By Russ and Tiña De Maris
Over the years, we’ve heard from countless frustrated RVers. The story goes something like, “I bought a brand-new RV and hardly got to use it the first year. It spent most of the time getting repairs made, right from the start!”
The rants about nearly every RV manufacturer are myriad. Yes, even RV dealers admit the quality of RVs they’re selling is often lousy, and they point the finger back at the manufacturers.
But hang on, are RVers responsible, in part, for the junk being dumped on the market today?
RVtravel.com reader puts in his two bits
When we started our RV Consumer Support series a few years ago, we asked readers to share their RV problems with us. One of the first emails we received was a thought-provoker from Mike W. He opened with this thought: “I have come to the conclusion that we, the RV owners, are a part of the lack-of-quality problem. We have come to expect and accept flaws from the factory or dealer as normal and to be expected.”
Yep, we’ve all heard the analogy: Your RV is nothing more than a big house, bouncing down the roadway. Of course, things are going to break, you just have to expect it! And it’s true, things do take quite a shaking, and things can break. But is it that way from the start? Here’s Mike’s take:
“As a former aircraft owner, when I bought an aircraft, I expected it to be right, and would not even consider delivery if it was not. I cannot imagine myself saying ‘I noticed the Navigation was not functioning properly. That’s OK. Deliver it and we will address it later.’ I guess the same thinking could then be applied to a loose wing? No, as an aircraft buyer, known issues were addressed before we accepted the aircraft.”
It starts at the walk-through
Are RVers responsible for some of the shoddy workmanship coming from Indiana and other manufacturing states? The case could be made that we are, IF.
If we do the walk-through on that brand-new (or “previously owned”) RV and we notice something isn’t right.
If a buyer spots something that isn’t right and refuses to take possession, something’s going to happen. First, it will likely irritate the daylights out of the seller. If the seller gets enough irritation because he’s been delivered an RV by the factory that isn’t truly ready to sell, word will get back to the manufacturers.
Next, it’ll probably get our problem fixed a whole lot quicker than if we went ahead and accepted delivery, figuring we could come back later for a fix. After all, who do you suppose will get quicker attention—the guy who the dealer already got the money from, or the one who the dealer is waiting for the payoff?
Granted, this isn’t going to cover those things that “happen” after you take delivery. Here’s what we heard from John K. A few days after taking delivery of his new Dynamax motorhome, it began to rain. It was then that John discovered that the bedroom slideout seals had been installed backwards! John had to take the “Leakin’ Lena” back to the factory, where the seals were properly installed. But that didn’t end it. More problems turned up on subsequent outings—things that John says adequate quality control should have caught in the first place.
Do this when taking possession
Was John, as an RVer, responsible for this mess? Well, certainly not for the slide-out seals. But anytime we buy a rig, it really is OUR responsibility to do a thorough walk-through.
Do ALL appliances work? Tell the dealer to turn on the fridge before you come for the walk-through. Did you turn off and on all the lights, all the electrical goodies? Have the dealer demonstrate the run-out and in of ALL slide-outs. Have the dealer hook water up to the rig—then test all water-using knick-knacks. And take a look in ALL cabinets and storage areas to ensure there’s no water running out where it shouldn’t.
In fact, you may be pumping a huge amount of money into the purchase of a new RV—some of which, as Mike W. says, “cost about the same” as an aircraft. That’s a mighty big investment, so why not drop just a fraction of what that new rig costs on another thing?
Hire a qualified independent RV inspector to go over the unit before you take possession. If they find issues with the rig, turn their “punch list” over to the dealer. They can get their money as soon as they fix the problems. Then MAKE SURE they really DID the repairs.
Even before the walk-through
When dealing with sales folks at the dealership, there are a couple of other things that can help. If RVers don’t want to be responsible for rubbish RVs, lay it on the line. Tell the salesman flat-out of your intention to have the unit inspected by an independent party prior to acceptance. If they balk, then walk.
How can you protect yourself against those things that seem to crop up AFTER you take possession? Here’s the advice from Ron Burdge, an attorney and RV lemon law activist. Burdge says there are nine words that should be handwritten by the dealer into any sales contract you sign. “We give buyers a 24-hour warranty against defects.” Why that phrase?
