Curious - How Many Problems With Your RV

[njs42]

Originally Posted by NITEHAWK

WOW, We must be lncredibly lucky or Foretravel coaches must be awfully good!! We came home from Texas at the end of March and I have done thirty-five changes to our 1989 Grand Villa, mostly because I wanted things my way. Only major costs were (1) new rear tire-$561, (2) new inside dual valve stems-$90, (1) new counter to replace the corian table with a shelf-$105. The remaining changes were little bitty things not necessitated by breakage or wearing out but due to our wanting upgrades. Things such as color rear view camera and monitor.

Everything that was built by Foretravel still works flawlessly, even the 23 year old icemaker!! The bathroom door closes better than the door in our S&B.

Not bad for a 1989 with 67,000 miles that we purchased for less than $20,000!!

The first time I ever saw a Grande Villa----I fell in love. I had already purchased my new MH (which I do not regret) but there is something about those Grande Villas that just makes me tingle all over----and if I ever do it again (not likely)---it will be a vintage Grande Villa for sure. I see some friends every year that own one and they recently had it repainted---just beautiful. Sometimes MH manufactures get it right the first time. All too seldom evidently from the info in this thread.

I'm happy for you (for me too but then I don't have a Grande Villa).

Life is grande otherwise.

[RustyJC]

Since this is in the General Discussion (as opposed to motorhomes) area, I'll add my 2 cents' worth.

One thing I've NEVER understood is how many RVs wind up back at the manufacturers for repairs - including a number of supposed top-line 5th wheel brands. It seems like some of these owners schedule a visit to the factory to have stuff screwed and glued back together at least once a year. I have never in my life owned an RV that had to go back to a manufacturer, including our present one. When our rig left Howe, IN on its way to the dealer back in 2004, that was the last time for it to see that facility.

Our present 5th wheel has been back to the local selling dealer twice since we owned it. Both times the repairs were covered by warranty.

1. Broken gear in one slideout's electro-mechanical gearbox. The entire slideout drive mechanism was replaced by Doubletree via the dealer service department. No further problems.

2. Dometic cooling unit went out and was replaced (and recall performed) by the dealer service department. No further problems.

Other than that, any niggling little stuff I've taken care of myself.

Rusty

[denochs]

I'm going to go out on a limb and take the side of the manufacturers. If the dealers knew what they were doing and we did regular routine maintenance apart from oil & lube stuff (talking about cleaning & lubricating every moving part, tightening loose screws & bolts) we would not see the list of constant repairs in this thread. Rather, we would be griping about all the maintenance it takes to keep them from needing repair.

Many of our repairs are self induced from not taking the time to understand some of the complex systems and operating them the way they are designed. This is especially true when you look at what people are trying to load in/on their RVs. WAY beond some of their limitations.

My 2 cents worth.

Dave

[melvonnar]

From what I have seen; at least %50 of problems are caused by the owners them selves;
Please guys buy a screw driver and a pare of pliers and learn which way a screw goes to tighten it.
Light bulbs; buy a couple and replace them yourself.
Learn how to maintain your motorhome, gee guys you don't need to be a rocket expert to do this.

[YC1]

Originally Posted by melvonnar

From what I have seen; at least %50 of problems are caused by the owners them selves;
Please guys buy a screw driver and a pare of pliers and learn which way a screw goes to tighten it.
Light bulbs; buy a couple and replace them yourself.
Learn how to maintain your motorhome, gee guys you don't need to be a rocket expert to do this.

If you aren't handy with tools then you better be handy with a check book if you own an RV. Most battery fatalities are owner induced as well as the above mentioned. Righty tighty, lefty loosey for those screws and nuts. Being an ET really has some great advantages too.

