Ember RV - First Month Ownership Experience Revisited One Year Later
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- Опубликовано: 24 июл 2023
- In this video, I'll share some insights learned from my ownership of an Ember 191MDB travel trailer. In May of 2022, I published a video of the first month's ownership experience of the Ember 191MDB. The video caused a contentious phone call to me from Ember on a holiday weekend. There were so many things wrong with the trailer that I needed the company to fix under warranty that I pulled the video until I had all items fixed. Once all items were fixed by the company (approximately this time last year), I sold the unit at a significant financial loss. The original video is now republished as a part of this video.
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All my friends who bought RVs during last 2 years faced the same endless problems and torn years of life when a long-awaited vacation turned into unbearable torment and large financial losses😭
Yep, I was one. Huge stress.
Unless your useing a RV every other weekend all summer in the end it's cheaper just to rent a cabin.
@@BS.-.-exactly
Our 2021 Winnebago Micro Minnie 2108TB has been great. Over 25,000 miles through the mountain west with a few very minor problems, all diy fixes. Heading out again next week. Of course, this is a tried and true model from an established rv manufacturer.
Really 98 PC are junk. Poor Craftsman. Everything is made low quality anymore
Stories like this is why I opted to build my own camper out of a cargo trailer. I only camp 2 days at a time in a state park with electrical hook up so water tanks and showers are not part of my build. I kept it simple with a kitchen in the nose with the rest of the trailer open and can still be used to haul if needed. If I ever have an issue I know how to repair myself. I look at it as a ready to go hard sided tent with no issues. It’s not for everyone but works for me with no hassles. Thanks for your insight and happy camping.
Not a bad idea. Thanks for sharing!
That’s a great idea. My brother-in-law also made a cargo camper trailer and kept it simple. He loves it. We are planning to wear the heck out of our R-Pod and then maybe do a build….van, cargo trailer or just whatever we can come up with. Hope you continue to enjoy your camper. 😀😀😀😀
Same here
What a POS company for not taking it back. I get 100% what first year new RV issues are; however, this one was clearly one they should have taken back no questions asked - glad you put video out ppl need to see this.
Thanks for the comment. It was very difficult to go through.
John, this sounds like a nightmare! I don’t think it’s just ember. I think all manufacturers are having issues with units built in 2021 and 2022. We’ve heard so many issues we’ve almost decided not to upgrade. Thanks for the update.
I also decided not to upgrade for a while. My 2020 Keystone Bullet seems to have the kinks worked out, plan on staying with it for a while.
My parents had an airstream many years ago. It was well built, and never any water problems.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the new Ember. It never ceases to amaze at the poor quality of rv's in general. The price goes on before the quality goes in!
There has been a huge quality problem, the past few years being worse. As long as there are incentives to work fast, there will be serious quality issues going forward. I’ve literally seen workers running on a factory floor to fetch items.
Boy, isn’t that the truth! Good comment.!👍
Thanks for sharing. As a retiree, I've been thinking/fantasizing about buying a RV, but this video cured me completely. You saved me - and likely many others - a lot of money, heartache and misery. It is what it is and in this case, the truth hurts.
I wouldn't necessarily give up. RVing does facilitate some great experiences. The key is finding the right unit. There are many solid used RVs that people have worked the kinks out. Main issue is getting an experienced RV inspector to go over the unit prior to purchase.
just get a good used one, have it inspected by an INDEPENDANT inspector, and stay FARRR away from camping world to buy a trailer.
@@JohnMarucci
I can definitely see Michael's point. it IS a LOT of money and most working people just can't take the kind of hit that way on a toy, that is even more true with an expensive toy. Others just don't want to. But, John, you are right. If you don't know you like the RV lifestyle, maybe an older used unit would be better to get your feet wet. For me, that is what my wife and I did and we bought a new one this past April and immediately regretted it. We have had it fixed after some pressure on our dealer but the bad taste is still there. I think any person who is not handy or doesn't know somebody who is handy will just need to make peace with the fact that dealers for RVs just flat suck. They overpromise and underdeliver as a general rule. I would also advise not getting an extended warranty.
@Laura-vd4qe you are not wrong about the Camper World comment! I just went through a terrible experience with them. So much so that I’ve written 18 on line reviews and was contacted by the VP. 😮
My goodness, what a great service you are providing John. As you always do, exceptional analysis.
Thank you kindly!
Thanks for telling the whole story. We had figured Ember got involved causing you to pull the video. Great advice on new models and new companies. Two thumbs up for you!
Thanks for watching!
We purchased in 2019 a new nucamp 400 boon dock light, an upgrade for us from a nucamp 320 CSS. In owning the 320, we had a good idea what we needed to check and inspect but even then there were some issues. Fortunately for us, nucamp has stood behind their product and fixed each issue. These issues, all except one, were minor and easy fixes for nucamp. The major one was a low spot in the floor at the entry way. After we took pictures and sent them to nucamp, they scheduled an appointment and replaced the entire floor. They explained the cause was inadequate draining of condensation from the a/c unit due to a design flaw. They were upfront and honest, fixed the floor and the drain issue. The point I wanted to make was I enjoy RV reviews and a few years ago thought we would upgrade to one of the models titled Black Series. Most of the youtube videos were nothing but positive but then we found one made by an actual owner. He listed the nightmare he was having and all the issues. Well, we’re on a cross country trip and after setting up, were out for dinner and spotted a Black Series trailer on a large RV lot. Stopped to check it out and not surprising every issue the youtube noted we saw. Shabby wiring, terrible cabinet lamination, cabinets not shutting, water leaking etc. We were told by a very unenthusiastic sales person the Black Series we were looking at had a full solar charge and full fresh water tanks. Great, we activated the water pump and saw water shooting out of the plumbing under the sink and leaking in the bathroom. The batteries showed full charge but half of the lights failed to work as well as the a/c unit. Our t@b has about 35k miles on her and we are still in love with her. Whenever we think about upgrading, we compare what we are looking at new to what we have and so far, we haven’t found anything that justifies selling the t@b and getting into something new. Hope you get a new rig and get out camping soon.
