*IMPORTANT CORRECTIONS!* Please see this companion video! ua-cam.com/video/ooXfI1et6So/v-deo.html Information has come to me since this video was published that was not previously available to me. I've trimmed erroneous segments from the video due to the following updates: *CARDINAL/WILDCAT REMAINING IN PRODUCTION!* _FOR CLARITY!!_ Cardinal(Red) and Wildwcat(One) are both being retired But Cardinal/Wildcat *PROPER* is here to stay *HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY IS STILL GOING STRONG!* Reports the brand was retiring appear to have been incorrect. *FOREST RIVER 90-DAY WARRANTY FOR AGED UNITS:* This used to be the case but was changed in May. It seems I did not get the Memo. That's on me. If your Forest River RV is new-in-stock you get your full warranty upon purchase. I never claimed to be perfect but I'm doing my best! Thank you for the understanding and please let me know if any add'l corrections are required!
Thank you, Josh for setting me straight. You are the one I trust for information. I will be returning to camping as a solo senior and I don't want to mess up.
Your are 100% right! You are not the only one making videos about the shoddy RV quality being sold to the public, and not just Grand Design. It’s ridiculous to pay 100k and it falls apart on the way home!
shoddy RV quality being sold to the public. that nothing new they been that way from day one, ripped 2x4 rejects put together with staples no glue next to nothing for insulation, you freeze to death moose hunting in 25F+
As always - great information. "Waterproof clipboard - more great recipes" Dude - you keep this fun. It is a very serious purchase decision and I thank you for always being so thorough but doing so with fun and some flair. You do your job VERY well.
Agree always great information and very helpful. Josh you are the reason we have purchased our last 2 fifth wheels in Coldwater which is a bit of a drive from Monroe with quite a few different dealers closer to us
I want to thank you Josh, SO MUCH for mentioning the info about the FR warranty on a 2022. We were a breath away from buying a new 2022 Rockwood 5th wheel, and had not been informed about the warranty on an older model. The consumer needs to know this and we didn't, and even though we have worn ourselves ragged the last 6 months trying to cover all our bases and find out all we could, we had not run into this. Kudos to you for just putting it all out there.
I am in my 33rd year of driving an 18 wheeler. All of those years I have been a company over-the-road (OTR) driver. Twenty -three of those years have been driving trucks with ABS systems. Just in the past few years these trucks have been getting out fitted with disc brakes (always had drum brakes). With ABS and disc brakes our ability to stop from highway speeds to zero has greatly been improved. The collision mitigation system you spoke about that applies brakes if you get too close to another vehicle is still a flawed system but the industry is working to improve it. In example, the radar sees shadows under bridges as a wall. Generally speaking no one wants to hit a wall so the radar tells the brakes "crash is imminent" and stops the vehicle. If you have quick reflexes you can override the system by pressing on the gas pedal. My reflexes have improved with this system in the trucks I drive. It can be unnerving to deal with but it just might make drivers more attentive to driving and less looking at their phones because they do not know when the radar will see a "ghost" and hit the brakes. When I retire I will be a first time RV buyer. I will have with me two friends who have RV's and a boat load of videos with notebooks of notes with me. Please keep doing these videos of information. See you in three to four years sir.
Hey Josh- I don't normally post much but, I just wanted to take a pause and thank you for all your insights into the RV World. We have been a subscriber for years and always look forward to your information. Keep up the good work!
Hey Josh, I never get tired of your excellent videos. You always keep it real, and you give us useful information with a splash of your wonderful humor (ps, dont ever change 😉). I appreciate that you are fast to make updates when they are warrented. I trust you, keep them coming! I've learned a lot from them! Fuel prices don't slow us down. We just make adjustments elsewhere. Like campground or boondocking.
We are glad that you keep bringing up the ABS issue. No doubt, your videos are forcing the RV industry to get serious about safety. Thanks again for your videos.
I went to Tampa to scout, it was awesome! Laughing at Josh saying the weather was "as bad as it could have been". It did rain Friday afternoon and was a little cool Saturday, but it sure beat -35C in Canada! The locals were all dressed in sweatpants and puffer jackets and looking a little miffed, though ...
So much great info! The RV industry will always drag its feet until required to act. That being said, just makes the info you put out here more and more important! Your work and RV Miles are by far our best source of really important information that truly effects us. Thanks so much and be well!
As always very informative and entertaining. Great video. Not sure I have watched any other source of a 42 min before. You keep us tuned in and watching and time just flies by. Thanks for all you do.
I actually thought I didn’t have a lot to talk about in this video and figured it was only going to be about 18 minutes. Then when I sat down, I was like holy crap there’s a lot here.
The "exemptions" in pricing AND the exclusion from Lemon Law, along with things like litigation has to happen in the State of the manufacturer (i.e. Indiana, home court advantage) indicates tom e that the lobby for the RV industry is REALLY doing well!
You are really spot on here. Like I said in the video, I really have some mixed emotions on it but as a consumer, I really don’t know that I like what’s happening.
Hey Josh, thank you for this information. It help me decided to proceed on with the purchase of a new Trailer instead of a used. Great job please keep this channel going, love the information and the comic presentation of trailers.
Fantastic as usual! One observation from Tampa - you mentioned Brinkley and Alliance did well. I heard and witnessed the same thing on-site. I think the average Tampa show buyer is a more seasoned buyer, and that may lead them to go to brands with a customer service reputation, as you said. But I also think they aren't the type of buyer that's interested in all the de-contented stuff. And there was a lot of that stuff in Tampa. Some popular brands had to lose floor space to make room for the multiple lines of "Access" and "Essentials" stuff.
It really feels like right now. What people are buying is confidence in peace of mind. The RVs that represent that are the ones that seem to be doing the best.
I make campground reservations 9 months in advance. I like to see added fees stopped. I’m for safety equipment such as antilock brakes, backup cameras and reverse lights. Nice video Josh.
Great information. I worked at a Jellystone campground last year. On many weekends in summer and fall and holidays we were full. We had a lot of customers that made their reservations a year in advance. To get the site and date they wanted.
Our big show at Cleveland had a rather dismal turn out. Weather didn't help, but the biggest deterrent is current interest rates. 9-11% is stopping a lot of people (myself included) from investing in a newer/larger RV. You are right about certain RV dealers, we were at a show and looking at floor plans. The salesman didn't have one we liked at the show but did at his lot. He said we really needed to put a down payment on it cause he knew2 it would sell fast. Not buying a pig in a poke we declined. The unit was still on his lot 3 months later!
I don't play that game from sales people. If it sells it wasn't meant for me, otherwise I move in my time. Same with the housing market. Everyone jumping too fast and offering over asking and playing in bidding wars lol. No thanks
Josh, we made the decision at end of season 2023 to purchase a beautiful used trailer to keep at our favorite campground on a permanent basis. Only a 1-hour drive, with little or no planning and we can be RVing anytime. Our smaller RV sits in the driveway ready to be hitched up and go. Never thought we be a 2 RV family! Both units are Jayco and were built pre-pandemic with no major issues. Thanks for being "real" with your opinions, it is hard to find truth-tellers our here in digital land. -Rick
My opinion on 2 things;" 1, is fuel prices. If they are high, .I generally stay closer to home. However, I've been planning a cross-country trip for 2 years and can't change it. 2, is campsites. I know it used to be a practice to only offer reservations on, say, 60% of these campgrounds so that you still had sites for overnighters or the last-minute campers. The more safety features included, the better. Thank you for your time and effort
Yes, yes, 1,000 times yes, ABS should be standard. IMHO, better suspension than the junk put on most TT also should be standard. Thanks for the video Josh!
