Thor's expanding.

[goducks10]

Interesting article about how busy all the RV MFG's are and the issues of getting help. What will this do to quality control? I think we all know.
http://wsbt.com/news/local/thor-industries-building-plants-but-finding-workers-is-a-challenge

[farmer_s_daught]

I love all the posts on this site! I'm still a newbie, but I love seeing a title of a post, and following through all the responses. I learn so much--about things I never would have thought of. 'You don't know what you don't know'. New Rv'ers don't know what to look for or what questions to ask; so this forum is wonderful for 'picking folks' brains' and hearing about so many others' experiences. Thank you to all!

[Tom_Barb]

What's that tell you about this antique program.?

[dodge_guy]

fj12ryder wrote:
It could be worse, you could have quoted his whole post when you complained about it. 🙂 That's why they make scroll wheels. I only complain when it gets done multiple times.

Yep, I always laugh when I see 5 or 7 things all quoted together. Pretty funny actually!

[dodge_guy]

pnichols wrote:

dodge guy wrote:
Sounds like you`re talking about a house not an RV!

Nope .... my list above is unfortunately referencing typical stuff to look for when shopping for an RV to help minimize future ownership grief.

I wasn't aware of these kind of things until over time A) reading year after year in these forums of RV owners facing the bad consequences resulting from issues such as those on the list, and B) my own good and bad experiences from owning our most recent RV and traveling with friends in their RVs.

By pure luck when we purchased our current RV, what we wound up with a model that came out on the positive side on most of those areas shown on the list. We could just as well have purchased an RV that developed a whole potload of issues going forward ... like I read about time after time after time in these forums.

I was trying to help others - as I only wish I'd had way more help in what to look for when shopping.

Without being aware of what to look for, we deserve what we get when we buy.

My response was more tongue in cheek.
You are right that we get what we pay for. When we were looking some of the trailers we looked at didn't have bed lift supports, they didn't have any type of drawer slide, wood on plastic and other small things that make a difference. I paid a few thousand more for my current trailer over the others we looked at and got better quality materials. Build quality is always questionable except for the high end RV's! Although my trailer has never had an issue other than worn out spring hangers after 5k miles.

[ctilsie242]

The above stuff mentioned is stuff you assume should be there. Cars use nylon bolts, LocTite, and many other methods to ensure screws don't loosen down the road. Almost all cars don't leak, even after 20+ years of being on the road. A generator's mounting contributes incredibly to how quiet is is. If proper shock mounts, deadening vibration of pipes, hoses, and wires, and insulation is used, an Onan can be very quiet. Without it, it can be obnoxiously loud and replace a Magic Fingers bed.

Installation and design means a lot. Materials, fit, and finish can be the same, but there is a big difference between having each model wired the same, as opposed to wiring being slapdash and wound where the installer felt like it.

Look at RV roofs for example. 20-30 years ago, most were made of metal, and really didn't leak. Now we have rubber roofs that tear when a twig grazes them, causing leaks that can render an entire rig worthless other than scrap.

[pnichols]

dodge guy wrote:
Sounds like you`re talking about a house not an RV!

Nope .... my list above is unfortunately referencing typical stuff to look for when shopping for an RV to help minimize future ownership grief.

I wasn't aware of these kind of things until over time from A) reading year after year in these forums of RV owners facing the bad consequences resulting from issues such as those on the list, and B) my own good and bad experiences from owning our most recent RV and traveling with friends in their RVs.

By pure luck when we purchased our current RV, what we wound up with a model that came out on the positive side on most of those areas shown on the list. We could just as well have purchased an RV that developed a whole potload of issues going forward ... like I read about time after time after time in these forums.

I was trying to help others - as I only wish I'd had way more help in what to look for when shopping.

Without being aware of what to look for, we deserve what we get when we buy.

[fj12ryder]

It could be worse, you could have quoted his whole post when you complained about it. 🙂 That's why they make scroll wheels. I only complain when it gets done multiple times.

