Knowing what you know about the quality of RVs and how they’re made, would you buy a house built by the same people using the same RV construction materials and techniques?
If you answer no, please leave a comment after you vote and explain why not. If you vote yes, please leave a comment and tell us what high-quality RV you own! Hehe. Thanks!
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Voted yes but only if built by Tiffen, before Thor.
Did you read the article right after this one on Tiffin recalling motorhomes? “The backlight circuit board in the cooktop range may fail, causing the board to overheat.” After Thor, no difference.
It would not be required to move so tail lights aren’t necessary
Absolutely not. There are building codes galore in the housing industry, apparently NONE in the RV industry.
When I first saw this I thought it was a ‘joke’ question.
🤪 bonkers.
The reason these things are on wheels is so when the weather is bad you can leave. Hurricanes and tornadoes do a job on this type of construction.
I voted’No’, but would change my mind if built by New Horizons.
Not worthy of northern climates.
Even though we spend 2/3 of our year in one of our 3 RV’s (camping, living, travelling), they are not our S&B home base. They are nothing more than glorified, hard-sided camping “tents”. We’d rather be in our S&B home during inclement weather (snow, cold, high winds, tornado). We RV to follow the weather & enjoy the great outdoors. If our RV’s were built like our home they wouldn’t stand up to the horrific road conditions and would be shaken apart, as if they were suffering an earthquake. That said, I think we’d prefer to be in an RV during an earthquake.
The housing industry is has been cutting corners on new houses for years. Especially large nationwide companies.
Substandard construction that barely meet code. Most use low end plumbing and fixtures, furnaces, water heaters, appliances, electrical, insulation, lumber and other materials.
Plus, unskilled working building the houses.
We have a housing plan near us, with $300k houses that proves this. Almost every house has siding that is buckling and coming loose. These houses look good for a few years, then the problems start.
Bob, great comment.
For years I’ve watched homes and apartments being built that don’t look like they even have wood on the exterior for siding to fasten to…just foam! Everything about them has the appearance of looming trouble with little use.
Sad fact that pride and craftsmanship in nearly everything we buy is on the decline. It’s not gone in all cases, but much, much harder to come by. ☹️
Given the recent frame-flex problems in 5th wheel trailers, I can only imagine what the foundation of such a house would look like.
With the shortage of housing they would make great rentals for low income residents.
The construction industry has its faults, for sure, but at least it’s regulated. When they build a house even the cheapest contractor has to meet certain safety codes and pass inspections. Nothing like that exists in the RV industry. When you buy an RV it’s blind faith that you chose the right manufacturer that hopefully puts out a quality product.
No, are you kidding?
Newmar builds their motorhomes in the same fashion as stick built homes, but some different materials in places. They have 16″ OC wall studs (aluminum), Batt Insulation, a vapor barrier, a layer of 5/8″ foam board over the barrier, and wallboard. Hung thick fiberglass (not laminated) sidewalls. Roof and floors structurally the same. Beautifully crafted wood cabinets, etc. From the factory tour, I’d say half the builders are Amish. Exceptional build for the industry.
That said, my area’s winter climate is still too harsh, so voted “no.” But elsewhere????
If there was a qualified building inspector “on site” I would consider it.
Mike
We own a Lance, which is high quality but houses have totally different building requirements.
Pick up your house, put it on a trailer and then take it down the same roads at 70 m.p.h. that your RV travels. I think you’ll find your house will fare far worse. That said, put your RV on a solid foundation with permanent utilities and I think it will hold up comparably to the current “quality” of most new homes. Apathy and indifference isn’t limited to RV construction….
“YES” if built to true “park model” (not “destination trailer”) standards and located in a warm climate. Park models are NOT RVs and you and I cannot legally tow one! They are built to modified residential standards with residential roofing and siding; residential insulation; residential plumbing and wiring; residential heating, cooling, and water heating; and residential furniture and appliances. The differences from destination trailers are obvious–true park models are limited to 399 sq. ft., have NO slides and NO holding tanks, and are wider than 8.5′ (generally 11-13′), so must be towed by a commercial hauler as a “wide load”. They are really small “im-mobile homes” filling RV resorts!
OK, that makes it a house and not a Trailer right?
This isn’t a serious question, is it?
I agree with Vince S comments
My “No” vote requires a comment? Really?
‘Nuff said, Phil.👍🤣 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
If the home was built like my Born Free motorcoach, I would say yes!
The “NO” folks must not know about PARK MODEL RV’S. We lived in one for 10 years in a 55+ community (on & off while RVing the USA). Had an addition added onto one side and we had 880 sq. ft.
Constant expensive upgrades and maintenance is what I want to avoid.
My trailer was built in 2015. it has been pretty sturdy and still good after years of on the road bouncing. but as a sticks and brick… very noisy in a heavy rain/ hail storm (roof too thin). Walls too thin (not enough insulation) for very cold, wintery weather and not that great in hot weather. Floor would need more insulation for cold/hot weather. a little to bouncy. cannot hang too much on the thin walls
It depends upon whose materials and techniques were used. I bought my Newmar because of the quality of materials and how it was built. Others companies build to a lesser standard.
Our Newmar is built better than some houses
No I would not want to purchase a house that was built with the same materials and then the same fashion as my RV. I would expect my house to be built much much more solidly with higher quality materials with much better insulation and plumbing
As much as I like the construction of our older class-a, building a house using the same construction techniques would be foolish.
No, not by the current methods and materials. If it was built like my 47 year old MH I definiterly would.
What a stupid idea
This is not a well-written survey question as it is open to much interpretation and opinion.
A home using the craftsmanship of a low-end Thor vs the craftsmanship of a Prevost is not the same at all, yet the survey question puts them on a level field.
Thank you, RV Travel! 🙂 I said, “No,” but probably should have said, “Yes.” A house doesn’t move, and certainly not move over rough, pot-holed roads at approximately the speed limit. An RV that’s stationary is in much better shape, and stays that way more nearly, than one that is mobile. Ultimately it was “No” because we already have a house. Thanks again and safe travels! 🙂
I live in a manufactured home…if it was built by the same methods/materials as my well built precovid KZ I would think twice about it. I tell people who put manufactured homes down that mine has already withstood a hurricane flying down the road at probably 65-70 mph with wind whipping around it. Could their stick built do that?
why not, as long as nothing is rotten
If I was to go rv construction route I would just buy a double wide trailer. Who would buy a house of 2×2 boards and staples.
NO WAY!!!! My new triple slide Host truck camper had over 70 issues of things that failed, leaked or needed some kind of repair in the first year, including 11 different water leaks, a failed tv, fridge, inverter, electric jacks, 3 vent fans, foggy double pane window, & broken slide-out shaft shear pins, among many other things, with shoddy construction & poor quality materials. There is no way I would buy a house built to those shoddy standards. The camper has many wonderful features, with tons of features packed into a small camper, but the construction & quality of appliances & materials is sadly lacking, & does not hold up to real life use.
If you answered NO why did you any buy RV since with few exceptions they are all built similar with the same lack of quality materials and assembly?
A house and an RV are totally different, RVs are made structurally to hold up to much abuse on the road. Many people try to compare the two but that is impossible even down to the interior. That being said I have built houses and also worked on travel trailers and have found that quality in workmanship varies greatly. I have to give most RV companies credit on the structure while the interiors leave a lot to be desired. If you were to take a house and put it on wheels, tow it for thousands of miles it would it hold together?