Guess how long it takes to make a travel trailer?

[Every Road Leads Home]

This video can answer some questions about quality.  It only takes Jayco 7 hrs to build a complete travel trailer from start to finish.  It's both impressive and disheartening at the same time.  Kind of cements my decision to convert my own cargo trailer.  

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

If anyone wants reason(s) why converting a van is usually the better option to motorhomes; take a tour of one of the entry/mid-level motorhome manufacturers (especially Thor)

 

[Queen]

This video can answer some questions about quality.  It only takes Jayco 7 hrs to build a complete travel trailer from start to finish.  It's both impressive and disheartening at the same time.  Kind of cements my decision to convert my own cargo trailer.  

I watched that a few weeks ago and was appalled!  It's held together with spit and bailing wire, and it's going to be bounced down the road at 70mph.

 

[jonsun]

Wouldnt be bad if they were $8-10k new

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

Wouldnt be bad if they were $8-10k new

and you knew what you were getting so you have the skills/tools/funds to fix everything

 

[SoulRaven]

Jayco quality has really dropped off, but they do have different lines, some better than others. Thor recently bought Jayco, so if you thought this looked bad, wait until Thor is in charge! Thor is one of my least favorite manufacturers, tons of issues including Airstream under them.

I worked at a factory that sold 5th wheels direct from the manufacturer in the office. They produced only after an order was taken except maybe a couple of show units per year. This was in 90s and the company has been sold, but everyone would have been impressed by the attention to detail. The owner would go through the shop looking at the work that was done each day after the workers had left and the one doing the QA was doing a good job. I often see used units being sold and they still look sturdy. Now the company is HIGH end only, really HIGH. If you are looking for a used 5th wheel and find a pre-2002, take a look! The "New Horizon" by Horizons made in Junction City, KS!

Most of the great manufacturers went out of business, including the one that produced our current TT, because other manufacturers were making cheap junk and many just look at the price sticker when making a decision thinking they are all the same. Yeah, 5 years later, they have learned the difference when they still owe money on the loan and the RV is a pile of crap.

 

[Ballenxj]

This video can answer some questions about quality.  It only takes Jayco 7 hrs to build a complete travel trailer from start to finish.  It's both impressive and disheartening at the same time.  Kind of cements my decision to convert my own cargo trailer. 

Thanks for posting this. Quite interesting, but makes you wonder how they get away with charging so much for one?

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

I think most people buy RV's based on price and the interior decor. Not too many people care to know about the technical aspects of building nor would they know the difference between what constitutes quality and what doesn't. Case in point....the very fact Jayco would release this video. They released it as promotional material.....something to increase their sales, and i'm sure it did/does. When it should actually decrease sales.

 

[Gunny]

I watched a youtube video of a guy walking thru his almost new Jayco and pulling fixtures off that were held by two staples, trim with no glue, etc, etc. And got veery limited service from the dealer or Jayco. If I spent that much cash and it was junk like that my blood pressure would go thru the roof.

Doesn't say much for management to allow that or the worker to do a crap job. No Pride.

Rob

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

Doesn't say much for management to allow that or the worker to do a crap job. No Pride.

Rob

When I took a tour of the Thor motorhome factory, one employee repeatedly (every time we watched) split the wood when he drove screws to secure the cabinets; ... the tour guide's response when it was pointed out, "Oh, no worries, the cabinet's secure and after the finishes you can't even see or notice that part of the coach" --- and she was PROUD of it!!!!!!

A significant portion of the reason(s) I'm leaning toward renovating/building my next residence on wheels; with the number of other companies that Thor either owns, or that have similar standards you have little idea which "bump" on the road will be the one that is the reason one of the walls/closets/??? falls completely off.

 

[DuneElliot]

And another reason I am glad to have a slightly older camper. It's only 10 years old but apparently 10 years makes a big difference in quality.

Over on the Escapees website someone mentioned how flimsy and rough the construction of a Keystone trailer was after touring through one at an RV show. When I removed the dinette and couch of mine it was a huge workout and major project due to how secure everything was attached to everything else. Sure, nothing is made of expensive wood and stone like mahogany and granite but it was also a lower-end model...and yet somehow my older, lower-end model seems to be made to a much higher standard than the high-end models of today, and that's only in 10 years.

 

[GypsyDogs]

"Ya want fries with that?"

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

And another reason I am glad to have a slightly older camper. It's only 10 years old but apparently 10 years makes a big difference in quality.

