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10-22-2014, 08:44 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,846
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What would you like to tell the manufacturer.
I am assuming that most manufacturers read our posts and hopefully use the information for their benefit. Maybe not.
What would you like to pass along?
Would you be willing to pay a higher price for better quality?
Should the manufacturers be more willing to add custom touches on individual orders? Like better fabrics, high end plumbing fixtures, See Level tank gauges etc.
Do you think that the individual dealers should be better compensated from the manufacturers for quality issues on initial delivery?
Do we want to see a continual push by the manufacturers for lower costs or stable costs achieved by cutting quality and lowering content.
Feel free to add any thoughts you may have in the hope that the quality of the products we buy will improve. I am sad to see the current level of fit and finish and maybe with input we can help change that.
Thanks for your comments and suggestions.
It's worth a try!
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10-23-2014, 06:38 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
iRV2 No Limits Club
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,324
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We recently attended an RV show which reinforced why we have a custom made trailer. They all looked very nice but quality, components and engineering were lacking. Drawers that were stapled together (ours a tongue and groove) the cheapest converter WAFCO (ours is Progressive Dynamics)... Ours has an all aluminum frame marine LED lights...
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10-23-2014, 05:37 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Surprise AZ
Posts: 790
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I have never had a dealer do a follow up call to see if i was still in the market for an RV. They always seem to have a lot of inventory and i don't think that is because of lack of sales. The dealers are making money along with the manufacture so i don't see them doing much for the consumer. Status quo.
My HO of course
Mike
__________________
2019 Mirada 29FW 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon
Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
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10-24-2014, 09:04 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: North Ridgeville, OH
Posts: 2,455
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1. Either make a quality mattress available, or provide a discount for declining any mattress at all.
2. Use quality foam for bench cushions. I really like our Winnebago, but the seat cushions were cheap and I replaced them within a year of ownership.
3. Provide an accurate dry weight for each unit shipped!
4. Any panel that needs to be removed for winterization should be clearly marked and labeled. Also, hardware for the panel should be wing nuts or something that can be done by hand.
5. For heavens sake, either go back to making interiors with a lighter stain or at least provide options. I'm not a fan of natural oak, but the current fad for dark cherry makes some trailers very dark. If I had the option, I would have preferred a lighter color interior in our Winnebabo. I think this is especially applicable for smaller trailers where you don't have as many windows and slides.
6. Make shock absorbers an available option on trailers, and have them engineered so they are at optimum angle for the task! It wouldn't be that hard to have all frames built designed for easy shock absorber installation.
7. Make sure there is adequate information for every part or component of the travel trailer. Recently, I had to contact the distributor to get specs on our trailer wheels and torque guidelines for mounting the wheels.
8. Make more information available online i.e. such as guides for winterization (trailer specific), wiring diagrams, plumbing schematics, etc. With today's technology, it isn't that difficult or time consuming and may save office staff from getting so many phone calls.
9. Design some units that can easily meet the needs for 4 season camping. For example, I would have been interested in having jour trailer's underbelly insulated and heated for use in colder temps....even though I know the walls and roof are not what you would expect in a true 4 season camper. I don't expect to spend long periods of time in freezing temps, but there are and will be many occasions where we will deal with some freezing temps and I'd like to be more confident that our water lines won't freeze.
But, with all that said, the demand for larger and cheaper units is partially responsible for the products that are out there. Too many people can't afford or don't want to pay for higher quality units...but that's a topic that could lead to a real heated converation about the political agenda in this country and the role of big business, and I don't think that is appropriate for these forums.
__________________
Retired but busier than ever!
2012 Newmar Bay Star 3302
5 Star Tune, SumoSprings, Roadmaster Steering Stabilizer, Blue Ox Avail
Brake Buddy, 2015 Chevy Malibu
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10-24-2014, 09:13 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Michigan
Posts: 898
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I'd tell them to make the design engineers spend six months in the service department. Teach them the difference between building an RV in a factory versus maintaining one out in the world. Let them try to get a pair of wrenches up into a 6x6 inch access hole to change a water coupling etc. RVs that were easier to service would have a trickle-down effect on the dealer maintenance shops too.
__________________
Ed & Joie
2004 Vectra 40KD
Freightliner Chassis and Cummins ISC
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10-24-2014, 09:14 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Shadow Hills,CA 91040
Posts: 3,038
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Make all designers live in and use the vehicle for 30 days before they can make design plans .
__________________
NOTE; I am not responsible for typos, poor grammer or misspelled word !
04 Itasca, Meridian 34H, 330 Cat/2003 CR V Toad
1933 Ford 3 Window,as seen in Bye Bye Birdie
Pvt. E1 Retired, Shadow Hills,Ca.
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10-24-2014, 09:18 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by scbwr
1. Either make a quality mattress available, or provide a discount for declining any mattress at all.
2. Use quality foam for bench cushions. I really like our Winnebago, but the seat cushions were cheap and I replaced them within a year of ownership.
3. Provide an accurate dry weight for each unit shipped!
4. Any panel that needs to be removed for winterization should be clearly marked and labeled. Also, hardware for the panel should be wing nuts or something that can be done by hand.
5. For heavens sake, either go back to making interiors with a lighter stain or at least provide options. I'm not a fan of natural oak, but the current fad for dark cherry makes some trailers very dark. If I had the option, I would have preferred a lighter color interior in our Winnebabo. I think this is especially applicable for smaller trailers where you don't have as many windows and slides.
