BEFORE YOU BUY A TRAVEL TRAILER WATCH THIS

[RVER]

THIS is a video of how trailers were made in 2008 and the importance of that is that it is said that the quality has gone DOWN since then. WATCH this whole video, BEFORE you buy a Trailer but also motorhomes are made by the same manufacturers and I am afraid the problems also reside in them so do watch it, and do diligence when buying an RV. THERE are still companies that build in quality. This is for education, I do not know this man nor do I subscribe to his thinking but it is good to see what he is talking about and he tells how to check some things for quality so it is educational.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dQkQFJvuVw

[ctilsie242]

There could be foreign competition pretty easily. All it would take is making a knock-down structure, and shipping the RVs fully pre-built. For example, the fiberglass clamshells. The clamshells could be built, wired, plumbed, with everything ready to go, shipped here, then the only assembly would be fitting the top on the bottom, running some type of fastening system, and shipping them to dealers.

These days, if I were buying a new trailer, I'd go with a horse trailer maker. Yes, it will be heavy, about twice as much as something from the big names, but it will be made with a steel, Huck-bolted frame, aluminum sides, one piece roof, plumbing/electrical up to code, and will easily outlast me. Ironically, with prices so high for garbage quality, paying the premium for the horse trailer isn't as big as it once was.

[rbpru]

After re-watching the video let's remember.
- There are thousands of TT old TTs still in use.
- People are not willing to pay more for a hobby.
- If you want 2x4 and 4x4 home construction, the Tiny House market is willing to serve you.
- Airstream and a few other limited low volume manufacturers may have a model for you, all it takes in money.
- There is no foreign competition because, there is insufficient demand, the profit margins are not high enough to entice the foreign manufacturers, and people always whining about "cheap off shore materials".

The reality is, if you are willing to pay for it, it is out there.

My complain is there are far to many mistakes made in assembly. Regardless of the price, you should get all the screws, nuts, bolts, sealant, trim and functions you paid for; without having to go back to the dealer.

Be safe

[GrandpaKip]

The highest quality, mass produced TT is arguably an Airstream. I sure don’t see many of them in the profiles of the folks arguing that we would pay for quality. There are custom manufacturers out there, yet I don’t see their products here, either.
It all boils down to money. If that were not true, Mal-Wart would not exist and we would not be flooded with cheap, Chinese crapola.

I did the cargo trailer conversion. Top quality everything: plumbing, electrical, finish materials, etc. ‘‘Twas expensive and sold for pennies on the dollar. Used it for 2 years and it still looked new. Unfortunately, it no longer met our needs. But it did serve well to show us what we really needed and wanted.

[MSchu]

I like the part where he says "its not like an old Holiday Rambler" because I have an old Holiday Rambler! When I took up the carpet and linoleum to put in some new laminate flooring, the OSB looked so new I was afraid it had been replaced, but it was just in great shape.

[GeorgiaJim]

I don't under stand how they can build a Cargo Trailer for cheap, and they are of good quality compared to a cheap RV.

My next RV will be a converted cargo trailer. I have seen some pretty nice ones on youtube.

I subscribe to the youtube channel for the video that was posted, so I watched it when it came out. I don't think I would ever buy a RV with a rubber roof, or stick built with aluminum siding.

[myredracer]

Well, we had an entire TT replaced under warranty because it had a "standard" junk frame on it. Luckily we happened to find out the day after we bought it and luckily the TT manufacturer did something. Most would probably do nothing and blame the owner. The frame was like it was made from rubber and the tail end would bob up and down like a duck in water going down the highway. Even found a failed weld in the aluminum superstructure framing due to excessive flex. After waiting 9 months, the replacement came with a very heavy duty frame c/w 2 sizes higher rated axles, like it should have had to start with. Zero frame issues after that and way better performance. Frame & axles added only only 200 or so lbs. Still, plenty of other issues and terrible build quality though.

I think a big part of the problem with TTs and other RVs is the complete lack of industry regulations on frames and structures and lack of oversight by an authority having jurisdiction. Quite often, an RV manufacturer simply flips you over to a 3rd party (like Lippert for ex.) to fight it out with and they don't get involved. Add to that dealers who refuse to fix things under warranty or don't know how to properly stuff, if at all. It's like no other industry out there. Ridiculous!

