Dumb RV Design

[SarahW]

Originally Posted by carahsue

I made a Decorative fabric panel with upholstery fabric and put snaps on the corners .
The snap mate has a small screw that attaches it to the door .
You can unsnap it to remove it , WORKS GREAT !

A lot better than the rollup shade that was mounted on the door facing , because you could see right around that !

If you use fabric with a picture or scene on it , it looks nice when the door is fastened open .

Another great idea! Thanks, CarahSue! Pics would be great!

[Dunner]

Originally Posted by Midniteoyl

Hmm.. my door has privacy glass....

My 5er did too, but I replaced it with tinted tempered glass.

[CLIFFTALL]

We saw quite a few 2012 MH's at the Tampa Super Show this week that had full wall driver side slides. The basements didn't come out with the slide making it an Olympic sport to first get on your knees and then twist over to one side and try to attempt to grab your power cord or even worse to try and hookup your sewer and water lines. You would have to have your slides in to have any chance of ever standing up again. This of course is not always convenient when doing extended camping. Other than that , they were OK. From the outside that is.

[Dunner]

On my Breeze, with the slides in, the doors open to slide height, but if you put more upward pressure on them, they open all the way.

[Dutch Star David]

Originally Posted by sdennislee

I thought the same thing the first time I saw the Pontiac Aztek

My first thought when I saw an Aztec on the street: "Oh dear, somebody got drunk (or high) and then went to look at Pontiacs"

[TonyDi]

My pet peeve is why do they put the switch for the Jake Brake on the dashboard? Making you have to lean forward and grope for the switch especially at night. I have always thought that the Jake Brake switch should be on the steering wheel, especially if you have a "smart steering wheel". I was happy to see that Holiday Rambler has adopted this and wish others would do the same.

[JimM68]

The monaco guys who designed the dash on my knight musta been high or something...

Switxhes in 4 different panels, and i can only reach the ones in the first half of the drivers armrest without lifting my shoulders off the drivers seat.....

To monaco, i do not ever need to lay my hand on the powergear jack panel while on the road....

It would be nice if the allison panel were closer.
It would be wonderfull if the icc and cruise switches were closer...
Mirror heat is rArely needed....

The whole layout is just weird...

Has anyone moved the switches around?

[Chuck 1935]

Another dumb idea is the one piece windshield. If you put any amount of highway miles on your Motorhome you will pick up stone chips or worse. If it can't be repaired you have to replace the whole thing for big bucks rather than replace just one side.
Also, everyone that has anything to do with designing a Motorhome shoud be made to spend a month camping in the thing to see what is really needed.
I would also suggest trying to work on the mechanical stuff but that would be too much to hope for.

[Cat320]

My pet peave is awnings. The slide toppers are horizontal, every time it rains, they get full of water. The big awning is on the coach, and goes out over a slide, as a result, in order to clear the slide, it is almost horizontal, and, every time it rains it gets full of water. We have an awing over two sets of windows, one set by the table and one set over the sofa. The bottoms of windows over the table extend up a few inches farther than the set of windows over the sofa. The awning fits so if you are sitting on the sofa, it is perfect. If you are sitting at the table, you can't see anything due to the awning coming down too far (or the windows coming up to far).

I'm convinced most of the engineers that design these things never spent a day in one.

[slickest1]

On the 2 last fivers I had there were many annoying things that were just not thought out. On the HR Imperial I now have, there are fewer things that bother me. The rear view camera is placed in the dash too low at an angle that is awkward to see. You can't just glance at it. I plan on replacing it eventually and mounting it on top of the dash. The vanity sink in the bathroom has a cupboard built over it and can be a real head banger. Like said don't these designers ever try these things? Double panned windows that fog up. This has been going on for years, you would think someone would address that!!

[Grumpy Dave]

Recently did a walk through on a mid level class A. Not a bad set up but did notice the toilet tissue holder was located so the minute you put a new roll of paper in place the shower door wouldn't swing open past it.

[J Birder]

Originally Posted by jspande

I'd like to fearlessly nominate the two dumbest RV ideas of all time, from a company (now out of business) that actually had a lot of quite good ideas, but balanced them out with a couple of stinkers. The company was Alfa and the models were 5th wheels (fortunately different models - none had both).

The #1 dumbest was using three 20# propane tanks (instead of two 30#) and locating them under the living room slide-out. This was in some of their latest model units.

The #2 dumbest was in earlier models (like my 2001 model) where they included a walk-in closet in the bedroom slide in such a way that the bathroom sink moved with the slide. Not only does this require all the plumbing to allow several feet of movement, but when the slide is in, the sink totally blocks access to the bedroom (unless one climbed over the sink!)

Actually, 20# tanks do have one advantage. In areas where propane filling service is scarce or nonexistent, you can usually find someplace (i.e. Walmart) to swap a 20# tank for a full one.

[scgator]

"What you want an installer to Think? They just have to put in it, doesn't really matter to them where they put it."

Don't be too quick to blame the installer; cabinetry is pre-fabbed according to approved drawings. A production employee is REQUIRED to build per the drawing. If the approved drawing is wrong, the employee cannot be held liable for the snafu. (lose his or her job). This is an error at the engineering level and as such, hourly employees have zero control over, other than voice their opinion. If engineering doesn't change the drawing, then it is what it is.........

Side note: Most engineers are known for their intellect, not their common sense.

[LadyFitz...]

Originally Posted by J Birder

Actually, 20# tanks do have one advantage. In areas where propane filling service is scarce or nonexistent, you can usually find someplace (i.e. Walmart) to swap a 20# tank for a full one.

Not to mention three 20# tanks are easier on the old back than two 30# tanks when you have to wrestle them someplace to be refilled.