Thanks Duane. As a brand new RV’er I’d wondered why a dealer services the ones they sell first and may not any other RV’s didn’t make sense. Now I know, the dealers don’t get paid much on warranty work. Gonna learn to fix most everything myself except engine stuff on our class B.
Hi Stephen. I'm glad to hear that this video was helpful for you. And the way things are now, I think you will be wise to learn as much as you can about working on your RV yourself. Thanks for watching!
Great video! Spot on information! Another point worth mentioning is the shortage of QUALIFIED RV Inspectors as well as techs. Out here on the west coast, (near my home), it’s hard to find qualified inspectors and often you have to wait days, even weeks to get an appointment. If you’re buying a used unit from a dealer, the deal will often fall through, or the unit will be sold out from under you while you wait to get the unit inspected. Thanks for the info!
We were looking at purchasing a Class C last year. The manufacturer’s website only listed the GVWR. We went to the two dealers in our state that sold the motorhome we wanted. Neither salesman could tell us the motorhome’s dry, wet, or cargo weight, and they did not know where the weight label was. Both showed us the GVWR from the chassis manufacturer on the cab door, implying we could use that weight for our cargo. We were questioning the weight limits because the wet weight I calculated appeared close to the GVWR, leaving little for cargo. Neither knew much about any other features of the motorhome. We wondered if the wheels and tires were sized correctly and where the center of gravity was, but we did not bother to ask. It was an unsettling experience.
Unfortunately, many RV salespersons don't really know much about what they are selling. And far too many RV buyers trust the answers they get from them. I'm glad that you were more discerning about that. Thanks for sharing that experience here!
So true Dwayne. It seem as though as long as sales are high, there is no incentive for the RV industry to change. RV manufacturers have little leverage to encourage or force dealerships to do better. I would encourage owners to learn everything they can about the systems and components in their RV, Electrical 12VDC/120AC, Fresh Water, Leveling, Sewage, Suspension, Water Heater, Solar etc, and learn to fix or diagnose most easy to moderate things themselves. Yes you shouldn't have to but you can't wait for months just to get your RV looked at and if you do it yourself or use a Certified Mobile Tech it will probably be done better than the dealerships service departments. Also in the case of towable RV, don't believe a salesman that says your tow vehicle will pull anything, owners should find out the limits of their tow vehicle themselves.
We have looked from a distance for a long time for used RVs. So far I have stayed over in my Toyota Sienna many times. These often crappy manufacturers are killing an industry long term.
@@RVInspectionAndCare I bought your guide as we are preparing for our first class a purchase by years end. We will also be getting an inspection of course when we find one. Hoping our purchase will be near you so we can hire you for our inspection!
@@AutoSpaCarWash-zz6wr I'm glad that you bought my guide, and don't forget that I am here to help in any way that I can as you go through the buying process. It's part of the perks of making that purchase. So welcome aboard and I hope you will find the perfect RV for your needs!
Knowing It wouldn't see as much use as some, in 2018 I was in the market for a reasonably priced unit. I wanted a Shasta re-issue, they looked so cool. After reading the horrific quality revues I settled on a larger 2014 Jayco that only been used six times, any bugs that may have needed fixed had been. Since then the only issues I've had is replacing the cheap bathroom faucet and a small hose fitting on the toilet. Very pleased so far. Also like mentioned here, most thngs I can address myself rather than see it sit at a dealer awaiting a repair for half the summer. Of course, a camper trailer is a lot less mechanical than a motorhome. I have a newer pickup tow vehicle under warranty that can be readily serviced at any dealer whereas a motorhome, not so much. That was a consideration in my decision making.
It sounds like you made a wise choice in going with the Jayco. Thanks for sharing your thought process and RV buying experience here. I'm sure it will be helpful for others.
Excellent video on the state of the RV industry. Until consumers stand up for themselves and become more selective in their buying, there is little incentive for change. Another deceptive practice is the selling of aftermarket packages that are expensive but bring little value, except as a commission to the finance manager. The finance manager that I dealt with was furious that I refused all of his special packages.
That's a very good addition Robert. Selling add-ons in the F&I office and bundling them into the monthly payment where their true cost can't be seen is a tactic that's been used by car dealers for decades. Thanks for bringing that up as well!
It is a sorry state of affairs at this point Chris. But if the industry gets enough pushback from consumers, they will have to change for the better. At least I hope so.
