Community Forums

Pete6737 · 08-16-2015, 03:24 AM

Hello All,
As I start my research into buying a class A motor home, I see brand new RVs with engines, generators and chassis' dirty and weathered. Even on online pics. One would think a brand new motor home would be squeaky clean and new but I've seen pictures at the manufacturing plants where the chassis's are left outside waiting for the RV to be built on it...Should it be a concern that the engine and chassis are left out to the elements? what's that say about the manufacturers? All my new vehicles were spotless off the lot. Are my expectations too high? Thanks, Pete

RV Wizard · 08-16-2015, 03:29 AM

Hello and

We are glad to have you join us here and we look forward to reading of your adventures and experiences. I am sure you will enjoy our website and forums. Good luck, stay safe and keep us posted.
Your expectations are not too high. Everyone else's has been too low over the past years.

luvlabs · 08-16-2015, 07:58 AM

Your new motorhome should be squeeky clean when you pick it up but until that point, no neccessarily so clean. Did you ever buy a new home? Did you see it a couple of days before you took possession? It looked like hell before the cleaners came in.

You should take a trip to a motorhome manufacturer and take the tour. Up until it shipped to the dealer, it pretty much will be a mess despite the fact that it is cleaned just about everyday to remove construction debris. We watched ours being built and, while it was pretty clean when it left the factory, but it still took a couple of days at the dealer to make it really shine.

mel s · 08-16-2015, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete6737

Hello All,
As I start my research into buying a class A motor home, I see brand new RVs with engines, generators and chassis' dirty and weathered. Even on online pics. One would think a brand new motor home would be squeaky clean and new but I've seen pictures at the manufacturing plants where the chassis's are left outside waiting for the RV to be built on it...Should it be a concern that the engine and chassis are left out to the elements? what's that say about the manufacturers? All my new vehicles were spotless off the lot. Are my expectations too high? Thanks, Pete

Pete6737

From what I've seen very few, (if any?), RV manufactures or RV sellers/dealers clean anything you can't readily see.
However, because people are impressed by "glitz and glamour" most clean, (and polish), anything and everything you can see.

Pete6737 · 08-16-2015, 02:23 PM

Thanks for the replies and warm welcome! I like buying new: my house, and a couple of vehicles because I take care of my stuff and maintain everything. I have a 2007 Tundra with only 34000 miles and you could eat off the engine. I was hoping that I can spend a lot of time here researching the best RV for me and buy it new and keep it maintained and clean in between trips. I was just noticing that under the hood, these new RVs are not as new looking. I guess I'll need to get in there and detail it! Thanks, Pete

ga traveler · 08-16-2015, 02:29 PM

Don't worry about the chassis getting rained on, That ain't nothing like the water it gets going down the road at 65 mph in a heavy rain.

Scarab0088 · 08-16-2015, 03:45 PM

And best luck shopping...

Can't tell exactly where you will shopping/buying but unless you purchase from one of the few makers that have factory pick-up...wait 'til you see the odometer on your brand new RV.

Class A's are too tall to be carried on a flatbed. Instead they are driven by delivery drivers. Yep...like,Elkhart IN to Orlando, FL is over 1100 miles on the odometer

Safe travels

WillandJane · 08-16-2015, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete6737

Hello All,
As I start my research into buying a class A motor home, I see brand new RVs with engines, generators and chassis' dirty and weathered. Even on online pics. One would think a brand new motor home would be squeaky clean and new but I've seen pictures at the manufacturing plants where the chassis's are left outside waiting for the RV to be built on it...Should it be a concern that the engine and chassis are left out to the elements? what's that say about the manufacturers? All my new vehicles were spotless off the lot. Are my expectations too high? Thanks, Pete

I am picking mine up factory direct in Elkhart from NeXas this week and it will be spotless. It was just painted this week, chrome and decals left to be added and only test miles on it....thats the way to purchase a new vehicle, not from a dealer.

WDK

Pete6737 · 08-16-2015, 11:55 PM

Factory direct sounds great to me. I want to put those first 1100 miles on it...driving to North Florida... I am planning to visit some factories and continue saving until I find the make and model that's a fit. Thank you for the suggestions!

Dutch Star Don · 08-17-2015, 12:24 PM

Pete......"ga traveler".....brought up a good point. If you like your stuff to stay clean and nice looking, like many of us, you're going to cry when you look at the engine compartment on a motor home after driving through a rain storm. DP's are like huge vacuums. They pick up everything from outside the coach spew it all over the engine compartment.

I just added a built in pressure washer to my coach to try and keep it a little cleaner on the road.

TeJay · 08-17-2015, 12:40 PM

We did a lot of research before we decided on a Winnebago. They are not what I'd consider top of the line but we didn't have $250,000 to spend so we settled on a WBGO. They are good coaches and have good support. We traded and bought from Lichtsinn Motors which is 1 mile from the factory in Forest City Iowa. We picked it up with 40 miles on the OD.

Yes Ford makes the chassis and they are delivered to the MH builder. They set outside until a coach is built. So they will get dirty. That's surface dirt which can be cleaned.

Enjoy your search.

TeJay

WillandJane · 08-18-2015, 06:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

Pete......"ga traveler".....brought up a good point. If you like your stuff to stay clean and nice looking, like many of us, you're going to cry when you look at the engine compartment on a motor home after driving through a rain storm. DP's are like huge vacuums. They pick up everything from outside the coach spew it all over the engine compartment.

I just added a built in pressure washer to my coach to try and keep it a little cleaner on the road.

Wasn't the point being that he did not want to buy new or used with a grimy engine or generator compartment? We should cry when our rigs get dirty inside and out and underneath but I would certainly have concerns over what and whom I was buying it from if they did not take the time to clean it up for me.

WDK

Pete6737 · 08-18-2015, 08:18 AM

Willandjane. Nice pics of your rig. You are going to enjoy that. What's the make?

wa8yxm · 08-18-2015, 12:19 PM

I would not be concerned. Though Acid Rain in some areas can cause issues with exposed metal the engine will be completly cleaned and the chass rust free before the body is installed.. Normal rain is not that bad.. WATER believe it or not, does not cause rust.. nor does it conduct electricity.. It is impurities that cause the problems.