I tend to fall towards the “trash” side of the equation! I’ve had a couple bumper pulls and currently have a 41” Highland Ridge Highlander 5th wheel toy hauler. With a price tag in the $100k range I’m very disappointed in the build quality of the Highlander! It wouldn’t add much weight or cost to use a quality fastener to the interior trim pieces. Trim is constantly falling off in this trailer and when I pick it up off the floor I see that it has a tiny little staple every 24” or so, often time less than that. First time I ran the slides in after a rain, I got water running in on the floor through the seals. The ramp on the rear dosent fit square in the opening and often requires a lot of persuading to open. Leveling systems that don’t work consistently (Lippert), typical tank level indicators that read all over the place. A/C units that are barely adequite (Dometic), a heating system designed to drain both batteries in one moderately cool night, OEM tires designed to make it off the sales lot. Any further and your risking a blowout! An exterior finish designed to last one season before turning dull and fading. Look in any of the hidden areas and you’ll find piping and ventilation penetrations that look like they were cut in with a claw hammer! I could go on, and these things are very common among all of the non-premium brands, but for the price you’d sure think they could put togeather a much better quality product. A salesman once told me the reason for all the bad fitment and pieces falling off was because RVs have to endure 8 on the Richter scale and hurricane force winds every time they are towed down the road, therefore these issues should be expected. My response was “ that’s like Boing saying we should expect their planes to fall apart because they have to takeoff, land, and fly at 500 mph in bad weather! If that’s what RVs are designed to do, they should be constructed in such a way as to not fall apart when performing the intended task.
Hi Jeff. I'm sorry to hear about your poor experience with Highland Ridge. As I said in the video, all manufacturers are capable of turning out sub-par quality at times due to the way that RVs are made. And if your RV was made within 2020-2022 it is also a Covid-built product, so there were even more issues with workforce problems during those years. Also, some of the issues you mentioned are not really the manufacturer's fault as all RV builders tend to use the same brands of components like a Lippert chassis, A/Cs, furnaces, etc. In those cases, the fault is not with the builder but with the makers of those components or equipment. The main point of the video is that it's so disappointing to get a poorly made RV, and I feel for you having to deal with that. But the buying experience for the vast majority of RV buyers these days is still reasonably good if they (1) stick to buying the right brands, and (2) follow a proven buying system that eliminates the vast majority of human error issues that make it out of the factory before they take ownership of the RV.
Comparing a $100K product to a $100M Boeing aircraft is not exactly fair. What the dealer was trying to tell you is that the weight has to be extremely light in order to toe/move it down the highway with reasonable power plants (trucks). The designers of RVs have to meet somewhere in the middle between being over weight and being under built. Sometimes even good manufacturers get it wrong. Even in the best case situation, the owner or their representative will have to fix problems on a regular basis. These are not tiny versions of real houses. You will always have trim issues, leaks from both pipes, roof, and slide outs, and many many others. I see online where dealers are billing these units as great for older retirees. That's only true if the older people are ready to go back to work on their dwelling or if they have enough money to pay someone else to fix all the issues that crop up. As a 15 year full timer living in a $250K (when new) pusher (Gulfstream TourMaster), I can tell you that these things I say are true. So far, I've replaced the entire roof ($10K), all three A/C units ($8k for heat pumps), 6 tires ($2.5k), water pump (2x), water heater, refrigerator, floor repairs, towing bills (over $2k), engine computer, and many $800 dollar oil changes. All but 45K miles were stationary on my own land so it's not like we're constantly moving. All of that said, I have loved every minute of it (no rent, low utility bills, etc).
I do not think all are trash. I paid for 3 pre inspections from the same person. She was certified from a company in Texas. I am glad I did get her. It was a brand new unit. Some items repeatedly were not repaired by the this national dealer ship although they claimed they repaired them. I didn't accept delivery until I was satisfied the items had been corrected. My opinion is that if you are paying money for something that is not returnable, you need to be aware of its condition. No matter what you are purchasing. The dealership kept "encouring " me to take delivery. Be patient. May dealerships have a wait list to get to service. If they have to order parts you maybe delayed more. "Buyer beware".
Those are all great points Michele. You did exactly what you should have done in the buying process and didn't let the dealer take control away from you. I'm glad that you shared your experience here. I hope lots of prospective RV buyers read this and follow your advice!
@@georgekatsinis5224 I agree. If I had to do that I would have walked away from that dealership and just eaten the cost of the inspections because I would no longer trust buying anything from that place. I would not have done more than two. If after the second inspection the items on the list to fix were not done I would say goodbye and find the RV at another dealer. That dealer has no attention to detail and are not being honest so I cannot form a relationship which would include future servicing; especially the need for warranty claims.
The people building these are inexperienced part timers on a hectic building schedule. Mine was Amish built, so I was told, and I thought it would be better.
@@blauer2551 Actually the majority of RV factory workers, especially in the factories of the better brands, are very experienced and often long-time employees who are very good at what they do. In Indiana, Amish craftsmen are used a lot in many of the factories there. But the pandemic decimated the workforces of many of the RV builders. And now some relatively inexperienced workers are on the assembly lines by necessity. But that doesn't mean that all of the workforce is inexperienced.
I would only go camping if I could go back to the 1960s. At that time campgrounds were free. Even firewood, was chopped for you and free. People did not have to secure a spot months in advance but rather headed in a certain direction and pulled in if they were tired of driving. We were never turned away. There were many tents, tent trailers or small and simple camper trailers. We seemed more interested in the camping experience rather than dealing with constant RV repair issues.
I agree that a lot of things were much simpler then. But I doubt that those days are going to return anytime soon. So we have to deal with the realities of today and try to make the experience as pleasant as possible,. Or choose not to enjoy camping at all.
This was an EXCELLENT video. I don't own an RV, but I like watching these videos in the event I ever purchase one. You made some great points that I didn't think about. These vehicles move around and things are going to move inside. Plus, if they use the best cabinets and shower enclosures and roofing systems, etc., these things would be so heavy you either couldn't pull them or you would get 2 miles to the gallon of gas. The moral of the people building them seems to be the critical element in all of this. Thanks
Always enjoy your videos, Duane. Purchased a pre owned 2017 Winnebago Vista in December of 2021, with 21k on it, and we have put 12,000 miles on it through 24 states over the last 2 years without issue. I agree there are many good units out there, like anything in life just have to do your diligence prior to purchase! I’m amazed at the number of RV buyers that don’t get that, instead saying “it’s the one we really wanted” or “we were just looking when we purchased” Slow down, take your time, the right unit will come to you!
I couldn't agree with you more Jim. So many of the "RVs are all trash" crowd did not research the industry first, did not learn which brands have the best reputations for quality, did not get their RV inspected and the problems fixed before completing the purchase, and mainly bought on appearance and price rather than learn how RVs are really made. Your advice to slow down and think about what you are doing is very sound. Thanks for watching and leaving a thoughtful comment!
I made statement that “they are all junk!” I’ve also said you need to have deep pockets or be a handyman to own one. I love my RV and would buy it again. I would like to see all campers with better roof membrane. I’d also like to see pull behinds with a better suspension system Great video!!
Thank you for your videos. I absolutely agree with everything you mention in this video. Sorry if I’m long winded but…. We are on our 8th Motorhome , traveled over 200,000 miles over 30 years. In the beginning our RV was small and simple, then we added bigger appliances, slides, leveling systems, etc. and our rigs got BIGGER. So more problems. 11:05 We presently have a 2022 Winnebago Vista, purchased new, and are at 32,000 miles. Honestly, we’ve had no more serious issues than our everyday sedan. Do I have to fix loose screws, a small water leak , reseal the roof seams, do maintenance? YES. My opinion, yes, it could be better, but so could my car. Unfortunately, dealers sell the idea that you can jump in and go down the road for a trouble free weekend. Imagine your house being subjected to constant 65 mph wind and earthquakes. It would need repair as well. I’ve learned to do routine maintenance, change water pumps, step motors, re-sync slides, replace/repair faucets, toilets and electrical components. We’ve never owned a diesel but have owned two Winnebago gassers, four other brands. Some better than others. My advice to folks is to buy a good brand, look at used RVs to see how they hold up, AND learn how to at least be able to do some routine maintenance. AND how systems work … even if you can’t repair them yourself. Thank you again Great stuff. We look forward to your videos.
@@jamesbecker578 As someone who’s owned 8, and camped/traveled for over 30 years, I can only tell you the ones I like and not like. The answer is subjective, based on your needs. If your looking for higher end motorhomes, Newmar makes good coaches without getting into the ultra high end coaches. So does Tiffin. Class A gas motorhomes, my experience is Newmar, Tiffin, and Winnebago. I’ve traveled with friends who own Newmar and Tiffin. Very nice class A gas coaches. We’ve had two Winnebago’s and like their simple but quality A and C coaches. We DO NOT like Thor products. Fit and finish is bad. Thor now offers the longest structural warranty because they have a reputation for falling apart. Duane’s RUclips channel has good recommendations and explanations. I highly suggest you look at some of his other videos.
Thanks for sharing your experience here Anthony. You also gave good advice that the average RVer would do well to follow. I appreciate your support of the channel and thank you for your thoughtful comments.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Duane, thank you for your comments. My wife and I truly enjoy AND learn from your channel. Since we retired 30 months ago we’ve taken our RV adventures to the next level. But we look for channels like yours and highly recommend them to others. RV’ing is a journey and a community. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been helped, or helped others with RV questions or issues while on the road. Thank you for your channel.
Good information ! That’s why we purchased an older Newmar DutchStar. Could not justify buying newer because of build quality and cost. Hope you are keeping cool in AZ !
You chose your RV well! There's lots of Dutch Star owners that wouldn't have anything else. And the good news for us is that we are not in AZ during the summer heat right now. Instead, we are enjoying the cool weather in the mountains of New England. Gotta love RVing!
I had a 1990 Fleetwood Prowler. The quality and finish to this camper was incredible. Mind you this is not a high camper price wise. The layout was similar to the Airstreams with center twin beds, and a full width bathroom in the rear. Perfect for me. Unfortunately tornadoes swept through Ocala in '93 and it was destroyed. I could never find a similar Fleetwood.
I bought a brand new Forest River travel trailer in 2013 and still have it. Yes, I had to do a lot of minor repairs right off the bat. One of the "minor" repairs could've been a catastrophe if I hadn't run across the issue while cleaning it. ALL of the bolts holding the walls to the chassis were loose!
The problem with RV's as nearly everything made in America is workers don't care. All they want is put in the least effort possible and not get caught and take their paycheck.
I can't comment on the attitude of American workers but I know that the pandemic created lots of workforce problems for the RV manufacturers that have still not been fully resolved yet.
Thats a mighty broad statement. "All they want is put in the least effort possible and not get caught and take their paycheck." Sounds like a simple charge made by someone who doesn't know s***. Employees build what the manufacturer designs and that design is 100 percent on the manufacturer. The manufacturer dictates how the units are assembled. If you don't think that the bean counters haven't figured out what is the least number of fasteners that could be used, the lowest quality of components they could get away with, then you aren't living in the real world. I would also suggest that there might be other factors that contribute to quality issues. Employee training and development, work place environment, morale, pay and benefits, and employer appreciation are the ingredients to quality product and experience. In addition, I believe manufacturers are not subject to the same requirements (lemon laws) that , for example, automobile manufacturers are subject to. Ever try to get warranty work done? Where do you think quality would be if strong consumer protections were in place against the manufacturers? I would suggest that the manufacturers would then be forced to design better and manufacture higher quality products. If a manufacturers first directive is profitability, expect something to suffer. I spent my life in management and as an owner. As a manager and as an owner, how employees are treated, respected, and fairly compensated makes all the difference. Combine that with quality components to start with and you will produce a product that you will be proud to put your name on. To flippantly claim that it's the worker to blame suggest to me you are a 3rd string arm chair quarterback.
Sounds like the companies to be honest. Put out the cheapest product for the most money. That's capitalism. Corporations exist to make the most money with the least effort, why blame workers for doing the same thing?
I'm watching this video as my 2018 Jayco 5th wheel sits idle in my driveway with a cracked frame. A 5 year old trailer used for 3-4 weeks in the summer and stored inside over the winter ends up with a frame that cracked due to normal use. Would this be OK if a car/truck ended up with a broken frame within 5 years from new? The manufacturer would not survive if so. My tires are warranted for 6 years, the roof for 12 and the frame for 1 year. The main foundation of a trailer, the frame is only guaranteed for 1 year.
I'm really sorry to hear about your frame issues. But that is not a normal experience for most Jayco owners. And that is the point of my video - you can get a problem RV from almost any RV manufacturer due to the way they are currently made. But that doesn't mean that the entire industry is as bad as some make it seem. I am not defending RV builders in any way because I believe that they need to up their game considerably. But loudly proclaiming that all RVs are no good is not right either. So I hope that you can see that what happened to your RV should not take place, but it doesn't indicate that no one should be buying RVs these days.
Thank you so much 😊😊 for Talking about RV ownership and the BIG one, maintenance on your RV. Just like a boat, if you leave in Salt water Marine. You must pull the boat each year to your Local dock repair facility. I found it was more important to change lower GEAR oil on outdrive, than engine oil. The year after my Volvo was manufactured, Volvo changed the seals on the shifter on the lower unit. Because it was a bad design. I always had milky GEAR oil. I always had the hull cleaned and outdrive Repainted if I had just slightly lost its paint. I will talk about a whole other equipment subject but it falls in line with the quality of how it was built. I own a 1978 Dynahoe-190 Backhoe. It has close to (9000 hours on meter) have never overhauled the 353 Detroit Diesel engine. I have done Hydraulic seals ( replacement) I ran one in 1979 on a big main line sewer job, digging the sidesewer stubs, and the big one that just had wear on other brands like Case and John Deere. The Dynahoe just held together between. It was a main frame Backhoe connection. The backhoe end was permanently fixed to the whole frame. But when these machines were new in the 1970s that cost almost $100 thousand. Very heavy (19,000 pounds) the Dynahoe was made by Buycrus Erie. A great heavy construction and mining company that CAT now owns. All I'm trying to say is I feel like I have a great USED Backhoe, just like brands like AIRSTREAM ( don't hold stock in company I also own a 1971 SeaGrave Fire Engine 🚒. It's amazing driving her how well built the old girl drives, and FD equipment is all hand made. I own it for kids to enjoy getting in the driver's seat. I do many public education and kids day with the Fire Department. The way you speak, you sound like a great inspector, who would explain things to RV owners very clearly.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. And thanks for contributing your thoughts about RV maintenance too. They will be helpful for others looking through this comments section. Have safe and happy travels!
