Alliance, Well done! I am so impressed. You get it! Quality and Customer Service is key. Hope the RV dealerships rise to your level of service. Choose them carefully. They will be your weakest link. Keep up the great work!
@alliancerv @JoshtheRVNerd I did finally get the 385fl and 1 of the main reasons I got it was because of the composite floors. I had to make a few minor repairs after first trip. Minor stuff. But I have to say how MASSIVELY DISAPPOINTED I was to find out my floors are OSB PLYWOOD and my unit was made 3/2023. When I loaded the rear slid tray all of the way to small screws popped out flipping the tray up. (And by no means was it anywhere near being overloaded) overall I like the 385fl but I'm very disappointed in it also
Have to say, after watching this presentation, Alliance may just be the RV we end up with. Really appreciate what they are doing and how they are doing it. As a crafts person, I appreciate someone going the extra mile. Thanks, Josh and thank you Alliance for sharing your viewpoint.
Go see the Brinkley tour, they PDI at every station and even test for leaks. They also shake test the entire rig to ensure nothing is coming loose. You'll notice no trim on the ceiling because of how tight the rig is built. I do like Alliance though, better than most of the other top brands.
Did you end up buying one? Every Alliance RV we have seen on a dealer lot was the biggest pile of crap. I've neve seen a brand so poorly built. They can't even drag them from the factory to the dealer lots without everything falling apart.
I have seen a tour of Alliance before, but you, sir, put such a personal touch on this manufacturer that this may be our go to brand when I/we retire. Thank you so much Josh and all the folks at Alliance.
I still have 20 minutes to go on this video but I’ve watched a lot of them and this tour is the BEST I’ve seen. We’re looking at several options and this one is moving to the front of the line. Brinkley was also impressive btw.
Best factory tour I have ever seen. Finally someone really showed the frame and how it’s made better than other frames. Especially nowadays with all of the frame flex that has been going on with Grand Design. Thanks and keep up the good work.
It says a lot about a company that gives you that type of access to their production line. I wish them great success. I really appreciate the work that you do. You are a huge asset to Bish's RV!
Could be cool! It's a brand I'd like to learn more about certainly. They remind me more of the living quarter horse trailers we used to carry here years past than traditional RVs
Should be the mission statement for all manufacturing facilities. Would love to see the Grand Design factory tour. Thanks for taking us through the factory Josh.
Josh, I really appreciate your un-biased, non-marketing, NO FAN BOY videos by providing facts. And by doing that, you are doing a better job of promoting the RV industry.
Josh, I'd like to add my input to the customer experience and service side of Alliance RV. I think I wrote last year in a comment that a friend of ours has an Alliance toy hauler and had exactly the same story about the high quality of after sales. It wasn't anything outrageous but there were TWO people from Alliance (one a tech and one from the Customer Service side) who spent as much time at the campground with them to resolve the issues. Outstanding job from them.
We own an Avenue 32RLS and we love it. We are huge Alliance fans. Thanks so much for the terrific review. I appreciate the time and honesty. Thanks Alliance for being #1
Not the first video of an Alliance factory tour, but very detailed in this one and makes me even more confident as to why we liked the Alliance out of all the brands we've seen for our future RV.
Congratulations! They were a brand I knew nothing about. When they came into the marketplace I was still working for my family's independent store. We didn't carry them and from a distance they just kinda looked like everything else. I hear weird stuff like "non-ducted A/C units" and my "what the what?!" alarms went off But as a practice I try not to judge things until I'm better educated on them. They were kind enough to allow me into their facebook group. I simply wanted to observe what REAL owners thought about them. I noticed a trend.. an owner might report a problem on their RV. But like clockwork 24-48hrs later I saw them posting how happy they were about how Alliance stepped up to take care of them. And I saw positive endings like that time after time again. I saw how people were so proud of their Alliance RV & the community they shared. I knew then there had to be SOMETHING special going on here. But weirdly despite my time in this business I had never had a chance to really meet anyone from Alliance. I knew a couple guys there, but never really got to meet Alliance "up close" until I did this factory tour. What I saw really elevated them HIGHLY in my eyes. I was already liking what I saw from their products. But the care and concern they had for PEOPLE -- _anybody_ really whether it was owners or workers -- really impressed me.
Josh I have to say I’ve seen a few factory but hands down your has to be the best most in-depth tour I have ever seen . Thanks for doing the work and I thoroughly enjoy your videos. 👍🏻
Alliance has been on the top of my list for RV from all the research I have done. Would love to see how brinkley compares with a factory tour, and what there customer service looks like.
I appreciate the detailed factory tour. We just moved from a 2021 Paradigm 372RK to a 2023 Paradigm 382RK. We were very happy with the 2021, but the new one is even better! They started with a great product and have continued to make it better. Customer support direct from the manufacturer has been exceptionally good as well, which seems rare in the industry.
Awesome video and shows some great things Alliance is doing compared to some of the competitors but I did notice a few things: - The welding around the middle leaf spring hanger looked a little rough - Noticed some trash thrown in the underbelly - The bushings in the springs of the pre-built axles appear to be plastic instead of brass - Some of the openings in the I-beans for the wires didn't appear to be rolled - It would be nice if there were supports going front to back to support the floor between the side to side supports, it's always been a weak spot for laminated floors and causes a ton of flex after a couple of years.
Either that factory has been staged, or it is legitimately the cleanest RV assembly line I have ever seen. I’m going to hope that it’s the latter. If so, they really do take pride like you said. I hear you on the wire slack. I’ve had to replace a few things already on my 2021 camper of a different brand. One of the outlets I replaced didn’t have an inch of spare wiring. I had to WORK just to get the old outlet out. So kudos to them on spending an extra $5 on wiring to make sure there is relief.
The hubby and I are going to be living in a 5th wheel full time as traveling contractors, and this video was so valuable to see the entire process from start to finish and see all the extra care, pride, testing and attention to detail Alliance puts into their product. We've been struggling to decide which manufacturer we could trust to purchase from since this will likely be our home on wheels for many years to come, and after seeing this I think Alliance will be our go to! Thank you Josh for always puting unbiased information out there for the RV community, we love watching your videos and thank you Alliance for changing the RV industry and hearing our feedback!
We have owned a Paradigm and now a Valor and we have been extremely pleased at their customer service, attention to detail and the fact that they answer the phone and call you back no matter what. We saw this when we owned our Tiffin Diesel pusher and did not expect that same type of customer care with Alliance.
THAT was one of THE best factory tour videos I have ever watched and I've watched dozens of them. In depth explanations with full understanding of the product and its manufacturing process. Bravo Josh! As to Alliance RV, I'm sold! The attention to detail and quality control at every stage of the manufacturing process and the quality of materials used; couple that with the thoughtfulness and intelligence evidenced in every step of the RV's development--well Alliance reigns supreme and sets the bar VERY HIGH for every other RV manufacturer out there. Right now, I see no competition. Alliance is in a league of its own. I am chomping at the bit waiting to see Alliance's newest line, the travel trailer. Decision is made. I'm buying.
We’ve seen alot of Alliance tours but man Uncle Josh that was fantastic! We absolutely love the attention to detail that Alliance does, and the way you point them out. Great video!
That was the best behind the scenes tour I’ve seen yet! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this in-depth video! We are very interested in the 37 MBR. If you get a chance, please do a video on this model! Thanks again for your hard work.
They’re currently in a temporary rented facility while their full facility is being built As soon as they’re new facilities done, I’ll be down there for sure
As an Alliance Valor 42v13 owner, I really appreciate the time you took to make such a great video. It really shows the level of commitment this leadership team has to “do better” in the RV industry. Makes me proud to be an Ally!
So glad and impressed to see a manufacturer that puts quality and PDI at the forefront of their product. Alliance is now my #1 RV choice when I go shopping next year!
@Josh the RV Nerd at Bish's RV Holding tanks look great! Also Alliance making a commitment to customer service is so awesome as well. Makes you want to give a company a chance...
Great job as always. We really appreciate your efforts. In the cold or rain. Showing the slides open and closed. Describing the good and the bad. Thank you.
Wow Josh an amazing tour of the Alliance factory and a great well done job presenting how these RVs are built..Very impressed..kudos to you and to everyone on the Alliance team.