Yes, when you buy a new RV, the factory will give its own warranty, undoubtedly much longer than 24 hours. However, the statement binds the dealership into backing you up. And not just for 24 hours. Under federal law, in most states, such a statement forces the seller into an implied warranty of merchantability. In those states, the dealer is on the hook for taking care of the seller, not just for 24 hours, but for four YEARS. But, again, the dealer must write this into the contract.
We can make a difference
If enough RVers stand up against lousy quality control and poor RV workmanship, the manufacturers will hear. If they hear it enough, it may well be that they’ll put a little more time into turning out better quality RVs.
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RVT1237
Myles from the YouTube Channel Myles RV has been showing European RV’s from the 2025 Düsseldorf Caravan show. The prices are higher than here in the US but that is because Europe has more regulations and the quality of the build is better. Myles often asks if American buyers would be willing to spend more if the quality were better. For part time RVers, I think it is hard to justify spending 10-20K more, but I could be wrong.
I might spend the money. I have 2017 Airsteam 25’. We use is for please and as our home while working on the road. We have been very lucky, however if purchasing new today, I would pay more. The time to get repairs, get parts in and be without your RV ( especially if you live full time) can add up very quickly. I have been to the Caravan n. Shows over there, the RVs very different in ways that are hard to explain. Lovely product.
Dealers and manufacturers will always take advantage of us, the buyers, as long as we are complacent about it. It’s a fractured system that we all pay for by letting the emotions of buying a new toy accept the disappointing quality. If I’ve learned anything reading RVT, it is that I will never, ever buy a new RV. I’ll selfishly let the someone else take the hit on that. Add in the intertwined complex of the Thor, Coachmen, Forrest River, etc., etc., conglomerate and it’s a sure fire loss for someone. And we just keep buying them, so, yep, we keep asking for it.
Buyers are not responsible for poor factory assembly. They are responsible for the consequences.
There are consequences for dismissing repairs before signing. There are consequences for expecting aircraft quality at a Yugo price. There are consequences for not ensuring everything works before you’re in a pinch. And of course, there are consequences for the buyer’s abuse/misuse.
But what about used? You can’t drive quality into an RV.
Good article. It’s partly dumb luck, but we’re still happy with our first RV that we bought four years ago. I have to admit, it took me a few years of learning to realize that our 31 foot Rockwood fiver came with better than average components and was put together in a Millersburg, IN plant that’s staffed and managed by some really good people. (Looking at you, Plant #10!) And probably just as important, the pre-delivery inspection done by Edmundson RV in Edinburgh, IN was really thorough and did catch several things I would have missed. It’s a shame that our experience seems to be the exception, and not the rule.
It might cost more for good quality, but there will still be a drive for everyone in the production chain to first simply pocket more. There has to be a clear sign that buyers will pay more ONLY IF the build is clearly better and not just because marketing says so. Warranties that actually mean something is the place to start.
As for the pre-delivery inspection, our 2022 was obviously sabotaged by a skilled electrical installer. A number of circuits were deliberately wired so the issues would not appear at PDI. It was dark inside the dealer’s garage. Turn on the lights, they work, push the buttons on the sensor panel, tanks read empty. Only after leaving, push the sensor buttons, they don’t work. Turned out the cabin lights have to 1st be on. Black and gray tank lights reversed. The rig was setup for an owner installed TV. I got smart and found the antenna and cable jack were reversed with 12v going to the cable (and TV) and no power to the roof antenna amplifier. Glad I’m handy with a meter.
When two major dealers control about half of RV sales then the warranty issue falls on those two to provide the impetus to force better QC. Neither of the two have the incentive to do this. They know that higher quality will result in higher costs and that will have a major impact on their sales. Keeping a unit in the shop ‘waiting for parts’ and killing off most of the warranty period is beneficial to both the dealer and the manufacturer. It keeps the repair costs down by pushing defects off so they will not be noticed until after the warranty expires and in some cases provides unscrupulous service departments with a lot full of parts that can be borrowed.
No, no, and no. Many buyers are new to camping and would not be able to judge quality even if handed a checklist. Many systems are hidden behind walls and you don’t see bad quality until repairs are needed. Most dealers do not allow ‘wet’ inspections with water tanks full.
No one scraping to afford a humble travel trailer is going to find a qualified inspector and pay for inspection of multiple units before buying. They assume, because there are quality standards for new automobiles, that if they pay extra to buy new, they are getting something fit for use.
How dare anyone in this industry blame the end user for bad quality?