Thank you for providing a balance view on this issue. I own an older RV and I'm happy that it's built well, but of course that doesn't mean there aren't still things that need maintenance with age. But I don't travel around with it. I'm looking at small trailers or teardrop for traveling. Lots of videos on how those are built and usually good quality. Just as a side note.
Hey, Duane I'm a new subscriber. I enjoy watching you with all the tips. I have a 2020 travel trailer which I haven't used for the last 2 years as all campgrounds here in Oregon are filled with tourists all over. I am blessed to be in 5 acre with beautiful views around our house.
I worked at a rv dealer that got bought out by a large chain, not camping world. I know alot of the campers had many defects, some big serious ones. The factories just send them out for the dealer to handle it, and now the dealership has gotten to where it is like oh well to the customer, rather then have to deal with the manufacturers.
That's actually a good point. A lot of RV buyers either can't afford or won't buy the higher quality brands. So that forces the manufacturers to make cheaper versions. But the same buyers expect top-notch quality. You just can't have it both ways. Thanks for watching and leaving an insightful comment!
I bought a 2008 Fleetwood Southwind Class A motorhome with Dwayne's advice. It's turned out to be a well-made, comfortable RV. It's not that all new RVs are problematic, but a used one has already got most of the "bugs" worked out. Of course, the cost savings over a new motorhome was tens of thousands of dollars (that I can use for RV adventures instead). Naturally, I have to do some work to maintain my rig and repair little things that loosen over the many kilometers that I travel. I recently saw a gorgeous 2023 Tiffin Allegro motorhome that was back in the shop for a third time to fix its pollution control system. That's not an RV manufacturing issue though, because it's the chassis.
Good advice. Before any newbie buys their first RV, they should rent different towables and motorhomes to see if they like the lifestyle as well as to help determine which type is right for them. That being said, can you do a video on the different companies and ways to rent and what to look for so that people can be a more informed consumer when renting? We don’t want our first RV experience to stand for “Ruined Vacation.”
That's good advice you gave there about renting first. And thanks for the suggestion about a video on renting RVs. The good news is that I already have that kind of video on the list and hope to complete it soon. So stay tuned! :-)
I am newer to the RV life and industry. With that said we purchased our first in 2021, a Jayco trailer. Our biggest issues have been with the dealer, not with Jayco. If I could suggest one thing for mfgs is to allow owners to do their own warranty repairs and to send parts directly to them bypassing the dealers. Hopefully to also send a message to the dealers and start including the needed language in the franchise agreements about servicing all owners, not just those that purchased from them. With the consolidation going on with dealerships it would seem to be a grand time to make such changes as the new owners would have to get new agreements. Force these "big guys" into the real world. I would also add that we have over 30k miles on our trailer in less than two years. It is a single axle azdel model. Screws have been the biggest issue we have had, simple fixes, you just have to look for them i.e. maintenance. Same with the roof and seals. Weve had one awing issue that still is not perfect but velcro fixes that (doesnt sit flush when closed). The main issues we have had are with appliances and the main RV manufactures do not make those. Almost everyone has gone to Furrion products and well I have seen a lot of people talking about issues... But even with those the biggest issues have been related to screws... So learn some basic skills and fix it yourself, I have decent mechanical skills and have learned these are simple machines easy to fix. I would also add that we are looking at Airstreams, and I believe you have said they are good quality. They are another Thor product, are they really good or does it really matter as long as you understand up front what you are getting?
I am in agreement with you that many of the problems that RV buyers face are actually more because of the dealer and not the manufacturer. And RV dealers are very good at shifting the blame to the builders instead. As far as Airstream is concerned, it is true that Thor owns the company now. But they also own a slew of other RV brands as well. The good news is that by and large the evidence seems to indicate that Thor is allowing each of it's owned brands to continue building as they see fit. Of course, that may change in the future. And if it does, I will be sure to remove those brands from my recommended quality list. But for now, Airstream remains on that list. Thanks for sharing your experience with RVs so far by posting about it here. It will be helpful for other prospective RV buyers.
When I was in the market for an RV and/or caravan I got more and more disillusioned with the quality of builds that were available (most blame this on covid) both from research online and actual viewings. Because of this I decided to go with a one man build company the other side of Australia to where I live........as I figured that if his previous builds were well respected then there was a very strong likelihood that my build would be the same. The end result was fantastic as the build was of a very high-quality build right down to the very small items.....the builder is an absolute gem in his industry as he becomes and remains friends with all of his customers and retains pride in ownership of his build even after the sale is well over.
It's true that the smaller boutique RV builders usually turn out a much better quality product than the higher production builders. Not having a corporation demanding higher profits every step of the way allows these smaller builders to do what's right for the customer instead. Unfortunately, smaller production RV builders could never keep up with the high demand for RVs these days though. I'm glad you found the perfect RV for your needs though!
We had a 30 year old camp lite tent camper. Worked perfectly. We have it to a family who are starting on their own 30 years with it😊can’t we make things well like then?🇨🇦💫
I have bought a few new RV's. They all have had major issues. I learned the first 2 rounds that even the littlest issue can take months to get fixed. After 2 times trying to get thing fixed on time to use our first one, I do all the repairs and fixes myself. I have even been reimbursed by a couple manufacturers for doing my own repairs. Mostly because it was cheaper for me to do than a shop. If I was unable to do this, I would not be an RV'er. I even help others that know me, permanently fix their garbage new RV's. You can fix all the RV's to be better than new and very reliable. I have been enjoying for 17 years now a 344J Everest. I have upgraded and made reliable since it was new.
Great. I bought a brand new Ford Escort, way long ago. Had a body tweak that blew out the back window. Don't like Ford anymore. Still think it was a monday or friday car....lots of work on upkeep. Thanks for the brutal honesty....we can check on who is building it, today.....😊😊 Jeannie in Lakeport California
Hi Jeannie. I'm hoping that being really honest about the way RVs are built will help newer RVers avoid being misled by the extreme opinions that some are spreading online. Thanks for watching!
People sometimes when buying a new RV hear the word “warranty”, then fall into a false sense of security. I was a tradesman for 50 years. But I was also a “craftsman”. And there’s a huge difference between the two. RV manufactures today are like any other corporate entity. High profit, rock bottom overhead, and sell sell sell. Quality control is something that gets passed along to dealers, dealers pass it back to manufactures, who pass it back to dealers, and meanwhile your hard earned RV is sitting in the service lot. You get what you pay for. A well established company with a track record of quality and reliability may set me back a few more bucks. Because they hire and MAINTAIN a group of employees that take pride in their work, pay them accordingly, and have a system of QC that will not allow a product to go out the door until it has been inspected six ways from Sunday. When make a purchase, I don’t need an extended warranty. Because I shouldn’t have to! If the product is designed and manufactured properly like it’s supposed to be, I shouldn’t need a warranty. RV’s in particular are WAY overpriced for what you’re getting to begin with. In all fairness, when someone is laying out that kind of money, they should be enjoying their rig, not sending 175 emails back and forth to dealers and manufacturers while the unit is unusable.
We loved and laughed at the way you said trash and garbage. Keep up the great work and thank you. And don’t forget to buy from a reputable dealership. You need to research the dealership just as well as the rv brands.
That's a great point about RV dealers Rick and Darci. I have a video coming up next week about the national chain RV dealers. Thanks for continuing to support the channel!
I was shocked to see bad reviews on newer Air Stream units until I found out they are now owned by Thor . A buddy of mine who was in the RV industry for many years told me if it's built by any Thor owned company, RUN! If I was to buy a new unit I'd look at Lance, Winnebago or Oliver.
My recommendation is not to believe everything you hear people say about RV companies owning other companies. Both Thor and Winnebago have bought up several other RV builders in recent years and there are lots of people who say that whatever companies they own has been ruined by them. But the truth is that in the vast majority of cases, Thor and Winnebago have allowed the manufacturers to continue building their product pretty much the way they did before the purchase. In fact, in many cases the same management team is still running the purchased company. And there is very little real evidence that either Thor or Winnebago has directly harmed another manufacturer by buying them. But what has happened in recent years is the Covid pandemic affected the workforce of all RV builders, regardless of who they were. And quality has slipped as a result even among the better brands. But blaming Thor or Winnebago for the poor quality recently is a convenient scapegoat and is simply not true in most cases.
Actually there are many Class A RVs, like diesel pushers, that cost a lot more than Class B vans. But Class Bs tend to be the most expensive per square foot of any RV category. Several factors contribute to this including the fact that they are in high demand and not as mass produced as other types of RVs. And they are much smaller to begin with and therefore converting them for use as an RV requires a lot of extra engineering to get it everything to fit properly. There are other reasons as well that I will cover in a future video. I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Thank you. I understand the demand versus supply reasons. But the price per square foot differences is nuts. Just the amount of materials involved in a Class B is so much less. You'd think that with the high demand, someone would be cranking them out on an assembly line. The engineering involved would be the same as the Class A, done on the same computer aided design program. They are well suited for a pre built interior, that could basically just be slid through the back doors and sliding side door. At the very least, most of the components could be cookie cutter , plug and play, due to the similar interior dimensions of all these vans. Whereas the interior of a Class A has to built inside the vehicle, making it more labor intensive. I look forward to your video on this. All the best.
We bought a 2018 Forest River flagstaff classic light 5th wheel used about a month ago and Love it. Stationary living plan to retire soon and travel with it. Your videos have helped a lot.. Still learning though. Thx for your channel. Bruce and Cherry Sherman
I've seen that more money doesn;t mean more quality, but more inferior parts at may break. The latest appears to be those "control everything systems to make your RV "smart." They often break, shutting down absolutely everything, even the lights.
One RV type is not trash. And thats the fiberglass "egg" style trailers. No wood in ceilings and walls, no lamination, no luan, etc. Some brands have full fiberglass interiors too where even the cabinetry is fiberglass. Oliver is probably top of class. I owned a 1977 Trillium 1300, fiberglass egg design, fiberglass interior, pontoon design keeping any water leaks from reaching the wood in the floor. Yes, fiberglass trailers are expensive for their size and tend to be smaller than other units. But they hold their value very well. It's not unusual to see a 10 to 15 year old unit selling for more than its original purchase price. Lots of barriers to entry keeping the slap it together crowd out of the FG market. And I am not talking about laminated fiberglass side walls. Those units have major delamination issues.
I agree that Oliver builds a really fine RV that can even last a lifetime. Unfortunately, fiberglass RVs of that kind are limited to a maximum of 25 feet. Thanks for watching!
I'm going mobile in 6 months ... about. I'm buying your book. Hope it's updated for '23. Going to go class c and pull my Toyota. Just me and the two dogs. Not a lot of driving intended. I plan a couple of weeks in NM, a couple in Redding where my job is, and a couple on the coast. Maybe put Yellowstone and Yosemite in the rotation. All I need is 1 bed for me and the dogs, toilet, sink, and most importantly an area to set up my work space. I am a CAD designer and need at least two large monitors. Thank you so much for your videos and other data sources. Just subscribed and getting educated.
My toilet valve leaked the first time I hooked up to water pressure and the external shower line was barely threaded on so both were spurting water, I was not happy.
Those are both irritating things. But they aren't major and are easily fixed. I hope you enjoy your RV from now on. Thanks for sharing your experience here
I bought a Jayco 24re and it was my third Jayco moving uo from popup a swith 19.8rd and the only one that I have problem with is the one I pade the most for the fith wheel 24er it has a rear pantry and the Shells fell a part and Is drawer under the stove and cabinet over fridge fell a part then a latch on out would not work . Other thing when i got it the clading on right side was not huck up missing scrue the dead bolt lock would work the latch was to low the out side plug was broken there was a panel in pass throu had strip scrue and steel doses 😢😮
As I said in the video, it's possible to get a problematic RV with almost any RV manufacturer and especially so since the pandemic affected the RV builder's workforces. But much of what you describe is fit and finish issues that can be resolved with a little effort and hopefully you will have a good usable RV from there on. But once again, not ALL RVs are trash.
i got an OASI 610 RV made in Italy on order when there arrive in the USA soon.....full fiberglass shell and interior, no outer seams so no leaks from outside, no wood or fabic walls so no smells or mildew, everything wipes down easy with a sponge.
That sounds like a well constructed RV. Of course, there are some great fiberglass trailer builders here in the states too. Both Oliver and Casita come to mind. Thanks for mentioning your RV buying here in the comments!
I had a 1993 prowler travel trailer for 24 years and maintained it myself. If you buy an rv you better be quite the handyman because things will break. Love my 2021 Winnebago 2108fbs.
The biggest problem with the RV industry is they are on " piece rate " instead of hourly . If you have to put out twelve units a day and you start at 5:00 AM in order to beat the heat , a lot of these workers are home by 11:00 AM , if not earlier . Just how good of a job do you think they did ? A big name frame manufacturer found out they were shipping product out the door that was only tack welded together. Not only was the final welding not done neither was the final inspection . How many of those frames got out on the roads ? Buyers should get what they pay for but oftentimes don't .
I'm looking to purchase my first RV, ive already been warned to stay away from pandemic era built ones due to the quality of workers as the manufacturers hired anyone to get the product out and, the equipment fitted in to these Rv's became scarce as factories shut down ie used parts were sometimes used.
The truth is that there were still a lot of experienced people in the RV builder's workforce even during the pandemic years. But it is true that a lot of relatively unskilled workers were hired to fill in the gaps in the assembly line as workers were affected by Covid. So what that means is that some RVs built during that period had more problems coming out of the factory than others did. In other words, there was a lot of inconsistency in the final product. And yes, if you want to avoid the possibility of getting an RV that might have been poorly constructed, choosing one from 2019 and earlier is a good choice.
Oh so true! I visited the largest RV Dealer/Service center in Southern New Jersey (Not Camping World). I was clearly told by a Service Tech that they will not service ANY RV over 15 years old. End of story.
Personally, I would recommend the Rockwood for better build quality. There aren't many Forest River brands that I can recommend, but Rockwood is one of the better ones. I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare thank you! I was leaning more towards it too. The other one is a newer year and roughly similar in cost towards a little more but i see the rockwood as higher equality even if it’s a couple years older and has a little wear.
Owning an RV is like owning a home. I’ve never moved into a new house that didn’t need warranty work. It goes the same with RVs. The advantage of buying a used RV is that generally, all the factory problems have been fixed. Since RVs are mobile, things will break. This can be minimized but not eliminated. All RV owners should be handy otherwise they’ll go broke on maintenance issues
Alliance is on my recommended list for fifth wheel brands already. So if they carry the same building methods over to the Delta, I would highly recommend that you consider them.