Have been researching travel trailers for a couple of years now waiting on the prices to stabilize from the covid madness. Have gone to rv shows, visited multiple dealers & watched countless videos. Amazingly just found your channel a couple of weeks ago & thoroughly appreciate the information youre putting out. Ive about decided on the trailer i want after viewing hundreds of them & was seriously considering a 2022 model that is about 250 miles away. Now I'm kind of second guessing that after hearing your explanation of why dealsrs dont want to perform warranty work if you dont buy from them. I was planning on having it inspected but would love to know your thoughts on the Venture Sporttrek models. I had looked at grand design but the amenities & layout of the venture are just more inline with what i want. Thanks so much!
Hi Jenn. Venture builds a good quality product. I would usually rate Grand Design a little higher, but that doesn't mean that the Sporttrek should be avoided. I would recommend talking to the factory about how you can get any warranty work done if needed. And I also wouldn't buy any new RV these days without having it thoroughly inspected first to get as workable an RV as you can before you take ownership. Thanks for watching and I hope you get the perfect RV for your needs!
Don't be afraid about dealer service especially if you do lots of travel as you will most likely need repair on the road not when you're at home. Also, plenty of mobile rv service tech and repairman to cover majority of rv maintenance and repairs. Go to the dealers only for majot work and or local qualified mechanics. I'm a fulltime rv dweller and i have been on the road since January 2018(and counting). My rig is a 2017 Outdoors RV travel trailer made in the Oregon mountains and has been a good true 4 season camper. Never been to the shop since i owned it and is a cousin of Northwood Manufacturing - Artic Fox. Check it out, you might fall in love. Happy trails!
Thanks for the awesome shows. My problem is that I have a side of my red Minnie that will not hold a shine. I have used several products but the fading returns in just a few days..the rest of the rv has been only polished and is holding up well. Should I re coat this side?
If your RV is still under the factory warranty, that's something that you should get addressed by the manufacturer. If it isn't under warranty any longer, I can't really say what needs to be done without seeing it in person.
I can tell you as a heavy truck mechanic. No one wants to work as a mechanic anymore. A pdi probably only pays .25. I couldn't even get through a 1/4 of the trailer for a .25 pdi and do it right.
I'm going to be buying a new RV this summer and I'm worried about buying a rushed off the factory line dud..... And I'm worried many of the potential problems can't be inspected for and only ironed out through use. Roof/plumping leaks, electrical, suspension, slide and leveling problems...... Just bite the bullet I guess???
The vast majority of issues in a new RV are not necessarily major ones. And if they are caught before you take ownership, you save yourself a lot of time, frustration and misery. Of course, there is no guarantee that any RV will be trouble-free after purchase. But when you know kind of RV fits you best, and you buy a brand that is known for producing higher quality products than their competition, and you inspect it thoroughly before buying it, you have the put the odds on your side that you will be happy with your purchase. I hope that helps!
Had my trailer picked up for me. Had looked at Winnebago for weather boondock camping packages. Now I have taken out to use. It is a 2100bh ,2022. I do boondock camping,period. I contacted Winnebago with my concerns and was told t(e measurements are in specs. I went over the specs for what I wanted. I did not think of height measurements,having used other trailers for years. This trailer has entry step 10-11”,slide out step 11” bed height 28” dinette height26”. These trailers are built for campers 6’+/- tall. Not the average camper. A stool is needed to access anything up. The big defect is the fridge. It is only electric. Imagine my surprise to that. I had only seen gas/electric. Boondock/dry camping you have to have the combination. The only power is a 190 solar panel on roof. I had to purchase 2 batteries to store power. There is no other power source. The fridge runs continuously and uses all the power. If there has been a sun day,the full power will be depleted to discharge by morning. I called Winnebago on that and they said the fridge works. I said I wanted a change out to combination. On days there is no sun,with minimal power taken in the fridge and all go dead. It only makes sense to have combination so this does not happen. I have two 30 lb gas tanks that only fuel the burners on the stove. I do have a Cummins 2200 generator that I have always used for microwave, outlets. But you would not run a generator continuously for power. I have also used a plug in 90 wattsolar panel that I had used with prior trailers. Winnebago does not care to address this defect in ordinary usage,or see the problem. Apparently these trailers are not made for boondock camping as advertised. You need shore power dependent on sun and time to be spent away from shore power. It really is a major defect. The whole industry needs to address the heating systems. A fan is necessary for them to run. And the fan will run the power down for any long period of time such as for the night. This is true with motor homes as well. I had one. You will wake up with no heat in the early morning hours. Being one that gets up at 5 ,I am talking earlier than that. Camping at 30 degrees or so without heat can be cold. That is what I have to deal with. I do use a little buddy heater when I get up to warm things up. The old trailers used heaters that did not have a fan and would run all night. Strictly gas. My beef now is with Winnebago and taking the combination refridge out of the trailers. It is really unthinking and a stupid move. I am sure they are complying with the ESG movement for this. It is not practical or logical and restricts the use of the unit.