Over on the Escapees website someone mentioned how flimsy and rough the construction of a Keystone trailer was after touring through one at an RV show. When I removed the dinette and couch of mine it was a huge workout and major project due to how secure everything was attached to everything else. Sure, nothing is made of expensive wood and stone like mahogany and granite but it was also a lower-end model...and yet somehow my older, lower-end model seems to be made to a much higher standard than the high-end models of today, and that's only in 10 years.

I have an 04 at the moment I'm just using while i finish my house remodel and I gotta say it's been great.  Solid everywhere it needs to be.  However, I think that general rule carries over to a lot of things......even just ten years ago things were better.  A lot of my powertools are ten to 20 years old and are better than a lot my brand new ones....same brand and model in some cases.

 

[Queen]

I think most people buy RV's based on price and the interior decor.  Not too many people care to know about the technical aspects of building nor would they know the difference between what constitutes quality and what doesn't.  Case in point....the very fact Jayco would release this video.  They released it as promotional material.....something to increase their sales, and i'm sure it did/does.  When it should actually decrease sales.

My dad was a carpenter (cabinet maker by trade) and he taught me to create and recognize quality, I am absolute hell on an RV when I go through one, the RV dealer nearby just leaves me alone in rigs now, rather than answer my questions about quality.

 

[Bud Smiley]

Threads like this make me happy because they curb my desire for a newer RV. I've got a '73 Dodge Class C that I'm going to be completely gutting and redoing the interior from scratch. Sometimes I think I should just save the money and headache and buy a newer rig. Then I see things like this and realize that the end result of doing my own work will be much better than what I could buy in my budget. Even though my RV is 44(!!) years old, I can make it into something that will last if I spend a little time and energy doing it right.

 

[#1BonBonQueen]

Quite interesting, but makes you wonder how they get away with charging so much for one?

I believe they get to charge so much money, because we the consumer are willing to pay that price.
We aren't very smart when it comes to buying, we buy like we are Crows, if it is pretty, shiny and it fits our lifestyle, or what we want our lifestyle to be, we buy, we don't really consider the price. 
The price is what we pay, every month for a long time, for something that sure isn't worth the cost, but we still keep buying.
If we would become smarter shoppers, the manufactures wouldn't be able to sell to us.
But as long as we are acting like Crows, the manufactures of these flawed items, will continue to make the same thing. 
If we would stop buying, be more discriminate, they may go out of business, or at least some of them would, thus it may make the  others learn that we aren't buying anything sub-quality, anymore. JMHO
Sharon

 

[Thirsty Boots Nomad]

Threads like this make me happy because they curb my desire for a newer RV. I've got a '73 Dodge Class C that I'm going to be completely gutting and redoing the interior from scratch. Sometimes I think I should just save the money and headache and buy a newer rig. Then I see things like this and realize that the end result of doing my own work will be much better than what I could buy in my budget. Even though my RV is 44(!!) years old, I can make it into something that will last if I spend a little time and energy doing it right.

LOL, threads like this frustrate me because I believe in "signs" from the universe (and all the "energetics/LOA" stuff that goes with it) and there's a former tour bus I pass almost daily I could get reasonably, then renovate to best fit me.  A thread like this is one of those signs that I keep getting I might be best suited going in that direction. Problem is the bus is close to 20 ft longer than I want/need (originally carried 53 passengers + luggage) so would eliminate my ability to stay in many/most state and national parks.

 

[bullfrog]

Check out Barthmobile.com as it has a cult following of people who really intended to keep them for life. All were sort of custom builds, most on P-30 or 32 chassis with aluminum frame a 28' motor home with solid cherry cabinets weighed less than 15000 lbs and mine got 10 MPG loaded and 8 MPG towing a loaded car. Drive trains wear out but our body still in good shape after over 30 years!

 

[GotSmart]

The construction would never pass any building inspector that I ever met.  The workers remind me of a carpenter crew on crank I had the misfortune  of working with. a number of years ago.   :dodgy:   They were always lauging at how slow I was going.  I never had to tear out and rebuild my work. I was still there long after the others were "laid off" 

You would think with nice tools like that, things would be built better.  In my day~~~  :s ~~~ We used a hammer and American made nails. Not a gun and clip of chinese low bid staples.  The screws were put in one at a time, not on a belt feed.( Uphill both ways in 6 feet of snow, summer and winter without shoes.   )   

Then there is the bare hands handeling of the fiberglass insulation. (R5?) Rolling on the adheisive I know requires resperators. 

I will stop now.   :blush:

 

[Queen]

Yeah, the bare handed insulation install made me itch just watching it.