Great info....really enjoy the videos!we chose your deslership in coldwater to purchase a fith wheel 1-1/2 ago...and had excellent customer service from start to finish!👍
Also Uncle Josh, I wear my Bish's Hoodie like everyday and it's a great way to meet other campers that are a part of the Bish's family! I sing your praises 🎉 thank you!
Thank you for being straightforward with all the information. We went to the ft wayne rv show yesterday and it blows my mind that the dealers, all of them, would bring units and not go through and touch them up is sad and they can't just put the blame on the manufacturer. I can't tell you how many cabinet doors I opened that would not shut or stick against the next door. Trim that is done so poor that it can't be missed. I hope your bish locations take time to spruce up the details because we can all see the lacking quality and it makes the dealer look bad when they don't make the effort either. Have a good one.
Thank you for sharing your time and information, you are always fun to watch. I grew up camping and my Dad sold them in Memphis, TN late 60’s early 70’s and boy how they have improved since!😁 Have an awesome weekend
Josh, love your videos. Been watching for a while and simply love your humor and straight talk. Keep up the great work that you do. I for one appreciate it.
Josh, wife and I love your reviews. We bought a 2024 Cougar 23MLE based in large part on your honest reviews. You describe all the good, bad and ugly about a product. Keep up the good work! We appreciate it!
@@JoshtheRVNerd Done! In your review you said you thought this would be the perfect couples camper. All of our camping friends have so far agreed with you!
This presentation is what separates you from the rest of the presenters personalities, you not only know more, but you take the consumer, not sales exactly, in mind. You mix in the humour, and silliness & you, in my mind, the best!!!!
Great video - thanks for the info. Anti-lock brakes on trailers? Yes please! Camping plans/gas prices - our son is a 4th grader this year, so when he's done with school we're hitting the road from Wisconsin and doing a 2.5 week desert southwest loop trip hitting 8 different parks. Making reservations at national park campgrounds 6 months in advance was difficult but we got sites in every location we were looking for. I didn't like hearing the prognostication for fuel prices, but to us that's the cost of doing what we love so we'll go anyway. I'm sure we spent more at Disney last year for way less time!
Very informative thank you for the industry update. We travel to Florida a couple times a year if you want to stay at the national parks it’s like trying to get tickets to a Def Leppard concert you need to be on the website when they are open to reservation 180 days out you want pit tickets but end up with upper deck. Many of the private resorts are booking out a year in advance. Our state parks in Illinois normally have availability with exceptions to holidays.
Loved the comment on the screen room sales...🤣 We will continue to travel this year even with the fuel prices. We live in northern Illinois so we are pretty used to being higher than most places. Traveling we usually get cheaper fuel once we leave the area, and I have had these reservations for a year so we are going! (yes... I am a planner). Also YES on the ABS! Its a safety thing not just a convenience thing. Thanks for making such great videos! Very much appreciate the time you dedicate to your channel.
Excellent informative video. Retired Veteran, dreaming of Nomadic life. Reality closer to a back yard tent camper. Information you shared is valuable to us on a limited income, looking at long term housing and value! Thanks. Kudos for your sincere honesty about the factory scenery!🙃😉👍
Wow Josh, whatba wealth of information. Thanks and I guess you got your steps in by viewing the entire Bish's RV lot. Some impressive inventory. Thanks ! Loved it!
Hey Josh. I really enjoy these updates. I know they're long but so informative. I just wanted to say thanks for the work you do on putting these reports together. Your tops in my book. Take care. 👍
Great vid! Really enjoy watching while poolside in 70f sunny weather :) really like the ABS, I am big on safety, but that said also do not want more government trying to protect us. our government is too big as it is. People / users, need to be better informed (like what you are doing) and get educated on how to enjoy the RV while staying safe. Regarding the fees, that is one of the reasons we bought from BISH. very straight forward. Yes, you guys charged a bit higher on some of the install gear, but was still in my budget. People do use a budget when purchasing right? :O Thanks again for the time and effort you put into these videos. Much appreciated way down here in the south!
This was a great segment…as a consumer, I appreciate you revealing some of the razzle dazzle that takes place in the industry. Especially when you get ready to sign…prep fees, transportation cost all them extras. I recently went to buy a new truck and it was listed at 58k. When I went to sign it became 65k because I didn’t qualify for the ever walked on the moon discount and have ever kissed Betty Boop on the lips discount. Razzle Dazzle
Great information Josh. I’d like to know more about how COVID-era RVs are now performing and the resale values of those purchased then and now showing up on the market since 2021 was a astronomical year.
My husband and I have been enjoying your videos for years! I vote that you come to the RV show in Omaha! We’d love to meet you in person! As a Realtor, I always enjoy your market updates on the RV industry.
Thanks for the update and for the continued honesty about the RV industry. I keep telling myself I’m going to stop at your place in Coldwater but I’m not sure you can get in there with a semi.
Love the video. Walked away from a fifth wheel where the dealer was trying to sell me at MSRP. And had all these fees which were strange! Then to top it off they tried to sell me some bogus seal treatment and spray crap! Keep up the good work!
Heck yeah! 33:29 bring on new campsites! I’ve been camping for about 38 years and it’s very discouraging when you have to plan so far in advance to get a spot
I think ABS should have been standard across the board for anything with tires that can be driven on or off road, from the smallest utility and boat trailers to the largest multi-trailer vehicles and even trains. Hell even motorcycles should be mandatory ABS! Since I have had ABS and traction control on my latest truck I am sold! I can’t tell you the number of close calls I’ve had that could easily have become tragic disasters had it not been for that incredible technology! Even with a 35’ Rockwood with 3 slides! It has been a dream to pull, especially after some of the rigs I have driven. And I have driven, lots of stuff privately, and lots with a CDL with ALL endorsements. Granted the trailer is an ultra-light, but then so is my truck, an F-150 with all the goodies. We travel with about 6,000’ additional weight and on I-70 going through Utah and Colorado I have been known to set the cruise at the speed limit and forget it. East or West doesn’t matter. It has never slowed enough on a hill to get cruise to auto-cancel when it’s set at 80 and pulling about 18,000 pounds behind me. Tongue weight alone has been up to over 4,000, but I had self leveling air bags installed on the back axle. Can you guess which engine I have in my truck? I will tell you it has off road and towing packages, and it is a 2015 4 door Lariat 4X4 nearly loaded. It also has no front camera or cameras on the sides, or any package depending on a sensor array up front, only in the back, and the blind spot detection is all I really need anyway. I have a Warn winch with push bar and brush guards, all the good stuff, which doesn’t work with the sensors, so I opted out of the lane keeping and the like, which my wife’s Explorer has. I also have too much time on my hands! A redundant statement I know! lol. …And collision avoidance is also great, but not at the expense of off-road emergencies. Although I wish my truck had her reactive cruise control! I have to turn mine off a lot, and it would be nice to not have to. Her car even comes to a complete stop in cruise if there is no driver input and the car in front of hers stops. That amazes me! BTW I learned about her car by driving it, she never uses her cruise, such a waste! But I like to get way out there off-road and this truck hasn’t got stuck, yet, but you never know. I like insurance, and everyone needs to weigh options individually in any category, but be more careful when it comes to safety. If I were a lesser driver I might have opted for the tech instead of the winch, but I have a mostly spotless record, if you leave my teenage up through my military retirement year out of the equation at least! lol. But I have yet to meet my match in response time or hand eye coordination when controlling any moving object, whether it drives, flies or floats! Not so much with drones, it seems I do better when I’m IN the thing I control. I must be a seat of the pants kind of person! But I know It is truly a God-given gift I am especially thankful for especially at this stage, after the number of times my life and the lives of others would have been lost without such an incredible gift! You wouldn’t believe some of my stories if I told you! I wouldn’t believe it either if I didn’t experience it myself! Sounds like fantasy Transformers comic book stuff! But back to my question before this becomes a novel. Have you thought about which stock engine is in my truck? It has not been modified at all, but I’m planning on a dual exhaust someday. I’m willing to bet you will get it right with just one answer! 😋👊🏼
PS, I must say trustworthy people are becoming mightyscarce these days, so thank you for being one of the holdouts! People like you are the sort I like to hover around! I learn so much from people of your caliber, and if not for those few, my faith in humanity would be absolutely zero! People usually blow my mind in the exact opposite wayGod does, and it is so refreshing when people blow my mind more similarly to the way God does it! Thanks for being one of those! I REALLY needed that about now! So thank you from the bottom of my heart! You have no idea how much that means to me!
