Let's not knock WH so much

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by CharlesOK

I was at least fortunate enough to be left with a good unit which has been relatively trouble free, unlike some of my previous units.

CharlesOK, About that re-sale and trade-in myth let me say this. It all depends on what you are buying and where you do business.

Our member "lyledavid" who attended the 10th Anniversary Reunion Rally told anyone that wanted to listen that he got more for his Workhorse than he ever expected and he was 100% satisfied that he got a fair trade. He even went as far as disclosing to the dealer that there was an "Open" campaign on the vehicle and the salesman said he knew and it wasn't a problem he would get it fixed. The Workhorse actually turned around and it immediately sold. There was a customer waiting in the wings.

You go into any dealer ready to buy with no recalls open on your vehicle and you will get a fair trade. The last time I checked, and according to NADA or KBB an equivalent Workhorse still wholesales for more than the competing chassis in the same floorplan.

I think a lot of folks are spinning themselves up into a situation that does not immediately exist or impact them. Being worried about what might happen 6 months, a year or 2 from now just doesn't make sense other than to fuel rhetoric.

[RJay]

Originally Posted by CharlesOK

RJAY Community Moderator Comments;

"It strikes me as being hypocritical to make a post appealing to stop bashing Workhorse but starts the post by bashing Ford. I don't have a dog in this hunt, just an observation. "
__________________


In Response, I do not consider it hypocritical in the least, since this is a Workhorse forum. For several years, as a Workhorse owner who was fortunate enough to NOT have any brake problems, I have been reading a a constant litany of complaints about how we were being treated by Workhorse. The affect of this constant barrage has been to devalue all motorhomes built on Workhorse chassis everywhere in the country, whether they have problems or not. This debate has included Dealers indicateing they won't have a Workhorse chassis on their lots at any price. Workhorse has acted responsibly to end this problem at no expense to their owners.

I am sure someone here can come up with a story about a cousin or Friend who heard their hairdresser had a near miss because of Workhorse brakes, but I for one have NOT heard of ANY deaths or injuries related to this problem. I do feel that all of us Workhorse owners will be better off when this problem is behind us. I was merely trying to point out that Ford chassis units , which have been sugested as "The way to go" may not be such a good idea, especially the 99-2004 model years. I have owned both Ford and Chev, and WH chassis under several of my class A and C motorhomes and I much prefer the current Workhorse unit I now own. And no, I don't dream of a DP on the sly.

If I had been unfortunate enough to have had brake problems before my current warranty was done, I would have PAID for the repairs and gone on my way sadder but wiser. Lets face it, the money for a complete brake rebuild is miniscule compared to the money I have lost in the last 20 years on these things. Boats, MOHO's, airplanes all cost money. When they need fixin, you fixem not B****h about how badly we have been treated so everyone else sees their resale value tanked.

I for one look forward to having a sticker under my hood that says I have had the retrofit done. I have my letter, BUT I am waiting to have the work done till most of the people who have had problems get theirs done first, so they can sleep better at night. Now you can call me sanctimonious. LOL

Hi CharlesOK,
Thanks for your reply.
As I mentioned in my post, I don't have a dog in this hunt so I'm not going to involve myself with any Workhorse specific issues, past or present. In fact I agree with some of the issues you raise in the above post.


As you say some members are thinking of moving to a Ford product because of their dissatisfaction with Workhorse. I know for a fact there are Ford owners who have never had a problem with their V10's just as you have never had any with your Workhorse. So when you post a call for “reason” in the case of Workhorse and open the post by bashing Ford, you are allowing the same argument to be made against Workhorse as you are making against Ford. Obviously, this solves nothing.


I understand your concern with the possibility of losing value in your motorhome, but I'm not sure you understand the frustration that some members feel in losing the benefit and enjoyment of their motorhomes for the majority if not the entire summer, and to suggest that members should pony up for the price of a brake job because that's what you would do is presumptuous.


I hope I've clarified my observation in my initial post and why I drew the conclusion I did. I'm just trying to point out the other side of your argument.


I wish you continued success with your motorhome. And don't forget to make your recall appointment if you haven't already.

