RV Durability

[mariasman]

I've been considering the merits of full time RVing for a while. Well, I finally went to a local RV dealership to examine modern RVs first hand. In my opinion, the build quality is very poor. I cannot imagine these things handing well the abuse from full time use. So, anyone with experience, please provide an account of what you have seen. How well do they last? When they do break, are they difficult and/or costly to repair?

 

[bullfrog]

If you want to see well built quality ones that have lasted for years go to Barthmobile.com there is a whole cult following. Most were built on GM P-30 chassis (Big block Chevy with turbo 400 trans. ), aluminum sub frame and hard wood cabinets, had 50 amp electrical and a 28' Regal was under 14,000 lbs. Still had all the class A issues of access to mechanical pieces but better than most.

 

[akrvbob]

Lazy Daze and Born Free are two premium Class C brands to look for used because they are top-quality. For trailers I would look at Casita or Scamp fiberglass eggs. Roadtrek makes great Class Bs.

Overall best quality for the least money is Winnebago.

 

[Cammalu]

The Leisure Travel Vans have an extremely loyal following. They have gorgeous, well thought out RVs. One day.....


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[akrvbob]

I think the Chinook is one of the better small Class C or larger B+

 

[jimindenver]

Most RV's are just that, recreational vehicles and were not made to be used full time. Mine actually had language in the warranty stating it would be void if the rig was used fulltime.

 

[Cammalu]

Yes, the Chinooks were well made. They quit making them awhile back but recently are making them again on the Sprinter platform


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[Ballenxj]

If you want to see well built quality ones that have lasted for years go to Barthmobile.com there is a whole cult following.  Most were built on GM P-30 chassis (Big block Chevy with turbo 400 trans. ), aluminum sub frame and hard wood cabinets, had 50 amp electrical and a 28' Regal was under 14,000 lbs.  Still had all the class A issues of access to mechanical pieces but better than most.

This describes my old Sportscoach to a T. Hardwood cabinetry, full bath, Aluminum frame under the skin, 454 Chevy in a P30 chassis.
Did I mention it had 4 wheel Disc Brakes?
I spent 10 years in mine and only had to replace the water heater, which I upgraded to a 10 gallon unit. I saw a picture of one on that Barth site. I don't know if they had anything to do with each other, aside from both being well built.
Here's mine from a few years back.

 

[rvwandering]

To keep the weight down the walls and cabinet are often built using very thin plywood finished with wood patterned paper. It looks cheap because it is cheap but it's surprisingly sturdy. Avoid carpeting. Sheet flooring holds up much better.

We had our last motorhome, a 25' class C for 13 years and 320,000 miles. When we sold it it still looked good and everything worked. The company that made it, Scotty Serro, is no longer in businesses but it was a fairly standard RV, mid-range in price and quality. Over the years we replaced the plastic bathroom sink because it cracked, the water pump and water heater because they broke, and the refrigerator because it started leaking refrigerant. We replaced the sofa bed, the dinette cushions, the day/night shades and the TV because it was time to update them. Just like a house there are little things that have to fixed but it's no more difficult than fixing things in a standard house.

Maintenance is very important if you want a RV to stay in good condition. The caulking must be checked and redone if there are any cracks or areas where it's missing. The fiberglass will get chalky and deteriorate if it's not waxed at least once a year.

The RV brands that have been recommended are all very good. It's better to buy a used one because of the amount of depreciation that happens in the first few years plus older ones may be made with better materials.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I've been considering the merits of full time RVing for a while. Well, I finally went to a local RV dealership to examine modern RVs first hand. In my opinion, the build quality is very poor. I cannot imagine these things handing well the abuse from full time use. So, anyone with experience, please provide an account of what you have seen. How well do they last? When they do break, are they difficult and/or costly to repair?

Converted motor coaches (bus) are head and shoulders above any RV.  When a bus is in an accident, it looks like a bus was in an accident.  When an RV is in an accident, it looks like a tornado went through a trailer park.  The only problem is that they command very high prices.

The insurance companies will mostly only insure a bus that's been commercially converted.  It's very difficult to get insurance on a home conversion.

 

[SoulRaven]

Taylor Coach, made in Canada seems to have a history of longevity making travel trailers. If you go with older motorhomes and trailers, there are some that were well-built and still road worthy, but you need to look at them on a case-by-case and care received basis.