Thank you for all you do for us..Your input.honeaty and knowledge helps us better understand on what to look for and what not to do when buying .Keep up the hard work and dedication we appreciate all the effort you do in your videos..
thanks for the information Josh. I personally feel that the RV companies need to require better quality in the lower half models so if they need to cutback on how many name brands they have then it needs to be done. I have seen so really bad quality in RV's including seeing the actual wiring and motors for the slide outs showing in units, trim pieces missing, see daylight between a slide out and the camper wall. etc. (saw that even in a Jayco Eagle TT a couple of years back) I mentioned to the "salesman that was walking with my hubby and I and he got all sorts of embarrassed and walked off) My husband and i have owned campers since 1994 and started out with a little used 15 ft camper, now we are in 5th wheels, and we have seen all sorts of quality issues even in the big $$$$ 5th wheels. we have a 2022 Flagstaff 5th wheel, love the quality of it, except for the wonderful fake leather furniture from Lippert that is already peeling. and i see this same lake of quality furniture in the big motorhomes. so i really think that the rv industry need to rethink the quality issues, and if need be find someone else to make the furniture. (I'd really like to see fabric instead of the stick to the thighs in summer shorts Pleather)
It’s not even about how many name brands. It’s just about implementing better processes. The stupid truth. Here is that some improvements would come at the cost of additional dollars. And while I don’t like that I understand why it’s true. But things could be better than they are without adding a lot of money to them also.
Thanks for the update Josh! Info you requested: -Fuel price impact - we will travel anyway, even though I was involuntarily retired by my company in December. We will likely limit the range we would go to the Southeast region but there are a lot of great places to go within a 250 mile radius and our frequency of camping will not reduce -Camping space issues - yes, we have seen a little bit relief in the more popular places and it’s *slightly* easier to book a spot spontaneously, though perhaps still harder to get premium spots. Yes we have had some new campgrounds open and some existing ones expand. They are AWFUL - if you did one of your parking lot walk around videos in these places it would look just the same only with kids on scooters buzzing around you. Nobody is building CCC-era state park style campgrounds either trees and decent separation between you and your neighbor. The newest one locally is on the concrete pad of a former massive manufacturing plant next to the river. It’s a parking lot, not a campground. - Cicada-geddon - we’re in the Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee tri-state area and it is going to be massive. My wife is already saying “maybe that’s two weeks we just stay home”…. - Safety features - I would welcome more “included” and less “ready”. As a minimum, I think ABS and TPMS should be standard on all travel trailers and 5th wheels, and rear camera on units with overall length 30 feet and above, Side cameras on overall 35, and above as a starting suggestion. I realize this probably would add a few hundred dollars to each unit but a lot of us who are safety minded are already spending this in aftermarket products. Factory installed and delivered would be better integrated and I think the price would ultimately drop by a couple hundred per unit just in combined volume sales discounts parlayed by the manufacturers.
We have booked out 24 months for a specific site in one campground. The majority of our camping this season was set last year. We have added two trips for this fall in January.
I love your show. We have had a 2003 DRV Mobile Suite and it has been the best RV we have had. I have been camping for 60 years and 52 years with my wife and we have had tents, Vans, motor homes and 5 wheels which we like the best. What we have seen at the RV shows have been horrible so we will have to stick with what we have.😃
This year, we pulled the trigger and bought a brand new 2024 Montana. This replaces our old Montana. I can honestly say we got a good trade in price and also a good purchase price on the new one at the Hershey RV show.
Hi Josh, I’ve been following you for some time. I truly appreciate everything that you bring out and how excited you get about new things and telling us the latest what’s happening in the RV industry. My question is I’ve been looking at so many different, UA-cam videos to make sure I get the right information and the right fifth wheel, we’ve been living in our 2011 Montana high country. It’s been good to us. Few things we had to fix but we always make sure that we renewed our extended warranty and it was nice because we’re full-time living in it not traveling in it and to have a mobile tech come out is awesome and our insurance always covered that but in our area we got a flood and so we got mold and so I’m looking for a new RV fifth wheel I’ve been hearing so many horror stories about fifth wheels being made during the Covid time, they just even hired people off the street because they couldn’t keep up with the demand and you could see it in so many of the RVs on how they been being built. Can you please tell me what would be the best year to get that wasn’t affected by the pandemic, I really like the pinnacle alliance. I’m looking for a really good one that has a bunk room. Thank you, Josh.
Unfortunately, there’s no real direct answer to your question. Results varied by brand. There were some companies that did really well during that. And some of that did not. I think the best thing I can suggest is if you see an RV you might like then consider hiring an independent inspector to go through it.
Alway’s informative😎 We are at a point where we are uncertain if we gone keep our Rv because - every time you try booking a site they are Fully Booked! Adding insult to the matter once you get to your site, the campground is half full!
Josh, lenders are in fact able to require GAP insurance as a condition of obtaining a loan, it just has to be fully disclosed and requires a written notice and agreement if it is being offered through the lender. When I made my most recent RV purchase with financing through my credit union GAP insurance was part of the loan covenant, but they did not actually offer the insurance themselves, I purchased it through my auto insurance who also covers my trailer. Btw my agent accidentally dropped the GAP insurance when adding my son to my insurance as they redid my plans to save me some money. Luckily I caught it and had it added back on, while I'm fortunate enough to be able to cover any loss for the lender should it happen I'm a man of my word and when I signed that document that said I'd carry the insurance I'm going to be sure that it's covered for the period of the loan. In that regard it might have been simpler for me if it was just part of my loan payment as i wouldn't have had to worry about going through my insurance statement line by line to see if it got carried over.
I am always going for Gap insurance as long as I am financing. A friend of mine opted out and she is still paying for a truck that she totaled in an accident.