Keystone refused to honor their 3 year structural warranty when the frame failed underneath our Alpine 3790FK in only 5 months after purchasing the unit new. NEVER EVER will I purchase any product from Keystone!
Spend 10 times “ Selling” time as Q.C. and Warranty Repairs ? Warranties are generally so full of loopholes as to be useless ! Bigger the Dealer - Higher the hoops to Jump ? Dealers and salesmen disliked Almost as much as Lawyers or Failed Lawyers ( Politicians) ! 🤭
Big box RV dealers are not very high on my list for several reasons. But their tactics won't change until consumers have had enough of it and refuse to do business with dealers that treat them poorly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
Thanks Duane. As a brand new RV’er I’d wondered why a dealer services the ones they sell first and may not any other RV’s didn’t make sense. Now I know, the dealers don’t get paid much on warranty work. Gonna learn to fix most everything myself except engine stuff on our class B.
Hi Stephen. I'm glad to hear that this video was helpful for you. And the way things are now, I think you will be wise to learn as much as you can about working on your RV yourself. Thanks for watching!
Same issue with cars and trucks.
Great video! Spot on information! Another point worth mentioning is the shortage of QUALIFIED RV Inspectors as well as techs. Out here on the west coast, (near my home), it’s hard to find qualified inspectors and often you have to wait days, even weeks to get an appointment. If you’re buying a used unit from a dealer, the deal will often fall through, or the unit will be sold out from under you while you wait to get the unit inspected. Thanks for the info!
Good point Tom. Thanks for adding that to the discussion!
Rv industry needs to have a lemon law
You are 100% correct in all the points you make. Thank you.
I'm glad that you agree. Thanks for watching and leaving a message of support!
We were looking at purchasing a Class C last year. The manufacturer’s website only listed the GVWR. We went to the two dealers in our state that sold the motorhome we wanted. Neither salesman could tell us the motorhome’s dry, wet, or cargo weight, and they did not know where the weight label was. Both showed us the GVWR from the chassis manufacturer on the cab door, implying we could use that weight for our cargo. We were questioning the weight limits because the wet weight I calculated appeared close to the GVWR, leaving little for cargo. Neither knew much about any other features of the motorhome. We wondered if the wheels and tires were sized correctly and where the center of gravity was, but we did not bother to ask. It was an unsettling experience.
Unfortunately, many RV salespersons don't really know much about what they are selling. And far too many RV buyers trust the answers they get from them. I'm glad that you were more discerning about that. Thanks for sharing that experience here!
thanks for the video! the RV industry needs to be called out for their shabby reputation on all the points you mentioned.
I agree. And thanks for adding your voice to the discussion!
So true Dwayne. It seem as though as long as sales are high, there is no incentive for the RV industry to change. RV manufacturers have little leverage to encourage or force dealerships to do better. I would encourage owners to learn everything they can about the systems and components in their RV, Electrical 12VDC/120AC, Fresh Water, Leveling, Sewage, Suspension, Water Heater, Solar etc, and learn to fix or diagnose most easy to moderate things themselves. Yes you shouldn't have to but you can't wait for months just to get your RV looked at and if you do it yourself or use a Certified Mobile Tech it will probably be done better than the dealerships service departments. Also in the case of towable RV, don't believe a salesman that says your tow vehicle will pull anything, owners should find out the limits of their tow vehicle themselves.
Those are all great suggestions. And following them will make anyone's RVing experiences much better. Thanks for sharing those thoughts with us!
We have looked from a distance for a long time for used RVs. So far I have stayed over in my Toyota Sienna many times. These often crappy manufacturers are killing an industry long term.
Changes certainly need to be made to make the RV buying experience much better for consumers. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the matter!