6. Make shock absorbers an available option on trailers, and have them engineered so they are at optimum angle for the task! It wouldn't be that hard to have all frames built designed for easy shock absorber installation.
7. Make sure there is adequate information for every part or component of the travel trailer. Recently, I had to contact the distributor to get specs on our trailer wheels and torque guidelines for mounting the wheels.
8. Make more information available online i.e. such as guides for winterization (trailer specific), wiring diagrams, plumbing schematics, etc. With today's technology, it isn't that difficult or time consuming and may save office staff from getting so many phone calls.
9. Design some units that can easily meet the needs for 4 season camping. For example, I would have been interested in having jour trailer's underbelly insulated and heated for use in colder temps....even though I know the walls and roof are not what you would expect in a true 4 season camper. I don't expect to spend long periods of time in freezing temps, but there are and will be many occasions where we will deal with some freezing temps and I'd like to be more confident that our water lines won't freeze.
But, with all that said, the demand for larger and cheaper units is partially responsible for the products that are out there. Too many people can't afford or don't want to pay for higher quality units...but that's a topic that could lead to a real heated converation about the political agenda in this country and the role of big business, and I don't think that is appropriate for these forums.
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Now we're talking! Great feedback.
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10-24-2014, 09:21 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,846
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Quote:
Originally Posted by emiddleb
I'd tell them to make the design engineers spend six months in the service department. Teach them the difference between building an RV in a factory versus maintaining one out in the world. Let them try to get a pair of wrenches up into a 6x6 inch access hole to change a water coupling etc. RVs that were easier to service would have a trickle-down effect on the dealer maintenance shops too.
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You are echoing my comments that I've made for years. There is always a need for cross training. Sales and designers need to be up to speed on maintenance. That is very important to the end user.
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10-26-2014, 08:03 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,846
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I want to add a couple for my brother. He is sick of trailers with insufficient support under the shower pan. Two pans replaced because of faulty design.
Second recurring issue is slide out problems because of weak attachment points and parts breaking. Stop going with the cheapest parts available and think long term.
His general point is that manufacturers need to think of making their products last longer than the warranty period.
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10-26-2014, 09:12 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Appalachian Campers
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 908
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Options on appliances. Yes, they do have a few, but I'd have jumped at the chance to have a 4.5GPM water pump, for example.
Many high end trailers have generator prep, but none I know of have 6V battery prep. All seem to have the same Group 27 12V, I had to build that myself.
Options for things that are very popular mods. The fence post for sewer hose storage under the belly for example. I'm about to buy two Honda 2000i generators that will live where the sewer hose is now, so I'll have to do that mod. I, and many others, would love to have an actual sewer hose storage passage from the factory. This list could go on and on.
Think about actual use. I have two vents in the main living area. In my 5er the one in the kitchen is about nine feet up. Standing on a one foot stool I can barely reach the knob to open it and I'm 6'3". During R&D did nobody try to open this? The vent at the rear is about eight feet up and I can just reach it without the stool. The option for an electric opener please?
A hollow anode rod for the HWH with a valve for draining. I think I'd gladly pay for the ability to drain the HWH without dealing with getting doused by 10 gallons of water rushing out a 1"+ hole. That's an industry thing more than a trailer builder, but still.
As mentioned, shocks would be nice.
Levels preinstalled. Everybody adds them to their hitch for setup ease, why not from the factory?
I acknowledge that higher end trailers probably do offer these things and more, but why pass up the offer to those of us in the middle? To buy the 4.5GPM pump over my 2.9GPM pump is about $150. I'd have gladly paid that during purchase.
__________________
2001 HO Cummins powered Dodge 2500
2014 Sierra 346RETS
Nights camped in 2014-28
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10-27-2014, 05:10 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 1,846
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How about a drawing included with the RV that shows where the support studs are in the walls and backing for a ladder. We all want to personalize our trailers so give us more info like this.
How about high and low pressure for our barbeques? Not a big deal but would let us use both styles of BBQ's.
I think the cheap fans in most RV's are a joke. Fantastic Fans or their equivalent should be standard. Am I nuts or should all vents be covered with a cover like the Fantastic vent cover. If you are gone with your vent open during a hard rain, good luck. They are available with remote control also which would be great for 5er's.
The thermostat on most RV's is a cheap model when it can be replaced with a $20 Honeywell model that is digital and will eliminate the wild temp swings.
I could go on and on........
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10-31-2014, 01:22 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Jordan, Utah
Posts: 221
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make it mandatory ALL designers be RVrs, Try every fixture and line, both water and electric BEFORE it leaves for the Dealer,, make ALL Dealers check out every item before sending it out to customer. like the Black tank flush, monitors for tanks at ALL levels.
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10-31-2014, 01:24 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: West Jordan, Utah
Posts: 221
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If you ain't got time to do it right the first time,
where will you get the time to do it Over?
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10-31-2014, 04:41 PM
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#14
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South East Texas Area Leaders
Texas Boomers Club Forest River Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 1,021
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Excellent comments now if we can just get the manufacturers and dealers to listen.
__________________
2008 Coachmen 288FKS-2000 F-250 4x4 V-10/
Fur Babies Lilbit and Penny
Come grow old with me the best is yet to be TEXAS BOOMERS
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