Bravo Duane, the RV industry is not all garbage or peaches and cream. However there is soo much to learn and understand about the RV industry. A person can't and should not compare the RV industry to the Auto Industry or home sticks-n-bricks construction. For one thing the RV manufacturing industry is not as heavily regulated as other industries, the manufacturers pretty much make their own rules. Even a pre-inspection by a certified RVIA inspector can't catch everything because they do not take things apart, as in remove false walls and look behind them or remove the coroplast bottom covering to look up inside. That's where the manufacturers workers hide their misdeeds. Lousy and sloppy electrical work and bad pex water line installations, cracked or broken frames, ripped out frame leaf spring hangers due to poor design or bad welding as an example. I will not even go there with regard to RV dealerships and their service departments. Price is not always an indication of quality. But there is a bright side, owners should do as much research as they can on the manufacturers, make their best pic, then learn all they can on how to repair pex water lines, basic plumbing, gain as much knowledge as practical in basic wiring and power BUT know their limits. If not educated in wiring or 12VDC / 110VAC power Leave It Alone and get a professional. Keep a maintenance check list to make sure items get looked after, seals, roofs, slide seals, lubrication, suspension components, axle bearings, water heater anode rods, sensors, detectors, etc, etc. Learn how to repair or maintain simple things themselves. The RV life and experience will be so much better and rewarding if owners are willing to dig in. We have been RV fulltimers now for almost 4 years and loving every minute of every day!
These are all great observations and recommendations. And I’m sure it will be helpful for others who are reading through the comments here. Thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment!
Most Forest River models are not on my recommended list. I feel that there are other brands would be better to choose that are in the same price range.
What bothers me about RV's is getting warranty work at a different dealer than the one that sold the unit. I have an Entegra which is owned by Jayco, which is owned by Thor. Camping World has been buying a lot of smaller dealers in their quest to conquer the RV business. I live in Morgan Hill, Ca and there was a dealer called Pan Pacific which was recently bought by Camping World and renamed Jayco Morgan Hill. I went to "Jayco Morgan Hill" and I asked their service dept. if they would do warranty work on my Entegra. They asked me if I had bought it from them, I said no, and they said they would not do warranty work on my Entegra. The RV warranty is totally different than the auto business where any dealer from the brand you own will do warranty work.
You are correct that warranty repairs are not the same with passenger vehicles and RVs. But one reason for that is that car dealers usually have a franchise for the brands that they sell. And the franchise agreement requires that they service and support warranty issues whether or not they sold the vehicle. But there is no such agreement in many cases in the RV world. And the flip side is that RV manufacturers are notorious for not paying very much for warranty work. This is a major problem in the RV business that needs to be addressed for the benefit of the RV buyer. I discussed the topic in this video - ruclips.net/video/foCgVJdSRKs/видео.html
Good morning so we have a 2021 2106 DS micro mini we bought it brand new right before COVID shut the world down and I think Winnebago makes a great travel trailer whether it's a fifth wheel or bumper pool but I will say everything that was made after COVID has had a lot of issues from off our Winnebago page therefore I wouldn't say all travel trailers or fifth wheels or mobile homes or trash you just have to be able to do your own inspections have a good quality inspector and go with your gut and be prepared to do maintenance if you don't know how to do maintenance or be your own mechanic or technician you have no business owning a travel trailer.
Just like going online to look at restaurants, cars, campgrounds, etc., if you go looking for negativity, you'll surely find it. Buyer beware - the average reviewer does not post unless they are quite disappointed and disgruntled (most common post because people think their voice will be heard in this manner), or are quite happy (but beware - are the happy posts genuine?). The in-between, simply satisfied review is rare. The pandemic brought about a huge amount of first time buyers who had no idea what they were buying into and how the RV industry varies vastly from automobiles. You know if you build an RV to car standards, it would weight many times what most of them weigh, and if you built it to house standards, it'll fall apart within a thousand miles. Thanks Duane - your reasoning through this debate is spot on.
So many have the cheap stretchy veneer on things like cabinets that comes off with heat and moisture and that can start within months of paying outrageous amount for new rv. Why use materials that weigh less if they do not actually work for their intended purpise?
Please name the manufacturers with happy employees and which have high turnover unhappy employees. How do we find out which manufacturers are cutting corners? Where's the list? Good on you that you tell us all the things that we should be doing but where we get the information?
As I said in the video, I have produced guidebooks that list my recommended brands of manufacturers in each RV category. You can find them here - payhip.com/RVInspectionAndCare
I've been looking into RV's for quite some time now, researching and scouring the web for knowledge, insight, tips, components, modifications, ect.. As far as I'm aware there's only a small handful of manufacturers that make truly long lasting units like Airstream, Oliver, New Horizons, Luxe, or Spacecraft.(Excluding high end class A's that are like 1.5 to 2+ million dollars) As they say, you get what you pay for, and if you want quality these days it'll come at a cost. I'm personally interested in a slightly older Airstream, when they made the 34' tri axles still. Not really concerned with a warranty, I'd do most of the maintenance myself. I've looked into fifthwheels, but they're far more complex, have far more places to develop leaks or problems, and would require me to further invest in a much more expensive and heavy duty truck to tow. I already have a 2011 F250 gas thats all paid for, and should be perfect for amongdt the largest Airstream. I'm already pretty familiar with living out of a vehicle, having been a Class A CDL driver since 2014. I'm pretty familiar with towing safety, inspections on my equipment, and skill/experience operating large combination vehicles. All I need is something fairly simple, like an Airstream, for some extra living space at home. I'd only very occasionally maybe use it for fish, hiking, or visiting family spread across the country. Me, my mom, stepdad, and brother all live together in a fairly small house on the coast. We already have a pad and hookups available for an RV. My grandma who is deceased now, and I previously lived with had her caretakers living here in an RV while I worked over the road. Main advantage is having my own zone of privacy, and being able to convert my current bedroom into a guest room. My grandpa who also has had many RV's certainly agrees if I had my own at home, and a guest room, they'd be able to visit more often and at less cost just driving their car out. Plus other family who doesn't have an RV could do the same. We also have mild weather on the coast, most times of the year between 40° and 70°. My only real concern would be managing any leaks or rust. My cargo trailer I bought brand new a few years back, has rust issues with paddle latches for locks and frame rust. The salty moist air out here does a number to any exposed, unprotected steel/iron. I've also looked into Oliver Travel Trailers out of Tennessee. But unfortunately, while they do seem to be robust and quality built, are on the small side for what I'd want. They're a newer brand out here, so maybe in the future they may expand their range of offerings. But for now, I believe a used Airstream of the 34' variety, in good condition, would be about perfect for my needs.
Eventually, just research and more research. I'm not in a huge rush. But it will certainly come in handy when it comes time to do some remodeling/maintenance on the house. We've already got a corner of the house, my room, which was added on, and is now settling and formed cracks in the walls. Thankfully I was present and observing when my grandma had it added, so unlike my mom or stepdad I know exactly what's underneath and what to expect. I've been living here a fair bit longer than them. Being a retirement area, the contractors around here can be a joke at times. My biological dad, a seasoned electrician lived here for a spell, and fixed most of the terrible electrical already. My project when I have the time, funds, and ability to clear that space out. I can re-level it, add bracing, insulate it better, and seal it properly. The foundation is good, the framing is shoddy. Same guy did the decking, handicap ramp, and they've the same issues with with warping and settling. I grew up doing construction work with my dad and uncles, so I learned a lot. I'm particularly good with cabinetry, shelves, drywall/paint, and flooring. It's certainly taken time to clear out my Grandma's hoards of excess. Donated a lot, had a yard sell, hauled stuff to the refuse/scrap yard. My stepdad, a former plumber, fixed a few plumbing issues already. So now that it's cleaned out, both inside the house and on the property. As I've time come available as a trucker, and weather allowing. I can get me a nice little camper, for my own separation of privacy and convenience. Then bit by bit fix the house up. My grandma didn't even bother getting a lot of the recent add ons or changes permitted.. So it's certainly going to be a chore to say the least. My mom, the inheritor of the house, can thank her lucky stars that she's been surrounded by capable tradesmen her whole life lol. Me a trucker and all around jack of all trades. My dad an electrician, my grandpa a carpenter and former trucker as well, my stepdad a plumber, two of my uncles general contractors, and my other uncle a mechanic. I've plenty of influences and experiences growing up around the lot of them to be pretty self sufficient, and plenty I can rely on for advice and expertise. I'm certain an Airstream would suit my needs almost perfectly. Laughably I'm about to the point where I'd darn near want to set up a shop and build my own RV's lol.. There's a few innovative brands out there, but unfortunately the RV industry is certainly lagging behind in many aspects. Especially considering the modern equipment, machines, technology, and materials available today. As for travel trailers I'll certainly be keeping an eye on Oliver. After watching the videos on how they construct and build their trailers similar fiberglass boats/yachts. They're drastically different from the norm. So long as they don't get greedy or egotistical, I'm certain they'll be able to eventually directly compete with Airstream. But until then, I'll make do with the next best thing, and utilize what's available. Do the research, utilize logic, reasoning, and budgeting to make a sensible practical choice, keep it simple, and don't live beyond ones means. Sorry about the longer posts, I'm just enthusiastic about topics that interest me, and a talkative windbag like everyone else in my family lol.
The Rockwood Geo Pro is made by Forest River and they are not on my recommended list of manufacturers. However, there are a few brands that FR makes that seems to be better made overall than the rest of the FR line. And Rockwood is one of the better choices from FR.
That's a very good point Jeff. But many RV buyers find it easier to blame the manufacturer than take responsibility for not doing their homework in advance.
People need to realize you are trekking a house down the road. There will be a lot more upkeep and maintenance. For the most part every 5th wheel and travel trailer I’ve had have had minimal problems. You get what you pay for. Spend the extra and buy real wood cabinets. Beefy frames. It’s surprising the amount of people that buy on the cheap and complain about the poor quality.
That's a very good point. So many online complainers are those who bought the cheapest RV possible without really researching what they are buying or educating themselves about the industry. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject here!
for my money the best R.V.s that are still available on the market today are Bluebird's. The Wanderlodge is a TANK of a bus that will keep you happy for years and years
The manufacturers need to put greater emphasis on sleeping comfort. In most cases if you do not get to sleep on the bed room bed you are going to be uncomfortable on any other sleeping surface
Hi Kathy. I get so many negative video comments about RVs in general and certain brands that I recommend, that I figured it was time to cover this subject. I know that it's not going to change the minds of those who have their extreme views, but I'm hoping it will be helpful for those who haven't made their mind up on this subject yet. Thanks for watching!
East to West is made by Forest River and they mainly focus on entry-level products. I personally feel that there are other brands in a similar price range that would be a better choice. It doesn't mean that you can't get a good East To West RV. But there are better alternatives in my opinion.
What does Oscar the Grouch say about RVS ? Trash or Treasure? I just saw a youtuber talk about his RV leaking water. GREAT INFO, and thanks for your video. Rave Ken Peters i saw the tribulation.
I would love to live in a portable home. However, the construction isn't as durable as that of a tiny house. I'm having quite the debate within myself. The construction is designed for minimizing the weight for travel and minimizing the building cost while maximizing the profit. The R-value isn't sufficient for extreme weather situations. In general, basic upkeep repairs are a factor in owning one.
I noticed your used travel trailer guide covers 2010 to 2019 models. Since there has been discussion about the Covid year campers (2020-2022) being of inferior quality, do you plan on updating the guide to cover some of those later years? Thanks for your channel. I have learned a lot
Actually, the list of better brands that I mentioned in the used travel trailer guide is still pretty much the same. But an RV buyer has to understand that Covid did not improve RV quality from the factory, it lowered it. And that is true of even the better RV brands. I don't feel that buying a Covid built RV is something you shouldn't do though. I think if you do it right, you can still get a good, workable RV from the first day of ownership. But I also understand why some may want to buy a used pre-Covid RV instead. I made a video on the subject that may be helpful - ruclips.net/video/QTW0pyApm9Q/видео.html
I got a 2021 twilight from cruiser rv and it was a Covid unit and I am handy and have dealt with misrouted plumbing from water heater, replaced toliet, poor seams on roof that had to be redone, gaps in the shower, and very very poor workmanship paired with poor quality. With a semi patient wife we have fixed most slowly. We have over 20k miles on this rig.
I loved my 2011 coachmen freelander 21qb, it was in lamesa being fixed, they couldn't get supplies last year so I took it to a different place who also had issues. I just sold it a month ago. Don't know if I'll ever get another
I understand and am sorry to hear about the issues you had with your last RV. But as I said in the video, if you choose a better quality brand and you follow a proven buying process that makes sure you get the RV you deserve on the first day of ownership, anyone can get an RV that they love. Thanks for watching!
I just tried the link in the video description and it works just fine. But if you are having trouble with that link, try this one instead - payhip.com/b/82KPO
Thank you Duane! We are so interested in buying a 2011 Winnebago sightsee 33c. I love the floor plan and the unit appears to be in good shape. Of course we have done a lot of homework and are going to isn inspection from a certified inspector ( wish it could be you). Now comes my question... Az expert on you tube just trashes Winnebago roofs line crazy! In your opinion does Winnebago make a bad roof or is it more the owner not providing propicare and maintenance on the ones that go bad? Thank you for your insight and experience! Tony
I personally do not know of major roof issues with Winnebago being any more serious than those from other manufacturers. But as I said in the video, human error is possible with any RV manufacturer. However, if you use a certified NRVIA RV inspector, they will thoroughly inspect the roof as part of the process. And if there are obvious problems they will call it out. While not perfect, that will put the odds on your side that the RV you are buying is fully functional if it passes the inspection. I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare in my case, it was the frame (Lippert) that lost camber and caused body cracking at 4 places. It was not the manufacturers fault.
You don't have to be an rv owner, salesman, or inspector to know whether rv's are trash. I towed and drove new and used ones hundreds of thousands of miles across the U.S. as a transport contractor. I could go into details about which brands are good or bad, but generally 90% are poorly built for the amount of money you pay for them. Today's rv manufacturing standards are the equivalent of the 1970's Detroit auto industry, which means mass production with cheap materials and subpar labor. If Japan started building and shipping rvs to the U.S., the domestic industry would have to up their game (like in the auto industry did) to survive. After pulling and driving thousands of units i can tell you this: I would NEVER buy a new one. You can find a well kept used one that's 5-10 years old for a 3rd of the price, where the original owner has worked out the bugs and absorbed a large chunk of the depreciation. Personally, i'd buy a 20 year old Prevost over a new class A for the same money.