@@RVInspectionAndCare I will be interested in the mobile service and repair rated as Wingamm, the Italian entry, comes to the States,
I appreciate the information you put out to help us in this adventure!
I'm so glad that you find my videos helpful. And thanks for the positive feedback!
@@RVInspectionAndCare I bought your guide as we are preparing for our first class a purchase by years end. We will also be getting an inspection of course when we find one. Hoping our purchase will be near you so we can hire you for our inspection!
@@AutoSpaCarWash-zz6wr I'm glad that you bought my guide, and don't forget that I am here to help in any way that I can as you go through the buying process. It's part of the perks of making that purchase. So welcome aboard and I hope you will find the perfect RV for your needs!
Good stuff. I noticed this quite a bit. Thanks for the info.
Glad you enjoyed it Todd. Thanks for watching!
Knowing It wouldn't see as much use as some, in 2018 I was in the market for a reasonably priced unit. I wanted a Shasta re-issue, they looked so cool. After reading the horrific quality revues I settled on a larger 2014 Jayco that only been used six times, any bugs that may have needed fixed had been. Since then the only issues I've had is replacing the cheap bathroom faucet and a small hose fitting on the toilet. Very pleased so far. Also like mentioned here, most thngs I can address myself rather than see it sit at a dealer awaiting a repair for half the summer. Of course, a camper trailer is a lot less mechanical than a motorhome. I have a newer pickup tow vehicle under warranty that can be readily serviced at any dealer whereas a motorhome, not so much. That was a consideration in my decision making.
It sounds like you made a wise choice in going with the Jayco. Thanks for sharing your thought process and RV buying experience here. I'm sure it will be helpful for others.
Excellent video on the state of the RV industry. Until consumers stand up for themselves and become more selective in their buying, there is little incentive for change. Another deceptive practice is the selling of aftermarket packages that are expensive but bring little value, except as a commission to the finance manager. The finance manager that I dealt with was furious that I refused all of his special packages.
That's a very good addition Robert. Selling add-ons in the F&I office and bundling them into the monthly payment where their true cost can't be seen is a tactic that's been used by car dealers for decades. Thanks for bringing that up as well!
Another great video Dwayne. I appreciate your insight and knowledge.
They need to keep the college boys out of the repair end and promote technicians into service manager positions
Thanks for your positive feedback and I appreciate your support of my channel!
All so true, it's a shame that this has to be that way
It is a sorry state of affairs at this point Chris. But if the industry gets enough pushback from consumers, they will have to change for the better. At least I hope so.
Another great video! Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Bob. Thanks for watching!
Have been researching travel trailers for a couple of years now waiting on the prices to stabilize from the covid madness. Have gone to rv shows, visited multiple dealers & watched countless videos. Amazingly just found your channel a couple of weeks ago & thoroughly appreciate the information youre putting out. Ive about decided on the trailer i want after viewing hundreds of them & was seriously considering a 2022 model that is about 250 miles away. Now I'm kind of second guessing that after hearing your explanation of why dealsrs dont want to perform warranty work if you dont buy from them. I was planning on having it inspected but would love to know your thoughts on the Venture Sporttrek models. I had looked at grand design but the amenities & layout of the venture are just more inline with what i want. Thanks so much!
Hi Jenn. Venture builds a good quality product. I would usually rate Grand Design a little higher, but that doesn't mean that the Sporttrek should be avoided. I would recommend talking to the factory about how you can get any warranty work done if needed. And I also wouldn't buy any new RV these days without having it thoroughly inspected first to get as workable an RV as you can before you take ownership. Thanks for watching and I hope you get the perfect RV for your needs!
@@RVInspectionAndCare thank you so much for taking the time to respond! Appreciate your advice!
Don't be afraid about dealer service especially if you do lots of travel as you will most likely need repair on the road not when you're at home. Also, plenty of mobile rv service tech and repairman to cover majority of rv maintenance and repairs. Go to the dealers only for majot work and or local qualified mechanics.
I'm a fulltime rv dweller and i have been on the road since January 2018(and counting). My rig is a 2017 Outdoors RV travel trailer made in the Oregon mountains and has been a good true 4 season camper. Never been to the shop since i owned it and is a cousin of Northwood Manufacturing - Artic Fox. Check it out, you might fall in love. Happy trails!