I feel the unit, a 2010 Hi Lo, was well-built and they were in business from 1966 - 2010 with an active forum, many rebuilding the older ones. It shows pride in workmanship and attention to detail, things missing from many. The better manufacturers bite the dust because people saw a $10,000 trailer versus a $20,000 trailer as being created equally, which they were not.

We had an entry model from Forest River, any entry level model will get 4 to 5 years of full-time use with care taken. Moderately priced units maybe 8 to 10 and some higher end up to 15 years. There are some 5th wheels that are quite solid and with an over abundance of them on the market, they can be an attractive buy.

I agree with Born Free, Chinook, and Lazy Daze being SOLID units. Fleetwood, in the last century, made some better Class Cs.

 

[DuneElliot]

Over on a different thread we were talking about how fast these things are put together, and I discovered in a different forum just how much difference 10 years has made in quality. I have a Keystone Springdale, which was a lower end model, that feels and looks solid; it was well taken care of and has very little wear but you can tell it was used some. Someone at an RV show commented about thin bowed walls and cheap cabinets in the new models. I'll stick with my slightly older but tougher fifth wheel.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I feel the unit, a 2010 Hi Lo, was well-built and they were in business from 1966 - 2010 with an active forum, many rebuilding the older ones.  It shows pride in workmanship and attention to detail, things missing from many.  The better manufacturers bite the dust because people saw a $10,000 trailer versus a $20,000 trailer as being created equally, which they were not.

As regards the Hi-Lo, I've seen some people make negative comments on the design - namely, the seal between the upper and lower portions.  The theory is that as the seal wears, it's highly likely that fine, wind blown dust will find it's way inside.

Admittedly, none of these people claimed they had owned a Hi-Lo, they were expressing reservations about the fundamental design idea.

 

[Every Road Leads Home]

My issue with Hi-Lo's or any pop up design is the lack of upper cabinet storage. As well as the added mechanisms and the maintenance/repair eventually required to make them go up/down and they don't seal all that well in terms of keeping heat or cool air in/out. I had a Caribou Outfitter pop up slide in Truck Camper and it wasn't great in cooler weather and unless you were staying put for awhile setting up and down nightly when on the move was less than desirable for me. YMMV

I think the best RV's and Travel Trailers are made from molded fiberglass, much like a boat hull. As with everything in life you always get what you pay for. If you are shopping the cheapest new RV's you can find you are going to get the cheapest quality. Used ones will depend on the initial quality, the previous owners, the amount they were used and the amount they were maintained.

 

[Zman]

Lazy Daze and Born Free are two premium Class C brands to look for used because they are top-quality. For trailers I would look at Casita or Scamp fiberglass eggs. Roadtrek makes great Class Bs.

Overall best quality for the least money is Winnebago.

Concise and to the point... Perfecto!  What say you about Pleasure-Way Industries of "Good Day A" Canada?

 

[SoulRaven]

Well, we have been in the winds of KS, with temps down to -9 at night with the Hi Lo and have no dust problem and didn't freeze to death. We are sitting just outside the Flint Hills. Our Hi Lo is 7 years old and the seal is in good shape. It can be replaced when necessary. The thing is, most dust will come through the windows, I saw that on a very high end fifth wheel and it was a disaster since everything was so nice and upholstered. We don't seem to get anything through our windows yet at this point.

We actually have upper cabinets that are quite deep on the sides. I was surprised at the amount of storage. Also, tows very nice. The quality is here. This is RV #9 in the last 32 years. Pop-up, Class C, pop-up, mini motorhome on Datsun, pop-up, TT, 5th wheel, pop-up, Hi-Lo - only 3 were new, 1 pop-up totalled out and another stolen.

I wanted a teardrop, but everyone else decided to come. "Less is more."

 

[Ballenxj]

Our Hi Lo is 7 years old and the seal is in good shape. 

I'm not familiar with Hi-Lo Campers. Had an idea, but looked them up to be sure.
For anybody else that is not sure, I'll post a link here.
Hi-Lo

 

[akrvbob]

PleasureWay is just as good I think, I just know many less people with them so I don't have the experience to say yes or no. But I have no reason to think negatively about them.

 

[DannyB1954]

I had an Alaskan truck camper that was a hi low design. It was way Heavy.

 

[urbanhermit70]

Best

Class C: Chinook, Born Free and Lazy Daze
Small trailer: Scamp ,Casita


What about class A?