We bought a 2022 Jayco 310 NP 310 RLTS and have worked the defects out. Good thing is Jayco paid for said repairs. Love this 5th wheel. *Added Sumo springs and doesn’t shake itself to death 👍
I’m very glad to hear that Rockwood isn’t going to take on a Palomino RV product line as their own as I have never seen a Palomino RV that has lived up to the quality of a Rockwood product👍
@@Brigand231I haven’t looked at a Palomino since 2020 when I bought my last RV and the quality was still terrible. Although the floorplans don’t fit my current needs and the weights are very heavy, the Pause line looks very interesting and reminds me a little of Ember👍
Good info Josh ! I hope this year will be positive. Inspections are still strong right now and I am glad people are realizing just how much an independent inspection is necessary. I plan on staying close to home and spending less overall. The economy is very bad right now in many areas and I will be saving some money back. I also will not be attending any RV shows as I have in the past. I am focusing on going to different dealerships and looking at new technology and floorplans for free..
Josh- always always a big fan! I wish other industries had a “ consumer support guru” like you who just tells it like it is- warts and all! I like to think that if you have seen an uptick at Bishes, it’s because of your integrity to the trade. ( you can hit your boss up for a bonus I guess). 😀😀
hey Josh, love all the videos, great job! since you are able to provide such clarity on junk fees could you give an example of someone bying an RV with no junk fees, showing a "mock bill of sale". this will provide a great visual for us newbees!
Thanks Josh. While I wish fuel was more affordable , we’re lucky the cost is not yet too high that it keeps us from making memories. Slow and steady 55-60mph helps to keep the MPGs more tolerable.
Thanks for the very informative update! As far as campground reservations go, I'm a planner, and won't go on a trip unless every night is planned with solid reservations. I've already planned my summer 2024 trip, and have had no trouble getting reservations.
Appreciate the info! As far as gas goes, we just budget for whatever the price is. With campsites, it can be HARD to find a site here in Idaho at the state parks. You have to be on it. People have learned how to game the system, because it is all based on your check in date. People will book their site for 2-3 weeks, just so they can have their site reserved for that last weekend. But on the other hand, we will be going to the National Parks in Washington, you can't reserve those until 7 days out haha
I imagine a lot of places have a lot lower concentration of parks and campsites, as compared to my backyard here. Michigan seems like it has a ton of them.
Hidden fees are the lifeblood of Camping World. They sold us our trailer for 34K. Then we sat down with the "bit-o-paperwork" gal. We got home to a back page cost being 41K. The next morning I walk out to a flat tire on my new purchase. Upon inspection I find a screw in the tire with a white chaulk mark across it. I call CW to get a mobile unit out to fix the problem they ignored, and I am told to take the tire to get fixed and send them the bill. grrrrrr I went back to the CW to plead my case, got insulted, got my 7K back with a call to my attorney. That was five years ago and I've been quite happily bad mouthing Camping World with the truth at every opportunity I get😊 Rumor has it they took the Trump money and bought out Bishes...so sad😢
"What about my warranty?" What about the fact that no one can afford to be without their camper for 3 months while warranty work is being done? Don't buy a warranty, folks.
In my old job (printing), I hated when the slow times hit or a major economic down turns like 2008. Things get restructured and people are out looking in. I was in that crap. 20 years down the drain. I had to restructure myself until it was time for retirement. Thanks Josh.
I tend to book quite a bit ahead because I am a state/national/local park person and they seem to book fast because they tend to be far more affordable than private campgrounds. The larger site sizes doesn't hurt either. Those big 5th wheels really do need ABS. Thanks for bringing up blind spot detection. Since it is the time of year to make mods, I am going to put one on my class c. Go to have some tech to keep me from being stupid.
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your videos, insight and input. Well, I guess I just did. I’m one of the people who will likely be looking into the used towable market. I am currently recovering from cancer and had to take an early retirement. My plan is, to purchase a used half ton, then a used camper. I have been thinking about a toy hauler - just for the deck/patio option, or a small rear bunkhouse and use the top bunk for storage and the bottom for guests. I have an idea on what I want, but the prices vary wildly. I’m concerned about ‘pandemic builds’ and being able to buy something used with confidence. I’m trying to avoid needing to do repairs, as the cancer was in my spine, so my mobility is somewhat limited for now anyway. Thanks again - I appreciate what you’re doing
*IMPORTANT CORRECTIONS!* Please see this companion video! ua-cam.com/video/ooXfI1et6So/v-deo.html
Information has come to me since this video was published that was not previously available to me. I've trimmed erroneous segments from the video due to the following updates:
*CARDINAL/WILDCAT REMAINING IN PRODUCTION!*
_FOR CLARITY!!_
Cardinal(Red) and Wildwcat(One) are both being retired
But Cardinal/Wildcat *PROPER* is here to stay
*HEARTLAND BIG COUNTRY IS STILL GOING STRONG!*
Reports the brand was retiring appear to have been incorrect.
*FOREST RIVER 90-DAY WARRANTY FOR AGED UNITS:*
This used to be the case but was changed in May. It seems I did not get the Memo. That's on me. If your Forest River RV is new-in-stock you get your full warranty upon purchase.
I never claimed to be perfect but I'm doing my best! Thank you for the understanding and please let me know if any add'l corrections are required!
Thank you, Josh for setting me straight. You are the one I trust for information. I will be returning to camping as a solo senior and I don't want to mess up.
Your are 100% right! You are not the only one making videos about the shoddy RV quality being sold to the public, and not just Grand Design. It’s ridiculous to pay 100k and it falls apart on the way home!
shoddy RV quality being sold to the public. that nothing new they been that way from day one, ripped 2x4 rejects put together with staples no glue next to nothing for insulation, you freeze to death moose hunting in 25F+
that's because people are stupid. Stop buying them for 100k and they will stop selling them for 100k that simple.
As always - great information. "Waterproof clipboard - more great recipes" Dude - you keep this fun. It is a very serious purchase decision and I thank you for always being so thorough but doing so with fun and some flair. You do your job VERY well.
Wow, thank you for that. I appreciate hearing it.
@@JoshtheRVNerd I COMPLETELY AGREE! Well done Uncle Josh! ! 😉
Agree always great information and very helpful.
Josh you are the reason we have purchased our last 2 fifth wheels in Coldwater which is a bit of a drive from Monroe with quite a few different dealers closer to us
I want to thank you Josh, SO MUCH for mentioning the info about the FR warranty on a 2022. We were a breath away from buying a new 2022 Rockwood 5th wheel, and had not been informed about the warranty on an older model. The consumer needs to know this and we didn't, and even though we have worn ourselves ragged the last 6 months trying to cover all our bases and find out all we could, we had not run into this. Kudos to you for just putting it all out there.
It’s tough stuff to share but it’s important you know
Josh just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated for the hard work you put into these videos!! They are very informative and helpful.
Thank you 😊
I am in my 33rd year of driving an 18 wheeler. All of those years I have been a company over-the-road (OTR) driver. Twenty -three of those years have been driving trucks with ABS systems. Just in the past few years these trucks have been getting out fitted with disc brakes (always had drum brakes). With ABS and disc brakes our ability to stop from highway speeds to zero has greatly been improved. The collision mitigation system you spoke about that applies brakes if you get too close to another vehicle is still a flawed system but the industry is working to improve it. In example, the radar sees shadows under bridges as a wall. Generally speaking no one wants to hit a wall so the radar tells the brakes "crash is imminent" and stops the vehicle. If you have quick reflexes you can override the system by pressing on the gas pedal. My reflexes have improved with this system in the trucks I drive. It can be unnerving to deal with but it just might make drivers more attentive to driving and less looking at their phones because they do not know when the radar will see a "ghost" and hit the brakes. When I retire I will be a first time RV buyer. I will have with me two friends who have RV's and a boat load of videos with notebooks of notes with me. Please keep doing these videos of information. See you in three to four years sir.