Great job on the tour and reporting Josh! This could not come at a more perfect time, as my wife and I are actively looking at the Paradigm 310RL for our next fifth wheel. As engineers, we can appreciate all the improvements that Alliance has done that are "hidden" and not readily seen by the consumer. The structural upgrades, the design for reliability and even the thought behind the maintainability of the trailer is fantastic and displays great systems engineering practices! I had to do many of those modifications myself to our current fifth wheel. It is unfortunate you do not have a location in the Northeast, as we would definitely buy from Bish's RV.
Alliance is an awesome manufacturer that uses so many quality materials such as the PVC roof membrane👍I just wish that they used plywood instead of OSB below it😕
I and my wife really like the factory tour and all details on things you can't see normally. Like the composite floors and the double Azdel walls and the additional trusses in the roof. I like the PVC roof material and the ease of maintenance and the ability to patch the roof with basic PVC glue. As far as the solar package goes we are okay with it being optional, not every one may want the solar package and if they do it can still be added.The avenue all access is one of the RV'S we have been looking at as our next RV when retire.We like having the electric fireplace in our current RV. I realize that with smaller RV's that is not always possible. Maybe they could use an AC unit with a heat pump in it like they do in some other models like Airstream or Montana as an alternative. Even if they opted not to add a heat pump we are really thinking of going with alliance as our next RV. thanks so much for the factory tour and all the effort that goes into making that happen and to the alliance team for everything they do and taking the extra time for the video. I hope this is not to long winded and thanks again.
Thanks for this factory tour, Josh. It's always interesting (or sometimes frightening) to see what goes on at the factory. I do like the Alliance brand. They seem to design their RV's to be used in a convenient and user-friendly way (like the furnace access). Oh, and thanks for not filming in the restroom! (TMI)
Thanks Josh -- a 5th wheel is a bit big for me but I'll keep my eyes out for the trailer review. Alliance looks like it has a great factory and fantastic workers.
Thanks for the tour. One thing I've noticed is unlike some of the other manufacturer factory tours I've seen this factory looks very clean. I also see even with the units in progress there isn't a lot of construction debris being left hanging around the trailers. If this is their normal way of doing things it gives me more confidence as a sloppy environment tends to result in a sloppy product. If I had watched more I would have heard you say the same thing. Stuffing the aluminum extrusions with wood isn't just to keep them from compressing. The screw holding power of 1/16 inch or less aluminum is not very much when twisting and turning down the road. The wood allows for better grip of the screws due to more threads being in contact with it. In this day and age I think most any trailer should come with at least a 200W panel, have a decent quality MPPT controller and come with a 200AH battery. For folks who might not want that allow them to option it out for a credit. The extra wiring length also helps when you have to repair something. There is nothing I hate more than removing a device from a panel and having to hold and balance it while using my other hand to disconnect wires because they cheaped out and didn't make the wires 3 inches longer to set the device on the counter. It is especially frustrating if you have to work on or behind the converter. I like natural wood color of the trim. I am really looking forward to seeing their travel trailers.
Josh, Thank you for these tours. My wife and I have been looking at fifth wheels for over a year, just when we think we know what we want, you post another awesome video which makes us take another look. No RV is going to be perfectly built, but Alliance ticks a lot of boxes on build quality.
Awesome video tour. Always like your true and honest opinion. I thought I had made my decisions on buying a keystone cougar. But now I have to consider this Alliance 5th wheel. I would like your opinion on which 5th wheel is a better choice ( Cougar or Alliance)?
Brian, my suggestion would really need to be tailored to exactly what you’re seeking and I don’t know that I can do that without really have any opportunity to speak with you. An avenue and a cougar overlap pretty darn heavily so it’s really just a matter which specific little details speak to you a little more loudly.
@@brianc.jackson9965 After owning both I can tell you its not even close. Alliance Avenue over a Cougar ANY DAY. So many better features over the Cougar. PVC roof, Flush floor slides, flush upper deck, taller slide boxes, dual AC in every unit and its 6" wider which really makes a big difference inside to give you thigs like 3 person couch, more storage. And thats just a few things off the top of my head
I do enjoy your factory tours! I appreciate the business philosophy of this company and their customer service/support as well as their products. Alliance, Brinkley, Ember and a few others are really showing that the old tried and true can still be tweaked by simply changing perspective. Thanks so much for the video!
Thanks Alliance, allowing the tour. You are winning my vote for a future RV purchase. And thanks Josh, RV Nerd, all your videos are so informative.👍 (picture me with a selfie camera putting my thumbs up😉🤣)
Thank you Bill Martin, I fully agree "Do the right thing". My moto is " Do it right or not at all", know it, learn it or get someone that does. And, Josh great tour, Thanks.
WOW!!! Even though they don’t have the ideal floor plan, the quality and attention to detail makes me choose that brand when I’m ready. Truly well done! Way to go Alliance!!!!
I’ve got nothing fundamentally against Thor, Winnebago, or Forest River, but I really do like seeing smaller manufacturers in the game as well. I own an Outdoors RV and apart from just being a very high quality unit, it is one of the other independents out there and it’s something I really like about it. I would love to see a darker wood option on these, and if I was really nitpicking I wish the All Access models offered a bedroom slide, because it’s silly trying to lower the hitch weight when everybody’s towing them with 3/4 ton anyway, and that extra couple hundred pounds is irrelevant for those. Very nice products though.
I am considering my first RV and this video convinced me to buy from this brand...i really want to a quality rv for my lifestyle because yes my husbands money is valuable to me !! 😉😉
Dude, you are incredible! I do not think a full Film Production crew could do any better in representing this company. I want to like own stock in Alliance now or something. I don't know how you do it but I am sure glad you do. Thanks Josh.
I own an Alliance Avenue 32 RLS and its one of the best I have owned. I did have a few issues with the coach ,but Alliance has been great in resolving them. I did take the factory tour and met many of the workers on the line. Speaking with them one on one , they all stated they loved working for Alliance. They are the best in customer service and dedicated to their customers. The Alliance owners community is a tight knit bunch of great people always willing to help one another.
OMG Uncle Josh Thank you for the factory tour I have watched many other alliance tours and you just blew them out of the water thank you from a long time RV nerd heard member
Hi Josh, Thanks for a great job on this tour. I love seeing how things are built, and the clean, organized Alliance facility shows that they care about doing the right thing. Please thank Bill and the team for letting you produce this video. PS: The "buzz box" is a great idea!
Thanks Josh!! After doing months and months of research on 5th wheels and checking numerous units off our list we recently committed and purchased a Alliance Paradigm. The quality and customer satisfaction just appears to be beyond most other brands. The tour was awesome and just really reinforces me that we made the right decision. Keep on making the fantastic videos. You are honest and give the pros and cons and I really appreciate that. 👍
We're so grateful for you and your content, Josh. We've been watching you for two+ years as we planned for our 2nd RV purchase. You introduced us to Alliance through this video, and then again when you debuted the Delta. With your video content and information from Rigor RV Repair videos on RV plumbing and slide construction, we decided on the Delta 292RL. Thank you for highlighting the V-bracket, plumbing, and Azdel construction on the Alliance - among other big factors, these were the biggest for us. Watching it again today I'm also gratified to be reminded about the holding tank construction and testing, wiring considerations, roof construction, and interior structure. If there's one thing I'd like Alliance to reconsider in their Delta line generally speaking, it would be the countertop material. Having had similar material in our previous camper, it wasn't a matter of if it would fail, but when. But we're still so happy with it and the customer service -- SERIOUSLY!!! A rep saw my FB post when we first purchased but before delivery, found our rig, and actually direct-messaged me pictures of OUR SPECIFIC RIG (with the VIN displayed) as it was rolling off the line and into the PDI area. I hope they're able to maintain this level of engagement; I know it will be easier not to. But kudos to them and to you for exceptional service. I wish we could have purchased from Bish's - they're a bit too far from us in case we ever needed any bigger warranty service. But we have nothing but respect and admiration for Haylett's-Bish's specifically 😉 and Bish's in general. I'll be delighted to recommend them to my friends in northeast Texas and norther. 😀
While they are doing a lot to improve and and a good bit of extra which we appreciate. Here’s a few things I found. Not bashing just constructive criticism coming from a builder/welder/fabricator. 5:32 shoddy welds slow down 6:42 welds on spring hangers reinforcement poor fast and cold/missed 11:42 zip screws holding tanks up, these usually end up over tightened from impact drivers and overtime fatigue/rust/expansion they break. 13:16 wiring being zip tied to sharp edges of crossmember no loom 13:29 120v wiring being held with zip tie against crossmember no loom poor wire management 16:56 box frame butt connections not beveled for weld penetration, cold fast weld. 18:14 carriage bolts holding floor crushing composite floor and beam. Use wider flange or thicker aluminum on the outer floor frame. Most just a matter of a bit more care, and pre build inspection when frame arrives to give feedback to manufacturer. When products arrive at my facility they go through a thorough inspection, if it doesn’t meet requirements we’ll reach out to supplier same day to address issue before we get too far along. Good job alliance.
