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Question Have RVs Become Too Complicated?

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(@dave-helgeson)
Joined: 3 years ago
Posts: 3
Topic starter  

Have RVs become too complicated?  This is the spot to share your thoughts and experiences.


   
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(@Bill T)
New Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 4
 

I am reminded of an old quote I heard years ago and is "the more you overhaul the plumbing, the easier it is to stop up the drain" I believe that the RV market is gearing itself toward the new "mobile home" market demographic where everything is designed to have your "sticks and bricks" with you wherever you go. However,  I believe in the "R" in RV. "Recreational" travel is my attraction, even in retirement. I have been amazed by individual folks and the industry promoters that say I need 600 watts of solar and 50 gallons of water, blah blah blah, to live the RV lifestyle off the grid. I say nonsense. I have a 32' class C and spend many days of grid with just the factory installed 12v lead acid battery and 32 gallons of fresh water. The fridge, a few lights and occasional use of the water pump is all that's needed to enjoy recreational RV'ing. If you live/work in your RV full-time, good for you but unfortunately one demographic is appearing to dictate to others what RV'ing should be. 


   
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 Drew
(@Drew)
Active Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 6
 

Yes.  I think people are becoming slaves to their ill- functioning rv's.  I've begun to hear that parts and appliances/systems are inoperable right out of the box.  There couldn't be a much more frustrating experience than that in my opinion.  I'm always thankful we have a great functioning rig where most systems are manually operated.


   
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(@Micheal Whelan)
Active Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 13
 

Our 2004 Winnebago Class A was pretty straight forward. That which wasn't "readily apparent" to fix if it quit was well documented and could be repaired with some basic tools. I could fix and maintain about 80 percent of it. Now enter my genius of wanting to update to a more current model. Now our 2017 motorhome is so complicated that you need a manual to start it and put it on the road. Manuals are lacking and counting to much on the internet. That would be fine but those of us on the road don't always have internet. Add to manufacturer complications the government regulations, I refer to the DEF system and mandatory engine shutdown when the sensor says it is out of DEF (even though it is full) and you get a piece of iron that has to be towed to a speciality shop to install a new sensor that is not available so you can't use the coach because of a regulation that makes no sense...... Yes our RV's have become to complicated.....


   
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(@claude)
New Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 2
 

Yesssssssssss! Much tooooo complicated. most don't even know how to use 1/2 the stuffffff!!!!

Then there is the cost in time and $$$$ to keep it working!!!!


   
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 Drew
(@Drew)
Active Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 6
 

Bill T,

I agree.  Influencers not professionals are changing rv's.  Many of them aren't even involved with rv'ing anymore.  There was a couple who were also bloggers who had a direct influence over Fleetwood to redesign the Bounder's interior.  So what many of us liked got a permanent change that we're stuck with.  Guess what- those people have since followed different pursuits and are far away from the rv world.


   
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(@Mitzi Agnew Giles and Ed Giles)
New Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 1
 

For 25 years our cars have been purchased as 1-4 yrs old, only options were a/c and power steering (we both love driving stick shifts!) (and A/C is NOT an option in S Florida- it's a neccessity!)  When we bought the van -on- atruck- chassis to pull the molded fiberglass trailer we were brought forcibly into the 21st century. The tire sensors think we're missing a Left rear tire, the rear gate refuses to open unless manually pulled and held over our head, the music setup on the dash eats CDs, the headrests on the 1st row of rear seats are permanently pushed frward, the sun roof leaks, the washer impellor motor keeps dying on us- This from a car that was all good on purchase in 2016. The only thing working well so far as I'm concerned is the rear camera.

Now, the molded fiberglass trailer is pretty much simplicity itself. We can pull the cassette for the latrine from outside, the truck fridge works well on 12v, A/C is good, no problems with the extra window or storage portal. But then again, it is a molded fiberglass trailer. I strongly suggest anyone lookinng for less bells n whistles and a lighter weight check them out. There are far more manufacturers than there used to be, you can look up the variety available at www.fiberglassrv.com


   
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 Joel
(@Joel)
New Member
Joined: 3 months ago
Posts: 1
 

It seems the rv parks should have spaces opening up over the next few years if camping is truly this painful.


   
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(@Anonymous)
New Member
Joined: 1 second ago
Posts: 0
 

My wife and I recently bought a 2022 Heartland Sundance 231ML. When researching the style camper we wanted I found 3 models 2 of which had too many electronics and could even hook up to your cell phone. We chose the simplest one but this sacrificed some of the craftsmanship in the building, so if you decide to go simpler now you will unfortunately sacrifice quality.


   
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 tony
(@tony)
New Member
Joined: 1 year ago
Posts: 2
 

Ah yes they have.  The biggest problem is that the manufacturers do not put out a decent OWNERS MANUAL.  They give you a ream of pamphlets, guides, advertisements, warranty cards and other GENERIC material.  It is not for your model specifically, of course.  So you have to perform hours-long journeys on google, rv groups and companies to figure the entire mess out.  


   
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 Drew
(@Drew)
Active Member
Joined: 2 years ago
Posts: 6
 

Winnebago has always had an info pack that not only contains a manual but a product manual too that has all related info regarding your SPECIFIC MODEL RV.


   
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