Love this input from someone with several million miles under their belt. Ty!
I didn't mention it but you are right, 2.9+ million certified accident free miles and counting. Thank you for recognizing the effort.
get out of trucking as soon as possible.
Hairyyeti21 that is a broad statement. Are you willing to give any details? Did you drive?
Hey Josh- I don't normally post much but, I just wanted to take a pause and thank you for all your insights into the RV World. We have been a subscriber for years and always look forward to your information. Keep up the good work!
Ty. I appreciate that
Hey Josh, I never get tired of your excellent videos. You always keep it real, and you give us useful information with a splash of your wonderful humor (ps, dont ever change 😉). I appreciate that you are fast to make updates when they are warrented. I trust you, keep them coming! I've learned a lot from them!
Fuel prices don't slow us down. We just make adjustments elsewhere. Like campground or boondocking.
I appreciate that!
We are glad that you keep bringing up the ABS issue. No doubt, your videos are forcing the RV industry to get serious about safety. Thanks again for your videos.
I’ve found that sometimes how we make change happen
We love RV Show season, Best way to see a ton of RV's in one spot!
I went to Tampa to scout, it was awesome! Laughing at Josh saying the weather was "as bad as it could have been". It did rain Friday afternoon and was a little cool Saturday, but it sure beat -35C in Canada! The locals were all dressed in sweatpants and puffer jackets and looking a little miffed, though ...
So much great info! The RV industry will always drag its feet until required to act. That being said, just makes the info you put out here more and more important! Your work and RV Miles are by far our best source of really important information that truly effects us. Thanks so much and be well!
Jason and Abby are absolutely fantastic for sure
As always very informative and entertaining. Great video. Not sure I have watched any other source of a 42 min before. You keep us tuned in and watching and time just flies by. Thanks for all you do.
I actually thought I didn’t have a lot to talk about in this video and figured it was only going to be about 18 minutes. Then when I sat down, I was like holy crap there’s a lot here.
Thanks for the info. We’ve been watching you since we were first thinking about getting an RV. Glad you’re around as a source of info.
Awesome! Thank you!
Thank you for the update. YES, I want to see anti locks braks with anti sway programed in all products
Ty
Love these deeper insights into the industry! The first of the month is quickly becoming my favorite Nerd Herd time!
We don’t even teach History because by design we are currently trying to erase our History😢
This way later, we can just repeat it
And create an alternate history.
@@ride-electric yeah like black George Washington lol
The "exemptions" in pricing AND the exclusion from Lemon Law, along with things like litigation has to happen in the State of the manufacturer (i.e. Indiana, home court advantage) indicates tom e that the lobby for the RV industry is REALLY doing well!
You are really spot on here. Like I said in the video, I really have some mixed emotions on it but as a consumer, I really don’t know that I like what’s happening.
Great info Josh! Keep em coming!!
Thanks! Will do!
We went to the Boston RV show and it was busy, we saw our first Brinkleys and they are amazing! No purchases but lots of dreaming.
👍🏻
Thank you, as always, for your fantastic info and updates!
My pleasure!
Hey Josh, thank you for this information. It help me decided to proceed on with the purchase of a new Trailer instead of a used. Great job please keep this channel going, love the information and the comic presentation of trailers.
Glad I could help! I hope it treats you well
Thanks nerd, your videos are great.......very infromative.
Glad you like them!
Fantastic as usual! One observation from Tampa - you mentioned Brinkley and Alliance did well. I heard and witnessed the same thing on-site. I think the average Tampa show buyer is a more seasoned buyer, and that may lead them to go to brands with a customer service reputation, as you said. But I also think they aren't the type of buyer that's interested in all the de-contented stuff. And there was a lot of that stuff in Tampa. Some popular brands had to lose floor space to make room for the multiple lines of "Access" and "Essentials" stuff.
It really feels like right now. What people are buying is confidence in peace of mind. The RVs that represent that are the ones that seem to be doing the best.
Thank you by the way for the local Level insights
Thank you so much for looking out for us
Our pleasure!
I make campground reservations 9 months in advance. I like to see added fees stopped. I’m for safety equipment such as antilock brakes, backup cameras and reverse lights. Nice video Josh.
Thank you, Bob
Great information. I worked at a Jellystone campground last year. On many weekends in summer and fall and holidays we were full. We had a lot of customers that made their reservations a year in advance. To get the site and date they wanted.
Thanks for sharing!
Our big show at Cleveland had a rather dismal turn out. Weather didn't help, but the biggest deterrent is current interest rates. 9-11% is stopping a lot of people (myself included) from investing in a newer/larger RV. You are right about certain RV dealers, we were at a show and looking at floor plans. The salesman didn't have one we liked at the show but did at his lot. He said we really needed to put a down payment on it cause he knew2 it would sell fast. Not buying a pig in a poke we declined. The unit was still on his lot 3 months later!
I love the Intel thank you
I don't play that game from sales people. If it sells it wasn't meant for me, otherwise I move in my time. Same with the housing market. Everyone jumping too fast and offering over asking and playing in bidding wars lol. No thanks
Josh, we made the decision at end of season 2023 to purchase a beautiful used trailer to keep at our favorite campground on a permanent basis. Only a 1-hour drive, with little or no planning and we can be RVing anytime. Our smaller RV sits in the driveway ready to be hitched up and go. Never thought we be a 2 RV family! Both units are Jayco and were built pre-pandemic with no major issues. Thanks for being "real" with your opinions, it is hard to find truth-tellers our here in digital land. -Rick
That is awesome! Hope it treats you well
My opinion on 2 things;"
1, is fuel prices. If they are high, .I generally stay closer to home. However, I've been planning a cross-country trip for 2 years and can't change it.
2, is campsites. I know it used to be a practice to only offer reservations on, say, 60% of these campgrounds so that you still had sites for overnighters or the last-minute campers.
The more safety features included, the better.
Thank you for your time and effort
My pleasure! Thank you for watching!
Yes, yes, 1,000 times yes, ABS should be standard. IMHO, better suspension than the junk put on most TT also should be standard. Thanks for the video Josh!
I totally agree with you linkfloyd!! 👏👏 👏 👏 👍👍
Better suspension is hands-down one of the most underrated features out there
Great info....really enjoy the videos!we chose your deslership in coldwater to purchase a fith wheel 1-1/2 ago...and had excellent customer service from start to finish!👍
Great to hear! Ty so much
Also Uncle Josh, I wear my Bish's Hoodie like everyday and it's a great way to meet other campers that are a part of the Bish's family! I sing your praises 🎉 thank you!
Love that!
Thank you for being straightforward with all the information. We went to the ft wayne rv show yesterday and it blows my mind that the dealers, all of them, would bring units and not go through and touch them up is sad and they can't just put the blame on the manufacturer. I can't tell you how many cabinet doors I opened that would not shut or stick against the next door. Trim that is done so poor that it can't be missed. I hope your bish locations take time to spruce up the details because we can all see the lacking quality and it makes the dealer look bad when they don't make the effort either. Have a good one.
