Per RVIA statistics (Recreational Vehicle Industry Association) last month 28,000 RV's were sold in the USA. 25,000 of those were "towable" RV's. Even on this forum, we didn't hear 25,000 complaints about new RV's having issues!
Cars have issues too, but Cars have several rating services that will give reliability ratings...J.D. Powers, Consumer Reports, Forbes Magazine for example. RV buyers have no such unbiased source of RV Lemons. You have to do your own research, and rely to a big extent on your own gut feelings and reputation of the brand.
An RV builder that gives a 2 year warranty is nice, gives a little more confidence...but the mantra about RV's is that every company churns out a lemon now and again. Plus you do have to know a bit about "do it yourself" RV Repairs.
I like Jayco, and we've has 7 of them with no issues...but every brand can and does squeeze out a lemon every now and again. So that's where customer service steps up and a really great dealership comes in handy.
That's when a forum like this comes in handy...we're always here to give a hand.
So as the wise, old monk at the shaolin temple used to say..."Pick wisely, Grasshopper!" Do your homework, research the brand, and inspect the potential new RV with a keen eye. And again...make sure the dealer has a good reputation for customer service.
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
Anything mechanical will have problems at one time or another. Like anything else, you have to maintain it and check systems out to catch things before they are major. I have been camping for over 40 years and have owned tents, pop-ups and 2 5ers. The most troublesome RV was the Class A and that was due to poor engineering.
Problems with the pop-up = 0
Class A = Too many to list. Mostly engine, roof, tires.
Fifth Wheel = The first one had plastic draw guides. Some broke. Just replace.
Keep an eye on the roof and use Dicor to fill in any suspect areas. Keep your RV clean. Lubricate the slides and other area requiring lubrication. Get a surge protector. If you don't want to get a single unit then get some one time store models and plug everything into them or use both like I do. Keep your tires at the recommended PSI per manufacture. Do not get tires made in China; they will fail. Change tires after every 6 years.
An RV is a home on wheels. You must maintain it just like a home + vehicle. They do get banged around a lot. But they are fun and you will never have another experience equal to RVing.
I think your fears are justified. If cars, trucks, etc. were the level of quality and reliability of the average RV, I think we wouldn't even buy them. To buy a new one in order to get the warranty, you will pay dearly. Of course you can have trouble with a used one but at least you have a lot less invested, less depreciation and can better afford repairs. But, the good news (sort of) is that we are still plugging along with a 1999 Jayco, Eagle small 5th wheel for which we paid about $10,000 9 years ago. I think the quality is better than a lot of RV's we read about. The bad news- we've spent thousands on repairs. Not sorry we bought it and still like it but really glad we didn't spend over $10000 more on a low end new one.
belfert wrote: Why would the dealer discount because the seller can't use the manufacturer's warranty? The warranty money generally goes to the manufacturer. Is the manufacturer going to let a dealer sell a unit with no warranty?
I guess if you are going into the dealer and paying full price it wouldn't matter. When I buy any large item, vehicle, RV etc. I never tell the dealer what I like. That is a plus in his basket. I tell them what I don't like and start dealing on price. Encountering bad out of area warranty service is just one such item I could bring up when I look at an RV. For example, mattress isn't comfortable it will cost me to replace it after purchase. Although I downgrade the product I never degrade the dealership. I tell them I'm there because I have heard good things about them and although I have been to other dealers I heard I can get a better deal here. Even if he is the first dealer I've been to. I don't want them to think they got an easy sale. Some dealers will cut you off and that is good. I don't waste their time or mine either.
If you've never had a TT before there is a definite advantage to buying used: if you find that a) you find you don't care for the traveling then you aren't out so much money, b) if you find that there are things about the TT you find you can't stand, you can now look for an RV that will be exactly what you want and you're not out so much money.
We bought used the first time, discovered things that were important to us and bought a new unit the next time that was what we wanted.
Scared is good. Not referring to TT your looking at, just in general. By you doing your research and thinking about it, your way ahead of most buyers. Lots of good units out there, I was and am fond of Komfort for example. Read reviews vist members forums. In the end just buy it right and if it does not work, sell it and upgrade.
donn0128 wrote: If you are scared, then DON'T buy. Get off the new kick and buy used. Save the extra cash and depreciation for repairs and go camping. Unless you are totally excited to make a purchase it is crazy to jump into it.
You can spend $25,000 or less on a brand new unit or you can spend $250,000 and up for the same size ---- You get what you pay for and sales people aren't very helpful - caveat emptor - do your own research, tour the factory, get what you are comfortable with based on how you plan to use.
2012 3055RL Big Horn - Dexter 7000 lb axles - G rated LT Tires
MorRyde, Genset, Dual Panes, 2 A/C, Yeti Package
2013 F350 DRW 4x4 Crew King Ranch
WI Bowhunter wrote: I bought a new Jayco 23B HTT and this is the families 3rd summer camping in it. I have had 0 issues with it. No warranty work, no money out of my pocket so far(except all that camping of course) and adding grease to hubs. That was the only disappointment I had, I ran the hubs for the first summer only to realize that manufacturers do not fill the grease hubs. They just put enough to get it off the line. Luckily I had no problems on the road.
So, I say find a manufacturer that has a 2 year warranty like you said and go have fun!!!
It seems that people who say that they have had no problems always come in with "but". But is a problem. It is not normal for a manufacture to not fill the hubs with greese. Who told you that? Not putting grease in the hubs is not a little thing. Alot of people don't seem to know or even care when there is a problem with their trailer. Alot of those will say, "we had no problems, but."
Offline