Hi David. I'm not an engineer so I can't comment on structure integrity when slides are introduced to an RV. But I know that they can cause more risk for problems. However, if you care for your slides and maintain them properly you can prevent many of the issues that have plagued some RVers. I made a video about this just recently - ruclips.net/video/6O1R2ehCZfU/видео.html
All have issues ! Small ones - learn to live with and stay on top of things ! Don’t have unrealistic expectations- carry duct tape - small tools - tube of silicone and keep your sense of humor or you’ll become a “ Past Disgruntled Owner” ! Even cheaper units can be maintained in excellent shape if you pay attention ! 👍
Neither of those manufacturers are on my recommended list, but that doesn't mean that you can't get a good RV from them. Just be sure to get it inspected thoroughly before taking ownership.
In all reality it’s sad to think you need an inspector for a brand new RV quality control on my refrigerator at home is better,I have owned Cabover camper. Bumper pull trailer fifth wheel class C and two classes. A’s all different manufactures quality is just more expensive components, not necessarily craftsmanship, from $100,000 to $500,000 they are all lacking but I love Camping so I still choose to own one,but if you don’t have deep pockets you will need to be very handy, thanks for the videos
In 2014,we bought a 2000 Jayco travel trailer,from original owner. Was well built and well cared for. Would put $10,000 into it before buying a newer one
Matt’s RV reviews shows us RVs from the largest RV show in the world in Germany and those RVs are built with high quality and beautiful design almost everyone he showed in his video.
I can't comment on RVs made in other countries. But in the US there are lots of RVs built every year that make the buyers and owners of them generally happy with their purchase. There are also many RVs built with problems coming out of the factory in the US too, but if consumers will protect themselves by using a certified RV inspector before taking delivery of it, they can minimize the problems they have to deal with after the sale. It's that simple.
Not all RVs are trash, if you have lots of money you can get a good one, one good example is a 20 ft Oliver, over $100,000, but that thing is bulletproof, it should come with a private chef for a year for that much money.
Actually quite few RV brands make models that can be used for fulltime RV living and travel these days. And Airstream travel trailers hold up very well for that kind of use.
Good stuff! But PLEASE, when will RV enthusiasts acknowledge they're called RV's for a reason??? They're not called FTLV's (Full Time Living Vehicle) for a good reason. They're called RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, a vehicle only designed to be used for RECREATION, a minimal amount of time over a typical year, NOT LIVED IN FULL TIME!!!!! Why can't people understand this simple fact?
It's true that one of the biggest mistakes that many RVers who plan on full-timing make is to buy an RV that is just not built for the stresses that full-time travel brings. With that said, there are plenty of RVs that are able to stand up to that kind of use and still do fine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
Just have a question. Have you ever done a video on travel trailer hitches? The good, bad and ugly. Are pull-rite or Hensley hitches the " best" for towing a travel trailer? What should you look for in a hitch that will give you the least amount of grief.
Not so far Ron. But that's a great suggestion. I'll see what I can do to add that on to my list of upcoming videos. Thanks for watching and for making the video suggestion!
@@RVInspectionAndCare Pssst: This might be in one of your other guides, but recommending the right _kind_ of truck (not specifying brand unless you don't care about the constant "best brand" wars) for towing mid-size to large fivers & trailers. That causes the most confusion for a lot of potential RV buyers...
That may be true. But as I said in the video, (1) that doesn't mean that ALL RVs are trash, and (2) there are ways to make sure that you get a solid, workable new RV if you know how.
I agree with you as far as materials & labor determine the quality of RV’s being manufactured however even then the better manufacturers are still using inferior parts , pumps , fasteners , ac units , screws, bolts , etc etc made in China or elsewhere with no poor quality control & then when they get to the dealership they pass the so called Buck to them especially when it comes to warranty issues . Just watch ALL the videos from the husband & wife Inspectors ( Pierre & Laura ) highly recommend the before you ever think of buying an RV use then to inspect ( new or used ) your RV. There are only a handful of quality manufacturers today that come close to Buikding a quality RV with good reliable customer service . The rest are inferior & yes junk …….thx again for you videos & educating those of us looking to purchase a quality RV . 👍⚾️
Hi Bob. RV manufacturers can be honestly blamed for a lot of things that are well deserved. But something that also needs to be understood is that almost all of the RV brands out there use the same brands of components like AC units, water pumps, refrigerators, water heaters, furnaces, etc. These are items that are built by other companies and they are installed in the RV by the manufacturer. So a good portion of the functional components of an RV are almost identical from one RV to another. And if something goes wrong with those items, you can't really blame the manufacturer for that although I see lots of people who do just that. But honestly, some of the component manufacturers need to step up their game as well. But anyway, thanks for watching the video and sharing your thoughts on the subject here!
Rv’s been around along time but still are built poorly. It is what it is. Do not buy one unless you can fix thing on the fly. Dealerships are crooked many of them. Service isn’t good and never want to except responsibly for bad product. If you can deal with this then buy one.
I reassess my recommendations about once a year. And if a manufacturer has dropped their quality in relation to their competition, they will not be on my recommended list until they improve.
At 2:30 - yes you are correct, RVs are still made by hand, and you are also correct, any given RVs build quality does depend on the crew building that particular RV. But what you failed to mention is the quality of build materials. It’s 2023 and these companies are STILL building RVs out of the cheapest materials they can get. And yes, ALL RV builders are guilty of that. There are countless videos right here on RUclips of RV frames cracking at the toungue, or at the suspension. Lippert it seems, gets mentioned quite a bit, and you’d think the RV industry and or manufacturers would demand better of their component vendors. Also, it is 2023, and there ARE better options than 1/8” luann, etc. Heck, there’s a guy who uses thermal plastic to build RV roofs guaranteed for life. The RV industry as a whole doesn’t even come close to making that claim. And when you top that off with most, if not all RV manufacturers offer only a 1-2 year warranty on their products, some of which cost in the neighborhood of 10s of thousands of dollars, well, that just goes to show you the amount of faith they place in the products they build. I could go on and on about the horror stories I’ve witnessed personally and have watched right here on RUclips, but ultimately, knowing all of that, you’re also correct in stating RV maintenance by the owner is PARAMOUNT. It’s KEY in ensuring each individual RV lasts as long as they can. So I am pretty methodical about the maintenance of my RV It is a 2nd owner travel trailer, and at jist over 18 years old there are no leaks. It is outdated, and we do plan on trading up eventually, it just won’t happen now. Not until the industries image is cleaned up a bit. I do understand the pitfalls to being an RV or travel trailer owner. It’s damm near as bad as being a boat owner. But being as capable as I am, I’ve been able to navigate ownership pretty well up to this point. You just plain can’t be lazy about your maintenance if you want one to last.
Hi Michael. As I have said many times in my videos, the entire RV industry needs to raise its game. Not just manufacturers, but also dealers and even service personnel. And the pandemic has caused a significant drop in overall quality. In fact, this has happened even with some of the better brands. Much of this is workforce related and I made a video about that too, but by and large no one wanted to hear about that. I had hoped to see a more normal return to better made products by now, but so far there that hasn't happened to the degree that I would like to see. But the point of this video is to address the loud and negative voices who are proclaiming that ALL RVs are trash and doing their best to ruin the reputation of some of even the better manufacturers just because they bought an RV from that brand that was problematic. And some RUclips influencers have gotten on that bandwagon too. Knowing that they need something sensational to get the attention of the general public, they hype their own RV buying problems to the point that it labels an entire manufacturer or even the whole industry's output as garbage. None of this is true though. Yes, there are poorly made RVs out there because of the human element in the manufacturing process as well as other factors. But as I said in the video, the vast majority of RV buyers are still relatively happy with the product they bought. And if the average RV buyer made proper use of RV inspectors as they should, the vast majority of the issues they are dealing with would have been resolved before they even took ownership of their RV. Having said all that, I disagree that luan is an inherently poor building material for RVs. It has been in use for many decades by all sorts of RV builders without major problems. And as long as an RV owner cares for their joints and seams properly, it will never be a major issue for anyone. But the truth is that many RV buyers these days like to treat their RV like they often treat their car. In other words, they just use and abuse it with very little maintenance being done along the way. RV inspectors see this lack of care in evidence on a regular basis. That's why I spent time in this video talking about the need for RV buyers to commit to caring properly for their purchase if they want to have a positive long-term ownership experience. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here and I agree with the sentiment expressed. But there is a LOT of misinformation and biased talk out there that simply isn't based on the facts. And my endeavor is to bring a little common sense and truth to the discussion, if possible.
Great job Duane. I think reasonable people will see that you're being objective and speaking from experience. Unfortunately, those who do most of the griping have their minds firmly made up and use blanket statements that are just plain false. Again, good video.
RV's experience 6.0 earthquakes for hours on end every time you travel. It is ridiculous for anyone to think that any home could survive this without some things going wrong and breaking no matter who the manufacturer is. Some may last longer than others and even have better quality but at the end of the day they all will fail at some level during it's lifespan.
Thanks for posting this thoughtful comment. Unfortunately, many people would rather blame someone than accept the reality of the stresses that an RV faces as it travels down the road. Thanks for watching!
My forest river Ozark is absolute garbage. A few major issues, such as big water leaks, and faulty electrical wiring. On top of that, the general build quality/fit and finish is sub par. If this is any indication of their quality control, then I’d tell anyone to be cautious of this brand.
The RV industry has a major problem with dealers and the lack of service. It takes months to get an appointment even though in most of Canada the season lasts about six months. Since an RV is meant to move, it amazes me that you cannot get warranty work done any place but your original dealer. I have no idea why that has not been fixed ages ago. Also, if there is a problem with RV's it is the quality of the fasteners used, particularly in the trim piece's. Also the software on Rv's never works properly, things like leveling systems etc. Finally, I have yet to see a good owners manual that explains how the electrical system and the water system and so on work. The manuals provided by manufacturers are a joke.
I agree that the entire RV industry needs to up their game . That includes not only manufacturers, but also dealers and service techs. I made a video about that a while back. And as far as poor manuals are concerned, you can get information on almost any RV electrical and water system question online very easily and quickly.
Sorry you had a poor RV buying experience. People who follow my buying process for new RVs are getting great results though. Safe and happy travels to you!
Well….. My 2022 RV has had many problems. Between the shower leaks to the kitchen sink leaking, and the screws that have split lots of the wood in the framing is unbelievable. Not to mention the refrigerator freezes and the freezer is warm and the refrigerator door shelves split and break, I’m convinced these Coachmen rvs are junk.
Well, the RV fridge problems are not entirely the fault of the manufacturer as it is a unit that they buy to install in their RV. But water leaks and poor fit and finish are unacceptable. And of course, RVs built during the Covid years had a lot more problems than normal. But all of these issues could and should have been caught before taking ownership of the RV.
I tend to fall towards the “trash” side of the equation! I’ve had a couple bumper pulls and currently have a 41” Highland Ridge Highlander 5th wheel toy hauler. With a price tag in the $100k range I’m very disappointed in the build quality of the Highlander! It wouldn’t add much weight or cost to use a quality fastener to the interior trim pieces. Trim is constantly falling off in this trailer and when I pick it up off the floor I see that it has a tiny little staple every 24” or so, often time less than that. First time I ran the slides in after a rain, I got water running in on the floor through the seals. The ramp on the rear dosent fit square in the opening and often requires a lot of persuading to open. Leveling systems that don’t work consistently (Lippert), typical tank level indicators that read all over the place. A/C units that are barely adequite (Dometic), a heating system designed to drain both batteries in one moderately cool night, OEM tires designed to make it off the sales lot. Any further and your risking a blowout! An exterior finish designed to last one season before turning dull and fading. Look in any of the hidden areas and you’ll find piping and ventilation penetrations that look like they were cut in with a claw hammer! I could go on, and these things are very common among all of the non-premium brands, but for the price you’d sure think they could put togeather a much better quality product.
A salesman once told me the reason for all the bad fitment and pieces falling off was because RVs have to endure 8 on the Richter scale and hurricane force winds every time they are towed down the road, therefore these issues should be expected. My response was “ that’s like Boing saying we should expect their planes to fall apart because they have to takeoff, land, and fly at 500 mph in bad weather! If that’s what RVs are designed to do, they should be constructed in such a way as to not fall apart when performing the intended task.
Hi Jeff. I'm sorry to hear about your poor experience with Highland Ridge. As I said in the video, all manufacturers are capable of turning out sub-par quality at times due to the way that RVs are made. And if your RV was made within 2020-2022 it is also a Covid-built product, so there were even more issues with workforce problems during those years. Also, some of the issues you mentioned are not really the manufacturer's fault as all RV builders tend to use the same brands of components like a Lippert chassis, A/Cs, furnaces, etc. In those cases, the fault is not with the builder but with the makers of those components or equipment. The main point of the video is that it's so disappointing to get a poorly made RV, and I feel for you having to deal with that. But the buying experience for the vast majority of RV buyers these days is still reasonably good if they (1) stick to buying the right brands, and (2) follow a proven buying system that eliminates the vast majority of human error issues that make it out of the factory before they take ownership of the RV.
Comparing a $100K product to a $100M Boeing aircraft is not exactly fair. What the dealer was trying to tell you is that the weight has to be extremely light in order to toe/move it down the highway with reasonable power plants (trucks). The designers of RVs have to meet somewhere in the middle between being over weight and being under built. Sometimes even good manufacturers get it wrong. Even in the best case situation, the owner or their representative will have to fix problems on a regular basis. These are not tiny versions of real houses. You will always have trim issues, leaks from both pipes, roof, and slide outs, and many many others. I see online where dealers are billing these units as great for older retirees. That's only true if the older people are ready to go back to work on their dwelling or if they have enough money to pay someone else to fix all the issues that crop up. As a 15 year full timer living in a $250K (when new) pusher (Gulfstream TourMaster), I can tell you that these things I say are true. So far, I've replaced the entire roof ($10K), all three A/C units ($8k for heat pumps), 6 tires ($2.5k), water pump (2x), water heater, refrigerator, floor repairs, towing bills (over $2k), engine computer, and many $800 dollar oil changes. All but 45K miles were stationary on my own land so it's not like we're constantly moving. All of that said, I have loved every minute of it (no rent, low utility bills, etc).
I do not think all are trash. I paid for 3 pre inspections from the same person. She was certified from a company in Texas. I am glad I did get her. It was a brand new unit. Some items repeatedly were not repaired by the this national dealer ship although they claimed they repaired them. I didn't accept delivery until I was satisfied the items had been corrected. My opinion is that if you are paying money for something that is not returnable, you need to be aware of its condition. No matter what you are purchasing. The dealership kept "encouring " me to take delivery. Be patient. May dealerships have a wait list to get to service. If they have to order parts you maybe delayed more. "Buyer beware".