Clean at each work station.. that tells you something. Every time I stop at a new location with my 2021 Grand Design Reflection, I have to vacuum saw dust that is still working it's way through the walls. The area that contains my converter was filled with wood shavings.. a huge fire hazard ! Good work Alliance, you will be my next upgrade (as soon as I can afford it).
Thanks Bill and #Alliance. This tour made me drive the almost 2 hours to go see a Alliance and specifically the Valor. We had been looking at the Momentum, but the way you make your RVs as Josh shows as made us but the Valor on top of our list.
Hey Josh we are shopping for the alliance paradigm 301 rl We are currently in Virginia and heading to Elkhart IN for our purchase. Any interest in hooking up with us. I have found more information on the choice we made through you and your channel. I don’t want to drive to Minnesota but have South Dakota on my list for domicile. Hope to hear from you🎉 Just sold our home. Our dream is coming
Josh, I've been watching your videos for a couple of months, and I have to say that on the surface, you seem to be an honest, principled person. I like how you don't push products, but lay out the facts about them, and the RV industry as a whole. When I say, "on the surface," I refer to the talk the talk, but don't walk the talk type of salesperson. It's probably because I'm old and cynical, because I've experienced all types over my many years. My gut says you're the real thing, and that's what I'll go with, until proven different. Having said all of that, I'd like you to address the situation of mega dealers, the lack of moral principles, and ignoring the customer after the sale. There are numerous people who advise against buying from mega dealers for these reasons. Since Bish's is expanding all over the country, how do you address these warnings? Also, if you could address the problem of buying from one location of a dealer, and taking the unit to another location of the same dealer, and being refused service, because you didn't buy it there? Can you explain why RV manufacturers use wood trusses on the roof, as opposed to aluminum, which would save a lot of weight? In closing, thank you for your videos and for doing this one. I've been watching Alliance for awhile now, and I've been impressed, which is not an easy thing to do. Keep up the good work, and stay true to the right principles. To borrow from Alliance, continue to do the right thing.
Hi John! Great questions here. *I'd like you to address the situation of mega dealers, the lack of moral principles, and ignoring the customer after the sale.* There are fundamental flaws on the service side of the industry that have been there for years but were exposed to a painful degree during the pandemic-infused phase of the industry we're coming off of currently. While there are no doubt plenty of cases of dealerships basically brushing off customers who just made purchases & in need of service there are frankly just as many cases of dealerships who genuinely wanted and tried to assist clients who were let down by the lack of internal industry support from MFGs and suppliers. A more even pace in the industry can help this but after the past couple of years there is a lot of healing to be done and it's not happening quickly enough for anyone's liking. And more real talk: Bish's isn't perfect. I wish we were. But we're not. And my family's dealership I worked for before this also was not perfect. Again.. we tried. But it's often a case of doing the best we can given the resources available to us. There is a painfully low level of training generally offered to the average service staff member across the nation I fear. I applaud groups like the NRVTI for their work and hope to see that continue to grow. *Also, if you could address the problem of buying from one location of a dealer, and taking the unit to another location of the same dealer, and being refused service, because you didn't buy it there?* This is a very real thing and it's been one of my biggest frustrations since day 1. Again, it stems back to the flawed internal side of the industry. It's less expensive for a MFG to send something with a defect to a dealership & pay them to fix it via warranty because MFGs dont actually pay what it costs to complete warranty work typically. They might compensate a store for the time of the actual job but not for all the time spent moving RVs in the shop, diagnosing, moving back out... clerical work trying to get them to approve anything (which is often met with tons of resistance), moving the unit back in, doing the work, moving it out, more clerical work, and hopefully finally a completed job and customer pickup... which usually requires more yard lot porter time. ....so.... if a dealership isn't making money doing the work for a client that didn't purchase there, then there's not a lot of incentive for them to step up and complete the job. It's a mess. I greatly dislike it. *Can you explain why RV manufacturers use wood trusses on the roof, as opposed to aluminum, which would save a lot of weight?* Reasons can vary. Cost is a major one. Insulation gaps in a ceiling structure is another since wood is a better insulator vs. hollow aluminum tubing. And typically there's not enough weight savings with aluminum trusses to actually change a potential tow vehicle. I hope you appreciate the candor. This is what my experience has shown me. Answers from other may vary naturally.
Josh, thank you for your quick response and your candor. So, if I buy an RV from Bishs in Longview Texas, and need service from another Bish's location, what can I expect? If I want to buy a certain model from the Longview Bish's, and they don't have that model in stock, can it be shipped from another location. I've heard some talk lately about issues that have cropped up with Grand Design. Can you address, (without getting into trouble with GD), what those might be? What is your opinion on having a true franchise agreement, like the ones in the auto industry, between RV dealers, and the manufacturers? Thanks again, John
It would be nice to see a handicapped or wheelchair accessible unit! I know they’re probably not popular but I think a blueprint of a possible build or a model of one would elevate their public outlook of caring for the diverse market! 58:10
Thanks I'm a Grand Design Solitude owner. I love my camper. But on saying that I've felt the integrity of the company has been lost to the popularity and profits which drive the business. I know Aliance has people who carry the original message if integrity. My next RV will most certainly be a Aliance. Just waiting for the right floor plan. Thanks for continuing to educate campers everywhere.
I really want to hear more about their travel trailer. I'm buying an RV in 2023, but I tow with a full size (med large SUV). I want to see a Jayco tour
Thanks for allowing Josh the time to walk thru the facility. We’re considering downsizing from a 40’ wide body and Alliance is at the top of our list. One feature I may have missed is that these are 101” wide rigs which is a noticeable nice feature once you’ve spent time in one. Thanks Josh!
Josh, the RV industry needs to be proactive in EV power assist systems for all new RV's, to resolve the issue with low driving distance for EV trucks while towing camper trailers and also providing a power source while in back country and off grid situations.
Thanks, Josh, I have a 2018 Forest River EVO T2700. Josh could tour the Forest River travel trailer factory next. I have found some not the greatest workmanship. We live in ours full time it has a great layout that works for how we like to use it. Thanks, Josh. I really enjoy your videos keep them coming👍👍👍👍👍
@@JoshtheRVNerd Brinkley seemed to have higher gauge steel and frame, aluminum frame around every window and cut out, nicer modern windows, modern interior , better tires and axel , and seems better quality control with shake test etc. hopefully Brinkley will come out with more options in trainable trailer design.
I have watched a lot of your RV review videos, but this is my first factory video of yours that I have watched. Excellent video and very informative. Keep up the superb attention to detail! It is greatly appreciated 🥳
I have never commented on a youtube video before, but one hell of a video. I was sold on Alliance and just bought one (370FB). I can say that the level of detail in their owner empowerment videos are AMAZING. I had an issue with the Disk brakes on a Dexter 8,000 lb axle falling off. I am quite sure it happened in the final miles of my trip and was able to park it in storage. I was a bit mad that they told me I had to deal with Dexter on the issue, but Dexter sent out mobile repair and fixed the issue as well as replaced the damaged rims. However......I have a solar panel issue, not being covered by anyone in the industry. I park my RV in a warehouse, where sunlight renders the solar option mute. Solar panels do not shut off and it is confusing my charge controller. What if I bought a cover for the RV, because I was one of those people that want it to look like the day I bought it? They do exist..lol. Anyways, digging into the NEC, it turns out that Solar panels must have a disconnect (Double Pole Breaker) between the panels and all other systems. Meaning the disconnect must separate the Pos and Neg wires. Since a trailer is not technically grounded, these RV builders, must start isolating the solar panel systems. It's like having lightning on your roof, because it is always on.....I guess you can go to the sun at night. Anyways, bear this in mind when reviewing solar panels. Should the charger fail (3 year warranty from Renogy), there is no way to stop the panels from charging the Frame, since that is how it is grounded. To be fair, I just raised this issue with Alliance Service. We shall see if I need an education, or they just ran into a new scenario/situation. Something you might want to dig into, since your curiosity to learn is STRONG. Great video and a great NO FEAR attitude from Alliance. They know they are doing it better.
