think maybe I should make a 180 turn and say bring those Chinese RVs here and see what they are like. But then a lot of US jobs would disappear, so I just don't know.... If I were a saavy US RV maker, I would be proactive and be doing what it takes to preserve their business share here for the long run.

tanman32225 wrote:
I think Mr. Han is going back to his roots. I have not seen much made in china worth the time it took to make it. I say we should go back to our roots and make things here at home.

The Chinese make junk. If you cater to them so be it, I will take USA made any day.

Considering the so-called "quality" of the majority of RVs that we all have I would not doubt that China could match it. While it is nice to be able to rah-rah the USA, we still shop at Walmart, buy TVs that have been been in Asia for years and years, etc.

"We live in a global economy" ..well, ya, but that is an unfair statement if used to somehow state that Chinese trade practices are fair and that they are playing by the same rules. They impose huge tariffs on imports. Look at the trouble we have to go they to get cars over there. Didya know we had to have our Cadillacs built there, if we want market share?

I think fair is fair. For every unit of trade we import, they have to import a unit of trade.

...but that makes it really hard to blow out U.S. workers with cheap labor.

Chinese RV's could happen, but shipping tends to make U.S. built RV's competitive.

Dick A wrote:

az99 wrote:
The US RV industry sure needs some competition. The horrendous quality and total lack of QC would be quickly improved.

The quality issue is mostly a result of the loss of pride of craftsmanship, old time work ethics, and the degradation of societal mores.

I don't agree with this statement IMHO the company does not give the worker the time to do a proper job anymore. I still believe people have pride in their work but what can you do if you dont have the time to assemble things properly. The sooner the rv is out the door the sooner they get paid. They just pass the deficiencies to the dealer and let them deal with it. This way is more cost effective for them. Remember profit profit profit that is all these companies care about !!! Quality is the last thing on their mind.

Dick A wrote:

az99 wrote:
The US RV industry sure needs some competition. The horrendous quality and total lack of QC would be quickly improved.

The quality issue is mostly a result of the loss of pride of craftsmanship, old time work ethics, and the degradation of societal mores.

Dick that is just too funny for words…

What does pride in craftsmanship have to do with it???

when no one is given the tools, time, guidance and training to do any better where does the pride come from???

When corporate puts margins ahead of their customers safety and security, why the amazement in the poor quality in the finished product???

When quotas are the primary goal how can you expect craftsman ship or pride???

Plain and simple, if these companies want pride and craftsmanship to show it will… if there is good decision making at the top, and management has good managerial and people skills you would quickly see pride in the craftsmanship and in the finished product… but they can’t just want it and not do anything to make it happen… they can’t look only at the bottom line and hope for it to be there…

More important is we can’t expect more if we aren’t willing to demand more and willing to maybe pay more… but really I think with better and committed management we could see much better with almost no cost increase and maybe even better profits for the company…

It’s just easier the way it is…


This is what I have seen since I have been camping and that was before the mentioned loss of pride of craftsmanship, old time work ethics, and the degradation of societal mores.

az99 wrote:
The US RV industry sure needs some competition. The horrendous quality and total lack of QC would be quickly improved.

The quality issue is mostly a result of the loss of pride of craftsmanship, old time work ethics, and the degradation of societal mores.

With the dollar becoming weaker all they have to do is buy the USA RV MFG's.

The US RV industry sure needs some competition. The horrendous quality and total lack of QC would be quickly improved.