Those are all great points Michele. You did exactly what you should have done in the buying process and didn't let the dealer take control away from you. I'm glad that you shared your experience here. I hope lots of prospective RV buyers read this and follow your advice!
THREE inspections.... they said it was done, but it wasn't.... WTF!!!! I would find another dealership!!!
Why nor name names or all our benefit?
@@georgekatsinis5224 I agree. If I had to do that I would have walked away from that dealership and just eaten the cost of the inspections because I would no longer trust buying anything from that place. I would not have done more than two. If after the second inspection the items on the list to fix were not done I would say goodbye and find the RV at another dealer. That dealer has no attention to detail and are not being honest so I cannot form a relationship which would include future servicing; especially the need for warranty claims.
The people building these are inexperienced part timers on a hectic building schedule. Mine was Amish built, so I was told, and I thought it would be better.
@@blauer2551 Actually the majority of RV factory workers, especially in the factories of the better brands, are very experienced and often long-time employees who are very good at what they do. In Indiana, Amish craftsmen are used a lot in many of the factories there. But the pandemic decimated the workforces of many of the RV builders. And now some relatively inexperienced workers are on the assembly lines by necessity. But that doesn't mean that all of the workforce is inexperienced.
I would only go camping if I could go back to the 1960s. At that time campgrounds were free. Even firewood, was chopped for you and free. People did not have to secure a spot months in advance but rather headed in a certain direction and pulled in if they were tired of driving. We were never turned away. There were many tents, tent trailers or small and simple camper trailers. We seemed more interested in the camping experience rather than dealing with constant RV repair issues.
I agree that a lot of things were much simpler then. But I doubt that those days are going to return anytime soon. So we have to deal with the realities of today and try to make the experience as pleasant as possible,. Or choose not to enjoy camping at all.
This was an EXCELLENT video. I don't own an RV, but I like watching these videos in the event I ever purchase one. You made some great points that I didn't think about. These vehicles move around and things are going to move inside. Plus, if they use the best cabinets and shower enclosures and roofing systems, etc., these things would be so heavy you either couldn't pull them or you would get 2 miles to the gallon of gas. The moral of the people building them seems to be the critical element in all of this. Thanks
You got the picture Bob. A lot of commenters on this video miss those key points. Thanks for adding your thoughts to the discussion.
I agree. Ive been in the industry a long time, and seen a lot of things. Just like owning a car or a home, maintenance is key.
Always enjoy your videos, Duane. Purchased a pre owned 2017 Winnebago Vista in December of 2021, with 21k on it, and we have put 12,000 miles on it through 24 states over the last 2 years without issue. I agree there are many good units out there, like anything in life just have to do your diligence prior to purchase! I’m amazed at the number of RV buyers that don’t get that, instead saying “it’s the one we really wanted” or “we were just looking when we purchased” Slow down, take your time, the right unit will come to you!
I couldn't agree with you more Jim. So many of the "RVs are all trash" crowd did not research the industry first, did not learn which brands have the best reputations for quality, did not get their RV inspected and the problems fixed before completing the purchase, and mainly bought on appearance and price rather than learn how RVs are really made. Your advice to slow down and think about what you are doing is very sound. Thanks for watching and leaving a thoughtful comment!
I made statement that “they are all junk!” I’ve also said you need to have deep pockets or be a handyman to own one. I love my RV and would buy it again.
I would like to see all campers with better roof membrane. I’d also like to see pull behinds with a better suspension system
Great video!!
Thanks for watching the video and sharing your thoughts with us on this subject Dave.
90% or better are trash
!!! AGREED !!!
* staples into particle board.
* Holes! In! The! Roof!.
* irregardless of age or type, chinesium tires.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject with us here.
Thank you for your videos. I absolutely agree with everything you mention in this video.
Sorry if I’m long winded but….
We are on our 8th Motorhome , traveled over 200,000 miles over 30 years. In the beginning our RV was small and simple, then we added bigger appliances, slides, leveling systems, etc. and our rigs got BIGGER. So more problems.
11:05
We presently have a 2022 Winnebago Vista, purchased new, and are at 32,000 miles. Honestly, we’ve had no more serious issues than our everyday sedan. Do I have to fix loose screws, a small water leak , reseal the roof seams, do maintenance? YES.
My opinion, yes, it could be better, but so could my car.
Unfortunately, dealers sell the idea that you can jump in and go down the road for a trouble free weekend. Imagine your house being subjected to constant 65 mph wind and earthquakes. It would need repair as well.
I’ve learned to do routine maintenance, change water pumps, step motors, re-sync slides, replace/repair faucets, toilets and electrical components.
We’ve never owned a diesel but have owned two Winnebago gassers, four other brands. Some better than others.
My advice to folks is to buy a good brand, look at used RVs to see how they hold up, AND learn how to at least be able to do some routine maintenance. AND how systems work … even if you can’t repair them yourself.
Thank you again Great stuff. We look forward to your videos.
What are the good brands?
@@jamesbecker578
As someone who’s owned 8, and camped/traveled for over 30 years, I can only tell you the ones I like and not like. The answer is subjective, based on your needs.
If your looking for higher end motorhomes, Newmar makes good coaches without getting into the ultra high end coaches. So does Tiffin.
Class A gas motorhomes, my experience is Newmar, Tiffin, and Winnebago. I’ve traveled with friends who own Newmar and Tiffin. Very nice class A gas coaches. We’ve had two Winnebago’s and like their simple but quality A and C coaches.
We DO NOT like Thor products. Fit and finish is bad. Thor now offers the longest structural warranty because they have a reputation for falling apart.
Duane’s RUclips channel has good recommendations and explanations. I highly suggest you look at some of his other videos.
Thanks for sharing your experience here Anthony. You also gave good advice that the average RVer would do well to follow. I appreciate your support of the channel and thank you for your thoughtful comments.
You did great on the list of some of the better Class A brands here Anthony. I couldn't have said it better myself!
@@RVInspectionAndCare
Duane, thank you for your comments. My wife and I truly enjoy AND learn from your channel. Since we retired 30 months ago we’ve taken our RV adventures to the next level. But we look for channels like yours and highly recommend them to others. RV’ing is a journey and a community. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve been helped, or helped others with RV questions or issues while on the road.
Thank you for your channel.
Good information ! That’s why we purchased an older Newmar DutchStar. Could not justify buying newer because of build quality and cost. Hope you are keeping cool in AZ !
You chose your RV well! There's lots of Dutch Star owners that wouldn't have anything else. And the good news for us is that we are not in AZ during the summer heat right now. Instead, we are enjoying the cool weather in the mountains of New England. Gotta love RVing!
I had a 1990 Fleetwood Prowler. The quality and finish to this camper was incredible. Mind you this is not a high camper price wise. The layout was similar to the Airstreams with center twin beds, and a full width bathroom in the rear. Perfect for me. Unfortunately tornadoes swept through Ocala in '93 and it was destroyed. I could never find a similar Fleetwood.
Some of those older rigs were really built well. Much better than what is common today. Thanks for sharing your experience with the Fleetwood here!
I bought a brand new Forest River travel trailer in 2013 and still have it. Yes, I had to do a lot of minor repairs right off the bat. One of the "minor" repairs could've been a catastrophe if I hadn't run across the issue while cleaning it. ALL of the bolts holding the walls to the chassis were loose!
As I said in the video, knowing who the better brands are before buying can save a lot of money and frustration after the sale.
The problem with RV's as nearly everything made in America is workers don't care. All they want is put in the least effort possible and not get caught and take their paycheck.
I can't comment on the attitude of American workers but I know that the pandemic created lots of workforce problems for the RV manufacturers that have still not been fully resolved yet.
Thats a mighty broad statement. "All they want is put in the least effort possible and not get caught and take their paycheck." Sounds like a simple charge made by someone who doesn't know s***.
Employees build what the manufacturer designs and that design is 100 percent on the manufacturer. The manufacturer dictates how the units are assembled. If you don't think that the bean counters haven't figured out what is the least number of fasteners that could be used, the lowest quality of components they could get away with, then you aren't living in the real world. I would also suggest that there might be other factors that contribute to quality issues. Employee training and development, work place environment, morale, pay and benefits, and employer appreciation are the ingredients to quality product and experience. In addition, I believe manufacturers are not subject to the same requirements (lemon laws) that , for example, automobile manufacturers are subject to. Ever try to get warranty work done? Where do you think quality would be if strong consumer protections were in place against the manufacturers? I would suggest that the manufacturers would then be forced to design better and manufacture higher quality products. If a manufacturers first directive is profitability, expect something to suffer.
I spent my life in management and as an owner. As a manager and as an owner, how employees are treated, respected, and fairly compensated makes all the difference. Combine that with quality components to start with and you will produce a product that you will be proud to put your name on. To flippantly claim that it's the worker to blame suggest to me you are a 3rd string arm chair quarterback.
Sounds like the companies to be honest. Put out the cheapest product for the most money. That's capitalism. Corporations exist to make the most money with the least effort, why blame workers for doing the same thing?
I'm watching this video as my 2018 Jayco 5th wheel sits idle in my driveway with a cracked frame. A 5 year old trailer used for 3-4 weeks in the summer and stored inside over the winter ends up with a frame that cracked due to normal use. Would this be OK if a car/truck ended up with a broken frame within 5 years from new? The manufacturer would not survive if so. My tires are warranted for 6 years, the roof for 12 and the frame for 1 year. The main foundation of a trailer, the frame is only guaranteed for 1 year.
I'm really sorry to hear about your frame issues. But that is not a normal experience for most Jayco owners. And that is the point of my video - you can get a problem RV from almost any RV manufacturer due to the way they are currently made. But that doesn't mean that the entire industry is as bad as some make it seem. I am not defending RV builders in any way because I believe that they need to up their game considerably. But loudly proclaiming that all RVs are no good is not right either. So I hope that you can see that what happened to your RV should not take place, but it doesn't indicate that no one should be buying RVs these days.
Thank you so much 😊😊 for Talking about RV ownership and the BIG one, maintenance on your RV. Just like a boat, if you leave in Salt water Marine. You must pull the boat each year to your Local dock repair facility. I found it was more important to change lower GEAR oil on outdrive, than engine oil. The year after my Volvo was manufactured, Volvo changed the seals on the shifter on the lower unit. Because it was a bad design.
I always had milky GEAR oil. I always had the hull cleaned and outdrive Repainted if I had just slightly lost its paint. I will talk about a whole other equipment subject but it falls in line with the quality of how it was built. I own a 1978 Dynahoe-190
Backhoe. It has close to (9000 hours on meter) have never overhauled the 353
Detroit Diesel engine. I have done Hydraulic seals ( replacement) I ran one in 1979 on a big main line sewer job, digging the sidesewer stubs, and the big one that just had wear on other brands like Case and John Deere. The Dynahoe just held together between. It was a main frame Backhoe connection. The backhoe end was permanently fixed to the whole frame. But when these machines were new in the 1970s that cost almost
$100 thousand. Very heavy (19,000 pounds) the Dynahoe was made by Buycrus Erie. A great heavy construction and mining company that CAT now owns.
All I'm trying to say is I feel like I have a great USED Backhoe, just like brands like AIRSTREAM ( don't hold stock in company
I also own a 1971 SeaGrave Fire Engine 🚒. It's amazing driving her how well built the old girl drives, and FD equipment is all hand made. I own it for kids to enjoy getting in the driver's seat. I do many public education and kids day with the Fire Department. The way you speak, you sound like a great inspector, who would explain things to RV owners very clearly.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. And thanks for contributing your thoughts about RV maintenance too. They will be helpful for others looking through this comments section. Have safe and happy travels!
Thank you for providing a balance view on this issue. I own an older RV and I'm happy that it's built well, but of course that doesn't mean there aren't still things that need maintenance with age. But I don't travel around with it. I'm looking at small trailers or teardrop for traveling. Lots of videos on how those are built and usually good quality. Just as a side note.
I'm glad it was helpful for you. And I hope you find the perfect small trailer for your travels!
Look at a Little Guy Max that is built in Pennsylvania. High quality
@@kal7049 teardrops seem to be better built because they aren't made on an assembly line. Thanks for the information.
@@kal7049 Yup, I have a 2022 Little Guy Mini Max and very happy with it. Did a 4 month cross country tour in mine (Canada).
Hey, Duane I'm a new subscriber. I enjoy watching you with all the tips. I have a 2020 travel trailer which I haven't used for the last 2 years as all campgrounds here in Oregon are filled with tourists all over. I am blessed to be in 5 acre with beautiful views around our house.
Thanks for the sub! I hope you get to use your travel trailer and make some great memories soon.
I worked at a rv dealer that got bought out by a large chain, not camping world. I know alot of the campers had many defects, some big serious ones. The factories just send them out for the dealer to handle it, and now the dealership has gotten to where it is like oh well to the customer, rather then have to deal with the manufacturers.
Thanks for sharing your experience here.
Quality and happy workplaces are EXPENSIVE. People usually buy the CHEAPEST ones and then they are SHOCKED that they get JUNK RVs.
That's actually a good point. A lot of RV buyers either can't afford or won't buy the higher quality brands. So that forces the manufacturers to make cheaper versions. But the same buyers expect top-notch quality. You just can't have it both ways. Thanks for watching and leaving an insightful comment!
We are on our fourth RV in twenty years. No issues or concerns with any of them other than annual maintenance.(Winnebago, Jayco and Northstar)
Thanks for sharing your experience with RV buying here. And thanks for watching the video!
I bought a 2008 Fleetwood Southwind Class A motorhome with Dwayne's advice. It's turned out to be a well-made, comfortable RV. It's not that all new RVs are problematic, but a used one has already got most of the "bugs" worked out. Of course, the cost savings over a new motorhome was tens of thousands of dollars (that I can use for RV adventures instead). Naturally, I have to do some work to maintain my rig and repair little things that loosen over the many kilometers that I travel. I recently saw a gorgeous 2023 Tiffin Allegro motorhome that was back in the shop for a third time to fix its pollution control system. That's not an RV manufacturing issue though, because it's the chassis.
Thanks so much for sharing your buying experience online here. It's much appreciated. I'm so glad to hear that you are happy with the RV you chose!
Good advice. Before any newbie buys their first RV, they should rent different towables and motorhomes to see if they like the lifestyle as well as to help determine which type is right for them. That being said, can you do a video on the different companies and ways to rent and what to look for so that people can be a more informed consumer when renting? We don’t want our first RV experience to stand for “Ruined Vacation.”