Unfortunately problems like this are the norm with Elkhart trailers. As a former rv trailer employee i can tell you its all to common. This is exactly why I didnt want to spend my money in Elkhart when i purchased my new rv last month. I bought an Outdoors rv from Oregon. Its worth the effort to get one of these as they are a far superior build. Ive been all through this rv and have yet to find a problem! I wish you luck with your next purchase!
Thanks for sharing your experience. ATC (which is in the Elkhart area) just came out with a 10-year warranty on their all aluminum trailers, which is impressive. I really would like to NOT use a warranty and the loss of use involved. I currently own a 2020 Keystone Bullet that I think I have kinks worked out. All the best!
You definitely did your homework and went with an excellent brand. Probably worth every penny.
I had high hopes for Ember when they came out. I went to look at one about 50 miles away. After seeing numerous videos on Ember they are no longer on my list. Thought they would be different but turns out more of the same which plagues the RV industry as a whole.
I am pretty sure later VINs are made better than the early ones like I bought. I'll likely never be an early adopter again.
I have 97 jayco 32 ft was 45,000 new new a proble water heater furnace and refridge also stereo died same now 80,000
Same here, no longer on list…
This is a true wake-up call for me. There are many aspects of purchase and maintenance that need to be considered. Thank you.
You certainly don't want to go in thinking everything will work fine on a new RV. If you want to learn about my 5 years of owning an R-Pod travel trailer and all I had to do to it, here is a link: johnmarucci.com/r-pod-video-list/
We had looked at Ember when we were searching for our new trailer last year, but the poor manufacturing quality was evident even on the dealer lot. Great advice here, John! I hope they get their act together.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Hi John: how informative your videos are.
We got our first ever travel trailer in 8/22, and basically got lucky with a great dealer.
After years of tent camping, we decided to buy our trailer .
We went to our local dealer , Winnebago Motor Homes (Rockford IL) and have never looked back. They are very good
to deal with, fixed a couple recalls, and minor glitches, and installed a soft start in a reasonable time at a reasonable price .
To me, the dealer you have is all the difference. A good family run one is priceless
Thanks John
Micro mini 2108DS
That is good to hear. Glad it is working well with your dealer and your trailer. All the best!
Thank you for posting this!!!! My wife and I have been narrowing down our options and Ember is at the top of our list. I had a funny feeling about it being a new brand non established brand. I really appreciate your honesty and boldness to show us in the spirit of helping us. I think we will go with. Northwood product call Nash with off the grid package. Thank you again 🙏
Glad it was helpful!
Great video John, thanks for sharing. NOT buying new models of anything - cars, trucks, rvs , is good advice.
I have a 2018 KZ Spree escape purchased from the original owner and I've learned so much with it.
Nothing has failed to date and Im so thankful for it. The more RVs I read about and inspect in person the more I'm impressed with units produced PRE covid.
My 2020 Keystone Bullet has held up well so far (built May 2019 - pre-pandemic). Most of my problems have been with items from Dometic.
John, Thank you for sharing this video. You are a great man with great advice. Be well
Thank you kindly!
I honestly thought Ember would be my next RV. After seeing this I’m on the fence considering my local dealer doesn’t carry them and the nearest dealer is 500mi away. If Ember is listening, they should sponsor you as a brand ambassador and give you a new flawless RV to use for a year. Maybe you just got a lemon. I’m super thankful our Winnebago 2306BHS only came with ONE small issue that I easily fixed.
Agreed on the solar, my dealer wasn’t trained on my FLX package and Winnebago failed to make a video about it too. I need to make one since I’m in tech and figured it out. We deserve better for the amount of money these units cost.
It wasn't a lemon. The early production VINs had slide leak issues and floor discoloration issues in general. I assume they have remedied these issues by now, but IMO there was some beta testing on full-paying customers on early models. I have no plan to ever be a brand ambassador for an RV manufacturer or supplier. This seems to be a strategy by manufacturers to keep quality issues quiet. Once you are a brand ambassador, you are being compensated by the company and likely won't complain publicly. Glad to hear that your Winnebago hasn't had many issues. All the best!
@@JohnMarucci Good to know.... That's pretty shameful for the amount of money they are. What are you moving on to next?
The story is sad and it seems to be not uncommon.
I had a 2018 NuCamp T@B S. Unfortunately I traded it for a used Class C which I hated and consigned it back to my dealer. I went a year or 2? With no RV, thinking of tent camping. ( asking for misery )
So I just bought a used 2019 T@B boondock Edge. I’m hoping it is just as perfect as the 2018 was. But, all the things I loved are the same AND all the things I didn’t are the same. And the boondock is taller and won’t go under the carport.
( it is sooo close and I was measuring optimistically. )
I wish I got the newer boondock which didn’t have the cool lights and paid more for the cassette toilet and the slat solo beds.
I don’t know if we can ever get the perfect RV.