02-08-23 Update 01-09-23 Contacted Alliance and told to contact Dexter 01-10-23 Contacted Dexter 01-13-23 Dexter responded about Brakes, Damaged rims and was approved and parts were sent to a mobile mechanic that they arranged and paid for. I just needed to buy rims and they would pay for them as well. They have been slow in shipping, but I had time and I don't believe in lighting a fire on an issue unless needed. 01-13-23 Alliance customer experience told me to contact their parts dept and gave me a link. (I guess they are not allowed to talk to them and coordinated) 01-16-23 Alliance parts emailed me the part info and asked me if I still wanted to buy the rim. I ran part number given and it was for the wrong size tire. This was because I ordered the 8K axle upgrade and I am guessing they failed to tie the upgrade to my VIN. Parts said that the part for the 8k axle wasn't even in their system yet to even order it. So crisis averted right? 01-26-23 Mobile repair shows up and discover more problems. Contacts Dexter and they are sending him the additional parts needed 02-01-23 Mobile repair fixes disk brakes 02-08-23 Removed tire and took it to tire place. It was the wrong rim. I thought I had solved that issue, therefore never checked it. Alliance parts (after providing info from inside of both rims) say that the supplier (Lionshead), sent them the wrong part. So all of this stems from the ("Everything tied to RV VIN" process). So my fear is that when the correct rim arrives at Alliance (They claim they cannot drop ship the rim to me and days later) and someone inspects the rim...and thinks it is the wrong rim (Because of their faith in the VIN information) and delays things further. You know the parts person on the phone doesn't inspect the parts for shipping. So here I am, bumping up to a planned trip and not knowing if I am going to make it. So far, the process has holes based on my experience. I alerted them of my concerns about the ("Inspect for it being the right part to ship"). I hope the parts person I am communicating with, shares my email with management as I asked. I have lit the fire of "I want it now" and shipping parts is no longer an acceptable excuse. I will continue to update this thread. I am not complaining, YET. My background...A heavy civil contractor that has worked all over the world and even manufactured my own equipment and parts. I understand what Alliance is trying to do and I am impressed....parts shipping happens! I am not giving up on them...their product is unrivaled. I think a sense of urgency in parts delivery needs to be added. They will fall on their face if this summer and create a windstorm of unhappy campers if parts can't be had on major components like axles and tires.
Solar panels & Renogy update 01-26-23 Problem with system in a closed dark warehouse began with a different customer experience manager. No answer concerning a PDF laying out how my configuration is different from the "Customer empowerment" videos they have. I start digging into it myself. 02-05-23 I start a new email thread to customer Warranty concerning my observations with what is happening in a dark warehouse and how the system is performing. 02-08-23 Still crickets...not even an email or phone call to call me an idiot. I now through out the NEC (National electric Code) NEC 2020 ARTICLE 690.13 AND NEC 2020 ARTICLE 690.13 SECTION (E). If I am wrong, I just expect some engagement which results in my education. I guess we will see if the Alliance process really does listen to customers. Josh, feel free to straighten me out as well. Solar panels...now there is a rabbit hole worth going down. Maybe you can get to the bottom faster with your contacts.
@@jhbb5363 I wish I could directly forward this thread to someone. If you have an active facebook account, then try looking up someone named Bill Martin from Alliance. He's their VP of customer service and he's the guy that can basically just say "Get this done. Make this happen." Everything is case by case but I feel like he'd be interested in seeing what you're facing currently.
Great factory tour video! Thank you for taking the time to pull it together. It is great to see companies that are doing things the right way! My recommendation for a future factory tour is Grand Design. Also, a definite yes on including a base solar package...at minimum enough to support the 12v refrigerator.
Love these type of floor plans, but normally longer than wanted. This one is great! BUT, I see a few things. Bar is too small to use, so put cabinets under it. A Murphy bed setup in the bed slide would move the couch and let you put a table, chair dining next to the fridge. Also loose the double sink for a double closet. Murphy bed would also give bathroom access in road mode. You rock Josh! Love your informational, charismatic videos. Keep it up!
Love my Avenue 32rls that I bought last year from Bish Rv lincoln NE. Best camper I have ever bought and was really happy to be out of my PITA Cougar that was a problem child from day one. I had two or 3 small issues that were all handle very quickly with just one email to Alliance Service. If my Avenue got totaled today, the only 5th wheel I would replace it with would be another Alliance.
Thanks for the tour, Josh! It was great having you out! We will make sure to find that jerk who chased you out of your new office 😂
😂
Alliance,
Well done! I am so impressed. You get it! Quality and Customer Service is key.
Hope the RV dealerships rise to your level of service. Choose them carefully. They will be your weakest link. Keep up the great work!
@alliancerv
@JoshtheRVNerd
I did finally get the 385fl and 1 of the main reasons I got it was because of the composite floors. I had to make a few minor repairs after first trip. Minor stuff. But I have to say how MASSIVELY DISAPPOINTED I was to find out my floors are OSB PLYWOOD and my unit was made 3/2023. When I loaded the rear slid tray all of the way to small screws popped out flipping the tray up. (And by no means was it anywhere near being overloaded) overall I like the 385fl but I'm very disappointed in it also
@alliancerv are the frame qualities Josh showed present in the ‘22 Avenue?
When I can I’ll be purchasing an alliance!
These factory tours are so valuable to the RV community. It's nice to see makers actually practicing quality control in their product. Good show.
Our pleasure!
Have to say, after watching this presentation, Alliance may just be the RV we end up with. Really appreciate what they are doing and how they are doing it. As a crafts person, I appreciate someone going the extra mile. Thanks, Josh and thank you Alliance for sharing your viewpoint.
Ty Sandra for watching and sharing some kind words
Yeah when there's people getting tours and watching them.
Go see the Brinkley tour, they PDI at every station and even test for leaks. They also shake test the entire rig to ensure nothing is coming loose. You'll notice no trim on the ceiling because of how tight the rig is built. I do like Alliance though, better than most of the other top brands.
Did you end up buying one? Every Alliance RV we have seen on a dealer lot was the biggest pile of crap. I've neve seen a brand so poorly built. They can't even drag them from the factory to the dealer lots without everything falling apart.
I have seen a tour of Alliance before, but you, sir, put such a personal touch on this manufacturer that this may be our go to brand when I/we retire. Thank you so much Josh and all the folks at Alliance.
Wow ty Bryan! Just trying to do my nerdy thing!
I still have 20 minutes to go on this video but I’ve watched a lot of them and this tour is the BEST I’ve seen. We’re looking at several options and this one is moving to the front of the line. Brinkley was also impressive btw.
Wow, thank you!
Best factory tour I have ever seen. Finally someone really showed the frame and how it’s made better than other frames. Especially nowadays with all of the frame flex that has been going on with Grand Design. Thanks and keep up the good work.
Glad you liked it!
Great tour, Josh! Making their RVs so accessible to the customer (roof repair, furnace access) really shows Alliance's character!
Agree completely
I love a company that listens to customers concerns! 48:59
It really shows!
It says a lot about a company that gives you that type of access to their production line. I wish them great success. I really appreciate the work that you do. You are a huge asset to Bish's RV!
Someday maybe you can tour the ATC factory. It would be nice to see a tour of a life long RV with your attention to detail.
Could be cool! It's a brand I'd like to learn more about certainly. They remind me more of the living quarter horse trailers we used to carry here years past than traditional RVs
Should be the mission statement for all manufacturing facilities. Would love to see the Grand Design factory tour. Thanks for taking us through the factory Josh.
Great suggestion!
Josh, I really appreciate your un-biased, non-marketing, NO FAN BOY videos by providing facts. And by doing that, you are doing a better job of promoting the RV industry.
I've learned so much about RVs from Uncle Josh, but this was the best one so far. Thanks to Josh and Alliance! I'm sold!
wow glad you liked it!
Josh, I'd like to add my input to the customer experience and service side of Alliance RV. I think I wrote last year in a comment that a friend of ours has an Alliance toy hauler and had exactly the same story about the high quality of after sales. It wasn't anything outrageous but there were TWO people from Alliance (one a tech and one from the Customer Service side) who spent as much time at the campground with them to resolve the issues. Outstanding job from them.