That's good advice you gave there about renting first. And thanks for the suggestion about a video on renting RVs. The good news is that I already have that kind of video on the list and hope to complete it soon. So stay tuned! :-)
@@RVInspectionAndCare Please!
That would be great!
I am newer to the RV life and industry. With that said we purchased our first in 2021, a Jayco trailer. Our biggest issues have been with the dealer, not with Jayco. If I could suggest one thing for mfgs is to allow owners to do their own warranty repairs and to send parts directly to them bypassing the dealers. Hopefully to also send a message to the dealers and start including the needed language in the franchise agreements about servicing all owners, not just those that purchased from them. With the consolidation going on with dealerships it would seem to be a grand time to make such changes as the new owners would have to get new agreements. Force these "big guys" into the real world.
I would also add that we have over 30k miles on our trailer in less than two years. It is a single axle azdel model. Screws have been the biggest issue we have had, simple fixes, you just have to look for them i.e. maintenance. Same with the roof and seals. Weve had one awing issue that still is not perfect but velcro fixes that (doesnt sit flush when closed). The main issues we have had are with appliances and the main RV manufactures do not make those. Almost everyone has gone to Furrion products and well I have seen a lot of people talking about issues... But even with those the biggest issues have been related to screws... So learn some basic skills and fix it yourself, I have decent mechanical skills and have learned these are simple machines easy to fix.
I would also add that we are looking at Airstreams, and I believe you have said they are good quality. They are another Thor product, are they really good or does it really matter as long as you understand up front what you are getting?
I am in agreement with you that many of the problems that RV buyers face are actually more because of the dealer and not the manufacturer. And RV dealers are very good at shifting the blame to the builders instead. As far as Airstream is concerned, it is true that Thor owns the company now. But they also own a slew of other RV brands as well. The good news is that by and large the evidence seems to indicate that Thor is allowing each of it's owned brands to continue building as they see fit. Of course, that may change in the future. And if it does, I will be sure to remove those brands from my recommended quality list. But for now, Airstream remains on that list. Thanks for sharing your experience with RVs so far by posting about it here. It will be helpful for other prospective RV buyers.
When I was in the market for an RV and/or caravan I got more and more disillusioned with the quality of builds that were available (most blame this on covid) both from research online and actual viewings.
Because of this I decided to go with a one man build company the other side of Australia to where I live........as I figured that if his previous builds were well respected then there was a very strong likelihood that my build would be the same.
The end result was fantastic as the build was of a very high-quality build right down to the very small items.....the builder is an absolute gem in his industry as he becomes and remains friends with all of his customers and retains pride in ownership of his build even after the sale is well over.
Name the builder ? ?
It's true that the smaller boutique RV builders usually turn out a much better quality product than the higher production builders. Not having a corporation demanding higher profits every step of the way allows these smaller builders to do what's right for the customer instead. Unfortunately, smaller production RV builders could never keep up with the high demand for RVs these days though. I'm glad you found the perfect RV for your needs though!
We had a 30 year old camp lite tent camper. Worked perfectly. We have it to a family who are starting on their own 30 years with it😊can’t we make things well like then?🇨🇦💫
Hopefully, we can. Thanks for watching!
I have bought a few new RV's. They all have had major issues. I learned the first 2 rounds that even the littlest issue can take months to get fixed. After 2 times trying to get thing fixed on time to use our first one, I do all the repairs and fixes myself. I have even been reimbursed by a couple manufacturers for doing my own repairs. Mostly because it was cheaper for me to do than a shop.
If I was unable to do this, I would not be an RV'er. I even help others that know me, permanently fix their garbage new RV's. You can fix all the RV's to be better than new and very reliable. I have been enjoying for 17 years now a 344J Everest. I have upgraded and made reliable since it was new.
Glad to hear that you are learning how to do a lot of the work on your RV yourself. That's a valuable skill to have. Thanks for watching!
Great. I bought a brand new Ford Escort, way long ago. Had a body tweak that blew out the back window. Don't like Ford anymore. Still think it was a monday or friday car....lots of work on upkeep. Thanks for the brutal honesty....we can check on who is building it, today.....😊😊 Jeannie in Lakeport California
Hi Jeannie. I'm hoping that being really honest about the way RVs are built will help newer RVers avoid being misled by the extreme opinions that some are spreading online. Thanks for watching!
People sometimes when buying a new RV hear the word “warranty”, then fall into a false sense of security. I was a tradesman for 50 years. But I was also a “craftsman”. And there’s a huge difference between the two. RV manufactures today are like any other corporate entity. High profit, rock bottom overhead, and sell sell sell. Quality control is something that gets passed along to dealers, dealers pass it back to manufactures, who pass it back to dealers, and meanwhile your hard earned RV is sitting in the service lot. You get what you pay for. A well established company with a track record of quality and reliability may set me back a few more bucks. Because they hire and MAINTAIN a group of employees that take pride in their work, pay them accordingly, and have a system of QC that will not allow a product to go out the door until it has been inspected six ways from Sunday. When make a purchase, I don’t need an extended warranty. Because I shouldn’t have to! If the product is designed and manufactured properly like it’s supposed to be, I shouldn’t need a warranty. RV’s in particular are WAY overpriced for what you’re getting to begin with. In all fairness, when someone is laying out that kind of money, they should be enjoying their rig, not sending 175 emails back and forth to dealers and manufacturers while the unit is unusable.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject Robert.
We loved and laughed at the way you said trash and garbage. Keep up the great work and thank you. And don’t forget to buy from a reputable dealership. You need to research the dealership just as well as the rv brands.
That's a great point about RV dealers Rick and Darci. I have a video coming up next week about the national chain RV dealers. Thanks for continuing to support the channel!
I was shocked to see bad reviews on newer Air Stream units until I found out they are now owned by Thor . A buddy of mine who was in the RV industry for many years told me if it's built by any Thor owned company, RUN! If I was to buy a new unit I'd look at Lance, Winnebago or Oliver.
My recommendation is not to believe everything you hear people say about RV companies owning other companies. Both Thor and Winnebago have bought up several other RV builders in recent years and there are lots of people who say that whatever companies they own has been ruined by them. But the truth is that in the vast majority of cases, Thor and Winnebago have allowed the manufacturers to continue building their product pretty much the way they did before the purchase. In fact, in many cases the same management team is still running the purchased company. And there is very little real evidence that either Thor or Winnebago has directly harmed another manufacturer by buying them. But what has happened in recent years is the Covid pandemic affected the workforce of all RV builders, regardless of who they were. And quality has slipped as a result even among the better brands. But blaming Thor or Winnebago for the poor quality recently is a convenient scapegoat and is simply not true in most cases.
I'd like to know why the class B camper vans cost just as much as the much larger class A motorhomes?
Actually there are many Class A RVs, like diesel pushers, that cost a lot more than Class B vans. But Class Bs tend to be the most expensive per square foot of any RV category. Several factors contribute to this including the fact that they are in high demand and not as mass produced as other types of RVs. And they are much smaller to begin with and therefore converting them for use as an RV requires a lot of extra engineering to get it everything to fit properly. There are other reasons as well that I will cover in a future video. I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Thank you. I understand the demand versus supply reasons. But the price per square foot differences is nuts. Just the amount of materials involved in a Class B is so much less.
You'd think that with the high demand, someone would be cranking them out on an assembly line. The engineering involved would be the same as the Class A, done on the same computer aided design program. They are well suited for a pre built interior, that could basically just be slid through the back doors and sliding side door. At the very least, most of the components could be cookie cutter , plug and play, due to the similar interior dimensions of all these vans. Whereas the interior of a Class A has to built inside the vehicle, making it more labor intensive. I look forward to your video on this. All the best.
We bought a 2018 Forest River flagstaff classic light 5th wheel used about a month ago and Love it. Stationary living plan to retire soon and travel with it. Your videos have helped a lot.. Still learning though. Thx for your channel. Bruce and Cherry Sherman
Hi Bruce and Cherry. I'm so glad that my channel has been helpful for you. I hope your upcoming travel plans take you on some great RVing adventures!
I've seen that more money doesn;t mean more quality, but more inferior parts at may break. The latest appears to be those "control everything systems to make your RV "smart." They often break, shutting down absolutely everything, even the lights.
Thanks for watching and leaving your opinion.
One RV type is not trash. And thats the fiberglass "egg" style trailers. No wood in ceilings and walls, no lamination, no luan, etc. Some brands have full fiberglass interiors too where even the cabinetry is fiberglass. Oliver is probably top of class. I owned a 1977 Trillium 1300, fiberglass egg design, fiberglass interior, pontoon design keeping any water leaks from reaching the wood in the floor. Yes, fiberglass trailers are expensive for their size and tend to be smaller than other units. But they hold their value very well. It's not unusual to see a 10 to 15 year old unit selling for more than its original purchase price. Lots of barriers to entry keeping the slap it together crowd out of the FG market. And I am not talking about laminated fiberglass side walls. Those units have major delamination issues.
I agree that Oliver builds a really fine RV that can even last a lifetime. Unfortunately, fiberglass RVs of that kind are limited to a maximum of 25 feet. Thanks for watching!
I'm going mobile in 6 months ... about. I'm buying your book. Hope it's updated for '23. Going to go class c and pull my Toyota. Just me and the two dogs. Not a lot of driving intended. I plan a couple of weeks in NM, a couple in Redding where my job is, and a couple on the coast. Maybe put Yellowstone and Yosemite in the rotation. All I need is 1 bed for me and the dogs, toilet, sink, and most importantly an area to set up my work space. I am a CAD designer and need at least two large monitors. Thank you so much for your videos and other data sources. Just subscribed and getting educated.
Hi Thomas. Thanks for the sub and I hope you find the perfect RV for your needs.
My toilet valve leaked the first time I hooked up to water pressure and the external shower line was barely threaded on so both were spurting water, I was not happy.
Those are both irritating things. But they aren't major and are easily fixed. I hope you enjoy your RV from now on. Thanks for sharing your experience here
I bought a Jayco 24re and it was my third Jayco moving uo from popup a swith 19.8rd and the only one that I have problem with is the one I pade the most for the fith wheel 24er it has a rear pantry and the Shells fell a part and Is drawer under the stove and cabinet over fridge fell a part then a latch on out would not work . Other thing when i got it the clading on right side was not huck up missing scrue the dead bolt lock would work the latch was to low the out side plug was broken there was a panel in pass throu had strip scrue and steel doses 😢😮
As I said in the video, it's possible to get a problematic RV with almost any RV manufacturer and especially so since the pandemic affected the RV builder's workforces. But much of what you describe is fit and finish issues that can be resolved with a little effort and hopefully you will have a good usable RV from there on. But once again, not ALL RVs are trash.
i got an OASI 610 RV made in Italy on order when there arrive in the USA soon.....full fiberglass shell and interior, no outer seams so no leaks from outside, no wood or fabic walls so no smells or mildew, everything wipes down easy with a sponge.
That sounds like a well constructed RV. Of course, there are some great fiberglass trailer builders here in the states too. Both Oliver and Casita come to mind. Thanks for mentioning your RV buying here in the comments!
I had a 1993 prowler travel trailer for 24 years and maintained it myself. If you buy an rv you better be quite the handyman because things will break.
Love my 2021 Winnebago 2108fbs.
That's good advice Don. Thanks for sharing your RV experience with us.
The biggest problem with the RV industry is they are on " piece rate " instead of hourly . If you have to put out twelve units a day and you start at 5:00 AM in order to beat the heat , a lot of these workers are home by 11:00 AM , if not earlier . Just how good of a job do you think they did ? A big name frame manufacturer found out they were shipping product out the door that was only tack welded together. Not only was the final welding not done neither was the final inspection . How many of those frames got out on the roads ? Buyers should get what they pay for but oftentimes don't .
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject here.
I'm looking to purchase my first RV, ive already been warned to stay away from pandemic era built ones due to the quality of workers as the manufacturers hired anyone to get the product out and, the equipment fitted in to these Rv's became scarce as factories shut down ie used parts were sometimes used.
The truth is that there were still a lot of experienced people in the RV builder's workforce even during the pandemic years. But it is true that a lot of relatively unskilled workers were hired to fill in the gaps in the assembly line as workers were affected by Covid. So what that means is that some RVs built during that period had more problems coming out of the factory than others did. In other words, there was a lot of inconsistency in the final product. And yes, if you want to avoid the possibility of getting an RV that might have been poorly constructed, choosing one from 2019 and earlier is a good choice.
Oh so true!
I visited the largest RV Dealer/Service center in Southern New Jersey (Not Camping World).
I was clearly told by a Service Tech that they will not service ANY RV over 15 years old.
End of story.
Interesting. Thanks for sharing that here and thanks for watching!
Which is better
2020 first river rockwood geo pro g 19fd $13,995
Or
2021 forest river wildwood fsx 179dbk $14,999
🤷🏻♀️ torn
Personally, I would recommend the Rockwood for better build quality. There aren't many Forest River brands that I can recommend, but Rockwood is one of the better ones. I hope that helps.
@@RVInspectionAndCare thank you! I was leaning more towards it too. The other one is a newer year and roughly similar in cost towards a little more but i see the rockwood as higher equality even if it’s a couple years older and has a little wear.
Owning an RV is like owning a home. I’ve never moved into a new house that didn’t need warranty work. It goes the same with RVs. The advantage of buying a used RV is that generally, all the factory problems have been fixed.
Since RVs are mobile, things will break. This can be minimized but not eliminated.
All RV owners should be handy otherwise they’ll go broke on maintenance issues
Those are all great observations. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject with us!
I'm wondering how well Alliance Delta 281s are made?
Alliance is on my recommended list for fifth wheel brands already. So if they carry the same building methods over to the Delta, I would highly recommend that you consider them.
Bravo Duane, the RV industry is not all garbage or peaches and cream. However there is soo much to learn and understand about the RV industry. A person can't and should not compare the RV industry to the Auto Industry or home sticks-n-bricks construction. For one thing the RV manufacturing industry is not as heavily regulated as other industries, the manufacturers pretty much make their own rules. Even a pre-inspection by a certified RVIA inspector can't catch everything because they do not take things apart, as in remove false walls and look behind them or remove the coroplast bottom covering to look up inside. That's where the manufacturers workers hide their misdeeds. Lousy and sloppy electrical work and bad pex water line installations, cracked or broken frames, ripped out frame leaf spring hangers due to poor design or bad welding as an example. I will not even go there with regard to RV dealerships and their service departments. Price is not always an indication of quality.