But we keep trying, I guess.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
This might beat tent camping.!!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment!
You raise VERY good points. We were basically Beta testers for Rockwood Geo Pro. We also got rid of the RV after a year. I did look at Ember RV but the dealer for them in our area does not bring them in unless you prepay. Forget that! Plus I could tell the dealer would not be able to fix it since they had nothing like it. VERY short-sighted bad business.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your Rockwood. I think more people are withholding purchases given the publicity around these bad experiences.
... 2005-CASITA ... ZERO--PROBLEMS ... You Are a Wonderful Teacher & Video Producer .. Excellent Presentation with Lots of Supportive Examples .. God-Bless-You ... Any RV-Manufacturer Should Be "Proud" to Have You as Their Customer ...😇👍🙏
John, thanks for this update video. I remember well, the original video and the problems that you dealt with.
Thanks. I posted it also because another Ember owner reached out to me and relayed the nightmare they were still living with. Their VIN was earlier than mine. It was very troubling to hear what was happening to them.
This is what you call the classic runaround All these RVs are no good they all have the same problems Thanks a lot for posting this video A lot of people don't do this all you hear is about the good stuff you don't hear about what's really going on
My 2020 Keystone Bullet has almost 600 nights of use and has generally been a good trailer. I am very likely not buying a new trailer again as they generally need time and money and effort to get the final kinks worked out. Basically, the manufacturer passes on this "final mile" expense to the customer.
Great video. We'll documented. I'm extremely fortunate that I have small time RV shop. He actually has very few new RVs on his lot. He Said in the last 2 years his inventory are used model's from 4 to 7 years old. He completely runs through and reconditions it before he puts it on his lot ready to go. Nice guy and really doesn't through any manufacturer under the bus. People go to this guy for his used reconditioned units because of his experience. I dread the day he retires.
Not a bad idea for a business model. I have a good small dealer close to home, so not all are bad. Thanks for sharing.
Hi John
Thanks for another amazing video.
Glad you enjoyed it
I owned a 2001 Prowler for 13 years with only 2 minor warranty issues. And averaged about 50 nights a year in it. It did end up with two soft spots in the floor from a leaking window and leaking water heater but all of the systems still functioned when I sold it.
In 2018 I started looking at Toy Haulers and realized I needed to upgrade my truck first which happened in 2019. Just as I was about to pull the trigger the world shut down and prices skyrocketed.
I instead converted my 6x12 enclosed trailer into a one person toy hauler with everything but running water. I have camped at least 100 nights in it since. I am now back to searching for factory toy haulers, but keep coming across videos like this one that make me think I may just build out a larger trailer for my retirement project.
The ATC toy haulers looking nice and now have a 10-year warranty, but they are very expensive. I am sure there are some decent ones out there on the used side, but make sure you have an experience inspector take a look unless you can check everything out well.
Solid advice, thank you. Good thing you have public visibility, I am betting that helped a little. They look like a neat trailer.
It may've helped a bit in getting everything fix, but if so, not much. To be fair to Ember, they have helped many owners with problems, even transporting their units back to the factory.
love your video. Most youtubers just tell the good stuff never the real deal.
Well said John. Great video
Thanks!
Thanks for sharing this John! I'm sorry that you had to take one for the team. I just wonder when a new RV owner will be able to feel confident again, it certainly isn't now. I too know of many people who simply can't handle the frustration and disappointment of their new big dollar purchases any longer and are ready to take a loss. So sad..
There are thousands of 2022s still on dealer lots. These may be discounted but any buyer needs to beware of serious quality issues before buying. As you mentioned, there is a real lack of confidence in the buying public just now. Thanks for sharing!
Knowing people I'm Indiana and how the industry works, probably never again. The employees that cared, took pride in what they do are long gone. New employees do not know what they are doing. They can walk out by lunch and be working by dinner shift someplace else in the industry. My first hard frame camper a Keystone 2003 Hornet Sport 27BH was solid, well made, and had few problems. I loved that camper. No slides, manual awning, and jacks. Sold in 2016 and purchased what I thought would be my dream camper. 2016 WildWood 30KQSS. Gagets, power everything and a super slideout. Outdoor kitchen, it was made so flimsy, my camping partner my dad had to replace the pathetic screws on all cabinet doors after one came off in my hand. Power jack's, and awning were vastly disappointing. Under the bunk mattresses pieces of wood and sawdust, as miscellaneous screws, staples. As pop-pop was aging out, I hung a for sale sign on it. Glad to see it go. Took a loss. Yes, I regret selling my 2003 there was no comparison to the quality change. Also, we noticed a shift in camping trends and campers. As campers from the 50's forward it was a trend we did not care for. Now, I still think about camping every summer holiday and in early autumn. But camping has changed and will never be the same. The industry cared little before the pandemic they care even less now.
I bought an Ember 221 msl in April, 2023 and I'm very happy with it. They appear to have remedied many of the early problems. I've been full time for over 3 months and have only had a couple of small issues that I took care of.
Good to hear. The earlier VINs seem to be where much of the live testing was going on. I figured they would remedy the leak and floor issues.
Thanks, that's quite reassuring to hear!!
They replaced the slide mechanism .
Thank you for posting. More videos like this need to be posted. This is an industry-wide problem; and I don't think manufacturers will change their ways until customers force their hand.
Unfortunately, several RUclips influencers have monetary relationships with RV manufacturers and can't criticize freely.
