How a TT is built

[GordonC50]

I found an interesting link to a video if anyone is curious how a travel trailer is built. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11U0McUKlw8

[bfast54]

dfm wrote:
That is a fairly old video. I'm sure I watched it at least 7-8 years ago.
It would be nice to see an update from them as well as some of the other manufacturers. As posted previously, I don't think they should be proud of that video.

Actually...Not that old...I personally Know John..

And, the Yellow Stickers on Door...Side..give it away as fairly recent ..they changed the wieght stickers not that long ago.

And, I do the Jayco tour, Every few years..and I am Very surprised to see For example ..the Roof Plywood..is HALF the thickness it was , just 5 years ago..:E

They build TT just the same as cars..only Wood, Alum and More fabric.

[rbpru]

I can see the Fed's perhaps taking an interest in motor coaches but TT and Fivers I would doubt it.

Sort of like telling a person what kind of house they can live in.

[hvac]

We love these little toys but and in all reality, they have little global competiton, so the free market rules win. If they were combating stiff headwinds of higher quality at lower prices things would change. What surprises me is the feds are not stepping in. Can you imagine side air bags in a Class Gasser as a requirment? Even a class c or b.

We decided after many RVs that we like the lifestyle but hate to ride in them. All the safety upgrade in a new pick up are hard to comepte with. Then we picked an Rv with no wood, anywhere. Perfect, no, but seems to work best for our needs.

[rbpru]

The Japanese did prove it wrong in the auto industry. Who knows they may tackle the RV industry some day. Depends upon how much grief the want.

[Shavano]

Next flaming post closes the thread.

Thanks.

[Tyler0215]

I took a tour of the Jayco factory a few of years ago and they still make them that way. guide said the workers are told in the morning how many units have to be made that day. Whether it's 10 units or 40. When that number is made, they go home. Speed is what get them out the door sooner. I didn't see any one walking in the place they were all going as fast as possible. I always wondered if they get paid by the hour or by the unit. The guide wouldn't answer when I asked.

[Caveman_Charlie]

majorgator wrote:
I didn't see any major problem with the video. Quite frankly, I wish there were more American workers that were willing to work at such a fast pace. There is no union in place to make these workers take mandatory breaks and ensure that they only do their one particular job...only their Amish fathers that expect their children to work diligently and acceptably. Nothing wrong with that, IMO.

If you've got a grief with the way they build these trailers, then I suggest you don't watch too closely how most houses are built. I can't speak for other regions, but down here in FL, most framing crews are heavily Hispanic, have little understanding of the English language, and work at the same general pace as the guys in the video. Furthermore, a great deal of the tradespeople (roofers, electricians, finish installers, etc.) are more/less the same here in the residential industry.

Maybe that is why the houses get so heavily damaged every time there is a storm. Florida is known for not having very good building codes. Then the rest of us have to pay for it through higher insurance costs.

[jaycocreek]

Just for laughs...All houses aren't built the same either.

Back in 1990, the Habitat for Humanity affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee built a house in 6 hours flat to establish a Speedbuild record for Habitat for Humanity. Pensacola, Florida took up the challenge and knocked a few minutes off at 5 hours 57 minutes. Planning by the Manukau affiliate in Auckland, New Zealand commenced in 1998 with a project dubbed "Sub6". However, on 12 June 1998, word was received that the Nashville affiliate had reclaimed the record in emphatic fashion by building a 3 bedroom house in just 4 hours 39 minutes. The New Zealanders refocused, renamed their project "Sub4" and went on to lower the record to 3 hours 44 minutes and 59 seconds on 13 March 1999. The house was 4 bedrooms and approximately 1000 sq ft. The record and a handsome trophy is now held by Shelby County, Alabama affiliate at an incredible 3 hours 26 minutes and 34 seconds, having set that time on 18 December 2002.

[majorgator]

I didn't see any major problem with the video. Quite frankly, I wish there were more American workers that were willing to work at such a fast pace. There is no union in place to make these workers take mandatory breaks and ensure that they only do their one particular job...only their Amish fathers that expect their children to work diligently and acceptably. Nothing wrong with that, IMO.

If you've got a grief with the way they build these trailers, then I suggest you don't watch too closely how most houses are built. I can't speak for other regions, but down here in FL, most framing crews are heavily Hispanic, have little understanding of the English language, and work at the same general pace as the guys in the video. Furthermore, a great deal of the tradespeople (roofers, electricians, finish installers, etc.) are more/less the same here in the residential industry.

[chr_]

dodge guy wrote:
If they slowed it down a bit and did quality work I don`t think a $2k jump in price would be objectionable as a buyer! I guarantee if they slowed it down a bit we wouldn`t be finding screws through water lines or wiring, things would be fastened properly and the sawdust would be vacuumed up instead of swept into the walls and floors. maybe they could even plug in a water heater once in a while too!

We don`t need Lexus (Toyota) quality.....rather just attention to detail and a little pride in what they build and sell!

I totally agree with this. But as long as there are mfg's who make them cheaper, people will buy them cheaper.

You cannot buy a cheap camper in Europe. This doesn't seem to limit the market, people just got used to paying more, and then do.

As for the comment about making the employee pay for the warranty, if that were the case, there would be a motorized revolving door at the factory. Nobody would stay there.

I think Hourly pay is a better way than piecework pay, but that is how the Amish community likes to get paid.

That video with the guys swinging the walls around and stopping them with their bodies wouldn't pass safety in any other industry, Yikes!

[Caveman_Charlie]

Most things are built that way. Sorry to say. There is a large agriculture tractor manufacture near me. I know someone that works there. She works on the line and she tells me that the employees are told to just put the tractor together and get it out the door. Even though they know they are not putting it together right and that there are defects. Once the tractor get to the dealer the dealers mechanics take it apart and fix the assembly defects. She can't figure out how this makes any since but, that's just the way it done.

[facory]

That video is living proof why so many new trailers have performance and quality issues. The whole thrust is to get the trailer built and out the door. Jayco even brags about building that trailer in only 6 hours. I'll bet it's sitting in some dealer's shop right now waiting for warranty repairs. Personally, after seeing that video I will not buy a Jayco trailer.

[BillB800si]

rbpru wrote:
Quality is whatever the customer accepts. The industry builds to a standard suitable for the market. When that changes the the industry will change.Sad but true.

============================

Think maybe the Japanese proved that wrong???

[rbpru]

Quality is whatever the customer accepts. The industry builds to a standard suitable for the market

When that changes the the industry will change.

Sad but true.