Great response. Outrageous to blame the end user for the junk they sell. Great point, who can afford to bring their own inspector to look at several RV’s at different dealerships. Need lemon law for RV’s.
Every week I share my ideas on what to look for and how to shop for an RV – the information is out there and readily available.
Before I bought my first new RV I already understood build quality, systems and brands to look for. If I’m spending tens of thousands of dollars I’m not just looking at how pretty the cabinets are.
So, sorry, but people are buying cheaply-built rigs at dealerships with very few positive reviews. Be an informed consumer or not – the choice is yours.
I think, in part, it was competition from Japanese auto makers that encouraged improvements in American car manufacturing. Without competition RV manufacturers will not improve on quality.
There are good quality products – like Lance trailers for example – but they cost almost twice as much as we could afford. We are in the micro Minnie price range and so there was no competition from Lance for our business. Luckily, so far, I’ve been able to do the many repairs myself.
I have a new 2025 Ford F150 Hybrid and in the 1st three months I’ve had four recalls. By the 4th month I had trouble starting the truck a couple times. The 2021 F150 hybrid I had plenty of recalls and issues. Now it’s a night mare with vehicle electronics. American vehicles have gone down hill.There almost caught up to RV’s
I agree that it is the electronics in our new vehicles. Electronics are being used where they do not need to exist in the first place, or actually understanding how those electronics work.
Our buying experience was good because I told our out-of-town dealer before I ever stepped on their lot that, as an old pilot, I live by checklists. I had a six page PDI that we would complete before he ever saw my check – NON-NEGOTIABLE! I was there with a very patient repair tech for a day and a half. As new RV’rs I was going to be sure before I drove off. I spent twice as much for a Lance than the Jayco I initially wanted. But it was worth it. Literally nothing was found on the inspection and the mechanic walked away with a generous cash tip. But, everyone buying an RV of any brand better be a handyman/mechanic. Rv’s are like aircraft – constant maintenance is needed for a safe trip.
The only reason Japanese competition did not happen is our US government essentially bans imported RVs. Instead of industry leaders appreciating this break they were given, they took it as a green light to have shabby quality.
I did just that last year with two brand new semi tractors. I refused to accept delivery until everything was right.
Priced at over $180,000 each, I wasn’t going to compromise a bit. Those trucks sat at the dealer for five months until they were perfect.
The flaws? Start with a twisted frame from improper transport, wrong exhaust system, runs in the body paint, loose interior parts with missing fasteners, just to name a few.
The dealer was actually shocked that I finally signed and agreed to receive them. The kicker? The dealer said this happens all the time and that customers don’t usually inspect them.
HI Bob: Interesting. I am wondering where your money was during the 5 mos the units were on the lot? Was the dealer floor planning/financing or was he earning on your deposit or full payment, and were you paying bank interest or losing earning interest during the 5 mos.?
This seems to be the problem with Rv’s; – dealers, mfgr’s get paid by the buyer or bank and the buyer is left making payments on an unusable product waiting for parts which aren’t stocked or inattention to already paid for product sales and commissions.
They had a $40,000 “deposit” but it was frozen government assets (EDA Covid money).
The actual payment was not delivered until I took possession. I had to play serious hard ball with the dealer, threats of calling their corporate president. I even contacted Freightliner corporate.
The bottom line is those trucks should have never left the factory.
But, Bob you had the sense and education to look at, and know what you were looking at, to know it was not right. Because of my background I feel I can do the same. The problem is that so many people today have no idea as to what they are looking at, no less to know if is is right or wrong. Something has happened to peoples curiosity to have informally educated themselves along the way.
Very true. If people do not have the knowledge, they should hire a certified RV inspector (even on a brand new unit).
It would be money well-spent in the long run, and could save a lot of headaches.
There is so much good information out there starting right here at RVTravel. There is zero excuse to be uninformed yet I see social media posts that make me cringe – things like “how do I light my furnace” or things that are super basic. Come on, people, you’re spending tens of thousands of dollars and committing yourself for a decade or more. Spend a day reading this website and learning just the basics before you go and saddle yourself with a decade of debt and frustration.
True, so true. I feel I am quite handy with mechanical things, BUT, no matter how big or small, cheap or expensive something is, I read the manual before operating. This one may operate just a little differently than the last one I had. I have used the internet, but that surely is a double triple check source. RV Travel has been the most reliable resource among all.