Josh,. Great Job 👍 as Always Also tell BILL
THANK YOU, We are REALLY LOOKING AT THIS BRAND !!
Terry Hickok
Washington State
It was nice finally getting to meet this team in person!
Thank you Alliance for the letting us in to see the shop.
😊
Never looked at an Alliance. They are now number 1 on my list. Nice to see an RV company actually take pride in their work and their product.
Wow! Ty!!
We own an Avenue 32RLS and we love it. We are huge Alliance fans. Thanks so much for the terrific review. I appreciate the time and honesty.
Thanks Alliance for being #1
Great to hear!
Not the first video of an Alliance factory tour, but very detailed in this one and makes me even more confident as to why we liked the Alliance out of all the brands we've seen for our future RV.
Ty Martin! Glad I was able to offer something new to learn
Bill and the whole team at Alliance are fantastic. Owners since March ‘21. And yes, I got that Gung Ho reference. -Grant
Congratulations! They were a brand I knew nothing about. When they came into the marketplace I was still working for my family's independent store.
We didn't carry them and from a distance they just kinda looked like everything else. I hear weird stuff like "non-ducted A/C units" and my "what the what?!" alarms went off
But as a practice I try not to judge things until I'm better educated on them. They were kind enough to allow me into their facebook group. I simply wanted to observe what REAL owners thought about them.
I noticed a trend.. an owner might report a problem on their RV. But like clockwork 24-48hrs later I saw them posting how happy they were about how Alliance stepped up to take care of them. And I saw positive endings like that time after time again. I saw how people were so proud of their Alliance RV & the community they shared.
I knew then there had to be SOMETHING special going on here.
But weirdly despite my time in this business I had never had a chance to really meet anyone from Alliance. I knew a couple guys there, but never really got to meet Alliance "up close" until I did this factory tour.
What I saw really elevated them HIGHLY in my eyes. I was already liking what I saw from their products. But the care and concern they had for PEOPLE -- _anybody_ really whether it was owners or workers -- really impressed me.
Josh I have to say I’ve seen a few factory but hands down your has to be the best most in-depth tour I have ever seen . Thanks for doing the work and I thoroughly enjoy your videos. 👍🏻
Man, this factory tour was legit. Thanks Alliance and Thanks Nerd!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Rock on. It looks like this facility was built a year ago. Very clean.
Alliance has been on the top of my list for RV from all the research I have done.
Would love to see how brinkley compares with a factory tour, and what there customer service looks like.
He posted a Brinkley tour. It's a tossup to me but I think these two brands are the way to go. Love to hear what pro's say.
I appreciate the detailed factory tour. We just moved from a 2021 Paradigm 372RK to a 2023 Paradigm 382RK. We were very happy with the 2021, but the new one is even better! They started with a great product and have continued to make it better. Customer support direct from the manufacturer has been exceptionally good as well, which seems rare in the industry.
Ty so much for sharing this!!
Awesome video and shows some great things Alliance is doing compared to some of the competitors but I did notice a few things:
- The welding around the middle leaf spring hanger looked a little rough
- Noticed some trash thrown in the underbelly
- The bushings in the springs of the pre-built axles appear to be plastic instead of brass
- Some of the openings in the I-beans for the wires didn't appear to be rolled
- It would be nice if there were supports going front to back to support the floor between the side to side supports, it's always been a weak spot for laminated floors and causes a ton of flex after a couple of years.
Either that factory has been staged, or it is legitimately the cleanest RV assembly line I have ever seen. I’m going to hope that it’s the latter. If so, they really do take pride like you said.
I hear you on the wire slack. I’ve had to replace a few things already on my 2021 camper of a different brand. One of the outlets I replaced didn’t have an inch of spare wiring. I had to WORK just to get the old outlet out. So kudos to them on spending an extra $5 on wiring to make sure there is relief.
It is legitimately the cleanest you’ve seen
The hubby and I are going to be living in a 5th wheel full time as traveling contractors, and this video was so valuable to see the entire process from start to finish and see all the extra care, pride, testing and attention to detail Alliance puts into their product. We've been struggling to decide which manufacturer we could trust to purchase from since this will likely be our home on wheels for many years to come, and after seeing this I think Alliance will be our go to! Thank you Josh for always puting unbiased information out there for the RV community, we love watching your videos and thank you Alliance for changing the RV industry and hearing our feedback!
I have several other factory tours on file you may enjoy!
Great job, Josh. Makes me even more happy we purchased our Avenue!!
Great to hear!
We have owned a Paradigm and now a Valor and we have been extremely pleased at their customer service, attention to detail and the fact that they answer the phone and call you back no matter what. We saw this when we owned our Tiffin Diesel pusher and did not expect that same type of customer care with Alliance.
Love this. Ty Barry
I'm waiting for a Brinkley plant tour
They’re in a temporary facility now. As soon as their real plant is done I will be there
THAT was one of THE best factory tour videos I have ever watched and I've watched dozens of them. In depth explanations with full understanding of the product and its manufacturing process. Bravo Josh!
As to Alliance RV, I'm sold! The attention to detail and quality control at every stage of the manufacturing process and the quality of materials used; couple that with the thoughtfulness and intelligence evidenced in every step of the RV's development--well Alliance reigns supreme and sets the bar VERY HIGH for every other RV manufacturer out there. Right now, I see no competition. Alliance is in a league of its own.
I am chomping at the bit waiting to see Alliance's newest line, the travel trailer. Decision is made. I'm buying.
I actually already have full footage of it, but they’ve asked me to hold off until their official Premier and debut on Tuesday
@@JoshtheRVNerd I'm SO psyched! Thank you Josh!
We’ve seen alot of Alliance tours but man Uncle Josh that was fantastic! We absolutely love the attention to detail that Alliance does, and the way you point them out. Great video!
We own a 2021 Alliance Paradigm 310RL and can’t say enough good about Alliance quality and their customer service. Great video.
Love this!!
That was the best behind the scenes tour I’ve seen yet! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this in-depth video! We are very interested in the 37 MBR. If you get a chance, please do a video on this model! Thanks again for your hard work.
I really want to see that one!
Please let me know I'll be Hopeful One of the FIRST TO WATCH THIS
GREAT JOB AS ALWAYS
Another great tour video of a great company! Thanks Josh!
Our pleasure!
No more tours needed. That's all we needed. They have got to be the best 😅👍👌
lol wow! Glad folks have enjoyed this one so much!
Great video, I just went to a RVshow today and looked at this brand. Glad to see how it was made.
Very cool! What did you think when you saw the RV?
Would love to see how the new Brinkley's are built.
They’re currently in a temporary rented facility while their full facility is being built
As soon as they’re new facilities done, I’ll be down there for sure
Yes,
They are scheduled to begin production in their new plant on March 15.
Love the quality and workmanship of this company! Customer service is top of my list so this company checks all my boxes!!
Great to hear!
Thanks Josh!
I'll be buying one, pride of work is extremely important.
As an Alliance Valor 42v13 owner, I really appreciate the time you took to make such a great video. It really shows the level of commitment this leadership team has to “do better” in the RV industry. Makes me proud to be an Ally!
TY Sean! I actually thought this video was only going to be like 25 mins long. Didn't realize it was pushing an HOUR lol :)
Great tour as usual Josh. I really appreciate all the work that goes into these tours.
My pleasure!
So glad and impressed to see a manufacturer that puts quality and PDI at the forefront of their product. Alliance is now my #1 RV choice when I go shopping next year!
The difference in what they're doing with their holding tanks was pretty awesome
@Josh the RV Nerd at Bish's RV
Holding tanks look great! Also Alliance making a commitment to customer service is so awesome as well. Makes you want to give a company a chance...
Great job as always. We really appreciate your efforts. In the cold or rain. Showing the slides open and closed. Describing the good and the bad. Thank you.
Wow Josh an amazing tour of the Alliance factory and a great well done job presenting how these RVs are built..Very impressed..kudos to you and to everyone on the Alliance team.
Great job on the tour and reporting Josh! This could not come at a more perfect time, as my wife and I are actively looking at the Paradigm 310RL for our next fifth wheel.
As engineers, we can appreciate all the improvements that Alliance has done that are "hidden" and not readily seen by the consumer. The structural upgrades, the design for reliability and even the thought behind the maintainability of the trailer is fantastic and displays great systems engineering practices! I had to do many of those modifications myself to our current fifth wheel.
