Harvest Hosts Major Update, Layoffs Hit Newmar, Oliver Ends Legendary Service at Plant
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- Опубликовано: 28 июн 2024
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In this episode, we're taking a look at big changes coming to three major RV services, a big RV stovetop recall, layoffs at Newmar, and more.
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Back,in the day Good Sam was the “go to” entity for RVers. Considering these latest moves, I embrace their new motto. They’re “good to go”…as far away as possible.
Halo on old Good Sam logo is probably changing to devil’s horns on the new signage to more reflect Camping World.
They should change their name to Good Satan.
Good one!
Good information. Well, I hope Oliver is going to do a better job on picking RV Service centers then the rest of the industry. Because where I bought my trailer, Their service sucks.
Sorry to hear about New Mar lay offs and about Good Sam changing their logo. Glad Harvest Host will have dump stations. And good that they are helping non members as well as members. I hear you fine Jason with your mikes. I didn’t notice anything wrong. Thank you Jason for all this news and information.
The Oliver travel trailer story doesn’t surprise me. This something to which I alluded back when it was announced they’d be selling via RV dealerships. ALL of us already know that dealers provide truly crap service. Now, after spending a truly pretty penny, on their trailers, Oliver is ensuring that those purchasing its trailers get to, ummm, … enjoy what the rest of us have been. Get ready to learn DIY skills Oliver owners. Your “fun” is just beginning.
Princess Craft RV in Austin, TX is a new Oliver dealer partner. We hear good things about the PCRV service and support. Good content. Thanks.
Any time a company puts the repairing of their product in the hands of other companies, it's never good for the consumer.
Couldn’t agree more. Airstream is a good example.
That's a pretty silly comment. It's like expecting Ford owners to take their cars back to Detroit for repair. A curated dealer network will IMPROVE customer service. However, Oliver should also still accept repair work at their plant.
@ski3435 , well, you can't take your car to a Ford plant so why should Oliver still accept repairs at their plant? How many Oliver dealerships do you think there are? I'm guessing none. There are Ford dealerships and GM dealerships and Toyota dealerships but not too many dealerships for one manufacturer. When someone's Oliver breaks, it's getting in the months long line behind Winnebagos and Jaycos and Forest Rivers.
I too remember when it was beneficial to be a Good Sam member.
Thank you for sharing all the information
I’ve complained to the editor at Wildsam magazine that I was wondering who they were focusing the magazine on as it didn’t seem it was RVers. The next issue was better but still at a loss on some of the articles. I actually liked the previous version of the magazine. They said they are interviewing readers to get feedback.
We looked seriously at Oliver, including a factory tour. Probably would have bought one if it had been available sooner, but ultimately decided they were just a bit too small. Otherwise, thought they were fabulous machines. Mixed feelings about the move to a dealer/service network. One of our hesitations was that we could ONLY get service at the factory in Tennessee. On the flip side, I agree with the other comments about the quality and timeliness of RV dealer service departments. I must make an exception, however, for Woodland Airstream in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Absolutely top-notch, first class people and work.
We also did the tour and felt they were too small. Bought a nucamp t@b 400 which is smaller, but more headroom in the wet bath, and felt less like we were in a submarine. Nucamp limits its dealer/service as well, and the few experiences we’ve had were not to our expectations.
Oliver: Ouch. One of the reasons we bought a Tiffin was that we can go to Red Bay to go to the service center and/or use the ecosystem of outside vendors to get anything fixed or upgraded on the coach.
I was shocked to see the Oliver work environment with fiberglass and polishing without respiratory protection. 😊
You and me both!
Oliver owners are about to find out what being at the back of the line really means.
Informative as always. Thank you, Jason. I hope HH doesn't move too far away from their roots. We find the informality of many locations to be refreshing.
Oliver giving up factory repairs is bad news for Oliver Owners and the Oliver Brand. One of the reasons we purchased an Airstream was because of the Factory Service Center. RV Dealer repair capabilites are no where near the same quality as Auto repair capabilites, which understandable. Chevy Dealer’s Repair Services Centers Techs only have to know how to fix Chevys and have Chevy Parts. An RV dealer sells multiple brands. It would be impossible for their techs to be trained in all the majors brands they carry. Airstream dealer.s service centers can do some repairs but it takes the techs in Jackson Center to do major work correctly as we unfortunately found out. After 3 tries at the Airstream dealer in Maine we made the trip from New Hampshire to Ohio, twice once to drop it off and a month later to pick it up. Glad we did because the repair was performed perfectly and they address some other issues they discovered while it was there that we did not know about.
