Here is Why You Must be INSANE to buy an RV These Days, Steve Lehto

Interesting case. I can't believe anyone would be dumb enough to sign this. FCA-Thor-Camping World

I saw this video a few days ago. It's a wake-up call for some of our members who may be RV shopping.

Commercial RV purchase these days can be a financial disaster, for those who aren't careful.

you would indeed be nuts to buy any new rv......

Unless you are spending hundreds of thousands , up into the prevost level. Most modern RVs are just built like crap... in some ways $25k into a school bus would give a much stronger house structure, but a ton of work.... another option are a few older manufacturers that at least built decent frames for the house portion of the chassis, like Beaver and Safari ( and other brands that slip what is left of my mind after not managing van aid.. .lol)... both built in the NW and using labor from the aircraft industry. Both using aluminum extensively... Of course one is then buying an unknown pile of potential issues, but perhaps no worse that building out a bus.... so.many.options

tx2sturgis said:

I saw this video a few days ago. It's a wake-up call for some of our members who may be RV shopping.

Commercial RV purchase these days can be a financial disaster, for those who aren't careful.

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When you get right down to it, even if you ARE careful... Those papers simply mean, if it breaks two seconds after you get it off the lot, it's all on you. You could hire a mechanic to go over it with a fine-toothed comb before you drive it off the lot. But even a qualified, honest mechanic might miss something significant.

jacqueg said:

When you get right down to it, even if you ARE careful... Those papers simply mean, if it breaks two seconds after you get it off the lot, it's all on you.

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What I mean by 'careful' is to read the sales contract and don't buy an RV with a contract similar to the one shown in the video.

Many buying new rv’s are enticed into long term loans, during which time their vehicle depreciates faster than the loan is paid off, leaving people owing more than their rig is worth if they have to sell.

Is what I’ve been told by those who’ve fallen victim to this practice.

You're Only FREE when you're Debt Free!

Gr8ful said:

Interesting case. I can't believe anyone would be dumb enough to sign this. FCA-Thor-Camping World

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Caveat emptor

I gather from the comments what the video must be about. It does sound like it could be helpful to some in our community. I personally avoid clicking video (or any other) links without knowing what it's about. Because I might not want to spend my time on the as yet to be determined subject and also just to guard against what might be at the end of an unknown link. Such as a threat to my computer. As a general comment, I am advocating that any OP should just tell us what something like this says and then post the link for anyone that chooses to check the source. Just saying...

Ron, It's You tube which IMHO is safe but I always check to make sure it's secure on any new site. It's about Camping Worlds sales contract.

I think this video is a bit biased. First of all CampingWorld does not have a good reputation and they are not associated with a specific brand. That means they don’t have the manufacture pushing them to maintain standards. Secondly, I haven’t heard too many great things about Thor.

Thirdly (and probably the most important), the more gizmos you have, the more you have that can break. Thor tends to put a lot of emphasis on gizmos, so they have a lot that can break. Got a slide? Yea it makes the room bigger, but it also provides openings which allows bugs and mice to get in. Got automatic levelers? Somthing else which can accidentally deploy while your driving. Got automatic steps? Whatcha gonna do when that breaks? And on it goes.

My first RV was a diesel pusher 37 foot class-A. I ended up spending a lot of money getting it ready for my first trip up to Alaska. And while on the road I had to take it into the shop as well.

I sold that money pit a now have a Promaster build out - Travato. No seams - the original chassis is totally intact which means little risk of leaks. No slides. Just the basic build. When I need an oil change, all I have to do is to drive into a Jiffy Lube. Chassis maintence done at a RAM dealership.

My issue isn't with Thor or Gizmo's it's with Camping Worlds & maybe others gall of putting all the disclaimers in bold print in their contracts & people Stupid enough to pay $99,000 & sign away their rights. Steve Lehto is a Lemon Law attorney that sounds like he won't do RVs because this sounds as if it is common in the RV world. I thought it may help someone on or reading the forum.

From Virginia Lawyers Weekly (about the case):

https://valawyersweekly.com/2024/01/21/lemon-law-warranty-claims-transferred-to-indiana/
And at Justia:

https://dockets.justia.com/docket/virginia/vaedce/3:2023cv00233/536514

Gr8ful said:

My issue isn't with Thor or Gizmo's it's with Camping Worlds & maybe others gall of putting all the disclaimers in bold print in their contracts & people Stupid enough to pay $99,000 & sign away their rights. Steve Lehto is a Lemon Law attorney that sounds like he won't do RVs because this sounds as if it is common in the RV world. I thought it may help someone on or reading the forum.