I’ve seen that too. Drives me nuts
Thank you for sharing your time and information, you are always fun to watch. I grew up camping and my Dad sold them in Memphis, TN late 60’s early 70’s and boy how they have improved since!😁 Have an awesome weekend
Yeah it’s crazy how things have changed
Josh, love your videos. Been watching for a while and simply love your humor and straight talk. Keep up the great work that you do. I for one appreciate it.
Thank you! I try 😊
Fuel prices will not slow me down at all. Thank you for another great video. More campsites is great news.
Yes they are!
Josh, wife and I love your reviews. We bought a 2024 Cougar 23MLE based in large part on your honest reviews. You describe all the good, bad and ugly about a product. Keep up the good work! We appreciate it!
Ty for the kindness! Mind dropping me a quick review at g.page/r/CdPcitNVx2nDEAg/review for the helping hand?
@@JoshtheRVNerd Done! In your review you said you thought this would be the perfect couples camper. All of our camping friends have so far agreed with you!
This presentation is what separates you from the rest of the presenters personalities, you not only know more, but you take the consumer, not sales exactly, in mind. You mix in the humour, and silliness & you, in my mind, the best!!!!
Great video - thanks for the info. Anti-lock brakes on trailers? Yes please!
Camping plans/gas prices - our son is a 4th grader this year, so when he's done with school we're hitting the road from Wisconsin and doing a 2.5 week desert southwest loop trip hitting 8 different parks. Making reservations at national park campgrounds 6 months in advance was difficult but we got sites in every location we were looking for. I didn't like hearing the prognostication for fuel prices, but to us that's the cost of doing what we love so we'll go anyway. I'm sure we spent more at Disney last year for way less time!
Yeah, daddy mouse definitely finds a way to make his money
Thanks so much, Josh for all you do!! You ROCK!!
I appreciate that!
Very informative thank you for the industry update. We travel to Florida a couple times a year if you want to stay at the national parks it’s like trying to get tickets to a Def Leppard concert you need to be on the website when they are open to reservation 180 days out you want pit tickets but end up with upper deck. Many of the private resorts are booking out a year in advance. Our state parks in Illinois normally have availability with exceptions to holidays.
I don’t know… Last time I tried seeing pour some sugar on me over the phone to the campground reservations clerk, they just hung up on me
Thanks for the updates!
You bet!
Loved the comment on the screen room sales...🤣 We will continue to travel this year even with the fuel prices. We live in northern Illinois so we are pretty used to being higher than most places. Traveling we usually get cheaper fuel once we leave the area, and I have had these reservations for a year so we are going! (yes... I am a planner). Also YES on the ABS! Its a safety thing not just a convenience thing.
Thanks for making such great videos! Very much appreciate the time you dedicate to your channel.
lol 😆
Glad you enjoyed. Ty Jenn
Excellent informative video. Retired Veteran, dreaming of Nomadic life. Reality closer to a back yard tent camper. Information you shared is valuable to us on a limited income, looking at long term housing and value! Thanks. Kudos for your sincere honesty about the factory scenery!🙃😉👍
TY Lester!
Wow Josh, whatba wealth of information. Thanks and I guess you got your steps in by viewing the entire Bish's RV lot. Some impressive inventory. Thanks ! Loved it!
Thank you buddy for this. Much appreciate the honesty.
you got it
Hey Josh. I really enjoy these updates. I know they're long but so informative. I just wanted to say thanks for the work you do on putting these reports together. Your tops in my book. Take care. 👍
Glad you like them!
Great vid! Really enjoy watching while poolside in 70f sunny weather :)
really like the ABS, I am big on safety, but that said also do not want more government trying to protect us. our government is too big as it is. People / users, need to be better informed (like what you are doing) and get educated on how to enjoy the RV while staying safe.
Regarding the fees, that is one of the reasons we bought from BISH. very straight forward. Yes, you guys charged a bit higher on some of the install gear, but was still in my budget. People do use a budget when purchasing right? :O
Thanks again for the time and effort you put into these videos. Much appreciated way down here in the south!
The whole fees thing just absolutely grind my ears. It’s become so disgustingly predatory.
This was a great segment…as a consumer, I appreciate you revealing some of the razzle dazzle that takes place in the industry. Especially when you get ready to sign…prep fees, transportation cost all them extras.
I recently went to buy a new truck and it was listed at 58k. When I went to sign it became 65k because I didn’t qualify for the ever walked on the moon discount and have ever kissed Betty Boop on the lips discount. Razzle Dazzle
Glad you enjoyed it!
@@JoshtheRVNerd -Does any Bish’s location carry KZ Durango?
Great information Josh. I’d like to know more about how COVID-era RVs are now performing and the resale values of those purchased then and now showing up on the market since 2021 was a astronomical year.
Just purchased a Go Play 26 RLS from Todd at the Richmond RV show. We pick it up in Indianapolis in May.
How was the experience working with Todd?
@@JoshtheRVNerd it was wonderful! The entire Bish’s team was wonderful! We are excited to camp like a Bish and make video content!
This video was very very helpful. Keep doing what you doing helping a lot of newbies like my self find the right travel trailer.
TY. I appreciate it!
Another GREAT video!! Thanks for all the information.
Glad you liked it :)
👍🏽your monthly industry updates is the one video I never miss! Appreciate everything you do👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🫶🏽
I appreciate that!
My husband and I have been enjoying your videos for years! I vote that you come to the RV show in Omaha! We’d love to meet you in person! As a Realtor, I always enjoy your market updates on the RV industry.
I just might do that
Thanks for the update and for the continued honesty about the RV industry. I keep telling myself I’m going to stop at your place in Coldwater but I’m not sure you can get in there with a semi.
Literally literally right next-door though to our west is a Meyer parking lot where you can definitely park and walk over.
Love the video. Walked away from a fifth wheel where the dealer was trying to sell me at MSRP. And had all these fees which were strange! Then to top it off they tried to sell me some bogus seal treatment and spray crap!
Keep up the good work!
