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Raining Star · 08-29-2019, 09:52 PM

Today we drove 140 miles in 110 degree weather to buy the RV we have planned and researched for seven years. We are retired so we figured that now is the time to spend what we have been saving our lifetime for. We already bought the beautiful land, now we need the brand new 40 foot RV to put on it.

I'll call Brand X because I have no interest in a discussion about brand names. We have a 2013 Brand X, with the same living room and kitchen floorplan, and we love it. Mostly we were impressed by the quality of our 2013 Brand X. So we decided to just get a new and bigger one, with a king size bed and an extra bathroom for the furry kids. The price is right, they offered exactly the discount I required with no hassle, the salesman and management are first rate, friendly, and professional. Even the money was no problem for us, so why did we walk away?

The fit and finish of the new Brand X was pitiful. Warped drawer fronts, sloppily cut corners, wrinkled wallpaper and decals, and more disturbing were the inferior cabinet hardware and countertops. This rig wasn't an upgrade from what we had, it was just a disappointment. We will look again next year, with our fingers crossed that it was just a lemon. Until then, staying with what we have is the upgrade.

In closing. This isn't a one brand problem. We go to Rv shows, and window shop for RVs all the time. The problem lies only with the manufacturers, and the manufacturers simply don't care. They know that we will buy whatever they produce. Well, obviously not all of us, at least not this year. Hoping for a better tomorrow.

Arch Hoagland · 08-29-2019, 10:56 PM

Well said and very true.

I don't think it will ever get better because people still buy them. We've decided to stay with our older tried and true coach for the reasons you mentioned.

jarata · 08-29-2019, 11:01 PM

Good for you, newer isnt always a better move

GoneToTheDog · 08-31-2019, 03:11 PM

Ours just hit the 3 year mark last week. Today, we had a nice visit with our good friends and neighbors. He asked if we were considering trading up to something new, and larger.
Nope! Wouldn't even consider it. We love the one we have. It has been extremely reliable and comfortable, and we have made some improvements that make it even more so. Hopefully, it will continue to serve us well for many more miles, and years.

Ray,IN · 08-31-2019, 07:21 PM

This is exactly the reason we bought an older MH, quality and workmanship were much higher quality a decade or more past. We bought the highest quality we could find at the year to fit our budget. This MH was the highest quality Winnebago produced at that time; we have never regretted our decision.

Bahamaniac · 09-01-2019, 01:05 AM

It's sad to see the rampant lack of quality control in new units. That is exactly why we have not bought a new one. Signs are that the market is slowing, possibly due to saturation. Hopefully the builders will see that in order to survive in the future the quality MUST be improved upon! We can only hope...

dezolen · 09-01-2019, 06:41 AM

I will hold on to my 13 as well. Even tho it’s the lowest of their coach lineup it’s better in quality of their top of the line. Shame on the industry.

HJLowell · 09-01-2019, 06:56 AM

Certainly not the only Industry

The Houseboat Business in Kentucky
Had 13 major Builders and 2,000 skilled employees up until about 2008.

Now there are 2 and only 1 is putting out a few decent boats annually with a staff of 30.

Sunstar Houseboat 's
Monticello Kentucky.

We have a 2000 year Model Stardust at the time we had it built Stardust was putting
4 quality Boats out the door a week.

We would NOT trade up for anything that could be built today except a Sunstar.
And to replace new what we have.
1.4 Million

Also
We will keep our 99 Signature
Heated custom tile floors , 500 hp ISM
Etc.

Pictured left side is one of the Last
Quality Boats manufactured by Stardust
Monticello Kentucky.