[kalynzoo]

For what it is worth, my motorhomes have always been major investments, purchased with careful research and much consideration. It would be wonderful, and rather pie-in-the-sky, if the manufactures (all of them) would stand behind their products and warranty and support their products for a longer period of time. It is bothersome to have to worry about Workhorse, Ford, Norcold, Dometic, Coleman-Bosh, etc. Certainly my motorhome sits on a Workhorse chassi, and WH contracted Bosch for the brakes, but motorhome manufactures supposedly researched and tested components before production.
I'm not happy with the WH recall, but hopeful the company will survive the expense and continue to employ US workers and produce a better product.
I see the many recalls as an RV industry problem. How this problem will be addressed my well foretell the future of the industry. I read that China will be importing RVs in the near future.
JMHO.

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by kalynzoo

I see the many recalls as an RV industry problem. How this problem will be addressed my well foretell the future of the industry. I read that China will be importing RVs in the near future.

Do you want to see something scary? Look at the website address ... CLOSE. Transpose 1 character and call it an "i" and what do you have?



These guys were at the RVIA Exposition in Louisville last year and I had lunch with 2 of their media guys. Their focus I expect was to get on-board with KOA and I did read some press from RVB and RVD@ily Digest that they were doing just that.

On the back of the card are all of our typical RVs described in Chinese from a 45 foot RDP to a Pop Up including Park Models and Camping Cabins.

In regard to RV'ing this country is very serious about it. I expect that I will see 4 times as many Chinese Press & Media and RV executives at this year's RVIA Show this coming December. Might even see the vanguard of a Chinese RV import on the show floor but well see.

China has a billion people and a BIG country and they definitely RV. Down side is that up until very recently they didn't have any campgrounds.

[max49]

That would be exciting to see some new, real competition come into the RV industry. But of course that won't help our resale value either.
Remember when 'Made in Japan' was junk? Then the Japanese car mfgrs started kicking Detroits butts because they made a better product? The compettition was great and for the consumer and forced American mfgrs to make a better product if they wanted to stay in business.
I believe the Chinese are fully qualified to make quality products and if they can get dealers to stock parts, they can compete with anybody.
They already make some decent motorcycles, but most dealers are refusing to work on them or order or stock parts. I believe that's because the price is is cheaper and their margin of profit is well reduced.
I know it's a shame , but any thing made in the USA, is already getting pretty rare.
I remember the first Motorcycle race that Yamaha came over to compete against the Harleys. They did'nt win or do very good the first year. The TV announcer said, "We probably won't see those Ya- Ma-Ha's over here again trying to compete with the big boys"

[Dave and Jaime]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

I don't have a dog in this fight, either, but the statement above really caught my attention for the following reason:

I've worked for a manufacturer of large industrial engines and compressors for almost 37 years with 32 of those being in various technical and marketing management roles. Like almost all manufacturers, we outsource specialty items such as trimetal main and connecting rod bearings (for example) to specialist manufacturers.

If our bearing supplier strikes a snag and produces a bad batch of bearings with an undetectable flaw that gets into our engines, our customers don't give us a pass. Their attitude is that we engineered and manufactured the product and, if there's a deficiency in the product or in the replacement parts we sell, they full well expect us to make the situation right. Yes, we could sit around a conference table and tell them, "It's bearing manufacturer XYZ's fault...", but that doesn't relieve us of our perceived (and actual) responsibilities to our customers - it doesn't matter to them whether we made it or bought it, the part is an integral element of our engine or compressor. They paid millions of dollars to buy the equipment from us, not to buy individual components from our suppliers.

So, at the end of the day, it's our product, our reputation and our relationship with our customers that we have to maintain, and whatever technical and commercial resolution of the problem we make with our supplier is transparent to our customers.

Given the above, if I took the same position our customers take with us, my response to this statement would be, "I didn't buy Bosch brakes, I bought a Workhorse chassis or (taking it one step higher) a Winnebago (for example) motorhome, and it's your responsibility to make it right."

JM2CW....

Rusty

Amen. This is a very simple matter of taking responsibility. Our society has digressed where we will point the finger at anyone to avoid our own shortcomings. Kid gets in trouble at school? Do his parents (who fail to supervise and teach him proper values/behavior) accept responsibility for Johnnie? No. They blame the teachers, the school, other kids, etc.

You put your name on something and sell it == you own the problems. Period.

[scoutmstr]

Originally Posted by dieselclacker

Thats a big 10-4 and an AMEN scoutmstr.


Dieselclacker

Oh well, I tried

[DriVer]

Originally Posted by scoutmstr

Oh well, I tried

Never a dull moment. That's why folks keep coming back.