But there is a bright side, owners should do as much research as they can on the manufacturers, make their best pic, then learn all they can on how to repair pex water lines, basic plumbing, gain as much knowledge as practical in basic wiring and power BUT know their limits. If not educated in wiring or 12VDC / 110VAC power Leave It Alone and get a professional. Keep a maintenance check list to make sure items get looked after, seals, roofs, slide seals, lubrication, suspension components, axle bearings, water heater anode rods, sensors, detectors, etc, etc. Learn how to repair or maintain simple things themselves. The RV life and experience will be so much better and rewarding if owners are willing to dig in.
We have been RV fulltimers now for almost 4 years and loving every minute of every day!
These are all great observations and recommendations. And I’m sure it will be helpful for others who are reading through the comments here. Thanks for leaving such a thoughtful comment!
Hello! Would a Forest River be okay for weekenders and vacationers? Thanks!
Most Forest River models are not on my recommended list. I feel that there are other brands would be better to choose that are in the same price range.
@@RVInspectionAndCare Such as?
So basically Rv inspection your saying forest river is garbage that's how I'm taking your comment . Could you add to why u think that?
What bothers me about RV's is getting warranty work at a different dealer than the one that sold the unit. I have an Entegra which is owned by Jayco, which is owned by Thor. Camping World has been buying a lot of smaller dealers in their quest to conquer the RV business. I live in Morgan Hill, Ca and there was a dealer called Pan Pacific which was recently bought by Camping World and renamed Jayco Morgan Hill. I went to "Jayco Morgan Hill" and I asked their service dept. if they would do warranty work on my Entegra. They asked me if I had bought it from them, I said no, and they said they would not do warranty work on my Entegra. The RV warranty is totally different than the auto business where any dealer from the brand you own will do warranty work.
You are correct that warranty repairs are not the same with passenger vehicles and RVs. But one reason for that is that car dealers usually have a franchise for the brands that they sell. And the franchise agreement requires that they service and support warranty issues whether or not they sold the vehicle. But there is no such agreement in many cases in the RV world. And the flip side is that RV manufacturers are notorious for not paying very much for warranty work. This is a major problem in the RV business that needs to be addressed for the benefit of the RV buyer. I discussed the topic in this video - ruclips.net/video/foCgVJdSRKs/видео.html
I have a 2005 Pilgrim 5th wheel that is very well made although heavy compared to new ones .
Sounds like a great rig. Thanks for sharing!
Good morning so we have a 2021 2106 DS micro mini we bought it brand new right before COVID shut the world down and I think Winnebago makes a great travel trailer whether it's a fifth wheel or bumper pool but I will say everything that was made after COVID has had a lot of issues from off our Winnebago page therefore I wouldn't say all travel trailers or fifth wheels or mobile homes or trash you just have to be able to do your own inspections have a good quality inspector and go with your gut and be prepared to do maintenance if you don't know how to do maintenance or be your own mechanic or technician you have no business owning a travel trailer.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas on the subject here. Have safe and happy travels!
Always good stuff Dwayne!
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching and leaving a nice comment!
Just like going online to look at restaurants, cars, campgrounds, etc., if you go looking for negativity, you'll surely find it. Buyer beware - the average reviewer does not post unless they are quite disappointed and disgruntled (most common post because people think their voice will be heard in this manner), or are quite happy (but beware - are the happy posts genuine?). The in-between, simply satisfied review is rare. The pandemic brought about a huge amount of first time buyers who had no idea what they were buying into and how the RV industry varies vastly from automobiles. You know if you build an RV to car standards, it would weight many times what most of them weigh, and if you built it to house standards, it'll fall apart within a thousand miles. Thanks Duane - your reasoning through this debate is spot on.
These are all good points that you made. Thanks for leaving a very thoughtful comment here for the benefit of others!
So many have the cheap stretchy veneer on things like cabinets that comes off with heat and moisture and that can start within months of paying outrageous amount for new rv. Why use materials that weigh less if they do not actually work for their intended purpise?
If it's a new RV, that's what the factory warranty is for.
Please name the manufacturers with happy employees and which have high turnover unhappy employees. How do we find out which manufacturers are cutting corners? Where's the list? Good on you that you tell us all the things that we should be doing but where we get the information?
As I said in the video, I have produced guidebooks that list my recommended brands of manufacturers in each RV category. You can find them here - payhip.com/RVInspectionAndCare
I've been looking into RV's for quite some time now, researching and scouring the web for knowledge, insight, tips, components, modifications, ect.. As far as I'm aware there's only a small handful of manufacturers that make truly long lasting units like Airstream, Oliver, New Horizons, Luxe, or Spacecraft.(Excluding high end class A's that are like 1.5 to 2+ million dollars) As they say, you get what you pay for, and if you want quality these days it'll come at a cost.
I'm personally interested in a slightly older Airstream, when they made the 34' tri axles still. Not really concerned with a warranty, I'd do most of the maintenance myself. I've looked into fifthwheels, but they're far more complex, have far more places to develop leaks or problems, and would require me to further invest in a much more expensive and heavy duty truck to tow. I already have a 2011 F250 gas thats all paid for, and should be perfect for amongdt the largest Airstream.
I'm already pretty familiar with living out of a vehicle, having been a Class A CDL driver since 2014. I'm pretty familiar with towing safety, inspections on my equipment, and skill/experience operating large combination vehicles. All I need is something fairly simple, like an Airstream, for some extra living space at home. I'd only very occasionally maybe use it for fish, hiking, or visiting family spread across the country.
Me, my mom, stepdad, and brother all live together in a fairly small house on the coast. We already have a pad and hookups available for an RV. My grandma who is deceased now, and I previously lived with had her caretakers living here in an RV while I worked over the road. Main advantage is having my own zone of privacy, and being able to convert my current bedroom into a guest room. My grandpa who also has had many RV's certainly agrees if I had my own at home, and a guest room, they'd be able to visit more often and at less cost just driving their car out. Plus other family who doesn't have an RV could do the same.
We also have mild weather on the coast, most times of the year between 40° and 70°. My only real concern would be managing any leaks or rust. My cargo trailer I bought brand new a few years back, has rust issues with paddle latches for locks and frame rust. The salty moist air out here does a number to any exposed, unprotected steel/iron.
I've also looked into Oliver Travel Trailers out of Tennessee. But unfortunately, while they do seem to be robust and quality built, are on the small side for what I'd want. They're a newer brand out here, so maybe in the future they may expand their range of offerings. But for now, I believe a used Airstream of the 34' variety, in good condition, would be about perfect for my needs.
It does sound like an Airstream might be a good choice for what you are trying to do. I hope you find the perfect one for your needs.
Eventually, just research and more research. I'm not in a huge rush. But it will certainly come in handy when it comes time to do some remodeling/maintenance on the house.
We've already got a corner of the house, my room, which was added on, and is now settling and formed cracks in the walls. Thankfully I was present and observing when my grandma had it added, so unlike my mom or stepdad I know exactly what's underneath and what to expect. I've been living here a fair bit longer than them.
Being a retirement area, the contractors around here can be a joke at times. My biological dad, a seasoned electrician lived here for a spell, and fixed most of the terrible electrical already. My project when I have the time, funds, and ability to clear that space out. I can re-level it, add bracing, insulate it better, and seal it properly. The foundation is good, the framing is shoddy. Same guy did the decking, handicap ramp, and they've the same issues with with warping and settling.
I grew up doing construction work with my dad and uncles, so I learned a lot. I'm particularly good with cabinetry, shelves, drywall/paint, and flooring. It's certainly taken time to clear out my Grandma's hoards of excess. Donated a lot, had a yard sell, hauled stuff to the refuse/scrap yard. My stepdad, a former plumber, fixed a few plumbing issues already.
So now that it's cleaned out, both inside the house and on the property. As I've time come available as a trucker, and weather allowing. I can get me a nice little camper, for my own separation of privacy and convenience. Then bit by bit fix the house up. My grandma didn't even bother getting a lot of the recent add ons or changes permitted.. So it's certainly going to be a chore to say the least. My mom, the inheritor of the house, can thank her lucky stars that she's been surrounded by capable tradesmen her whole life lol.
Me a trucker and all around jack of all trades. My dad an electrician, my grandpa a carpenter and former trucker as well, my stepdad a plumber, two of my uncles general contractors, and my other uncle a mechanic. I've plenty of influences and experiences growing up around the lot of them to be pretty self sufficient, and plenty I can rely on for advice and expertise.
I'm certain an Airstream would suit my needs almost perfectly. Laughably I'm about to the point where I'd darn near want to set up a shop and build my own RV's lol.. There's a few innovative brands out there, but unfortunately the RV industry is certainly lagging behind in many aspects. Especially considering the modern equipment, machines, technology, and materials available today. As for travel trailers I'll certainly be keeping an eye on Oliver. After watching the videos on how they construct and build their trailers similar fiberglass boats/yachts. They're drastically different from the norm. So long as they don't get greedy or egotistical, I'm certain they'll be able to eventually directly compete with Airstream.
But until then, I'll make do with the next best thing, and utilize what's available. Do the research, utilize logic, reasoning, and budgeting to make a sensible practical choice, keep it simple, and don't live beyond ones means.
Sorry about the longer posts, I'm just enthusiastic about topics that interest me, and a talkative windbag like everyone else in my family lol.
Is a 2023 geo pro a good quality trailer?
The Rockwood Geo Pro is made by Forest River and they are not on my recommended list of manufacturers. However, there are a few brands that FR makes that seems to be better made overall than the rest of the FR line. And Rockwood is one of the better choices from FR.
The biggest problem is consumers not doing there homework before they buy. Like reading the reviews on the product or the dealer.
That's a very good point Jeff. But many RV buyers find it easier to blame the manufacturer than take responsibility for not doing their homework in advance.
I’ve owned 5 different RVs, I’ve decided that they are nothing more than a giant tube of calk
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
People need to realize you are trekking a house down the road. There will be a lot more upkeep and maintenance. For the most part every 5th wheel and travel trailer I’ve had have had minimal problems. You get what you pay for. Spend the extra and buy real wood cabinets. Beefy frames. It’s surprising the amount of people that buy on the cheap and complain about the poor quality.
That's a very good point. So many online complainers are those who bought the cheapest RV possible without really researching what they are buying or educating themselves about the industry. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject here!
What are the good brands?
You can find a full list of my recommended brands guidebooks here - payhip.com/RVInspectionAndCare
for my money the best R.V.s that are still available on the market today are Bluebird's. The Wanderlodge is a TANK of a bus that will keep you happy for years and years
Thanks for sharing your opinion with us.
D question is which RV manufacturers or brand would u recommend?
I have created guidebooks to help identify the best brands to buy in each RV category. You can view them here - payhip.com/RVInspectionAndCare
The manufacturers need to put greater emphasis on sleeping comfort. In most cases if you do not get to sleep on the bed room bed you are going to be uncomfortable on any other sleeping surface
I've often heard complaints about that. Thanks for sharing your opinion here!
Thank you. I was wondering what you would have to say on this topic!
Hi Kathy. I get so many negative video comments about RVs in general and certain brands that I recommend, that I figured it was time to cover this subject. I know that it's not going to change the minds of those who have their extreme views, but I'm hoping it will be helpful for those who haven't made their mind up on this subject yet. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare I'm one of those negative jerks but I still respect you, Duane!
@@celestepalm6949 Hi Celeste. You are certainly NOT a negative jerk. I always enjoy your comments and look forward to more! :-)
How do people feel about East to West as a brand ?
East to West is made by Forest River and they mainly focus on entry-level products. I personally feel that there are other brands in a similar price range that would be a better choice. It doesn't mean that you can't get a good East To West RV. But there are better alternatives in my opinion.
What does Oscar the Grouch say about RVS ? Trash or Treasure? I just saw a youtuber talk about his RV leaking water. GREAT INFO, and thanks for your video. Rave Ken Peters i saw the tribulation.
I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching.
So wise , Thank You . Happy Trails
I'm glad you enjoyed it Henry. Thanks for watching!
I would love to live in a portable home. However, the construction isn't as durable as that of a tiny house. I'm having quite the debate within myself. The construction is designed for minimizing the weight for travel and minimizing the building cost while maximizing the profit. The R-value isn't sufficient for extreme weather situations. In general, basic upkeep repairs are a factor in owning one.
You have a pretty good grasp on some of the challenges of owning an RV. Now to decide whether that fits your needs or not. Thanks for watching!
I noticed your used travel trailer guide covers 2010 to 2019 models. Since there has been discussion about the Covid year campers (2020-2022) being of inferior quality, do you plan on updating the guide to cover some of those later years? Thanks for your channel. I have learned a lot
Actually, the list of better brands that I mentioned in the used travel trailer guide is still pretty much the same. But an RV buyer has to understand that Covid did not improve RV quality from the factory, it lowered it. And that is true of even the better RV brands. I don't feel that buying a Covid built RV is something you shouldn't do though. I think if you do it right, you can still get a good, workable RV from the first day of ownership. But I also understand why some may want to buy a used pre-Covid RV instead. I made a video on the subject that may be helpful - ruclips.net/video/QTW0pyApm9Q/видео.html
I got a 2021 twilight from cruiser rv and it was a Covid unit and I am handy and have dealt with misrouted plumbing from water heater, replaced toliet, poor seams on roof that had to be redone, gaps in the shower, and very very poor workmanship paired with poor quality. With a semi patient wife we have fixed most slowly. We have over 20k miles on this rig.
I loved my 2011 coachmen freelander 21qb, it was in lamesa being fixed, they couldn't get supplies last year so I took it to a different place who also had issues. I just sold it a month ago. Don't know if I'll ever get another
I understand and am sorry to hear about the issues you had with your last RV. But as I said in the video, if you choose a better quality brand and you follow a proven buying process that makes sure you get the RV you deserve on the first day of ownership, anyone can get an RV that they love. Thanks for watching!
the 5TH wheel buying guide link doesn't work/isn't a link! What is it?
I just tried the link in the video description and it works just fine. But if you are having trouble with that link, try this one instead - payhip.com/b/82KPO
More weight also means more flex which causes leaks!
Thanks for watching the video and adding to the discussion.
Thank you Duane! We are so interested in buying a 2011 Winnebago sightsee 33c. I love the floor plan and the unit appears to be in good shape. Of course we have done a lot of homework and are going to isn inspection from a certified inspector ( wish it could be you). Now comes my question... Az expert on you tube just trashes Winnebago roofs line crazy! In your opinion does Winnebago make a bad roof or is it more the owner not providing propicare and maintenance on the ones that go bad?
Thank you for your insight and experience!
Tony
I personally do not know of major roof issues with Winnebago being any more serious than those from other manufacturers. But as I said in the video, human error is possible with any RV manufacturer. However, if you use a certified NRVIA RV inspector, they will thoroughly inspect the roof as part of the process. And if there are obvious problems they will call it out. While not perfect, that will put the odds on your side that the RV you are buying is fully functional if it passes the inspection. I hope that helps.