You forget that RV factories assemble equipment provided by others. Suburban, Furrion, and others give training courses so a tech should be able to fix nearly everything in an RV.
@@normferguson2769 When your house has a plumbing issue you hire a licensed plumber. Electrical a licensed Electrician. Roof leak or replacement licensed roofer. You don’t hire some guy who took a 3 day factory course. That is how Airstream approaches repairs and how Oliver use to. Most other RV manufacturers rely on dealers who sell multiple brands to make repairs in their behalf which is why the repairs fail so often. High end RV cost more because they are usually better built and have better post sale service and factory service for serious repairs. It seems Oliver is taking away that advantage.
Oliver, have you ever been in a fibreglass plant. The off gasses get into your nose and lungs. Very bad stuff. These employees need to be protected, horrible.
We visited the plant and there was much I questioned about worker safety. They make step in baths at his facility as well. Lots of cutting of fiberglass without capture systems. We were told 5 years ago that their production was limited due to environmental restrictions. Are these contract workers or employees? Are they trained or just another warm body that passed the drug test. Manufacturing is a mess in this country.
Congrats on the new HQ!
Yes, but Rock Island? Much better across the river in less tax supported inflated state employee pension plans, tax money supporting Cook and other Chicagoland counties and nasty antigun stuff.
Thanks for the cooktop info. I had a problem with mine in that the actual plastic knob caught fire and melted. Luckily I was in the camper at the time. The stove was replaced under warranty, and now another knob has sizzled wiring and the red light does not shut off. I basically have to remove the fuse to the stove when I’m not actually using it. Will call my dealer in the morning. Be safe, folks!
Glad it helped and hope you are able to get the problem fixed.
Thank you for the very useful information about Harvest Host and the virtual campground tours.
You sound great, btw.
Love it love from Quad Cities, follow RV Miles religiously .GREAT
Yes!! I haven’t joined Harvest Host because it felt like I was buying something sight unseen.
Ive had HH for 5 years and after many issues over the years decided to give them up recently after a farm host was “not available” for the month but would open for anyone wanting to pay $200 to stay there for the eclipse. If they’re host and have availability they should be open to me, not just people willing to pay $200.
It’s also harder these days (unless we go to a brewery) to find open and/available hosts.
Sounded great. Looking forward to using the new HH/BW app.
In Iowa, be prepared for much less patrol in State Parks with the conversion of Rangers to Conservation Officers. Same thing has happened in Michigan and Ohio and probably many other states.
HH, about time. We love HH but we needed to flip back from HH to Google maps all the time.
Thanks again Jason for the great rundown in RV news!
The Lake Keomah Iowa State Park Ranger told me last summer that State of Iowa was getting rid of the Rangers. Not good. This was my local state park in high school too many years ago. Now I visit every few years when I am in the neighborhood visiting family while RVing from Florida. the Ranger was the sole state law enforcement at this park.
Great video.
The sound quality was excellent this week. Thank you
Thanks for the news. Always appreciate your shows.
Our pleasure!
Thanks for covering the switch!
And when those Oliver partner dealerships are bought out by Camping World and their ilk, what happens then? Like all the others, Oliver is joining the race to the bottom.
There are definitely certain brands that swore they would never work with CW, and are now in bed with them because of buyouts.
Good informational video. I like that article on Harvest Hosts as I heard some negative about them.
Jason, I have been closely monitoring Oliver Travel Trailers making the decision to discontinue service at the Hohenwald plant. Laura and I are huge molded fiberglass camper fans and enjoy our Casita. We are Oliver fans. We have toured the facility and attended two Oliver rallies and have many friends that are Oliver owners. The decision to sell via a “select” dealer network and the recent decision for Oliver not to service their trailers in Hohenwald has definitely rocked the Oliver community. I am sure there will be some interesting dialog at the Oliver Rally next month!
I am not sure of the value to have Good Sam’s now.
Sounds great.
I wish you the best with your studio adventure.
Sound was excellent
We have been members of Harvest Host ever since we went full-time. We have covered Harvest Host on our channel also, however I feel the new $30 instead of $20 for Harvest Host overnight stays may deter new members from joining. I understand that a member will be purchasing $30 of products, however we will be staying at more boondockers welcome, which has no required fee. A fee of $30 is close to some, but not all RV campground prices. Can you address the price changes and maybe why Harvest feels the need to increase the money for Harvest Host stays. As you know when you are 100% on the road you have to watch every penny you spend.