We researched for a long time when deciding to purchase our first RV, and we're both very thankful for you sharing your experience, its proven invaluable! We ended up getting a new 2022 Jayco Jay Feather Micro 171BH new from a dealer nearby. We actually looked at a similar model Ember while we were there, but it was a bit much for our first foray and didn't line up with our tow vehicle specs. We knew there would be issues, felt our expectations were realistic, but we still have that unnerving feeling that there is something wrong we haven't discovered yet. Seems like that is the new normal considering the declining quality trends the past few years. Despite this, we've been able to enjoy our trips and look forward to continue to make memories and learn how best to enjoy our camper. :)
Glad to hear that you have not had major issues with your new Jayco. Thanks for sharing your experience!
While Jayco isn’t immune to poor quality, the company seems to be keeping a pretty high build standard, even the last three years.
There is ZERO quality control in the sub $1m RV industry.
These units are all quickly hand built and pushed out the door without proper final testing, if any at all…Did I mention ZERO quality control?
Unfortunately it’s going to take class action lawsuits and some type of government oversight to even put a dent in the poor quality and workmanship.
I agree with you. My early production Ember had all those problems and I really had no dealer support. If it wasn't for the fact that I'm retired and fixed/improved everything were needed I would of be extremally unhappy for sure. I have learned a lot about RVs you could say. Cheers "Unofficial Ember RV Group"
Dealer service in my experience following your vid is the standard. My motorhome needed service under warranty it was gone 3 months and came back with more things wrong than it went in with. I live in colorado .
Me and my wife have been dreaming about getting a travel trailer to stop paying hotel bills but with videos like this, the price of gas to tow and rv parks so booked it seems like more stress than fun.
It can be stressful getting a new trailer's kinks worked out. A solid used trailer is an option if you secure an experienced RV inspector prior to the purchase. I do have a 2020 Keystone Bullet that has been mainly an enjoyable trailer for the past four years. It does facilitate seeing some great places. I wouldn't give up thinking about RV due to the Ember video as this was a company prototyping on new customers.
Thankyou so much!!
We had a 30 year old tent camper. Never an issue. Finally we gave it to a family who are loving it. Why can’t we make things like we used to. It is a camp light. 🇨🇦😳❤️🩹
Wow, very sorry to hear about all your troubles John, and I'm sure it was painful to make that video. I have a 2020 rPod and just got done putting outriggers on it (another one of your great videos!). I talked to someone recently about problems with Airstream trailers..............so I'm not sure anyone is immune.
The past few years quality has just been horrible. The industry needs to change to survive.
Glad these channels exist, because o of them i am saving money avoiding buying an RV. Plus watching the laywer Steve Lehto who specializes in lemon law says avoid RV due to the lack of protections.
Good, rich, realistic content. Our 2004 30’ Airstream Classic required 6 typed pages of all the initial warranty issues. Airstream did not fix them all. Finally, we had to replace axles because of damage caused by lack of initial proper bearing grease, which eventually became a recall. You provide good lessons. Thanks.
Glad you enjoy the content. Sorry to hear about the Airstream issues. It plays into the expectations that high cost should mean fewer problems. Not always the case. The Ember was in the high $50k with the max solar package, which was a big expectations gap vs quality.
Sounds like airstream is as bad as the rest of them
Sorry to hear about your issues with your Ember RV. We were new to RVing and bought a FSX 177BH. What I have learned is that RV owners need to constantly perform repairs as shoddy construction is universal. Fortunately up to now, none of the major, expensive components have failed - Yet! While we bought a 10-year warranty, I wonder how good it will be when we actually use it.
Thank you, been seeing nothing but problems. Wanted to buy one. Thank you for confirming what have been watching. What a a shame. Sorry for your experience
It was very difficult to go through for four months last year. I really didn't want to bring this back up, but another owner contacted me who has been having serious issues for over a year with theirs. I think this is common to earlier production VINs. I am in no way saying that the company hasn't resolved some of these issues, but for many of us who bought early, it has been a rough ride for sure.
I think you definitely got better treatment because you had videos on RUclips, and that's not saying a lot for Ember. I joined an early group on Facebook with some of the first owners and many wannabes who were waiting for a dual axle. Once there were numerous leak and slide issue complaints and the group of wannabes were asking hard questions and sounding a little mutinous, the group was shut down with the administrator saying "I'm very busy and have to shut this group down and start an owners only group." That told me all I needed to know about Ember. Instead of letting the wannabes see if they fixed issues and took responsibility they shut the group down. I see a lot of comments from people thinking Embers are so great. All I can say is I belong to many groups trying to get an idea of what owners are dealing with and Ember's FB group is the only one that was shut down when the heat was turned up. All the others air the good, bad and ugly.
I remember this as I was also on these FB groups at the time. It was a bad PR move as they didn't want to hear of the pain people were experiencing.
This is exactly why we keep procrastinating on selling our older 2012 Springdale with a good old rack and pinion slide system. Even though it was considered a starter model, it has been fantastic. We bought it new for a great price. When looking at new trailers we are always discouraged by the many flaws, dings, crooked cabinets, etc. and the high prices. We really want a different floor plan that will work better for our retirement but will probably buy used. Hopefully from someone who has had good luck like we have. Thanks for the advice!
It's a difficult choice to buy new. My experience has been that it takes considerable time to get a new trailer dialed in. Not for the faith of heart. There are many people (I am one) who are very hesitant to pull the trigger on a new RV. Glad to hear your 2012 Springdale has been a good choice!