It is unfortunate you do not have a location in the Northeast, as we would definitely buy from Bish's RV.
Alliance is an awesome manufacturer that uses so many quality materials such as the PVC roof membrane👍I just wish that they used plywood instead of OSB below it😕
I and my wife really like the factory tour and all details on things you can't see normally. Like the composite floors and the double Azdel walls and the additional trusses in the roof. I like the PVC roof material and the ease of maintenance and the ability to patch the roof with basic PVC glue. As far as the solar package goes we are okay with it being optional, not every one may want the solar package and if they do it can still be added.The avenue all access is one of the RV'S we have been looking at as our next RV when retire.We like having the electric fireplace in our current RV. I realize that with smaller RV's that is not always possible. Maybe they could use an AC unit with a heat pump in it like they do in some other models like Airstream or Montana as an alternative. Even if they opted not to add a heat pump we are really thinking of going with alliance as our next RV. thanks so much for the factory tour and all the effort that goes into making that happen and to the alliance team for everything they do and taking the extra time for the video. I hope this is not to long winded and thanks again.
Never too long. Ty 😊
Thanks for this factory tour, Josh. It's always interesting (or sometimes frightening) to see what goes on at the factory. I do like the Alliance brand. They seem to design their RV's to be used in a convenient and user-friendly way (like the furnace access). Oh, and thanks for not filming in the restroom! (TMI)
helo cindy
This one was truly my pleasure. I felt so good walking out of there. I was so glad just for my own purposes that I did this.
Thanks Josh -- a 5th wheel is a bit big for me but I'll keep my eyes out for the trailer review. Alliance looks like it has a great factory and fantastic workers.
Ty Delvie
Thanks for the tour. One thing I've noticed is unlike some of the other manufacturer factory tours I've seen this factory looks very clean. I also see even with the units in progress there isn't a lot of construction debris being left hanging around the trailers. If this is their normal way of doing things it gives me more confidence as a sloppy environment tends to result in a sloppy product. If I had watched more I would have heard you say the same thing.
Stuffing the aluminum extrusions with wood isn't just to keep them from compressing. The screw holding power of 1/16 inch or less aluminum is not very much when twisting and turning down the road. The wood allows for better grip of the screws due to more threads being in contact with it.
In this day and age I think most any trailer should come with at least a 200W panel, have a decent quality MPPT controller and come with a 200AH battery. For folks who might not want that allow them to option it out for a credit.
The extra wiring length also helps when you have to repair something. There is nothing I hate more than removing a device from a panel and having to hold and balance it while using my other hand to disconnect wires because they cheaped out and didn't make the wires 3 inches longer to set the device on the counter. It is especially frustrating if you have to work on or behind the converter.
I like natural wood color of the trim.
I am really looking forward to seeing their travel trailers.
I am as well. I’ll definitely get some insight as soon as I can get them.
How soon do you think you'll be able to Show us These NEW TRAILERS ?
Josh, Thank you for these tours. My wife and I have been looking at fifth wheels for over a year, just when we think we know what we want, you post another awesome video which makes us take another look. No RV is going to be perfectly built, but Alliance ticks a lot of boxes on build quality.
Awesome video tour. Always like your true and honest opinion. I thought I had made my decisions on buying a keystone cougar. But now I have to consider this Alliance 5th wheel. I would like your opinion on which 5th wheel is a better choice ( Cougar or Alliance)?
Thank you JT very much
Brian, my suggestion would really need to be tailored to exactly what you’re seeking and I don’t know that I can do that without really have any opportunity to speak with you. An avenue and a cougar overlap pretty darn heavily so it’s really just a matter which specific little details speak to you a little more loudly.
@@brianc.jackson9965 After owning both I can tell you its not even close. Alliance Avenue over a Cougar ANY DAY. So many better features over the Cougar. PVC roof, Flush floor slides, flush upper deck, taller slide boxes, dual AC in every unit and its 6" wider which really makes a big difference inside to give you thigs like 3 person couch, more storage.
And thats just a few things off the top of my head
I do enjoy your factory tours! I appreciate the business philosophy of this company and their customer service/support as well as their products. Alliance, Brinkley, Ember and a few others are really showing that the old tried and true can still be tweaked by simply changing perspective. Thanks so much for the video!
I agree. Good to see some progress there
Thanks Alliance, allowing the tour. You are winning my vote for a future RV purchase. And thanks Josh, RV Nerd, all your videos are so informative.👍 (picture me with a selfie camera putting my thumbs up😉🤣)
Thx for watching, Mark :)
FANTASTIC!!! By far, your BEST factory tour!!! THANKS THANKS THANKS!!!!!
Wow, thanks!
Thank you Bill Martin, I fully agree "Do the right thing". My moto is " Do it right or not at all", know it, learn it or get someone that does. And, Josh great tour, Thanks.
WOW!!! Even though they don’t have the ideal floor plan, the quality and attention to detail makes me choose that brand when I’m ready. Truly well done! Way to go Alliance!!!!
I’ve got nothing fundamentally against Thor, Winnebago, or Forest River, but I really do like seeing smaller manufacturers in the game as well. I own an Outdoors RV and apart from just being a very high quality unit, it is one of the other independents out there and it’s something I really like about it. I would love to see a darker wood option on these, and if I was really nitpicking I wish the All Access models offered a bedroom slide, because it’s silly trying to lower the hitch weight when everybody’s towing them with 3/4 ton anyway, and that extra couple hundred pounds is irrelevant for those. Very nice products though.
I get it. I love an underdog
I am considering my first RV and this video convinced me to buy from this brand...i really want to a quality rv for my lifestyle because yes my husbands money is valuable to me !! 😉😉
Ty so much for watching
Super video Josh. I appreciate the insight and transparency from Alliance. Customer Service and support is extremely important to a customer.
Couldn't agree more!
holy COW, let me get my popcorn, Tour behind the scenes again, YES!!!!!!
Yeah, she’s a long one. Enjoy.
Dude, you are incredible! I do not think a full Film Production crew could do any better in representing this company. I want to like own stock in Alliance now or something. I don't know how you do it but I am sure glad you do. Thanks Josh.
Wow, thank you! Huge praise.
Thanks Bill! Thankyou for allowing the build to be shared and Thanks again Josh for a great job!
I own an Alliance Avenue 32 RLS and its one of the best I have owned. I did have a few issues with the coach ,but Alliance has been great in resolving them. I did take the factory tour and met many of the workers on the line. Speaking with them one on one , they all stated they loved working for Alliance. They are the best in customer service and dedicated to their customers. The Alliance owners community is a tight knit bunch of great people always willing to help one another.
OMG Uncle Josh Thank you for the factory tour I have watched many other alliance tours and you just blew them out of the water thank you from a long time RV nerd heard member
Wow TY Matt :)
They need to add the "residential" ovens back into the Valors. If they would do that, I would definatly get one.
Ty for the input
Hi Josh, Thanks for a great job on this tour. I love seeing how things are built, and the clean, organized Alliance facility shows that they care about doing the right thing. Please thank Bill and the team for letting you produce this video. PS: The "buzz box" is a great idea!
Dude it was SO loud
What???? Can't hear you!
Hey Josh, you did an excellent job. Love all of your great videos and humor. As I always say great information 👍
I appreciate that!
That was soo cool to watch! Thank you for bringing that to us. Be safe on the road dude.
Thanks! Will do!
Oh my goodness! Thank you so much! Finally! The rig I have been looking for with wonderful people who still take pride in their work! Joy!
That's what happens when their leadership fosters a place people actually WANT to work
Thanks Josh!! After doing months and months of research on 5th wheels and checking numerous units off our list we recently committed and purchased a Alliance Paradigm. The quality and customer satisfaction just appears to be beyond most other brands. The tour was awesome and just really reinforces me that we made the right decision. Keep on making the fantastic videos. You are honest and give the pros and cons and I really appreciate that. 👍
That is awesome! Congrats!!