Thanks for the awesome shows. My problem is that I have a side of my red Minnie that will not hold a shine. I have used several products but the fading returns in just a few days..the rest of the rv has been only polished and is holding up well. Should I re coat this side?
If your RV is still under the factory warranty, that's something that you should get addressed by the manufacturer. If it isn't under warranty any longer, I can't really say what needs to be done without seeing it in person.
I can tell you as a heavy truck mechanic. No one wants to work as a mechanic anymore. A pdi probably only pays .25. I couldn't even get through a 1/4 of the trailer for a .25 pdi and do it right.
Thanks for giving us your perspective as a mechanic. And thanks for watching!
They don't have qualified repairmen because they don't pay a fair wage for it.
That's often true Charles. You usually get what you pay for. Thanks for watching!
I'm going to be buying a new RV this summer and I'm worried about buying a rushed off the factory line dud..... And I'm worried many of the potential problems can't be inspected for and only ironed out through use. Roof/plumping leaks, electrical, suspension, slide and leveling problems...... Just bite the bullet I guess???
The vast majority of issues in a new RV are not necessarily major ones. And if they are caught before you take ownership, you save yourself a lot of time, frustration and misery. Of course, there is no guarantee that any RV will be trouble-free after purchase. But when you know kind of RV fits you best, and you buy a brand that is known for producing higher quality products than their competition, and you inspect it thoroughly before buying it, you have the put the odds on your side that you will be happy with your purchase. I hope that helps!
Had my trailer picked up for me. Had looked at Winnebago for weather boondock camping packages. Now I have taken out to use. It is a 2100bh ,2022. I do boondock camping,period. I contacted Winnebago with my concerns and was told t(e measurements are in specs. I went over the specs for what I wanted. I did not think of height measurements,having used other trailers for years. This trailer has entry step 10-11”,slide out step 11” bed height 28” dinette height26”. These trailers are built for campers 6’+/- tall. Not the average camper. A stool is needed to access anything up. The big defect is the fridge. It is only electric. Imagine my surprise to that. I had only seen gas/electric. Boondock/dry camping you have to have the combination. The only power is a 190 solar panel on roof. I had to purchase 2 batteries to store power. There is no other power source. The fridge runs continuously and uses all the power. If there has been a sun day,the full power will be depleted to discharge by morning. I called Winnebago on that and they said the fridge works. I said I wanted a change out to combination. On days there is no sun,with minimal power taken in the fridge and all go dead. It only makes sense to have combination so this does not happen. I have two 30 lb gas tanks that only fuel the burners on the stove. I do have a Cummins 2200 generator that I have always used for microwave, outlets. But you would not run a generator continuously for power. I have also used a plug in 90 wattsolar panel that I had used with prior trailers. Winnebago does not care to address this defect in ordinary usage,or see the problem. Apparently these trailers are not made for boondock camping as advertised. You need shore power dependent on sun and time to be spent away from shore power. It really is a major defect. The whole industry needs to address the heating systems. A fan is necessary for them to run. And the fan will run the power down for any long period of time such as for the night. This is true with motor homes as well. I had one. You will wake up with no heat in the early morning hours. Being one that gets up at 5 ,I am talking earlier than that. Camping at 30 degrees or so without heat can be cold. That is what I have to deal with. I do use a little buddy heater when I get up to warm things up. The old trailers used heaters that did not have a fan and would run all night. Strictly gas. My beef now is with Winnebago and taking the combination refridge out of the trailers. It is really unthinking and a stupid move. I am sure they are complying with the ESG movement for this. It is not practical or logical and restricts the use of the unit.
Sorry to hear about the issues you have had with your Winnebago RV. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it with us.
Keystone refused to honor their 3 year structural warranty when the frame failed underneath our Alpine 3790FK in only 5 months after purchasing the unit new. NEVER EVER will I purchase any product from Keystone!
I'm sorry to hear about your experience Scott. Thanks for sharing it with us!
Spend 10 times “ Selling” time as Q.C. and Warranty Repairs ? Warranties are generally so full of loopholes as to be useless ! Bigger the Dealer - Higher the hoops to Jump ? Dealers and salesmen disliked Almost as much as Lawyers or Failed Lawyers ( Politicians) ! 🤭
Big box RV dealers are not very high on my list for several reasons. But their tactics won't change until consumers have had enough of it and refuse to do business with dealers that treat them poorly. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!
👍
Glad you enjoyed it!
Camping world is the worst
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.