Ive had to fth wheels in the past. For me its cheaper to rent a hotel room for the weekend!!
I love my fifth wheel and there are lots of other fifth wheel owners who love their RV as well. Thanks for expressing your opinion though.
It may be cheaper but then you’re not camping. Nothing like sitting around the campfire swapping tall tales after a day of hiking.
Every RV Manufacturer has a issue once in a while, it’s the amount of them that the real issue is
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject here Robert.
@@RVInspectionAndCare in my case, it was the frame (Lippert) that lost camber and caused body cracking at 4 places. It was not the manufacturers fault.
You don't have to be an rv owner, salesman, or inspector to know whether rv's are trash. I towed and drove new and used ones hundreds of thousands of miles across the U.S. as a transport contractor. I could go into details about which brands are good or bad, but generally 90% are poorly built for the amount of money you pay for them.
Today's rv manufacturing standards are the equivalent of the 1970's Detroit auto industry, which means mass production with cheap materials and subpar labor. If Japan started building and shipping rvs to the U.S., the domestic industry would have to up their game (like in the auto industry did) to survive.
After pulling and driving thousands of units i can tell you this: I would NEVER buy a new one. You can find a well kept used one that's 5-10 years old for a 3rd of the price, where the original owner has worked out the bugs and absorbed a large chunk of the depreciation. Personally, i'd buy a 20 year old Prevost over a new class A for the same money.
Thanks for sharing your opinion.
Is it true that having one or more slides in a camper weakens the overall structure?
Hi David. I'm not an engineer so I can't comment on structure integrity when slides are introduced to an RV. But I know that they can cause more risk for problems. However, if you care for your slides and maintain them properly you can prevent many of the issues that have plagued some RVers. I made a video about this just recently - ruclips.net/video/6O1R2ehCZfU/видео.html
All have issues ! Small ones - learn to live with and stay on top of things ! Don’t have unrealistic expectations- carry duct tape
- small tools - tube of silicone and keep your sense of humor or you’ll become a “ Past Disgruntled Owner” ! Even cheaper units can be maintained in excellent shape if you pay attention ! 👍
Good points! Thanks for for making a thoughtful comment here Bobby!
You sound like the man from wild kingdom, I like like it. Thank you.
Whats your opinion on Attitude by Eclipse as well as Genesis Supreme toy haulers?
Neither of those manufacturers are on my recommended list, but that doesn't mean that you can't get a good RV from them. Just be sure to get it inspected thoroughly before taking ownership.
In all reality it’s sad to think you need an inspector for a brand new RV quality control on my refrigerator at home is better,I have owned Cabover camper. Bumper pull trailer fifth wheel class C and two classes. A’s all different manufactures quality is just more expensive components, not necessarily craftsmanship, from $100,000 to $500,000 they are all lacking but I love Camping so I still choose to own one,but if you don’t have deep pockets you will need to be very handy, thanks for the videos
Thanks for sharing your opinion on the subject Rick.
In 2014,we bought a 2000 Jayco travel trailer,from original owner. Was well built and well cared for. Would put $10,000 into it before buying a newer one
It sounds like you found the perfect RV for your needs . Thanks for sharing your experience with us!
Matt’s RV reviews shows us RVs from the largest RV show in the world in Germany and those RVs are built with high quality and beautiful design almost everyone he showed in his video.
I can't comment on RVs made in other countries. But in the US there are lots of RVs built every year that make the buyers and owners of them generally happy with their purchase. There are also many RVs built with problems coming out of the factory in the US too, but if consumers will protect themselves by using a certified RV inspector before taking delivery of it, they can minimize the problems they have to deal with after the sale. It's that simple.
Not all RVs are trash, if you have lots of money you can get a good one, one good example is a 20 ft Oliver, over $100,000, but that thing is bulletproof, it should come with a private chef for a year for that much money.
Oliver is a great travel trailer for sure. Thanks for watching!
ALOT of people don’t understand that no RV is designed for continuous or continuous use…Airstream included.
Actually quite few RV brands make models that can be used for fulltime RV living and travel these days. And Airstream travel trailers hold up very well for that kind of use.
I spent a little bit more for a Winnebago to increase my chances of a good RV.
It's always better to spend a little more for quality. Those who buy cheap RVs are often regretful about it later. Thanks for watching!
@@RVInspectionAndCare i figured Winnebago was middle of the road, just not junk. Is that what you think?
@@racingfortheson That's usually the spot that Winnebago prefers, the mid-range in cost.
@@RVInspectionAndCare how about build quality? Where do they fall on build quality? I got an 07’ Winnebago View.
@@racingfortheson They are on my list of recommended brands for quality products.
Good stuff! But PLEASE, when will RV enthusiasts acknowledge they're called RV's for a reason??? They're not called FTLV's (Full Time Living Vehicle) for a good reason. They're called RECREATIONAL VEHICLES, a vehicle only designed to be used for RECREATION, a minimal amount of time over a typical year, NOT LIVED IN FULL TIME!!!!! Why can't people understand this simple fact?
It's true that one of the biggest mistakes that many RVers who plan on full-timing make is to buy an RV that is just not built for the stresses that full-time travel brings. With that said, there are plenty of RVs that are able to stand up to that kind of use and still do fine. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
Just have a question. Have you ever done a video on travel trailer hitches? The good, bad and ugly. Are pull-rite or Hensley hitches the " best" for towing a travel trailer? What should you look for in a hitch that will give you the least amount of grief.
Not so far Ron. But that's a great suggestion. I'll see what I can do to add that on to my list of upcoming videos. Thanks for watching and for making the video suggestion!
@@RVInspectionAndCare Pssst: This might be in one of your other guides, but recommending the right _kind_ of truck (not specifying brand unless you don't care about the constant "best brand" wars) for towing mid-size to large fivers & trailers. That causes the most confusion for a lot of potential RV buyers...
@@celestepalm6949 Thanks for the suggestion Celeste. That's a good subject for a video. I'll see what I can do. :-)
Many RV manufacturers have cut back on their quality control at the plant.
That may be true. But as I said in the video, (1) that doesn't mean that ALL RVs are trash, and (2) there are ways to make sure that you get a solid, workable new RV if you know how.
I agree with you as far as materials & labor determine the quality of RV’s being manufactured however even then the better manufacturers are still using inferior parts , pumps , fasteners , ac units , screws, bolts , etc etc made in China or elsewhere with no poor quality control & then when they get to the dealership they pass the so called Buck to them especially when it comes to warranty issues . Just watch ALL the videos from the husband & wife Inspectors ( Pierre & Laura ) highly recommend the before you ever think of buying an RV use then to inspect ( new or used ) your RV. There are only a handful of quality manufacturers today that come close to Buikding a quality RV with good reliable customer service . The rest are inferior & yes junk …….thx again for you videos & educating those of us looking to purchase a quality RV . 👍⚾️
Hi Bob. RV manufacturers can be honestly blamed for a lot of things that are well deserved. But something that also needs to be understood is that almost all of the RV brands out there use the same brands of components like AC units, water pumps, refrigerators, water heaters, furnaces, etc. These are items that are built by other companies and they are installed in the RV by the manufacturer. So a good portion of the functional components of an RV are almost identical from one RV to another. And if something goes wrong with those items, you can't really blame the manufacturer for that although I see lots of people who do just that. But honestly, some of the component manufacturers need to step up their game as well. But anyway, thanks for watching the video and sharing your thoughts on the subject here!
Who do you believe are the few manufacturers that make quality RVs? I’m interest in your answer to see if they line up with mine.
@@CuriousinNY Hi Linda. I list them all in my guidebooks that you can download here - payhip.com/RVInspectionAndCare
Rv’s been around along time but still are built poorly. It is what it is. Do not buy one unless you can fix thing on the fly. Dealerships are crooked many of them. Service isn’t good and never want to except responsibly for bad product. If you can deal with this then buy one.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject here.
How often do you reassess your manufacturers? Reason I ask is that, for many reasons, build quality can drop.
I reassess my recommendations about once a year. And if a manufacturer has dropped their quality in relation to their competition, they will not be on my recommended list until they improve.
you’re going to have to commit to maintenance : it’s true. Have a budget for it
I couldn’t say it any better myself. Thanks for leaving a nice comment!
At 2:30 - yes you are correct, RVs are still made by hand, and you are also correct, any given RVs build quality does depend on the crew building that particular RV.
But what you failed to mention is the quality of build materials.
It’s 2023 and these companies are STILL building RVs out of the cheapest materials they can get. And yes, ALL RV builders are guilty of that. There are countless videos right here on RUclips of RV frames cracking at the toungue, or at the suspension. Lippert it seems, gets mentioned quite a bit, and you’d think the RV industry and or manufacturers would demand better of their component vendors.
Also, it is 2023, and there ARE better options than 1/8” luann, etc.
Heck, there’s a guy who uses thermal plastic to build RV roofs guaranteed for life. The RV industry as a whole doesn’t even come close to making that claim.
And when you top that off with most, if not all RV manufacturers offer only a 1-2 year warranty on their products, some of which cost in the neighborhood of 10s of thousands of dollars, well, that just goes to show you the amount of faith they place in the products they build.
I could go on and on about the horror stories I’ve witnessed personally and have watched right here on RUclips, but ultimately, knowing all of that, you’re also correct in stating RV maintenance by the owner is PARAMOUNT. It’s KEY in ensuring each individual RV lasts as long as they can.
So I am pretty methodical about the maintenance of my RV It is a 2nd owner travel trailer, and at jist over 18 years old there are no leaks. It is outdated, and we do plan on trading up eventually, it just won’t happen now. Not until the industries image is cleaned up a bit.
I do understand the pitfalls to being an RV or travel trailer owner. It’s damm near as bad as being a boat owner. But being as capable as I am, I’ve been able to navigate ownership pretty well up to this point. You just plain can’t be lazy about your maintenance if you want one to last.
Hi Michael. As I have said many times in my videos, the entire RV industry needs to raise its game. Not just manufacturers, but also dealers and even service personnel.
And the pandemic has caused a significant drop in overall quality. In fact, this has happened even with some of the better brands. Much of this is workforce related and I made a video about that too, but by and large no one wanted to hear about that.
I had hoped to see a more normal return to better made products by now, but so far there that hasn't happened to the degree that I would like to see.
But the point of this video is to address the loud and negative voices who are proclaiming that ALL RVs are trash and doing their best to ruin the reputation of some of even the better manufacturers just because they bought an RV from that brand that was problematic.
And some RUclips influencers have gotten on that bandwagon too. Knowing that they need something sensational to get the attention of the general public, they hype their own RV buying problems to the point that it labels an entire manufacturer or even the whole industry's output as garbage. None of this is true though.
Yes, there are poorly made RVs out there because of the human element in the manufacturing process as well as other factors. But as I said in the video, the vast majority of RV buyers are still relatively happy with the product they bought.
And if the average RV buyer made proper use of RV inspectors as they should, the vast majority of the issues they are dealing with would have been resolved before they even took ownership of their RV.
Having said all that, I disagree that luan is an inherently poor building material for RVs. It has been in use for many decades by all sorts of RV builders without major problems. And as long as an RV owner cares for their joints and seams properly, it will never be a major issue for anyone.
But the truth is that many RV buyers these days like to treat their RV like they often treat their car. In other words, they just use and abuse it with very little maintenance being done along the way. RV inspectors see this lack of care in evidence on a regular basis.
That's why I spent time in this video talking about the need for RV buyers to commit to caring properly for their purchase if they want to have a positive long-term ownership experience.
I appreciate you sharing your thoughts here and I agree with the sentiment expressed. But there is a LOT of misinformation and biased talk out there that simply isn't based on the facts. And my endeavor is to bring a little common sense and truth to the discussion, if possible.
Great job Duane. I think reasonable people will see that you're being objective and speaking from experience. Unfortunately, those who do most of the griping have their minds firmly made up and use blanket statements that are just plain false. Again, good video.
Thanks for the positive feedback Wingman. Keep the great videos coming on your channel too!
Yes Quailty means better products.
Thanks for sharing your opinion on the subject and for watching the video.
RV's experience 6.0 earthquakes for hours on end every time you travel. It is ridiculous for anyone to think that any home could survive this without some things going wrong and breaking no matter who the manufacturer is. Some may last longer than others and even have better quality but at the end of the day they all will fail at some level during it's lifespan.
Thanks for posting this thoughtful comment. Unfortunately, many people would rather blame someone than accept the reality of the stresses that an RV faces as it travels down the road. Thanks for watching!
My forest river Ozark is absolute garbage. A few major issues, such as big water leaks, and faulty electrical wiring. On top of that, the general build quality/fit and finish is sub par. If this is any indication of their quality control, then I’d tell anyone to be cautious of this brand.
Sorry to hear about your RV problems. Forest River is usually not on my recommended list.
The RV industry has a major problem with dealers and the lack of service. It takes months to get an appointment even though in most of Canada the season lasts about six months. Since an RV is meant to move, it amazes me that you cannot get warranty work done any place but your original dealer. I have no idea why that has not been fixed ages ago. Also, if there is a problem with RV's it is the quality of the fasteners used, particularly in the trim piece's. Also the software on Rv's never works properly, things like leveling systems etc. Finally, I have yet to see a good owners manual that explains how the electrical system and the water system and so on work. The manuals provided by manufacturers are a joke.
I agree that the entire RV industry needs to up their game . That includes not only manufacturers, but also dealers and service techs. I made a video about that a while back. And as far as poor manuals are concerned, you can get information on almost any RV electrical and water system question online very easily and quickly.
My new RV was a piece a crap. I felt like the only way to keep it in good shape was not to use it. Everything I touched broke.
Sorry you had a poor RV buying experience. People who follow my buying process for new RVs are getting great results though. Safe and happy travels to you!
I dont think they are trash, but you bounce your house down the road enough, things are going to break.
That's a very true statement. A lot of people seem to forget that. Thanks for watching!
Well….. My 2022 RV has had many problems. Between the shower leaks to the kitchen sink leaking, and the screws that have split lots of the wood in the framing is unbelievable. Not to mention the refrigerator freezes and the freezer is warm and the refrigerator door shelves split and break, I’m convinced these Coachmen rvs are junk.
Well, the RV fridge problems are not entirely the fault of the manufacturer as it is a unit that they buy to install in their RV. But water leaks and poor fit and finish are unacceptable. And of course, RVs built during the Covid years had a lot more problems than normal. But all of these issues could and should have been caught before taking ownership of the RV.