Yeah, it really seems like the goals to get someone just under MSRP if possible so they can put as much money in their pocket as possible
Heck yeah! 33:29 bring on new campsites! I’ve been camping for about 38 years and it’s very discouraging when you have to plan so far in advance to get a spot
👍🏻
I think ABS should have been standard across the board for anything with tires that can be driven on or off road, from the smallest utility and boat trailers to the largest multi-trailer vehicles and even trains. Hell even motorcycles should be mandatory ABS! Since I have had ABS and traction control on my latest truck I am sold! I can’t tell you the number of close calls I’ve had that could easily have become tragic disasters had it not been for that incredible technology! Even with a 35’ Rockwood with 3 slides! It has been a dream to pull, especially after some of the rigs I have driven. And I have driven, lots of stuff privately, and lots with a CDL with ALL endorsements. Granted the trailer is an ultra-light, but then so is my truck, an F-150 with all the goodies. We travel with about 6,000’ additional weight and on I-70 going through Utah and Colorado I have been known to set the cruise at the speed limit and forget it. East or West doesn’t matter. It has never slowed enough on a hill to get cruise to auto-cancel when it’s set at 80 and pulling about 18,000 pounds behind me. Tongue weight alone has been up to over 4,000, but I had self leveling air bags installed on the back axle. Can you guess which engine I have in my truck? I will tell you it has off road and towing packages, and it is a 2015 4 door Lariat 4X4 nearly loaded. It also has no front camera or cameras on the sides, or any package depending on a sensor array up front, only in the back, and the blind spot detection is all I really need anyway. I have a Warn winch with push bar and brush guards, all the good stuff, which doesn’t work with the sensors, so I opted out of the lane keeping and the like, which my wife’s Explorer has. I also have too much time on my hands! A redundant statement I know! lol. …And collision avoidance is also great, but not at the expense of off-road emergencies. Although I wish my truck had her reactive cruise control! I have to turn mine off a lot, and it would be nice to not have to. Her car even comes to a complete stop in cruise if there is no driver input and the car in front of hers stops. That amazes me! BTW I learned about her car by driving it, she never uses her cruise, such a waste! But I like to get way out there off-road and this truck hasn’t got stuck, yet, but you never know. I like insurance, and everyone needs to weigh options individually in any category, but be more careful when it comes to safety. If I were a lesser driver I might have opted for the tech instead of the winch, but I have a mostly spotless record, if you leave my teenage up through my military retirement year out of the equation at least! lol. But I have yet to meet my match in response time or hand eye coordination when controlling any moving object, whether it drives, flies or floats! Not so much with drones, it seems I do better when I’m IN the thing I control. I must be a seat of the pants kind of person! But I know It is truly a God-given gift I am especially thankful for especially at this stage, after the number of times my life and the lives of others would have been lost without such an incredible gift! You wouldn’t believe some of my stories if I told you! I wouldn’t believe it either if I didn’t experience it myself! Sounds like fantasy Transformers comic book stuff! But back to my question before this becomes a novel. Have you thought about which stock engine is in my truck? It has not been modified at all, but I’m planning on a dual exhaust someday. I’m willing to bet you will get it right with just one answer! 😋👊🏼
PS, I must say trustworthy people are becoming mightyscarce these days, so thank you for being one of the holdouts! People like you are the sort I like to hover around! I learn so much from people of your caliber, and if not for those few, my faith in humanity would be absolutely zero! People usually blow my mind in the exact opposite wayGod does, and it is so refreshing when people blow my mind more similarly to the way God does it! Thanks for being one of those! I REALLY needed that about now! So thank you from the bottom of my heart! You have no idea how much that means to me!
Thank you for all you do for us..Your input.honeaty and knowledge helps us better understand on what to look for and what not to do when buying .Keep up the hard work and dedication we appreciate all the effort you do in your videos..
You are so welcome 🙏🏻
thanks for the information Josh. I personally feel that the RV companies need to require better quality in the lower half models so if they need to cutback on how many name brands they have then it needs to be done. I have seen so really bad quality in RV's including seeing the actual wiring and motors for the slide outs showing in units, trim pieces missing, see daylight between a slide out and the camper wall. etc. (saw that even in a Jayco Eagle TT a couple of years back) I mentioned to the "salesman that was walking with my hubby and I and he got all sorts of embarrassed and walked off) My husband and i have owned campers since 1994 and started out with a little used 15 ft camper, now we are in 5th wheels, and we have seen all sorts of quality issues even in the big $$$$ 5th wheels. we have a 2022 Flagstaff 5th wheel, love the quality of it, except for the wonderful fake leather furniture from Lippert that is already peeling. and i see this same lake of quality furniture in the big motorhomes. so i really think that the rv industry need to rethink the quality issues, and if need be find someone else to make the furniture. (I'd really like to see fabric instead of the stick to the thighs in summer shorts Pleather)
It’s not even about how many name brands. It’s just about implementing better processes. The stupid truth. Here is that some improvements would come at the cost of additional dollars. And while I don’t like that I understand why it’s true. But things could be better than they are without adding a lot of money to them also.
Thanks!! Informative information....
Glad it was helpful!
Been watching the channel i.e. "window shopping" weekly now for at least two years@@JoshtheRVNerd, thank you...
Always Love your videos and insight .. :)
I appreciate that!
Thanks for the update Josh! Info you requested:
-Fuel price impact - we will travel anyway, even though I was involuntarily retired by my company in December. We will likely limit the range we would go to the Southeast region but there are a lot of great places to go within a 250 mile radius and our frequency of camping will not reduce
-Camping space issues - yes, we have seen a little bit relief in the more popular places and it’s *slightly* easier to book a spot spontaneously, though perhaps still harder to get premium spots. Yes we have had some new campgrounds open and some existing ones expand. They are AWFUL - if you did one of your parking lot walk around videos in these places it would look just the same only with kids on scooters buzzing around you. Nobody is building CCC-era state park style campgrounds either trees and decent separation between you and your neighbor. The newest one locally is on the concrete pad of a former massive manufacturing plant next to the river. It’s a parking lot, not a campground.
- Cicada-geddon - we’re in the Alabama/Georgia/Tennessee tri-state area and it is going to be massive. My wife is already saying “maybe that’s two weeks we just stay home”….
- Safety features - I would welcome more “included” and less “ready”. As a minimum, I think ABS and TPMS should be standard on all travel trailers and 5th wheels, and rear camera on units with overall length 30 feet and above, Side cameras on overall 35, and above as a starting suggestion. I realize this probably would add a few hundred dollars to each unit but a lot of us who are safety minded are already spending this in aftermarket products. Factory installed and delivered would be better integrated and I think the price would ultimately drop by a couple hundred per unit just in combined volume sales discounts parlayed by the manufacturers.
We have booked out 24 months for a specific site in one campground. The majority of our camping this season was
set last year. We have added two trips for this fall in January.
Well I might have to go to the show if you come to Omaha!!! We are having fake spring right now!
Always appreciate your information, candor & humor. Seems like the ABS on all trailers would be a great safety feature.
Fingers crossed!
Thanks for the info, Josh. Learned a lot.
My pleasure. We put out these "news style" videos once a month btw!
Josh Great information 👍 Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure!
I love your show. We have had a 2003 DRV Mobile Suite and it has been the best RV we have had. I have been camping for 60 years and 52 years with my wife and we have had tents, Vans, motor homes and 5 wheels which we like the best. What we have seen at the RV shows have been horrible so we will have to stick with what we have.😃
That is awesome! Glad you have one that’s treated you well
We had a Red Heeler that would catch Cicadas as they came out of the ground and eat them, crunchy tasty treat!
Ground Raisins 😆
This year, we pulled the trigger and bought a brand new 2024 Montana. This replaces our old Montana. I can honestly say we got a good trade in price and also a good purchase price on the new one at the Hershey RV show.
That’s great I hope the new one treats you really well. Which model did you get?
It was great to see you at the show. I loved what you said to this guy who had a white haired mohawk. CUT AND PASTE
Hahahaha
Yes on abs. Stopping is a issues. Second solar important and unneeded decals.
Dude you crack me up also good job this month as well
Thanks! 😁
Hi Josh, I’ve been following you for some time. I truly appreciate everything that you bring out and how excited you get about new things and telling us the latest what’s happening in the RV industry. My question is I’ve been looking at so many different, UA-cam videos to make sure I get the right information and the right fifth wheel, we’ve been living in our 2011 Montana high country. It’s been good to us. Few things we had to fix but we always make sure that we renewed our extended warranty and it was nice because we’re full-time living in it not traveling in it and to have a mobile tech come out is awesome and our insurance always covered that but in our area we got a flood and so we got mold and so I’m looking for a new RV fifth wheel I’ve been hearing so many horror stories about fifth wheels being made during the Covid time, they just even hired people off the street because they couldn’t keep up with the demand and you could see it in so many of the RVs on how they been being built. Can you please tell me what would be the best year to get that wasn’t affected by the pandemic, I really like the pinnacle alliance. I’m looking for a really good one that has a bunk room. Thank you, Josh.
