What were your dreaded "New RV" issues...

[Mr. M]

It is really encouraging that some of you had no problems at all. When I hear comments like, "Buy slightly used, that way the previous owner will have fixed the initial problems..." I get very discouraged.

[J Birder]

I had one rather funny problem. I brought my brand new fiver home and wanted to check everything out. To test for plumbing leaks, I filled the fresh water tank and turned on the pump.

After 3 days, the tank was empty and the pump was running continuously. This seemed strange, because fot the 3 days that it was on, I had never heard it running at at.

I refilled the tank and waited. Sure enough, 3 days later it was empty again. I filled it once more and set about looking for the leak. When I crawled underneath, I found it. The drain valve was open, but it was so packed with sawdust, that it took 3 days to empty the tank.

Now, I would expect to find sawdust in the heater ducts and various other "hidden" places, but how on earth did they manage to get sawdust into the fresh water tank?

Joel

[SarahW]

Originally Posted by Mr. M

It is really encouraging that some of you had no problems at all. When I hear comments like, "Buy slightly used, that way the previous owner will have fixed the initial problems..." I get very discouraged.

Perception is everything. What might be a disaster to some will barely cause a ripple to another. I'll just say that if you go in expecting perfection, you will likely be disappointed. Nothing is perfect. (It also helps if you are a "handy" person with some working knowledge of the basic systems. You can then determine for yourself what is disastrous. )

[Dennis_K]

I had many issues starting with the dealer who I had to turn in to the AZ DMV for not paying the registration on time. The coach had many issues, the worst was the water heater which I replaced. In the first 6 months I repaired about 25 issues. Only a couple were major. Most were poor workmanship and the rest poor design.

[WheelingIt]

We bought slightly used, but still had a few gotchas. Thankfully we had a pretty tight warranty and service agreement with the shop where we bought the rig. We "worked out" our rig locally for many months and got everything repaired at the original shop before we went on the road.

The first thing that happened was our stovetop melted. Turned out the gas lines were improperly installed and i guess the previous owner never used the stove (!).That was the scariest incident of them all. Repaired for free by the shop.

Second the solenoid on our generator failed....replaced for free by the shop.

Third was some rust under the unit...repaired and resealed for free by the shop.

Forth our TV antenna was broken...repaired for free by the shop.

Fifth but much later (a year and a half later) was our slide sagged and started leaking..not really a "new" motorhome issue, but the only other real problem we've had. This we paid for partially ourselves and partially with our extended warranty.

[go6car]

So far, so good - just minor things that would not impact any trips.

(I hope to be saying this again in the Spring when we take it back out of hibernation!)

[Freedmeister]

Accepting that any RV problem that leaves you stranded on the road and cuts into your schedule is the absolute worst, the next worst problem has to be roof/wall leaks. I've spent the last month ripping out damaged OSB and laminate and tracking down the improperly riveted seam between the roof aluminum and the fiberglass side panel. This is a ten year old Holiday Rambler Endeavor, and the rivets weren't even expanded, never mind that the holes for the rivets didn't penetrate the steel frame rail in this one area, allowing the panel to spring out enough to delaminate the sealant. This had been going on since the unit was new, but we only bought it last year and found the problem during the summer rains. I wish they used better materials, like marine grade or water resistant OSB...

[two-niner]

After I retired as a Building Inspector, I was convinced (DW: "Get out of the house") to go into the Home Inspection Service business for new and used high end houses. My fee was outrageous but had a steady line of customers.
Some houses required only one day, some a lot more. These inspections took place after the customer did a walk through punch list.
If you knew what was discovered during my inspection, you would never buy another stick and brick house again.
By comparison, my opinion only, todays new RVs are great. Buying someone else's problem is never the answer.

Kerry

[Luckiest Dreamer]

I have never quite understood the thinking of those that expect the first owners to have cured all of the problems that may have existed from the factory. I have known people to buy a new car and never check the oil, in fact they would drive it without ever changing the oil during their ownership. I guess my trust in people is ............

I have cringed at what some people will drive and still claim it is the best thing since sliced bread! I do admit to buying a loaf of French bread, a bottle of wine and some cheese without owning an slicer. Best bread and cheese I ever had!

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Dennis_K

I had many issues starting with the dealer who I had to turn in to the AZ DMV for not paying the registration on time. The coach had many issues, the worst was the water heater which I replaced. In the first 6 months I repaired about 25 issues. Only a couple were major. Most were poor workmanship and the rest poor design.

25 issues a in six months?....that sounds about right!
I've had nearly 50 "issues" every year for the 10 years I've owned this coach.
Not only are most RVs built poorly but things break and wear out...... the maintenance and upkeep can break you.....(but, I'm lucky 'cause I own one of the 'GOOD' ones). LOL

Mel
'96 Safari Sahara, 128k miles

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Full.Monte

I think that you should think of a MH as a boat on wheels. The old adage about boat ownership is "It's a hole in the water you pour money into".
A MH is a hole in the asphalt you pour... well, you get the idea.

It is unrealistic to assume that once you buy it, you will have no problems.
A MH is too complex to not have problems. Some of them are built in. Some of them just happen. I find something that doesn't work on every trip I take. I fix most of them on my own. I do get discouraged about the amount of time it takes, but I'm hopeful the issues will taper off in frequency.

In my experience the issues "ramp up", (not "taper off") as a coach ages.
My Safari is 17 years old with 128k miles.
IMO, since your coach is only 6 years old, (with 12k miles), your "fun" has just begun.