Not All RV Buyers Are Happy Campers

Above, The Beast in West Yellowstone, Montana. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I bought The Beast three years ago, I at least had some experience in owning an RV. I had previously owned a pop-up camping trailer (also known as a tent trailer) and a micro-mini motorhome.

Many people out there aren't so experienced or so lucky. They are buying RVs without thoroughly doing research.

When I bought my Winnebago, I knew ahead of time that Winnebago had a good reputation for workmanship. Even with RV manufacturers with good reputations, problems can and do crop up. When I went down to San Diego to buy mine, I looked it over from top to bottom before handing over the cash.

Thankfully, all this paid off as I have had no problems with my Minnie Winnie 22R except for a bathroom ceiling vent that "glued" itself shut. That was taken care of under warranty.

PR Web posted an article on how people can get into trouble when buying their first RV.

It reads in part:

EDMONDS, WASH. (PRWEB) FEBRUARY 14, 2018 

Spring is on the way and many Americans’ thoughts are turning to summer camping trips with recreational vehicles. But they’re doing more than just thinking, they’re buying: RV sales reached a record high in 2017 with more than 500,000 new units shipped to dealers throughout the United States. The problem, says one RV consumer advocate, is that too many RV shoppers are making bad buying decisions. 

Chuck Woodbury is the editor of http://rvtravel.com and the host of the Better Business Bureau DVD “Buying a Recreational Vehicle,” available at many public libraries. He recently sold his condo near Seattle to travel full-time in a 32-foot motorhome. 

Every RV, he says, is manufactured essentially by hand, on an assembly line of workers who build and install individual components. “There’s a lot of room for mistakes especially now when RVs are selling so fast that manufacturers are rushing to keep up with demand. Many buyers are getting stuck with workmanship issues so serious their new RVs can’t be used for weeks, even months, while awaiting repairs.” 

He cites a recent survey at his website that showed the seriousness of the problem. “More than one-fifth of the more than 1,400 readers who responded described the workmanship on their RVs as poor or terrible. That’s just not acceptable. Do you think Boeing could get away with that? Would you step on one of its planes?” 

The RV industry fights state lemon laws, he says, “so there is typically no help there.” He urges new RVers to consider buying a used unit, where the previous owner has worked out the problems. 

Woodbury advises buyers to inspect an RV they’re considering, whether a motorhome or travel trailer, from top to bottom. “Hire an RV technician to examine it carefully, even if it’s brand new. It will be the best money you spend.” He advises to never buy on impulse. 

Another thing people should do: go to a RV show and use that opportunity to inspect the workmanship of RVs of several manufacturers. It will pay off in the end.

Above, the 2017 California RV Show in Pomona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.