[pwf16129]

after reading this thread makes me happy i went with a basic mh for my first one, my 1985 midas has taken its fair share of upgrades and repairs.
so far i've done them all my self,from a stripped oil pan plug,drove it 1300 miles like this found it on first oil change,hole in tranny fill tube,various vacuum hoses left off, mix matched spark plugs,leak in air ride ,charged the dash a/c and repaired the leak, all new drive tires and spare the list goes on.
upgrades new range hood,mattress on rear bed ,all new curtains, cup holders through out extended the rear for storage got the genset running and replaced the rear fuel tank.
but with all this since i did the work myself i'm only into my rig for $6000 and it has been on several trips the last on was just over 1000 miles with zero problems but every time it comes back it goes into my shop and i look it over top to bottom and make a list of what to do next and when it needs to be done by.
it is a never ending process for sure but i agree if you keep up with the maintenance and do all you can your self, and use the resources this group makes available you can keep the fun and reliability very high and the cost reasonable.

[docj]

Originally Posted by RustyJC

One thing I've NEVER understood is how many RVs wind up back at the manufacturers for repairs - including a number of supposed top-line 5th wheel brands. It seems like some of these owners schedule a visit to the factory to have stuff screwed and glued back together at least once a year.

I, too, am surprised that so many people hold RV manufacturers responsible for sub-systems that were built by other companies and which could probably be repaired faster and more cheaply if dealt with directly. You wouldn't expect the builder of your stick and brick home to repair a refrigerator, so why would you expect your RV manufacturer to do so?

When things do need service or repair, I'm far more comfortable having the item serviced by the company that made it. For example, while on the road last month we had routine, but major, service on our Onan generator done at a Cummins facility. At least I knew the parts would be available and the technicians would know how to perform the required service

Last week we rolled into Sioux Falls SD with a front slide that wanted to extend on its own. Rather than take the coach to one of the relatively small RV dealers here, I called around and got a recommendation to take it to a local truck repair facility. Even though they weren't motorhome specialists repairing a ruptured hydraulic hose is a pretty common procedure and we were on our way in a couple of hours.

Being a full-timer, I am far more comfortable knowing I can get service at CAT, Allison, Cummins, Freightliner, etc, and don't have to rely on RV dealers or manufacturers.

[TW]

Originally Posted by TW

NEWMAR - BAY STAR

At time of delivery = O = ZERO

GEN ( ONAN ) = at 11 Hr, at broken Valvespring

On the MH small stuff during the first 4 (Four) years, like Bolts , slide etc

During the last trip: Generator ( 150 hr ) quit after a few seconds,
so - the ONAN Generator will be in the shop for a closer look?

TW

The Computer was no help. Was a goner at 150 hrs.
Of course for parts and labour a little over 700 Dollars the Generator runs now again just fine.

[tworootless]

2000 HR triple slide 5th wheel. To date; Norcold replaced with out of pocket $. Other then the fridge, which isn't related to the builder. Nothing else. . .

[Stogie]

I have things break, wear out, and need upgrading in my House, why would it supprize me that a motorhome I bounce down the hwy would need the same or more maintenance?

Lets see, aches, pains, high Blood Pressure, an occasional head ache, sprained ankle, yearly physical, colonoscopy...... Seems to happen to me also.

I guess if it gets old and you abuse it you will have to pay for maintenance.

[paty]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

A side note for Paty. The day/night shades are adjustable if they will not stay up or conversly are hard to move either direction. The strings are attached to a plastic thimble below the window. Making the string tighter will make it stay up when you want it up, however, too tight will wear through the strings rather quickly, requiring string replacement and possibility string guide replacement.

Now back to the original topic. We cannot equate problems with a MH to a trailer, because a MH is much more complicated mechanically and electrically.
Our 05 5er has had at most a half-dozen problems.
Slides mis-adjusted from factory, dealer tried to adjust and only made things worse. This required a trip to the mfgr.service center to remedy.
Our " guaranteed leak free" 5er came with 4 leaks pre-installed.
The aluminum wall structure broke at a weld, which then broke the fiberglass outer wall completely through to the interior. Another trip to mfgr. service center.
Audio speakers seem to have a mind of their own, and work accordingly.
And of course, our 5er, just like virtually all trailers, came with under-rated tires for the load.

thanks for the (highlighted) tip!

[Wayne M]

Rusty, et. al.
Yes, general discussion on all RV's.

I had a 5er before the MH and it was in the shop, but mainly for "little things." Most of it was covered under warranty. I do agree that MH's seem to have more of a problem, and not because of "engine," but generally the "house."