Unfortunately, there’s no real direct answer to your question. Results varied by brand. There were some companies that did really well during that. And some of that did not. I think the best thing I can suggest is if you see an RV you might like then consider hiring an independent inspector to go through it.
Alway’s informative😎 We are at a point where we are uncertain if we gone keep our
Rv because - every time you try booking a site they are Fully Booked! Adding insult to the matter once you get to your site, the campground is half full!
So true!
Josh, lenders are in fact able to require GAP insurance as a condition of obtaining a loan, it just has to be fully disclosed and requires a written notice and agreement if it is being offered through the lender. When I made my most recent RV purchase with financing through my credit union GAP insurance was part of the loan covenant, but they did not actually offer the insurance themselves, I purchased it through my auto insurance who also covers my trailer.
Btw my agent accidentally dropped the GAP insurance when adding my son to my insurance as they redid my plans to save me some money. Luckily I caught it and had it added back on, while I'm fortunate enough to be able to cover any loss for the lender should it happen I'm a man of my word and when I signed that document that said I'd carry the insurance I'm going to be sure that it's covered for the period of the loan. In that regard it might have been simpler for me if it was just part of my loan payment as i wouldn't have had to worry about going through my insurance statement line by line to see if it got carried over.
I am always going for Gap insurance as long as I am financing. A friend of mine opted out and she is still paying for a truck that she totaled in an accident.
I vote for the Indy show! I’d love to meet you & see what Bish’s brings to the show!
So far Omaha seems to be winning, but we have some time yet
Thanks Nerd!
We bought a 2022 Jayco 310 NP 310 RLTS and have worked the defects out.
Good thing is Jayco paid for said repairs.
Love this 5th wheel.
*Added Sumo springs and doesn’t shake itself to death 👍
Sumo springs are fantastic for sure
I’m very glad to hear that Rockwood isn’t going to take on a Palomino RV product line as their own as I have never seen a Palomino RV that has lived up to the quality of a Rockwood product👍
Check out the Palamino Pause line.
@@Brigand231I haven’t looked at a Palomino since 2020 when I bought my last RV and the quality was still terrible. Although the floorplans don’t fit my current needs and the weights are very heavy, the Pause line looks very interesting and reminds me a little of Ember👍
ahead of the curve...👍🙂
Thanks Nerd, as always good info and entertaining.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Love the videos man. Always very informative.
Good info Josh ! I hope this year will be positive. Inspections are still strong right now and I am glad people are realizing just how much an independent inspection is necessary.
I plan on staying close to home and spending less overall. The economy is very bad right now in many areas and I will be saving some money back. I also will not be attending any RV shows as I have in the past. I am focusing on going to different dealerships and looking at new technology and floorplans for free..
Thanks again for the info...and for leaving me smiling.
Any time!
Josh- always always a big fan! I wish other industries had a “ consumer support guru” like you who just tells it like it is- warts and all! I like to think that if you have seen an uptick at Bishes, it’s because of your integrity to the trade. ( you can hit your boss up for a bonus I guess). 😀😀
I really appreciate how vicious RV supports my work doing this. I couldn’t do it obviously without their blessing.
@@JoshtheRVNerd “vicious RV”??😂😂
Another amazing video hollywood!! Thank you for all of the info and keeping us all informed!!
Hollywood lol
hey Josh, love all the videos, great job! since you are able to provide such clarity on junk fees could you give an example of someone bying an RV with no junk fees, showing a "mock bill of sale". this will provide a great visual for us newbees!
Great idea. Ty
Thanks Josh. While I wish fuel was more affordable , we’re lucky the cost is not yet too high that it keeps us from making memories. Slow and steady 55-60mph helps to keep the MPGs more tolerable.
Yeah, when I’m towing, I definitely don’t put the hammer down
I have reservations in yellowstone the first week of July this year. I made the it last summer. We decided on fishing bridge for the hookups.
Thanks for the very informative update! As far as campground reservations go, I'm a planner, and won't go on a trip unless every night is planned with solid reservations. I've already planned my summer 2024 trip, and have had no trouble getting reservations.
You and my wife would probably get along lol
Appreciate the info! As far as gas goes, we just budget for whatever the price is.
With campsites, it can be HARD to find a site here in Idaho at the state parks. You have to be on it. People have learned how to game the system, because it is all based on your check in date. People will book their site for 2-3 weeks, just so they can have their site reserved for that last weekend. But on the other hand, we will be going to the National Parks in Washington, you can't reserve those until 7 days out haha
I imagine a lot of places have a lot lower concentration of parks and campsites, as compared to my backyard here. Michigan seems like it has a ton of them.
Hidden fees are the lifeblood of Camping World.
They sold us our trailer for 34K. Then we sat down with the "bit-o-paperwork" gal.
We got home to a back page cost being 41K. The next morning I walk out to a flat tire on my new purchase. Upon inspection I find a screw in the tire with a white chaulk mark across it. I call CW to get a mobile unit out to fix the problem they ignored, and I am told to take the tire to get fixed and send them the bill. grrrrrr
I went back to the CW to plead my case, got insulted, got my 7K back with a call to my attorney.
That was five years ago and I've been quite happily bad mouthing Camping World with the truth at every opportunity I get😊
Rumor has it they took the Trump money and bought out Bishes...so sad😢
"What about my warranty?" What about the fact that no one can afford to be without their camper for 3 months while warranty work is being done?
Don't buy a warranty, folks.
In my old job (printing), I hated when the slow times hit or a major economic down turns like 2008. Things get restructured and people are out looking in. I was in that crap. 20 years down the drain. I had to restructure myself until it was time for retirement. Thanks Josh.
My pleasure!
Many thanks Josh!
My pleasure!
I watched this video because you had a Brinkley in your thumbnail. tricky tricky. You had me scared there for a second.
I just think they’re good looking!
Noticed there was not an X over them. I definitely wasn’t trying to spook anyone.
I tend to book quite a bit ahead because I am a state/national/local park person and they seem to book fast because they tend to be far more affordable than private campgrounds. The larger site sizes doesn't hurt either. Those big 5th wheels really do need ABS. Thanks for bringing up blind spot detection. Since it is the time of year to make mods, I am going to put one on my class c. Go to have some tech to keep me from being stupid.
What's funny is little trailers almost need ABS the most since FWs naturally haul and handle better
I'm up for any of them having it, though
I can’t tell you how much I appreciate your videos, insight and input. Well, I guess I just did.
I’m one of the people who will likely be looking into the used towable market.
I am currently recovering from cancer and had to take an early retirement. My plan is, to purchase a used half ton, then a used camper. I have been thinking about a toy hauler - just for the deck/patio option, or a small rear bunkhouse and use the top bunk for storage and the bottom for guests.
I have an idea on what I want, but the prices vary wildly. I’m concerned about ‘pandemic builds’ and being able to buy something used with confidence. I’m trying to avoid needing to do repairs, as the cancer was in my spine, so my mobility is somewhat limited for now anyway.
Thanks again - I appreciate what you’re doing
Ty so much for the kind words. I wish you a speedy recovery
Really enjoy these updates
As long as people want to watch them, I’ll keep making them