We have figured out that’s is a better deal to buy a nice used unit that should have the bugs worked out. Even though they may only last 5 or 6 years before you send it down the road. You can buy a few 10 to 15 k units for the price of one of the new rv that don’t come with instructions that you need to finish assembling.yeah their old and dated but built more solid
The older models were simply built better. So much cheap construction now, particle board instead of wood for cabinets. Think about all the shake rattle and rolling that goes on when a trailer/RV is moving.
I think this is true as the large RV manufacturers have driven costs out of production.
Wow, not sure what you teach, but great job on the presentation details...was thinking about a rockwood mini lite....it'll wait for sure!
The Rockwood Mini Lite is fairly highly rated from what I’ve heard. I would be careful with any new 2022 however. I taught economics and finance part time for a short period while working a career job in finance/analytics. Thanks for commenting!
Hi from the Yoop. We bought a nucamp 400 and love it. So far so good.
Great to hear!
@@JohnMarucci thanks for your story
Wow thanks for the information my partner fell in love with ember at the Tampa RV show and we were planning to purchase one at the next Tampa RVshow coming up. Looks like we’ll keep ours a bit longer, or go with the alto or in tech we looked at.
I assume they have worked out the kinks on production. Mine was in the 400 VIN range. I also liked the inTech. Oliver is also worth considering.
Thank you 🙏🏾
Welcome!
John, I am so sorry for your ordeal. A couple of points to be made. First of all, I purchased a 2022 Ember 171 FB and on the first trip the gray tank did not function. I also found another issue and went back to the dealer (the dealer never tested the gray tank during it's PDI and pushed me off for three months). I found a closer dealer who had just become an Ember dealer and they jumped right on it, fixed the gray tank and Ember had to send the front cabinet to them as the prior dealer left the large window slightly opened and water damage occurred. So, my experience with Ember has been a good one...they took care of the issue and the new dealer made it right. As for your comment about buying from established brands...wow! That does not hold water! Our last RV was a Tiffin Motorhome Class A. That was a beautiful rig, but i had to have that thing road serviced on every trip we made in the first year! We had way too many RV repairs, beyond the ones that I made myself (basic stuff that should never have happened if managed at manufacturing). In my opinion, this whole industry is a joke, honestly. Coming from the boat world, if boats were made like RVs (with basically no manufacturing controls, etc.) the transoms would be falling off! Anyway, Ember did right by me. I had a problem that the selling dealer should have found, but the new dealer jumped in and got me taken care of. We have enjoyed the "Roller Home" and it serves our purposes for our current camping season of life. Just wanted folks to know it is not all bad. We do love our Ember. Thanks John!
It's good to hear that you have had a good experience and that your new dealer stepped up. All the best!
Came across this late but power to the consumer!
Consumers are not at all represented well to the industry. The industry sells to dealers not end users.
Great vid 👍
Thanks 👍
Thanks for such detailed explanation and I'm sorry you went through that horrendous experience.
I concur with your philosophy of not buying newly introduced product (RVs, Cars). More caution if it is a new company.
Your comment that Ember beta tested the RVs with fully paying customer is accurate. There are too many complains online that corroborates this.
I love the concept and I was super excited when Josh the RV nerd did the 1st two videos about Ember.
When they started, my favorite model was the 190 MDB. I seriously considered buying one but fortunately I didn't. Soon enough, the complaints started surging online.
Currently I prefer the 221 models but while I wait, I hoping a similar model without slides.
In the past, I have spent a lot of money on man toys (boat, motorcycle, etc.) and I have not use them as much as I envisioned. Right now I'm thinking on getting a ROK. It is simple that very few things can go wrong. Actually a youtuber posted a video, the rear (kitchen) door was falling apart within 30 days of getting it, but it was only that. With this smaller one, I can determine if I will use it as often as I'm thinking , before getting a bigger one, 3X more expensive. I may need to go back to the Rockwood Minilites or an RV from ROA, if I still focused on an off-road RV.
Best of luck.
I feel your pain! We purchased a 2021 Riverside Retro 193! It was a lemon! Leaked, every camping trip was another issue. Replaced suspension, stabilizers, tried fixing what we could, it wasn't even inspected by the dealer & no registration papers were with our info. Hitch RV in Boyertown, Pa was a joke! Everything Hitch pretended to fix with spray foam & black tape, was fixed so nasty! They had our RV for warranty work from September to March the next yr & ran out our warranty within 3 days to go! Contacted Riverside in Indiana, took the trip from *Pa to Lagrange, IN for repairs. Well we were there for a WK. They fixed the rig better then the day we purchased it! It was an extreme expense and the travel & time on us but we had no choice! No other dealer would touch it not being their sale! All & all it is great now! If anything goes wrong most likely trading it but I hope not! Good luck!
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Whoa!!! Josh the RV Nerd at Bish's RV (formerly Haylett RV) utube videos HAD me convinced that Ember was the bee's knees!!! IF I still go with an Ember, it certainly WON'T be a slide model.
I enjoy Josh’s reviews and news. However, he does work for a dealership that is in the business of selling RVs. He really can’t speak too negatively about any model he reviews.
Sorry John, I remember when you posted the original time. Really horrible experience. I feel like my first two trailers have largely worked as expected. I originally got an R Pod and that's how I found your channel. Over a year ago I got a Flagstaff 25 BRDS. Aside from some minor issues, it's been wonderful. I hope your camping is getting back to being enjoyable!
Great to hear that your issues have only been minor. I still have my 2020 Keystone Bullet and have seemed to have worked the kinks out. Almost 600 nights use with it, with several multi-month trips, and I have no desire to sell it. So that says something! Thanks for commenting!