The sound is good.
I believe you pretty much had your audio “dialed in”! I do enjoy your RV news. (Please don’t go the Wild Sam way!).
Sound was 👍🏻
Our suburban range/oven caught fire so take this recall serious. Knobs melted off; jammed fire extinguisher in the hole where the knob used to be and pulled the trigger. No damage except needed a new range/oven. Always wondered what on earth ignited the circuits and wiring (it was clean inside).
Could very well be sub par materials.
Sounded good to me.
As to mistakes, just remember: “To error is human, to really muck things up requires a computer!” 😊
Hah - super accurate
@@RVMiles - On Oliver, they make a niche product, after seeing one in person at the recent Dallas RV show, I was… less impressed than I was as their units are much smaller than you think. Their service, meaning that if you had a serious issue, you could take it to their plant and they would do whatever necessary to repair it, like Ember, was a BIG plus. One Ember owner with a dealership botched floor discoloration replacement issue essentially had their entire RV rebuilt from the frame up to make everything inside new again. Service Reputation is key to stronger sales. Losing this might not be a deal breaker for all, but it has in my opinion greatly reduced their value to me.
I'll be fishing jersey sods in the middle of the night.
I might have to try Harvest Host sometime!
You should! They’ve been a great edition to our RV travels.
Thanks for the RV news! Audio much improved! From my limited experience, try to do very little to your audio in post. And since you didn't ask, I would also suggest a wireless lavalier mic like the Shure WL185. Or a shotgun mic that you can place off frame ie 416 Sennheiser. The boom mic is not a good look for your videos, podcast yes, but not videos.
I’ve got lots of mics. The echo is fierce in this room. This mic is for the podcast, I’ll be able to ditch it for the lab or shotgun once I get it better treated.
@@RVMiles All that glass, bare walls and floor, no doubt!
I have no use for use for Camping World and Good Sam's.
Does anyone know the name of the podcast RV miles was doing that was about national parks stories? It wasn't the podcast of the RV miles stories but one covering a national park and it's stories in one episode. I made it to episode 100 and 2021 and then when I went to my summer job I was very remote and I did not have the signal keep listening to the show but then I forgot the name of it. When this video popped up on RUclips it reminded me all over again. Thanks thanks for any help.
America’s National Parks Podcast. Look forward to having you rejoin us there!
I understand Oliver building a dealer network, but that doesn’t mean they couldn’t continue to offer service at the Mother Ship for those who want yo make the trip…ala Winnebago, Newmar, Tiffin, and many other mfrs.
Uh…. Jason? Of all the locations online, what’s the best way to reach you?
Editor@rvmiles.com
Let’s hope that Oliver owners are vocal regarding their dealership service experiences. Waiting months for warranty service is both predictable and unacceptable.
The RV companies are having problems in this great economy, what a surprise. Having the home base is nice but I think you get a better feel for what's going on by being on the road with other RVers full-time. It should be a good tax write-off. Good luck.
Good Sam:
The biggest business problem when a business is taken over by a godless leadership is that they move from a model of serving their customers to a model of exploit their customers , from understanding the customer to try to brainwash the customer into whatever it seems more profitable to them and that is how, after an initial short time of financial "success" they put the business into a decline path....
I agree with you. I worked for a supply and subcontractor, 110 year old company. Then new ownership , changed their business model, more profits and shut down in two years.
Oliver 😂 Oliver "4-season" 🤣
Rebranding Good Scam won't help especially with those who suffered their extended warranty type contract scams 😂
RE: Iowa Park Rangers. You don't become a ranger to fine people for illegal dumping. It sounds to me like they want to get rangers to quit.
Newmar will go down hill thanks to Winnebago.
No one has a spine or true character anymore. Oliver is doing this because they are greedy. Plain and simple.
Hey Good Sam! You should have stuck with the halo Biblical iconography. It was a strategic marketing mistake to drop the good samaritan parable reference. Now I would NEVER join because you have gone woke. Brace for your incoming Bud Light moment.
A lot of Christians have criticized them for using it. Regardless, they moved from being a service club a long time ago.
This speech is sooooo worn out 😂
Good Sam went woke and now will go broke.