Stop Buying from the Big 3 or their Affiliates. Only buy from a Company with an Owner. (In-Tech, Oliver, Pleasure Way, Leisure Travel, Casita, Luxe, etc.)Go to RV Shows, use a little impulse control and take a deep breath. YouTube and Google are your Friends. (Liz Amazing and Blue Ox RV Inspectors come to mind.) RV Manufacturers pay Lobbyists and Politicians to keep the quality accountability in their favor. They are very difficult to sue. They sell Lemons that turn into Cabbage for them and their Stockholders.
Insist on an inspection.
Take a deep breath. Nobody needs an RV.
Strong Lemon Laws for RVs will incentivize better construction.
Buying a RV.
When the DREAM turns into a NIGHTMARE!
The responsibility for poor quality of today’s RV’s in America is on both sides. Manufacturer’s and Buyer’s!
The manufacturer who try’s to keep their price as LOW as possible to sell their product by using cheap products or inferior assembly methods AND the buyers who let the RV DREAM take over when buying their RV and not looking at or understanding what they are buying!
Nothing new here!
The RV industry is just one of many industries where is occurs.
What is AMAZING is the amount of DREAMERS that are willing to SPEND OR FINANCE the amount of money needed to buy today’s RV JUNK!
Until RV buyers unite and stop buying RVs with quality issues from the factory there is hardly any incentive for manufacturers or dealers to have high quality products. 1st we have to insist on outside 3rd party inspections before deciding to commit any $ to the dealership. 2nd we have to insist on only voting for those elected officials who will work to enact lemon laws for RVs. 3rd we have to refuse to initial or sign clauses in our dealer contracts that give our rights away…
Everyone complains about the problem but hardly any buyer does these things (including myself)
Twenty year loans for something that rapidly depreciates and for something that no one really needs, attracts people into their fantasy world of “freedom” and RV manufactures know that if they show the bling, they have the sale.
The problem for buyers is that they don’t know what they don’t know. New buyers don’t expect the degree of poor workmanship on 20, 40, 60, 80,000+ items. New buyers, not knowing what they don’t know, expect similar quality builds as in automobiles, boats or even a small home. Understandably they often migrate to a less expensive model when they perceive all things are pretty much equal. Many manufacturers, and many salesmen, take advantage of the newby naivety.
The manufacturing and sales models are the problems. When I buy a Toyota, it has all Toyota parts. Our Foretravel has components from all over the world. The manufacturer decides which ones based on cost. The manufacturer probably doesn’t care about quality control as long as there aren’t too many complaints. The dealer can’t fix anything until someone owns it. Driving long distances to the factory or leaving it for the dealer, who didn’t build it and doesn’t know how to repair it are both unacceptable solutions to problems with RVs. Paying a higher price is no guarantee on better quality.
The dealer probably sells multiple makes and models. The RV mechanics who work there are probably not factory-trained. The various appliances, have their own, individual warranties and their repair, if even possible, has to be done by a qualified appliance repairman who doesn’t work at the dealership. A real house is far simpler. It has one permanent power source (240V, not 12V), doesn’t need batteries or (usually) a generator, isn’t networked, no Silver Leaf or Firefly touch panels and it doesn’t bounce down the highway. Even mobile homes don’t have these. Modern RVs are extremely complex by comparison. What could possibly go wrong with this scenario? Everything. Buyer, beware.
There is way too much glitz and bling instead of quality because the majority of the buyers will buy the bling. Shiny bobbles sell! A smaller percentage of buyers are looking for (and actually demand) quality components and assembly. Sure, every buyer SAYS they’re demanding of quality, but do they REALLY accomplish that objective…or is it mostly just talk? Manufacturers and dealers know their market all too well, and most of that market is people who want as much bling as they can fit into that monthly payment. It’s truly as simple as that. New or used, it can’t be overstated…hire a certified RV inspector (no I’m not one).
Here’s my take: the best selling RV brand in the US is Coleman. From Camping World. That means that people tell manufacturers that what they want is a cheap trailer and want to be treated like 💩 by the dealer. If I were a shareholder paying attention to consumer trends, that’s what I would take from that.
We all say we want quality but when I share a high-quality trailer in my reviews inevitably there’s the “wow that’s a lot of money” comment. Yeah, guess what? You get what you pay for.
The RV industry will build whatever we as consumers demand and, right now, our buying habits are telling the story that we’d like poorly-built junk and from a dealer with terrible reviews.