I hope they get better. Their products are innovative. Ember 240TKR specially
Will have to wait to buy one used 😅
The Ember did look promising when I first saw them online. The only thing that scared me was the very high price.
Last summer I found a pre-owned Geo Pro 16BH. A week later, the slide ended up having s similar problem as your Ember, it kept jamming on one side. A local dealer gave an estimate of $2700 to fix the issue. I was so turned off by the repair cost, I sold the unit 6 months later.
I will likely never buy another towable RV with a slide out.
Slide outs are great if they work. I understand your frustration. Thanks for sharing your experience.
In general 99% slides are just fine. Rack and pinion and schwintech work quite good.
I bought 2 brand new trailers in the last few years. I have a 2021 jayco x22b and a 2022 kz durango 5th wheel. We use both trailers frequently and have had zero problems. Both manufacturers are great quality. I would highly recommend them. Sad people have these problems. It's frustrating.
Glad to hear your RVs are working well for you. Thanks for the comment!
Holy Crap! I will NEVER buy an Ember. I was actually looking at an Ember model. Thank you for sharing.
Mine was an early model. Hopefully they have worked out the major issues.
Great video... after watching yours and numerous others, I would never buy a travel trailer. It seems most people are left out in the cold when there's issues and I can't imagine how upset they must all be with what their expectation was vs. the experience.
We also have a Ember camper a 2023, we ordered it on April got it in May used it for. Two day took it for repairs just got it back Monday going to test it Thursday cross our fingers.
Hopefully these newer units will prove less problematic. Feel free to followup with how things go.
Loving the Petoskey shirt!
On of my top three Michigan state parks. Hard to beat in the summer for sure. Beautiful area.
Wow! That stinks !! And you lost money on it ! Insult to injury! I’m sure glad I didn’t have to go back to the Casita factory! It’s 980 miles away. I actually hate to say !!😬After watching your video . I’ve had really no issues with my Casita ! Chalk it up to a learning experience I guess!🤷🏼♂️😬😁👍Thanks for sharing.
Glad to hear that your experience with your Casita has been good. Thanks for sharing!
I think we really lucked out. We bought our Heartland Pioneer BH-270 in 2018 at 1/2 the price that the same model was selling for just 3 years later in 2021. Other that the typical minor build quality issues that you expect in a cheap camper, we have had absolutely zero issues with it in over 5 years of ownership. I am going to have to replace the 12v battery this year as it no longer holds a charge, and the tires are pretty worn, but those are the only things that need attention so far.
Just so sad! Glad you got things fixed. So disgusting these dealerships are so shady! Should be against the law!....good grief! 😢
It was a tough few months going through the ownership experience. The dealer was not capable of fixing things given the new components being employed. I think the replaced the water pump three times not understanding the Truma Combi system. Thanks for commenting!
So sorry you had to go through that. 😢
Thanks!
Getting me a custom made built up cargo trailer and converting that to my specifications!!
Sounds good!
Sorry it didnt workout for yall. Our 171FB has had a few issues, but thankfully ive been able to tackle them myself. Ember wanted me to take it to a dealer (dealer never saw us), or take it to a mobile tech and be reimbursed. The only thing i can't fix myself is the discolored floors. Leaks and loose wires are easy enough. I just fixed our fridge too after it quit.
Hope your next rig holds up better.
Glad we have a 2018 Anniversary R-Pod 195… built well, with only issues all travel trailers have.
Glad to hear that your 2018 R-Pod 195 has been a good unit!
Wow i had high hopes for this company. I had a similar situation with a brand new NuCamp Cirrus 720 truck camper. Cirrus campers have been around for awhile but the 720 was a new model and I feel like I got one of the first. Without listing everything lets just say it was in the shop way more than with me and a total nightmare. Finally had to let it go and bought a new Capri Camper from a company that has been around for a long time with their main model and all I can say is night and day. I have had this camper for one year and only one loose clamp on a water hose and porch light went out. I actually live in mine full time and couldn't be happier. When I get a new one I will go right back to same model. Hope all is working out for you.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Man, I'm feeling fortunate, I wanted to purchase an Ember but my tow SUV couldn't handle the weight. I liked the suspension system so I opted to purchase the Ibex with the same suspension system. It's had a few minor issues, and the dealership solved all of them under warranty. Two trips later, it's been bulletproof. To be fair, we don't have a slide on our Ibex 19MBH. Other than that, it's been great.
It seems that RV ownership is hit or miss, with extremes on both ends. I'm sorry this was your experience.
Glad to hear that you Ibex is working well for you!
After seeing my FiL go through many issues when he bought his luxury RV 20 years ago (at over 400% less that what the costs are now) cured me of over wanting an RV, but now seeing all these issues with 5th wheels too. No thank you.
People need to do their homework. We went with a Casita who has a great rep for many years. Their trailers hold value. Not a single regret! We are 1 1/2 years in, not a single problem!
I had an RV in 2008. The happiest day was when I sold it. It was a money pit on wheels.
I have about 600 nights on my 2020 Keystone Bullet and it has taken some time and money to work the kinks out but I've generally enjoyed it and have no plans to sell it. The Ember was an early model that really should have been a prototype.
Thanks for the info...I will not be buying an Ember RV after watching this video
I think my issue related to the early production models. They likely have worked the kinks out since last year. For any new RV purchase, you may want to consider an independent RV inspector before purchase. If a dealer doesn't work with you on this, walk.