We're so grateful for you and your content, Josh. We've been watching you for two+ years as we planned for our 2nd RV purchase. You introduced us to Alliance through this video, and then again when you debuted the Delta. With your video content and information from Rigor RV Repair videos on RV plumbing and slide construction, we decided on the Delta 292RL. Thank you for highlighting the V-bracket, plumbing, and Azdel construction on the Alliance - among other big factors, these were the biggest for us. Watching it again today I'm also gratified to be reminded about the holding tank construction and testing, wiring considerations, roof construction, and interior structure. If there's one thing I'd like Alliance to reconsider in their Delta line generally speaking, it would be the countertop material. Having had similar material in our previous camper, it wasn't a matter of if it would fail, but when. But we're still so happy with it and the customer service -- SERIOUSLY!!! A rep saw my FB post when we first purchased but before delivery, found our rig, and actually direct-messaged me pictures of OUR SPECIFIC RIG (with the VIN displayed) as it was rolling off the line and into the PDI area. I hope they're able to maintain this level of engagement; I know it will be easier not to. But kudos to them and to you for exceptional service.
I wish we could have purchased from Bish's - they're a bit too far from us in case we ever needed any bigger warranty service. But we have nothing but respect and admiration for Haylett's-Bish's specifically 😉 and Bish's in general. I'll be delighted to recommend them to my friends in northeast Texas and norther. 😀
Wow ty so much for all of this! I wish you the best with your new delta!!
No worries regarding where you bought. Would you mind dropping me a review at g.page/r/CdPcitNVx2nDEAg/review in return for the helping hand?
@@JoshtheRVNerd Done 🙂
While they are doing a lot to improve and and a good bit of extra which we appreciate. Here’s a few things I found. Not bashing just constructive criticism coming from a builder/welder/fabricator.
5:32 shoddy welds slow down
6:42 welds on spring hangers reinforcement poor fast and cold/missed
11:42 zip screws holding tanks up, these usually end up over tightened from impact drivers and overtime fatigue/rust/expansion they break.
13:16 wiring being zip tied to sharp edges of crossmember no loom
13:29 120v wiring being held with zip tie against crossmember no loom poor wire management
16:56 box frame butt connections not beveled for weld penetration, cold fast weld.
18:14 carriage bolts holding floor crushing composite floor and beam. Use wider flange or thicker aluminum on the outer floor frame.
Most just a matter of a bit more care, and pre build inspection when frame arrives to give feedback to manufacturer. When products arrive at my facility they go through a thorough inspection, if it doesn’t meet requirements we’ll reach out to supplier same day to address issue before we get too far along. Good job alliance.
Clean at each work station.. that tells you something. Every time I stop at a new location with my 2021 Grand Design Reflection, I have to vacuum saw dust that is still working it's way through the walls. The area that contains my converter was filled with wood shavings.. a huge fire hazard ! Good work Alliance, you will be my next upgrade (as soon as I can afford it).
TY Dusty. I was really impressed with their facilities
Beautiful and well presented as always Mr. Nerd!!!!!! Love it!!!!
Thank you! Cheers!
this tour is clutch, thank you for doing this! This changes my opinion about my purchase decisions
Glad it was helpful!
I have a Deposit down on the all-access Avenue RD26, super excited!
Good choice!
At that price point I should not be patching my roof just saying. Jayco does great on their roofs too bad they didn’t have a floor plan 395ds
You mean this one? m.ruclips.net/video/pkQUqYElkyU/видео.html
Because of this video, I’m subscribing today. I need to see a Grand Design video as this is what I own, before winnebago bought them.
Welcome aboard!
Thanks again for another great video. Looks like Allliance is making a very good product, and they are not afraid to show how they make their rv's.
Couldn't agree more!
Thanks Bill and #Alliance. This tour made me drive the almost 2 hours to go see a Alliance and specifically the Valor. We had been looking at the Momentum, but the way you make your RVs as Josh shows as made us but the Valor on top of our list.
I haven't had the pleasure of getting to review enough Momentums (or grand design in general). But I have really enjoyed the Valors I've seen
@@JoshtheRVNerd It would be neat to do a comparison video between the two.
Hey Josh we are shopping for the alliance paradigm 301 rl
We are currently in Virginia and heading to Elkhart IN for our purchase. Any interest in hooking up with us. I have found more information on the choice we made through you and your channel. I don’t want to drive to Minnesota but have South Dakota on my list for domicile. Hope to hear from you🎉
Just sold our home. Our dream is coming
Happy to connect you to someone at our nearest alliance store! (I'm not in sales myself)
Try Brittany at 309-350-9431
Josh, I've been watching your videos for a couple of months, and I have to say that on the surface, you seem to be an honest, principled person. I like how you don't push products, but lay out the facts about them, and the RV industry as a whole.
When I say, "on the surface," I refer to the talk the talk, but don't walk the talk type of salesperson. It's probably because I'm old and cynical, because I've experienced all types over my many years. My gut says you're the real thing, and that's what I'll go with, until proven different.
Having said all of that, I'd like you to address the situation of mega dealers, the lack of moral principles, and ignoring the customer after the sale. There are numerous people who advise against buying from mega dealers for these reasons. Since Bish's is expanding all over the country, how do you address these warnings?
Also, if you could address the problem of buying from one location of a dealer, and taking the unit to another location of the same dealer, and being refused service, because you didn't buy it there?
Can you explain why RV manufacturers use wood trusses on the roof, as opposed to aluminum, which would save a lot of weight?
In closing, thank you for your videos and for doing this one. I've been watching Alliance for awhile now, and I've been impressed, which is not an easy thing to do.
Keep up the good work, and stay true to the right principles. To borrow from Alliance, continue to do the right thing.
Hi John! Great questions here.
*I'd like you to address the situation of mega dealers, the lack of moral principles, and ignoring the customer after the sale.*
There are fundamental flaws on the service side of the industry that have been there for years but were exposed to a painful degree during the pandemic-infused phase of the industry we're coming off of currently. While there are no doubt plenty of cases of dealerships basically brushing off customers who just made purchases & in need of service there are frankly just as many cases of dealerships who genuinely wanted and tried to assist clients who were let down by the lack of internal industry support from MFGs and suppliers.
A more even pace in the industry can help this but after the past couple of years there is a lot of healing to be done and it's not happening quickly enough for anyone's liking.
And more real talk: Bish's isn't perfect. I wish we were. But we're not. And my family's dealership I worked for before this also was not perfect. Again.. we tried. But it's often a case of doing the best we can given the resources available to us.
There is a painfully low level of training generally offered to the average service staff member across the nation I fear. I applaud groups like the NRVTI for their work and hope to see that continue to grow.
*Also, if you could address the problem of buying from one location of a dealer, and taking the unit to another location of the same dealer, and being refused service, because you didn't buy it there?*
This is a very real thing and it's been one of my biggest frustrations since day 1. Again, it stems back to the flawed internal side of the industry. It's less expensive for a MFG to send something with a defect to a dealership & pay them to fix it via warranty because MFGs dont actually pay what it costs to complete warranty work typically. They might compensate a store for the time of the actual job but not for all the time spent moving RVs in the shop, diagnosing, moving back out... clerical work trying to get them to approve anything (which is often met with tons of resistance), moving the unit back in, doing the work, moving it out, more clerical work, and hopefully finally a completed job and customer pickup... which usually requires more yard lot porter time.
....so.... if a dealership isn't making money doing the work for a client that didn't purchase there, then there's not a lot of incentive for them to step up and complete the job. It's a mess. I greatly dislike it.
*Can you explain why RV manufacturers use wood trusses on the roof, as opposed to aluminum, which would save a lot of weight?*
Reasons can vary. Cost is a major one. Insulation gaps in a ceiling structure is another since wood is a better insulator vs. hollow aluminum tubing. And typically there's not enough weight savings with aluminum trusses to actually change a potential tow vehicle.
I hope you appreciate the candor. This is what my experience has shown me. Answers from other may vary naturally.
Josh, thank you for your quick response and your candor.
So, if I buy an RV from Bishs in Longview Texas, and need service from another Bish's location, what can I expect?
If I want to buy a certain model from the Longview Bish's, and they don't have that model in stock, can it be shipped from another location.
I've heard some talk lately about issues that have cropped up with Grand Design. Can you address, (without getting into trouble with GD), what those might be?
What is your opinion on having a true franchise agreement, like the ones in the auto industry, between RV dealers, and the manufacturers?
Thanks again,
John
Josh, This was awesome. thank you. Would really like to see a modern day factory detail walk through of AirStream.
Thanks for the idea!
It would be nice to see a handicapped or wheelchair accessible unit! I know they’re probably not popular but I think a blueprint of a possible build or a model of one would elevate their public outlook of caring for the diverse market! 58:10
Their wide body would actually be a good fit...