[irishtom29]

It's tiresome when a person quotes a very long post in it's entirety to make a 1 line response, I doubt I'm alone in that reaction. There is a correct use for an ellipsis.

[dodge_guy]

pnichols wrote:

theoldwizard1 wrote:
It is difficult (impossible ?) for the average person to see the difference between an average (or even sub-average) quality RV and an above average quality one.

Maybe it's because the average RV buyer (almost) only looks at price, floorplan, and colors .. if so, they deserve what they get.

How many RV buyers care enough about the internal workings and what's under the hood enough to look for such things as:

- Is the water pump easy to get at?
- Are the wheel wells lined with heavy metal so that a blowout doesn't ruin a large piece of the coach?
- Does the fresh water system have the built-in valves and siphon tube for easy winterization?
- Is the built-in battery charger single stage or multi-stage?
- Is none of the fresh water system exposed directly to outside temperatures for camping in cold temperatures, just in case?
- Is there room in the battery storage compartment for two batteries even though the RV may come stock with only one battery?
- Is the roof crowned for better strength and water runoff?
- Does the roof have rolled over edges along the entire length of each side to eliminate leaks along the two longest roof seems?
- Are the black water and grey water tanks enclosed or if not, is there an option available for heated tanks and their pipes?
- Do all pull-out drawers use metal slides?
- Do all cabinet doors and pull-out drawers have latches strong enough so as to not fly open when going down the road?
- Does it come with a built-in roof access ladder?
- Does the built-in roof access look like it's mounted strong enough to be used for years without loosening?
- If the refrigerator is a propane one, is it's vent coming out the roof instead of coming out a side wall?
- Is the sewer hose stored in an external locked cabinet or only stored in a square tube at the back?
- Is the shore power cable stored in a locked cabinet or some other secured area so it cannot be cut and stolen?
- Are there DC outlets many places in the coach living area?
- Are there AC outlets many places in the coach living area?
- Are the propane furnace and air conditioner ducts distributed throughout the coach living area?
- If it has a built-in generator, is it installed properly so that it's relatively quiet outside and inside and vibration-free enough on the inside so that it can be run comfortably hours and hours if ever needed, just in case?
- If a motorhome, can the driver's and passenger's seats be tilted all the way back when going down the road?
- If it has a dinette seat, can all of the area under each seat be used for storage ... or does a furnace or water heater take up some of the room under the seats?
- Does it come with bug shields for the water heater, furnace, and refrigerator vents, or must you install them yourself?
- Do the propane furnace and air conditioner use a digital control?
- Does the roof have at least two vents, with one of them having a multi-speed, reversible fan in it?
- Do the roof vents come with rain covers ... or do you have to install them yourself?
- Does at least the kitchen fresh water faucet come with a built-in filtration system?
- Can a tall person stand up in the shower?
- Is the back of the toilet easy to get at for replacing the flushing valve without having to remove the toilet?
- Does the bathroom sink drain into the black tank instead of the grey tank?
- Does the fresh water tank have an easily accessible drain valve?
- How are the cabinets mounted to the walls so that they don't loosen after a few years of travel down roads that aren't always smooth?
- Are the mattresses on the beds pretty good quality ... or are you going to have to replace them after a short while?
- Are the outside storage cabinet walls and bottoms steel or aluminum ... or only fiberglass?

As always, the devil is in the details.

Sounds like you`re talking about a house not an RV!

[irishtom29]

Instead of building new plants in northeast Indiana they could build on the East Side in Chicago and hire quick witted, enterprising and hard working Mexican and Polish immigrants. They won't work for peanuts though. Well, many say you get what you pay for. And talent chases money in the blue collar world as well as in the white collar one.

[pnichols]

theoldwizard1 wrote:
It is difficult (impossible ?) for the average person to see the difference between an average (or even sub-average) quality RV and an above average quality one.

Maybe it's because the average RV buyer (almost) only looks at price, floorplan, and colors .. if so, they deserve what they get.