I hear your pain. Unfortunately, they are trying to copy the look of rugged Australian outback campers but using cheap US RV manufacturing processes. I believe the Black Series campers are the real deal, but also very expensive.
There were so many new components and materials included that more tested was needed before loosing the builds onto full-paying customers. I didn't mention the issues I had with floor discoloration and screws on the exoskeleton popping off.
Whoa. We’ve had a few small problems with our Grand Design Imagine, but nothing in the first month. Holy cow.
Glad to hear your Grand Design has worked well for you. The Imagine has had the kinks worked out for some time and generally people are happy with the brand. Thanks for sharing!
After all that John, I would've kept it. Wow! Did you notice the common denominator? Friday's? Things usually don't go to plan on Fridays. I call them FU Friday's because that's what usually happens. Thanks for your video!
I had lost confidence in the product and company by this time last year, and no longer wanted to own the product. So, once everything was fixed, I was able to sell with a good conscience and transferrable warranty.
You do these well John. I found myself constantly shaking my head at your misfortune.
In the eighties there was a best seller called ‘In Search of Excellence’. If I remember correctly it’s mantra was ‘READY, FIRE, AIM”. This means the best run, and most successful, companies race to get their product out the door before it’s competitors and adjusts for quality control later.
This philosophy is still rampant in todays highly competitive market. All these MBA’s know this stuff. And that’s why there are so many crappy products that might get a better redesign next year.
The thing is the world understands that water will rot, mildew, breakdown and generally degrade organic materials. It’s known! And people hate things that leak! Why designers of new rvs don’t spec waterproofing and why build managers don’t enforce it is beyond me. I guess when customers will buy them faster than you can build them why bother.
The Ember website still says ‘Building a Better Rv’ - I just checked. To be a successful entrepreneur ensure you employ a great marketing department that uses a bunch of superlatives that have zero basis in reality.
Doesn’t work for me.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Speed isn't the customers best friend, whether in assembly or rolling out a product. There is another comment from a more recent Ember owner who hasn't had issues, so I think the early units are where most of the live testing was done on paying customers.
Omg this was a nightmare for you. Sorry to see this happened. I would like to see you in a tab400 or airstream you seem to do amazing reviews on rvs.
My 2020 Keystone Bullet is doing pretty well just now. I seemed to have worked the kinks out.
I bought a used rpod 180 and the previous owner hid a bunch of mold and issues. Sold for major loss one month later. I will stick to my school bus conversion. It is so much sturdier and safer than an RV. I don't worry about leaks or things breaking constantly.
Sounds like a plan. All the best!
I use your video to educate first time want to be Rv owners. Be realistic about RVing. And yes I have and still own a Rv. Which is stored indoors.
I still own my 2020 Keystone Bullet and after a few years of working the kinks out, it seems to be working well. Glad the video was and is helpful!
It amazes me that the US RV market is still producing product like they were 50 years ago with no innovation for longevity. The Euro and Asian RV manufacturers are leaps and bounds ahead of the game and the best RV appliances being used in the US are from foreign manufacturers. RV dealers are all about the almighty dollar. It is rare to find a salesperson or employee who actually owns an RV or goes out camping.
International competition would be great for the US market.
All companies have issues and we have had 3 new RVs over the past 5 years (upgrading as our family has grown). I agree the dealer means everything! Our three Gulf Streams have had issues but our dealer has taken care of every one of them which is huge. No matter what RV you buy there will be issues! Sorry you had such a bad experience with Ember....good luck finding an RV that will keep your stress level down. I don't think that exists to be honest. RV doesn't stand for recreational vehicle, it stands for repair vehicle 👍
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Thats why i drive/RV in a 1978 winnebago brave, the old ones are just different.
For me John, the same time frame, same dealer problems and the same loss of valuable camping time, but with a different manufacturer. Over the next 8 months, between camping trips, I had the trailer at the dealership twice, the fist time for 6 was and the second time for 10 weeks. The major problem never got fixed. The factory was some help, taking care of some things that the dealer wouldn’t. Right now, I would burn my trailer to the ground before taking it back to that dealer. There is too much of this happening in the RV world today.
Sad to hear but I fully understand. I have a good dealer for my Keystone Bullet and that makes the ownership experience much better. Hopefully at some point these manufacturers will understand that they are as only as good as their worst dealer.
In our humble opinion things like this should be few and very far between. A bran new unit should be ready to go to a campground on day 1. Until consumers like us stand up and demand quality the RV Manufactures new and old will continue to produce junk.
Agreed. It was a very frustrating experience. I think some of this is happening now as production wanes. Unfortunately, what the industry looks like they are going to do is build smaller, cheaper units to lower prices. More about this on my next newscast later this week.
Has the Department of Consumer Affairs been contacted with regards to all these problems that everyone has had including me. Why does it seem that this is just a part of the RV industry and that it is acceptable. Have there been any lawsuits? Totally unacceptable!@@JohnMarucci
Took a tour of a 191 a few months ago at a local dealer. It was nicer than lower end brands but still didn't line up with my expectations and I didn't give it a second look.
Anger, frustration, extreme disappointment, anxiety, etc.. That’s what I experienced when I purchased my Tiffin 24RT motorhome in January of this year. But I eventually calmed down because the manufacturer fixed my issues (after 2 trips) and the RV had the layout and chassis that I wanted along with outstanding features. 1) I too purchased a first year beta unit, 2) dealer did not have sufficient mfg support nor skills to fix, 3) I’m curious if an inspector would have found all issues because it took several nights of camping to identify them. Fortunately I have the time and skills (and some patience) to continue on my journey of making continuous improvements and resolving deficiencies. I am sorry that Ember let you down. It’s one thing if it was a $20k RV, but our frustration and anger amplifies when we pay a higher price expecting a better product.