Thanks I'm a Grand Design Solitude owner. I love my camper. But on saying that I've felt the integrity of the company has been lost to the popularity and profits which drive the business.
I know Aliance has people who carry the original message if integrity. My next RV will most certainly be a Aliance. Just waiting for the right floor plan.
Thanks for continuing to educate campers everywhere.
Wow. Strong words. Ty Paul
Hope to upgrade from my jayco 30.5ckts but tricky finding great choices. ( all items on wish list) desk area, on similar sized unit is tough.
Excellent video. Went and looked at some alliance 5th wheels and now, factory tour. Quality is obvious on the rv. Thanks for the detailed information
Glad it was helpful!
I really want to hear more about their travel trailer. I'm buying an RV in 2023, but I tow with a full size (med large SUV).
I want to see a Jayco tour
Will keep you informed on alliance trailers
Have four Jayco tours in my factory tour playlist btw!!
Thanks for allowing Josh the time to walk thru the facility. We’re considering downsizing from a 40’ wide body and Alliance is at the top of our list. One feature I may have missed is that these are 101” wide rigs which is a noticeable nice feature once you’ve spent time in one. Thanks Josh!
I _thought_ I mentioned that early in the video but man.. I covered a lot here. Who knows. Individual details might've slipped thru
Josh, the RV industry needs to be proactive in EV power assist systems for all new RV's, to resolve the issue with low driving distance for EV trucks while towing camper trailers and also providing a power source while in back country and off grid situations.
Thanks, Josh,
I have a 2018 Forest River EVO T2700. Josh could tour the Forest River travel trailer factory next.
I have found some not the greatest workmanship. We live in ours full time it has a great layout that works for how we like to use it.
Thanks, Josh. I really enjoy your videos keep them coming👍👍👍👍👍
I have a few Rockwood tour for you. Forest river has multiple plants for each brand btw
Fantastic content for what appears to be an excellent product. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching!
Loved the tour but that is definitely not a Brinkley.
What differences stuck out to you?
@@JoshtheRVNerd Brinkley seemed to have higher gauge steel and frame, aluminum frame around every window and cut out, nicer modern windows, modern interior , better tires and axel , and seems better quality control with shake test etc. hopefully Brinkley will come out with more options in trainable trailer design.
I have watched a lot of your RV review videos, but this is my first factory video of yours that I have watched. Excellent video and very informative. Keep up the superb attention to detail! It is greatly appreciated 🥳
Awesome, thank you!
I have never commented on a youtube video before, but one hell of a video. I was sold on Alliance and just bought one (370FB). I can say that the level of detail in their owner empowerment videos are AMAZING. I had an issue with the Disk brakes on a Dexter 8,000 lb axle falling off. I am quite sure it happened in the final miles of my trip and was able to park it in storage. I was a bit mad that they told me I had to deal with Dexter on the issue, but Dexter sent out mobile repair and fixed the issue as well as replaced the damaged rims. However......I have a solar panel issue, not being covered by anyone in the industry. I park my RV in a warehouse, where sunlight renders the solar option mute. Solar panels do not shut off and it is confusing my charge controller. What if I bought a cover for the RV, because I was one of those people that want it to look like the day I bought it? They do exist..lol. Anyways, digging into the NEC, it turns out that Solar panels must have a disconnect (Double Pole Breaker) between the panels and all other systems. Meaning the disconnect must separate the Pos and Neg wires. Since a trailer is not technically grounded, these RV builders, must start isolating the solar panel systems. It's like having lightning on your roof, because it is always on.....I guess you can go to the sun at night. Anyways, bear this in mind when reviewing solar panels. Should the charger fail (3 year warranty from Renogy), there is no way to stop the panels from charging the Frame, since that is how it is grounded.
To be fair, I just raised this issue with Alliance Service. We shall see if I need an education, or they just ran into a new scenario/situation. Something you might want to dig into, since your curiosity to learn is STRONG. Great video and a great NO FEAR attitude from Alliance. They know they are doing it better.
Man ty for breaking Radio silence and sharing!! Love hearing real world experience from actual owners
Thanks for asking. Please keep us updated.
02-08-23 Update
01-09-23 Contacted Alliance and told to contact Dexter
01-10-23 Contacted Dexter
01-13-23 Dexter responded about Brakes, Damaged rims and was approved and parts were sent to a mobile mechanic that they arranged and paid for. I just needed to buy rims and they would pay for them as well. They have been slow in shipping, but I had time and I don't believe in lighting a fire on an issue unless needed.
01-13-23 Alliance customer experience told me to contact their parts dept and gave me a link. (I guess they are not allowed to talk to them and coordinated)
01-16-23 Alliance parts emailed me the part info and asked me if I still wanted to buy the rim. I ran part number given and it was for the wrong size tire. This was because I ordered the 8K axle upgrade and I am guessing they failed to tie the upgrade to my VIN. Parts said that the part for the 8k axle wasn't even in their system yet to even order it. So crisis averted right?
01-26-23 Mobile repair shows up and discover more problems. Contacts Dexter and they are sending him the additional parts needed
02-01-23 Mobile repair fixes disk brakes
02-08-23 Removed tire and took it to tire place. It was the wrong rim. I thought I had solved that issue, therefore never checked it. Alliance parts (after providing info from inside of both rims) say that the supplier (Lionshead), sent them the wrong part. So all of this stems from the ("Everything tied to RV VIN" process). So my fear is that when the correct rim arrives at Alliance (They claim they cannot drop ship the rim to me and days later) and someone inspects the rim...and thinks it is the wrong rim (Because of their faith in the VIN information) and delays things further. You know the parts person on the phone doesn't inspect the parts for shipping. So here I am, bumping up to a planned trip and not knowing if I am going to make it. So far, the process has holes based on my experience. I alerted them of my concerns about the ("Inspect for it being the right part to ship"). I hope the parts person I am communicating with, shares my email with management as I asked. I have lit the fire of "I want it now" and shipping parts is no longer an acceptable excuse. I will continue to update this thread. I am not complaining, YET. My background...A heavy civil contractor that has worked all over the world and even manufactured my own equipment and parts. I understand what Alliance is trying to do and I am impressed....parts shipping happens! I am not giving up on them...their product is unrivaled. I think a sense of urgency in parts delivery needs to be added. They will fall on their face if this summer and create a windstorm of unhappy campers if parts can't be had on major components like axles and tires.
Solar panels & Renogy update
01-26-23 Problem with system in a closed dark warehouse began with a different customer experience manager. No answer concerning a PDF laying out how my configuration is different from the "Customer empowerment" videos they have. I start digging into it myself.
02-05-23 I start a new email thread to customer Warranty concerning my observations with what is happening in a dark warehouse and how the system is performing.
02-08-23 Still crickets...not even an email or phone call to call me an idiot. I now through out the NEC (National electric Code) NEC 2020 ARTICLE 690.13 AND NEC 2020 ARTICLE 690.13 SECTION (E). If I am wrong, I just expect some engagement which results in my education. I guess we will see if the Alliance process really does listen to customers. Josh, feel free to straighten me out as well. Solar panels...now there is a rabbit hole worth going down. Maybe you can get to the bottom faster with your contacts.
@@jhbb5363 I wish I could directly forward this thread to someone.
If you have an active facebook account, then try looking up someone named Bill Martin from Alliance. He's their VP of customer service and he's the guy that can basically just say "Get this done. Make this happen."
Everything is case by case but I feel like he'd be interested in seeing what you're facing currently.
Great factory tour video! Thank you for taking the time to pull it together. It is great to see companies that are doing things the right way! My recommendation for a future factory tour is Grand Design. Also, a definite yes on including a base solar package...at minimum enough to support the 12v refrigerator.
Love these type of floor plans, but normally longer than wanted. This one is great! BUT, I see a few things. Bar is too small to use, so put cabinets under it. A Murphy bed setup in the bed slide would move the couch and let you put a table, chair dining next to the fridge. Also loose the double sink for a double closet. Murphy bed would also give bathroom access in road mode. You rock Josh! Love your informational, charismatic videos. Keep it up!
My pleasure, Derik!
Love my Avenue 32rls that I bought last year from Bish Rv lincoln NE. Best camper I have ever bought and was really happy to be out of my PITA Cougar that was a problem child from day one. I had two or 3 small issues that were all handle very quickly with just one email to Alliance Service. If my Avenue got totaled today, the only 5th wheel I would replace it with would be another Alliance.