How many RV buyers care enough about the internal workings and what's under the hood enough to look for such things as:

- Is the water pump easy to get at?
- Are the wheel wells lined with heavy metal so that a blowout doesn't ruin a large piece of the coach?
- Does the fresh water system have the built-in valves and siphon tube for easy winterization?
- Is the built-in battery charger single stage or multi-stage?
- Is none of the fresh water system exposed directly to outside temperatures for camping in cold temperatures, just in case?
- Is there room in the battery storage compartment for two batteries even though the RV may come stock with only one battery?
- Is the roof crowned for better strength and water runoff?
- Does the roof have rolled over edges along the entire length of each side to eliminate leaks along the two longest roof seems?
- Are the black water and grey water tanks enclosed or if not, is there an option available for heated tanks and their pipes?
- Do all pull-out drawers use metal slides?
- Do all cabinet doors and pull-out drawers have latches strong enough so as to not fly open when going down the road?
- Does it come with a built-in roof access ladder?
- Does the built-in roof access look like it's mounted strong enough to be used for years without loosening?
- If the refrigerator is a propane one, is it's vent coming out the roof instead of coming out a side wall?
- Is the sewer hose stored in an external locked cabinet or only stored in a square tube at the back?
- Is the shore power cable stored in a locked cabinet or some other secured area so it cannot be cut and stolen?
- Are there DC outlets many places in the coach living area?
- Are there AC outlets many places in the coach living area?
- Are the propane furnace and air conditioner ducts distributed throughout the coach living area?
- If it has a built-in generator, is it installed properly so that it's relatively quiet outside and inside and vibration-free enough on the inside so that it can be run comfortably hours and hours if ever needed, just in case?
- If a motorhome, can the driver's and passenger's seats be tilted all the way back when going down the road?
- If it has a dinette seat, can all of the area under each seat be used for storage ... or does a furnace or water heater take up some of the room under the seats?
- Does it come with bug shields for the water heater, furnace, and refrigerator vents, or must you install them yourself?
- Do the propane furnace and air conditioner use a digital control?
- Does the roof have at least two vents, with one of them having a multi-speed, reversible fan in it?
- Do the roof vents come with rain covers ... or do you have to install them yourself?
- Does at least the kitchen fresh water faucet come with a built-in filtration system?
- Can a tall person stand up in the shower?
- Is the back of the toilet easy to get at for replacing the flushing valve without having to remove the toilet?
- Does the bathroom sink drain into the black tank instead of the grey tank?
- Does the fresh water tank have an easily accessible drain valve?
- How are the cabinets mounted to the walls so that they don't loosen after a few years of travel down roads that aren't always smooth?
- Are the mattresses on the beds pretty good quality ... or are you going to have to replace them after a short while?
- Are the outside storage cabinet walls and bottoms steel or aluminum ... or only fiberglass?

As always, the devil is in the details.

[theoldwizard1]

The reason "Cheap Sells" is because "quality" and DURABILITY go much deeper than just what you can see and touch. It is difficult (impossible ?) for the average person to see the difference between an average (or even sub-average) quality RV and an above average quality one.

I applaud Jayco's Magnum Roof System (curved roof, no chance for water to pool), but they still need a better flashing system to get the rain off the roof and prevent the windows from leaking. Water intrusion is DEATH to RVs with wood floors.

Molded fiberglass ("eggshells") appear to be the way to go, but most are small and very expensive (Is it the materials or is it the low volume ?)

[dodge_guy]

In all honesty it's the company that ruins the quality, not the employees. If they didn't want them to build so many in a day the quality would improve! Slow down the production a bit, improve the build quality and you won't see too many "I can't believe what I found wrong with my new trailer" posts! And if the quality is incredibly better I wouldn't mind paying a little more for a new trailer!

[tinner12002]

fj12ryder wrote:
"What will it do to quality control?" I think you're going under the assumption that the present quality control is good. The quality control at most assembly plants seem to be lacking to say the least. So it would appear that it will be business as usual.

You and I both know that there is no quality control when most of the workers that assemble them only care about how much money they are going to make if they can spit them out the door and get or better their quota!!