I've bought four new RV's since 2016 and likely won't buy new again. To your point, the Ember was the most disappointing given the high price tag (mine with the max solar pkg was $60k with tax). Buy a $60k car and the expectation are very high and should be. Should be the same for an RV. My 2017 R-Pod 179 was horrendous from a structural perspective but to your point, cost less than $15k in 2017. My 2020 Keystone Bullet has been easily the best of my new RVs, other than almost every Dometic component going bad. Nearly 600 nights use and I don't want to sell it! Mid-$20k in Spring of 2019 when purchased. Price matters vs. expectations. Thanks for sharing!
I'm glad I bought in 2019. I think I'll keep it. I am not 50 miles from any of the RV factories. Sticking with well inspected (by me) used units is definitely the way to go. Let someone else fix all these problems and absorb the depreciation. Buy used units.
It's unfortunate that you have had these issues. My wife and I sold our 2021 Grey Wolf 19sm back to the dealership. We had problem after problem with it. The last straw was the bottom of the slide out dropping out. It was over a $2000 fix that wasn't covered under factory warranty, or extended warranty. We loved camping but I cannot bring myself to buying another unit. It just seems like every unit (no matter how it was made or how much you pay) are built extremely cheap and so many things are wrong coming from the factory. I was hoping Ember would have been different from the other companies out there, I guess I was wrong.
Sorry to hear about this. Your perspective is valuable for others to see. RVs can be extremely frustrating. All the best!
Sure wish Josh the RV Nerd would see this. He works for Bish in Michigan. He raves about Ember and has really talked it up the best thing since sliced bread. It looked incredible but based on this video I wouldn’t touch one.
I like Josh and he does good reviews, but ultimately his job is to draw interest to units Bish's is trying to sell. There are other popular YT channels doing RV news reports but some have existing relationships with specific manufacturers (brand ambassadors, etc.).
Thanks for this. I can't fathom how a manufacturer could let something roll off its line like what is visible at 9:05. That wiring looks like it was done by just throwing a bundle of different wires in a hole and connecting things where ever. I would expect that scenario from a rig that is 10+ years old and has been modified by a hobbyist/DIYer, not a manufacturer.
I made a mistake overlooking some of these issue as I had tunnel vision on the better structural materials. I came from an R-Pod with bad floors, so I was over focused on the Embers composite flooring. I also special ordered the Ember, so there was a sizable deposit at risk if I walked before purchasing. I wish I had. I’ll likely never order an RV again. Thanks for commenting!
Virtually all trailers are junk. This video has hopefully deterred others away from trailer RV life.
My 2020 Keystone Bullet is doing pretty well at 600 nights of use. The hyperdeck subfloor is a big reason for this. I had to work the kinks out, especially anything with the name Dometic on it over a few years, but it seems to be doing well now. Structurally it has been pretty good.
So for a first time camper buyer which is my best bet brand to purchase. New and used? Thanks for answers. Scott
It depends on your tow vehicle and how you plan to camp.
Sorry that this happened to you. Not all new campers are lemons. I bought my Winnebago Micro Minnie new and haven't had any problems in the 2 years that I have owned it. I guess I got a good one.
Good to hear that your Micro Minnie has been a good choice.
So sorry 😢😢.
Thanks!
@JohnMarucci I remember months ago I asked your thoughts on Ember.I have the greatest respect for you as a RUclipsr. You mentioned you had one, then sold it. Wowza, my jaw hit the ground. I also have a 2022 Ember. I thought, wowza did I make a mistake!! There does need better quality control. But seems 2023 buyers are totally happy.
Most of my problems are salesperson stretching the facts and such a lack of knowledge by the sellers. RUclips don't help either on its capabilities. Several months ago, a well known Dealer said max solar 4-6 hrs of air conditioning.
Influences, want ta be Influencer on RUclips pushed cold weather capabilities.
Additionally, i am a former mechanic, so fixing mine myself absolutely helped. But yes, the heartbreak of capabilities to find reality. I do really really like the cabin construction. I would buy again for the cabin, but would insist on a lower cost.
Truma test center tested for cold weather use. That I learned is not the meaning of the Truma test. Apparently Truma test just means you can keep the cabin warmish. Truma test does not mean that your RV can perform in freezing weather.
It was quite the eye opener buying a COVID, post COVID RV.
Another amazing eye opener is the response from people on social media; all RVs have problems. So the thought is, accept it. That is just the way it is. Sorry I can't swallow that thought.
I'm really sorry to hear this. I thought they would be an impressive brand based on what I saw about them early on. I guess all of the manufacturers are having problems getting skilled people to work for them, and are probably turning units out too quickly.
I think management wanted to roll the product out nationwide to begin recouping some investment. Unfortunately many dealers chosen were not familiar enough with the new components. A slow regional rollout would have caught the design flaws for easier remediation. If anyone in the industry reads this - start with a slow regional rollout of new products and models! Thanks for commenting!
DAMN! a modern day horror story. probably built on a Friday or a Monday. the worst day's i have heard. Friday, they all want to go party. Monday, they're still hung over. great video, sorry you had a towable POC.
I think with these early builds it didn't matter what day they were built. I was happy to sell it after losing confidence in it.