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When any business requires such wording in a contract, there is usually a reason. Gee, I wonder what that reason is.

Gr8ful said:

My issue isn't with Thor or Gizmo's it's with Camping Worlds & maybe others gall of putting all the disclaimers in bold print in their contracts & people Stupid enough to pay $99,000 & sign away their rights. Steve Lehto is a Lemon Law attorney that sounds like he won't do RVs because this sounds as if it is common in the RV world. I thought it may help someone on or reading the forum.

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I would never buy an RV from any business which is not a contracted seller for that brand. I just checked the local CampingWorld and they are selling Coachmen, Thors, Winnebago, among others.

When any business puts such working in their contracts IN BOLD, then there is probably a reason. Gee, I wonder what that reason is.

No - don’t think it is common in the new RV world. At least I’ve never see any such wording.

Carla, Great research!
I have no dog in this fight as I buy used, read contracts, do my research, etc.
I found C-W has very low ratings & several You Tubes such as which claims not just C-W.

Gr8ful said:

Ron, It's You tube which IMHO is safe but I always check to make sure it's secure on any new site. It's about Camping Worlds sales contract.

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Gr8ful, it's great that you vet links and I agree that YouTube is usually safe. Thats' half the battle. But I still hate seeing a post with just a video link and no explanation. I am probably just a Luddite Old Foggie, but I prefer text info and will only watch videos after I know what I'm getting into. I've sat through too many lengthy videos only to say, "Well that was a waste of my time. or - I already knew that." In this case, maybe a leading description like, "Here's an interesting video about RV contracts to avoid." Since I am not about to sign any such contracts, that's all I needed.

I have been watching his videos for a while. Every camper I have seen seems cheap. I bought an Aliner and only owned it for a year. I have water leaks, bugs getting in, and the door began giving me problems because it was going out of alignment. That next sumer was when we all saw the huge shortage and dealers were buying used RV's to sale. I sold it back to the same company for $1,000 less than I paid for it. I recently went to this dealer again and offered them $2,000 for a camper that had a sale price of $22,000. I was going to gut it and use some of its fixtures in my van build. I am so glad I sold it and went with a van build. As mpreut said....the more gizzos it has, the more that can go wrong.

Gr8ful said:

...anyone would be dumb enough...

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.
[as mentioned (too-often...) on These Hallowed Pages]
One of my dumb-enough hobbies is walking wrecking-yards aka 'dismantlers'.
After the aluminum skin is recycled off a junk factory RecreateVehicle, the innerds are exposed.
.
Invariably, black syrupy moldy dry-rotted wood walls and ceiling are available for close inspection.
If the skin is intact, springing on the bouncy 'trampoline' floor is always fun... although there remains a risk of a thrilling break-through.
I think we can all agree, that would be a small price to pay for the fabulous entertainment value!
.
Fun Fact:
Factory RecreateVehicles use a special fridgerator version engineered to spontaneously combust!
.
And after about 2006, they use 'Exhaust Fluid'.
On a related note, the Babylon Bee claims that senator fetterman person works for them, assigned to see how weird he could get before somebody says "Hey!, this's some kind of joke, right?".
Any old-time mechanics can describe the first errands assigned to them as starting apprentices... among them are fetching a left-handed Crescent™ wrench and, from the fridge, a perfectly-chilled can of refreshing Exhaust Fluid!
.
keyword:
staples into particle-board.
Holes! In! The! Roof!.
.
Sure.
Sign me up.
.
On a serious note, one of my dumb-enough hobbies is reading the IRV2 forums.
The straights -- and they are always straights -- constantly post complaints about their 2022 BillionBuxBus conversion, so they buy a 2023 BillionBuxBus conversion in the hopes all the bugs are 'worked out'.
Invariably, those hopes are futile, dashed to smithereens on the heartless curb of the Real-World.
.
Fortunately, the upcoming 2024 BillionBuxBus conversions are the best factory RecreateVehicles ever... money no object!
It is all right there... in the contract.

Re: Fetterman. Frankly, not wanting to wear a tie sounds like something I could endorse. I don't know what "other" weirdness he's been up to. But the other choice was Dr. Oz - who has been described as an outstanding shill for oils-of-snake of every description.

As far as factory RVs.... Yup. designed to fail.