As for that video, we don't know the history of it's use. Rot could simply be due to lack of maintenance and use of the trailer during cold weather and failure to vent out moisture laden air. That trailer has an extraordinarily unusual amount of rot for some reason. (Note where it's located.)

TurnThePage wrote:
I keep hearing that they build it cheap because we refuse to pay for quality. I think that's total BS.

Agree. I think there is an expectation by newbies to RVs that there is some sort of quality control and gov't oversight, similar to automobiles and homes. Poor quality just doesn't happen in cars & homes like it does in RVs. There's simply NO yardstick to identify & differentiate quality in RVs. RV manufacturers get away with cranking out junk because they can, without impunity.

Oh, and after 3 TTs in just 3 years, I've become a hardened and cynical RV owner... :M

[DallasSteve]

How do you know the ROT came with the RV brand new? Because he told you so? I'm sure that whatever we see on the Internet is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

[RVER]

I agree with you, one must maintain their RV, but this guy was showing ROT that came with the RV brand new. I am not saying all RVs are junk but am saying that one must be careful of the manufacturer you choose and that is more important than "floor plan". There are companies out there just pushing them out without regard to quality control and some companies are very careful about quality control. People need to do their due dilgence is all I am saying.

[allen8106]

We have a 2010 Jay-co 5ver and have had very little trouble out of it. Watching the video he complains a lot about the "rot". Well the rot isn't necessarily the fault of the manufacturer. More a factor of the care and maintenance received after being sold. I'm a firm believer in preventive maintenance. that's why I check my roof twice a year for any area where the sealer has shrunk back to expose an entry point for water. I regulatory check and maintain every appliance and system on the rig.

[Downwindtracke1]

This has been said many times and it's just as true as when it was first said. Trailers are a kit that you finish.

[captnjack]

How long were those trailer pieces lying around on the ground? Some of the wood looked very faded from sun exposure. Which would mean more time to be exposed to the weather and would result in accelerated rotting of wood.

[travelnman]

Quality is one issue another is parts. Dealers I have visited don't want to sell you parts just the RV or if they do have a part it is included in a much larger part. For example the hinges on toilet seats break often do you think I could get hinges? All the dealers wanted to sell me a new toilet and install it and then it would have to be ordered like to the tune of $400-600bucks for a two dollar part. They have you because sitting on toilet seat rims is not my idea of fun and it could get nasty ugly. I got a toilet seat at a big box hardware for $16.00 matched perfectly. Then I wanted a new brake control my old dealer said he does not install those anymore cause there is no money in it. Go to a truck repair outfit like what who is that so I looked around for a exclusive truck repair center and got it done but my RV dealer no longer sells them or installs them. Then my awning got damaged in a storm. The dealer ordered six before we got one that was not damaged in shipment and the fabric was so cheap I almost sent it back. First truck was highjacked, second truck went to the wrong place and dropped it off, third truck tossed it out the back and ran over it before leaving, fourth truck delivered one with holes in it mice or something ate it, fifth got delivered to the same wrong place again, etc. I kept the sixth one but it is so cheap for a $1,000 it flops around like a flag. Strainer in the sink shredded being made so cheap, it didn't bother me to much as I thought for sure they would be available at my local RV dealer priced like gold but they would have one. Nope same story, they could sell me and install a new sink and toss in the strainers but it would have to be ordered. Mean while the wife is in disbelief and not really a happy camper. Be prepared for this experience! I called the manufacturer of the RV and told them the story, they gave me the name of a dealer who carried parts and would sell them to me but this service is getting extremely rare.

[Camper_G]

Lynnmor wrote:
We can blame lack of maintenance, like not caulking for example, but that won't help with a frame that has the strength of a wet dish rag. With these things flexing at every joint, water intrusion is sure to follow.

That's true but if they built frames that heavy that they wouldn't flex like that, rigs would be extremely heavy. It's a compromise I suppose. I personally like 70s and 80s rigs. My 89 has a 1 piece aluminum roof thats still in good shape. I dont care for the rubber roofs of today. Back then rigs were built heavier because weight was not as much of a concern. My trailer is 29 years old now and while it has some issues it's pretty sound overall. I do keep an eye on stuff real good though and I'm sure that has helped.

[Downwindtracke1]

If the payments for a trailer last 5 years, why build one that will last longer than that?

All trailers leak. If they leak they rot, even Airstreams. When you buy a new trailer, get them to include a case of Proflex. It takes two weekends for you and missus to do it right. If you are too lazy ,and it rots don't cry.