By Gail Marsh
I’ve just been thinking … What if actual RVers could make suggestions directly to the RV industry, its manufacturers, and/or designers? I know what I’d suggest! It would be all about doors, and my letter would read something like this:
Dear RVIA,
Please design a latch mechanism for RV entry/exit doors that doesn’t require a person to slam the door in order to securely close it. I have yet to find a way to quietly close our RV door. The necessary slamming often disturbs other family members who prefer “sleeping in” when camping out.
And while you’re at it, could you take a look at the closures on RV cabinet doors? I don’t understand how the cabinet doors seem to open easily when our RV is moving down the road but require a real hard tug when I need to open that same cabinet when parked. What gives?
Sincerely,
Gail (an actual RVer)
How about you? If you could communicate directly with industry leaders (designers and engineers), what would you suggest for RV improvements? If we’re lucky, maybe someone in RVIA will read and consider implementing our suggestions.
##RVT1001
Create a REAL quality control program that has the authority to make improvements and inspect/test/reject/return those products, as they are being assembled, that fail the standard.
Yep!!
The industry needs to employ a man or woman that cooks a lot to design their kitchens. Many fifth wheels have no counter space next to the stove (where do you put hot pans or serve food onto plates)? Some have one large & one small sink – no one can use the small sink! It’s too small for anything! There are a few that have the counter in an L shape where there is only one way in or out!
I would like to see the old floorplan in a travel trailer with the kitchen in the front, with the countertop across width of the trailer under a front window.
Please stop putting the bed on the driver side! When I’m in bed I don’t want to be in my neighbors yard!
Stop putting the bed on the driver side! It slides out into the “neighbors yard”! When I’m in bed I don’t want to be at their party!
Make a better quality product, and be a manufacturer that will actually provide good customer service when repairs to your product are needed – especially within warranty. Stop passing this on to the dealers who couldn’t care less.
Yep!!
Stop making so many different models! Make a limited number of quality models that the builders and techs and parts people can handle. Have the guts to have flagship models that can stand up to tough reviews and build loyalty.
Stop rushing the builds and encouraging sloppy work. Find some way to inspect units and reward the factory teams that delivery high quality.
If the parts distributors can’t do a better job than they are doing now, and this includes manufacturers, then turn the whole thing over to Amazon. When techs literally tell you to go find parts on Amazon (not easy when there are 10,000 models out there) because their distributor will take weeks or months to get it to you, something is very very wrong.
Stop filling the inside of EVERY rig with shiny crap that belongs in a resort hotel. IT’S CAMPING. I don’t want to haul around granite countertops, baby my stainless steel or glass range surfaces so they don’t scratch like hell.
Quality is Job 1!! Learned that Elementary School!!
How about – if you can sell so many RV’s – why are you not diversifying and guaranteeing those you sell have somewhere to go?
Build RV Parks.
You are overpopulating and the end is coming to your sales as horror stories will abound when people spend their 20k or 300k and can’t get in anywhere. We all know it is coming.
The RV industry MUST vertically integrate to survive. Do it or combine this with Biden’s insane rush to destroy fossil fuel and with nowhere to go will end your business.
By the way – anyone find it strange we never hear or see the RV industry lobbying congress about fossil fuel? No Keystone, hacked Colonial but approved Russian pipelines while our fuel is $1 gallon more today than when Biden took office? Not a peep from RVIA????
I AGREE
I agree with Rich pointing out the poor Owners Manuals and Operations of systems on virtually all RVs. This is my second motor home that I have no idea on how to set the time and other functions of the in-dash multi-complex radio, CD player, 3-Camera Monitor.
Design-wise, I would like to see better laid out entrance ways that provide space for muddy shoes and a convenient location to hang a wet jacket upon entry after setting up or tearing down in the pouring rain.
It would be nice to have bigger windows and bigger holding tanks in truck campers. Also, if the dinette is supposed to convert into a bed, make it long enough to fit an adult!
One more mirror or monitor camera to show the front bumper of the RV.
Please include a vent fan in the ceiling of fifth wheel front bedrooms. It’s at least 4-5 degrees hotter up there. Second AC has to work extra hard. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Increase quality and prices.
build wiring harnesses using a gig panel with modular connectors, tie wrap the various cables in the harness and get away from the spaghetti mess behind the walls and panels. saves time and money. increases quality.
split heat pumps
add a junction box on the roof with a conduit down to the basement
Slow down construction and make a better quality product. For the price of new ones there is no excuse for poor quality needing repairs before one ever uses it.
yep!!
I would suggest that all sales personnel have completed a certified course in order to sell RV’s and present their paperwork to the sellers.
I would also stay away from any RVF that has staples in the construction.
True Story!!. Our Salesperson was “so bad”. Hmmn > Wonder where the Mfr/Dealer Sales Trainer went??
Better and more specific documentation. I have a motorhome that is “solar ready” but I can find no documentation on what this means. I know there is a connection on the roof, but where does it go from there? What all is included in “solar ready”? Just the wire? I have the electrical schematics from the manufacture but I have no clue how to read them. The generic owner’s manual is so general it could apply to any motorhome and has nothing in it about solar. I suspect that is exactly what the manufactures want just to save money. They have one manual for all their RVs and they can just throw one in and forget it. As a customer, this is awful.
1) Mini-splits for air conditioning/ heating
2) 12-volt fridges
3) So many Americans eat meals in front of the tv, why not offer the option of theater seating with fold-away tables, and eliminate standard booths or tables and chairs? Use the space for counter tops and moveable storage. That gives the customer real flexibility.
Provide a Solar option. Not just a panel for topping off the battery, but a legitimate solar option. This includes placement of controllers and batteries.
These are all very valid responses, and I support what everyone has said.
Today after cleaning I say, use screens and windows that are easier to insert and remove screens for cleaning purposes. Secure and mount screens in such a way that they actually keep bugs out. Ours are for ever coming undone and have to have spline redone, as well as huge gaps between screen and window, likely due to having to bend frame to remove and clean inside glass. 🤦♀️
No carpet- anywhere.