Community Forums

powercat_ras · 10-16-2015, 06:00 PM

Not much you can do about the way delivery drivers mis-treat new coaches by exceeding the 65 MPH ST Trailer Tire speed limit, other than buy your trailer from a dealer near the factory, and minimize the delivery travel miles. If the manufactures cared, they could put a GPS tracker on their Trailers and write into their delivery contracts dockage amounts for exceeding 65 MPH for more than a few minutes per delivery trip.

JayC · 10-16-2015, 07:08 PM

Randy, you're exactly right about the way delivery drivers treat the trailers they are transporting, but the cost of GPS trackers might be prohibitive and that cost would be paid by us the consumer.

And which manufacturer uses real brick for a surround in the kitchen? That's pretty unrealistic.

schrod · 10-16-2015, 09:34 PM

I never indicated it should be real brick. However, I have seen several that use real tile. The point I was trying to make was that whomever attached the splash guard failed to press it hard enough to spread the caulking and really get stuck. If this is the way this one item is attached (which by the way is not rocket science to do correctly), then what else is poorly done?

Dasmoeturhead · 10-17-2015, 05:17 AM

20,000 miles of bad roads, highways, and interstates and nothing has fell off yet.

jesilvas · 10-17-2015, 06:03 AM

Some of these posts need to come with a "*."

"It sat in the shop all of Sept with a rotten floor. Turns out Heartland damaged one of the holding tanks causing the damage. 30 days to find and fix the problem does not speak well for factory support to me." * - Rot doesn't happen overnight, so the problem was ignored for a while. And 30 days to rip out a floor and replace a holding tank after waiting on parts, cleaning up the unit, etc. Not abnormal.

"It was brand new and after two trips we discovered they never hooked the shower drain into the gray tank." * - That speaks to your dealer's PDI check . . .

"I have had problem with Heartland dealers not checking those things and finding low tire pressures and lug nuts not properly torqued." * - This post already mentioned the issue, the dealer. But if that dealer sells more than Heartland, the issues isn't with a "Heartland" dealer.

Bottom line, check for two things - well built unit with think framing and high insulation numbers, and a dealer that is honest, caring, and takes their time not rushing you out the door after you pay them.

Texastbird · 10-18-2015, 09:47 AM

I'm trying to think of a way to check to see if all the holding tanks are hooked up. Run water for and hour and see if there is any seeping out somewhere? (this is a serious question. I'd have to rip up the floors on my TT to see if everything was hooked up correctly.)

jesilvas · 10-18-2015, 10:11 AM

Just run the water until full, and then go past full until it starts coming back up into the sink and shower, and toilet. When I PDI, I test them to very full, to make sure they are right.
Don't run them "an hour", cause then you'll be sopping up water inside.

suprdave1958 · 10-18-2015, 10:55 AM

What Heartland made in 2008-2012 are much different now...really just due to QC. Without going into a rambling detail...I wouldn't buy anything right now from Heartland. When it hits their bottom....then they will improve...but not until then.

caissiel · 10-18-2015, 09:41 PM

Whatever is said here about Heartland, I read, heard and seen from all manufacturers. My unit has a tag on my wheel skirts to check the wheel nut torque. It's a requirement and everyone must do it. The tires are all ST junk used on all trailers. As far as overloaded, the tires match the axles and pressures should be kept at max per sidewall indication.
To me all units need attention after long trips, they are after all rolling condos with lots of moving parts.
When built heavy they are no longer travel trailers and need to be pulled with much heavier TV.
We enjoy our Heartland unit. But I do no like the front frame that is build with tube steel. The 12" main frame has been great.

justafordguy · 10-19-2015, 12:04 PM

I've been very happy with my Heartland trailers. Both had a few minor issues that I ended up fixing myself but over all they have held up very well. I did upgrade the tires and installed a tire pressure monitor just for peace of mind.

POPPASMURF · 10-25-2015, 01:38 AM

I have to comment on Heartland, I am sure they have a posse running around the various forums with comments like "they all have their problems" or "I have 20xx and they are much improved". The bottom line is my experience with a 2006 Landmark-the water tank fell out behind the axle (told it is a common problem), screw driven through electric wire to microwave, whole kitchen was on 1 ckt, they left two live sets of wires in the junction box at the kitchen slide, they forgot to vent the toilet, so after a hot day you had to duck or the back up of gas would blow droplets of sewage, the kitchen slide roller was jambed with scrap carpet and would not roll. There were four vents from the water tank and the water tank would have about 1/3 tank left by the time we drove 3 hours to a camp site. I finally got everything fixed that I knew about and traded it in on a motorhome. Our best friends have a 2010 40 foot Landmark monster. They can't plug in more than 4 item or breakers blow, they had the pleasure of driving back across N.Dakota with the bedroom slide out till they could get to Winnipeg and a major dealer, their current situation is the quality Liepert frame has broken at the front tongue and they can't use it. He is going to try to strip the front off to see if he can repair it out at the farm as the dealer wants nothing to do with it-similar to my problems-the dealers wanted nothing to do with them (even though they are no longer under warranty). I found an independent RV repair only shop that welded up a proper mount for the water tank. So if you you're thinking Heartland-buyer beware.

Ufda45 · 10-27-2015, 01:14 PM

We have a 2013 Heartland Big Country 3596RE that has been exceptional. Not one issue in over 10,000 miles, however I did upgrade the tires to GR-614's because I do not trust Chinese tire quality.
I have been doing some shopping for a bunkhouse to carry the grandkids as the BC is not really made for more than sleeping 4. With that said, I have found some bunkhouse models that I like but none that compares with our BC in terms of accessories and ease of setup. The Level Up system is a requirement for me and I will not have another unit without it. I am contemplating on full time in a year or two, the BC can handle that easily. I highly recommend the Big Country, but I am biased for sure.

KerrTx · 10-27-2015, 07:47 PM

WOW, tough crowd. Heartland Landmark and Bighorn are different than other Heartland made products. You will see it in the price difference, and the quality. We're happy with Heartland, as is most Heartland owners. Or maybe the 2016 model is different. I would just say go look at as many models that you can and buy the one that fits your needs at the cost you can afford.